The Boiler Room: FLY-TYING PASSION ANd INNOVATION

Field Editor Murray Pedder invites us inside a group of like-minded and passionate tyers who freely share information.

- Murray Pedder

I am sure most of you are part of a WhatsApp group or two, or have even started your own group, for whatever reason. I’m not one for joining groups, but when I came across The Boiler Room, it piqued my interest instantly. In June 2019, Jack Lotter (aka the Sheriff) who created the group approached me and asked if I’d be interested in joining a group dedicated to flies and fly-tying, and nothing else. A platform where tyers could share everything and anything tying related. It clearly was a group for experienced tyers who knew their way around the vise. I thought it was a great idea, so I joined.

With only 23 members the group is small, but man, the passion, experience, skills, innovation and willingness to share is phenomenal. As I am in the business of production tying, the ideas, techniques and tricks of the trade are invaluable. Some of the members tie for themselves, some tie for a select customer base who are prepared to pay top dollar for a high-quality product, one is a big player in the American market, Martin Bawden (an ex South African) the founder and owner of Flymen Fishing Company which has a dealer chain of 800-plus strong, others are guides on the ground, day in and day out, sharing their invaluable input on flies and techniques. And then MC, a good friend and master tyer, who has won gold twice in the Mustad