The first ASFI show inspired me to begin tying Atlantic salmon flies. I am a member of the Northwest Atlantic Salmon Fly Guild (NWASFG) in the Seattle area. I've always been a creative person - as a graphic designer, I enjoy working with colors, textures, detail and the selection of materials. I sketch out most flies in detail and to the size of the hook I will be using - it helps me pay attention to proportion and how each piece will be shaped or curved. In my mind, I am able to walk through the steps of tying and think about the process before I sit down at the vise. The sketches are an aspect of tying that greatly helped me to improve. I always had a sketch to compare actual proportions to. I tie many Classics and appreciate their beauty, balance and proportion, but also enjoy spreading my wings into the Creative Salmon Fly arena where I can experiment with some of the more exotic feathers, but keep the design within the realm of classic elements.
I was invited to tie and be a presenter at ASFI 2016, which our club hosted in Seattle. I have since joined the Pro Staff for Lagartun, Ltd. I also was an invited tyer at ASFI 2018 in Miramichi, New Brunswick. This will be my 3rd time attending ASFI as a tyer and each year has been such a great experience – the people I meet, the friends I see, the talent on display at each table, the techniques every one of us pick up … I have also been a tyer the past 4 years at the Irish Fly Fairs in Galway. Other noteworthy international shows I have taken part in during past years include the London Fly Fair, the Scottish Fly Fair, the EWF and the SIM Fly Festival. This year will find me tying at the Dutch Fly Fair, as well as other shows. Travel enriches the whole fly tying experience for me.
My classic and artistic fly tying was featured in the Winter 2016 issue of H20 Magazine (Italy) with an article and pictoral. I was also one of the featured tyers in the recently published “Nexxus” book about salmon and the art of the salmon fly.
I look forward to being among the tyers at the 2024 ASFI show in Calgary!
I was invited to tie and be a presenter at ASFI 2016, which our club hosted in Seattle. I have since joined the Pro Staff for Lagartun, Ltd. I also was an invited tyer at ASFI 2018 in Miramichi, New Brunswick. This will be my 3rd time attending ASFI as a tyer and each year has been such a great experience – the people I meet, the friends I see, the talent on display at each table, the techniques every one of us pick up … I have also been a tyer the past 4 years at the Irish Fly Fairs in Galway. Other noteworthy international shows I have taken part in during past years include the London Fly Fair, the Scottish Fly Fair, the EWF and the SIM Fly Festival. This year will find me tying at the Dutch Fly Fair, as well as other shows. Travel enriches the whole fly tying experience for me.
My classic and artistic fly tying was featured in the Winter 2016 issue of H20 Magazine (Italy) with an article and pictoral. I was also one of the featured tyers in the recently published “Nexxus” book about salmon and the art of the salmon fly.
I look forward to being among the tyers at the 2024 ASFI show in Calgary!