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| Tom Nixon |
TOM NIXON
Tom Nixon didn’t make a profession out of fly fishing, he was a mechanical engineer who fished in his spare time. He personally experienced the evolution of bass fishing from fly rods to bait casting gear and refused to give up on the fly rod. He was there as the TVA reservoirs were constructed and B.A.S.S. was born.
During the 1940’s through the 1960’s, Tom developed flies and techniques fishing his home waters in Louisiana that won bass tournaments. I the 60’s, Tom was asked to teach a fly tying class and his notes became Fly Tying and Fly Fishing for Bass and Panfish first published in 1968 and was published in three editions. Tom Nixon passed away on May 29,2003.
I believe Fly Tying and Fly Fishing for Bass and Panfish should be on every fly fisherman’s shelf. Sadly, it is out of print but an edition can be found if you look hard enough. Tom’s humor and writing style makes for a fun read and my copy is tattered and worn because I refer to it so much. It is funny to me how someone will publish or develop a “new” concept fly or technique that Nixon had developed half a century ago. Yes, he does write about fly rod spinner baits, rubber worms, and pork rinds: but not once does he waste any ink on justifying or directly addressing controversial techniques nor does he make apologetic arguments for fly rod lures. For him, there was no controversy.
During the 1940’s through the 1960’s, Tom developed flies and techniques fishing his home waters in Louisiana that won bass tournaments. I the 60’s, Tom was asked to teach a fly tying class and his notes became Fly Tying and Fly Fishing for Bass and Panfish first published in 1968 and was published in three editions. Tom Nixon passed away on May 29,2003.
I believe Fly Tying and Fly Fishing for Bass and Panfish should be on every fly fisherman’s shelf. Sadly, it is out of print but an edition can be found if you look hard enough. Tom’s humor and writing style makes for a fun read and my copy is tattered and worn because I refer to it so much. It is funny to me how someone will publish or develop a “new” concept fly or technique that Nixon had developed half a century ago. Yes, he does write about fly rod spinner baits, rubber worms, and pork rinds: but not once does he waste any ink on justifying or directly addressing controversial techniques nor does he make apologetic arguments for fly rod lures. For him, there was no controversy.
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| H.G. Tapply |
H. G. TAPPLY
H.G. “Tap” Tapply was best known for being the writer of “Tap’s Tips” in the outdoor magazine Field & Stream from 1950 to 1985. But in the 1940’s, Tap was inspired to put down baitcasting gear and chase smallmouth bass on the surface with Ron Yates’ Deacon. Although baitcasting gear had replaced the fly rod for bass, the first technique for catching bass, “Bass Bugging”, remained an acceptable fly fishing technique thanks to folks like Tap.
Tap developed a “no frills” bass popper that became known as “Tap’s Bug”. It may look simplistic, but it was the result of experimenting with different shapes and materials. There is beauty in simplicity and in an effective pattern. Charles Waterman once wrote to Tapply in the 70’s about his bug: “Last week we used your bugs, together with poppers, on Lake Okeechobee, and yours were winners by a considerable margin.” H G Tapply died in 2002.
One cannot talk about Tap Tapply without mentioning his son, William. William Tappy was a successful and accomplished author in his own right. William wrote many articles for the now defunct Warmwater Flyfishing and has authored many books. Since he witnessed first hand the development of modern warmwater fly fishing, his interest and subsequent articles on the history of the sport are very insightful. William Tappy died July 28 2009. Here is an article as excerpted from his book Trout Eyes: From Bobs To Bugs
Tap developed a “no frills” bass popper that became known as “Tap’s Bug”. It may look simplistic, but it was the result of experimenting with different shapes and materials. There is beauty in simplicity and in an effective pattern. Charles Waterman once wrote to Tapply in the 70’s about his bug: “Last week we used your bugs, together with poppers, on Lake Okeechobee, and yours were winners by a considerable margin.” H G Tapply died in 2002.
One cannot talk about Tap Tapply without mentioning his son, William. William Tappy was a successful and accomplished author in his own right. William wrote many articles for the now defunct Warmwater Flyfishing and has authored many books. Since he witnessed first hand the development of modern warmwater fly fishing, his interest and subsequent articles on the history of the sport are very insightful. William Tappy died July 28 2009. Here is an article as excerpted from his book Trout Eyes: From Bobs To Bugs
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| A.D. Livingston |
A.D. LIVINGSTON
A. D. Livingston was an avid bass fisherman who lived in central Florida. He published numerous articles, wrote many books, and even distributed his own newsletter on the subject of bass fishing in the 60’s and 70’s. Livingston is a professional outdoor writer but like Nixon, his works are free of commercial influence and purist constraints. Also, like Nixon, Livingston was a tournament fisherman (although not with the fly rod). His first book on the subject was Bass on the Fly first published in 1976. He later published Tying Bugs and Flies for Bass in 1977. A.D. Livingston's writing style make these books fun and informative read that are free of the dry didactic prose so common in how-to books.
A. D. Livingston currently resides in North Florida and writes a column for Gray’s Sporting Journal.
A. D. Livingston currently resides in North Florida and writes a column for Gray’s Sporting Journal.
