Wayne Luallen

Wayne Luallen: Daiichi Pro Staff

Wayne Luallen
820 South Parkwood St.
Visalia, CA 93277 USA
flybynyt@sbcglobal.net

Clubs and Organizations:   International Federation of Fly Fishers/Life Member, Kaweah Fly Fishers/Life Member

Bio/Experiences:   My fly tying began in August 1974 simply as a way to “inexpensively” supply flies for my fishing, but it was not long before it became much more.   Soon “Buz’s Fly and Tackle” (Buz Buszek’s fly shop) in Visalia, California asked me to tie “custom” orders.   Soon following came invitations to demonstrate fly tying locally as well as at other locations in California.   In 1980 I was invited to tie at the first of what became many Federation of Fly Fishers Conclaves.   Over the years I have been privileged to demonstrate tying as well as teach classes extensively in the United States.   I have also tied in Canada, England, Scotland, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Norway.   A variety of periodicals have featured articles either by or about my tying.   These include Fly Rod and Reel, Western Outdoors, Fly Tyer, The Salmon Flyer, Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing and Fly Tying, De Nederlandse Vliegvisser, Fiske för Alla, Flugfiske I Norden, and VilmarksLiv. Books featuring my work include the 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, Volume Five (1996), and Volume Six (1999) Patterns of the Masters edited by David L. Nelson and J.D. “Skip” Hosfield, Fly Tying: Adventures in Fur, Feathers and Fun by John McKim, The Atlantic Salmon Fly: The Fly Tyers and Their Art by Judith Dunham, The World’s Best Trout Flies edited by John Roberts, Fluenes Dronning by Runar Warhuus, and Tying the Classic Salmon Fly edited by Michael Radencich.   In 2002 Stackpole Books released Basic Fly Tying: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started edited by Jon Rounds, photographed by Mike Radencich, illustrated by John McKim, with flies tied by me.   Also my work has been included in several calendars, and can be found at various URL’s on the Internet.   In August of 1991 I was presented with the Federation of Fly Fisher’s “Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award”.   This award is given by the FFF each year to a different individual who meets specific criteria: the recipient must be an active member of the FFF in good standing; be an amateur or professional tier; have creative and/or innovative tying skills with a willingness to share that knowledge; has shown an advancement of the art of tying on a national, regional and/or local level; and has shown a contribution and advancement of fly tying.   Perhaps I enjoy most the opportunity to teach the details of fly tying.   I spend little time developing new patterns preferring to look into what can make flies more effective in fishing, appearance, method of construction, and durability.   I also enjoy exploring the nature of tying materials toward the purpose of better understanding of their various applications both at the vise and in/on the water.   I tell my students that if they have an understanding of thread control, a comfortable knowledge of the nature of their materials and how to allow those materials to do what comes naturally to them, reasonable dexterity, and visual acuity, they can tie anything.

Why Daiichi:   There is no question in the industry that Daiichi has a superb hook.   They are as sharp or sharper and as strong (without being brittle) as any other I have ever fished.   I have never bent out a Daiichi hook under normal fishing circumstances (OK, there was that 10-12# Rainbow on a #16 Daiichi that straightened, but I would not call that fish/hook combination normal).   They cover most any shape, shank length, gape width, and wire diameter I need.   When fishing for trout I prefer to fish small and dry, and when I do I use a lot of Daiichi 1110’s.   I like the oversized, straight hook eye for smaller 1110’s which give me a wider gape and direct line pull when using a loop knot.   I also use #1640’s in #18-#20 for Baetis and Midge patterns which allows an even larger gape on a shorter shank.   With that increase in gape and the offset bend I am confident I have had more successful hook-ups.   I am fastidious when it comes to the best in materials for my fly tying students.   Needless to say I use only Daiichi hooks in my classes.