{"id":25169,"date":"2019-06-10T21:12:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T03:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/fly-tying-competition-comes-down-to-blindfolded-ties\/"},"modified":"2019-06-10T21:12:00","modified_gmt":"2019-06-11T03:12:00","slug":"fly-tying-competition-comes-down-to-blindfolded-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/local-news\/fly-tying-competition-comes-down-to-blindfolded-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Fly tying competition comes down to blindfolded ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.8167170191339\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-367202-250\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Ross Leonhart \/ rleonhart@vaildaily.com | Patrick Duke, of Crested Butte, finished third in the GoPro Mountain Games Costa Fly Tying Competition on Friday in Vail. Judges weren't able to select a winner from the field of 15 after three rounds, so the top 3 competed in a 5-minute blindfolded fly-tying contest to determine the winner.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Patrick Duke, of Crested Butte, finished third in the GoPro Mountain Games Costa Fly Tying Competition on Friday in Vail. Judges weren&#8217;t able to select a winner from the field of 15 after three rounds, so the top 3 competed in a 5-minute blindfolded fly-tying contest to determine the winner.<\/strong><br \/>Ross Leonhart \/ rleonhart@vaildaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8.jpg\" alt=\"Patrick Duke, of Crested Butte, finished third in the GoPro Mountain Games Costa Fly Tying Competition on Friday in Vail. Judges weren't able to select a winner from the field of 15 after three rounds, so the top 3 competed in a 5-minute blindfolded fly-tying contest to determine the winner.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Barry Eckhaus \/ Special to the Daily | Chris Hartman works on tying a nymph during the first round of the Fly Tying Competition on Friday at the GoPro Mountain Games.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Chris Hartman works on tying a nymph during the first round of the Fly Tying Competition on Friday at the GoPro Mountain Games.<\/strong><br \/>Barry Eckhaus \/ Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-1.jpg\" alt=\"Chris Hartman works on tying a nymph during the first round of the Fly Tying Competition on Friday at the GoPro Mountain Games.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Barry Eckhaus \/ Special to the Daily | Robby Capps, of Pig Farm Ink., shows Holden Mitchell, from Los Angeles, how to cast a fly-fishing rod Friday at the GoPro Mountain Games. Capps helped determine the winner of the Fly Tying Competition on Friday.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Robby Capps, of Pig Farm Ink., shows Holden Mitchell, from Los Angeles, how to cast a fly-fishing rod Friday at the GoPro Mountain Games. Capps helped determine the winner of the Fly Tying Competition on Friday.<\/strong><br \/>Barry Eckhaus \/ Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-2.jpg\" alt=\"Robby Capps, of Pig Farm Ink., shows Holden Mitchell, from Los Angeles, how to cast a fly-fishing rod Friday at the GoPro Mountain Games. Capps helped determine the winner of the Fly Tying Competition on Friday.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Barry Eckhaus \/ Special to the Daily | Ben Gruner shows off his first nymph fly during the first round of the fly-tying competion.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Ben Gruner shows off his first nymph fly during the first round of the fly-tying competion.<\/strong><br \/>Barry Eckhaus \/ Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-3.jpg\" alt=\"Ben Gruner shows off his first nymph fly during the first round of the fly-tying competion.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"| Ben Gruner works on his first nymph fly during the first round of the fly tying competion.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Ben Gruner works on his first nymph fly during the first round of the fly tying competion.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/06\/FlyTying-VDN-060819-8-4.jpg\" alt=\"Ben Gruner works on his first nymph fly during the first round of the fly tying competion.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/fly-tying-competition-comes-down-to-blindfolded-ties\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/fly-tying-competition-comes-down-to-blindfolded-ties\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">VAIL \u2014 Judges for the field of about 15 in the GoPro Mountain Games Fly Tying Competition on Friday at Golden Peak couldn\u2019t determine a winner after three rounds, so the top three went head-to-head-to-head in a 5-minute blindfold fly tying final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cNever been blindfolded before,\u201d said third-place winner Patrick Duke of Crested Butte. \u201cIt was insane. You have to trust that you\u2019re doing it right and all on feel \u2014 tying by Braille.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Ian Wilson of Steamboat Springs won the tie-off, earning himself a Yeti backpack cooler, some cash and an invitation to the fishing finals Sunday, along with a year\u2019s worth of bragging rights.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI have never tied a tie blindfolded,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cIt felt very disorienting and humbling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For both Wilson and Duke, this was their first time competing in the Mountain Games Fly Tying Competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat was brutal,\u201d said Doug Powell, one of the three judges trying to determine a winner but ultimately asking for a blind tie off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cBut they were all excellent,\u201d added Ryan Thompson, another judge. \u201cAcross the board there were really solid ties.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The field included both men and women, including a married couple competing against each other, as well as Anthony Kunkel, the winner of Thursday\u2019s Rocky Dog Trail Run with his dog, Winston, who patiently sat on the Larkspur patio at Golden Peak during the competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The format for the competition included three rounds: nymph, terrestrial and streamer. Competitors were given similar things to work with \u2014 animal hide, foam, feathers \u2014 and everything else needed for fly tying was on the tables: vices, small scissors, tweezers, threat and beer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">From the moment organizers said \u201cgo\u201d to kick off the first round, the atmosphere inside the Vail Village restaurant and bar turned very serious.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThis event\u2019s a little bit more formal than our normal fly tying events,\u201d said Robby Capps, of Pig Farm Ink, which puts on Iron Flies events across the country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThese are real-deal tiers. This is pretty serious competition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Capps said the Iron Flies events are more laid-back and serve as a way to get people into the sport. That\u2019s not the case with the Mountain Games competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere\u2019s not many things you can connect with something as much as fly fishing,\u201d he said, \u201cbeing able to look at your surroundings, see what the fish are actually eating and then trying to emulate it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Rick Messmer has been volunteering with Mountain Games fishing comps for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019ve been running part of the Mountain Games since it was Jeep Whitewater Festival,\u201d he said. \u201cThis year has absolutely gone off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The fishing events at the Mountain Games continue to grow, including events for kids to learn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cFly-tying is its whole own world,\u201d Messmer said. \u201cThese guys and gals are artists in their own right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Messmer added that fly-fishermen and -women who might be interested should get involved next year. It\u2019s BYO vice, and the rest of the materials are provided. Organizers can help provide a vice if needed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThink about being unique,\u201d he said. \u201cTie it with a little pizazz and see if you can win this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Maybe practice blindfolded, too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\">This story is from VailDaily.com<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/fly-tying-competition-comes-down-to-blindfolded-ties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patrick Duke, of Crested Butte, finished third in the GoPro Mountain Games Costa Fly Tying Competition on Friday in Vail. Judges weren&#8217;t able to select a winner from the field of 15 after three rounds, so the top 3 competed in a 5-minute blindfolded fly-tying contest to determine the winner.Ross Leonhart \/ rleonhart@vaildaily.com Chris Hartman [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-25169","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-11 22:03:50","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KIFT - The LIFT FM","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25169\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}