Looking for a winter pastime? Learn how to tie flies!

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

www.uftri.org

www.northernri.tu.org


United Fly Tyers meet on January 6 , 2016 from 6:30pm till 8:30pm

Knights of Columbus Hall, 475 Sandy Lane, Warwick , Rhode Island

The Junior Fly Tying Program for boys and girls from 10 to 16 meets from October through March, and ends with a day on a pond where they are taught to recognize available insects and to fly fish by Ed Lombardo, a prominent fly fishing guide in Rhode Island. 
     An interesting fact to consider: It’s not uncommon for folks to decide to take up fly tying even though they’ve never actually fly fished. The activity itself can be relaxing and can provide a creative outlet as the snow piles up during our long New England winters.

January 6, 2016

6:30- 8:30 pm

Knights of Columbus Hall

475 Sandy Lane

Warwick, RI

January 6, 2016

6:30- 8:30 pm

Knights of Columbus Hall

475 Sandy Lane

Warwick, RI

January 6, 2016

6:30- 8:30 pm

Knights of Columbus Hall

475 Sandy Lane

Warwick, RI

January 6, 2016

6:30- 8:30 pm

Knights of Columbus Hall

475 Sandy Lane

Warwick, RI

January 6, 2016

6:30- 8:30 pm

Knights of Columbus Hall

475 Sandy Lane

Warwick, RI

More than a decade ago, as my passion for fly fishing really began to take off, I spent an enjoyable day on the water with a friend who pulled a fly box out of his vest and offered me a few flies to try.

The flies were lined up in neat rows, and he had a half-dozen or so of each size and pattern. It was a nice selection — more impressive, I thought, because he tied all those flies himself.
In the back of my mind, I told myself that someday I’d learn how to tie flies of my own — maybe.
Complicating matters: Also lurking in the back of my mind was the knowledge that I’m not the craftiest fish in the lake. Not overly handy, either, to tell you the truth.
If I’m making confessions here, I might as well go for broke: In kindergarten, I nearly flunked our unit on “scissors.” Come to think of it, I never really mastered the art of coloring between the lines, either.
My art projects as a young kid typically turned out looking like what you’d get if a drunken baboon had stolen a pile of construction paper, a few pipe cleaners, some glitter and a bottle of glue.
Therefore, the thought of trying to create beautiful — or, for that matter, strictly functional — fishing flies was a bit daunting.
Grab some feathers, a hook, some thread and some fur? Make it into a fly? Cue the drunken baboon
Over time, several early mentors reassured me. One — George Medbury, an accomplished fly-tier — held up his huge paws and showed off fingers that were roughly the size of kielbasa.
“If I can tie with these things, you can tie, too,” he told me.
Then he did me a huge favor — a favor I’m happy to return to you today.
He told me about the United Fly Tyers

of Rhode Island and their beginner’s fly tying classes. I enrolled in the classes, eventually joined in at a few more advanced workshops and learned he was right — more or less. Though I’m no tying artist, I can tie my own flies. They will catch fish.
And, best of all, the activity is a ton of fun.
Here’s the great thing: The United Fly Fishers aren’t alone. In many towns around the state, fish and game clubs, Trout Unlimited chapters and adult education providers offer tying classes at this time of year..