My Book "The Art of the Classic
Salmon Fly"
In the middle of 1988 I almost finished reproducing the salmon flies
of masters in old days whom I often mentioned in this series. On
taking their photos I was going to publish a book about them. Every
thing was going well but I felt uneasy about one thing. I had no
pattern on my own to introduce although I reproduced such a huge
number of salmon flies that no one had ever challenged and was about
to publish their photos.
I had already introduced some original patterns. Fortunately, some
of them--dry flies, wet flies and streamers--had a good reputation
as pretty ones to get a lot of fish. But the salmon fly was quite
different. I had less opportunity to use it. Above all I was overwhelmed
by passion of famous authors in the past.
In the genre of dry flies, wet flies and streamers it is not difficult
to see whether my pattern is original or not by checking 400 or
500 patterns. But then it is almost impossible to make an original
fly as far as I use popular materials. Only idle authors that do
not look up into historical literature consider their patterns to
be original. If they look up into old data they will often find
more splendid ones very similar to theirs there.
On the other hand, in the world of the salmon fly there is almost
no model creature. I had not the slightest idea what I should depend
on to tie my own patterns. But still I cannot make an original fly
only by giving a new colour to the traditional pattern. To be honest,
I had an ambition but I was at loss as to how to tie.
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| Unmarried Angel Old Limerick 8/0 |
In this way, I had an ambivalent feeling of ambition and hesitation
just before editing my book. Because I was planning to introduce
the salmon flies forgotten in the history again I had no hope
to get the opinion about my work from home and abroad. Under
the circumstances that even reproducing old flies amazed people,
Mr. Paul Schmookler was the only fly dresser that pushed me.
He wrote to me that I should not be resigned to a craftsman
whose work was limited to reproduction but should publish my
own flies as an artist. I had never tied an original salmon
fly before. I could have tied one if I had known nothing about
the salmon fly. However, reproduction of 500 salmon flies had
discouraged me from tying my own. But at the same time, in spite
of lack of confidence, I was fired up with ambition to challenge
this great world. Probably I had been waiting for something
to push me. Mr. Schmookler's words drove me to sit at the vice
as if the floodgate in my heart had suddenly broken open.
Within a week I completed my first 9 works.
September Blue
Dream Tactics
Tropical Night
Unmarried Angel
Daybreak
Mermaid
Memories
Joy
Bluebird
Without a rest I tied 42 flies in total in two months before
the closing date.
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| Daybreak Old Limerick 8/0 |
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| Mermaid Old Limerick 8/0 |
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| Memories Old Limerick 7/0 |
My book "The Art of the Classic Salmon Fly" published
by Kodansha in 1990 won popularity rather abroad than home and
became well-known among salmon anglers all over the world. I anticipated
that many readers were pleased to see the photos of old patterns
that almost no one could see now, as was true of me. To my surprise,
however, they mainly admired my original patterns! Since then
---It is too bold of me to say---I have sometimes been called
Kelson in 20th century. From foreign eyes, it was not purely by
accident that a new trend was set from Tokyo, where prawn came
together from all over the world at that time.
Unexpectedly, this book awakened the potential lovers of the beautiful
fly throughout the world and dramatically enlarged the number
of classic salmon fly tyers. This trend, however, is a bit different
from that led by Pryce-Tannatt who inspired anglers to return
to the traditional beautiful fly. Nowadays almost all salmon fly
dressers tie their flies as a hobby. Except for anglers who often
fish for steelhead or salmon, those flies are seldom used for
real fishing. Salmon fly dressers make the fly not because they
need it but because it is beautiful. It is not whether they use
it or not that motivates them to tie the fly.
I remember that Major Traherne seldom recorded his own patterns
in his books. He enjoyed making his original patterns but it cost
too much time and money to use for real fishing.
After "The Art of the Classic Salmon Fly" was published
not only classic but also original salmon fly dressing became
popular. But how many classic patterns you tie to understand the
salmon fly and to foster your sense, you must be at loss as to
how to make an original pattern. In any time you need courage
and effort to open a new world based on your sense. Then you must
rack your brain in front of the vice.
I wrote in the first chapter of this book how I felt at that time.
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| Joy Old Limerick 7/0 |
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| Bluebird Old Limerick 8/0 |
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