Hometown Impressions: The hobby and fetish of fly-tying

It’s something everybody can learn how to do.

A person is “never too young or too old to learn how to tie a fly,” said Vinny Pachelli, one of the organizers of the fly-tying class that takes place at Golden River Sports.

Fly-fishing is imitating the natural, Pachelli said. One of the main reasons people like to tie their own is so they can give it variation that fish don’t see on a regular basis, he said.

But it becomes a hobby.

Fly-fishing is kind of like a fetish, said Troy Hayes, one of the Nov. 18 fly-tying class attendees. “You don’t know why you love it, but you love it so much.”

The class generally takes place the second and third Wednesday of each month. Some who had never tied a fly before come, and others have been doing it for twenty years come. But most are already experienced anglers.

“It’s very informal,” Pachelli said.

People can come to learn how to tie a fly, he said, but some simply want to hang out, tie flies and have conversation in a group atmosphere.

But, of course, there’s always professional guidance available for questions or advice, Hayes said. And sometimes, the class sponsors break-out sessions where attendees get to take their newly-made ties and test them out in Clear Creek.

There were only three attendees at the Nov. 18 class, but it’s getting to be the time of year when a lot more people will start showing up to the classes. “Because there’s more time,” said attendee Jay Hayes.

In the summer, fly-fishers will tie because of need, but in the winter, they will tie to stock up their box, he said.

Those who are just starting out can purchase everything they need from Golden River Sports, Pachelli said, or, attendees usually have some tools available for others to borrow.

There are also kits available, Jay Hayes said, which will have everything a person needs to be “well on your way to tie any standard tie.”

If you think about how many different species of fish there are in the world, it means there are millions of different kinds of flies, Pachelli said.

“This is a hobby that you can appreciate,” Troy Hayes said.

It’s therapeutic and self-challenging, and the classes are a social gathering for fly-fishing enthusiasts.

“The classes are an avenue for people to come and learn something they’re interested in,” Pachelli said.