All Points Fly Shop + Outfitter - News

We are back! The Maine Bar Fly has returned and it is shaping up to be a great season of fly tying. I thought it would be proper to arrange the first one (of this season) to be held at Oxbow and to also have Aaron Lockwood tying the fly. That was the setup on the very first bar fly...so if it ain't broke...

Last night was a special one as I coordinated with local Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing members/chapters. Seeing as it was Veteran's Day, it made it even better. We were lucky enough to have a good amount of PHWFF members there tying with us as well. Those who attended got to hear a little bit about what Project Healing Waters does and how it can help those who have served our country. Further, we were able to raise a little bit of money via donations and ticket sales. 

You can read up on Project Healing Waters HERE

Last night we tied Lockwood's "Sneaky Smelt" which is a trout streamer tied with marabou and synthetic Senyo's Laser Dub. It's a killer pattern!

The next Maine Bar Fly is scheduled for December 11th at Fore River Brewing. We will be tying "Half & Half" patterns with Shaun Baggitt in both freshwater and saltwater variations. Hope you can join us! 

I would like to give out a big "thank you" to Tim Adams from Oxbow who has been a big supporter of All Points and the Maine Bar Fly since day one, Aaron Lockwood for not only bringing his expertise to the tying table but for all his help along the way, and also Jon Larrabee from HMH Vises (these nights would not be possible without him). 

Words + Photos By: Josh Thelin 

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Last night (Feb. 6th) was the third Maine Bar Fly. Hosted again inside Oxbow Blending & Bottling's great tasting room, we gathered to learn more about Nome Buckman's approach to tying her "Predator Flies." Well-outfitted with HMH's generous supply of vises and LIGHTS (!!!!) we all drank and listened to Nome's instruction. As for the beer, Oxbow always provides a great assortment. Many people had variety/tasters so that they could try them all. I personally enjoyed and had my share of their Town Line Porter. 

Before the tyers all arrived, we did the ritualistic assembling of vises and divvying out materials... 

After settling in, people chose their preferred beverage and tuned into the tying instructions. The great thing about these nights is that the teacher(s) try and not only give you specifics on tying, but also how those tying techniques translate into the fly's motion/behavior/appeal. 

The next Maine Bar Fly has been scheduled for March 14th at Bunker Brewing in Portland. The tyer will be Kevin Stone and we will be doing an "EP 101" night: an introduction to working with EP fibers for striped bass! It will be the last one for this season until we pick back up again in November. If you haven't made it to one yet, you are missing out! s

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Last night was the first Maine Bar Fly. It was held at Oxbow Blending & Bottling in Portland, Maine with Aaron Lockwood, of Casco Bay Flies, providing his simple but effective "Laser Bunny" streamer pattern. People gathered, with all various levels of tying experience, to spin up one of Aaron's great flies and enjoy some of the many tasty beers that Oxbow brews right here in Maine. HMH Vises was kind enough to provide all of the loaner vises for those in need and also circled around the room helping tyers out as well. 

Thanks to everyone that came out and enjoyed themselves!

This will be a monthly event held at breweries around Maine, so keep an eye out for information on the next one via email.

Words + Photos by: Josh Thelin

(Bottom photo by: Will Schmitt)

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