Catskill Fly
Tyers Guild
In 1993 Floyd Franke and Matthew Vinciguerra formed the Catskill Fly
Tyers Guild. These individuals recognized the need for an organization that
would:
- Preserve, protect and enhance the Catskill fly tying heritage.
- Work cooperatively to promote the work of present Catskill fly tyers.
- Provide a forum for the sharing of information.
- Promote the development of future generations of Catskill fly tyers.
Members of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild firmly believe that the development
of fly fishing in the Catskill Mountains of New York is synonymous with
the development of fly fishing in the United states. This rich heritage
is seen as the foundation of the Guild's present efforts.
The scope of the Guild's activities is broad, drawing on knowledge,
skill and resources of its members.
This is reflected in the following programs:
Identifying historic sites Neversink River & Gorge
A Visit with Theodore Gordon & Bruce Leroy Harry Darbee/Catskill Rivers
Show 'N Tell Material Swap Exchanging Info with other groups
Fly Tying Demonstrations
- Darbee's Green Egg Sac
- Shad Flies
- Wet Alder Fly
- Lady Beaverkill
- Catskill Curler
- Phoenecia Bucktail
- Green Drake Emerger
Attendance at the following shows:
- Roscoe NYO&W Railway Days
- Catskill Fly Fishing Center Summerfest
- NEC Federation of Flyfishers Conclave Fly Fishing Show
- Theodore Gordon Flyfishers Annual Day
Catskill Style involves tradition and discipline regarding proportion
and choice of materials. This doctrine has been concisely defined for us
by Harry Darbee in his book "Catskill Flytier":
"Its characteristics: a good sized hook, typically size 12 Model
Perfect, a notably lean spare body, usually spun fur or stripped quill of
peacock herb; a divided wing of lemon colored mottled barbules of a woodduck
flank feather; a few sparse turns of incredibly stiff, clean, glassy cock's
hackle, mostly either blue dun or ginger.
The wings and hackle are set back from the eye of the hook, leaving
an unusually long clean "neck" at the expense of a slightly shortened
body.
This puts the sustaining hackle so close to the point of balance that
the fly rides over broken, turbulent water like a Coast Guard lifeboat,
so nearly balanced that often the tail of hackle whisk (originally, a little
curlicue of several woodducX barbules) doesn't touch the water at
The Guild holds meetings once a month, September through June.
In the wintertime (Dec - Mar), we hold our meetings on Saturday afternoons
at 1 PM, so members can travel in daylight hours. Otherwise they have been
held on the 3rd Thursday of the month.
Family picnics have been held in July and August.
Annual dues are $10.
Those interested in membership or Guild activities should contact the
Guild by mail at:
Catskill Fly Tyers Guild
PO Box 663
Roscoe, New York 12776 0663
Copyright©1997 Catskill Fly Tyers Guild
Catskill Fly Tyers
Guild