Harrison Steeves - Brookside Flies

Fly Designer: Harrison Steeves

I come from a long line of fly fishermen and tiers. My great-grandfather, my grandfather and my father were all avid anglers. I still have my grandfather’s old Abercrombie and Fitch cane rod and an old sheepskin fly wallet with four or five-dozen flies he created.

My love of tying came from my father’s efforts at the bench, where he excelled. I learned a great deal watching the intricacies of tying through observation and pretty soon I was catching fish on my own flies.

I guess I tried everything - wet flies, nymphs, dries, streamers, etc., and, being raised in Alabama, I learned that bluegills, “red eye” bass and a bunch of other warm-water species were fine game on fly rods. Finally we planned a trout-fishing trip to Tennessee and North Carolina and I lost my heart. It was on those streams that, using my little brand new South Bend cane rod, I became truly infected with the "trout virus" and I have never recovered.

Now, years later, I look back on that time and realize that it was these experiences that taught me the true intricacies and "art" of tying. Having no formal instruction was the best “teacher” that I could have had, requiring me to become innovative and imaginative, to be creative and to listen to what the materials were trying to tell me.

To make a long story short I was not happy with the flies that were available on the market, particularly terrestrial patterns, with which I have had a life-long love affair. It was simply a matter of having to design patterns that I thought would be better than what was available. I never dreamed that some day the patterns that I created and the techniques I learned, mostly on my own, would be made available to others.

Whatever success I have had as an author and a fly designer is still a surprise and a mystery to me and I hope it will always remain that way. The real satisfaction is to know that others enjoy fishing with patterns that I have created, have success with these patterns, and end the day with that incredible feeling that taking a few good fish engenders. That is more than enough satisfaction for anyone.

Harrison Steeves

Author of “Tying Flies With Foam, Fur and Feathers”, Stackpole Books; “Terrestrials” (with Ed Koch), Stackpole Books. “Tying With Kreinik Materials”, Kreinik Co. Author of numerous fly tying articles. Currently on the Pro Staff of Scott Rod Co. and Gudebrod Thread Co. Professional guide and fly fishing instructor for ten years. Retired Professor of Biology.