Question re Dan Lemaich Spiders

[Sean M]

Hello there, I'm a BC-based cutthroat enthusiast. I've only recently got hold of Les' Fly Fishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout and am really taken with the flies of Dan Lemaich featured on page 66.

I have a fairly specific question about the elegant-looking spiders in the second row of his fly box: can anyone identify the material and tying method used in the bodies (again, looking at the three spiders in pink/orange and chartreuse in the second row)?

This forum seems to be the only place where Dan comes up and I'm hoping against hope that there are still some acquaintances or fans of him around. A wonderful tyer!

 

[Zak]

Hello there, I'm a BC-based cutthroat enthusiast. I've only recently got hold of Les' Fly Fishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout and am really taken with the flies of Dan Lemaich featured on page 66.

I have a fairly specific question about the elegant-looking spiders in the second row of his fly box: can anyone identify the material and tying method used in the bodies (again, looking at the three spiders in pink/orange and chartreuse in the second row)?

This forum seems to be the only place where Dan comes up and I'm hoping against hope that there are still some acquaintances or fans of him around. A wonderful tyer!

View attachment 142162

I wish I knew, they sure are pretty!

 

[Stonedfish]

Maybe some north end S River folks like @Smalma or @Leland Miyawaki can help answer this gentleman’s question about Dan’s flies.
SF

 

[Phil K]

Those are nice looking flies. I knew Dan back in the mid '90s when he, Mike Kinney, and Les were working at The Swallow's Nest in Seattle, and I was a lowly ski tech. Dan lived on Camano Island; I have no idea what has become of him. It looks like Mike is still around; he may be able to help. I wouldn't be surprised if he's still something of a lovable curmudgeon. (As they all were.)

MK PHOTOGRAPHY & TOURS

www.mikekinney.com

 

[Sean M]

Those are nice looking flies. I knew Dan back in the mid '90s when he, Mike Kinney, and Les were working at The Swallow's Nest in Seattle, and I was a lowly ski tech. Dan lived on Camano Island; I have no idea what has become of him. It looks like Mike is still around; he may be able to help. I wouldn't be surprised if he's still something of a lovable curmudgeon. (As they all were.)

MK PHOTOGRAPHY & TOURS

www.mikekinney.com

Thanks for sharing, Phil. Interesting to read about the Swallow's Nest... I found an article about its closing in 1998. Amazing that Les and Mike Kinney (and Mr. Lemaich) all worked there.

I might try to contact Mike, though I greatly admire his flies and other contributions to the sport so would be a bit intimidated haha. Sadly, it looks to me like Dan himself passed away several years back. Thanks again!

 

[Dave Westburg]

Looks to me like he dubbed the bodies with seals fur or goat fur, dubbed loosely or maybe using a dubbing loop. The hackle looks like grey mallard breast tied spider style like you would tie a Knudsen's spider.

 

[Phil K]

Thanks for sharing, Phil. Interesting to read about the Swallow's Nest... I found an article about its closing in 1998. Amazing that Les and Mike Kinney (and Mr. Lemaich) all worked there.

I might try to contact Mike, though I greatly admire his flies and other contributions to the sport so would be a bit intimidated haha. Sadly, it looks to me like Dan himself passed away several years back. Thanks again!

Dan was a cool guy, my favorite of the flyfishing staff. He was a heck of a Rock'n Roll drummer too; supported a family as a musician for some time IIRC. It was a great store, but made some major strategic blunders that put them into a death spiral. Mike is feisty, but has a good heart, he won't bite you.

I think Dave W is spot on with his tying analysis.

 

[James St. Clair]

I worked with Dan (and Mike) at Creekside Angling Co. In Issaquah, in the late '90's. He still lived on Camano Island at the time, and would commute the few days a week he worked. Dan, unfortunately, passed away a few years back.

I watched Dan tie so many of those spiders. He used SLF in a dubbing loop, and brushed them out. Although the ones in the picture may be actual Seal Fur.

