Hi: Frank Dalziel from the Pacific Coast of Canada. I live in a rain shadow of the true West Coast of Vancouver Island, so not as wet as it is in Tofino or Vancouver. I am a long-time fly fisher and tyer and first learned to tie Classics in my late teens and early 20’s. Back then, I had to learn from books, and the premier supplier of materials was Veniards. All ordering was done from paper catalogs, and orders were placed and received by post. Wow! Have things changed! I started tying only west coast steelhead flies in my 30’s and 40’s. Easier than classics, effective, and not as many tears when lost on rocks or logs! My hero was Roderick Haig-Brown and to this day his books delight me, and often mention classics since he was originally from England, but settled to live his life in the town of Campbell River, about 100 k. north of where I live today.
Stuart has done a fine job of putting this site together. I come here to dream, and also to learn the history of many of the materials that I had forgotten, but exist in my collection today. The internet has changed the way we do communicate and do business, also the way we learn to tie classics; for the most part for the better. This site is a wonderful example of things that were simply not available to me when I was spending time with Pryce-Tannatt learning to tie classics all those years ago. (I wish I had chose Hale, but that is another story.) The photos are superb. Thanks to Stuart for spending the time to put this all together. I look forward to many more happy evenings drooling over materials that have not yet made it into my collection, and tying classics with what I have. Hello to all. Frank