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Soul Flies & Simple Ties

Fly Fishing And Fy Tying Passion

My Biography

My Biography - Michael Olesen

A Glimpse into My Life

Here, you have the opportunity to take a small glimpse into my fly-life. What got me started and what got me hooked for a lifetime on fly tying and fly fishing.

Here’s a bit from my childhood to adulthood. How it all unfolded, experienced and told in my own way. Keep reading below, grab a cup of coffee, and clean your reading glasses as we take a tour through my world.

I Am

A reasonably young guy from 1967, a family man, Fly Tyer, Fly Fisherman, and Writer.

Values

I tie “honest” and simple flies.

Goals

To share my joy with others, primarily behind the fly vise and on fishing trips, but at times also in articles and books.

If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine.......it's lethal

– Paolo Coelho

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The Feather Mechanic II: Beyond the Pattern

By Gordon Van Der Spuy

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Danica Dun

December 8, 2024 No Comments

Tying Guide: How to tie Michael Olesen’s Danica Dun Hook: Maruto d21 size 10 Thread: Classic Waxed 12/0 from Semperfli, primrose for the abdomen and brown for the thorax. Tails: 3 strands of ostrich herl from small body feathers Rib: Dirty Bug Yarn, Caddis Brown from Semperfli Abdomen: Kapok dubbing, Danica color from Semperfli Thorax: Deer hair, Golden Brown and olive CDC dubbing Wingpost: Foam tube, 3 mm in diameter, gray Hackle and Wings: 3 pcs. CDC feathers, gray, and

A view into my life

It all began a long, long time ago. I was probably around 9 or 10 years old. It’s a bit difficult to remember now, but indeed, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since I caught my first trout in 1976. However, I remember very vividly the dark green velvet pants with patches on the knees, the Icelandic hand-knitted sweater, and the leaky wellingtons that were always full of water when I came home from the stream. It was a completely different time back then, where the clothes we fished in were simply old, discarded, and worn-out. A few years later, the bucket hat became fashionable, at least among my fishing buddies, but apart from that, there wasn’t really any fancy fishing clothes or gedgets at the time.

A Passion for Fly Fishing and Fly Tying

Explore Articles, Fly Tying, and Insects

A Closer Look into My Fly World

Fly Tying

Fly Fishing

Articles & Shows

Insects & Exploration

A spark Ignited in the early adolescence

My Youth

I learned to tie flies in 1981, where my friends and I, of course, learned to tie the typical flies of that time; Red Tag, Black Zulu, and Europea 12, and more. Oh, it’s nostalgic just thinking about it. My fly assortment was simple and small in the 80s, but it worked, and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. The internet wasn’t invented, and if I wanted to learn about flies and fly fishing, there were very few options, like asking for a book as a Christmas present or riding my bike to the library.

Fly tying became a significant part of my life

A Passion for Fly Tying

Soon, I began tying many different flies. Everything had to be tried out before I found my own path—the path of matching the hatch.

...And Then Came the 90s

Kind of Grown Up

In 1990 I met my lovely wife, Margrethe, and the 90s were largely about starting a family with children, building a house, education, and working too much. I believe many can relate to this busy phase of life that demands one’s full attention. Naturally, fly tying and fishing took a back seat during this time, so there was certainly some catching up to do, when I became more active with the flies again in the late 90s. In 2001, I joined a fishing club to gain access to more stretches of the stream from my childhood and, importantly, to tie flies during the club’s weekly fly tying evenings. It was largely this fishing club that shaped and developed my fly tying skills. Initially, I participated in these fly tying evenings, alongside many wonderful people who could inspire and share their knowledge and skills, and later I became an instructor for these fly tiers. All of this together adds experience and encourages further pursuit. If I remember correctly, around 2003-2004, our instructor motivated us, as a fly tying team, to participate in Denmark’s fly tying championship, which I managed to win in the dry flies and nymphs category. Naturally, I was extremely proud, and back then, it meant a lot to me, although the friendships and the many wonderful fishing trips, by far, is the most important and memorable outcomes.

A Passion for Fly Fishing and Fly Tying

Finding and Treading My Own Path

I’ve always walked my own ways. Everyone here on the island of Fyn in Denmark, where I live, fishes for sea trout at the coast, but I don’t. My focus actually lies only with the dry flies and the nymphs. I sometimes wonder why that is so? Maybe the reason is the suitable amount of challenges that specifically interest someone like me and certainly because there’s more than a lot to think about. Fly fishing is a thinking game. It’s not just about tying random flies, but rather very specific flies for particular occasions, hatches, spinner falls, at specific times of the day, and different seasons of the year, and many other things. I’m also very fond of how dry fly fishing is a calmly relaxed waiting game, with built-in excitement as a contrast. Some might claim that I was born that way, meaning relaxed and calm. At the same time, this type of fishing also requires my full attention regarding weather, insects, and the fish’s rise forms. As I mentioned, there’s a lot to think about and, most importantly, to be aware of. I mainly fish for brown trout and grayling in the small Danish streams. Over time, I’ve also fished in several other European countries like Slovenia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, and England. But actually, when all is said and done, it’s the fish here in my own country that interest me the most. I find it somehow more relevant to follow my local streams year after year and talk to local anglers about them. Perhaps I’ve just grown old

...And a Bit More In-depth

A Fly Tying Style Was Developed

About 20 years ago, when I was younger and much more ambitious, I tied a considerable number of flies. I worked my way through many so-called patterns and traditional flies, which, of course, resulted in a lot of practice and experience. However, today, my approach is entirely different. I hardly tie patterns anymore, nor do I tie nearly the same number of flies. Primarily, I create my own flies, my own designs, and most of the inspiration comes from my fishing trips where I can find the insects I aim to imitate. It’s probably more accurate to say that I tie insects. Fundamentally, the old fly patterns are largely based on nature’s insects, but over time, many of them have evolved and, for various reasons, they have to some extend diverged from the original recipes and concept. The way it works for me is to observe the sizes, silhouettes, colors, and behavior of insects and imitate these aspects. In resent years I also started taking pictures of insects. These pictures serves as notes for me; I take a photo, which I bring home to study further, and if I’m lucky, I become a little wiser as well.

