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NEFT Calendar February 4 - Open House, Open Tying February 11 - Open Tying, Fly Tying Class, Rod Building Class, February 18 – Open Tying, Fly Tying Class, Rod Building Class, Banquet Meeting February 25 - Open Tying, Fly Tying Class,, Rod Building Class March 4 - Open Tying, Hot Dog Night, Fly Tying Class, Rod Building Class March 11 - Open Tying, Fly Tying Class, Board of Direc-tor’s

Events to plan for:

January 2019

New England Fly Tyers

January 7 - Open Tying, Board of Director’s Meeting, Banquet Meeting January 14 - Open Tying, Favorite Fly, Business Meeting January 18, 19, 20 - Marlboro Fly Fishing Show January 21 - Guest Speaker Tim Flag-ler January 25, 26, 27 - New England Fishing and Outdoor Expo January 28 - First Open House

January, 2019, can you believe it??? How on earth is it possible that each year passes so quickly? Its interesting that everyone has their own perspec-tive on how we look upon how a year is perceived. Perhaps most folks simply see January through December as their yearly perspective, whereas others such as accountants might see April through March as their yearly cycle. I know here in state government July through June reflects our annual cycle and for the Federal counterparts its October through September. But for me its sea-sons which truly reflect my annual perspective and those seasons are separated by distinctly unique activities associ-ated with fly fishing.

January to April is a time of fishing shows, open houses, meeting new members and most importantly Monday night meetings tying flies and stocking up for the upcoming fishing season. April, May and June are the prime months for us here in New England to see fish on or near the surface and have the best op-portunity to encounter members of the salmonid or char families. July, August and September sees some slow down in trout activity but a great time to experi-ence some warm water activity with bass, pickerel, or maybe a toothy mon-ster or two such as pike. Oh yeah, even a few days of vacation with the family get squeezed in there somehow. Octo-ber, November and December are espe

cially full as the trout are accessible again, the great striper migration gets underway, salmon are running in New York, bird and deer hunting are on the docket and fly tying is in full swing. Now that I think about it, is there any won-der why fly fishermen tent to be such a happy group with so many things to look forward to? Ah, perhaps that’s why the years seem to fly by so fast.

With that in mind, here are a few reminders to get the cycle started:

1. Please sign up to tie at either or both of the shows if you can. Sign up sheets will be available at the front table on Monday Nights.

2. Our two open house events will be on January 28 and February 4 this year. Please make a point to

come in and tie on those Monday nights.

3. On January 21 Tim Flagler will be with us to share his techniques of fly tying and hopefully make us a little better at what we do.

Hope to see you soon.

Joe Simone, President

Newsletter

New England Fly Tyers

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Broken Tippets: Honorary Member Jack Swedberg,

I’m sure most if not all NEFT members saw

the many articles over the past month and a half

marking the passing of Outdoor Wildlife Photogra-

pher Jack Swedberg, but what many of you might

not know, however, is that Jack was a long time

Honorary Member of the New England Fly Tyers.

Most of the accolades focused on Jack was a true

outdoorsman, independent wildlife photographer,

photographer for Mass Fish and Wildlife, and per-

haps best known as the “ Eagle Man” as he support-

ed and recorded the re-introduction of Bald Eagles

to Massachusetts. His big, booming personality and

rock hard handshake were his trademarks and once

you met him and was exposed to his dogmatic sup-

port for conservation and preservation of our out-

doors, you’d never forget him.

However, there was a part of Jack that didn’t

seem to get mentioned in all those accolades but of

which he was unquestionably equally skilled and

deserves equal recognition for which was his obses-

sion with fly fishing. I’m honored to say that I’ve

known Jack my entire life as both a family friend and

fly fishing mentor. Growing up I was indeed blessed

to be surrounded by dedicated outdoorsmen and fly

fishermen and the most revered among them was

Jack. I hope you don’t mind if I take this opportunity

to tell you a little about the Jack I knew and how im-

portant having mentors like him for kids can be.

I think my first actual memories of Jack were

when I was very young on family outings. Sunday

picnics were common for us back then and three or

four families would travel to some remote location

usually in northern Worcester County for a day of

fun, food and fishing. Always fishing. After the cook-

ing over the campfire was done, the food was eaten

and the afternoon games had been played, no

outing was complete unless the fly rods were bro-

ken out and casts on the inevitable local trout

stream were made.

As a young teenager, my first fly tying les-

sons were in Jack’s basement. My dad tied a few

flies but Jack was the expert, so I’d get dropped of

at the Swedberg home and it was up to poor Jack to

try teach me how to spin fur and feather into some-

thing a trout might eat. I remember he had great

patience and humor, but can recall only one com-

ment he made one night that I’ll never forget. After

making an attempt at a Quill Gordon he looked at

me and said “You’ll probably never play the piano or

tie beautiful flies with those hands”, a prophesy

which holds true till this day!

A day trip with Jack was always something to

be cherished. He seemed to know where every trout

in Massachusetts resided but locally his passion

seemed to focus on Brook Trout. He loved to catch

them and I think enjoyed eating them even more.

The trips always seemed to include a canoe ride on

some remote beaver pond with exceptionally large

brookies for Massachusetts and we always went

home with a few for his supper or breakfast. He had

access to the Quabbin Reservoir property and the

ride home almost assuredly would include some

part of the reservation in the hope of seeing some

wildlife and it rarely disappointed.

