NAIROBI CITY FLY-TIER:
CUSTOMER SERVICE: MEETING CUSTOMER NEEDS
Nairobi City is Kenya’s capital and a hub of activities embraced by people from all over the country. Fred Kangai Luyali’s life in Nairobi began years ago. He arrived there and accepted a position as a fly-tier at a fly-tying company. Fred trained for six months and ultimately, resigned to start his own fly-tying business.
According to Fred, his employees consist of experienced men and women who source his orders from local firms.
“Here we tie according to the client’s sample and then ship directly to clients abroad,” Fred said via an email interview.
Mandated Company Training
Before a person can achieve the status as a fly tier, he or she must undergo a special training of not less than six months. To qualify, the individual must take the company’s mandated training program that’s only done inside the company.
Fred explained many companies in Kenya rely mostly on clients outside the country and he and his team work round the clock to meet their international clients’ needs. The proceeds, he says, help to improve their living standard.
While supplying flies is his business, Fred hasn’t followed what we might consider a natural progression – learning to fly fish before taking on tying. Fred said, “I know nothing as fly fishing is concerned. I only know how to tie flies.”
Nymphs, dry, wet, streamers, saltwater, salmon patterns, bass bugs, and poppers are among the files he and his team of fly-tying specialists craft. He noted he gets the flies from local factories as sub-contracts and then they are returned and to his company to make the finished product. He incorporates many materials commonly used by tiers around the world: deerskin, hackle feathers, tippet peacock herls and his favorite pattern and most productive fly is the Goddard Caddis, a classic high-floating dry fly imitation that’s known for its large and bushy appearance.
Fred said special care is taken to be sure the flies he sells are tied tightly to the hook to avoid loose ends. His flies have a neat finish and are a hit with his customers because he uses the exact materials and hooks they request.
“they (my tiers) tie and deliver on time, and our flies are packed so they reach our clients undamaged. my flies need a lot of attention to avoid mistakes made by tiers in order to satisfy my client,” he said.
Does he plan to learn to fly fish? Fred said he hopes to learn in the future. “I need to learn more as far as fishing is concerned.”
You can contact Fred or request a brochure here.