I learned so much from those guys, both tying and fishing wise, and they were sure a hoot to work with...after a while they wouldn't schedule them on the same days, haha! Great friends that would give each other a ton of crap throughout the day.

 

[Smalma]

I agree with the dubbed fur (seal?) body. I think that the orange and yellow bodied flies on the right may have been tied drake gadwall flank feathers. I always have a few gadwall spiders in my cutthroat box as changeup flies.

Also looks like there was some serious high grading in the flank feathers used in those ties. A mature drake may have only a half dozen feathers of that quality.

Curt

 

[Sean M]

I worked with Dan (and Mike) at Creekside Angling Co. In Issaquah, in the late '90's. He still lived on Camano Island at the time, and would commute the few days a week he worked. Dan, unfortunately, passed away a few years back.

I watched Dan tie so many of those spiders. He used SLF in a dubbing loop, and brushed them out. Although the ones in the picture may be actual Seal Fur.

I learned so much from those guys, both tying and fishing wise, and they were sure a hoot to work with...after a while they wouldn't schedule them on the same days, haha! Great friends that would give each other a ton of crap throughout the day.

Thanks James! Really great to hear from someone who saw Dan tie them. Also cool to hear about into his relationship with Mike. I worked for many years in an outdoor store and remember how very unproductive we could be haha.

 

[Sean M]

I agree with the dubbed fur (seal?) body. I think that the orange and yellow bodied flies on the right may have been tied drake gadwall flank feathers. I always have a few gadwall spiders in my cutthroat box as changeup flies.

Also looks like there was some serious high grading in the flank feathers used in those ties. A mature drake may have only a half dozen feathers of that quality.

Curt

Thanks Curt, appreciate the thoughts on the flank feathers.

 

[tyeechuck]

Thanks Curt, appreciate the thoughts on the flank feathers.

Curt probably is right on the Gadwall flank feathers, I remember at the Swallow’s Nest they had rather pricey packets of feathers from “the hackle lady”. There was no other description of the secret source but with the fine tyers there it shouldn’t be a surprise. I remember a night when they had a round table of tyers including besides the staff Alec Jackson, and many others,
Jim

 

[Sean M]

Curt probably is right on the Gadwall flank feathers, I remember at the Swallow’s Nest they had rather pricey packets of feathers from “the hackle lady”. There was no other description of the secret source but with the fine tyers there it shouldn’t be a surprise. I remember a night when they had a round table of tyers including besides the staff Alec Jackson, and many others,
Jim

Thanks Jim, I'm enjoying these anecdotes about the Swallow's Nest.

 

[O clarkii lewisi]

Thanks for sharing, Phil. Interesting to read about the Swallow's Nest... I found an article about its closing in 1998. Amazing that Les and Mike Kinney (and Mr. Lemaich) all worked there.

I might try to contact Mike, though I greatly admire his flies and other contributions to the sport so would be a bit intimidated haha. Sadly, it looks to me like Dan himself passed away several years back. Thanks again!

This brought back fond memories for me. I learned to ff from Dan at a Swallows Nest Class. I was fortunate to become friends and fishing partners with Dan, Les and Mike - all genuine, fun and skilled anglers. I probably crossed paths with @Phil K at SN back in the day too.

I looked at Mike's page and see this on the rev spider fly 'His Reverse Spider fly stands out as one of the most revolutionary and most effective offerings. With a forward-cast wing constructed of Lady Amherst pheasant tippet fibers or waterfowl flank feather fibers, this fly is a must-have in the box of any sea-run angler whether casting over salt or fresh waters.' I still have a few that were tied by Dan or Mike!

 

[Phil K]

I have mostly fond memories of my time at Swallow’s Nest. I did my first saltwater fly fishing with Les and Mike at Lincoln Park catching Rezzies. I was more into climbing back then and didn’t really too much fishing unfortunately.
SR, who owned the business doted on the fly fishing staff and generally treated the rest of the floor workers like crap.