I don’t tie flies.
This may come as a surprise to people who don’t know me or fish with me. A lot of people assume that if one is a fly angling person, one is automatically a fly tying person. In my case, that is not the case.
I’ve never tied a fly.
I have never sat down at a vice and even tried tying before. In fact I’ve never watched someone else tie a fly, in person, although I will admit to having watched super fast-motion videos of people tying flies.
I have no interest in tying flies.
Despite being a creative person, I really don’t feel the tug of fly tying. I can understand the satisfaction of tying, of catching a fish on a pattern of one’s own creation. I can see how some folks derive great pleasure from creating their own patterns and giving them unique names. I like creating words, and drawing pictures, but I am not drawn to tying.
I don’t have the time to tie flies.
I seem to have no trouble filling my free time with other creative endeavors. I suppose, hypothetically, I would make time to tie if I were to take up the craft. Perhaps that’s a concern: that I may be consumed by tying and would never get anything else done.
I’m fiscally too practical to tie flies.
The cost of tying materials and equipment far exceeds what I spend on perfectly fine-quality, store-bought flies.
If I were to tie flies…
I already have a pattern in mind. It would be an ant pattern with a parachute that resembles a checkered doo rag, and I would call it the “Ant Jemima”. And I would trademark the pattern and license the tying rights to the highest bidder, and retire on the royalties. And then I would have the time and the fiscal freedom to tie flies.
Nice fly in a racially motivated way, but you’ll never get rich!
It came to me on a river last summer while fishing a black ant (and not being able to see it in low light) after having pancakes with maple syrup for breakfast. Nothing racially motivated bout that!
I think you should name it the Hamas Mammas.
Might have to rework the parachute in order to accommodate that name 😉
I’ve got a pattern I call Ant Misbehaving. Maybe our ants can mingle.
Ant Misbehaving. I like that rather a lot. If there’s not already, there should be a website for ants to meet up.
Sir,
My aproach to the subject of tying flies is absolutely the same! Once was ONE who said the truth. God bless your pen. However I have successfuly tied some flies on relatively big hook. When is going on trout flyfishing I can with peace and calm recommand You Sir, ‘Two Big Hearted River’ by Ernest Hmingway. :- )
God bless You and keep your line tide
Mark
P.S.
He,(the bear torn man) craweled to the Oscar
Thanks for the kind comments, as always. And yes indeed, the bear-torn man did win, despite my review 😉
I’d fish one of those ant jemina flies!