LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — At the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum (CFFCM), the talents of Catskill Fly Tyers Guild (CFTG) members Gary Moleon and Jose Venalon were showcased during the center’s Saturday Fly Tying Series.  

Moleon said he first got interested in fishing when, as a 10-year-old living near the shore of Washington Lake, NJ, he and his buddies used to climb into the branches of tall weeping willow trees hanging over the water, “flick bugs off the branches” and watch fish leap into the air as the tasty treats fell onto the lake.

Intrigued by all the action and reaction, he then raided his mother’s yarn box to create a replica of a yellow jacket, fashioned on a size 10 Eagle hook.

Over the years, he refined his tying skills, giving credit to Bill Hrinco, a well known North Jersey fly-tyer, as one of his influences in the art of fly tying.

“I went back days later to see whatever was flying around, to watch what would bring the bass to the surface,” Moleon recalled. He added that it wasn’t until years afterward, when he and his father went shopping at Ramsey Outdoors, that he saw a display of fishing gear and flies. The experience got him “hooked” on the sport.

These days, he focuses on creating wet flies, such as streamers and what he called “spiders.” Those are flies that strive to replicate aquatic insects, so that when viewed from below by curious fish, the flies look like spiders with their legs dangling into the water. 

“To the fish, they kind of look like the footprints of a spider,” he explained.

Expounding on the benefits of tying flies, Moleon said, “When things are hectic in your life, tying flies is like seeking a refuge.”

As a newcomer to the Upper Delaware River Valley, he now resides in Callicoon Center, a few hundred feet from the banks of the North Branch of Callicoon Creek. It’s a tranquil spot, where “I get to watch the hatch coming off the river.”

And that’s when he’s not in the process of building a bamboo rod at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.

Jose Venalon hails from the Free and Sovereign State of Guerrero in Mexico, and today is a renowned fly tyer and a regular at the center’s fly-tying events.

As a former member of the Regal Vice Pro Staff, and although he ties all patterns—including several traditional Catskill varieties—he specializes in terrestrials. His ants, hoppers and crickets are considered some of the best by his peers in the guild.            

While living in Mexico, “I fell in love with fishing,” he recalled. After moving to the United States in his early teens, Venalon continued fishing as he had done until he was introduced to the world of fly fishing. Then he began wetting a line into the rivers flowing out of the reservoir near Brewster.

“That’s when I started fly-fishing. It was trout all the time,” he recalled.

And of the art of creating realistic replicas of insects to fool fish onto a hook and into the waiting creel, he said he endeavors “to make every fly perfect,” especially “the ants. I like all types of ants.”

“Back in the day, it was for rich people; it was expensive; but now fly fishing is for everyone,” said Venalon. He added that these days you can “look online and find all kinds of videos” to teach you step-by-step about the art of fly tying.

“For me, it’s not just about tying flies. You’ve got to learn the history. Each fly is for a specific fish. You’ve got to learn what you’re tying for. I love fly tying,” he said. 

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum is located at 1031 Old Rte. 17. For information, call 845/439-4810, visit www.cffcm.com or follow the center on Instagram @catskillflyfishingmuseum.

For information about the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, which was founded in 1993 to “promote, preserve and embrace the Catskill fly-tying heritage,” visit their website www.catskillflytyersguild.org, or check out the Gazette, the guild’s info-packed monthly newsletter.