I was introduced to Stefano Farkas by Tony Smith. Tony sent me some pictures of Stefano's flies. Needless to say I was impressed as I'm sure you will be as well. Since 1974 Stefano has been a Winemaker in the Chianti Classico area, between Florence and Siena, in Italy. To see his very interesting web site click on VILLA CAFAGGIO.

Not only is Stefano a world class vintner he has two hobbies, biking and fly fishing that have held his interest for 25 years. Fly fishing in Italy is primarily for Trout and Grayling. Early on he started to tie his own flies (out of necessity I'd bet) but it was a trip to England that ignited his passion for tying Salmon Flies. I asked him how he came to tying Classic Salmon Flies. In his words "It?s very strange: three years ago I was in London for my work and one day I went in a famous book shop called Waterstone. I saw and bought the beautiful book of Michael Radencich edited by Stackpole and I remained astonished! I had never seen such beautiful things in my life. When I went back home I started to try to tye some of them but everything was very difficult: firstly finding the materials ( ! ) which, as you well know, become an hobby in the hobby." How well I know, how true, that last statement is. Not only did he choose the right book to get started but it's also obvious to me he has been a very good student. His flies, both Classic and Contemporary, are tied for the most part on Ron Reinhold's 8/0 long shank presentation hooks.

I've been so impressed by Stefano's work and in particular his photographing the flies in various stages of completion I've decided to create a section in Educational Resources that I hope will help anyone with the desire to create beautiful flies. Click on Flies In Stages to see this addition. As a result of this special section I will simply show you his finished products below.

Click on the thumbnails to see a larger image.




September 13 2005 Stefano has returned to the daily grind of work and tying flies now that he is back from his summer off. He thought since he hasn't been productive in so long that we might have forgotten about him. That's hardly the case!

The Salmon he refers to in the following text is at the upper right of the page and the Tube Fly is the first picture in the row below. The spectacular Jock Scott pictured next was photographed in stages and is included in Educational Resources. Click No 6 Jock Scott to see it.

"As I told you, I have been fishing the Gaula river in Norway and here are the photos of the best fish I caught, a 23.5 lbs on a Green Highlander tube which I tied in the Scandinavian fashion ( Artic fox tail-fur wings, up and not around the tube as the British patterns). I wish to remind to all the friends tyers that our art started and developed for the purpose of catching atlantic salmons, even if nobody now is anymore using Classic Flies. "Nobody" it?s not totally true because in part I do it: I have many Classic Blue Charm in my boxes ( a real killer ) as some Green Highlanders, Jock Scott and others, strictly tied in the Classic way. It is always very interesting for me to see how the classic fly works in the water and the different shape which results with the feathers: totally different from the shape to which the Classic Fly tyer-not fisherman is used to see. But, it?s always a pity to put in the water a fly which takes so a long time to be tied and so the first choice goes always to simple and effective modern flies."