The idea first took shape in
the hands of our founder, Dennis Black, back in
1972. As a fast and facile professional fly-tyer,
Dennis was known for his skill and speed at
producing hundreds of dozens of flies each year
for the larger mail order houses. But he was
also quick to realize how fast the demand for
excellent flies would outstrip the abilities of
cottage industry types like him.
Quest to create excellent flies in
sufficient supply – without sinking his
standards. In response, Dennis developed (with
characteristic care) a methodical plan: First,
he enlisted the tying expertise of the likes of
Dave Whitlock, Jack Dennis, Andy Puyans and
others, to help him set the standard of
excellence for
Umpqua flies.
Next, Dennis established the first of what would
eventually be five separate fly-tying
“factories,” first in India, then in Sri Lanka,
and finally in Thailand. The primary focus at
each of these factories was on producing the
very best fishing flies possible, constructed of
the very best materials available. From the
beginning, the quantity of flies produced was
secondary to the quality and excellence of each
fly pattern. These high standards were assured
by the personal involvement of the fly designers
themselves, and by the ever-increasing skill,
imagination and creativity of the
Umpqua
production fly tiers. Today, you will find no
flies more skillfully tied than those available
from
Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Finally, Dennis created a system of royalty
payments, to reward professional tyers like
Whitlock, Lefty Kreh, Randall Kaufman, Larry
Dahlberg, and Bob Popovics for uniquely good
patterns.
Today,
Umpqua produces
umpteen thousand dozen flies, from micro-scopic
midge imitations to the huge patterns favored by
marlin and sailfish. And the "Umpquality" –
you’ll see for yourself. |
