Tom Travis

“Montana’s Master Angler”, Tom Travis, travelling some 4,500 miles from Livingston,Montana. With flies featured in Orvis’ 2006 “Rod and Tackle” Catalogue and provider of the “At the Vice” advice therein,Tom started tying aged 10,ran the Montana Master Angler outfitting and fly shop in Livingston from 1987 to 1999 (still thought by many to have been the best fly materials store ever anywhere – with a library and tying vices on the spacious upper floor),evaluates new materials for Orvis (for whom he has created some 100 patterns for commercial sale),and this year celebrates 30 seasons of outfitting guiding anglers on the Yellowstone, Madison, Missouri and Big Horn Rivers,in Yellowstone National Park (where he has fished all the of the featured lakes and streams),on Paradise Valley Spring Creeks (Armstrong’s, Nelson’s and DePuy’s) and other waters such as Milesneck’s Spring Creek – apart from being an experienced flyfisher in Michigan and South Eastern American waters (both fresh and salt). A conductor of flyfishing and flytying seminars across the United States,having taught tying since 1980 from Beginning Fly Tying to Tying Classic Atlantic Salmon Flies,he writes the booklets for all 27 different programmes,and has contributed articles on flies and fly tying materials to American Angler, The Wild Trout Journal, The Fly Fisher, Fly Fish America, Scientific Anglers Fly Fishing Quarterly, The Angler’s Journal Fly Fishing & Tying Journal,and the Orvis web-site,authored “Montana Fly Fishing Opportunities” 1993,and co-authored with Rod Walinchus “Fly Fishing the Yellowstone River” 1995 (the ‘bible’ for every flyfishable section of the river) His current tying focus and exploration is on Tiny Tubes Flies for Trout,and stillwater patterns (watch out for articles on these in the UK Flyfishing & Flytying magazine),and has innovative uses for materials that many others discard in frustration. In an earlier ‘incarnation’,Tom experienced the ‘real world’ as a member of special forces in Vietnam. The British Fly Fair is delighted to have lured Tom from his lair – he hasn’t been in Britain for some 35 years : we guess he’ll notice some differences ! It is particulary good that he can come this year,with his Orvis links,as 2006 is the 25th Anniversary of the company’s UK business - and,indeed,its 150th Anniversary as a force in US flyfishing.