The Flies of Stuart Anderson

As we worked on our skills and learned the art of casting, many trips were eventually taken to BC, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and the Queen Charlotte Islands. Accommodations were a bit rough (1984 GMC camper van) but the fishing was superb. Steelheading came next and the hobby continued to grow. My university days, though a bit hazy like most former students looking back, are filled with great memories of ditching classes and chasing fish.

I became an "official" commercial fly tyer several years, mostly tying for guides and friends. I (along with my family) eventually took the leap and began two online fly shops. Our original shop Adipos Flytying set the stage for our latest creation, The Canadian Tube Fly Company. We used tubes for years and decided that there was definitely a niche to be filled in the North American market, especially for west coast tube flies and tube fly supplies.

Years before launching our tube fly site I began like most tube tyers, raiding every hardware and hobby supply store for materials. First plastic tubes, then metal, then plastic lined aluminum, brass, and copper came next. Our first few years with tubes included a great deal of hit and miss ideas. With the exception of a handful of great books, there is not a great deal of information published about tube flies. I've shared learned techniques with customers and anyone who has asked, I think sometimes fly fishermen are too often tight lipped about such things.

While developing our tube flies to sell on the site, I was fortunate enough to come across the path of Juri Shumakov. Juri, a complete gentleman, worked with us on several patterns and techniques. We will definitely miss our friend. I was also fortunate enough to have Juri introduce me to Bob Kenly. Bob has also been a good friend and has helped us develop several of our flies. We are constantly E-mailing back and forth about the latest new pattern and, of course, how our hockey teams are doing!