Tying Atlantic Salmon Flies

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 material much as a painter would his colors. & like a painter, your brush strokes can be predetermined or can be totally random . You can paint the bowl of fruit sitting on your table or you can bring to life only something your imagination can create. Much like tying salmon flies.

some Classics on doubles

Evolution

When one first ventures into the world of tying salmon flies, their first goal is to tie something that will catch them a salmon. They imitate the standard flies that work well for the waters they fish. Soon, they will add or subtract from these patterns to make their own variations. This step is when the addiction begins! Their own creations will quickly follow & when they are gifted with the pull of a salmon on these flies, it is too late to stop!
This was my exact evolution as a tier, but I wanted more knowledge. The "whys" were not answered. So I began to gather as much info as I could through books, internet & social media. I learnt that to evolve, I had to start from the beginning. This opened a new world that has not only made my tying that more enjoyable, but it has made me cross paths with other like minded, passionate people that I learn from & try to emulate.
With the internet as one of our tying tools, one can open new doors. Learning new & different styles & techniques from different parts of the world or diving back into time & learning about the Victorian era with its beautiful gaudy salmon flies, the possibilities are endless. Just like art.

Anticipation

Had to tie these before the trip

There are many opportunities to fish in my part of the world, but when the thermometer does not permit it, it is time to tie! We sit at our benches & go through, in our minds, the waters we will fish the next season & begin to tie flies for specific runs, pools, currents, depths, or conditions that might occur when we are there. It is impossible to predict, but we can prepare!
Then there is the last minute fly that needs to be tied right before the trip.Or the hot fly at the camp that must be tied in the late hours after a few wee drams, with only a few hours to spare for sleep before you hit the river.
& for the real harcorers, the onstream tie!
The anticipation tie is one of the most rewarding when you do hook up!!!

Hooked, landed & released on a fly tied a day before the trip!

Yoga

But back to Yoga.....
How do you unwind at the end of as stressful day?
My relief comes from feathers, fur, tinsel & iron.
When you feel like you have a million things to do, but can't seem to finish one, tie a fly. It will remind you to slow down & make each "wrap of thread" count for something. Rushing a fly will make it look tattered & weak, but taking your time will make it look solid & refined. Like all things.

.A few flies drying on the bench

Fish don't care

Not to beat the Yoga analogy to death, but....There is no such thing as "the best Yogi". One of the principals of Yoga, as I understand it, is to be comfortable in one's own skin & not worrying about what others think. Fly tying for yourself ,in my opinion, should follow the same principal. 
There are no rules!
One can tie a piece of yarn to a hook or one can tie an intricate married wing. If both are used for fishing, then the goal is to fool a fish.
Fish don't care!
You put & take what you want from your tying & fishing experiences. Nothing should influence that except the respect we should show for our quarry.