Martin,
I was very touched by this blog post. I know that you inspire thousands and thousands of people with your site and your knowledgable, but also personal writings on all things fly fishing. I so admire the way you accept your physical limitations but still make the most of what is possible. And don't we all have days where something we actually love to do is just too much effort? I know I do. I love reading your thoughts, so thank you for sharing.
Lee,
Unfortunately I have no idea. Most of those who deliver tying thread are for some reason very keen on keeping these facts to themselves. The few manufacturers who make thread are equally silent - probably under contract.
So no, I don't know...
Martin
Peter,
While it might feel like a reflex, it's just something you have learned and which - to to quote Yoda - unlearn you must.
In stead of the knee jerk (or rather elbow jerk) reaction, start thinking when a fish strikes and control the immediate reaction, saying to yourself: take it easy, wait for it... wait for it... now!
And let the strike be more subtle. My best strikes are - as I write - almost no-strikes, where I let the fish do most of the hooking, just making sure that I have good contact with the fly, and don't lift the rod before the fish is actually hooked.
Martin
Striking feels more like a instinctive reaction than something you can delay.
I wonder how you did learn to pause slightly?
Just found your site and watched your "Trout in Colors" video and I must say, it was beautiful! I just wish it could have been longer. I could have watched that for an hour! It shows what non fisherman don't understand about fly fishing, it's really not about just catching fish. It's the swishing of the line in the air, the gulping rises of the fish, the wonderful sounds of nature and of course, the spectacular colors! The one image that stands out was the absolutely perfect mirror image of the trees on the far side of the lake. SPECTACULAR!
Thank you for sharing that.
Very good video? It gives great info on the "Y" side of things. Looking forward for more and visiting his web site.
In the putting on of the waders - I didn’t see where you mentioned putting on the all important wading belt.
How's it going Pete. You and the pups are well.
Art
John,
Both Ko-fi an Patreon accept payments with PayPal, so the options can both be used in the US as well as in Europe and the rest of the world.
Martin
James,
The shrimp fly was submitted for an article many, many years ago, and there was only this one finished fly and no other information: no materials, no description, no step-by-step.
The only way to get it tied is probably to arm yourself with some LCR (Lagathu very likely used epoxy), some mono eyes, a bit of hair and dubbing, rib etc. and start experimenting.
Martin
i was just wondering if there are any videos or step by step instructions on how to tie the Lagathu's shrimp fly ? I found lots of pics on the global fly fisher site just cant seem to find a how to make section any help on this would be very helpful thank you
Congratulations Tom, when I saw the drawings, the metal and wood parts and the design I thought of a project in style Leonardo da Vinci, magnificent.
Michael D. Randencich's Classic Salmon Fly Patterns is a compendium of individual fly patterns from old world masters that transports our minds to a different time and place in history. Using this book as a guide allows classic tiers to see how feather-wing salmon flies were made in the 19th century.
Thanks, Martin
I’ll keep trying. Really nice looking fly.
Joe
Joe,
In order for things to furl, they really need to be twisted a lot.
In technique shown, you need some long fibered dubbing and you need to twist it into a dense yarn before it furls. Grab each end of a bit of the dubbing and pull it out to about a couple of centimeters or shy of 1 inch in length.
Twist one end between thumb and index finger while holding it tight in the other end. Counting turns isn't easy, but 10-20 turns is probably a good goal. This should result in an almost smooth, spiraled yarn, that furls willingly around itself when you double it. It's important not to let go of either end at any time during and after the process. It will be locked when you tie it in.
Maybe practice with a little piece of real yarn to master the technique - or simply use yarn and brush it a bit afterwards.
Martin
I cannot spin the dubbing enough to get it to furl on itself. It looks like a loop off the back of the hook. Do you have any tricks or suggestions to spin it more?
Thanks. Really like the look of the Twisto Caddis.....or at least YOUR Twisto Caddis!
Joe
Fished when warm, stinks like heck from sewage. There is trash everywhere. I caught a ten pound teddy bear. Couldn't pay me to go back there.
Martin,
First, thanks for your efforts, secondly, as a sufferer of peripheral neuropathy, I can almost feel the frustrations I imagine are yours, although I only have leg weakness at the moment, with a little problem with fine manipulation starting. As I have, for a time, felt an urge to learn to fly fish, your site has been my bible, so great thanks to you and all contributors. Please accept my thanks and admiration for what you are doing, and when I become frustrated, I can now think of what you are accomplishing, and collect myself and carry on! My fly tying is still at the "bin" stage, but slowly improving, while casting is stuck at a non-haul" level! Thanks again.
Terry
Yesterday I saw the video of the river Mur and what so called "Green Energie" can destroy -by the way not only waterpower stations and dams, but also windenergy... A very great, impressing film and it was fantastic to see and feel the passion of all the taimen-fishermen!! Thank you!!
Hi Jerri Bullock: yes, the book goes into great detail regarding how to use cork and balsa. Both cork and balsa are still very much relevant as popper, slider and diver making.
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