In any discipline; art, music, or woodworking, the basics are the foundation on which the advanced techniques are implemented. In the Karate Kid (Hollywood gag), when Daniel asks Miyagi: “Can you teach me?” Miyagi answers; “First learn stand, then learn fly. Nature rule, Daniel San, not mine.” As it goes in the natural world, so it goes in fly tying; you have to dub before you can wing.
Every practitioner would fancy skipping the basic steps as it's the advanced techniques that pique our interest. As fly tiers we would love to jump from the 'Bugger to the Baron. However, if a basic soft loop is problematic, setting a married wing is nearly impossible. We all want to reach the place that Jean-Paul Dessaigne describes: “I tied my most beautiful flies in once with this feeling than all is fluid, my feathers place themselves without problems, I have a feeling of happiness at the end of my fingers.” But we often want to forget the completion of the his thought: “All these things I them acquired with time ...”
In an FTF thread describing his start, Ronn Lucas, Sr. wrote; “I think if a person can find an accomplished mentor that would be the best way to begin.” Without question, the quickest and best route to the classic wet, feather wing streamer, or full dressed Atlantic fly, is with the accompaniment of a guide, a mentor, or a tying “Sensei.”
According to an “unnamed” ancient source, the definition of a sensei is “An outside master or teacher that assists in implementing lean practices.” Is there anything more fundamental in advanced fly tying than the “lean practice” of thread control? Even the best books brush over thread control, because it's tactile by definition. Much of the tier's technique is tactile, which a book or even a video are unable to demonstrate. The tier either spends hours feeling their way to thread control or they find a sensei who can emphasize and assist the tier in the “lowly” thread.
The first question is: How do I find a Sensei? It's a bit like fishing the dry fly. You need to find the lie - an area where people that tie get together (a shop, club, or meeting), and watch for risers - those that answer questions. Cast that fly- ask questions, drift without drag - listen with interest to the answers, and the Sensei will rise, like an old trout rising to the expertly presented dry fly.
Now that you've found one, how do you “kick start” your fly-tying Sensei?
In “The Theory and Application of Old Men” the great outdoor humorist Patrick McManus describes the importance, use and process of developing a mentor. “Let us next consider the proper technique for starting an old man. When you are older, you can start an old man simply by loading him or, in the more common expression, “getting him loaded.” While you're still a kid, however, you will have to use empty old men, who are a good deal harder to start. The best technique for starting an empty old man is called “priming.” You say something like this to your O.M.:“Mr. Jenkins, I'll bet fishing is sure a lot better nowadays than when you were a kid.”That bit of priming should not only get him started but keep him going for a couple of hours.”
Nothing is worth more to the student than a pocket full of “priming” questions; don't leave home without them.
Getting your mentor “loaded” may work in special situations; however, a question about material is almost a guarantee. A fly tier loves his/her material and loves to talk about it. Ask about a particular type of feather, skin, hook or book. Consider all that you don't know instead of sharing what you think you know. Do you know what to look for when you buy ostrich herl; how about a bird skin? Did you know that immature birds produce unique feather patterns that you'll never see in mature skins? Do you know how to store your material? Do you know the history of silkworm gut?
Consider how to use your Sensei. He/She has already tried every whiz-gig for setting a wing and burnishing floss, and even tried the ones that did both. There is no need for you to go and buy one, exercise to the limits of your frustration and waste precious feather money. How many dollars are wasted on poor quality material? The good Sensei said: “fifty per-cent of success comes with good material”, so don't waste income on that strung herl, save it for that Satyr skin. Let the Sensei direct you into excellent material.
Pick up a bobbin and tie something in front of the Sensei; stop at every possible juncture with your questions, soak up the responses and remember your Sensei's admonition: “STUDY, STUDY, STUDY what other tiers do. CONCENTRATE on the details as you tie. DON'T just tie a fly with no purpose. Be disciplined and take your time!!!!”
A Sensei pushes, prods and keeps one moving forward. You have to admire Jean-Paul Dessaigne's beautiful flies, and the remarkable amount of work he has expended to share his skill. We also should admire his advice about pushing forward: “I don’t advise to remain in admiration in front of a beautiful fly which you have just tied, you sell it or you give it. To remain in admiration in front of its own creations is the best means of not evolving. I do not count the thousands of hours that I passed in front of my vice to tear off me the hair." Thank you, Jean-Paul.
As the Japanese say: “admire the Sensei that embodies the art as the eternal student.” No amount of money can replace the sensei that approaches the craft as a student. If you've discovered one, you're a rich man/woman indeed. From the Karate Kid (again), [Miyagi karate chops the tops off three beer bottles] Daniel: How did you do that? How did you do that? Miyagi: "Don't know. First time.” Suhweeeet! If you have found a fly tying sensei, lucky you, say thank you often, and be prepared to become a sensei when you have an opportunity. What's a sensei worth? It's impossible to calculate the true value. However, we can say with confidence, without the tying sensei there would be a scourge of bad flies, hundreds of old, frustrated fly tiers, and hundreds of thousands of wings never set.
This is dedicated to a great fly tying mentor, Sensei Ronn Lucas Sr. (http://ronnlucassr.com), and all the great tiers, on FTF, at the club, in the shop, ... willing to share their time, knowledge, and skill with the next generation of floss jockeys.
Sensei in action...
Always teaching...
Nothing like good materials ...
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Price: $6.95 for each issue
The Premiere issue is ready for shipping & the Fall 2008 issue will be available September 1st.
