Watch and Learn; Fly Tyers

Explore Fly Tying with our FREE Feature Tier Series from 10 am to 3 pm

Delve into the rich history of fly tying, a fascinating art form deeply rooted in tradition. Dating back thousands of years, cultures worldwide have practiced the craft of creating artificial flies to allure fish. Early fly patterns were ingeniously crafted from natural materials like feathers, fur, and animal hair, techniques that still inspire contemporary fly tyers

10:00 a.m. A New Mexico native, Tom Baltz has been a fly tier for over 40 years, the last 30 spent among the legendary tiers and anglers of the limestone valleys of south-central Pennsylvania, near Carlisle. Tom is the only four-time Pennsylvania State Fly Tying Champion, and his flies have appeared in Field & Stream, Fly Fisherman Magazine, Art of Angling Journal, Eastern Fly Fishing, and American Angler magazines, the Orvis catalog (I.C.S.I. Midge, MuddBugger, Hatching Nymph, and Beetlenat), and his published book “Guide Flies.” He is a regular contributor to the Mid-Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide and appears at fly fishing shows around the country.

11:00 a.m. With fly-tying experience spanning 35 years, Allen Rupp’s passion for the craft was ignited amid the landscapes of the District of Columbia. His initial foray into fly fishing involved the pursuit of Potomac River smallies, marking the inception of a lifelong journey. Today, as the owner and operator of Fly On The Water, Allen’s flies have left their mark on waters across the globe—from the diverse terrains of Belize, Chile, Canada, Mexico, and the UK to the scenic landscapes of Colorado, Montana, New York, Wisconsin, and beyond.

Although residing in the bustling metropolis of New York City, Allen’s ties to the art of fly fishing extend far and wide. Recent endeavors have seen him immersed in the pursuit of saltwater fish, with a particular focus on the elusive snook. Allen’s expertise is deeply rooted in the teachings of the late Dave Whitlock, a close friend and mentor. Many of Allen’s fly patterns pay homage to Dave’s legacy, showcasing a seamless blend of tradition and innovation in the world of fly tying. Allen will be tying Dave Whitlock’s NearNuff Sculpin.

12:00 p.m. Jerry Coviello’s presentation will be Managing Quill Wings. Tying in Quill Wings for dry flies and wet flies can sometimes be frustrating.  I will use three different flies to help you learn how to secure quill wing sections to your dry fly and wet fly. The flies to be demonstrated are: the Blue Dun Dry Fly, the Leadwing Coachman Wet Fly, and the Henryville Special Caddis Dry Fly.

Jerry is an accomplished fly tier, and a FFI Buz Buszek Fly Tying Memorial Award recipient. Jerry is a past Fly Fishers International Fly Tying Group chairperson. He is a columnist for Fly Tyer Magazine and recognized by Fly Tyer Magazine as a Master Fly Tying Instructor. He serves as the president and newsletter editor for Delaware Valley Fly Fishers. He created fly-tying learning documents for the FFI Learning Center and develops fly-tying workshops for members to learn how to tie flies. He has a YouTube channel, “Jerry’s Fly Tying Tips,” that has over 100 fly-tying videos to teach how to tie flies. Jerry also teaches workshops for many clubs and shows and many online fly-tying workshops and presentations. Jerry hosts a monthly Fly Tying Workshop on Zoom called “Jerry’s Fly Tying Tips Workshops” and broadcasts on his Facebook page called Jerry’s Fly Tying Tips.

***FFI Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award Recipient, Fly Fishers International Fly Tying Group Past Chairperson Delaware Valley Fly Fishers President, Fly Tyer Magazine Intermediate Skills Columnist, Fly Tying Field Editor for FlyFishers Magazine, Norvise Ambassador, Solarez UV Resin Pro Team Member,Ewing Feather Birds Team Member.

1:00 p.m. Henry Ramsay authored “Matching Major Eastern Hatches, New Patterns for Selective Trout,” published by Stackpole/Headwater Books and released in January 2011, and co-authored “Keystone Fly Fishing Guide,” released in 2017. I am a custom fly tier, fly fishing and fly tying instructor, photographer, and presenter.

Custom fly tier for many years, tying flies for trout fishermen across the US, as well as tying artistic and classic Atlantic Salmon flies. My tying work has been featured in several publications, including the Art of Angling Journal, The Game Journal, and the Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide, and I contribute to Fly Fisherman and Eastern Fly Fishing magazines. I am a contract fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants and am a member of the Daiichi Hook and Regal Vise Pro Staffs.

2:00 p.m. John Conrad, I started tying flies over 40 years ago.  My son wanted to try fly fishing, so I suggested he also learn to tie flies. We went over to Carlisle Fish and Game to the fly classes they run every winter. Now I am running the classes! My daughter and I do a lot of bass fly fishing in the summer, and she is quite good. I really enjoy tying bass flies and going to the fishing shows. I’ll be tying a frog pattern at the show.