Fly-Tying Workshop

This news release went out a week or two ago, but I want to repeat it here as a reminder:

Fly-Tying Workshop Aug. 25 at Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium

The Cornhusker Fly Fishers club will conduct a free fly-tying workshop Aug. 25 at the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium Outdoor Education Center. All material and tools will be provided. The 9 a.m. workshop also may include an afternoon session.

Reservations are required and may be made at 402-332-3901. The aquarium is located in Schramm Park State Recreation Area, south of Gretna.

If you are just getting into fly-fishing, I have news for you:  After you get hooked on the fly-casting and catching fish on the fly rod, the next thing you will want to do is start tying your own flies.  So, you might as well find a group like the Cornhusker Fly Fishers, http://cornhuskerflyfishers.org/ , and join up!  Finding some experienced fly anglers who are more than willing to share their expertise in fly-casting, fly fishing and fly tying will make your “learning curve” less steep and a lot more enjoyable.

If you need more information or directions on our Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium you can find it here, http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/fishing/programs/aquaticed/aquarium.asp .

I started playing around with fly tying when I was a kid.  My tools and materials were crude.  Back in those “old days” I scavenged feathers, fur, yarn, thread and other fly tying materials everywhere I could find them.  Our cats may have sported a few patches of short fur from time to time–they must have been shedding.  At that time I knew of not one sporting goods store or tackle shop where I could purchase fly tying materials; a person could order materials from Herter’s or maybe Cabela’s, but that was about it.  Now I can shop for fly-tying tools and materials in at least 3 businesses I regularly visit, and the internet is full of businesses that sell fly-tying supplies.

My early fly-tying efforts were crude and embarrassing.  But, I learned something from those pathetic efforts–THE FISH DID NOT CARE how bad my flies looked.  If I could tie something that looked “buggy”, no matter how primitive the effort, the fish would eat it.  They really liked patterns tied with rubber legs.

My current fly-tying efforts are just as crude and unprofessional as they were when I was much younger.  My tools and materials have improved, but my skills are still elementary.  I marvel at really good fly-tiers, like those guys who will be at the Cornhusker Flyfishers workshop.  My trout bum nephew is a pretty good tier too, and I try to beg as many flies as possible from him nowadays.  But, it is still a thrill to tie something yourself and actually catch a fish on it!  Try it, you’ll like it, but I’m warning you–you will become addicted.

My ugly rendition of a foam hopper pattern.

But good enough for a bunch of White River brown trout!