Fly tying is something that a lot of fishermen do. Learning to use feathers and thread to create something that will fool a wary trout is really rewarding and there are many local fishermen who tie their own flies.
This writer watched his father tie streamers for trolling the Quabbin Reservoir for brown trout and rainbow trout and did a little myself, mostly big saltwater flies for striped bass because they were big and did not require a fine touch or as much skill.
There were also those like the late, great, Rodney Flagg who were masters of the craft and tied patterns that fooled many a trout. There is, however, another level of fly tyers. There are people who are true artists and have skills that translate into creations that are both beautiful and functional.
This writer first met one of the world’s best fly tiers back in the 1980s when my membership in the New England Outdoor Writers Association led me to the sportsman’s show in Worcester where NEOWA held its annual meeting in conjunction with the show. The writer’s group had a close relationship with Canadian guides, outfitters, lodges and the Canadian government’s outdoor tourism department, which worked to actively promote hunting and fishing opportunities at the show.
The Kennedy family of Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, were among those exhibiting at the show and their Lansdowne Lodge in Upper Stewiacke was among the best places a sportsman could stay. Their sterling reputation and positive feedback from everyone who stayed there did not surprise me after meeting the family.
That led to my spending time in Upper Stewiacke and the food, lodging, hunting and fishing were top shelf. The youngest Kennedy son Todd and I struck up a special friendship, and he gave me a fly he tied in 1993 for his first entry into one of the largest international fly-tying competitions where he finished third! It still is a prized possession.
It seems like we have led somewhat parallel lives when we reconnected via Facebook a few years ago. He has been active in Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl, conducted guide training courses and worked as a hunting and fishing guide in Nova Scotia and Alberta. He gained a reputation helping fishermen catch trout, Atlantic salmon and striped bass and hunters bag deer, ducks, geese, moose and elk since he was 18 years old. But the fly-tying is clearly a centerpiece in his life, and his accomplishments in that field are significant. His flies have appeared in books and magazines that feature fly fishing and fly tying, and he has many original creations which are beautiful, functional or both.
Everyone thinks about trout and salmon when flies are discussed, but yours truly is more than intrigued by the flies. The ones he has created consistently catch big stripers in Nova Scotia rivers. His guiding clients have landed a lot of stripers over 40 inches in length and weighing over 40 pounds – the fish of lifetime for anyone. These are not fish stories – I saw the pictures!
This week, Tessie accompanied me in the Silverado, and we were guests of Todd and his partner Tina in Nova Scotia. They have been the best hosts imaginable! After my return to the North Quabbin area, there will be more details of the trip shared in this space.
What really got my attention, however, was his fly-tying room. Catching my eye first was his fly-tying thread – over 2,000 spools! Stacked above them were 180 shoeboxes of feathers and over 300 assorted poultry necks for hackle feathers. At one time Todd had 150 roosters bred just for hackles. Todd’s freezers have a couple hundred necks as well.
When asked about hooks, in various sizes and styles, he guessed “Probably a million.” Hopefully you are beginning to see that Todd Kennedy is a serious fly tyer. His work from the fly vise has appeared in fly fishing books and magazines and is highly regarded by those in the fly-tying industry.
Todd is sponsored by Semperfli, a British company which produces a wide variety of what are considered the world’s best fly-tying materials for the global market. In addition, he is sponsored by Renomed, a Polish company that produces handmade scissors of the highest quality for fly tying and the medical industry. Daiichi Hooks, also considered an industry leader, is another of his sponsors.
When this Nova Scotia trip was first discussed, Atlantic salmon fishing was on the agenda. However, New England is not the only place suffering from prolonged drought. All the salmon rivers are not flowing. This unprecedented condition is of great concern, as no one really knows what this will mean for the many species of fish, including the “silver king” and all the other fish and aquatic life forms who lives in riverine environments.
Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.