Angelo Peluso


	Writing Saltwater Flies of the Northeast presented me with many occasions to meet some of the finest fly fishers and fly tiers along the entire Northeast coast of the United States. Fly tying has become an American art form, in many ways synonymous with duck decoy carving. The fly tiers represented here and in my book are some of the best in the country and the world. A number of their selected flies will be presented here for sale, in the form of both functionally fish-able flies or as collectibles. Also, many of the flies contained in Saltwater Flies of the Northeast can be reproduced for you by a select group of tiers. Should you have interest in a specific fly or the work of a specific tier please contact me with your request. Also, from time to time we will be presenting the work of a featured fly tier, whose work and style will surely educate and inspire. Featured Fly Tiers Some of the best fly anglers and fly tiers in the country reside along the Northeast coast. That region is endowed with many creative tiers whose talents have lead to the development of innovative and effective fly designs. Many of these tiers and their flies have been profiled in the book, Saltwater Flies of the Northeast. From time to time some of those tiers will be featured in this section. Long Island Tiers Within the realm of fly tying, Long Island is also home to a number of remarkable fly anglers and fly tiers whose skills and accomplishments have received national and in some instances international acclaim. Their contributions to the sport have in many ways helped guide the evolution of contemporary saltwater fly fishing. Here is a brief profile of a few of the best. Captain Joe Blados Crease Fly Joe Blados is a native Long Islander. He has had a life long love affair with salt water as a captain and as a prominent saltwater fly fishing guide on the East End of the Island’s North Fork, where he's pioneered flats-style fishing for striped bass. Joe is also a very accomplished fly tier whose style, technique and creativity are exemplified in the design of his world-famous Crease Fly, one of the most original flies ever created. While all tiers strive to produce flies that are new and different, many typically craft designs that represent modifications or variations of existing and proven patterns. With the exception of the discovery and utilization of new materials and alternative tying techniques, most new flies introduced into the contemporary market are functional variations of already successful patterns. That approach is the very foundation upon which the tying art is built. But every once in a long while we witness true innovation in the art of fly tying – a fly design or technique that is so unique it changes the way we fish and changes the sport itself. One such design technique lead Joe Blados to the creation of the “Crease Fly”, a pattern intended to mimic the profile of the prolific juvenile bunker. While originally conceived for the inshore fishery of the North Fork of Long Island, this fly has an established track record and cadres of aficionados wherever it is has been fished. It has become a staple in the fly box of anglers pursuing striped bass, bluefish, false albacore and bonito, and is in demand worldwide. I have witnessed the range of the Crease Fly’s effectiveness from silver salmon in Alaska to the surface-feeding game fish of the Yucatan Peninsula and all stops in between, both in saltwater and fresh. It is also a very effective offshore pattern for tuna and other large game fish. It is truly a remarkably designed fly, with a touch of an artist’s creativity. Joe also happens to be a very talented artist, using digital airbrush techniques to create unique and masterful images. An example of his exceptional work is featured as the cover art for the book, Saltwater Flies of the Northeast. If you are interested in acquiring an original Crease Fly Tying Kit or some of Joe’s artwork please contact us. Glen Mikkleson Acrylic Bunker Mention epoxy-style or acrylic baitfish patterns to any knowledgeable fly fisherman and one of the first, if not the first, fly tier that comes to mind is Glen Mikkleson. Glen is one of the foremost innovators in the use of epoxies and acrylics as a medium for tying saltwater flies. Starting out as a classic freshwater pattern tier Glen transitioned to saltwater fly fishing long before it became the popular rage that it is today. He was one of the first to break out from the mold of tradition and the use of standard materials to craft new and innovative patterns. His use of epoxies and acrylics borders on being an art form in and of itself. I once watched him demonstrate his work at a local fly tying club and gazed in amazement as he mixed, applied, molded and shaped globs of epoxy and acrylic into magnificent replicas of squid, crabs and assorted bait fish. I remember thinking to myself as we all attempted to replicate his technique that there was a strong possibility that I just might permanently glue my hands and fingers to the tying vise while attempting his maneuvers. Make no mistake, crafting flies in this medium is unquestionably an acquired skill and takes an artisan’s talent. What one finds with a Mikkleson fly is an extraordinary attention to quality. His flies are perfectly balanced, foul resistant and extremely durable. As a commercial fly tier Glen believes strongly in giving his clients a product that will stand the test of many fish. Paraphrasing one of his beliefs, Glen is fond of saying that any fly which falls apart after one fish is poorly designed and poorly tied. While this may seem obvious, low quality flies can easily begin to malfunction in unsuspecting ways that make them ineffective. Fouling is another issue that Glen works hard to prevent in his patterns. His epoxy bait fish designs are some of the most foul resistant in use today. One of Glen’s most noted other trademark is his canoe, which can often be found in season at any number of Long Island’s most popular harbors and inlets. He and his canoe, along with a pocket full of his epoxy bait fish, patterns have accounted for more false albacore and bonito than most of us ever get a chance to see, let alone hook! To acquire Glen’s custom flies please contact us. Glen's work is also featured in Saltwater Flies of the Northeast. Bob Lindquist Electric Squid As a member of several Long Island fishing clubs I get to see my share of lectures and presentations. Hands down, one of the most informative and original is delivered by Bob Lindquist, a renowned fly tier and fly fisherman. Pick up any of the national fly fishing or fly tying magazines and you are likely to see examples of Bob’s work. Attend any one of the major fly fishing shows of the northeast and you will see Bob tying his creations in front of captivated audiences. Why is his work so popular? For one reason, he has taken his mathematician’s curiosity and discipline and applied it to his approach to fly fishing. Bob is one of the foremost students of bait fish that swim in the waters of the Long Island and the entire northeast. After all, fish eat other fish so it makes sense to intimately understand the habits, habitat and characteristics of the bait upon which game fish feed. As a result, all of his designs capitalize on the critical characteristics of bait that stimulate game fish to strike. Bob has taken this fascination so far as testing and photographing his fly patterns under water to compare them to the movements and distinctiveness of the bait species they are intended to mimic. His flies are not exact replicas of the bait fish but rather imitations that highlight those attributes which motivate game fish to eat them . If you listen to Bob’s fly tying wisdom for any length of time you well hear him repeat a design theme to his patterns that make them as successful as the are - a prominent head with large eyes, transitions of color and a “ghostly” impression of the main body. Those are valuable elements to keep in mind when tying your own flies. Two of the most effective of the Lindquist flies that I have used are the Hammerhead and the Royal Anchovy. The Hammerhead bailed me out of a slow day for bass a few years back. After drifting over the edge of a usually productive shoal without so much as a hit and marking fish down below 15 feet I reached for the heaviest fly I could find in my fly box...it just happened to be a Hammerhead that Bob had given to me. Well, a dozen and half quality stripers later and I was a believer; and his Royal Anchovy is a knockout fly as well when little tunny are foraging anchovies and rain bait in the fall! If you are interested in acquiring some of Bob’s patterns for your fly arsenal please contact us. You can also see more of Bob's flies in Saltwater Flies of the Northeast. Email: APinfo@angelopeluso.com Copyright 2007 angelopeluso.com All content copyrighted property of angelopeluso.com and may not be used without permission.