Our third feature is Raymond Collette, who originally hails from New Hampshire but now makes his home in Maryland.
“I started fly tying in November of 2016,” Raymond tells us, “after getting out of the military and trying to find a hobby other than playing video games. I had always been a fan of outdoor activities, and had just started fly fishing a few months prior. I immediately became addicted, and so tying flies seemed like a natural transition.”
Like many, Raymond soon found himself “hooked.” “I was constantly thinking about fly tying,” he says, “watching so many videos, and I quickly started to deconstruct flies to figure out how they were tied. Fly tying has been my main escape and has been very therapeutic. My favorite thing about fly tying is there is no end to it. You can always push yourself to improve on patterns or try new ones.”
When asked if he has any particular favorites, Raymond emphasizes “dry flies, more specifically stimulators.” “I’m working toward the goal of well-tied stimulators. I’m still not perfect, but they’re so satisfying to tie. The weird thing,” he muses, “is that I don’t fish dry flies. I am a die-hard nymph fisherman, and I also do a lot of European nymphing.”
As with many of our features, Raymond takes pleasure in knowing that “fly tying is just a hobby,” as he’s reluctant to “add the stress of a business to something that is so relaxing.”
Both the beginners and the seasoned among us would agree that enjoyment is the name of the game. When asked about his advice for the novice tyer, Raymond suggests “watching others. It’s amazing,” he says, “how many little tips, tricks, and techniques fly tyers do without even thinking. Watch their thread, watch how they hold the bobbin, and watch how they position materials. Lastly, ask a million questions.”
What does he prefer to fish? “I’m a trout fisherman,” he tells us. “I absolutely love chasing wild, spooky fish. It is so much more satisfying than chasing stocked fish. I don’t get to fish often, though, so if I get time to hit the water, I am happy. I take it all in every time because I don’t know when the next time will be.” As for his gear, his “favorite go-to rod and reel combo is Hanak Czech Nymph, 10″6′ 3wt,” and his Hardy Ultralight 4000.
Raymond is quick to thank his sponsors. “I am very fortunate,” he says, “to be on Nature’s Spirit Fly Tying Premium Bug Club. I never thought, having only started fly tying a little over three years ago, that I would be sponsored by such an awesome company.”
With all the excitement of his relatively newfound hobby, Raymond is looking forward to the future. “I want to keep improving myself so I am better able to help others,” he tells us. “I love teaching classes and watching others hone their skills. Lastly, I really want to get into Classic Salmon flies, but I want to get better at the foundation flies before I start those.”
And that’s sound advice for us all.
