–noun
any small, exclusive business offering customized service
–adjective
of, designating, or characteristic of a small, exclusive producer or business
The name Fly Tying Boutique is not new to followers of this blog - many of the materials I tie with originate from Phil Holding, and my Varivas leaders and tippet are also sourced via Phil's Spiders Plus online shop, where you can buy Roy Christie's RPE's all hand-tied by Roy himself.
Although smallflyfunk exists to promote small fly tying and fishing, rather than serve as a commercial venture I have no hesitation in promoting materials of interest to discerning small fly freaks, with a respectful nod to their source. Because we often have specific requirements, and sources of materials and hooks suitable for tying small flies are not always readily available in the UK, resources such as the Fly Tying Boutique are valuable... and a little unique.
If evidence of Phil's interest in small flies (and amazing skill at the vice) was required, here's some of the micro-patterns he offers at Spiders Plus... all are #24's and tied by the man himself.
Over the last year or so, pretty much since smallflyfunk started, Phil and I have kept in regular telephone contact discussing our shared passion for small flies and good fly fishing books. It's easy to spend an hour or so chatting to Phil. To my knowledge, he was the first supplier of genuine zelon in the UK - a material much revered in the US but notoriously difficult to source here. And the dyed peacock herl he stocks is one of the key features of many of my parachute dun and emerger patterns - it's just perfect for tying small and really small.
With sterling so weak, the deals available if buying from the US or €zone are crazy and a regular scan of his front page will keep you updated on new arrivals and coming soon items.
Pitch over. I thought some of you might be interested to learn a little more about The Fly Tying Boutique and the man that runs the show so here is a short interview with Phil:
The Fly Tying Boutique is a relatively new venture, what are the ideas behind it?
There are many interesting and unusual products available for fly tying on the market today but until now, a high percentage have only been offered by companies outside the UK.
I have tied flies for a living for a number of years now and have always been fascinated by some of the materials available, but have also had to spend a fortune in postage costs to buy them - and wait weeks on end sometimes for my purchases to arrive.
I therefore created the Fly Tying Boutique to gather many of these products under one roof - offering the ability to order many different items from one source without high overseas postage costs and long delivery times.
How do you select and source new materials to offer?
I have personally tied with all the materials I now stock so a good number of materials are already known to me - I am also very lucky to be invited to tie at various shows around the country and increasingly overseas - a great opportunity to pick the brains of other tiers to find new ideas. I also welcome and receive ideas from customers.
How do you see the Boutique evolving in the future?
If money was no object, then there would be a wealth of high quality materials on my "wish-list" that I would love to bring to the UK - a whole range of capes and saddles from Charlie Collins in New York and the hard to find micro hooks from Tiemco for example - but I have to walk before I can run so I will be growing the business in a controlled manner for now - but always trying to maintain a point of difference from the other businesses.
After all, it would be easy to just offer the entire stock list from Veniard but that would compromise the core idea of the Boutique.
You also own and run "Spiders Plus" which offers a range of micropatterns. How much interest in small flies and tying exists from UK fly fishers?
When I first set-up SPIDERS PLUS I offered patterns down to size 20 but on receiving many requests from clients for smaller patterns, now offer an albeit limited range of patterns tied down to size 24 - I intend to introduce an expanded range this coming summer.
What would be your own favourite small fly patterns? How and when do you fish small flies?
I personally fish small Spidres down to size 24 on the Wharfe in the summer months - "Spiderlings" - I have had great fun fishing a Greenwells Spider and also a simple, black parachute midge pattern under the trees.
Also, in the late winter months I enjoy picking off Grayling with a cream bodied Spider when Pale Wateries are coming off - and of course, the ubiquitous bead head PTN under a bushy dry "indicator" pattern.
