MIKE TOWNEND – SALMON FLIES

Mike Townend, the man – the legend. I met Mike for the first time at the German Fly Fishing Festival in 2014.

It was great event organised by Bernd Ziesche and his friends.Mike, should you not have heard of him already is an amazing salmon fly tier. Should you meet him (or have met him) you´ll find out that he is witty, very open minded and kind person with a very Scottish humor.

Mike is known for the sculptures he ties. Yes, you read correctly – sculptures.

Mike takes attaching feather to a hook to a whole new level. I had never seen any thing like it before.

I asked Mike to tell me a bit about himself and this is what he answered. Short and concise in his own words.

I was was born in RAF nocton hall and raised in Aberdeen. Started fishing at the age of 5, because i am a 3rd generation fisherman. Grandfather was a champion course fisherman, father was a big game sea fisherman.

I started on the trout fish. I started tying flies at the age of 12, i was intrigued by trout flies and back in the day we used to have fantastic evening rises, when you couldnt fail or so I thought.

With a number of years trying and fishing for trout i took up salmon fishing. I met a good friend Phil Glendinning who introduced me to classic salmon flies and a load of yankee style classics. It was a further 2 year before i met one of the last of the great tyers in britain. 

He introduced me to many old ways and techniques. Some of the stuff I am going to show you are from him. I have worked as a joiner all my life. 

My favorite type of music is varied but my favorite band is pink floyd and my favorite food is anything I can eat haha. I hope you enjoy the flies I have puten together for you. 

Don´t hesitate to comment on the articles. Will try to answer as best I can.

In the next weeks I´ll publish some of Mikes step by step instructions which he believes wil demistify the tying of Salmon flies. We´ll see - you have to judge yourself.  

Below pictures of Mikes art: