Author Archives: garren
April 2025 Meeting
Hey everyone,
The NWASFG will meet on Saturday April 19th at the Fall City Firehouse at 9am, those wanting breakfast will meet at the Raging River Bar and Grill at 8am.
Guild shirts have been ordered and are at the embroidery shop as we speak.
Name Tags have been given to Nick, and he said he would be working on those as well.
The FFI Casting and tying event is on April 27th in Issaquah, the guild has seven tiers and is also hosting a class from Hunter, thank you all for supporting this event, should be a fun time.
We have discussed as a group (us old timers) a lifetime membership to Steve Morton, he’s our resident Oregon Chef and co-host of the Yorke food extravaganza we all get to participate in yearly in Albany. Welcome Steve, and thank you!
Mark Spaur has been working behind the scenes for a year trying to get our old meeting location back to the Issaquah Library Annex building. Mark has attended meetings on behalf of the group and has some news to share with us on Saturday. A ton of work was put into this, Mark will talk to us about what he has found out.
Ben has, through an email to the Guild been working on a book deal from Barry Grewcock and his Encyclopedia of Salmon flies and Sea Trout Patterns. Ben shared with me some of what is in there and I have not seen this much pattern variations in any book I currently have in my library! So many patterns to choose and look over. Ben will cover more ground on this and answer any questions you might have, he has enlisted the help of Jim McKinnon for the printing duties, as anyone who attends our meetings can attest to his monthly pattern sheet is something to see.
Byron, who has recovered from that evil dentist, will give us a little talk on fly choice and proper hook selection. We are lucky to have a World Class Hook Maker in our group, and he can share some good information with us about what he knows, and the feedback he gets from tiers worldwide.
This month we will have Brett Breuel demonstrate the fly of the month, we has talked about having one of our members share with us their take on how they approach a given fly, their ideas and techniques. Brett is an accomplished tier and we can learn much from him, I look forward to it.
The Fly Pattern for April is The Black Dog, from Kelson, Hardy, and Hale. There are many variations of this fly, this one seems to be the one seen more often. I feel that a longer shanked hook gives this fly a more “racy” appearance, perhaps a Sunday or Playfair hook? Given the ribbing scheme, of two oval tinsels and a band of silk floss the longer shank spreads it out giving it more flow. A long Heron Hackle or suitable substitute feather really gives the Black Dog a recognizable look. Again, there are many other variations available to tie, so keep that in mind, Blue, Claret, and Red dyed heron was regularly used. As you can see in the recipe, the underwing utilizes 2 red/orange hackles enveloped by 2 extended Jungle Cock feathers. Remember, that the underwing is part of the wing, so when building the main wing don’t go too crazy! A medium sized wing (fiber count) should be used, otherwise it get too big, so just keep that in mind when building your wing. Simpler is better I think, use your discretion. The last thing to consider is the application of the unbarred Woodduck sides (lemon) you can use strips, from a really big lemon Woodduck feather. Or strip down the feather to use the whole tip, your choice. I have found that by dying Pearl Mallard tan/cinnamon it looks acceptable as it has larger fibers.
I will still use the White Board for my thoughts on the fly, even though Brett will be demonstrating for us, if its useful, and you want to see it?
Coffee will be on, beverages in the cooler, and lunch will be provided.
Look forward to seeing you all on the 19th!
Respectfully,
Glenn
March 2025 Meeting
February 2025 Meeting
We will be meeting on Saturday February 15th, at the Fall City Firehouse at 9am. Those wanting breakfast will meet at the Raging River Bar and Grill at 8am.
I hope those going down to Albany are getting ready, I think it’s the best fly tying event on the west coast, so plan on being there either to watch and learn or to tie. The Guild has always had a great showing of tiers, so be sure to wear your Guild shirt to support what we have to offer. If your a first time tier tie what you want to, Spey flies, Classics or whatever suits you. See you there!
I have selected a Classic Salmon fly from Kelson that has Steelhead colors but stays true to a full dress pattern The Manchester Swell. While it is pretty straight forward, as always, remember the things we have been pounding on like short antique style tip and tag, and a LOW tail. The body itself is 1/3 buttercup yellow silk then Magenta silk, with a Magenta hackle running from the second turn of tinsel. I use a flat silver and silver twist (see Ben) or you can use a large oval if you choose. This calls for Blue Jay throat, and I like the look a full Jay throat up front, so leave enough room for 2 feathers. Again, thats your choice. Tippets in strands and Gallina are called for so remember to raise your tying platform to keep those strands lying flat over the body. I also tie in Gallina strands to brush in with my fingers before tying down the tippets, so the both get tied on together, keep them low! Pretty straight forward wing so nothing too crazy, just make up whatever kind of arraigned strips you like. Mallard roof and short sides of Jungle Cock finishes it off. I hope we get a good turnout and lots of activity at the vice.
As usual we will have the coffee on, cold beverages in the cooler and lunch provided for you.
See you all on the 15th.
Respectfully,
Glenn