Bryant Freeman - Riverview, New Brunswick
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| Bryant
Freeman & Rabbi |
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If anyone
can claim to be a born fly tier, it’s Bryant Freeman. After
all, he was delivered by a doctor who had been fly fishing with
his father, and by the time he turned five he was helping his
dad at the vise. Born in Greenfield, Nova Scotia, on the banks
of the once world-renowned Medway River, 70-year-old Freeman
now runs Eskape Anglers, a shop specializing in fly-tying materials.
A one-time commercial fly tier for leading tackle supplier W.W.
Doak, Freeman has also sold his creations at auctions in the
Maritimes and the northeastern U.S., often to support charities.
One successful Freeman original is the highly effective and
durable Rabbi, which embodies his views on good fly tying. “Do
not tie the fly with too much hair or feathers, and keep the
size small,” says Freeman. “A beautiful fly is one
which has character and semblance, a low wing and is fishy looking.”
Good advice for anyone hoping to emulate his success.
Jerome
Molloy - Saint John, New Brunswick
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| Jerome
Molloy & Akroyd |
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Watching
Jerome Molloy deftly assemble a classic salmon fly borders on
the hypnotic as he alternately flattens and twists the tying
thread with the speed and grace of a true pro. Along with his
classic creations—a salmon pattern called the Akroyd is
a favourite—Molloy, 45, also ties working flies when he’s
not teaching others. His arrival in the upper echelon of classic
salmon fly tiers came in 1986 when he placed first in the Atlantic
Salmon Conclave—just six years after taking up the craft.
And since then the honours have continued, among them gold medals
in both the 1991 and 1992 FQSA Salmon Fly Tying World Championships.
Then in 1995, Molloy was recognized as a Master Tyer by both
the FQSA and the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, the same year he
was inducted into the FQSA’s Hall of Fame. How valued is
Molloy’s expertise? Last year, the FQSA named him chief
judge for the world championships.
Eric Bayliss - Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
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| Eric
Bayliss & Phantom |
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When Canada
Post created a series of stamps featuring flies from across
Canada in 1998, it called on Eric Baylis to tie the Cosseboom
Special, a hairwing Atlantic-salmon fly. Long recognized as
one of Nova Scotia’s premier tiers, Baylis was an obvious
choice for the job. Born in Dartmouth into a family of fly tiers,
Baylis has seen his work appear in several Canadian and U.S.
publications during his 55-year career. A favourite original
pattern is the Phantom, which debuted in the fall of 1992 on
the Nepisiguit River in northern New Brunswick. As if to prove
Baylis’ tying prowess, the fly promptly accounted for six
salmon. When not busy with his reel repair shop, Baylis also
creates and donates flies to help raise funds for a variety
of Atlantic salmon associations. Whenever one of his originals
goes on the block, it’s sure to garner an excellent price—allowing
the 64-year-old to give back to the sport that’s been so
much a part of his life. 
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