Jack was a dedicated Atlantic Salmon Fisher-

man and it was he that got me hooked on fishing for

these elusive and beautiful fish. As always seemed

the case, he not only knew the best fishing spots, he

knew the most beautiful as well. Back when Atlan-

tics were a going fishery in Maine, he took my dad

and I to a spectacular tidal river section with a re-

versing falls. On that trip he taught me the im-

portance of putting yourself in the best position

New England Fly Tyers

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Broken Tippets: Honorary Member Jack Swedberg,

continued.

possible to present your fly with greatest likelihood

of inducing a strike. Something I’ll never forget and

I’m sure has put more fish on my line than I ever

would have without it. (By the way, the greatest

part of being at that location was that on the in

coming tide, when the current stopped before re-

versing to flow upstream, every salmon in the pool

would jump clearly out of the water! An exciting but

humbling experience after 6 hours of casting with-

out so much as a rise to a fly.)

In later years, Jack and his wife Thelma

would visit my parents at their cape house and

when I knew such a visit was scheduled, I’d do eve-

rything in my power to take a day and get Jack and

my dad on the boat for a day of fishing and stories.

With a fly rod in his hand, he was as at home on the

salt water as he was on a brookie stream and man-

aged to catch almost everything available on the

lower cape. Whether on the water chasing stripers

or sitting on the back deck watching him pop cherry

stones, I absorbed his stories like a sponge. From

encounters with bears while photographing eagles

in Alaska to hooking up on salmon on the Mariachi

in New Brunswick, he had an endless supply of ad-

ventures to relate.

I’ve imposed this story on those of you who

have chosen to read it for two simple reasons. I was

disappointed after reading all those tributes about

him that never really mentioned him as a fly fisher-

man and wanted to recognize what a significant part

of his life it was. He was truly an artist with a fly rod.

But I think more importantly I wanted to share with

you what a significant impact we can have as men-

tors when we take a youngster under our wing and

expose them to the wonderful opportunities our

sport has to offer. You don’t have to be a teacher,

just a good friend willing to share not only your

knowledge but experiences that will have a lifetime

of impact, much as Jack did for me. He left many

wonderful legacies, but to me, the most important

one is “Take a kid fishing”.

Your NEFT Editor.

Call to Membership for Assistance: We are in need of members to help

staff our station at both the Marlboro Fly Fishing Show on January 18, 19 and 20 and also the New

England Fishing and Outdoor Expo on January 25, 26 and 27. The strength of our club is our member-

ship and these events represent our best opportunity to demonstrate who we are and what we off to

encourage new membership. Please sign up on at Monday evenings at the front table.

Business Meeting: There will be an abbreviated business meeting on Monday evening,

January 14 to discuss the two upcoming shows, donations and organizing a banquet committee. Please

make a point to attend the meeting and lend a hand where ever you can.

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New England Fly Tyers

Notice:

On March 17 from 10 am to 4 pm the 12th Annual Fly Tying Demo and Introduction to Bamboo Rod

Building will be take place at the Historic Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Road, Sudbury,

Ma. 10 am to 4 pm. For more information contact Armand at 508-982-1931. This event is free and

everyone is welcome.

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Our mailing address is:

PO Box 164

Worcester, MA 01613

The NEFT meets every

Monday evening at 7 PM

from the Monday after

Labor Day to the Monday

before Memorial day. We

meet at the Singletary Rod

& Gun , 300 Sutton Ave.,

Oxford Ma.

NEFT is a non-profit organization of fly fishers and fly tyers. The purpose of the organization is to foster the

art of fly tying, to promote the challenge of fly fishing, to encourage conservation and sportsmanship.

NEFT began in Worcester, MA in 1972. Our current membership comes from over 50 cities and towns in

Worcester County. We believe that the NEFT is one of the most active clubs of its kind. We meet every

Monday night from the Monday after Labor Day to the Monday before Memorial day, a total of 36 meetings

in 9 months.

We’re on the Web

www.newenglandflytyers.org

To Promote Fly Fishing and Tying NEFT

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New England Fly Tyers

Membership Renewal Form

Last Name: _____________________ First Name: ___________________________

Regular Member: ______ $30.00 Junior Member: _____ $15.00 Life Member: _______ Donation

Paid by Cash: _______ Amount: ________ Paid by Check: _____ Check #_______ Amount: ________

Personal Contact Update:

Mailing address: _________________________________________________________

Phone #_____________________Email_______________________________________

Membership Questionnaire: Please Print all Information so it is legible

In an effort to keep NEFT activities current with the interest of membership, please take a minute

to fill out the following questionnaire:

What species of fish do you primary fish for? ______________________________

What type of flies do you most often tie? ________________________________

Do you travel to fish and if so where? ____________________________________

What’s your Favorite Fly Shop? __________________________________________

What is your Favorite Style of Fishing? ____________________________________

Would you be willing to share your fly fishing knowledge with other members of the

New England Fly Tyers: _______________

What fly fishing or fly tying experience would you like to try that you have not yet to experience or

learn:______________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SHARE:

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As you all know, a club is only as strong as its membership. Please check off any of the following volunteer

activities you might be willing to assist in:

Board of Directors____ Club Greeter at Activities_____ Favorite Fly______

Favorite Fly setup and take down ____ Banquet Committee____

Banquet Set Up or Take Down ____ Membership Outreach____ Youth Outreach Program____

Monday Night Setup or Take Down _____Coffee Setup and Take Down_____

Newsletter Contributor_____

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND HAND IT TO US AT OUR MONDAY NIGHT MEETING OR MAIL IT TO THE FOLLOWING CLUB ADDRESS.

NEFT

P.O. BOX 165

WORCESTER, MA 01613