Unfortunately it's time for this series to come to an end. From the
beginning of 'Beginning Fly Tying' to this point, we've taken fly tying one
step at a time, learning new things based on the things we've already
learned. If you've followed alonwith each lesson to this point, you
have the skills to tie nearly every pattern in any fly tying pattern book
you'll find.
Of course, there are a few advanced techniques and special weaves we
didn't cover, but there has to be something new to learn when I hopefully
finish my book on fly tying and decide to tackle 'Advanced Techniques.'
Until that time, I'll be slaving away trying to finish a book similar to
the series you've been following. Hopefully, you'll find enough new
things the book to make it worth your time and hard earned dollars.
For those of you who will discover this series later, I'm still
available to answer questions and help you overcome difficult problems.
A click on the link at the bottom of each section of the series will
connect you to my e-mail for any help you need. I haven't gone away,
just need to spend some concentrated time on a book that isn't
progressing the way it should.
I can't think of any way to put classic end to a fly tying series than
ending it with a classic salmon fly. I call it 'Al's Classic' because it's
more a combination of techniques rather than a real pattern you'd find in
a fly tying book. If you learn the techniques shown in this final fly,
you will be able to conquer nearly any classic salmon fly pattern with
ease.
Classic salmon flies are a work of art. Golden pheasant crests, wood
duck flank feathers, exotic plumage and jungle cock cheeks add up to some
very pretty flies if you know how to attach them to a hook.
You can spend many hours working on just one fly if you want to. Tiny
wisps of plumage added one-step-at-a-time can create a masterpiece you'd
sooner die than fish with. Of all the beautiful flies we design and tie,
the classic salmon fly has to be the most displayed and least fished of
all the styles. Simply put, it's a work of art that results from a labor
of love.
Again, I'm substituting a few common feathers for the more exotic
feathers used on many salmon flies. The fly will have a similar visual
effect to the master's flies, but the cost of the materials is kept low
and the ease of finding them high.
Join me as we tie one last classic salmon fly.
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