My father taught me to tie flies when I was about ten years of age. We tied flies for use on the coldwater lakes, ponds and rivers near where we lived in New Hampshire. The standard dry flies, wet flies and streamers served me well for all of our fishing trips. My fly tying interest waned slightly through high school and college years. I relocated to Massachusetts, where I was born, married my lovely wife Deborah and began to tie flies more seriously.  My dad suggested we visit an old friend to learn the intricacies of salmon flies. I now know that once one gains proficiency in tying salmon flies, one becomes a better tyer of many other types of flies.

          Jed Waterman taught me to tie salmon flies nearly twenty years ago. I will always remember that evening when we visited Jeddy’s home. I took a seat next to his desk and watched as he painted the heads of a few dozen-hair wing salmon flies.  The flies were secured in foam blocks awaiting the next coat of lacquer.  The Green Highlanders resembled tiny soldiers assembled in formation-all perfect in proportion. The Jock Scotts were a splash of color and beauty I had never before seen. From that point on I was ‘hooked’. Jed taught me to tie a Black Dose that evening. “I’m warning you, he said, tying these flies is addictive.”  I practiced tying hair wing flies for weeks and months.