Friends: show

Paul is one of those good friends that I have yet to meet. I valued his friendship even before he got my daughter a job and saved me from financial ruin. Thank you, Paul.

He is an avid fly fisherman and it is only a matter of time before we meet and tie together. As you will see in the photos below, Paul obviously marches to the beat of a different drummer in his creative fly dressing. I have asked Paul to supply us with a little information about himself. Read his words below:

"Hi my name is Paul Franzblau, I am 56 yrs young. I have been a paramedic for over twenty five years now in the Rockford Illinois area. I am one of the very earliest paramedics in the Midwest, and no I never worked with Johnny and Roy but I came close. I was born in Amytiville New York, so that should warn you a little bit about me. I actually lived most of my younger years on long island, New York. I was never really into fishing then. I did get my first tastes of fishing off shore for blue fish and mako sharks. I moved to the Midwest in my middle twenties where I became involved in bass fishing and flirted with a career as a tournament fisherman. I fished almost exclusively with bait casters and then drifted over to spinning tackle. In the mid eighties the bass club I belonged to went to Algoma Wisconsin where we casted for Chinook salmon, that was at the end of the snagging era. Let me tell you what one of those three ounce treble hooks does to the gelcoat on a 25,000 dollar ranger bass boat. Well it was always a colorful time even if the fishing was slow. I guess I was never the same after that and somehow bass fishing never was the same after that either. My good friend Dave Roman got me introduced to flyfishing. Well then he got me introduced to tying my own flies, and I knew I was home. I practiced and practiced and then I started to read and to learn, I guess I am not telling any of you something you donâ€™t already know, thus started my passion/addiction. When I show a classic fly to someone they have no idea what they are. When you start to explain the rich history and evolution of the classic salmon flies they are always amazed. It has always been my goal to reach for a higher level of tying skill. When I look at the icons of this industry I am always very humbled and feel I always have so much to learn and to strive towards. I look forward to making what ever contribution I can to such a great art form and sport. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you over the years to come. Best regards Paul Franzblau"

Click on the thumbnails below to see some of Pauls work: