Attending the British Fly Fair International (BFFI) in Stafford is always special. It's a time to meet up with friends and acquaintances and form new friendships, However this year it carried a weight I hadn’t felt before. This time, I wasn’t just attending as an admirer of the craft, I was there as a Fulling Mill Pro tyer seated on the famous Tyers Row for the very first time. I must thank Roly and everyone at Fulling Mill for their support and assistance. Everything they did for me was very much appreciated.
When I think of my first ever visit to the show back in 2010 at Stoke never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that one day I would be tying flies on tyers row.
For years, Tyers’ Row hàd been a place I associated with reverence. It’s where tyers that I've been inspired by and have been a great influence to me sit behind their vices, confidently demonstrating their skills and sharing their knowledge of the craft.
To find myself among them felt surreal, exciting, humbling, and if I’m honest a wee bit nerve-wracking.
However before I put my first hook in the vice I was called to Magnus Angus’s Fly Fishing & Flytying magazine’s makeshift photo studio to have one of my fly patterns photographed in a step by step sequence for an article which will be published soon in that long-established monthly magazine. Watch this space for more info.
Once that was done I took my place on the row.
Tying in front of the public with some stopping to watch and chat was at first a nervy experience however I soon settled in and the conversations flowed, questions were asked, flies, methods and techniques were discussed, stories were shared, lochs and locations recommended.
What truly made the experience special was the reaction of those who stopped to watch. Seeing genuine interest in my flies, and meeting people who follow my flytying on my social media pages was a real buzz.
It was a real thrill to chat with Pete Tyjas from the Fly Culture podcast and new editor of T&S.
Likewise it was fantastic to have Jackie Mahon and Tom Doc Sullivan stop by and xhat about my flies.
By the end of the weekend I felt a quiet sense of pride. To sit among respected tyers at the BFFI wasn’t just a personal achievement especially after the year I had health wise. It felt like an acknowledgement of my flytying journey so far. From a beginner at the humble beginnings of the Airdrie & District Angling Club flytying nights to tying at one of the most prestigious flytying events in Europe, it’s been a road well worth travelling.
My first time on Tyers’ Row will hopefully not be my last. If anything, the experience has only deepened my enthusiasm for flytying and everything associated with it. Hope to to it all again next year.