A Personal Matter

Semi-Realistic Fishing Flies

In the early years as a flytyer, you can not really talk about having a tying style. A tying style is something one grows into, influenced by friends, mentors, and other important people—something that gradually sneaks in unnoticed, which I personally find a bit challenging to clearly identify, especially when it’s about myself. Actually, I find it much easier to talk about other fly tyers’ styles and signatures. But if I were forced to label my style, it might be “Semi-realistic fishing flies, with some extra unnecessary details” or something in that line. Primarily, my flies must be fishable. They have to work in practice. What interests me is the delicate balance between something that looks right design-wise and at the same time works optimally.

Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Passion

A Few Last Reflektions

It’s not crucial for me to exclusively tie and fish with my own fly designs, but it has been going more and more in that direction. About half of the flies I fish with, I’ve personally designed and developed. Some of them naturally resemble other well-known flies, but when tying flies based on the principles I’ve previously described and talked a bit about, the inspiration doesn’t typically come from well known patterns, but from insects and an allround understanding of these creatures, along with a rather comprehensive knowledge of fly tying materials. I prefer using a blend of natural and artificial materials, although it’s a trend these days, not to use plastic in flies. Personally, I go for a sensible balance rather than going to extremes. As the somewhat older boy that I have become, I remember the innovative John Betts, who in every sense was a pioneer and very special in his way of using artificial materials, such as plastic, and the same goes for fly tyers like Oliver Edwards, Paul Whillock, and Steve Thornton, who is among the first names that come to mind. I believe the balance should be up to the individual, but personally I’ve chosen to combine the best from both worlds, the artificial and the natural.

A personal tying style is also related to material choice, and in that connection, I must mention that I’m simply crazy about CDC feathers, which at the same time is quite defining for my tying style. CDC feathers is featured in many of my flies, and there are many good reasons for it. It’s not just for fun that CDC is called “The Miracle Feather.” It has seduced an entire fly fishing world, including myself. In fact, I wasn’t aware one could be addicted to CDC until I read Leon Links’ book “Tying Flies with CDC,” but now I know. There isn’t a single feather that can imitate insects like CDC. It’s boyant, lively, soft, transparent, and surprisingly robust. Most flytyers associate CDC feathers with dry flies, but I also use it a lot for nymphs. This is just an example of what the last 30 years of the CDC movement have been about—using CDC feathers for more than just the original dry flies, like the F-Fly from the ’80s. I always consider how and if I can incorporate CDC in my flies, whenever I start a new fly tying project.

A working method that I’ve embraced and developed is drawing the flies before tying them. I probably drew a fly for the first time in my young teenage years, but the quick sketch drawings I do now are something I’ve developed and worked on in the past 10 years. They’re not drawings on the level of Gordon van der Spuy’s, but more kind of quick working sketches, which are good reference points when tying the fly. I’m a visual person, and a drawing, possibly with a bit of text, helps me remember my decisions and provides a sense of proportions and how to achieve the desired expression in the fly. In other words, the visual aspect gives me an overview, and sometimes when I don’t have the time to tie the fly immediately when I get an idea, I can save it. In such situations, creating a drawing works well to remember the fly for a later tying session.

My working methods and material choices are significant parts of what defines me as a fly tyer. Through methods and material choices, I can express myself, just as I do when I articulate these words about myself. As a fly tyer, I’m deeply engaged in the expression of flies, which is far more than just a clump of dubbing and some hackle on a hook shank.

Contact me today if you have any fly tying or fly fishing-related questions.

If you have any inquiries about my fly tying or fly fishing, please feel free to reach out. Let’s talk about it!

Soul Flies & Simple Ties

Fly Fishing And Fy Tying Passion

My Biography

My Biography - Michael Olesen

A Glimpse into My Life

I Am

Values

Goals

If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine.......it's lethal

Focus

Keep up with the latest recommendations by Michael Olesen

The Feather Mechanic II: Beyond the Pattern

Focus item 2

Focus item 3

Focus item 4

Explore News

Read New Articles

Danica Dun

My Biography

A view into my life

A Passion for Fly Fishing and Fly Tying

Explore Articles, Fly Tying, and Insects

Fly Tying

Fly Fishing

Articles & Shows

Insects & Exploration

A spark Ignited in the early adolescence

My Youth

Fly tying became a significant part of my life

A Passion for Fly Tying

...And Then Came the 90s

Kind of Grown Up

A Passion for Fly Fishing and Fly Tying

Finding and Treading My Own Path

...And a Bit More In-depth

A Fly Tying Style Was Developed

A Personal Matter

Semi-Realistic Fishing Flies

Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Passion

A Few Last Reflektions

Contact me today if you have any fly tying or fly fishing-related questions.

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