Question About A Fly Tyers Status...

[HappyHooker]

Here's another question that I'm not quite sure how to answer. Could I get your thoughts?

"When a fly is being tied totally out of the tyer's imagination and out pops this great fly which many hours of work, determination, and mistakes(and that the fly works)why does that persons status in the fly tying community change so much? "

Thanks,

Duke

[bhudda]

cuz the're the shizzle! just my thoughts:)

[chadk]

Your assuming it does change... Why worry about 'status' so much?

[HappyHooker]

Hey ya'll...

Chadk, I'm not worried about the status so much. This is a question I was asked recently and wasn't really too sure of how to answer it.

In my opinion, too many people are all caught up in their egos and status. More people need to be more humble.

Thoughts?

-Duke

[Bert Kinghorn]

Amazing how many of us are legends in our own minds.

It's just fishing! Why would angling-related accomplishments ever have anything to do with status?

[chadk]

that said - there are some true artists out there who do some amazing work. Look at Davy's gallery - among many others on this board for examples...

[Keith Hixson]

My status hasn't changed. And, I've tied some really great flies over the years.bawling: Just kidding. The status only changes when self-promotion occurrs and someone believes. However, I haven't seen too many new flies over the years. I remember when the Muddler Minnow came out years ago. It was promoted as a fly "so hot that it should be illegal." I chuckle then and chuckle now when I see some of the promotion. In the last 30 years I've seen lots of change in fly fishing but 99% has been with better equipment (rods, reels, leaders, and lines) and very little in fly tying. I believe most of the patterns that are out there were out there thirty years ago. Though not as well known as today because of all the access to information which we have today. Of course there has been some innovation in the use of foam, beads (which I don't use), and few other synthetic materials but there really isn't much new out there. Also, these secret flies often don't work better than any other flies. Sometimes they are great and somedays they won't work, typical of any fly.
To answer your question: "Why does there status change so much?" Promotion by them or someone and it catches on and becomes a fad within the fly fishing community.
You have some really excellent fly tiers on this site. I'm sure some of these folks tie as well as some of those getting all the attention.

K.

[sixfinger]

I think a fly tier's status only changes when a "new" fly is truley developed, and not just created at the bench. The really awsome flies have been developed through many hours of trial and error ON THE WATER. Not just some one tinkering around on the bench, ( yeah it can look good, and it would make sense that it would work but how much has it been tested!)

Now I think Atlantic Salmon flies are a completely different catagory, there is more art than science/logic to those creations.

[Zen Piscator]

I would have to disagree about tying in the last 30 years.

The advent of synthetics has caused a total revolution in tying.

Flies like the Shock and Awe tube, Cabellero, Copper John, Chernobyl Ant and many others lend credence to this statement.

[Desmond Wiles]

If someone spends the time and energy to develop a 'hot' new pattern (hot being defined as a real fish catcher that's become widespread through word of mouth or publication) why shouldn't their status change? Perhaps they're intentions were to become popular through the research; or maybe they were tying it for themselves all along, and it became popular because of their good will to share their pattern with others.

[Minx]

I don't know....since I started tying a few years ago, my status has changed. My wife looks at me kinda funny now....not sure what that means, but I think it's a change of some sort :) chuck

[Desmond Wiles]

I suppose one's marital status could change if he's not careful, and I'm not saying chics dig fly tiers! ;)

[HappyHooker]

Do chicks really dig fly tiers? Hmmm...I'll even be more direct...Are there any on this board? haha ptyd

Thanks again fellas for the awesome replies :thumb:

-Duke

[Bob Triggs]

The more willing one is to share the gifts and knowledge, experience and skills that they have gained in our game, the more "status",(esteem), they will hold in my estimation.

[Minx]

Amen to that....chuck

[Mark Kulikov]

My status changed immediately when I started tying. My financial status fell like a rock.

[Allison]

It's crazy fun is all I'm going to say about it for now.

I think I'm lucky in that I bought a bunch of tying stuff all at once, so the $$ is not so hateful. I am just enjoying the tying, though it's 30-40 minutes per fly for me right now.

[Allison]

Do chicks really dig fly tiers? Hmmm...I'll even be more direct...Are there any on this board?

I'd say it's right up there with being able to solve the Quardratic Equation in terms of the sexy quotient.

In other words, no.:beathead:

[troutaholic]

Damn, and all this time I thought I was hot! bawling: bawling:

[Allison]

Hey, you may very well be hot for all I know, but I'm just saying fly tying is kinda geeky IMO and not a chick magnet in and of itself.

