Sythetic Pioneers
Hi all,
New here and I have a burning question I'm sure you can all help me out with. Who would you consider the true pioneers of synthetic fly tying? I once read a book that talked about this...particularly a guy who would use old wigs and stuff like that. Any idea who that might have been?
Looking forward to talking fly fishing with every one
The Bugger,
I am going to tag along on this and see the interesting information that pops up.
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Welcome
Warren
Fly fishing and fly tying are two things that I do, and when I am doing them, they are the only 2 things I think about. They clear my mind.
What do you consider a synthetic?
Hook?
Thread?
Monofilament?
Fishing the Great Beyond
You may be thinking of Potts. The Potts weave. He made wigs etc. Not sure what 'synthetics' he may have used tho,,,
It's generally accepted that Bob Pop is the father of epoxy flies , but Harry Spear's Mother of Epoxy came long before the Surf Candy.
Tim Borski did a lot of the early craft hair flies
Chico Fernandez was one of the first to tie with Fishair and his Glass Minnow was an early all mylar fly
The simpler the outfit, the more skill it takes to manage it, and the more pleasure one gets in his achievements.
--- Horace Kephart
john betts would be high on that list
does zlon, microbibbets, zingwing come to mind??
scott sanchez is some kind of foam guru
didnt it say who it was in the book???Originally Posted by The Bugger
Another vote for John Betts!
His is the first name I always think of when it comes to synthetics.
How 'bout Gary LaFontaine?
I don't think there be zlon without Gary's experiments with trilobal yarn
Gary first wrote about his "Dazzle yarn" flies in our club newsletter in 1973, long before Caddisflies was published eight years later
The simpler the outfit, the more skill it takes to manage it, and the more pleasure one gets in his achievements.
--- Horace Kephart
JC; When you mentioned "Pott", it rang a bell and you were right on! Except, evidently he used horse hair, when tying and not any synthetics.
From the pages of "Fly Fishing: A History"
Franz Pott was a wig maker who came from Missoula Montana USA, and the period we are looking at is the 1920s and 1930s. He used his wig making skills to fashion the bodies and hackles of flies from hair, usually horse hair. Eventually he developed quite a range of woven patterns which were marketed under the title 'Mite' and 'Mighty Mite'
Saint Paul-"The Highly Confused"
You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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