Tyer's Table with Jim Ferguson

The Legendary Jim Ferguson makes his first appearance at the Tyer's Table in recent memory, and we are looking forward to his visit. Jim is a fixture at the Albany Tying Expo, so having him swing by the shop is a real honor. Everyone can learn something at this session. Join the fun on Saturday, February 3rd, from 10:30 to 1:00, right here in the shop.

For those of you who have never met Jim, I asked him to share a few highlights of his angling and tying career...

"My love affair with fly tying has its roots in my youth. I was introduced to fly fishing when I was about 10 or 11 years old.  My grandfather gave me a bamboo fly rod during the summer of my 14th year. A friend gave me a Thompson vise, and after many observations of Audrey Joy tying in the sporting goods section of Meier & Frank Department store in Portland, OR, I started to tie my own flies. For the next 60+ years, I never had a time that I could say, "I don't have anything to do."

For the first 30 to 40 years, I was a self-taught fly tier.  Over the years I would collect as much fly tying materials as I could store. 

When you are a fly fisher, it is always a treat to live near a great fly-fishing river. For four years, I lived in Maupin, Oregon.  Maupin is on the banks of the Deschutes River and is famous for its Salmonfly hatches.  Between the Trout and Steelhead, it was a year-long fishery. 

Over the years, I started taking formal classes. Eventually I got introduced to tying Classic Atlantic Salmon patterns. Now, I teach tying classes, which include Trout to Atlantic Salmon patterns.

I have received the Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award from the International Federation of Fly Fishers, the Oregon Council's Fly Tyer of the Year Stan Walters Memorial Award, and the FFI Buszek Award.

My experience with FFI has been centered mostly with the FTG BOG arm of the organization.

My goals relating to my fly-tying "affair" involve my commitment to continue helping others to recognize, support, and actively pursue the Art of Fly-Tying."