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Antique
Classic Full Dressed Flies
The "real" McCoy's. Tied in the late 1800's and early
1900's, these are examples of the tying style and materials used for
actual fishing flies. Most were tied by "Ghillies", the equivalent
of the modern-day fishing guides, without any tools - no vise, no
bobbin, nothing but their hands and skill. They were actually fished by
royalty and those fortunate enough to be able to fish the fabled
Atlantic Salmon rivers of old. As such, their colors may be faded, hooks
a bit rusty over time, but they are still representing the art of the
salmon fly as proudly now as when first tied, some over 100 years ago. |
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Mike
Martinek
Mike Martinek is a Maine native and has been an avid fly tier for
over 40 years. He
is regarded as a modern authority on the techniques, style, and
history of the traditional streamer fly.
Through writing and demonstration tying, he
has lead the way in the rejuvenation of traditional streamer fly tying. Mike's
flies have appeared in some of the best fly tying
books and articles on the classic New England streamer style of
fly tying. He has
helped in
the creation of a series of hooks modeled after the old Allcock hooks no
longer available - his Mike Martinek Rangeley streamer hooks are sold
under the Gaelic Supreme brand. |
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Bill
Chinn
Yet another local
Portland, Oregon area fly tier considered one of the true masters of
Full Dressed fly tying is Bill Chinn. Active
in the 1980's and '90's, Bill tied the Classics with the skill and style
of which few can match. He also enjoyed tying the long flowing hackled
Spey patterns, often as large display flies with a unique and
distinctive signature style truly his own. The Spey flies here are older
fishing patterns, not on a par with his current work. We hope to get
several new ties from him soon. He has also collected
patterns from other noted tiers and was kind enough to lend me his flies
featured here and the flies in the sections for the Antique patterns,
Bob Veverka, Mark Waslick, the Dette's, and Bill McMillan. Thanks Bill ! |
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Bill
McMillan
Bill McMillan was and still is one of the true advocates and leaders of
the "Dry Line" Steelhead flyfishing resurgence that started in
the late '60's and '70's in the Pacific Northwest. Bill led the way to an awakening for many anglers that steelhead
could be caught effectively year around with a floating line. Through a
combination of carefully selected leader, fly style and fishing
techniques, one could fish everything form surface skaters to deeply sunk patterns in heavy, cold winter flows.
The flies here are fishing flies from Bill's wallet - so while not as
"neat" as new flies, they have character and mystique
all their own - think of the magical waters they have seen and the
fish they have caught at the hands of a master angler! |
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Ronn
Lucas, Sr.
Another local
Portland, Oregon area fly tier with a flair for the unique is Ronn
Lucas, Sr.
He has
combined the traditional "look and feel" of the Classics with
unique modern materials and created a series of artistic flies never
meant to touch a steelhead or salmon stream. He also is the maker of the
hooks he uses and offers many unique styles available for tiers at his website listed in the
Internet Links section of this site.
Check out the great colors and use of beads in his innovative designs.
Note - the page that opens is actually from Ronn's site and are his
photos - nice work Ronn! |
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Bob
Veverka
An innovative tier and angler, Bob Veverka has been tying flies for over twenty-five years and teaching fly tying for more than ten.
He is
recognized as an expert tier of Classic Atlantic Salmon flies and with a
special passion for Spey flies. He has designed several patterns,
including Spey patterns such as the Purple Heart Spey, Scarlet Eagle,
and Copper Heron. He wrote the book "Spey Flies & How to Tie
Them" a widely acclaimed treatment of technique and
design theories old naad new. He also wrote ‘Innovative Saltwater
Flies’ and provided flies for Trey Combs’ ‘Steelhead.’ He
lives in Underhill, Vermont.
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