Recent comments

You have a multi-purpose room. Three actually: work, GFF, and studio. I don't know how you manage your space, and especially how you find things in it, but I envy your organizational skills. I took advantage of the renovations I'm doing on my century-old house—I know, nothing like the old European houses, which are much older, but for a wooden house, 100 years is old—anyway, I took the opportunity to create a dedicated fly-tying area. To keep it tidy, I take out the materials I need for each day's fly as I go. I admit I find it difficult to get the materials out, tie 5 to 10 flies, and then put everything away before getting out what I need for the next fly. But, in my case, it's the best way I've found to keep « ma tête hors de l’eau », means to survive. The materials are sorted by category into boxes which are placed in a piece of furniture that I made.

I can't see that beautiful display case where you keep your favorite reels. It must be somewhere that showcases these lovely objects! ;-)

I bought my Giraffe lamp and magnifier in 1992. Earlier this year the mounting stud for the lamp's flex arm went wonky and wobbly. I emailed Moffatt, received a phone call and spoke with one of their support staff and they mailed me free of charge the two parts I needed to for my lamp.
Giraffe lamps, as they were once known, can now be found at https://moffattproducts.com/flex-mounted-lamps/.

I know well the impact on the production of adrenaline in my body when I catch an Atlantic salmon or an Arctic char. But I understand, from reading your text Martin, that there is another level that relegates to the background, fatigue, the need to take a break, or even the inability to make one more cast. I did not have the « chance» to experience that. To quote my girlfriend, “As any good Gemini, you are unable to focus Serge” lol. She knows what you're talking about, she was a high-level athlete here in Canada

I have an older version of the Olympus TG-7 and it's been an excellent camera for many years. It takes a beating and I don't have to worry about it. The lens for such a small camera is very good, hence no need for the large number of pixels. I'll take lens quality over pixel count every time. Loads of pixels cannot overcome a crappy lens.

I was thinking about getting a newer model but my current model is still going strong with replacement batteries.

DrL

Serge,

I hope you don't end up bankrupt with all the books I get you to buy!

No, seriously, you will like this one. It has a great approach to the subject, and features some really great (or at rather: efficient) looking flies.

Martin

Martin, the way you describe this book has forced me to spend another penny lol. I can't wait to receive it, to leaf through it, to read it. Thank you for introducing your reader to it.

Well Martin,as a frequent reader for years i really like the site.
I am fishing for about 20 years now in Funen,twice a year and i for sure have used some ideas and flies to use in Funen,with succes.
So i look forward to read more.
Photo looks like the beach Gabet/Dalby,but i could be wrong

In the wonderful world of threads and hooks, experimentation remains the best way to determine what suits a tyer depending on what kind of flies he makes and what he wants from this fly.

Because, in addition to the difficulties in finding your way around, some manufacturers have difficulties with their own standard. Thus, my spools of UTC 70 D thread do not all have the same resistance.

Another example, a fly for an exhibition will be mounted with a small flat thread for aesthetics while in reality this fly in the fishing version will be mounted with a thread more resistant to the teeth of the fish.

Finally, some threads resist time, exposure to the sun, or even humidity better than others and this also has an impact on the quality of your flies.

This huge table is helpful from where experimentation begin.

Hello Martin, I just finished my first reading of Feather Mechanic II. I had given myself the mandate to read it from cover to cover before diving deep into the chapters that interest me the most. For my part, I love books that tell, that talk, that make you discover, that question. This book is really good at this level. When you read chapters like Jay Lee's, you get to know the fisherman, the passionate, the curious… and how he ties a fly. It's one of the good books I've read.

This 2017 article proved to me, once again, that I have only explored a small part of GFF. I didn't know it, and yet I have been tying flies for striped bass and sea trout for quite some time. In short, it contains so much interesting and useful information that I have set it up as a favorite.

For me, GFF is a library where I like to spend time to learn about fly fishing, even after 45 years of practice. The site contains material prepared - which needs to be edited by Martin - by amateurs from all over the world. For this reason, it is rich in content, experiences and know-how. The material is published in very accessible and easy-to-read English. The site is not commercial, which makes it a more neutral tool than many others. I have lost count of the number of ideas and "DIY" projects that I have taken from GFF. I like to introduce it to new fans. GFF sometimes intimidates them, but those who persevere, who search it, who question it often find relevant information.

Martin, knowing that you have material in reserve, still several article topics and above all a lot of motivation, it is good to read.

Stockholm – Ankara
Dear Tad,

I would like to get in touch with you.
Maybe we can write or even have an on-line meeting?

I want to know more about fly fishing in Turkey. Maybe you have some clues?

Please answer to this short message and I will look forward for a longer conversation.

Kind regards

Johan Falkmarken

johanfalkmarken@hotmail.com

Dear Tuncay bey,

I would like to get in touch with you.
Maybe we can write or even have an on-line meeting?

My wife is Turkish and we live in Ankara and Stockholm Sweden.

Please answer to this short message and I will look forward for a longer conversation.

Kind regards

Johan Falkmarken

johanfalkmarken@hotmail.com

Smhaen is by far my preferred here for my needs…Sea Bass and Pike flies. Bulldog clamp is not good, there are always hairs & fibers stocked in . I had used hair clips for a while and still use them when needed, like when Smhaen not large enough for big head flies.

What I particularly like about this type of fly is that even if it is lost in the mouth of a big pike or a big lake trout, you don't have the impression of seeing hours of work disappear in the bottom of the lake…which happens to me :-)

Submitted by david Green on

Permalink
The ace of spades was originally created by David Collier a British fly tier in the 1960s. He based it on the New Zealand patterns just arriving in the uk at the time.

Submitted by Carl C. on

Permalink
Bob, It was fun to get a peek at your desk. What a great desk for tying. I think I have a lot of materials until I get a look at other folk’s collections. I think all fly tiers will die with hundreds, if not thousands of flies that have never seen the water, and materials to tie thousands of dozens more. You know you have been tying for a long time when you have little cubbies labeled ‘Condor quills’ and ‘Polar Bear’. It’s pretty hard to acquire those materials now, if not downright illegal. My favorite were the boxes of Mustad hooks. I don’t know when Mustad quit selling hooks in those boxes, but I bet it was at least 40 years ago. I still have a few of those boxes, usually with a couple of hooks still in them. I think I still have a nearly full box of size 20’s. Mustad size 20’s from the 1970’s are a whole lot smaller than new size 20’s from Tiemco and the like.
Serge, Thanks for the support! I'm now about 90% done, and the upgrade is coming along. There's still a few bits left, but I'm pretty sure the new site will go online soon. And then it's back to doing fly fishing related stuff! Martin

Since you got this far …

A money box
The GFF money box

… I have a small favor to ask.

Long story short

Support the Global FlyFisher through several different channels, including PayPal.

Long story longer

The Global FlyFisher has been online since the mid-90's and has been free to access for everybody since day one – and will stay free for as long as I run it.
But that doesn't mean that it's free to run.
It costs money to drive a large site like this.
See more details about what you can do to help in this blog post.