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“It’s easy to get lost in the glamor of all the ‘NEW FOR 20XX’ patterns out there. In fact, one of my favorite things to do is deconstruct new patterns, searching for new materials and methods to bring to my own tying desk. However, we forget that most of what we think is new is really built on the back of decades-old techniques. The truth is that most of the patterns we consider “old,” were never designed for fly bins. Instead, they were designed by anglers for the purpose of fooling fish in creative ways. For over 50 years, Jack Gartside gave us flies that emphasized creativity and practical utility. Receiving his first tying lesson from Ted Williams in 1956 (yes that Ted Williams), he eventually developed some of the most iconic patterns available today. The Sparrow, the Soft Hackle Streamer, the Pheasant Hopper and today’s tie, the Gartside Gurgler, are some of his greatest hits. He was an icon and universally loved by all who crossed his path. Though Jack passed on a decade ago, his innovative patterns continue to remind us that fly fishing and tying are about having fun.” – Jack Reis
Materials:
- Hook: Tiemco 811s – 6-3/0
- Thread: Uni-Thread 6/0 – Doc. Blue
- Tail: Bucktail – White/Blue, Krystal Flash – Pearl
- Body: Fly Foam – Blue/White, Cactus Chenille – Pearl, Saddle Hackle – Shad Gray/White
Previous Fly Tying Fridays:
what color?