Recently received an email from a soldier in Afghanistan……………

“Ok, Mr Basser,

Take care and God BLess”

The most amazing thing about this letter…….it was from a cousin who didn’t know about the blog. He had found it all on his own.

This group……The Kandahar Fly Masters. Has been written about before…..

The Kandahar Fly Masters

I think we should help these young men keep tying……..email me at aroostookbasser@yahoo.com if you want to help. I will be shipping a package out in the next few days…..and again periodically after that. Just email me and we can work out the logistical aspects. At his request…..I will handle all direct shipments to them. So don’t request the addy……..

Flygals Brownie.......with my Jassid in it's lip

Pictured above is a great brown trout that fell for my jassid. The fly was part of a swap last year. The swap was on the NORTH AMERICAN FLY FISHING FORUM. Previously mentioned in an another post. The pattern was one I worked out over the last few years pursuing the brown trout of the Meduxnekeag River here in Aroostook County.

I’m glad I have this picture to show you. One of the benefits of the swaps is the feedback I get as a tyer on how well my flies are working. The owner of the picture is one of the participants of the swap who calls herself…..Flygal. Thank You Flygal for the picture………I appreciate it.

The March Brown Nymph

Hatches magazine

FFIM CONCLAVE!!!!

Just out of curiousity….. where do you tye?
I mean I have left myself open to critics because of my posting that the big bad flyguy is tying in an oversized closet. How brave of me huh?

So how do you contend with cramped quarters?
Do you have unique ways to store your supplies?
Share your solutions……and brag your victories!!!

Have pictures to share? Email them to me a : aroostookbasser@yahoo.com and I will post them

Aroostook River Webcam

Flood warnings for all of Aroostook County……..ye hah!!!!

As many people know who live in this area Macs Trading Post has new owners. Michelle and Darren Crane, of Houlton. This young couple has stepped in and is now bringing a renewed presence in the area. Macs Trading Post has long been a supporter of local clubs and organizations. Recently they joined the ACCA in hosting a coyote hunting contest. Well in an effort to move the old out and get new products in. They are having a huge blowout sale on tying material. How Good?

The materials are left overs from the old Browns Trading Post, the previous owner had bought out. Now for a limited time….. 20 bags/packages for $2.00 !!!!!! That’s right 20 packages of ???????? for $2.00. The bins are located near the front door and their is a huge selection of very useful products. I personally stocked up on floss,dubbing,thread,deer hair,bucktails,hackles and alot more. You owe it to yourself to get there and take them up on this deal.

©BN REECE 2009

Well here’s my cluttered and chaotic tying corner. A far cry from the room I had at the other house. But hey, life is adjustment. The scary part is I still have another 5 boxes of feathers and books to fit in there someway. To the right of that shelf is an equally cramped writing area, my computer desk.

Here it is March and I am tying again. I have three swaps to tye for. But all of them are doable. The first is done and in the mail. I now await the return of my little altoids tin filled with new flies for my collection. The next two are not do until May. Giving me plenty of time to fatten my own larder. I so enjoy the tying and collecting that it drives me more than the fishing at times.

I can remember when I used to carry one or two fly boxes and that was enough. Now I am naked without at least four. Each box a special assortment of the best I know. I carry a nymph box, a streamer box, a dryfly box, and a wetfly box. Then at times I carry at least one other box for areas I know have bass in them. Which can include yet another box of specialized flies for pickerel and or Muskies that might be in the area where I am fishing. This larder needs filling almost all year long. As I seek out new patterns and or restock the boxes as needed. I am eternally on the lookout for better flies, or at least different ones to try.

Thus we come to the swapping business. These online based excursions into the artistry of the tye. They attract tyers from all over the planet and challenge us to do better. They encourage us to tye better and to try new things. Both amiable reasons to tye more often and more creatively. This online community was essential in my evolution. As I come from a small rural town in the northern most reaches of Maine, at the very end of the one and only interstate highway.

I begrudgingly sought out informative sites on tying as the material at the local library dried up. Pursuing the sites that attracted my attention most. There are a staggering number of sites out there. A very good list of the best can be found along the right side of this site. These links are provided to assist you in finding the best of the web. Among my favorites are:
1. North American Fly Fishing Forum: NAFF for short
2. Warmwater Fly Tyer
3. Virtual Flybox
4. Fly Fishing In Maine
5. Ultimate Fly Tying
6. Aroostook Flyers & Tyers

Within each of these sites there are areas that direct you into the types of flies you may want to tye. Also at these sites there are areas of community. In most forum formats the webmasters have designed an interactive arena for swaps. Fly swaps and material swaps are all the rage right now on the Internet. These are as I have said, a great way to learn new tyes or get new materials to try.

In your area you may have access to something someone else has very limited access to. I have traded deer hair and muskrat pelts for things like moose hair from Alaska, and elk hides from out west. In some cases I have traded a surplus of peacock to a single person for an over abundance of rabbit fur they came into. But group swaps are the norm. Everyone is offering an equitable amount of something, for an equal quantity or value, of an assortment of other materials. The swap must be reasonable and fair. Like with flies a swapmeister is selected or volunteers. That person then insures that all participants are putting up an item and or quantity of equal value to that offered by the others.

I have had the pleasure to participate in some really good swaps and some dismal failures. The worst thing that can happen is that you send in your flies, and get nothing in return. I have had that happen. The best swaps I have had cause me to frequent those forums most. Seeking new swaps as the need or desire arises. In some cases you may drop the ball and for reasons beyond your control fail to get the flies turned in on time, or you forget the swaps entirely. I’ve done that too. Tyers are a forgiving lot and you may get scolded, but they’ll forgive you most times. But don’t be like some when the shoe is on the other foot. If a fellow tyers blows a swap and misses a deadline. Don’t defame his name on other forums as I have seen others do. PM the person and ask a question or two. Remember this is Fly Tying……be more than the least of us….arise!!!

Are you a tyer? Looking for great hackles….hair or fur for flies. Want to raise your own? Contact Alvin Theriault at :

Theriault Flies

This is not a paid ad……… Alvin is a local businessman trying to make a difference…….a retired Warden and Master Fly Designer…….creator of the world renowned Maple Syrup!!! A Fantastic Brookie fly!!!

All things Maine are listed here………

AROOSTOOK FLYERS & TYERS RATED IN TOP 100!!!!!

THANK YOU MAINE FOR MAKING US YOUR CHOICE!!!!
(…….and that was with a link issue before it was corrected.)

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I would like to introduce you to my friends over at AfricaHunting.com………Africa Hunting, hunting safari community & resource

Live life as a great new adventure….Fish Maine and Hunt Africa!!!!!