Mr. Squimpish

David Nelson: Fly Tyer, Pattern Designer & the Mind Behind Squimpish

David Nelson has been fishing since early childhood and has spent decades behind the vise developing a style that other tyers now recognize simply as the Squimpish style. Known throughout the fly-tying community as “Mr. Squimpish,” David originated the Squimpish tying style and is the creative mind behind the materials and techniques associated with it.

A Tying Style You Can Recognize

David’s flies are built around movement, profile and the way a pattern behaves in the water. His work spans freshwater and saltwater streamers, large baitfish patterns, Hollow-style flies, brushes and hybrid designs that combine natural and synthetic materials.

Fly Life Magazine described his tying style as so distinctive that one of his flies can be recognized much the way a musician can be recognized from a single riff. Other tyers have credited David with changing the way they think about streamer construction and opening the door to what has become known as tying in the Squimpish style.

The Search for Better Materials

David came to synthetic materials as a tyer who deeply respected natural materials, especially bucktail. Early coverage of Squimpish described him as a “naturals first” tyer who was drawn to the new fiber because it could offer length and movement while still working alongside traditional materials rather than simply replacing them.

That search eventually became Squimpish Hair and the larger Squimpish material family. The material’s defining feature is its consistent fiber diameter from root to tip, allowing tyers to cut, reshuffle and restack it while rebuilding a natural-looking taper. David’s flies and demonstrations have helped show how those fibers can be used alone or layered with bucktail, feathers, flash and other traditional materials.

The Squimpish Tying Style

The name “Squimpish” came from David’s attempt to combine the qualities and movement of squid, shrimp and fish through an adaptable tying style. That combination gave Squimpish its name. The style can be expressed through many different patterns, profiles, and variations, giving tyers freedom to develop their own flies.

Masters of the Fly describes David as a respected angler and fly tyer known for that marriage of squid, shrimp and baitfish design principles. His work has also appeared in fly-fishing books and magazines, including work associated with Bob Popovics and David Klausmeyer, and his tying has been demonstrated at fly-fishing shows, classes, podcasts and online events.

Published Work & Recognition

David’s work has appeared in major saltwater fly-fishing publications and books. His early recognition included a feature in Saltwater Fly Fishing magazine. We are still tracking down the exact issue and article title so we can link the original source accurately.

In 2007, David Klausmeyer featured David in Striped Bass Flies: Patterns of the Pros in a dedicated chapter titled “New York’s David Nelson: Tying Without Rules.”

In Bob Popovics and Jay Nichols’ Fleye Design: Techniques, Insights, Patterns, David is featured in Chapter 21: “Squimpish Flies by David Nelson.” The chapter places David among the next generation of influential fly designers shaped by the Popovics tradition.

Articles & Interviews Featuring David

Still at the Vise

Squimpish encompasses a tying style, a family of materials, and many different fly patterns, while David’s role has remained wonderfully uncomplicated: keep tying, keep experimenting and keep finding new ways to make materials move. His work continues to shape the patterns, brushes, blends and techniques associated with Squimpish today.