Pugliese vs. Best

[AlderBrookFarm]

If you had the chance to go to Marlborogh and wanted to take the class in fly tying which would you choose and why? Pugliese or Best?

[striblue]

I can never understand why Puglisi will not publish his tying style... it is only found from other tyers and his site does not show you anything but how to "order" flies...I would definitly go with Best.

[Sentience]

I actually thought of the same question when looking at the Marlboro show website. I considered doing one but it doesn't look like it will happen.

I tie adequate puglisi flies. It would be really interesting to learn from him. But A.K. Best is a little bit more legendary, thanks in part to John Gierach. I sort of feel like A.K. would have a lot more to say as far as flie design and matching hatches. His tips might be more creative. I certainly would like to hear him talk about bodies and tailing.

Each have their negatives even if they are small. What turns me off on Puglisi is that he probably uses all his own synthetic materials. That sort of turns me off, feels a little like an infomercial. On the other hand, A.K. might be telling you to hand dye each biot or quill and only use capes worth over $120. But those are small things and I would still love to go to one or the other.

Give us a report either way.

[sage fly guy]

I've tyed with Enrico about 5 times in different classes and demonstrations. With AK once.

Bottom line: Enrico's flies look best in the water, AK's look best in books.

As far as buying materials, whenever you buy anything your buying something someone endorsed somewhere along the road. You can use different materials for all of Enrico's flies, not just his. Last I talked to him he was working on a book. One chapter of the new Contemporary Fly books starts off with his bread and butter pattern.

Hope this don't PO anyone.

Just my .02

[AlderBrookFarm]

Thanks for all the input. If I didn't want your .02 I wouldn't have asked. I would hate to sign up for one and then have everyone say what a bad choice, he's a lousy teacher, yadda yadda...Course the other half of me says it's $75 I could spend on tying supplies and other tackle and I catch fish with what I tie now so why bother.

[JoeA]

don't pay that much for those guys you can go and watch alot of other great tyers for free at alot of shops. Also the United Fly Tiers has some of the greatest in the area for I think $8.00 if your a non member.

[Quicksilver]

I'm with JoeA on this one. Also, I would imagine Puglisi will be tying in front of the public during the show.

[FishHawk]

If you want to see how to tie the Pugliese flies check out Tying Contemporary Saltwater Flies. Buy it on Amazon for about 34.00 . So now you can go see AK Best. FishHawk

[AlderBrookFarm]

You guys have talked me right out of it. LOL. Yes & no Quick..they will be tying in public demo but what I was thinking about was the limited enrollment classes. $75 included your $12 admission and the class with either EP or AKB and EP's said materials included which I would assume would mean hand outs and samples of his fibers. EP's class said tying experience and AK's said int. to adv. tiers.

[sage fly guy]

Joe A is right on with his response. If you have the free time you could stand there all day and watch everyone tie. One year I bought a small palm sized notebook.

If you bring a well behaved kid, usually the guys have you move right up front or just off to the side so the child can see.


Good technique for getting closer.

[Quicksilver]

I have seen spectators set up video cameras on tripods.

[FLYRODER]

I heard Enrico Puglisi will be coming out with a book very soon on how to tye his type of flies.

[boba]

It depends on what stage you are at as a tyer. As a beginner, I took UFT-sponsored all day classes with Jack Gartside and Gary LaFontaine. Both were intense, fun and advanced my tying enormously. Both covered so much in their classes, I was boggled. Would I do it now after 25+ years tying? Probably not.
I spent a while a few years ago watching Bob Clouser and A.K. Best tie, listening, and conversing with them. At that point, I had learned enough to actually learn something, and I learned a lot. It was worth the tired feet.
If you have 1 to a couple of years of tying, it is probably worth it and it is a lot of fun. Since I haven't seen Puglisi tie or met him, I can't comment on who is the better instructor. A.K. is pretty dam good to watch when I've seen him at shows.
Listen seriously to the advice about going to the UFT meetings. I haven't been able to go in a couple of years because of my work schedule, but many of the member instructors are world class tyers able to greet the "outside" experts as genuine peers. Since I've seen Lefty Kreh greet them as friends and equals, I tended to take notice. I don't know all that much, but what I didn't learn in Gartside's and LaFontaine's classes, I learned at UFT.
Buy Jack a gin and tonic and Mike M a good scotch for me if you go.

[Quicksilver]

There would have been so many more fly tiers in the world if not for all the poor souls who passed away while holding their breath waiting for his book...........

[Saltytyer]

Hey not for nothing, but don't begrudge a guy making a living. That is how they do it. The thing is, if you think what their offering is worth paying for, then do it. You have to come to your own conclusions. As far as Enrico using his own materials, HELLO! thats what he does to make a living. Believe it, they all are making a living, from Lefty to the guy tying in one of the fly shop booths. And you paid to see him when you bought your ticket. Want some good advice, get a copy of AK's first book "Production Tying" , everyone who picks up a bobbin should read it,and go and see Enrico, he's worth it!