Fall City resident Rockwell Hammond Jr. could tell he had a winner on his hands when “Birdwing” came together.

The big, ornate Atlantic salmon fly, intended to fool fish into thinking it is a Birdwing butterfly, was designed and hand-made by Hammond, who is a fly dresser, or tyer.

“It just flowed right out,” Hammond said. “I felt it right there. I said this is a winner right here.”

It turned out he was right because Hammond was picked as the overall winner of the creative category in the 2007 Fly Tyers Forum contest.

It was hard for him to part with his creation, which he may never see again, unless he lucks out and the forum sends a traveling exhibition his way.

“I told them, take very good care with this one because it came out extremely nice,” Hammond said.

Time to tie

By day the dentist at Fall City Dental, Hammond has studied entomology, the science of insects, and has also dressed fishing flies since his 20s.

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