Recent comments

Answer to a prayer

Hi Geir,
This looks like an answer to a maidens prayer, though I am no Maid but a 70 yr old duffer still trying to catch trout all year round. I too have tried a number of indicators (and even long 5 m bait rods) to present a perfect drift with a nymph. I actually have some ledger stops from the UK which will be just the job to make a few of your indicators up on. I look foreward to trying them out on a trip to the Clutha River (New Zealand) after Easter.
Tony

was this fish released? shame

was this fish released? shame if such a specimen was to be killed

Who's "professional" enough

Who's "professional" enough to bring a camera should be able to bring a net as well and handle such a fish with respect. Sorry, I find this clip and the shown behaviour more than disgusting. Just plain embarrassment towards such a fine creature. Were they drunk?

//TZ

Great article.

I

Great article.

I too used to think that fishing indicators was a monkeys game but I now know it makes all the difference!

I want to make a few of them up using your method but I can't get any Orvis Marabou hair (I don't think they make it anymore?). Whats the best alternative?

Regards,
Steven

Reverse- tie guesstimate

I, too, have been looking for Blane's Gummy Stone pattern, especially in gold. What i did was travel an hour to a Cabella's store (no affiliation, just stating where I went) and purchased a pair of examples for the pattern. What astonished me is that the salesman rattled off a seemingly correct recipe before even laying eyes on the fly drawers, much less the specific pattern.

Without belabouring the issue, the main ingredient for the golden version is 'Prismatic Gold' Sili Skin. I pulled one of the two examples apart to try and "reverse- tie" the pattern, and what I *guess* for the pattern's recipe is:

Hook: Standard Scud
Thread: (thick, guessing 6/0) white, coloured with permanent marker when whip-finished.
Tail: pair of Golden- yellow stripped Biot
Head: Gold Bead head
Body: 5mm wide strip of "Prismatic Gold" Sili Skin, overlapping wraps to 1/2-hook.
Thorax: Golden-red Rabbit/ Hare's dubbing
Legs: heat- kinked golden-yellow stripped biot
Wingbuds: Same color Sili Skin, cut or burnt to shape - appears redder, but I'm not sure how...

Again, just a guess for the real pattern, based on what I found by 'reverse tying', so the "real" pattern may be highly different. Just thought I'd try and help out, as I just joined this forum
Tight wraps,
Pete

Thank you Brian for

Thank you Brian for comment.
I hope too for a great season in salt water. Have a nice season!
Christophe

As a couple of tiers

As a couple of tiers mentioned I melt both ends of 30lb nylon with a lighter to get a pair of eyes. When the ends are cool, I dip them in black head cement and let them dry and repeat. Eyes look great, but it takes a while. Think I;ll try some of the variations mentioned here.

wow! this fly is one

wow! this fly is one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen im a novice tyer and i hope one day i can tye like this!

Hello Martin

My n

Hello Martin

My name is Jacob and I am 21 yrs old and am currently on exchange studying Architecture from Tasmania, Australia. I have fished at home for about 5yrs or so (browns & rainbows), and since coming here I am having withdrawals. I have no car, and was wondering if there was anywhere near to Copenhagen (where i am staying) that could be accessed by train & bicycle. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I feel as if I am stabbing in the dark.

Thanks
Jacob

Martin,
I just disc

Martin,
I just discovered your site. Very inspiring! I will visit it more often.
Hope my English is not to bad.
I am fishing for pike since i was 16 years young. Now I am 42, and for the last two years I am fishing with the fly on Pike. It's a addiction!!!
Here in the Netherlands is the season for fishing for Pike just closed.(Even though the Pike his / hers spawning is probably already done)
Time for tying some (of your patterns) streamers and fly-fishing for Ide!!

Tim

Here in the U.S.A. w

Here in the U.S.A. we call this a wooly worm and tie them without trimming the hackle. Also weighted and unweighted. The longer hackle has a lot of movement in the water. It can be fished wet or dry

Just a quick update.

Just a quick update.

