Friday, January 26, 2018

The latest from Charlie Krom

At the very top of the pile of modern and innovative Atlantic salmon fly tyers reside a very select (and sadly, getting fewer) group of folks.  My old salmon camp-mate, Charlie Krom, certainly is a charter member of that group.  Charlie turned 88 just the other day, and mentioned to me in an email that day that he was sending me some flies to try out this coming year.

To say that I've been eagerly checking our roadside mailbox every day since is an understatement.  Well, today's trip out into the mid-teens temperature was well-rewarded...a letter from Charlie!  And, since pictures are worth a thousand words, I'll let his letter do the talking:






To say that it's going to be next to impossible for me to break open these envelopes and fish these flies is an understatement...but I'm going to do it...and I'm going to dig my boots into the Miramichi's stony bottom and hold on when the salmon strikes start coming!

Charlie, many thanks for these treasures!

Cheers,
Gary
P.S.  Some may not have seen an earlier blog post about Charlie, and his colleagues and peers at the vise, the late Keith Fulsher and the late Bob Warren : http://theriverscourse.blogspot.com/2014/03/fulsher-krom-and-warren.html


15 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gary my first tying manual was Fulsher and Krom "Hair Wing Atlantic Salmon Flies". I still crack it open when I am tying an unfamiliar pattern since it will probably be in that issue.
    Brian C

    ReplyDelete
  3. He still got it, lovely tying. Have been a fan since my first copy of "Hair-wing Atlantic Salmon Flies"

    John

    ReplyDelete
  4. so, is that GP dyed black, or silver pheasnt crests? I happen to have both for "The Last Hoorah", but would love to make it right?!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eunan, Charlie tells me it's GP dyed black, and that the body is Lagartun mini braid. I think Charlie hit a homer with the Last Hoorah!

      Delete
    2. Thanks!
      In the absence of mini braid, i'll do some with tinsel and wire rib.

      Delete
    3. I'm going to do that (as well as the mini braid), too, Eunan. I'm thinking the tinsel set-up might get down a little more.

      Delete
  5. Give you something to aspire to! Great ties.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Every fly I tie, I have Krom, Fulsher and Warren in the back of my mind, Rich. They are great ties.

      Delete
  6. Thanks for sharing; great looking flies. The master still has plenty of creativity!!
    Larry G

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That he does!!! Glad you enjoyed the post, Larry!

      Delete