Monte Smith is a new friend from Halsey, Oregon. He has described himself as "I?m your typical tying nut. I try my hand at making my own hooks, dyeing my own materials, tying in hand as a challenge, and dressing as many classics as time allows. I create patterns when the mood strikes and look to accumulate as much of the unique and beautiful materials that tiers crave as my budget allows." He sounds perfectly normal to me! Monte also supplied me with a brief Bio and I'm pleased to pass it along:

" Thwarted from fishing one day in early 1991, I dug out my barely used tying kit that had been stored for the previous decade, found my copy of Jack Dennis? Western Trout Fly Tying Manual, and set about tying a few simple nymphs to replenish my fly box. Thus began my second ? and far more productive, passionate, and rewarding ? phase of tying flies. The first phase was brief and weak; this phase is pretty serious.

Learning to tie as many types of flies as possible, I have spent countless hours at the vise in the ensuing 13+ years. Through a full range of trout flies to Speys, Dees, tube flies, Waddingtons, doubles, featherwing streamers, and hairwing Atlantics, I enjoyed the benefits of increasing my tying skills and knowledge base, not to mention my overflowing fly boxes. Throughout this journey, I viewed the full-dress salmon fly as something to revere. The epitome of tying. Something I could only admire from a distance. Luckily, I put aside my doubts and sat down one evening to tie a Black Ranger, following step for step the instructions set forth in Ron Alcott?s book. Good decision!

I?ve since become captivated - as many tyers are - by the intricacy, artistry, and sheer beauty of the salmon fly. The historian in me appreciates their rich and varied heritage, the budding artist in me is drawn to their beautiful components, and the hardcore tyer in me is challenged by the patience and craftsmanship involved in dressing them. I?ve been fully consumed by the salmon fly for more than five years now.

Far more interested in the classic patterns of yore, I?m not averse to getting a little ?creative? when the mood strikes. That?s one of the great things about tying salmon flies ? there is a liberating freedom in creating them, whether they are old standards, or something from the recesses of the tyer?s mind. Tie to please yourself and nothing further needs to be done. The rewards are great.

I?m a voracious reader and a copious note taker of all things ?salmon fly.? Notebooks litter my den with pattern recipes, notes from demonstrations, fly critiques, class lectures, ideas for enhancing my skills, materials sources, hook making tips, and the like. I teach the occasional salmon fly class, demonstrate at various shows, contribute to various websites and publishing projects, and enjoy working at my tying bench as much as possible. I still manage to get out on the water on occasion, though with a wife and two young children at home, not nearly as much as I once did. A great benefit, however, is more time to spend studying and dressing salmon flies.

I?ve had the good fortune of meeting so many fine tyers who are willing to share their knowledge, materials, and advice. I look forward to meeting many others along the way. There is much yet to learn, and I have comfortably settled into the role of life-long student. I?m honored that John asked me to be a part of his site, as it is truly a remarkable resource for the salmon fly enthusiast at any level.

Monte was kind enough to send a few fly pictures with a promise of more to come. Click on the thumbnails below to see some of his lovely flies.



April 7 2005 The flies directly below are a beautifully done series of Green Highlanders representing the different "Masters" recipes for that pattern.