About ten days ago I strolled into the Orvis store in Birmingham and spied a most interesting box of big, meaty articulated streamers laying on the counter. There was an incredible looking mouse pattern that caught my eye in particular; like any inquisitive fisher I picked it up for closer study and within seconds easily imagined big browns busting that pattern back in Montana home country.
Turns out the flies were tied by Brandon Bailes from Northern Alabama; Brandon was quick to share thoughts on local waters and flies as well as share a bit more about his tying philosophy, which includes constructs and materials in his big streamers, many articulated, to draw the attention of big fish.
Here’s the first part of his interview.
The day we met you had a really nifty mouse pattern in the box. There has to be a good story behind that one…
So on the Mouse you saw…..I’m a big fan of throwing mice, both foam and deer hair with big hooks:) I use those specifically when targeting big bass at night. they love ‘em and I can’t get enough of the intense fight they put up when eating a big meal!
What drove your interest in getting into fly tying in the first place? When did you actually start tying?
Believe it or not, i have only been tying for 2 yrs. I’ve been fly fishing since I was a kid but always used store bought stuff but I’m like my Granddad in that I can’t leave “well enough” alone and had to tinker with things…..after that I spiraled down the rabbit hole of fly tying and it gets worse ever day.
How about your favorite all time fly to tie? And favorite all time fly to fish?
Depending on my mood and time of year, it’s hard to choose one favorite fly to tie and use….so if it’s a hot Alabama summer day, I’ll be throwing some form of a popper or diver. When the leaves start changing and the temps are finally cooling off in the fall, its Streamer season! And actually I streamer fish the most of all types/styles of fly fishing. Streamers can be fished so many ways….ripped back to you, swung across and down, or just snake them thru the current. So if I had to choose 1 fly to fish all day it would be the Medium olive and white version of my Insomnia Streamer (articulated)….after all I am a Streamer Junkie.
Best advice for the person just getting started at the tying bench?
Best advice for someone starting to tie….DON’T START – YOU CAN’T QUIT!! No, my best advice would be to pick out one pattern at a time and concentrate on that one only. Tie a dozen of them until you are happy with the quality and repeatability. Once you do this you can move on to the next and pretty soon you will develop your own style and then there’s no limits!
What do you like best about fly fishing in Northern Alabama?
Fishing in North Alabama is so diverse, a lot of people don’t know what all it has to offer. On a given day, I can grab one of my Glass rods and drive 5 minutes from my house and go wading for Smallies, Spotted bass, Largemouth, and a variety of Panfish. Or I can drive 15 minutes from my front door and be in bigger Smallie water with a 6wt and a box full of streamers!
Finally, the really cool thing is I’m exactly 1 hour from either the Elk River tailwaters in Tenn. ( which has browns, brookies, and rainbows) or the Sipsey tailwaters in Jasper ( which has rainbows and stripers). Lots of fishing to be had around here…the trouble is deciding on what to chase and what rod to use.
Part of Brandon’s interview follows tomorrow morning.
