Dave "The Bod" Gotzmer isn't nicknamed "The Bod" because he is a professional wrestler, it's because his ability to put together a pretty nice salmon fly body. The moniker was given to him by members of the FTF of which Dave is one of the regulars. I first met Dave through my website but soon learned he and I had more in common than tying flies and fishing. Dave is a "school teacher" at my old college in Upstate New York. When I was at Paul Smith's it was primarily (and the best) Forestry School offering limited Hotel Management. It has now evolved into a top Hotel Management and I'm sure the campus has changed since the mid 60's. I'll have to go back there one day. Dave was kind enough to supply the following information:
"I currently live in the middle of the Adirondack Mountains in New York State. I have a beautiful wife, Sally, that I have been married to for 29 years. We have two children, Marcy and Sam, ages 27 and 24. They have flown the coop but are gratefully close by. I have been working at Paul Smiths College as an Assistant Professor in the Hotel Restaurant Mngmt and Culinary arts programs for 20 years.

I grew up fishing. Started using cane at the age of 5. That's a 10 foot bamboo stick with string and bobber. I've been tying for many years but choose to take on Classsics about 1 1/2 years ago.

Recently I find myself drawn to composition and design." 

Below is a pictorial progression of sorts of Dave's skill level over the past year and a half. This segment being the "First Three Months":

It became apparent to me early that I had to mess with tradition.  History intrigued me in a vague sort of way and in no sense did I feel beholding to the authors, but felt obligated to state beforehand if I strayed from the original dressing.  Again, the skills gained in tying the Classics as prescribed benefitted me immensely but I just could not stop myself from playing with them. Often as not, I simply did not have the materials. 

1.  The first fly I was proud of...a takeoff on the Bonne Bouche 

2.  A takeoff on the Red Sandy 

3.  A Fly titled "Kori Rose" 

It was during this period that I met the "Class of 06" which included Royce, Matt, Jaime, and a group of crossovers from the Classic Wet tiers, Leigh, John, Lee and of course Mike Boyer who I still consider the best all-round tier in the craft.  Especially influential to me at this time was Dave Carne, whose no bull-sh*t comments made me strive to go to the next level and Ronn Lucas of course whose acceptance knows no boundary. Those whose work excited me include Bud Guidry, Davie McPhail, Goku our friends from France Jean Paul and Bruno, not to mention Mikko, Ari-Heikki and tons of others that I will miss unintentionally.  Ironically, all this input set the stage for my next four months which can best be described as the Classic Period.

 The Forth thru sixth month About a 50/50 mix of Classic and freestyle
  
  
  

The seventh thru the eleventh months: 



The eleventh thru fifteen months: 

 

"Matt Inman really helped open up my eyes and opportunities when he graciously provided me a collection of three of hooks that can be best described as "Mega-Scud Hooks".

1. Flare Up (working with body tapers) 2. Georgia Peach ( a gesture of appreciation) 3. Tiny Dancer (lost touch completely with this one)

" 
The following are patterns Dave created for those irons:



As Dave stated earlier: "Recently I find myself drawn to composition and design." the following three are patterns cereated for the Haiku (click on Haiku for a definition) that appears on each:



The following are some of Dave's most recent works: