The Atlantic Salmon Fly Passion

One of the most enjoyable aspects of fly tying for me is tying with my kids. It has shown me to look through their eyes as new tiers. The way they hold tools, wrap thread & manipulate materials is fascinating! & they learn so quickly!!! They do make a helluva mess of my desk though!           I also enjoy teaching others to fish. The giving back part is something that, ironically,  I selfishly need. Through the 20 years of tying, one can accumulate lots of feathered irons. Every year, I try to send some to friends or give a few to some kind strangers I meet on the river.  I find it to be an honor that someone would think my ties are worthy of them tying it on to their leaders & showing them to our finned friends. They were tied to be fished so I can only hope most will get a dunk. One of the reasons for starting a blog was to start posts about specific flies & giving them away to some kids, beginners, or whomever might be kind enough to give it a swim. All I w

Taking a hiatus from tying, can really make you realize how much you can miss it & how it can be a really important part of your life. When one comes to such a realization, it is only natural to ask yourself why "it" is so important to someone. Let's face it, tying flies & fishing is not the end all, but it can be & is a sort of escape from reality or a stress relief from our overwhelming daily duties. Let's call it fly tying yoga! The Art of Tying The beauty of tying, specifically salmon flies, is that the art of tying is what you make it. Like all art, it is subjective. Much like salmon flies. Most salmon flies are not meant to imitate a specific food item like trout flies are intended to do. Salmon do not feed when they are migrating up rivers to spawn.They will take a fly for reasons unknown.Which in part lies some of the mystery & joy of salmon fishing.  You start with a blank canvas, or in this case a hook. You chose & blend your materi

A page of low water classics Summer Salmon fishing can be both frustrating & rewarding depending on what you make of your experience out on the water. Low, & warming water, with the constant fishing pressure over the spring & summer can really "put down" the fish.  Choosing the right time to fish & the right equipment & techniques can bring rewards when the things that worked so well for us in spring fail. I focus my efforts in the first & last few hours of daylight when conditions are unfavorable. These will be the times during the day that salmon will be less stressed & more willing to accept your offerings. Finding feeder creeks or springs that spill into pools can also be productive. A few wee doubles Getting salmon to come to your fly is a challenge in itself & getting them to commit is even more difficult, but we can put some of the odds in our favor in these lean times. I typically will use sparsely tied flies bet

A deep bodied bright spring salmon fresh from the ocean When someone asks, "what's your favorite time to fish for Atlantic Salmon?", my obvious answer is anytime, but spring salmon fishing ranks up high on the list! It may be the longing for the the season to start after a long, cold winter, or the scents of flowers, cedar, & damp leaves only springtime can bring, or the anticipation of fishing new flies tied over the winter months. All of it makes the experience on a salmon river in springtime feel like what heaven would be for me. But, the true reason, is & will always be the chance to fish for big, bright salmon! The first to enter the rivers still loaded with sea lice! At their peaks of size, power, & beauty! Eager to take your offerings with reckless abandonment! And give you memorable battles that only a worthy opponent could!   Spring tube flies BUT...................... These are the things you dream of over a long winter. Real