The essential fly

[tuniwes]

On the banner page of this forum there is an online company called theessentialfly.

I want to make it clear that I have nothing whatsoever to do with them and find their sales and marketing tactics objectionable to say the least see:

www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26486

Ian

[jt]

I hadn't seen that thread Ian - farkin atrocious.

Next thing you know there'll be Flashy Als and Am Ex being sold in Tightlines.... Ooops - my bad!

Jon

[sparkle]

It seems to me that companies like the essential fly continue to shamelessly rip off creative and talented fly tiers like Ian and John Gray. The company consistently claims that it is unaware that people in it are trawling the net, duplicating (a kind word) patterns and apparently plagiarising descriptions. Even if we did believe it, ignorance is no defence ("sorry officer, didn't know it was a 30 limit"). Meanwhile the rest of us will slowly be denied access to valuable information that people like Ian and John Gray currently make freely available to us.

With Ian's permission, I have used his descriptions to learn to tie my own snake flies. As long as companies like The essential fly continue to operate as they do I wouldnt be surprised if we never saw another photo, description or SBSs on the net again!

I just wonder how this outfit manages to get itself advertised on so many specialist websites - especially when we see it's appalling quality snake flies.

[sewinfly]

I agree sparkle-
Ians flies are great and his snakes

sewinfly...........

[sewinangler]

Aug 17, 2008 16:40:05 GMT jt said:

I hadn't seen that thread Ian - farkin atrocious.

Next thing you know there'll be Flashy Als and Am Ex being sold in Tightlines.... Ooops - my bad!

Jon

Ah! Jon, we do seem to be putting our foot in it lately. I'm not quite sure of the tone or implications of your original post (very difficult to convey in the written word) but mention of the two flies above has struck a very sore nerve.

The AE and Flashy Al(ex) are a different case. I regularly fish with another forum member and have done for a long long time; before forums were considered and some anglers had even thought about taking up fishing let alone seatrout fishing.

As a result of this friendship, I was approached and asked if the AE could be included in a new range of flies that were going to be sold by Tightlines/Airflo. They had my permission.

With regard to the Flashy Al(ex), this fly evolved in the early 90's as more lurex and various tinsel type materials were becoming available on the market. It was a more modern and durable version of an already successful fly, the Alexandra. I can remember giving this fly to an angler in 2002 to start his seatrout flybox off. He changed the head colour from black to red. This is no doubt what you know as the Flashy Al. So it's not a recent pattern. It does have a lot of history. Once again, permission to sell this fly was given because the set of flies was/is sold under the originator's name.

I have been in the same position Ian is in, but not from an angling company but individuals. It's not nice. As a result, I now choose not to post any advice or information on forums. Preferring instead, to discuss ideas amongst trusted friends.

In Ian's case, I totally agree with his stance. The use of his flies and his words is blatant plagiarism. He has every right to be as p****d off as he is. Whether we choose to call it plagiarism or intellectual copyright is neither here nor there, it's still wrong!

We all post with the best intentions, but there are many unscrupulous individuals that troll the internet with the sole purpose of taking someone else's ideas and making a fast buck out of it. Human nature I suppose.

The difference then? Tightlines/Airflo sought permission and obtained it with respect to the originators of the flies that you mention. This wasn't the case in Ian's instance. Therefore they are totally separate issues.

Please research and obtain correct factual information before posting flippant and off the cuff remarks in future. It could get some peoples backs up

[jj]

thank you alun, that saves me a bit of time tapping on the keypad, the flashy al dates back to the late eighties, its birth was due to a trip to the local christmas tree factory to buy some trimmings when some nice tinsel caught my eye! most flies are ripped off at some stage, wether due to copycating or through sheer ignorance of the fact that the pattern thats just been invented allready exists.
i feel sorry for ian as he is not receiving any credit for his creations, wether financial or just by recognition.
its happened to me so many times i just dont care any more, most of the patterns ive developed over the past 6 years since i stopped writting for trout and salmon will never be aired in public as i for one cant be asked to pander to any more plagiarisam.
hope you do get thecredit you deserve.
jonathan jones

[jt]

Ah! Jon, we do seem to be putting our foot in it lately.

Er how's that then?

Alun - the comment was flippant, irreverent and should only be viewed as a quip. I thought for a quick example of popular patterns as discussed on forums and somewhere they were sold commercially.

Your lengthy response could have just said a simple "they had permission" as you stated in your penultimate sentance to be honest as there was no malice or rancid bait attached.

Not intended to get your (or anyone else's for that matter) back up.

However I am intrigued by your opening gambit...

With best regards,

Jon