I grew up in Marblehead, a coastal town north of Boston, Mass. As a youngster, I learned to lobster and fish for flounder and other Atlantic ground fish from my father. This was drop-line fishing- seaworms, lead weights and the line held in the hand, draped over the index finger, sensitive to a delicate “take” or a hard tug. While a far cry from fly fishing, it taught me patience, the many ifferent ways fish take bait, and a love for fishing and the outdoors.
At the University of Maine, I met my wife, Ellen (the most important achievement of my college career), and was exposed to fly fishing, brook trout, landlocked salmon and the Maine woods. During the winter of 1968 I took an evening class in fly tying and a life-long hobby was started. Professor Claude Westfall emphasized sparseness, proportion, and an appreciation for color throughout the class and those characteristics have remained an important part of my approach to fly tying ever since.
Maine captured my imagination. The allure of Katahdin, the magic of the West Branch of the Penobscot, exploration of a myriad of other rivers and small streams, and the long New England tradition of streamers and bucktails have all influenced my fly tying. I’ve been exposed to some very imaginative and creative Northeastern tyers including Eddie Rief, Fran Betters, Jack Gartside and Kenney Abrames and each one has contributed to the way I tie flies and approach fishing.
Living in southern New Hampshire now, I enjoy local rivers and streams as well as the Atlantic coastal waters of New Hampshire and the North Shore of Massachusetts. There is something very special about wading the coastal beaches or kayaking the estuaries in search of Striped Bass. It has brought me back to the salt water fishing of my youth but in a very different way than that old drop line. I’ve learned how to adapt some of my freshwater techniques and approaches to the salt and that has influenced the types of flies I use and how I fish them.
The rivers and streams of northern New England are very special to me and I particularly enjoy the waters whose very names spark the imagination and combine the history and traditions of New England fishing with the challenge of a new day - Upper Connecticut, Rapid, Magalloway, Moose, Roach, East Outlet (headwaters of the Kennebec) and the West Branch of the Penobscot.
To add a little spice to the experience of fishing my “home” waters, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed of the challenge of fishing and tying flies for Atlantic Salmon, Pike and Brookies in eastern Canada.
Several years ago, Ellen asked me what I was going to do with all the flies that I was tying. That sparked the idea of turning my hobby into something a little more than just that and Shadcreekflies.com was born. Every fly is personally tied by me to fill your order. After more than forty years of tying flies and experimenting with a wide range of techniques and approaches, I’ve adapted the lessons I have learned to create quality, productive flies for discerning fishermen. Shadcreek Flies is a way to share what I have learned about flies, fly tying and fly fishing. In addition to offering individual patterns to anglers who know just what they want, I am also offering to MyFlies’ customers a variety of my “Custom Fly Selections”, specific to various waters that have proven to be very popular with Shadcreek customers. These custom sets make great gifts for a fellow angler or, as a selection for you.
Available for Presentations: I enjoy sharing my love of nature and the great outdoors with others and offer presentations to libraries, sporting clubs and civic organizations on subjects including fishing Northern Quebec, Saltwater Fly Fishing, and Fishing for Kids of all Ages.
Rick Little
Shadcreek Flies
Shadcreekflies.com
email: shadcreekflies@gmail.com
View Rick's Flies
|
|