Many years ago, I began my writing adventure, for Fly Angers OnLine. Previously I was required to rewrite U.S. Army Training Outlines, for classroom instruction, when I was a Senior Instructor. I never was a great student during my school years when it involved attending the English Classes, that was part of the required academic requirements.
I was introduced to a book by William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White, titled “The Elements of Style’”, which is still in print 75 years after it was first published. This book along with my computers, “Speel Chex” & “Nooked on Phoenix” have been great aids to my lack of literary aptitude!
Today (Wednesday; Feb 24th) the Spring edition of" Fly Tier", was delivered to my mail box. I am always excited, when the magazine arrives( almost as excited when Monday rolls around every week with the new edition of Fly Anglers OnLine. I flipped open the “Fly Tier” magazine, and it opened an article by John Gierach titled “The Elements of Style” .
I spent the next two hours reading the article, 6 pages, and then read it again! When it comes to dressing hooks, I still have room for improvement. I am sharing this with you, because I am thinking that this article hits the mark, for most of us basement commando’s who in a dusty corner, attempt to create masterpieces on a hook, yet always feeling that our best attempts are still lacking some unknown element.
I suggest this article as a must read for all of us fly tiers who rather would spend our children’s college funds to buy fly tying material, then just go and buy some store bought flies at the local fly shop! If you get anything from reading “The Elements of Style” by John Gierach (with photos by David Klausmeyer), it is this…There is still hope for the rest of us (not much, to somehow get a chance improve our feeble attempts of learning something from the “Master”!
~Parnelli
“Hope Spring Eternal!”, so does “Trout Season!”