Tim Cammisa is the author of the book Fly Tying for Everyone, and is also a middle-school teacher, father, and avid fly angler. Tim believes that fly tying and fly fishing are all about pushing yourself to the next level, and he knows that is best done with vetted information. Tim is always excited to help others learn more about fly fishing and tying, and has built his life around that passion.
Tim is a vivacious personality amongst the fly fishing community, is a recognised Vlogger, public speaker, author, and fly tier. When Tim isn’t tying on one of the many vises, one in every corner of his house, he is on the water spending time with his wife and children.
Fly tying has been around for a while. When were your interests peaked?
When I was 10 years old, my parents signed me up for an after-school class on fly tying. To say I was hooked is an understatement. Spinning deer hair (and making a mess!) was an early favorite… followed of course by the Olive Wooly Bugger!
What are some of the fish species you tie flies for?
Trout, steelhead, striped bass, largemouth bass, and Arctic char.
What was your first fishing experience/When did you begin fly fishing?
Fishing was something my father introduced me to, and I vividly remember him carrying me to a fishing spot one early morning. After setting me in the middle of the stream, I daydreamed as the current ran under the overreaching limb where I was perched. That daydream soon was enough to cause me to fall asleep, and PLOP! Into the water I went! My dad carried me back to our vehicle, and I don’t think any fish were caught that day.
Fast-forward to when I was 10 years old, following my first fly tying class, I was eager to start fly fishing. My Great Uncle John brought my cousin and me fly fishing, and we managed to scare every fish in the county (or so my uncle told us). Before fishing with him again, Uncle John made me prove to him that I had practiced my casting, then my passion with fly fishing was off and running.
What is currently on your vise?
Right now, I am getting ready for early spring fly fishing in Pennsylvania, so it’s a mix of Walt’s Worm Blowtorches, Improved Zebra Midges…and of course the Mop fly!
Tell us about any flies that you’ve designed yourself.
Cammisa’s Stealth Mode – This was an early design, a jig nymph with a hot spot at the rear of the abdomen. Most hot spots are closer to the bead or thorax, so I wanted to give the fish a different view. This fly has a black tinsel body and just the right amount of flash for fish to say “Yes” to.
Cammisa’s Sneak Attack – A simple fly that has caught fish for me all over the world. Versus a traditional bead color, I opted for matte black, with a black tinsel body (notice a theme?). However, I chose to sandwich a hot red thorax between the two, and a confidence fly was instantly born.
What is it that draws you to fly fishing and fly tying?
Tying and fly fishing are addictions that feed off of one another. I like to be as specific as possible when doing both, thus tying allows me to match a specific insect I just saw on the water, or design a creation that I feel is different from what others are fishing with. The appeal lies in the connection that I have to the outdoors, plus the friendships that have grown through this sport.
Who is your biggest inspiration/mentor?
Many mentors have been in my life, and the top two are easy choices:
- My father, Joe Cammisa. He is an avid outdoorsman, and has a drive similar to the Energizer Bunny.
- Chuck Furimsky is the creator of The Fly Fishing Show and I’ve been honored to call him a friend over the years.
What is your favorite book about fly tying? Why?
Come on, I wrote a book called, “Fly Tying for Everyone,” it’s gotta be that! KIDDING! Tying books have always fascinated me, as I consider myself a lifelong learner. One book that I found unique was “The Master’s Fly Box,” a collection of patterns put together by David Klausmeyer. Instead of David selecting the flies, he asked some of fly fishing and tying’s finest to share insights on their flies. Versus the typical tying book, this one leans towards guide-style patterns that catch fish. I was drawn to this style, and still am; fly tying for me is about producing imitations to catch fish.
What are some favorite fly tying resources that you direct others to?
Talk about a great time to be a fly tier! When it comes to instruction, I believe YouTube is an incredible resource, as you have the ability to follow along at your own pace, pausing and reexamining the screen as needed.
For creativity purposes, I really love to investigate new ideas and concepts on Instagram. New flies are being designed by the minute, and I encourage others to be inspired by what they see coming off the vises of others today.
What was the first fly pattern you tied?
This was over 30 years ago, so I can only guess that it was some sort of mad creation, a blend of deer hair and marabou. Tying nymphs and eventually Wooly Buggers was the direction I progressed, leading soon to Catskill dry flies. If there was a pattern style out there, I wanted to learn to tie it!
Is there a fly style that you are still interested in learning about?
The fly tying style that still mystifies me is traditional salmon flies. They appear very complex and time-consuming, plus attention must be made to every fine detail. It’s a style I have yet to investigate, but plan on learning more about it soon.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about beginning fly tying?
Don’t wait to start, life’s too short! No matter your age, experience level, eyesight, whatever, there’s always going to be a learning curve in anything new. All fly tiers made mistakes in the beginning (especially me!), but that first time a fish eats the fly you tied yourself will be magical.
