Annika Rod and Fly

Nymphs with Ed and Don

DonCorey — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:58:16 +0000

Holden – Week 3 of the Saturday afternoon tying classes featured Ed Dailide dazzling the crowd with dubbing brushes. Ed showed the group how he makes them using his Nor-Vise and a table that he has built. If you haven’t used them yet, you may want to give them a try. For scuds, nymphs and Wooly Buggers (or anything with a dubbed body), the dubbing brushes work VERY well.

Ed started with a “sweet” olive scud pattern and later tied a bead head nymph.

Don followed up with an ol’ favorite, the muskrat Casual Dress. This pattern could certainly be tied using a dubbing brush (just underfur for the body and underfur with guard hairs for the thorax). These dubbing brushes are available for sale at Annika Rod and Fly.

The Saturday afternoon tying series will continue on February 18, 2012 with Dry Flies. Zack Dunnett will be tying an extended body mayfly pattern using mallard flank feathers and Don Corey will follow up with a Klinkhamer.

The fee for the class is $8, spend $10 before or after class and the class is half price! All materials and hooks are provided. All you need to bring is your vise, tying tools and some 8/0 (70 denier) and 6/0 (140 denier) thread. As always, thread is available for purchase at the shop. All classes begin at 1 pm and we try to end by 3 pm. The coffee will be on! To register in advance, contact Don.

Foam Flies with Dan and Don

DonCorey — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:16:21 +0000

Pro Staffer Dan Hodgins teaching a Chernobyl Ant

Holden – Staff Tyer Dan Hodgins kicked off the Saturday afternoon fly tying classes on February 4, 2012 by teaching 2 patterns, a Chernobyl Ant and a Beetle using forms cut with River Road Creations Cutters to an eager group of students.

Don Corey followed Dan in the batting order tying his all-time smallmouth bass favorite, the Angel of Death.

The tying series will continue on February 11, 2012 with Nymphs. Ed Dailide will be tying a couple of flies using dubbing brushes and Don Corey will return to teach an ol’ favorite, the casual Dress.

Hair-wing Atlantic Salmon class – Ed Muzeroll Well Done!

DonCorey — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:25:34 +0000

Holden – It was cold outside but the mecca of fly tying in eastern/central Maine was certainly “on fire”. Ed “Muzzy” Muzeroll taught a class of 9 eager students the fine art of building hair-wing Atlantic Salmon flies on Sunday, February 12, 2012.

The morning session consisted of a Black Bear Green Butt, Black Dose Restigouche, Blue Charm and a Cosseboom. In true Annika Rod and Fly fashion, there was no shortage of food. Moe Decoteau brought some excellent chocolate cookies for snacks throughout the day. At noon the class broke for a fabulous lunch prepared by Chef Diane, chicken corn chowder and warm ginger bread for dessert. The gang ditched the idea of a short nap (sounded pretty darn good) and headed back to the shop for the afternoon session of an Orange Blossom Special and Rusty Rat.

In true Muzzy style, he imparted a wealth of tying techniques, laced with stories, jokes and historical information. Spending a day at the vise with Muz, is a day that won’t be subtracted from your life!

Thanks to Muz for trekking north on a cold day to spend time with friends, both old and new.

Dyna-King/Regal Vises are in the house!

DonCorey — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:12:58 +0000

Holden – We have been adding items to our inventory each week. Quality vises come in many different sizes/styles/configurations. Vises are just like boats, everyone needs more than one! haha. We are fortunate to have many high quality vises in stock. It is very important to sit behind a vise and tie on it BEFORE you spend the money to buy one. Whenever possible, we will try to always have numerous quality vises available in the shop for folks to try.

We have a recent arrival of Regal vises including an Inex clamp, Stainless Steel Jaw, Midge Jaw, Tradition Jaw and three different pedestal bases (bronze pocket, bronze traditional and aluminum pocket).

A shipment arrived from Dyna-King on Christmas Eve with a Barracuda Deluxe, an Ultimate Indexer and Cement Reservoirs. A Trekker will be shipping next week.

We also have several excellent condition used vises in stock including a Renzetti Traveler Pedestal, Regal Midge Jaws Bronze Pedestal, Dyna-King Kingfisher, Nor-vise and two HMH Standards (with vise bag).

Drop by and try any of these out!

Grand Opening …… Success!

DonCorey — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:08:16 +0000

John, Cubby, Dan and Rob

Holden – The grand opening for the Annika Rod and Fly Learning Center was a great day! Many friends, old and new dropped by to visit and partake of the plethora of culinary delights while browsing the fly tying and rod building inventory. Okay, there were hot dogs, cookies and drinks. The Center will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6 to 8 pm, Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm and by appointment. The Grand Opening 15% discount on most items will continue through the end of December. Bangor Daily News Columnist John Holyoke dropped by for a visit (and a hot dog). Read his Out There blog on the shop at Bangordailynews.com.

Visitors (one entry per day) can put there name in to win an HMH SX pedestal vise (Retail value $130). The winner will be drawn on January 31, 2012. New items are arriving w

eekly. If there is something that you want that we don’t have, let us know and we will try to get it for you.

HMH SX Vise Giveaway

DonCorey — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:16:12 +0000

Holden - Annika Rod and Fly will be giving away an HMH SX pedestal fly tying vise to one lucky person as part of the grand opening festivities. Folks visiting the Annika Rod and Fly Learning Center can submit one entry per visit per day (Pro Staff members and their families are not eligible).

The winner will be drawn at closing time on Saturday, December 31. Winner need not be present to win.

Finally here – Grand Opening Saturday, Dec 3

DonCorey — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:54:34 +0000

Holden – The move is nearly complete into the new Annika Rod and Fly Learning Center at 36 Kingsbury Rd., Holden. The official grand opening is Saturday, December 3, 2011 from 10 am to 5 pm. We will still have a few things left to do but things are coming together nicely. This has been quite a process over the past 11 years. It is an exciting time in the growth of ARF.

There will be free hot dogs and drinks (non-alcoholic) throughout the day along with other goodies. There will be door prizes and other giveaways PLUS 15% off most items (some exclusions). Enter to win an HMH SX pedestal vise ($130), no purchase necessary. The coffee will be on so drop by and say hello. We will have our talented Pro Staff tying throughout the day. Feel free to pull up a chair and tie along with them.

We look forward to seeing you on the 3rd!

Beginners Fly Tying – Bangor Adult Ed

DonCorey — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:38:29 +0000

Bangor – The course is nearly completed at Bangor Adult Ed. The last class will be on November 28th. The course has gone well and the students are eager to start building fly rods in the spring.

Bangor Adult Ed – Rod Building

DonCorey — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:24:17 +0000

We are reaching the conclusion of this year’s rod building class through Bangor Adult Ed. Two student’s have gone “all in” and applied the first coat of rod finish! The rest of the class should be wrapping up in the next couple of weeks. For more information on rod building classes, contact email Don or call 843-5634.

Sportsmen’s Show – Orono

DonCorey — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:28:54 +0000

The annual PCCA Sportsmen Show will be held at the University of Maine in Orono on March 9, 10 and 11, 2012. Once again, the Annika Rod and Fly Learning Center will have a booth at the show. Several talented tyers will be exhibiting their tying skills over the 3 day event. We are looking forward to seeing and chatting with our friends, both old and new. We will have some flies for sale along with some great deals on hooks, thread and materials.