''It's a bit like embroidery - it's tricky and you need years of experience,'' the keen Mosgiel fisherman says.
As the 2014 fishing season opens today, Mr Curline will be debating which river to head to and which flies to take.
He has been fishing for decades - ever since his dad took him floundering off Portobello as an 8-year-old - but his passion for tying flies began in the late 1940s when he joined the Otago Anglers Club.
The club's older anglers took the younger members under their wings.
''It's in your blood. You've either got it or you haven't.''
These days, he has converted a hut in his backyard into his private fly-tying workshop where everything has a place - his rods lined up, reels mounted on a peg board and the tools of his craft in special trays.
Fly-tiers were like scavengers, he said. They were always on the lookout for feathers, fur and other likely bits they could use.
''I used to shoot my own hares and rabbits to get the fur.''
While he warned others against thinking they could invent a new fly, given the thousands out there, he admitted to creating one himself - a dry fly he made in the 1960s.
''It's a killer, really; very simple. It does wonders on the Mataura.''
One of the joys of having been retired for many years was the flexibility to go fishing when the weather was good.
''I put most of the fish back, and only take what we need for a feed.''
Fish and Game Otago operations manager Ian Hadland said licence sales were going well, with some retailers requesting more regulation books.
Fine weather was forecast throughout the region for opening day today, but would gradually deteriorate towards the end of the week. Some places could get snow on Saturday.
''The weekend doesn't look flash. Dedicated anglers will be out there but it's likely to be uncomfortably cool.
The region's rivers were in great order for spring fishing due to a lack of floods during winter.
''The water temperatures are cool though, so trout won't be especially active. The exception is the estuary waters, where trout are aggressively preying on whitebait and smelt.''
Some high country fisheries do not open until November 1, so anglers should check their regulation books.
