Forgotten Wet Fly Tyer

**Fontinalis** · 03-06-2008, 10:36 PM

In the United States far as wet fly history, we think of names like Bergman, Leisenring & Hidy, Hughes and of course Sylvestor Nemes. To me I also include Theodore Gordon, John Verniard, Holden, Roger Fogg, E. M. Tod, Peter O'Reilly, W. H Lawrie. I know that Davy if he would kindly chime in would name a few others that I do not know or have drawn a blank on. In modern times I do think of my Mentor and dear friend Don Bastian, my new friend who I hope to meet one day Davy and lastly Ken Sawada. I write this because there is one member who we lost this past year who at times has been over looked and not thought of. I am talking but Helen Shaw. Helen Shaw had written a beautiful book on tying wet flies titled "Flies For Fish & Fishermen". You see Helen did something in the United States that truly was not done. She wrote a how to book on tying classic wet flies. She wrote this book providing numerous details and pictures along with clear and concise tying instruction. Helen was quite a tyer and did love to tye wet flies. Helen also provided a pattern called the Brookie Fin that is not easily found in pattern books on wet flies. You see I was looking at my Library tonight getting ready to start researching and writing a piece for my clubs news letter. I seen Helen's book and remember the thrill and fun I had reading it and of course trying to follow along tying those wet flies. It was Helen that helped to advance my tying style and really start to develope my artisic side of my tying. No one in the United States has yet come close on a how to book on tying wet flies other than Helen. Yes one can argue and say that there are now DVD'S on this subject, but just remember one thing. A DVD does not work when no electricity or DVD player is present or when one goes camping and wants to read a spell where it is peacefull and quiet. A book can always be brought with you and is always a reliable resource. To all of the great people I have met and posted with here so far, if you are into wet flies or just getting into tying wet flies, please give this book a try. I am quite sure that you will be pleasently surprised. Now the only thing with Helen's book is that she had written the book to flow from chapter to chapter. So if you decide to skip a chapter, you will miss a lesson or two that will be needed for the next chapter. Helen will refer you back to the chapter where she first explained and shown the technique required. Hence you will need to read that chapter that you skipped before moving on. Helen was not really a fishermen nor did she develope a fly style like Carrie Stevens had done. This is probably why Helen was not given a higher recognition than she deserved. Just some thoughts that ran through my head tonight.

Fontinalis
Andy

**AaronJasper** · 03-08-2008, 11:12 PM

I will have Torrey get that book for me. Also, why do you think that wet flies have come to the forefront lately? Do you think its a trend and will fade? I know that they are effective. Do you think that they weren't popular such a long time because of other more effective techniques? I for one think that the technique will catch fish that have seen it all. I think that they will catch you some fish that you can't catch using other techniques. I also wonder if you think that wet flies can catch fish under any condition(given optimal water temps), or do you think that there are certain times that wet flies won't work and are forced to fish by other means? I mean we all know that during caddis time we could really give the trout a beating on wet flies. However, would one do well during a Hendrickson hatch while employing the same technique?

**Nymphmeister** · 03-09-2008, 10:23 AM

Aaron, talk to Jerry Jahns, he loves to fish wets during Hendrickson hatches on the Housy & Farmington. I believe he likes to impart motion to them too. As far as catching during various conditions & times of the year, a sinking line would take you down to the trout when they aren't willing to come up near the surface. Hopefully DavyFly will chime in on this thread. I think I might have one copy of the Helen Shaw book at the store- it's out of print, but we get copies in from time to time.

**Davyfly** · 03-18-2008, 10:06 PM

Andy,

More so tying references, but l would add certainly these two Trout and Salmon flies of Ireland by E.Malone. Flies of Wales by Moc Morgan.

John Veniard was a good friend of mine, as was Donald Downs who did the illustrations in the Veniard books.
I know those two guys did visit a fly fishing club in NY many years ago, but l cannot rememeber which one.

I do have many other publications that either have wet fly references for the dressings and in some cases tying procedures.

Regarding the matter of wet fly fishing. There are very few conditions if any to be honest that wet flies will not catch fish, provided you use the right flies and fly line to present them. I would argue that if wet flies would not work then you would have a problem with any other method, all be it l accept there may be a more productive way to fish at that time.

One example may be fishing very deep pocket water that demands a fly to sink very fast for that short section of productive water.

I did in fact post some time back my choice of fly lines. In extreme conditions a fast sinking line with 3 large wets can be deadly, its not my favourite way to fish wets but it works, and l have caught many Atlantic Salmon, Sea trout and other species by this means.
It is very effective means to fish lakes and reservoirs.
The two essential lines are a dry line and a intermediate.

Such flies as Peter Ross, Dunkeld, Watsons Fancy, Silver Invicta, Alexandra and Butchers.
In some cases classic wet flies are often scaled down versions of full dressed traditional Atlantic Salmon flies.

Davy.