Having attended every British Fly Fair exhibition, this year's was perhaps one of the best in terms of fly-tyers and exhibitors present.  But I am always left  in two minds over whether I will attend next year's show.

On the one hand, it is great to be able to speak with great fly-tyers and watch them at work, picking up ideas ahead of a Winter at the tying bench. In particular:

1. The Clyde-style master, Charlie Davidson from Ayr with his Clyde-style wets. His Crow and Silver and his Grey Hen and Rust were flies I had not seen before and which I will add to my patterns to try out next year.
2. Roy Christie with his reverse parachute flies and,
3. Mikko Stenberg from Finland, well known for his muddlers.
   

However, there is something unsatisfying about seeing so much hi-tech equipment and exotic fly-tying material on display. Maybe it's my inner need to simplify and only have what is strictly necessary. Somehow I draw the line at polar bear fur, or a whole capercaille, or the latest expensive reel from XXX retailing at £450 (made in China), or a £200 fly-tying tool holder (just a shiny log with holes in it). I would rather tie a fly from a blackbird feather found in the garden, or improvise a tool holder from some flotsam found on the beach.

The one thing that I was looking for but did not find was a copy of Bert Sharp's "Let's fish the Clyde!".