What’s the first fly you typically recommend a beginner to learn to tie?
The first fly really depends on lots of factors, such as where the individual plans on fishing, their age, and even how interested they are in fly tying. Some easy choices for new tiers include:
- Mop fly – This is a simple fly that catches fish… what more do you need?
- Wooly Bugger – This versatile pattern introduces a variety of fly tying concepts and can be fished in both moving and stillwater situations
- Walt’s Worm – This fly is a poor man’s Hare’s Ear and introduces the concepts of ribbing and a dubbing noodle. Once mastered, there are many variations and directions that the tier can be headed.
Favorite and least favorite thing about tying flies?
When tying flies, I love bringing out my creative side to develop a unique imitation that I believe fish will love. There is also nothing better than a fish eating a fly you designed yourself. On the other hand, there are so many cool patterns that I see today on social media…yet nowhere near enough time to tie them all!
What fly tying technique took you the longest to learn?
Justin Bruce is a friend and fellow tier, and he is known for a technique called the “Houdini Weave.” I keep saying I am going to sit down and learn that weave (as his patterns are killer with this technique), but I have yet to do so. This will be the year!
Let’s talk about fly tying equipment and materials:
Tell us about your scissors. Do you use a generic brand or specific style, and why?
Renomed FlyTier SuperCut – this pair is very comfortable in my hand, one of the keys. The blades are fine, but not too fine, and can cut a variety of sizes and types of materials (even wire). One blade is serrated and the other is a razor; the serrated blade grabs materials to allow the razor to slice through. A current favorite!
What about bobbins: tension or no tension?
Give me a bobbin with thread and I’m ready to go. I have over 30 bobbins preloaded on my bench, the one I grab for is the bobbin loaded with the correct size, type and color of thread. The bobbin choice is secondary.
Your tying vise is practically sacred. What is your go-to, and why? How many did you try before deciding this was your favorite?
Fly tying vises are so personal, yet I have them all over my house, nearly in every tying spot! From my first vise (photo above) to the one I prefer now, a Stonfo Transformer, there have been many great ones in between. We’re fortunate to live at a time where quality vises can be purchased at reasonable prices, and I’m excited to see the evolution of vises in the future.
Where do you source your fly-tying supplies? Why do you choose these resources over others? (okay to mention more than one resource)
Such a great question, as I have many sources when it comes to materials. For one, I’m an avid bird hunter, specializing in upland birds. That has helped my tying collection immensely. I’ve also been fortunate to be an ambassador for one of the finest fly tying companies, Semperfli, giving me access to the best materials made today. Shopping at local fly shops is a preferred location, especially when in a bind and needing a material asap. Finally, I love to pick up items online at European fly shops, as they have a unique selection, differing from the US selections.
Do you have a particular type of hackle that you prefer over others?
Saddles and capes today are exceptional, it’s been wonderful to see how far genetic hackles have come. I especially love the length of individual saddle hackles today, they really blow me away! Favorite colors include grizzly, medium dun, and cree, though I’m not super picky when it comes to specific brands. Like many tiers, I have a collection of hackles, but have a hard time saying no when I come across new ones in those colors.
Do you prefer synthetic or natural materials when you use it? (dubbing, hackle, bucktail, etc.)
Both! The value of synthetics is that they can help to provide consistency from pack to pack. Today’s synthetics have come far, giving us lots of color variations, flash, and options to simply make the process of tying easier. With natural materials, the bugginess and breathability is unparalleled, thus I will also include them in my arsenal.
What brand of hooks do you prefer to tie on?
Hanak hooks are the best in my opinion. A fly tying hook is the last piece of equipment that separates you from the fish, and it’s something we have control of. Meaning go with a quality hook, so there will never be a doubt that you have the equipment to hook and land the fish of a lifetime on your next cast.
What is your preference in head cement and resin?
Super glue – I want to know that the pattern will hold up after catching a lot of fish. Nearly all of my nymphs and streamers have a coating of this over any exposed thread wraps.
Do you tie for personal use, or do you sell your flies?
Mainly personal, though I will occasionally take a custom order for patterns.
What is your favorite fly pattern to tie? What is the intended species for the fly?
This depends on the day of the week and location where I’m fishing. Recently, the EP Articulated Streamer has been working well. It’s a streamer pattern with some great movement. Trout love to eat this fly, as do Arctic char, striped bass, and even some saltwater species.
Where can people find your work? (Retail store, online store, social media handles, etc)
Website: http://www.troutandfeather.com
Instagram: @troutandfeather
TikTok: @troutandfeather
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TimCammisa
Any parting thoughts you’d like us to add?
Thanks for the resource your website has become in a short amount of time. It’s an honor to have a connection to Fly Fishing Journeys, and I appreciate all that you are doing for fly fishing and fly tying.
