We are producing the next magazine with the theme of "Stillwaters"
If you have any contributions that you think are relevant please contact me by PM to discuss, The new editorial committee is looking to include more members flies. The autumn issue will be themed around "Grayling"
Suggestions for future issues are welcome.

Tight wraps

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Chris REEVES

www.flydressersguild.org

How about something that traced the evolution of a new fly back through its antecedents, providing the tying instructions for both the old and the new. For instance, Rob Edmunds Nemo pattern and its origins in the cruncher, or a modern buzzer pattern linked back to its originas in the Cove buzzer or Bucknall's Footballer pattern.

A article which helped tiers with hackle selection. I.e. Where on a cape to find the right hackles for different types of flies. The merits of different types of feathers for winging wet flies. Where on a moorhen to take feathers for a water hen bloa? That kind of thing.

Looking back through early copies of The Fly Dresser, it seems as though there was more discussions of tying techniques. Maybe it's time for a revival.

Some good ideas there, Certainly before we had lots of colour photography we did fill the pages with a lot more technical information. Is this a view supported by anyone else?
I like the idea of a "butchers chart" of a bird showing where the particular feathers are and what they are used for.

Thanks for taking the time to reply

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Chris REEVES

www.flydressersguild.org

+1 here Chris. Get several tier magazines per month and 'historical' info on how this 'new' variation on a theme progressed/improved (?) really adds the over all 'read.'

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living." -- Anonymous

Here's another thought Chris......

There is a wealth of resources for fly tying out on the internet, and I'm sure that we all have our few favourite sites. Howabout each edition of Fly Dresser including a feature which highlights a few of these sites (a Web Watch sort of thing).

i.e. the Mustad website, the great videos of tying tube flies on the Eumer website, there are sites which provide links to Whiting Hackle charts, provide comparisons of bead size to hook size, etc.

Cheers, Dave

I think that a material based theme will appeal to a wider readership than a species based. For example, dedicate an edition to the Pheasant. Show as suggested where the feathers are plucked from, and then focus on Pheasant based flies for Trout, Salmon, Grayling etc.

I also think there could be room for a tour of different regions where the flies and tyers of that region are showcased. I'd be drooling at the prospect of an Orkney edition.

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But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

I think a theme on just grayling is too specialised and may not be of too much interest to readers who don't fish for grayling. By all means have grayling flies at that time of year but don't have (say) more than half of the magazine on the subject. 'Semi-themed' if you like

I'm not having a go at any one here but I think the new editorial team needs to bear some things in mind:

1. The magazine is called 'Fly Dresser' and some articles published of late do not reflect this. Particularly the extracts from the Fishing Gazette of 1883. I don't believe I saw a single fly pattern in some 10 pages of the mag.

2. More attention to proof-reading is needed to avoid typographical errors. There is nothing more off-putting for an occasional author to see his article doesn't read as it should or his name has been missed out of the index.

3. On the plus side the photography is great and articles with step-by-step instructions should be a priority. After all, this shows fly tying as it should be done and even if the reader doesn't want to tie that particular fly, the technique can usually be used elsewhere.

Finally, I think Terry has done a super job as editor for the past few years and the magazine has become a really professional job. So thanks Terry and I hope the new editorial team keep up the good work.

........Phil.

I have to agree with that. Readers want to see flies and techniques to tie those flies that are relevant to their fishing. Grayling fishing is I'm sure a wonderful pursuit, but it is not mainstream, therefore, in 2012, there is going to be a 6 month gap when Fly Dresser is not relevant to most fly anglers.

I'm sure there will be something to learn in the Grayling edition, even for a non river angler like myself, but an improvement, in my opinion, would be to ensure each edition is more inclusive. Specialised editions are something you can get away with if you publish every month, but not with a quaterly.

If I was part of the editorial team, the questions I'd ask myself before committing to the content of an edition is, who will this edition be relevant to and is that group large enough? And, if this edition was to be picked up by the average fly angler/dresser, is the content sufficiently diverse enough to make them think, "Yes, this looks like something I should subscribe too".

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But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

To answer both of the above,

I agree about the proof reading, this has been the first issue we have done ourselves althogh Terry provided the copy. As the magazine was already late we didn't send it to a team of proof readers as we will do in the future but to just one person who was asked to do it very quickly , so a few errors got through.

We will take your comments on board and try to do better in the future.

As for the "Grayling issue", again you comments are noted and will be passed on. I would hope that dedicated tiers would be able to get ideas from flies for any species, provided the tying tips and techniques are stressed rather than how to fish them tips. My view is that we won't fill the magazine with articles on just one theme but try to ensure there is a bit for all.

I may send out another pro-formae questionaire in another issue of flydresser and ask what people want to see, I am very aware of trends and also that we have many traditionalists in the Guild, we will try and cater for all.


Regionally themed issues is something we have talked about, watch this space!

Keep the comments coming

Regards

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Chris REEVES

www.flydressersguild.org

It has taken some time to get on the site, so I have only been able to read with interest the comments so far ?
For myself it is the various techniques that interest me, not particularly how to fish them. I tie for pleasure & fish for all species. My main quarry is river Browns on dry (size 18 - 24) or nymphs (size 14 - 18), but there is a wonderful population of Grayling in my local river, that also need my time !
My Stillwater fishing is by day ticket or a syndicate lake where I try my hand at Rainbows using anything from bloodworm type flies to size 10 (B175) lures. This also includes on the syndicate lake float tubing & the bonus of Pike on the fly ? Large lures do not work on this lake, so it tends to be smaller flies (size 10 B175's).
Just to make it interesting I only fish light lines, so my set up for the river is 6'6" atfm 3 with a 4lb tippet & lake is 10' atfm 4 or 5 with an 8lb leader. Now that can be fun in a float tube with an angry Pike ? Largest so far about 12lb - no trace all hooked in the scissors & no lost fish in just over 2 years - I had to move up from 4 weight to the 5 once I went over the 10lb mark with the Pike (previous best from the lake had been 8lb). I may have to go up again to a 6 ? if we get fish over 20lb !!
I am still trying to crack the fly at sea, but am not consistent yet ? As for course fish they can provide sport on the hottest of days, when the trout are just not interested.
It will be interesting to see the development of the "Fly dresser" & wish you well with it.
Eddie