Pennsylvania Fly Tier Has Tied Over One Million Flies
Fly Tying / Tan / Trout
- photo credit: Stanley Cooper Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life. There is no better example of that approach to life than the case of 85 year old Stanley Cooper Jr., of Tunkhannock, PA.
After graduating from high school in 1942, Cooper was drafted into the military and then served his country until 1946. At the time, his father was entering the fly tying business, and asked his son to join him after he was discharged from the armed services. His father then taught him everything he knows about fly tying.
Business was steady for the father/son team, but really picked up after they began tying flies for Abercrombie & Fitch, known at the time for strictly fishing and hunting related items, as well as Orvis.
Cooper, who has tied well over one million flies over five decades as a commercial tier now only ties around seven dozen flies each day. A drop in the bucket compared to the 10 to 12 dozen flies he tied daily in the past. In order to pay the bills, “you’ve got to tie at least 10 to 12 dozen per day. Years ago, we tied a fly that was called Jassid, a very, very easy fly to tie. I tied 20 dozen of those a day.”
Said Cooper on continuing to tie commercially well into his 80s, ‘When it gets to be work, I’m going to retire.’”
Dear Mr. Cooper,
I have never heard of you — but I am deeply impressed. I can’t imagine anyone tying so many flies in his life time. God Bless you, and I wish you many more year of tying great flies!
Tom Deschaine
I really respect someone who follows his passion and sticks with it through thick and thin. I think too many people these days are concerned about money and not the enjoyment they’re supposed to get out of life. Thanks for the story.
we’re not worthy, we’re not worthy.
Sir:
I hope you got to fish some of those flies.
wow, i would love to have an opportunity to learn some of your tricks, i love tying my own flies, but would it be an honor to learn something from a master such as yourself
Hello Mr.Cooper sounds like youve tied quite a load of flies. I’m 13 and I’ve tied 158 in about the 5 months I’ve new how to do it
Hi Stan:
Nice to see you still be recognized for your excellent work. I was just a kid when I first met you at a little fly shop in Larksville, PA. I think you taught me how to tie my first fly about 40 years ago. From what I remember you were one of the best (if not the best) way back then. Glad you’re still tying. Let’s get that second million done. It’s a pleasure and a treat having known you.
Thanx!
Jack williams,
Lee Park
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