You can contact Dennis at: DSmith7136@msn.com

 

    It’s January, the dead of winter, and entirely too damn cold for fly fishing to hold much appeal for me anymore although I used to give it a go every now and then in earlier times.

    I know there are hardy souls - and plenty of them, apparently - who enjoy midging a deep winter run while tending a stick fire and sipping hot coffee on the bank between flurries of insect activity; I’m just not one of them. Come winter, single digit temperatures and shelf ice, I’m at home by the fire contemplating the season past and the one to come; tying flies and reading fly fishing books. Speaking of which - Julie stocks some of the most eclectic and broad ranging fly fishing titles you’ll ever find on the subject.

    She carries books by local authors John Gierach, Todd Hosman, A.K. Best and Rick Takahashi as well as several other nationally recognized writers like Dave Hughes, Dave Whitlock, Rene Harrop and God-knows who all. The scope of material covers everything from fly fishing essays, novels, fly tying and angling instruction to “coffee-table” volumes with exquisite fly fishing photographs and angling art.  One of the most - if not the most - beautifully illustrated books on classic wet fly patterns ever published (in my opinion) in Ken Sawada’s Wet Flies, produced in Japan. It is striking for its photography alone, but even more so for its charming Oriental syntax and flowing descriptions. It’s one of the finest fly tying books I own. I got it at Julie’s.

    Interestingly, despite the number of other shops around, I think Bob’s Fly Shop still stocks the best selection of high quality tying materials of any shop in the area - Whiting saddles, hundred packs, hen necks and full game bird skins top the list, but you don’t have to take my word for it: shop around and compare. 

     If you’re one of those who’d rather tie flies and read about fishing through the winter months than actually go out there and get ice in your guides, I can’t think of a better place to hang out than Bob’s Fly Shop. If you’re smart, you’ll sign up for one of Julie’s winter fly tying classes, even if you already tie. You can never learn it all, but you can always learn something new, and an intermediate fly tying class is one of the surest ways for an old dog to learn a few new fly tying tricks. In fact, you might just make that a New Year’s Resolution.

Happy New Year.

      Dennis Smith is an Outdoor Writer and Photographer. His articles and photos have appeared in numerous outdoor publications, catalogs and newspapers. Dennis can be reached at (970) 669-6074. Want to know more about Dennis?

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