Recent comments

I think a few other

I think a few other good patterns to try are elk hair caddis, compara dun and x caddis, wulffs are good too. These require hair and not much hackle and they are fairly economical to make. Picking simple flies like wooly buggers teaches you skills and how to work with materials. I also would avoid fashion flies with hot materials or foam and glue starting out. Focus instead on skills and learning. Makes 6s or dozens of all. Cheap tools are better than no tools and crap is still crap. The very best bang for the buck of vises is the Danvise. I tie on a Regal as I hate ***ckin' little set screws and bitty levers that don't lock hooks. Most of the rotatory functions are worthless. I've owned several and never use the rotatory stuff, then again, my first premium vise was an HMH, I still have 30 years.

Great stone fly

Great stone fly

Where can I purchase

Where can I purchase the sharks caddis fly?

Re: das Bobbin...

Faruk Ekich designed and built his "Ultimate Bobbin" a while back… it dispenses thread at a calibrated tension great enough to hold material but not so much as to allow for thread breakage… the internal spring that generates the tension can be quickly and easily "reset" every 24" [or sooner during the tying process]… the "reset" is a one handed motion that has become part of my tying routine and is well worth any preconceived inconvenience [ie: non-event]… I've become quite dependent on the thread rewind /retract function… and NO more manually rewinding thread after using the bobbin hanger function...
While his original design is still very much available [I use & enjoy mine very much], Faruk's latest tool evolution has allowed for a price reduction without sacrificing quality nor function…
This new S-series utilizes the same thread tensioning system as the original but incorporates an injection molded durable polymer fuselage that results in a very comfortable tool that rests in the hand very nicely while dispensing thread at the pre-set calibrated tension… As with both of his bobbins, more tension can be manually applied by "palming" the thread spool with finger tip pressure…
If we are "lucky", Martin may be doing one of his enlightened educational articles regarding all things Bobbin… a comparison of quality tools that every tyer relies on… and I eagerly await his formidable schooling and technical insights…
Standing by to stand by for news…
update:
the initial prototype is outstanding…
some details are being tweaked prior to the major production run…
if all goes as planned, the S-series Automatic will be available for the Symposium in November [if not sooner]…
sofarsogood...

Re: Albino Ghost Phly...

What bobbin is that? ............inneresting

Pete.

Pete.

>no one took the bait...

Heh! Here on GFF we're always vigilant and have our gear radar tuned in on all the new gadgets and gizmos.

Let me know when and where it's available.

I could easily see an article on bobbin holders coming up, and new and different models would be obvious contenders.

Martin

New York's "high tax

New York's "high taxes" also support active and progressive fisheries management, and contrary to many states New York pays as much in federal taxes as it receives in federal spending.

Nice to see you cast

Nice to see you casting a rod.
I too have been looking at the Echo glass rods. Haven't cast one yet.
I recently got a blank from Epic built. Great casting rod. More relaxing rhythm than with graphite. A bit like cane indeed.

Martin
Thanks for p

Martin
Thanks for pointing me to Eflytyer.com. Reading more on peccary, I think this material will lend itself well to even more patterns.

Hugh
Being relatively new to fly tying, I still have to try quite a few materials, moose mane being one of them. I did read about it briefly in some resource books but you lent perspective with your recommendation and suggestion for achieving that segmented look. I have already ordered some (as well as peccary) and will let you know how it works out.

Thanks.

Val

Val,

Check out Mi

Val,

Check out Mike Hogue's Badger Creek Fly Tying online known as Eflytyer.com. Mike has peccary listed on his page with new fur products.

Martin

Val, Peccary may wel

Val, Peccary may well have particular attributes which make it preferable to Martin (the light & dark patches for instance), but experiencing the same supply problem I have used moose mane. If you tie in both a dark and light hairs, the moose mane does result in good segmentation.

Great article

Great article and beautiful flies... Niels Have

I have not seen pecc

I have not seen peccary in the flyshops or online here in the USA. Do you know of a source, or better yet, is there a good substitute material?

G'day Martin…

G'day Martin…
I prefer "kinetic sculpture"… TOOL sounds so utilitarian… ;)
anyhow...
my previous post was a calculated gear head phishing expedition…
I got my hands on a wonderful ergonomic bobbin… SWEEET!
it's not available just yet… SOOON!
'just curious to see if anyone would comment…
several sites had zero results… no one took the bait...
I thought for sure that another bobbin head [like myself] would jump in…
'go phigure!?...
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Colin,

Colin,

That's one crazy looking fly, but certainly close enough to fool a fish and it also looks very durable, which is a good thing compared to many intricately tied flies, which look a lot like the real thing but also look like a few casts (not to mention fish) could destroy them.

Thanks for posting

Martin

I saw some inscripti

I saw some inscriptions on a rod on line like : " Vintage Milwards- UK bamboo 6'6" 3-5/8 oz spincast rod" . Please advise me : Does that mean the weight of the lure is 3oz to 5/8 oz.? Is that a heavy boat rod ? Thank you very much. Vinh.

Looks great!

Looks great ! Is this fly fished on a sinking line ?

By far, the best adv

By far, the best adventure to fly fishing Dorados !!
I wish to be there in my next vacation...

(No subject)

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Pete,

Pete,

As always a very nice fly. And your images once again confirms that you must be the biggest tool addict on your continent. The vise, the bobbin holder - heck, even the hackle pliers - are space age, cutting edge, gizmodian designs. Love it!

And may pale Johnny rest in piece and get a lot of fishing done where he is now - if he likes fishing.

Martin

That was good information

That was good information ..appreciated the time you have gone to explaining those items. Always in trouble for feathers floating around on the floor :)) It is interesting how a simple tip when tying such as applying head cement to your thread prior to a whip finish makes things so much neater and easier than trying to seal the finished head.

Hi Carlos. I am goin

Hi Carlos. I am going to move to bogota the 5th of August and I plan to stay there for at least six month. I'd love to meet somebody crazy for Flyfishing there like you. Please write me back ! Cannot stay without fly fishing for such a long time :)
Giorgio

In my researches

In my researches on the introduction of trout in Argentina have found no reference to the introduction of New Zealand or Tasmanian trout in the rivers of Argentina. But I believe that Argentinecommercial hatcheries have purchased fertilized Rainbow eggs from NZ

My experience applie

My experience applies only to Atlantic Salmon in Europe, and it is a fact for most anglers that salmon caught for the last twenty years weights between 2 and 7 kilos. Very few people got a 10 kg fish or more. So, it comes to be difficult to justify heavy lines (over 9#, for example), and fly's weight will not make a significant difference in the casting (between a 7# or a 10# line, for example). Too, longer casts which are not possible with an 8 feet rod can be envisaged with an 11 feet one, and for most of river sceneries, it will be perfect. Furthermore, I know more anglers looking rather for precision and fly presentation than for distance. All this comes to say that I consider pertinent to fish with an 11 feet double-handed rod (good mid-size average between a classical 8 feet and a 14 feet double-hand one), with an 8# line. We call this a "short-Spey" and it seems it joins your own experience and recommendations as well. What's next ? Well, my guess is that we will face two independent trends: 1/ rod suppliers (USA, EU being more traditional) will propose more "intermediate" rods around 11 feet, and they will focus on the action (towards fast/very fast actions from mid-actions), and 2/ more lines between WF and DT, with new dynamic properties, "pure" sinking lines will probably disappear in a decade and more progressive intermediate lines will be available in he market. But these are my thoughts, not omens. Tight lines.