On Wed, 1 Dec 2004 16:45:21 -0500, "Frank Reid" moc.deepselbac@diersicnarf
wrote:

Another master leaves us with the memories.

An excellent tyer who would give a novice a lesson and make the novice
feel like he taught the teacher.

Like many, I'm having a difficult time responding to this. Back in 1996 or
97, I went to the "Partridge of Redditch Fly Tying Days" in Redditch, UK.
Four world class fly tyers split us up into groups of 8 to 10 and we got 2
hours time learning from each of them as they tied. One of them was Poul.
After the first two sessions, lunch was served. I was able to sit across
from Poul and his loving bride for an hour and just talk about fishing, fly
tying and life. Poul was a quiet man, but when it came to fly fishing and
tying, his eyes twinkled. He could expound on a fish from last week or 40
years before, itemize by brand name what tying threads were the best, and
then he would pause and ask for your opinion. This teller of tales learned
long ago that "you can't listen if your mouth is moving."
I cherish that short time in a 16th century hotel in a life far away. I'm
sure guys like Lefty are, as we speak, calculating their "Poul Factor." If
that is ascertained by learning at the vise of a master, I can say mine is
1.

OK, I'm not trying to suck up to jeff miller, and the book in question
("Dressing Flies...") is not at hand, but his first book has picture of him at
his vise, and is it my imagination playing with my memory, or when he was
younger, did he look like jeff, or at least in that picture? Anyone with a copy
of "Dressing Flies..." at hand to offer an opinion?

TC,
R