Fly Tying Time Again

We sportsmen pretty much merely exist during the coldest months of the year. Though fish can be caught during the winter, it is much more comfortable to sit near a woodburner and read about fishing. We also take the time to tinker with our gear; but in reality, it does not take too long to clean our rods, reels, and other equipment or to replace items that have seen better days.

Spin fishermen can spend some of their winter days making lures that they will toss to fish during the upcoming season. However, sportsmen who like to fly-fish for trout or other fish species are the ones who can spend many hours creating flies that they hope will fool fish.

As a fly-fisherman who ties most of his own flies, I have spent countless hours over more than 50 years tying flies. My flies are not the "works of art" that some tiers can whip up, but they are serviceable and have fooled many fine trout. This winter I did not tie many flies. I did not fish as often as usual last year and did not put much of a dent in my supply of flies. I was done tying flies by early January.

This winter is going to be tougher than usual for sportsmen who want to learn to tie flies. Most winters the John Kennedy Chapter of Trout Unlimited (Blair County) hosts fly-tying classes that are taught by experienced fly tiers. The chapter has chosen to cancel this year's classes because of the recent explosion of COVID cases. So, if you want to learn to tie flies or want to learn to tie specific fly patterns, you'll have to find a different way to do it.

Help is available online. Justin Brubaker taught himself to tie flies by visiting various websites. (He sometimes procures his own materials and even dries animal carcasses by hanging the furs on the walls of his family's family room. I think that's quite creative; his mom is not quite as enthusiastic about it.)

The best place I know of for learning to tie flies online is the Holsinger Fly Shop website. Just google Holsinger's Fly Shop. You'll find a number of categories. Click on "tutorials." You will find instructions for tying hundreds of fly patterns, many that I have never heard of. Holsinger's Fly Shop is located in East Freedom and is a great place to find materials.

You can learn to tie flies this winter. It just might take a little more effort than usual.