January 24th 2025.
Nick Lindsay, the Chairman of the Clyne Heritage Society, recently delved into the fascinating life of Megan Boyd, a renowned salmon fly-dresser, as plans to honor her legacy with a new statue were announced. Megan, who was born and raised in the small Scottish village of Brora, rose to become one of the most skilled and celebrated fly-dressers in the world.
Her beautifully crafted flies were not only admired by top fly-fishers, but also caught the eye of famous figures such as Prince Charles, with whom she became close friends. In fact, she even gifted a specially designed fly, called 'White Lady', to Charles and Diana as a wedding present. Megan's flies continue to be in high demand even after her passing in 2001, with a collection of 47 of her flies selling for an impressive £22,000 at an auction in 2018. Her extraordinary life was also immortalized in a film titled 'Kiss the Water' and a popular book that still sells well today, a remarkable achievement for a woman from Brora.
Now, the Clyne Heritage Society aims to pay tribute to Megan's remarkable story by erecting a stunning 5m-high sculpture of a Blue Doctor salmon fly at their new community heritage center and museum, set to open in July 2025. The sculpture, crafted by renowned local sculptor Jon Asanga, will not only commemorate Megan's artistry but also serve as a striking landmark, drawing tourists and Megan Boyd enthusiasts from around the world.
Megan's life story is nothing short of inspiring. Born during the Great War in 1915 in Surrey, she moved to Brora with her family at the age of three. Growing up in the beautiful Scottish Highlands and with her father working as a water bailiff and interacting with elite fishermen, Megan was exposed to the world of salmon fishing at a young age. She developed a fascination for the intricate and beautiful art of fly-dressing, specifically salmon-fishing flies, and dedicated herself to mastering the craft.
Her determination led her to devour a book called 'How to Dress Salmon Flies' by T E Pryce-Tannatt, which she considered her bible. She also referred to 'The Salmon Fly' by George M. Kelson, published in 1895, to expand her knowledge on the theory of fly-tying. With her extensive knowledge of fly names, origins, and qualities, Megan was well-equipped for her nearly six decades of professional fly-tying.
At the age of 12, Megan began gaining practical experience under the guidance of her father's colleague, Bob Trussler, who was a Ghillie and Water Bailiff on the River Brora. He emphasized precision and quality in his teachings, often getting Megan to undo and re-tie a dressed fly on a smaller hook. With her keen eye for color and detail, Megan quickly elevated the craft to new heights, effortlessly arranging feathers, furs, hairs, tinsels, and threads to create masterpieces with each fly.
By the time she was 15 and had left school, Megan was already selling her flies to local anglers. Legend has it that she used the profits to buy her father a suit and invested the rest in supplies to make more flies. Her reputation for crafting successful salmon-catching flies spread, and fishermen from all over came to her for her renowned creations. Despite high demand, Megan always prioritized local fishermen over those from far away. Interestingly, Megan never fished herself, claiming she preferred to catch the fishermen instead.
In 1935, when Megan was 20, her father retired, and the family moved to a cottage overlooking the North Sea on the Gordonbush Estate, near Brora. Though it had a charming garden, the cottage lacked electricity and running water, making for a humble lifestyle. However, these conditions did not stop Megan from pursuing her passion and honing her skills as a fly-dresser. She continued to flourish and become even more prominent in her field, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that will now be celebrated with a grand statue in her honor.
Nick Lindsay, the Chairman of the Clyne Heritage Society, recently delved into the fascinating life of Megan Boyd, a world-renowned salmon fly-dresser. As plans for a new statue in her memory are revealed, we take a closer look at the talented and inspiring woman behind the flies.
Megan Boyd may have come from humble beginnings in the small village of Brora, Scotland, but her talent and passion for dressing salmon flies quickly made her a legend in the fly-fishing world. Her beautifully crafted flies were highly sought after by top fly-fishers, including celebrities and even royalty. In fact, she became good friends with Prince Charles and even gifted him and Princess Diana a specially designed fly for their wedding.
After her passing in 2001, Megan's flies continued to gain fame and value, with a collection of 47 of her flies selling for a whopping £22,000 at an auction in 2018. Her extraordinary life was also captured in a film, "Kiss the Water", and a book that still sells well today. Not bad for a lady from Brora.
In honor of Megan's incredible legacy, the Clyne Heritage Society has announced plans for a 5m-high sculpture of a Blue Doctor salmon fly, designed and created by renowned local sculptor Jon Asanga. This stunning tribute will be placed in front of the Old Clyne School, located along the popular A9 North Coast 500 route. It not only pays homage to Megan's artistry, but also serves as a unique landmark that is sure to attract tourists and Megan Boyd enthusiasts from all over the world.
But who exactly was Megan Boyd? Born in Surrey during the Great War in 1915, Megan's family moved to Brora when she was just three years old. Growing up in the picturesque Scottish Highlands, and with her father working as a water bailiff and mingling with gentry fishermen, Megan was exposed to the art of salmon fishing at a young age. She became fascinated with the beauty and intricacy of salmon flies, and made it her mission to learn everything she could about dressing them.
Her main source of knowledge was a book called "How to Dress Salmon Flies" by T.E. Pryce-Tannatt, which she referred to as her bible. She also studied "The Salmon Fly" by George M. Kelson, published in 1895. With this extensive knowledge, Megan became a master at naming, identifying, and creating salmon flies, and her skills only grew over the span of six decades as a professional fly-tyer.
At the age of 12, Megan was taught the practical skills of fly-tying by her father's colleague, Bob Trussler, a Ghillie and Water Bailiff on the River Brora. Bob emphasized precision and quality, and challenged Megan to undo and re-tie flies on smaller hooks. With her keen eye for color and detail, Megan quickly excelled and elevated the craft to a whole new level. Her flies became highly sought after, and she even started selling them to local anglers at the age of 15.
As her reputation and demand grew, fishermen from all over the world sought out Megan's flies for their fishing trips on the Brora and Helmsdale rivers. Despite the high demand, she always prioritized her local customers over those from afar. Interestingly, Megan did not actually enjoy fishing herself, but rather preferred to "catch the fishermen" with her expertly crafted flies.
When Megan was 20, her father retired and the family moved to a cottage in Kintradwell on the Gordonbush Estate. It was a simple home with no electricity or running water, but Megan's love for the craft kept her going. She continued to tie flies and her passion and talent only grew with time. Thanks to her dedication, Megan Boyd's name will forever be remembered and honored through the new statue at the Clyne Heritage Society's community heritage center and museum, opening in July 2025.
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