ABOUT THE TYERS

A.K. Best

A. K. Best is an internationally known professional fly tyer, and is a frequent guest speaker at seminars and shows throughout the United States and abroad. He is a teacher by profession, which becomes apparent in the DVDs and videotapes he has produced with Video Ventures. His easygoing nature and smooth delivery make him a pleasure to listen to as he shares with the viewer time earned lessons in fly tying.

A. K. is a student and an observer of nature, and is extremely knowledgeable about the anatomy of the insects his patterns imitate. A. K. doesn't always go "by the book” He admits there are age-old methods and materials that just don’t work well today.

For example: "I devised the Tri-Color Nymph and Sub-Emerger patterns because it became apparent to me that the trout see sub-surface flies at their eye level and we were tying one-color nymphs. I noticed there were three different shades of colors of the body, so I set out to fashion the Tri-Color Nymph and Sub-Emerger patterns to more anatomically resemble the natural."

While A. K. doesn't always go "by the book" (at least, other's books), he, nevertheless, is the author of three highly successful publications: A. K's Fly Box; Production Fly Tying, Advanced Fly Tying, Fly Fishing with A. K., and Dyeing and Bleaching, available in most fly shops.

Quotes:

"A. K.’s dry flies are superb…perhaps the most helpful instruction I’ve ever seen on fly tying."

"I commend you on the A.K. Best series. They are exceptional and A.K. makes it clear on how to tie flies."

"I love fishing soft hackles. After watching the artistic creations of A. K.’s mayflies I HAD to tie the blue wing olive and, of course, go right down to the river and present it to the trout."

Shane Stalcup

I have been tying flies for over 20 years of which most of that time was tying commercially. Today I develop my own line of materials which can be found on my web site: www.stalcupflies.com or through Hareline dubbing. As for the many flies that I have created, the ONLY distributor that is authorized to produce my flies is Solitude Flies. The other fly manufacturers that regularly knock off my patterns do not tie right and use inferior materials.

Through the many videos and my book, Mayflies: “Top to Bottom”, I demonstrate the many ways in which I develop new patterns and tell you why I do so. Today there are numerous materials fly tiers have never heard of or they simply just don’t know what to do with them. Through the above media outlets available to the tier, I travel the world giving demonstrations and classes showing fellow tiers some of the many ways in which to use these new materials as well as some of the old.

I am always just an e-mail away (stalcupflies@comcast.net) to any questions you may have and would be gladly to help you through any problems that you may run into.

Brad Befus

Brad Befus has been fly fishing and fly tying for more than 28 years. He is an accomplished freshwater and saltwater angler who holds several I.G.F.A. flyrod world records and has fished many destinations worldwide. Brad is an innovative fly tyer with many of his patterns being produced and sold by Umpqua Feather Merchants through their “Contract Tyer Program.”

His flies have appeared in books and articles, as well as the University of Idaho Prichards Art Gallery and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Brad co-authored with Barry Reynolds and John Berryman “Carp on the Fly” a flyrodders guide to carp. He has written a second book, “Basic Techniques for Successful Fly Tying” as well as three fly tying videos. (“Flies For Carp”, “Techniques for Micro Patterns” and “Basic Techniques for Successful Fly Tying”). Brad contributes articles and photography to many of the fly fishing periodicals on a regular basis. He is featured lecturer at many trade shows and fly shops around the country.

His vast knowledge of the sport of fly fishing and his willingness to share his wisdom, make him a tremendous resource of angling, fly tying and casting information. Brad currently resides in Montrose, Colorado with his wife Lisa and their three children where he is the Sales Manager at Ross Reels.

Harrison Steeves

I come from a long line of fly fishermen and tiers. My great-grandfather, my grandfather and my father were all avid anglers. I still have my grandfather’s old Abercrombie and Fitch cane rod and an old sheepskin fly wallet with four or five-dozen flies he created.

My love of tying came from my father’s efforts at the bench, where he excelled. I learned a great deal watching the intricacies of tying through observation and pretty soon I was catching fish on my own flies.

I guess I tried everything - wet flies, nymphs, dries, streamers, etc., and, being raised in Alabama, I learned that bluegills, “red eye” bass and a bunch of other warm-water species were fine game on fly rods. Finally we planned a trout-fishing trip to Tennessee and North Carolina and I lost my heart. It was on those streams that, using my little brand new South Bend cane rod, I became truly infected with the "trout virus" and I have never recovered.

Now, years later, I look back on that time and realize that it was these experiences that taught me the true intricacies and "art" of tying. Having no formal instruction was the best “teacher” that I could have had, requiring me to become innovative and imaginative, to be creative and to listen to what the materials were trying to tell me.

To make a long story short I was not happy with the flies were available on the market, particularly terrestrial patterns, with which I have had a life-long love affair. It was simply a matter of having to design patterns that I thought would be better than what was available. I never dreamed that some day the patterns that I created and the techniques I learned, mostly on my own, would be made available to others.

Whatever success I have had as an author and a fly designer is still a surprise and a mystery to me and I hope it will always remain that way. The real satisfaction is to know that others enjoy fishing with patterns that I have created, have success with these patterns, and end the day with that incredible feeling that taking a few good fish engenders. That is more than enough satisfaction for anyone.

Harrison Steeves, Author of “Tying Flies With Foam, Fur and Feathers”, Stackpole Books; “Terrestrials” (with Ed Koch), Stackpole Books. “Tying With Kreinik Materials”, Kreinik Co. Author of numerous fly tying articles. Currently on the Pro Staff of Scott Rod Co. and Gudebrod Thread Co. Fly Designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. Professional guide and fly fishing instructor for ten years. Retired Professor of Biology.

Joe Warren

Joe Warren is a biological science technician, an accomplished fly tyer, lecturer, and author of Tying with Glass Beads, published by Amato Publications. He has produced a number of fly designs to his credit.

Joe was inspired to tie with glass beads after meeting Dale Chihuly, an artist who is internationally known for his amazing use of glass in his art. "When I saw a display of beads, I saw how the light hit the beads and saw the magnificent luminance and sheen and all the different colors shimmering in the light. I knew then what Mr. Chihuly meant when he said, 'People for centuries have been fascinated with glass. It's the most magical of materials.' I said to myself, 'I can tie flies with these'! After a short time fishing these flies, I recognized the many advantages of tying with glass beads.”

With new materials on the market today, the art of fly tying is becoming more stimulating and interesting. With such an array of materials, we have the ability to improve our flies and make them more realistic and thus improve our fishing success.

Glass beads can be tied for many species—fresh or salt water. "I use some beads for their brightness and shiny attractor effect. Others have a translucent look, like in an insect body or a bait fish in the light."

Joe is an excellent teacher and his instructions are easy to follow.