Tying the Perfect Mayfly

I've finally found the time to finish looking at some DVDs that James Marsh sent me awhile back. School caught up with me and I got too busy to review them but now want to make mention of them.

The titles were "Fly Fishing The Great Smoky Mountains National Park," "Tying Perfect Mayfly Nymphs," and Tying Perfect Mayfly Emergers, Duns & Spinners." I won't go into detail on the one about fishing the Smokies since Hawgdaddy over at the Tennessee Valley Angler did a great review you can check out here which basically says everything I had planned on saying. Great minds really do think alike...

The two tying DVDs were inspirational in a good way and also in a slightly annoying sort of way. I say annoying because they did a spectacular job of reminding me how basic my fly selection often is and even worse, how disorganized my fly boxes tend to become. If you want to learn just a few basic patterns that you can tie in different color combinations to much virtually any mayfly in the country then you really need to check out these DVDs. They not only show you how to tie the 14 basic patterns but also include recipes to match any mayfly hatch you may encounter streamside. The main downfall of these DVDs is the same for any tying program. The information is crucial and necessary and there is no better way to learn than by watching, but when it comes down to it, watching people tying on a video is not that exciting. However the organization that this will bring to your fly boxes and tying will be ample reward for the time spent watching. In the process, all but the best tiers will probably discover some new idea that will prove useful in their general tying as well.

I watched these while I tied which I found to be just about perfect. You can pay enough attention to gain the quality information contained in them but still accomplish something else useful at the same time.

These programs are perfect for use in conjunction with the "Hatches Made Easy" that James Marsh has on his Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountain and Yellowstone websites. If you haven't stopped by those sites in awhile, be sure and check them out. He has been making daily additions detailing the various hatches so there is plenty to see...