If you have been a regular visitor to this site, you will probably know that back in October, we announced the First ever About.com fly swap. As participant and webmaster of The Virtual Fly Box, Byard Miller indicated, it was a lot of work but a great deal of fun!

Admittedly, I had never hosted a flyswap myself, but after a young Texan flyfisherman who is presently in Grade 6, Jack Soape, asked about fly swaps, I decided that we would host one here.

Finally, after fiddling with images and collecting all the patterns for the flies that were submitted, I can now provide you with the details of our swap. It was great to receive the flies and read the personal notes from many of the participants! I also owe a big thank you to folks like Larry Medina, a veteran fly swapper who offered a lot of good advice, and Byard Miller for his encouragement.

Michael Hawkins, who contributed with his 'Annie's Midge Emerger' sent along a delightful picture of his daughter, for whom the fly is named, fishing with her Grandad. I have included that picture beside Michael's tying instructions.

Perhaps the biggest thanks though, must go to Jack. It was he who inspired the swap in the first place, and I am really pleased that he participated. Jack was a little concerned about the time he would require to tie his flies as well as get his homework done, but I wasn't going to let him use that as an excuse not to participate! Now, he is all set for a second swap!

Jack, you're going to become a great flytier and angler! As Byard Miller says, "Keep on tyin'!"

Now, I present you with the flies.

Anyone ready for the second swap?

The Flies

Masters Of Classic Cane
A look at some of the fathers of split cane rods.

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