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Influential fly tyer past or present !

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Fascinating topic.

I am definitely showing my age when I read the current list of influential tyers compared to my own. I'm familiar with most if not all, but my time of learning and growing in the sport lead me to folks that today are legends from the past. They were a big part of my path through the world of fly fishing and I consider myself very fortunate to have met all of these folks. Not just tyers...but bamboo rod builders, reel makers, custom glass and graphite rod makers, etc,etc, etc.

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I will go with a couple of local guys

Idaho Joe Roope - From website- Idaho Joe Roope, a master fly tier since the age of 11, has been hammering the waterways of the US and abroad his entire life.  He won the prestigious Jackson Hole One Fly competition a few years back. 

Joe owns Castaway fly shop in CDA Idaho. This is the guy and the shop I trust more than any other. For 20 years he has treated me like part of his team and has been a friend. He has helped me learn and grow. One of my friends, Rick was a guide for Joe years ago. Rick is who introduced me to fly fishing and to Joe. Joe has some good tying videos on line with Fly Tying iTV

Next 

Lester Bevan - Retired now Les was A long time Orvis guide. Les takes his time and money to give free tying lessons at the library locally. He provides all of the materials and vises for anyone interested.  Unfortunately this years class was canceled due to covid. Les is also a friend. 

Booth Joe and Les are great local guys that take time to help people in the community. Both are master fly fishers and fly tyers that have done a lot to promote the sport in a sustainable, responsible way. 

These guys would be my pick for influential tyers. 

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4 hours ago, SalarMan said:

Fascinating topic.

I am definitely showing my age when I read the current list of influential tyers compared to my own. I'm familiar with most if not all, but my time of learning and growing in the sport lead me to folks that today are legends from the past. They were a big part of my path through the world of fly fishing and I consider myself very fortunate to have met all of these folks. Not just tyers...but bamboo rod builders, reel makers, custom glass and graphite rod makers, etc,etc, etc.

 SalarMan you named some heavy hitters in your prior post.  Did you get to feed Harry’s goat when you stopped by his place.

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There have been so many fly tyers that have inspired me over the years.

Jack Dennis i was lucky to meet and tye with him as well as Gary LaFontaine sat in a class that he was giving what a great and kind soul. John Shewey what great technician when it came to Spey and steelhead flies. Marvin Nolte one of the most knowledgeable individuals to tie classic salmon flies. There is Brian wise on youtube that has been great to learn from when it come to articulated streamers I love his videos but for me I never listen to the music that is embedded not my style but if you like great content with out the long drawn out explanation how to he is well work the time to watch. Then there are the member on this forum that inspire me on a daily basis some are the newer tyer as well as the long time tyer and to see what they have to share the depth of knowledge here is priceless 

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I was fortunate to learn fly tying from Andre Puyans, the originator of the A.P. nymph and a California Hall of Fame fly fisherman.  Since i fish for mostly trout and I took trips to Idaho/Montana for over 25 years, i would have to say Rene Harrop was most influential to my tying.  I particularly like his "Life Cycle of the Mayfly" video.  He developed a fly he called the transitional dun that has been a very effective fly for me; I nailed a 22 inch rainbow from Silver Creek on it.

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My first fly tying class was with Charlie Craven, so that was a lucky start.  I took more classes from Mark Nobel in Vancouver, WA, may he RIP.  Mark was probably my biggest influence.  I was also influenced by Ed Engle and AK Best.  I also enjoyed meeting Denny Rickards and learning about his flies.  I have been watching videos and reading a lot of work by Jay Nichols.  Of all of the tyers that I admire and would like to emulate, Syd Glasso is at the top.  Pure class.

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16 hours ago, Mogup said:

 SalarMan you named some heavy hitters in your prior post.  Did you get to feed Harry’s goat when you stopped by his place.

Mogup - Like most things it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Funny thing is with all the visits to the Darbee's back then and wandering among the chicken cages, lunch with them in the kitchen, spending a little money of course...I don't remember a goat. After sipping some scotch with Harry a few things were bound to become a little fuzzy:P They were wonderful people and for some reason we just hit it off. Fun times.

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22 hours ago, SalarMan said:

Fascinating topic.

I am definitely showing my age when I read the current list of influential tyers compared to my own. I'm familiar with most if not all, but my time of learning and growing in the sport lead me to folks that today are legends from the past. They were a big part of my path through the world of fly fishing and I consider myself very fortunate to have met all of these folks. Not just tyers...but bamboo rod builders, reel makers, custom glass and graphite rod makers, etc,etc, etc.

 SalarMan you named some heavy hitters in your prior post.  Did you get to feed Harry’s goat when you stopped by his place.

 

2 hours ago, SalarMan said:

Mogup - Like most things it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Funny thing is with all the visits to the Darbee's back then and wandering among the chicken cages, lunch with them in the kitchen, spending a little money of course...I don't remember a goat. After sipping some scotch with Harry a few things were bound to become a little fuzzy:P They were wonderful people and for some reason we just hit it off. Fun times.

Salarman his goat resided in the doghouse that was in the front of the house. Funny. I have forgotten it’s name. Dave Brandt was a good friend of that goat.

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My list would start with Wayne Casto, who didn't tie flies, but did get me started fly fishing.  He mentored me and showed me his 12 essential patterns.  He critiques and used many of my earliest attempts.  My first book on Fly tying was the Wise Fisherman's Encyclopedia, followed by Flies by J. Edson Leonard.  I ended up with about 120 books on Entomology, and  tying patterns to imitate them.  My list of earliest books and  influences would include:  James E. Leisenring  & Vernon S. Hidy, Doug Swisher & Carl Richards, Al Caucci & Bob Nastasi, Gary LaFontaine, Charles E Brooks, Jack Dennis, Ernest G. Schwiebert, Vincent C Marinaro, Sylvester Nemes and many others.  

I was in West Yellowstone in 1975, and picked up a copy of The Soft-Hackled Fly.  The next day was a downpour,  and I sat in the cafe in Last Chance, and read the entire book.  I then went into the  Henry's Fork Angler, and purchased a Partridge skin.  I spend the afternoon tying up a few dozen Soft-Hackled flies of my one.  The next day I drove up to the Firehole and fished a run mentioned in the book.  Syl Nemes became my biggest early influence.  

Through the years, I most of my inspiration from books and magazines.  Only in the last 8 or 10 years have I started watching videos.  There are some very good ones among the thousands on YouTube.  Some of my favorites are Charlie Craven, and Kelly Galloup, Davie McFall, and Hans Weilenmann.  Since joining this forum, I have learned from and been influenced by many, many members.  I will not list them so as to not offend any I forget.  This is after all a lifelong learning experience.  I don't think it's possible to learn and master everything there is in fly tying in one life time.

 

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Fran Betters.Had the pleasure of sitting with him for a couple hours a few years before his passing.He was tying his famous Ausable Wulff's.While he was tying he was talking about the river, the fish and flytying.What was so amazing was he tied over 4 dozen Wulff's while I watched and listened.Two years later I was tying commercially.

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6 hours ago, Mogup said:

 SalarMan you named some heavy hitters in your prior post.  Did you get to feed Harry’s goat when you stopped by his place.

 

Salarman his goat resided in the doghouse that was in the front of the house. Funny. I have forgotten it’s name. Dave Brandt was a good friend of that goat.

Nope...still don't remember the goat. May have been before my time. I first began going to the Darbee's shop in 1973 if that is a clue.

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Not important . Just made me laugh is all. He was a nice fellow and he was nice to a couple of young guys that came to see him.

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