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Thoughts & Words on Fly Tying...
Last night we had a dozen or so anglers turn out for Thursday Night Fly Tying (TNT) at BAYMEN Outfitters. We enjoyed much pizza, an occasional refreshment, and great camaraderie with fellow anglers. Everything a fly tying night should be.
I'm always amazed at what comes off the vises of such a creative group. Snake flies, flat wings, sand eels, squids, Baymen Universals, eel punts, razzle dazzles, bunkers, yak-attacks, crease flies - you name it - this group ties it every Thursday night at the shop. Like fly fishing, fly tying is a true art form mastered only over time. It is laced with creative thought and wishful dreams that sometimes come true.
One of the true pleasures for me as a fly shop owner, is to stand back and watch the tiers at work. I have the great vantage point from behind the counter. At first, it's just the gathering of men carrying boxes filled with supplies, prototypes and ideas. The conversations are pleasant and relaxed with the talk of fishing. Then the boxes are opened, the ideas are brought out, discussed and passed around the room for all to enjoy and see and question. Creative minds are stimulated, the vises assembled, and the silent thoughts of the fly tier tiers are transformed into works of art before their very eyes...
As I stand and watch and wish, I can hear the quiet thoughts and dreams and questions of the tiers that are also my own. Will it work? What will the fish think? How will it cast...? My mind drifts back into seasons past, filled with that great anticipation of catching the first striper of the season. And then many fish. And then the biggest fish. And then, possibly, the biggest fish of them all... It can be overwhelming when taken in all at once, but when taken in a little at a time, it is as soothing as a summer sunrise.
So I watch, and dream, and learn from the tiers at their vises and wish and hope for an early season. The cold outside will soon be filled with the warmth of spring and the melodies of birds and spring peepers and the fragrances of sweet flowers. The scent of the ocean will once again fill our nostrils. Ripples on the water will make us ask questions, and splashes will quickly put our lines into the air. Like madmen, we will throw our creations of winter into the sea and watch them disappear in great boils. Our lines will go taunt and our reels will scream, our spirits will soar, and at that moment there will be no other place on earth that we would rather be.
Tight lines my friends. It's almost here...
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