Today Mark and I spent the day tying streamer flies with Master Fly Tyer, Mike Martinek, Jr. Mike is internationally known for his exquisitely tied flies, especially streamers flies. He has written several books: Streamer Fly Patterns for Casting and Trolling - Originals and a Few Others Volume 1 (1993, Mordax Publishing) and Volume 2 (2000, A PP & MM Production) and has a video: Classic Maine Streamers with Mike Martinek Jr. - Hooked on Fly Tying Video Series (1999, Bennett-Watt Media).
This is the second class I have taken with Mike and today we tied Autumn Fury, Blue Aurora, Jungle Jim (no photo - just as well though - it was not pretty!), and Dave Garcia Smelt flies.
Autumn Fury
The first step of tying a fly is attaching thread to the hook.
Then you add successive layers of material to build your fly...
... Until your fly is finished.
Blue Aurora
Building the fly.
Viola!
Dave Garcia Smelt
The Master!
Here is Mike with the files he tied during the class.
His fly tying work is beautiful!
My flies do not compare to Mike's but that’s why he is the Master.
Tight Lines!
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I completely agree that Mike is the master!!! Great Blog! You got a new follower
ReplyDeleteLaura (or anyone else who knows how to contact Mike Martinek),
ReplyDeleteI hope you can help me contact Mike Martinek. He and I went to Stoneham High School together and were friends for a number of years afterwards. He introduced me to rock climbing (yes, he used to rock climb when he he was younger), fly tying, and ice fishing. We spent hundreds of hours together birding, and he even coaxed me down to Cape May in the fall for several years back in the 80s. We lost touch about a dozen years ago after Mike left Hopkington, where he lived with a lady a friend, and moved in with a long-time school chum, Steve Andrick, I have not had any luck getting in touch. If you could let me know how I could reach him (probably an address or a phone number since, as far as I know, he doesn't use a computer and, so, won't have email), I would greatly appreciate it. Or you could pass this request along to Mike and give him my phone number in Concord, NH (603-225-2846). Thanks ever so much, Jim Clapp ("Claper")
Thanks Guys! Jim - I will see if I can get you in touch in with Mike. I'll have to some research.
ReplyDeleteSad News:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=michael-martinek&pid=191276283