Just for kicks, I began trying to attach feathers I found under the bird feeder to a hook clamped into a bench vise. It was clearly not the ideal way to develop fly-tying skill, and I often mentioned to my parents that I wanted a tying kit. As little kids go with their interests, I am willing to bet that they thought it was just another phase. Nonetheless it would keep me occupied, and hence my most memorable Christmas gift.

Fortunately, this is one phase I never did outgrow, and it has been occupying my spare time for the past 15 years! During high school I developed a much deeper interest in fly-tying, and my work began to rapidly improve. Local anglers began purchasing my flies, and I soon found myself tying professionally for some of New England’s fly shops. Thanks to a knack at the vise, I never held a typical high school job, and enjoyed my source of income. This was also the time that salmon flies came to captivate me.

The first salmon flies I recall seeing were from the color plates in Joe Bates’ Atlantic Salmon Flies sand Fishing. The first salmon fly I tied was a Lady Amherst, of which I put under a glass dome and gave to my mother, which she still keeps displayed on a shelf today. It was not until I got a copy of Judith Dunham’s "The Atlantic Salmon Fly: The Tiers and Their Art" did I really understand how big dressing classics was. This book also unveiled to me the whole concept of being a creative fly-tier.

Bob Veverka’s "3-Eyed Monster" blew me away, and Paul Schmookler’s writing on artistry in salmon flies was inspiring. Before any attempts at using my imagination in salmon flies, I slaved over the classics, learning techniques and developing my own style. Although I have taken a couple lessons, much of what I learned was from devouring books on the classics, observing others tie at shows, and having long conversations with accomplished tiers. Living in the northeastern United States there was access to accomplished tiers such as Bob Warren, Bill Wilbur, Paul Schmookler and Paul Seymour whom were all influential and shared volumes of advice with me. Other notables such as Pam Bates-Richards, her mother Helen and Phil Castleman have also been important to me.

Ironically, my interest in flies has never really been focussed on the angling aspect. Although I have attempted fly-casting, I find much more pleasure at the tying bench than on the water. Perhaps in the future I will manage to better learn about drifts, drags, and matching the hatch. Currently however, my focus is on my education studying psychology.

As long as I continue to tie flies, the legacy of Major Traherne will live on in me. His ability to present salmon flies in dual perspective- as both artistry and angling tool-is pleasingly nostalgic in my mind. As in all other facets of life, I believe that it is important to remember where you are coming from, for it is from the root in which we grow. This is a generation of fabulous tiers, and I look forward to seeing the talent on the next branch to come.

I can be reached by email at anthony_32137@msn.com if you have any questions or just want to chat salmon flies.

Thanks,