[Desmond Wiles]

I'm just saying fly tying is kinda geeky

Thanks, I'll take that one as a compliment.

[Big Tuna]

Thanks, I'll take that one as a compliment.
Me too:)

[Allison]

Well, it certainly wasn't meant as an insult. :)

[Sloan Craven]

I never really saw it as geeky. I mean comic books, movies based on comic books, dungeons and dragons, any role playing games, star trek, star wars, SciFi conventions, the Sci Fi Channel, Anime, Dance Dance Revolution, those wireless cell phones devices that stick in your ear, Scrapbooking, Vampiriasm, Collectible Card Games, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson, techno music, being obsessed with European or Japanese culture (when you're an American), pimping out a crappy car, telling a joke thinking no one gets it because its an obscure reference (when it just that its not funny), Dennis Miller, 'Stop Plate Techtonics' t-shirts, Jon Stewart, soccer, waiting for hours for the opening of a movie-any movie (they show it more than once folks), wearing a costume to a movie-any movie, flavored malt liquor (Zima, Seagrams, etc.) are all geeky. I really don't see fly tying fitting into that group of things.

[Zen Piscator]

Hahaha, dope list sloan,

but Jon Stewart, as in the dude from the daily show, does liking him make you geeky?

I might have to throw out my daily show posters and beadspread, oh the humanity! :rofl:

[Sloan Craven]

Hahaha, dope list sloan,

but Jon Stewart, as in the dude from the daily show, does liking him make you geeky?

I might have to throw out my daily show posters and beadspread, oh the humanity! :rofl:
:rofl: You can like a geek, you just can't admire one. Admiring a geek makes you geeky. :rofl:

[Zen Piscator]

speaking of geek, have u watched this:

http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2652831?htv=12

[Sloan Craven]

Yeah, I was never a big fan a cross-fire, but why the hell would Stewart think anyone wants his actual opinion on something? He's a comic, no one cares. Tell jokes. And to jump on those guys for being partisan? That's the pot calling the kettle black. Sure they're jerks, but he's in no position to criticize.



Ha, ha, we just hijacked this thread.

[HappyHooker]

I never really saw it as geeky. I mean comic books, movies based on comic books, dungeons and dragons, any role playing games, star trek, star wars, SciFi conventions, the Sci Fi Channel, Anime, Dance Dance Revolution, those wireless cell phones devices that stick in your ear, Scrapbooking, Vampiriasm, Collectible Card Games, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson, techno music, being obsessed with European or Japanese culture (when you're an American), pimping out a crappy car, telling a joke thinking no one gets it because its an obscure reference (when it just that its not funny), Dennis Miller, 'Stop Plate Techtonics' t-shirts, Jon Stewart, soccer, waiting for hours for the opening of a movie-any movie (they show it more than once folks), wearing a costume to a movie-any movie, flavored malt liquor (Zima, Seagrams, etc.) are all geeky. I really don't see fly tying fitting into that group of things.

Great List Sloan! Man, I haven't been following this conversation for a while now and had no idea this topic was brought back up...

Nah, I don't see it as too geeky neither...Before I got interested I used to always think that fly tying was something meant more for the old retired guy who had lots of time on his hands. I've since learned that thinking was totally false. Fly tyers are of all ages and sex.

Allison, darn...Here I was thinkin fly tyin' would be a way to pick up chicks :) Most girls I know like all of the colorful, shiny, flashy things...Seems like a perfect fit.

Glad to see you don't get offended easily...Guess you have to try not to eh with the ratio of men to women on this board.

Go get em' ya'll...

-Duke

[Allison]

Allison, darn...Here I was thinkin fly tyin' would be a way to pick up chicks Most girls I know like all of the colorful, shiny, flashy things...Seems like a perfect fit.

Well, you do have a point there.;)

Is it too late to change my answer?

[Desmond Wiles]

I never really saw it as geeky. I mean comic books, movies based on comic books, dungeons and dragons, any role playing games, star trek, star wars, SciFi conventions, the Sci Fi Channel, Anime, Dance Dance Revolution, those wireless cell phones devices that stick in your ear, Scrapbooking, Vampiriasm, Collectible Card Games, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson, techno music, being obsessed with European or Japanese culture (when you're an American), pimping out a crappy car, telling a joke thinking no one gets it because its an obscure reference (when it just that its not funny), Dennis Miller, 'Stop Plate Techtonics' t-shirts, Jon Stewart, soccer, waiting for hours for the opening of a movie-any movie (they show it more than once folks), wearing a costume to a movie-any movie, flavored malt liquor (Zima, Seagrams, etc.) are all geeky. I really don't see fly tying fitting into that group of things.


