I live in southcentral Pa. and fish mainly softhackles , but whatever works at the time

Restarted fly fishing 4-5 years ago and joined the Ottawa Flyfishers Society (OFS). Had always bought flies in the past. Members initiated me in a session of tying.

Well got hooked. Now have so much material I could open my own store. LOL

Been tying many types of flies, even Tenkara's. My smallest on a #22 hook.

For the last month or so, been tying Carp flies.

Next flies are going to be deer hair weedless mouses.

Tying up a few boxes for an upcoming summer trip to Tasmania. Looking forward to that!

Well, like I had mentioned earlier. But not weedless, this time.

Made a few the other day, but this one I like most. Kind of has the realistic face to it.

I remember there being a fellow, I believe from NJ, who used to tie with exotic, delicate, synthetics. Quite popular for awhile, wrote some books. Beautiful life-like imitations, suited to display. I'm not certain whether they were effective fishing tools, but eye-catching to say the very least. His name is on the tip of my tongue, but at the moment eludes me. "Betts" comes to mind, but I can only recall an older fellow - Fran Betts by the name of Betts who owned a shop in up-state NY - who tied and, built custom rods.

Does anyone recall the identity of this tier?

If I could remember his name I'm sure it would ring some bells.

Yes, I specifically stated that it wasn't Fran and that he owned the shop up there. Messed up his last name ... , but knew it wasn't him. I have one of his graphite rods, wood grip. Beautiful. You know your tiers ... he was indeed the originator of the Haystack and even when he became arthritic, tied a gorgeous fly. John Betts sounds right. I think that he may have originally started tying in NJ and moved to Denver, but I am probably mistaken on that count.

Thanks for the name and filling in the details.

P, those look awful good!

I have been primarily a nymph fisherman for 54 years and have tied my own flies for 52 years ... My favorite patterns are made of muskrat,beaver,red squirrel,mink,and red fox furs ... I tie impressionistic patterns concentrating on size and color ... most sizes range from#8 to#14 with a spattering to #18 ... My favorite dry fly patterns center around the caddis,the most prevelant fly in our faster moving streams ... I tie a small selection of streamers for fishing fast moving sections of water ...
I prefer fishing streams and small rivers here in northern Maine for wild brook trout,landlocked Atlantic salmon,and smallmouth bass ...
My favorite rod is a 7' Steffen 5 wt and DT5F lines ...
I mostly fish the headwater tributaries of the the Penobscot River and
the northern half of Baxter State Park ... I retired as the Chief Ranger of the Park in
2008 ...
I am currently experimenting with fur and foam flies and concentrating on caddis,
grasshoppers,and ant imitations ... Winters are long and cold here ... Tying flies helps
Keep us thinking of fishing on warmer days while buiding up our inventories ...
Good luck to all and keep tying ...

I usually fish the Truckee and the Upper Sac. When the trout are shy, my go to is a weighted hares ear. I love it!

I've mostly been tying woolly buggers for bass, bully's bluegill spider for bluegill, and soft hackle flies and killer bugs for trout. I do much of my fishing in SE MA.

I love the Nissitissit river in Pepperell. I fished it years ago. below the bridge.

Like musicar (whose flies and rods I greatly admire!) I live in Mass and fish stripers when I can, warm water ponds close to home for bass, pickerel and gills when I have a spare hour, and I found a new love last year - sea-run brookies! Most of my tying is for stripers: