[M.D. Holloway]

When I was very young, I remember watching this ol guy fly fishing. First thing he would do is walk along the shore of the lake picking at the ground and looking under leaves and so forth. The he would reach into his vest and pull out a small hook and some feathers or something and some line and proceed to tie a fly with his bare hands. He would cast maybe twice to three times and a fish would hit. It was amazing.

I talkied to him once - I asked him what he was doing and he told me he first checked out the various bugs that were local, then he figuered out at what stage of life they were in then he tied a fly (wet or dry - depending on the stage of the bug or the fish or the time). Fish like familar food he would say - I guess he was right.

It wasn't till years later that I learned just how good this guy was. To be able to figuer out the bugs stage is good, to tie a fly to mimic it is better, but to do it with just your fingers and no vice or needle noise and to cut the line with your teeth? Serious chops. I'm not sure but this maybe a lost art that I sure wish I learned from him - once again, I will chalk it up to yet another person I wish I got to know better but didn't!

Anybody ever see this done? Hear of it?