We have a number or very special guests:

Hoagy Carmichael - co-author with Garrison of A Master's guide to building a Bamboo Rod
William Harms - Rodmaker and Author of the Bokk Split and Glued by Vincent Marinaro
Larry Tusoni - High Sierra Rod Company and inventor of the rodmaking program RodDna
Andy Royer - our main supplier of Bamboo Poles
Rolf Baginski - the most famous German Rodmaker
Philipp Sicher - the excellent Swiss rodmaker and Christian Strixner from Germany famous for his nodeless rods
And from Italy - Gabriele Gori, Marco Giardina and Alberto Poratelli - top class and refined rodmakers
We will have participants from the whole of Europe - Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway, France. Some of Europe's top rodmakers will be participating.

For further information please feel free to contact me: press@rodmakers.it

Cheers

Moreno Borriero
Italian Bamboo Rodmakers Association
www.rodmakers.it
press@rodmakers.it

Thanks for the easy

Thanks for the easy to follow instuctions, i've had my fly fishing kit for ages but hadn't discovered how to set it up!

Brilliant , thanks very much

Brilliant , thanks very much

Andy

how do you know what

how do you know what size tip top to buy ? the rod I am building is a three piece 12wt. the tip mikes .076 dia. and how do you know what size the strippers and snakes guides are. thanks Bob
i like this site it will come in handy for my first rod and don't ask why a 12wt. the blank where free.

Hi there Noe, I don

Hi there Noe, I don't know where you're from but as you obviously have Internet access.

Go to ebay, fly fishing section, then fly tying and you won't go far wrong.

Buy a cape if you can afford it, but watch the prices they go for over a week or so before you start bidding.

Look for colour, number and size of eyes to suit the style of flies you are tying also look closely for damaged or split eyes as that will affect the price.

Colour generally should be a warm orangey brown, the paler the colour the cheaper the cape.

HI Iam looking for

HI Iam looking for jungle cock eyes. Can you help me find them. Thank You.

nicely written

nicely written

Thanks for the kind words!

Thanks for the kind words!
Positive re-enforcement appreciated...

The body is a blend of "DNA"...not much material involved...
The 3-D eyes and head are fused with the new Tuffleye Acrylic material (applied then "cured" with a UV light)...sort'a like epoxy but not...Ms Epoxy and I are still "dating"!
The DNA material looks great in the water...nice movement, flash, and colour.
Fouling/tangles not an issue...

The Brewster Flats here on Cape Cod (and Barnstable Harbour and Chatham/Monomoy) sport clouds of paranoid Sand Lances...this was intended to be a stragler on the fringe of "oblivion"...Striped muggers will pick off targets of opportunity...
SoFarSoGood!
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/IMG_6810-2.jpg

"Sili Skin"...

[u:d7ddb6dd0c]SILI SKIN...[/u:d7ddb6dd0c]
It comes in small sheets...very stretchy...sticky back...I like the Mother of Pearl (thick) as it takes on fishy colours...#3071 a product of Loco Foam LLC...
I've done Gummi Minows and Gummi Eels from this stuff which are more a "craft project" than a tyeing exercise...effective and durable...
My preferred source comes from The Bears Den (on line) in Taunton, Massachusetts.
Proprietor Scott Wessel does a good job on mail order to everywhere except Venus and Mars.

Excellent

Excellent

What do you call the vinyl shell material ?

Andy

Hi, this is a graet

Hi, this is a graet help to the fly fisherman here over in patagonia ( CHILE), I have learn a lot in just a few minutes, sorry my english isn't very good. We are a group of flyfisherman from "X" region, Osorno Chile. It would be great if I can recive some more information at my mail. Please contact us.at javier.atero@gmail.com, also I have to say that this specific material is essential for the understanding of fly casting, and it was a lot fun readding this article having a beer. Saludos from Chile.

Pete,

Pete,

That is one wicked fly! A great concept.

Did you fish it? Any problems with the long wing/body/tail tangling around the hook or does the angle between hook and materials take care of that?

Martin

Like Esox said, 'brutal'

Like Esox said, 'brutal' flies! Very good work, I hope my tying skills can compete with yours one day...... But first i've to start tying my own flies 😄