Schimpf Named to Tying Hall of Fame
Janet Schimpf of Montesano was inducted into the Washington State Council FFI Fly Ty-ing Hall of Fame at the Ellensburg Fair, the first woman so honored. Schimpf, who esti-mates she ties “a couple of hundred dozen flies a year” for her commercial tying business, works at her bench most days. She teaches tying at the annual Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy and freely shares her ty-ing knowhow at FFI events. After 40 years of commercial tying she still enjoys the process and the sturdy beauty of flies like the olive willie and her crawdad with its feather claws.
Masuda Uses Novel Materials for Precise Wings
Kuni Masuda of Vancouver uses mate-rials from tea bags to polymer packing materials like the sample he holds to make the delicate wings for his mayfly patterns. He uses metal forms to cut the wings. He trims the fabric close to the form with scissors, then uses flame to burn the excess material away. The process gives the wing a precise shape and a faint dark like of scorched fabric that defines the edges and makes them durable.
Dominic Singh Ellensburg’s Youngest Expert
Dominic Singh at work on a bass streamer that combines wool and craft fur on a Daiichi sproat hook. Singh, who is 17, ties daily and has become a Nor-Vise Pro. He has one fishing companion his age. The oth-ers are older people who have the stamina to keep up with a teenager.
Weaving Body and Tale
Gil Biles weaves floss and fiber into flies with dark and light body colors, giving them a more realistic impres-sion of a nymph. Gil is at work on a book about the technique to be called “Woven Flies and More.”