Swedish professional tyer, writer and fisherman Sven-Olov Hard was one of the first fly tyers I found when I first went looking for the creators of these beautifull gems.

The work has a down to earth, honest and humble, the colours appeared more subtle. Sven tied these without a vise too, a fact which impressed me enormously .Baron, Butcher,Hards Fancy , Champion,Lion and Bench

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Damian Welsh is a Canadian Flytyer with a passion for fishing as well creating lovely flies..It took about two years from first contact to the first collection -( these things take time) Damian sent 6 beautiful flies and collaborated throughout the project , sending further pics and feedback as the work progressed. (I really enjoyed the project in the news section there is a section on the project including Damians notes) Damian is avery talented guy and I will always look to him for more illustrations.

In this collection: green highlander,orange parson,red rover,silver doctor, thunder and lightning and Ackroyd.

Damian and a beautiful Silver Doctor

About Damian...

Damian Lee Welsh, a Fly Tyer from Nova Scotia, Canada. Damian lives on Beautiful Cape Breton Island with his Wife Melissa and twin Daughters Khelsea-Lee and Kheiran Elizabeth, and when not busy with family duties, he loves to spend a day fishing on the beautiful Margaree River.
Damian is a member of The Outdoor Writers of Canada and is currently enrolled in The North American School of Outdoor Writing, under the tutelage of Roger Brunt.
Damian 's work has been profiled in "A Little Thing I Tied Myself" Stories of Atlantic Canadian Fly Tyer's ~Don MacLean released in 2006 by Nimbus Publishing.
His work has appeared in print most recently in Fly Fusion Magazine's "Fly Tier's Canvas". There is also a step by step tutorial for the Rusty Rat Variation that he tied for Fly Fusion on www.flyangler.ca Damian was the 2005 Salmon Rookie of the Year on Flytyingforum.com's Fly Tyer of the Year Contest and in 2006 His Silver Doctor Spey Fly won a Bronze Medal in the Spey & Dee Category.
Damian has been a guest fly tyer and recently a guest speaker at the annual Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum in Dieppe, New Brunswick for the past few years and enjoys sharing his passion for all things fly tying and fly fishing with others.
To learn more about Damian and his fly tying please visit the biography page of his website,

Bryant Freeman

Canadian Bryant Freeman was one of the first tyers I worked with and over the years Since 2003 I have painted 14 of his flies, and I have three in my own collection.I find his flies bold and masculine in character.

Lewis Bryant Freeman, owner and manager of Eskape Anglers, was born on June 23, 1941 in Greenfield, Queens County, Nova Scotia. His birthplace is situated on the banks of the famous Medway River.
Bryant, as he is known by practically everyone, started tying flies in 1948. At that time he was a 7-year old fly tyer's assistant working with his favorite fly tyer, his dad.
Since the late 1950's he's been recognized, through writings in Field and Stream, The Atlantic Salmon Journal for his contribution to angling, guiding and fly tying.
In 1967 he began tying the fully dressed (Classic) fly patterns. His guide was the John Veniard fly tying bible, "The Fly Dressers Guide". Veniard was also his supplier for much of the tying materials. His tying eventually took him into the commercial business side of it. In 1985 he decided to open his own shop. At first,purchasing fly tying materials and then dyeing fur and feathers for clients. On February 1st 1991 he retired from his day job and has been preparing feathers ever since.
Today he excels in providing the very best components for the construction of salmon flies, but the demand for the larger feathers has created pressure on species that provide the feathers, He ties all his fully dressed flies on a size 2 up to size 10, and if a special order comes in for larger flies, he limits production to 200 per year in the 6/0 to 1/0 range. He has gained international recognition in traditional feather fly production and sells his flies world-wide. He donates flies to the Miramichi Salmon Association and the Atlantic Salmon Federation. He is also a donor to the Maine Public Television Network for their auctions for conservation purposes. There is a waiting list for his traditional classics.
On October 23, 1997 the Atlantic Salmon Federation / New Brunswick Salmon Council honoured Lewis Bryant Freeman for his major contribution to the sport of angling for Atlantic Salmon in New Brunswick by having distinguished himself in the art of Crafting and Designing Atlantic Salmon flies. Bryant was presented with an award at the 6th Annual Atlantic Salmon Federation / New Brunswick Salmon Council Dinner in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
He is a past Director of the New Brunswick Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation Inc. A past president of the Nelson Hollow Salmon Association, Past Executive Secretary of the NB Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation Inc., and Secretary Treasurer of the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper, presently he is the chief Editor of the NBSC, Barbless Butterfly.
Bryant maintains that you should never tie a fly with too much hair or feathers and to keep the size small. A good fly is one that has character and semblance. It should have a low wing and should be fishy looking.
"Fishing is a sport for Kings. The people of New Brunswick have the greatest salmon fishing in the world, but I feel the majority of the people take it for granted. I see it declining, but I don't think it needs to happen. I am a staunch believer in hook and release and I give fully to the preservation and protection of one, if not the greatest, sport fish of all, the Atlantic salmon. I will continue to be an active representative for all that is good in the sport of angling and the art of fly tying", says Bryant.

Italian Fabrizio Gajardoni is a world renowned master tyer. His creations are amazing,

they have a romantic character, the colours are beautiful and they have a velvety texture.

In this collection: popham, sicilian, childers , speyside, italian summer, Mc Intyre

Dave Carne is from Cumbria in he UK he has a huge knowledge of the classic patterns and is a prolific tyers each one more awesome than the last. Dave was a great support to me and I learnt alot from him.

dunkeld, kate, claret and jay, fenian, guinea and spade, fenian and fra diavalo

Canadian Jerome Molloy is a master tyer and has tied some brilliant classics.

I find his flies lively and full of energy and fire.

In this collection: orange parson, nighthawk, queen of smokers brooke,mccintyre and torrish

Scottish Davie McPhail is a magician, how else can could he create these amazing flies? Colour pattern texture, shape composition these flies have it all. I found his flies very difficult to paint, because of their intricacy and complexity. Davie has a rare and natural talent.

jock scott, nicholson, blacker style, wasp

American Paul Ptalis had me hooked after I had bought his book 'Century End a fly tying journey'.

I find these flies a mix of exuberance, control,incredible skill and quality (he must have a wonderfull collection of materials!)

floodtide, torrish, green highlander, shewey's maribou blue callahan

Contact Paul through his publisher Amato books

Lee Schechter is an American Tyer I met at the Newark

show in march 2008, he creates very distinctive flies which

are quite challenging. Working with Lee was great fun, and

Lee very supportive

artemis I, II Dreamcatcher, Owenmore, Judge O Fee, Thistle

Mike Boyer is an American I came across on the flytying forum, he has an amazing web site brimfull of fantatsic flies , across a range of traditions

gold eagle, gardener,notion, greenwell, Cassard, rosey dawn