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
What do you consider a synthetic?
Hook?
Thread?
Monofilament?
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
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
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???
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
JC, ya’ “Win the Cuppie Doll”, again!!
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’
I don’t know, if this is the chap, you were referring to or not but when it comes to “tying with synthetics” he certainly outdates Gary L. and a few others!?
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’