More About Stu

I sat there listing to every word old Jack said as he wound the thread round the hook and added fur and feathers to it. Has anyone got any questions he said- there was seven of us kids watching him and none of us said a word.” Look at these! Guys!” “ this one is called a March Brown!’ “He proclaimed , the one before that was a Butcher and they are both wet flies , they are two good flies to use on the dam”. I already knew these names as I had bought four recommended flies from the local tackle shop the week before and they were two of them. I was amazed at the whole process in which old Jack had shown us how he had made these wonderful flies from bits of fur and feather.

How they where made had never really occurred to me in the past, apart from some brief thoughts that they must be made by a special machine in a factory like where my dad works. That’s it I thought to myself, I want to have a go at making one. “ Sorry boys! “That’s it for tonight we will see you all next week when you will all be able to have a go at tying a flea”. All of our faces lit up as we put on our jackets paid our subs and left the community hall. I was twelve years old so walking home in the dark was out of the question, with big bad boys hanging out on the street corners eating little kids. So dad was waiting out side in the car, mum always made sure he was there to pick me up on the cold winters nights when the local junior fishing club had its meetings.

The next week we all got a go at tying our own flea and although our first attempts at making a flea looked more like road kill than the perfect fishing fly we were trying to make. We were all proud and so was jack. Jack came round each of us and inspected them but never said a word. He then stood at the end of the table and announced to us all, “that they were all better than his ones,” we all glowed with excitement. The fly tying seed was now truly planted! Thanks to Jack It was now that time again, time to descend out into another chilly winters dark night until our meeting the following week. We all gently slipped our fly into the matchbox that old jack had kindly gifted us with.. Gripping the match box like it was a million dollars and with white knuckles. I proudly took my first ever flea back home to show my folks, and then spent hours playing with it like a cat with a mouse. Knowing in my mind that I had just tied the killer flea!, the one that will never fail and slay the trout. (That part never changes).

I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had to have travelled and fished for many species throughout the world and my time on the water. These experiences have helped me so much with the designs of my flies as well as the thousands of hours I have spent at the vice. Most of fly designs have changed slightly through the years as my knowledge has increased and my skills have became more honed. New materials have also opened up my mind and added life, to old patterns and new. Foam is by far my favourite fly tying material and I feel its uses are only limited by the imagination. For me fly tying is fun, relaxing and there is not many places in the world I have travelled without my vice.

I now live here in the South Island of New Zealand where I work as a professional fly tier and fly fishing guide. The guiding side of my business is called Born To Fish, Fly Fishing Adventures www.borntofish.co.nz As well as guided fly fishing I also run one day fly fishing schools for beginners and advanced and also offer fly tying tuition. I am also a member of the NZ Feather Merchants (Umpqua) fly tying pro team for the design and development of new effective flies for New Zealand conditions..

I hope you all have as much fun catching fish with my fly designs as I and my clients have had over the years.

Have a Great Day!
Tight Lines!
S. Tripney