Article: Salmon flies too fancy for old hands

The proverb was right: Pride definitely comes before the fall.

For nearly 30 years, I've thought of myself as a skilled fly tier. My oversized but nimble fingers have cranked out thousands of trout flies and bass bugs.

It seemed only natural, then, that I would get the urge to tie really fancy flies - flies designed not to catch fish, but to catch the eye of other fishermen.

Flies that ought to require a construction permit. Flies that people display in shadow boxes.

So, when my wife asked me what I wanted for my 50th birthday, I asked for the materials to tie "full-dress" Atlantic salmon flies.

Time out for a brief explanation.

Full-dress Atlantic salmon flies are among the most cussedly ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!