Salmon Flies

[Stonewall]

I've been tying for three years and have gotten the idea I want to attempt some of the classic salmon flies. First, is this adviseable with 3 years of steady tying experience? I have heard that the patterns are very exacting in how, and when, things are done. Are there any good reference books I could get on the topic that could get me started? Lastly, the materials tend look rather exotic. Are there recommendations for sources of these types of materials? Any advice is appreciated...Thanks

[castnblast]

There are a lot of relatively easy, hairwing salmon flies that you begin with; and, no, you don't need lots of experience, just persistence and thread control. First you have to ask yourself what type of salmon flies you want to tie. Are you in the game because you want to catch Atlantic Salmon, in which the hairwing salmon flies are perfect. Or, are you in the game because you like the look of the classic salmon flies, in which case you'll need a very good supplier of exotic tying materials.

In any event, the salmon flies are beautiful; and in some respects it's much easier because you're tying with much bigger hooks. If you already have experience tying streamers and dry flys, then you're set to go. I caught a 36" Atlantic Salmon yesterday on a Black Ghost tied on a size 6 salmon fly with a bright yellow collar and jungle cock eyes. That's my second Atlantic Salmon on a Black Ghost.

Just give it a try and you'll find yourself itching to try out the flies on the waters of the Gaspé. It's beautiful up there.

Castnblast

[overmywaders]

I assume you mean Full-dress Salmon flies. There are many books on the subject and some good forums and on-line instructions. Here is a good forum:
http://www.classicflytying.com/index.php?showforum=5
That gives you lots of tips on materials and techniques.

And here is some eye-candy --
http://traditionalflies.com/index.php?fulldress
click on the thumbnails for a larger image and pattern recipe.

[Relheok]

36" Salmon in NH. I need to see pics of that puppy!

[castnblast]

The 36" salmon was up in the Gaspé, Quebec. The big salmon are the first to return in the rivers. The smaller salmon ("grisle") start their move upstream a little after the big salmon. It`s a long drive, but worth the effort. The only salmon I catch in New Hampshire are usually around 15".

Tight lines!

[OTF]

This is an excellent website that contains some good information with some amazing photos of different salmon flies. The author is local.

http://featherjunkie.com/index.html

[hairsear]

One of the best books out there is Poul Jorgensen's Salmon Flies Their Character,Style and Dressing. It has step by step photos of the tying steps for all of the different types of flies. strip-wings, full dress, hair-wings and more. It was published in '78 so it doesn't have
all the color shots that the new books have but does have the step by steps which is what
matters.
He also has a chapter on tools, hooks and materials. The material section will give you an idea on some of the substitutions for the "exotics" that you can't get today.
Good luck.

[overmywaders]

And here is an excellent source of Salmon Fly materials. Wear a bib when viewing, so you don't drool on your keyboard.
http://www.feathersmc.com/

[Kype+]

You might want to check out Bryant Freeman's web site at Eskape Anglers. This man is the real deal!

http://www.salmonflies.com/eskape/

Bobby

[Stonewall]

Sorry for the delay in responding to the return posts but I have been traveling with no access to the Internet. Thanks to all for the great advice and recommendations. I will do some research on the resources provided and then plunge in....Thanks! ...Paul