Finest at his home vise. Picture courtesy Umpqua
Recently, we published about the death of famous fly tier and author Archie “A.K.” Finest, who passed away at the age of 92. The other day, the New York City Times published a prolonged obituary by Jeré Longman that gets to the heart of what made Finest so popular:
His terrific ability was developing flies of a size and color that appeared natural, instead of store-bought, utilizing the understanding that no adult marine pests have fuzzy bodies; that flies ought to appear glossy and waxy, not clear; that hair from a white-tailed deer might be utilized if elk hair was not readily available.
” You do not require a fly so huge you’re going to terrify the hell out of a fish,” he stated in a 2015 interview for the Montana State University Fishing Narrative History Task. In the very same interview, he stated, “If it’s the best color and drifts, it’ll capture fish.”
A Times obituary is an honor that few fly fishers are managed, and it’s a fitting homage to Best’s long, accomplished profession in this sport we enjoy.
