July 4 Flies

Freestyle flies for July 4

Two Tone Blobs

Recipe

Hook - Partridge Size 12 Czech Nymph Barbless

Thread - UNI-Thread 8/0 (Fire Orange)

Body - Estaz Chenille (any color)
Head - Tungsten Bead (any color)

VIDEO - How to Make Mono Eyes for Flies

Shrimp

Recipe

Hook - Size 2 Streamer

Thread - UNI-Thread 8/0 (Camel)

Head - McFly Foam (Yellow)

Eyes - Burned Mono and painted black

Antenna - Blue and Gold Macaw

Legs - EP Brush

Body - Rabbit Dubbing (Tan)

Shellback - Swiss Straw (Brown)

Ribbing - 6X Nylon Tippet

Tail - Swiss Straw (Brown)

Rainbow Trout Underwater

Short video from a recent fishing trip . . . 

This is what trout do . . . hold in the current all day and eat.

(may not play on some mobile devices)

WNC Fly Fishing Expo

Had lots of fun tying flies in the Flymen Fishing Co. 

booth at the WNC Fly Fishing Expo last weekend!

Fly Tyers Weekend

Fly Tyers Weekend is less than a week away. November 7 and 8.

CLICK HERE for details and the tying demonstration schedule.

2015 Fall Orvis Days

Looking forward to seeing my friends at Orvis and

demonstrating fly tying at the Orvis Store in Asheville, NC

all day tomorrow (October 10). 

Southern Council IFFF Fly Fishing Fair

Demonstrating this weekend (Saturday) at the

Southern Council IFFF Fly Fishing Fair (Mountain Home, AR)

October 2-3, 2015

IFFF Southern Council Fly Fishing Fair (Oct 2-3, 2015)

The fly tyers schedule has been posted for the International Federation of

Fly Fishers Southern Council Fly Fishing Fair in Mountain Home, AR.

 CLICK HERE for the schedule. Other details for this great event are also posted.

Scenes from Sowbug

The Sowbug Roundup

The Sowbug Roundup is this weekend in Mountain Home, AR.

Click HERE for details. This is one of my favorite

events to demonstrate in and probably the largest

fly tying event in the US. Lots of great tyers; lots

of nice people; and lots of great fishing.

Mustad Hooks - #28, #26 Treble, and #32

This unique Mustad Souvenir was given to me by Steve Tagami and 

Reid McKinstry from Mustad at the Bassmasters Classic last month.  It 

is approximately 30 years old and was a neat promotional item that

Mustad used at that time. Comparison to the eye of a normal size sewing

 needle shows how small that Size 32 hook really is. Thank you to Mustad hooks! 

Winston-Salem Fly Fishing Show

 

Looking forward to demonstrating at the Winston-Salem

Fly Fishing Show this weekend. Click HERE for more details.

Here are a few pictures from last year's show:

 

Free Fly Tying Demonstrations at Little River Outfitters

Thanks to Byron Begley, Daniel Drake, and Dan Munger for inviting me to be a demonstration fly tyer in their fly shop on January 17, 2015. Little River Outfitters offers FREE fly tying demonstrations every Saturday beginning this coming weekend and through the end of February. If you are in the Townsend, TN area on any Saturday this Winter, stop by to visit one of the best fly shops in the U.S. and also take advantage of the free fly tying demonstrations. 

Click HERE for more details and the weekly schedule of tyers.

International Fly Tying Symposium

Looking forward to being a demonstration fly tyer at the

International Fly Tying Symposium this weekend in Somerset, NJ. 

Click HERE for details. 

Fly Tyers Weekend

Don't miss Fly Tyer's Weekend this coming weekend in Townsend, TN (November 8 and 9). Many of the best fly tyers in the world will be demonstrating, and admission is FREE.  This will be one of the best fly tying events of the year! Click here for more details ---> Fly Tyer's Weekend

Orvis - Another coupon leads to new friends

A year ago from this past weekend, we headed home after leaving the Pigeon Forge area (see previous blog post). We had an extra coupon from the Sevierville Orvis Store, so on the way back we called the Orvis Store in Asheville, NC and Sav Sankaran answered the phone. We asked Sav if we could use the Sevierville store coupon in the Asheville store. Without hesitation, Sav said it was no problem and to come on by. We arrived at the Orvis Asheville store without a lot of time to spare (only about 20 minutes until closing).