Just for fun, I hi-lighted a few things from your list which I just so happen to be into. Unless someone has me beat here, you can call me King of The WFF Geeks!

Here's the definition for Geeky: A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.

Although I don't consider myself socially inept (so long as it's with other fly fishers ;)), I do find myself single minded in the technical pursuits of fly tying. Sloan, I think you need to let your inner-geek out, you are amongst friends here.:clown:

[chadk]

Well, when my wife sees me tying, she chuckles and says "I can't believe your turning into a fly tying nerd!". Nerd, geek, dork, dweeb, Poindexter, whatever. We all have a geeky side or 2 or 3. To many out there, fly fishing in general is geeky. In fact, some guys get so self conscious about it, they end up over compensating - like the young guy who tried to wear his waders hanging 12 inches below his butt with nothing but his underwear showing, and his wading boot laces not tied. He wasn't feeling so cool when they pulled his geeky naked body out of the 33 degree water!

Then there's the guy from Bellevue who shows up on the yak driving his huge lifted Hummer, steps out, puts on his orvis gear from head to toe, lights up his cigar, and declares to the world "I'm a fly fishing baddass!", as the car full of hot women drives by and they all giggle and point, "look, another fly fishing geek!".

As for fly tiers, well, I know a few who pull out their TV tray (or have their tying table near the tv) and watch football and drink beer and eat extra spicy chili, and cuss, and smoke or chew, and try to look as manly as possible while tying. That works about as well as the guy showing off his tattoo at the star trek convention.... "live long and prosper! ...oh, and check out my badass tattoo!!"

Heck, I over heard some guys on this site talking about trying to be 'hip' like the gangsta rappa thugs and getting fly fishing related 'grillz' to impress the honeys and the ho's. You'll find these same guys giving gangsta hand signs in the gallery. "waddup dog, check out this 6inch brookie - dats DOPE!"

When my wife first said that to me (I've since recovered my ego, but just barely), I tried to explain how she was being hypocritical. "look, you go to craft stores too. And you buy expensive scissors, colorful materials, yarn and chenille, you know what chartreuse and cerise look like, enjoy bead shops, like getting together with your girl friends to scrapbook and work on crafts. It's not any different than fly tying!!!"

She just looked at me with a grin, and said "exactly".

[Desmond Wiles]

Nice synopsis Chad

[Minx]

I am truly humbled here posting behind Chad. I tried to show I wasn't just another fly tying geek when I tied that woolybugger on a 3/0 saltwater hook.....it was a manly fly, they still laughed & pointed. Hey, at least it was color coordinated in pink, orange, & red. Headed for a Zima at the tofu bar....live long & prosper young Skywalkers

[toddsbernina]

As for fly tiers, well, I know a few who pull out their TV tray (or have their tying table near the tv) and watch football and drink beer and eat extra spicy chili..... and try to look as manly as possible while tying.

How did you know my nightly tying ritual? the only thing different is I clear off my coffee table. Put a mp3 mix cd in my sound system and tie flies for a couple hours.

I know i'm a geek and have a good time being one.

Todd

[chadk]

Put a mp3 mix cd in my sound system and tie flies for a couple hours.
Todd

Would that happen to be Kenny G by any chance? ::confused: :


I am truly humbled here posting behind Chad.


Yeah, I have that effect on people :rofl: :rofl:

[toddsbernina]

Would that happen to be Kenny G by any chance? ::confused:



No Kenny G I said i'm a geek not a queer. I've got a bunch of different music David Allen Coe, Pink Floyd, Disturbed, Alan Jackson, As I Lay Dying, Johnny Cash, Sublime, Red Hot Chili Peppers, clips from Bob and Tom, Toby Keith, Beatles, Greatful dead....the list goes on. But NO HIP HOP OR RAP!

[Sloan Craven]

Sloan, I think you need to let your inner-geek out, you are amongst friends here.:clown:
I like certain geeky things: The Simpsons, beer classification, obscure facts, geeky women, hard cider, Go..... But tying flies?
Would a guy like this tie flies?

[Desmond Wiles]

I won't name names here Sloan, but that does resemble a few on the boards... so the answer is yes. ;)

[troutaholic]

Hey, you may very well be hot for all I know, but I'm just saying fly tying is kinda geeky IMO and not a chick magnet in and of itself.
Naw, I'm not. I was just hoping to be able to continue deluding myself- shot down again :-( Hey wait a minute how about fly casting does that count as hot?...hehee pathetic I know..