Young Enthusiast

[dleo6446]

Some time ago, I offered some pictures of flies tied by a young enthusiast here in Nashville. His name is Ken Yamazaki, he is 11 years old, self taught (mostly) and is quite talented as you can see by his work.

He has been tying for about a year now and his talent never ceases to amaze me. His very first fly was a beautiful Salmon fly and that was last April or May, somewhere in that time frame. He came in once and asked me to show him how to spin deer hair and I spent maybe 20 minutes with him showing him a few techniques. The following Saturday, he came back and gave me a small fish that he had tied, completely out of spun deer hair and immaculately trimmed to resemble a very small fish. I thought that was very clever, then one day I found the fly that he had tied in one of our fly tying books and I asked him if that was what he had tied and he told me that he had seen it and wanted to tie one like it.

I really thought that you would enjoy seeing what his young man is doing and has only been tying for nearly a year now. Pretty remarkable to say the least. Enjoy!!

[JeffHamm]

Hi,
I recall the original post. Now, like then, I'm amazed at what Ken can do. Beautiful flies.

- Jeff

[Soft-hackle]

Very good work. I don't think I'd do that good on salmon flies.

Mark

[ohiotuber]

Leo,
All I can do is look at his art in sheer amazement! Just beautiful.
Mike

[billknepp]

I remember the original post as well, I'm just hoping that, That vise is his father's..could not imagine being 11 yrs old...and owning a nor vise! or apparently....37..lol Beautiful Flies btw!.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

dleo,

That kid is on fire. Great dressing of free style salmon flies. Would love to see some pics of his deer hair work as well.

REE

[scubatim]

OK OK that's it I am now officially jealous

[flybinder]

Scuba, I'm not AT ALL "jealous" of this young man's tying skill, I think I'm far beyond that stage, seeing his work!
I'm more attuned to just toss out all my own tying equipment and going straight back to worms!
Truly beautiful free-style flies, simply beautiful.

[scubatim]

Scuba, I'm not AT ALL "jealous" of this young man's tying skill, I think I'm far beyond that stage, seeing his work!
I'm more attuned to just toss out all my own tying equipment and going straight back to worms!
Truly beautiful free-style flies, simply beautiful.

You a worm dunker? Say it ain't so, oh never mind your just full of poop again LOL.

I may not be great at tying but have no intention on throwing out my tying stuff just need more practice....... lots more practice.

[dleo6446]

I am aligned with all of you on his work, and I always stand in amazement of his range in work...take a look at his "fishing" fly box..now talk about jealous..

and the Nor vise is his, his father doesn't tie (yet). When I asked him what vise he wanted, he told me NorVise so cest la vie!!



Check out the little green and yellow spun deer hair fish in the shadow box!!!


Great looking wings on the fly in the center of the box