swapmeisters and swappers

[flytire 0]

Most bulletin board/forums will have what are called “fly swaps” going on where members of the bulletin board/forum community swap flies. This is a good way to receive some flies from tyers all around the world and to see how other tyers tie a particular fly. Fly swaps can be whatever you want them to be i.e.: your favorite dry fly, thunder creek style streamers, Halloween swap (using the colors of Halloween), bluegill flies, bass flies etc.

 

Here are some ideas to consider when joining or hosting a swap.

 

Please note that these are SUGGESTIONS that will help swapmeisters and fly swappers have a pleasurable swap and a good time. There are 2 components to a fly swap, swapmeister and fly swapper. Each one has specific duties in a fly swap. The following items below are NOT DIRECTED to any one swapmeister (as has been ASSUMED in a recent PM) or to any one swapper!

 

Swapmeister duties

 

1. Announce your intentions for the fly swap. Provide instructions on what type of flies to tie and a total on the number of tiers for the swap. I try to stick with a quantity of 12 tyers including myself. That seems to be a number that everyone is comfortable with. When you post your swap, also provide a signup deadline and a deadline for the flies to be in. Stick to the swap deadline! Don’t wait for PROCRASTINATORS! They spoil the swap for everybody! Any swapmeister shall have the right to refuse any swapper as necessary

 

2. Provide instructions for mailing in flies. Post your mailing address in a private message (PM) after all swappers have signed up.

 

3. When the swap is full post on the BB it is full so other tiers won't be wasting there time trying to join the swap.

 

4. When you receive flies from the tiers, let them know on the bulletin board/forum or send a PM to each swapper that you have received their swap flies.

 

5. Once you receive all flies from all tiers, its time to sort them, get them all packaged up and deliver them to the post office in a timely manner. Notify all tiers either on the bulletin board/forum or by PM that you have mailed out the flies to them.

 

6. This is an option not a requirement – if the swapmeister has the time and resources, it is a nice gesture to photograph the swap flies individually and post them to the bulletin board/forum for anybody to view them.

 

7. It is important that swapmeisters and tyers communicate with each other thru a private message (PM) or in a bulletin board/forum posting. Swapmeisters it is a good idea to check your post at least once a day, to see if you have any more swappers that have signed up, or in case any of your swappers have questions.

 

8. Life events happen and some are emergencies. If you encounter an event that is going to make your commitment to the swap impossible, please have the common courtesy of contacting the Swappers in a reasonable amount of time so he can advertise for a substitute Swapmeister.

 

Fly swapper duties

 

1. Understand what you are getting yourself into. When you join a swap, please read the guidelines the swapmeister has provided and adhere to those guidelines! If you feel that you cannot tie the type of fly the swapmeister has posted or if you find the quantity of flies to be tied too many don’t join the swap.

 

2. Procrastinators – why join a fly swap when you know you’re always late to send in flies?

 

3. Post what fly pattern you will be tying.

 

4. Tie your swap flies and let the swapmeister know you have finished.

 

5. Include with your flies a toe tag (small piece of paper) with the name of the fly, your name and/or bulletin board/forum user name and your email address so the other tiers can email you for the fly tying instructions. (Please see the end of this article regarding toe tags.)

 

6. When mailing your flies, please send them in a strong enough and big enough box that will protect them and will hold all of the flies you will be receiving back. Obviously the size of the flies is going to dictate what size of container to mail them in. Mark the box with your name and address and your user name. It would be a nice gesture if you can mail your swap flies at least 10 days before the end of the swap so they will get to the swapmeister by the deadline date or earlier. (Please see the end of this article for more on containers/boxes.)

 

7. (Domestic swappers) Swappers must include a self addressed stamped envelope that is strong enough and big enough for the fly box/container you send in and will receive back. Include postage on your return envelope in the form of stamps. Here is what I do: insert you fly box/container in the return envelope (do not seal it at this time) and ask the postmaster for postage from the swapmeisters zip code. Affix the correct amount of stamps to the return envelope. Now you can insert that envelope into the larger mailing envelope and get the postmaster to get you the final postage.

(International swappers) Swappers must communicate with the swapmeister regarding postal issues. Swappers may want to purchase an IRC (International Reply Coupon)

to pay for return postage or may choose to remit payment using PayPal as long as both swapper and swapmeister has an account with PayPal. Please contact your local Postal Service regarding the IRC.

 

8. When you receive the swap flies back in the mail notify the Swapmeister on the BB or by PM that you have received them.

 

9. Life events happen and some are emergencies. If you encounter an event that is going to make your commitment to the swap impossible, please have the common courtesy of contacting the Swapmeister in a reasonable amount of time so he can advertise for a substitute.

[artimus001 0]

worthy additions?

 

7a. IRC's

 

7b. PayPal