Walt Dette and his wife Winnie owned and operated "W.C. Dette, Dry Flies" located in Roscoe, New York. Starting out in 1927 Walt Dette began tying flies with former school mate Harry Darbee. They began tying and selling flies from a room rented above the local movie theater, where they were also joined by Walt's future wife Winnie Ferdon. Walt and Harrry also repaired and wrapped fishing rods during this time, while Winnie stayed at the vise. In 1928 Walt and Winnie were married and moved the fly-tying business to the River View Inn, located in Roscoe by the banks of the Beaverkill River, which was owned by Winnie's family. Harry Darbee was off pursuing other avenues and at this time no longer involved with the business. Six years later, in 1934, Harry rejoined the Dette's who were now operating the fly tying business out of a room in their house on Route 17, in Roscoe. As the business began to grow, a young woman named Elsie Bivens was hired to help sort fly-tying materials. Harry and Elsie married the next year in 1935, and later in this same year Walt and Harry disolved their partnership.

Walt and Winnie continued to tie and sell flies along with other fishing tackle from their new home on Cottage St. in Roscoe. They put out several catalogs over the years, One such catalog contained over 100 different patterns that the Dette's offered for sale, all tied by the Dette's themselves. Walt Dette is remembered as one of the best fly tyers that the "Catskill School" ever produced. Walt designed and adapted many dry, wet and streamer fly patterns that are still in use today. The Conover, Delaware Adams, Corey Ford, Dette Special, Walt's Dace, Dette Caddis are just a few that Walt brought to life, and along with Ted Townsend, Walt produced the famous "Coffin Fly" a dry fly imitation of the Green Drake Mayfly Spinner, which is one of the major mayfly hatches on the local rivers.
Walt passed away in 19--, Winnie followed in 19--. Both Walt and Winnie are enshrined in the Catskill Fly Fishing Center"s Hall of Fame for their outstanding contributions to the world of fly fishing. The business which they created in 1927 is still in operation today in Roscoe, carried on by their daughter Mary Dette Clark, who is an excellent fly tyer herself..