Ronald Sutherland – fly tying
Growing up along the River Helmsdale with his father Andrew – a fishing guide and former ghillie for Prince Charles – there was little doubt that Ronald Sutherland would catch the angling bug.
Based in Elgin after moving his Helmsdale Company to an online business, he has produced flies for such notable clients as the royal family. He was even commissioned to design a salmon fly to commemorate the birth of Prince George.
‘We were also designing a fly for Chanel,’ says Ronald, explaining that the project has been postponed due to Covid-19. ‘Coco Chanel was a keen salmon angler, so there was going to be a three-day event launching a new fragrance. I’ve designed brooches for that.’
Mentored by Brora’s Megan Boyd, one of the best-known fly tiers of all time, Ronald became a dab hand at copying her shrimp flies, to the point that Megan couldn’t identify which was hers. He has been tying for 40 years now.
‘I wanted to create my own elaborate designs and try to fool fish. When a salmon takes a fly, it’s a big moment for an angler. It’s a buzz that keeps you coming back.’
Ronald is constantly experimenting with fly ‘recipes’ to fool Scotland’s unsuspecting fish. Whether it’s a complex salmon fly with 20 materials, or a simple but hardy trout fly for peaty conditions, his passion for design keeps patterns moving forward. ‘It’s the satisfaction of seeing other people catching fish on your flies,’ he says. ‘And of course keeping the old art going.’
‘We were also designing a fly for Chanel – Coco Chanel was a keen angler’
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