The customer service experience at the Orvis Sevierville store the previous day was outstanding, and the Asheville store personnel took it to an even higher level. Sav patiently answered a barrage of questions from Tradd about fly tying materials. They even held the store open for us after closing, and that is just a small example of the customer service that Orvis is all about. We used the coupon and purchased some materials, and that first experience at the Asheville store has brought us back many times since.

Over the past year, every person in the Asheville Orvis store has been extremely helpful and encouraging to Tradd in this new world of fly fishing and tying. James, Austin, Drew, Jeremy, Marguerite, Sarah Beth, Sav, and Troop have spent many hours talking with Tradd about fly tying materials and fly fishing equipment and have always treated him with kindness and patience.

Tradd has now had the privilege of being a fly tying demonstrator for two separate Orvis Days Events in that store and has enjoyed those expereinces very much. A lot has happened in just one year, and Orvis has been a big part of it. We are grateful for the encouragement and friendship of all of the professionals in the Asheville Orvis Store.

Little River Outfitters - A government shutdown, a coupon, and an act of kindness...

Exactly one year ago today, the US Government shutdown forced a change in our vacation plans. We had originally planned to visit a National Park in another state but since that park was closed due to the shutdown, we ended up in the Pigeon Forge, TN area. An Orvis coupon in a local visitor's guide led us to the Orvis Store in Sevierville. We bought some fly tying materials at Orvis, but they also recommended that we visit Little River Outfitters in Townsend. Earlier that day, we had visited the Bass Pro Shops nearby, and they had also recommended a visit to Little River Outfitters. We were new to fly fishing and wanted to learn as much as possible, so we thought it must be good advice to visit LRO that day.

Then came a pivotal act of kindness that was far more than the gift that you will read about below. The encouragement and support from the people at Little River Outfitters (Bryon Begley, Glenn Allgood, Daniel Drake, and Alex Bone) has had a significant positive impact on Tradd's fly tying and fishing. It is easy to see why people in the fly fishing industry all over the country know Little River Outfitters and speak highly of its reputation. We are very grateful for the kindness and friendship of the great people at LRO.

The following is an excerpt from the Little River Outfitters Daily Fishing Report on October 18, 2013.  (Click HERE for the Full Text):

Our customer Mark from Michigan and I have become friends over the years. He came in here a couple of months ago with a stack of fly tying books and videos. He said “Fly tying is not for me, do something with these books”. One of the books was that huge volume of information written by Ted Leeson and another author. I can’t remember the name of the book. I have a copy and it’s one of the best fly tying books ever written. It retails for $100. I held on to Mark’s books to donate them to our TU Chapter.

Yesterday, Tradd from South Carolina came in with his parents. He had never been here. He is eleven years old and is deep into fly tying. I can understand that. I started tying flies at the same age, 51 years ago. Tradd kind of looks like I did at that age. He and his parents had been shopping for materials at Bass Pro Shops in Kodak and at the Orvis Company Store in Sevierville. People at both stores suggested he come to our store too. I appreciate that and also return the favor when I can.

Tradd was full of questions. I answered most of them. We looked at lots of tying materials for a while. I never tell anyone I am the owner of the store but Tradd's dad asked if I was. I said yes. He told me I probably had other things to do than answer all of these questions. I told him I did have other stuff to do but I would rather be doing this. 
 

I have never seen such a young guy that interested in fly tying, not in 19 years in this business. 

At some point, I thought about that book Mark gave me. I walked up to my office, got the book and gave it to Tradd. His eyes flew wide open. I told them the story about Mark turning those books in.  So, Tradd walked out with about $100 worth of fly tying materials and a $100 book for $100. That’s three “$100” in one sentence. Am I losing my grasp of the English language?

 

It’s days like yesterday that make this whole job worthwhile. I really enjoy working with our staff. I like them all. I like working with customers, all of them. I enjoy talking to our vendors. 
 

But most of all, I get a kick out of helping young people enjoy our sport more and hopefully I can encourage their interest for life. It will take more than I can do, but I’ll do my part. This fishing report is part of that process. I know this report is read by a lot of kids and young adults. I know teachers who encourage their students to read this report for lots of reasons. 
 

Yesterday was a good day. The church bells are ringing across the street. It is 9:00 am. For all of you English students out there, it took 40 minutes or less to write this.

Have a good day yourself and thank you for being here with us.

Byron Begley
October 18, 2013

Trout don't live in ugly places ...