Recent comments

Well, let's put it this way:

-picric acid is toxic; actually quite toxic. But it won't kill you unless you drink/eat it.
-picric acid IS an explosive. It has been used in shells, but it's not THAT sensitive. The door knob story is to scare off the ignorant people. In order to make it explode you need more shock than a standard blasting cap can provide, and that blasting cap alone may be enough to kill you. Still, picric acid readily forms salts with fairly any metal it comes in contact with, salts that are very sensitive to friction, flame and impact. So storing it in solution is a must; keeping it away from metals is also a must.
Concerning the sensitivity, there was some picric acid fire once and the stuff (tones of it) didn't go off; instead it just burned out. During the fire, large steel pieces from the desintegrating warehouse structure kept falling in the puddle of melted burning picric acid hell. Everybody feared a massive blast, but it didn't happen. Now, just put regular fertilizer in the same story and it would have certainly been a huge blast.

If really needed, with a bit of responsability it can be used; there are far more dangerous chems we use every day without even noticing it (caustic soda for instance).
That is not to say that you can take it lightly; it can stain, it has an incredible bitter taste, it's toxic, and it can explode. But it doesn't mean either that while dyeing you fly,instead of dreaming about that huge trout you'll get, you feel cold shivers down your spine thinking "my God, what if it blows up right in my face now?"

David,

Let there be no doubt about my opinion: buy breathables! And a sock model.

There are soooo many reasons to go that way of which I can mention:
- comfort - good breathables feel like a good pair of jeans.
- volume - they pack really well.
- weight - nice both when traveling and wearing them.
- warmth - they are as warm and sometimes warmer than neoprenes. Don't let anybody tell you differently! Most people who say the opposite have never worn breathables.

the debate about the last issue is ongoing and eternal, but considering breathables as "summer waders" is cheating yourself from being warm and comfortable in cold water. It's what you wear underneath that matters. Wear the right pants and socks, and you will be warmer than ever.

In really cold, running water a pair of firm, non-compressing boots might keep you toes a little warmer, but I myself and the guys I fish with have bee wearing breathables only for the last decade, and trust me - we do fish in cold water, sometimes crushing the ice on the way out!

I have written about this before in this article, and it still stands.

Other things to consider is fit or shape. There's a huge difference in the shape of the waders, and you should try them on in the shop wearing a thick layer underneath. Get them big enough! If the feel tight and difficult to get in and out of in the shop, imagine yourself outdoors in bad weather with nowhere to sit and no support. Especially the legs should be wide and easy to pull on and off.

Personally I also go for simple: few zippers, few buckles, few stitches. The simpler the more durable.

And regarding the number of layers and the quality of the fabric... some breathables have three layers, some four and some five. I don't think it matters much as long as the outer layer is strong.
My experience is that worn extensively, these waders will stay waterproof for a few years and then start leaking. I think the membrane simply stops working and starts breaking, and once that happens you have to go out and buy new waders. There is no way to keep on repairing a pair of waders where water seeps in in multiple places.
And my impression is that this goes for expensive as well as cheap breathables.

Personally I prefer socks and loose boots. I can choose the best boots, and I can exchange one part and keep the other, which I have done many times. I seem to eat my way through more waders and boots than the average angler. My friends tell me I can destroy anything!

Well, a long post, but I hope it helps you decide.

Martin

David,

I have no experiences regarding Cabelas waders. I have been using Vision and Simms. Visions have a lifetime under my conditions of app. 2 years. Go for the ones with boots. They are much more comfortable!

Kasper Mühlbach

Thanks Martin...
(Approachin' 10K views...Who woulda' thunk?!)
In an attempt to bring the centre of gravity slightly forward on this single tube version, I wrapped in some added ballast way up front under the eyez...
The head was finished with Tuffleye acrylic...I hear that there is a "soft" clear version in the works...SIGN ME UP!
With a 3/0 Signature Series Tarpon hook, the end result was a nice swimming action in the Orvus Hydrodynamic Fly Drowning Simulation tank...
Plumps up nicely and moves even when it's standin' still...looked goodtome...
The ballast procedure was a lot less involved and quicker than my DualTube alternative...
The Tube Fly Converter and Tuffleye continue to impress...
Anywayz...
A Striped Focus Group will get to judge and decide...none too soon!
Error, the image cannot be shown: http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa176/Phracas/P4160131.jpg

Pete,

As always amazing flies from your hands!
And thanks for your opinion on the HMH vise.

Martin

To all folks attending the FFFD Fly Festival in Kolding the upcoming weekend,

I expect to be there almost all Saturday - no set plans for the day, but we might do a bit of coordination, and meet at 1 o'clock (13:00) this Saturday (April the 18th) by the stairs just inside the main entrance.

I will try to look like myself and wear my GFF cap and I might even bring some extra caps, which can be acquired for close to nothing - which is about 20 Euros or 150 DKK.

I still never got around to selling them on the site... sorry to those who tried to purchase by mailing me. There are good reasons for failing them, but I'm still sorry.

Hope to see you all Saturday. You might drop a note here if you expect to come.

PS: I don't expect to be back Sunday, so it's Saturday or bust.

Martin

Nice atricle Martin,

Ive been using the flexi-stripper for about a year now, and must say that I really like it. Although I have never been a great caster, I definatly notice more distance with the flexi-stripper, which if anything is good for my ego. But the thing that is really great, is that my hands don't get as wet, the line is not being pulled from the water when false casting, which is a big plus during them colder months on the Danish coast.

Having said that, I will be giving Hans Jacobs method a try, sounds like a very good idea.

Paul

Hi Mike!
To enjoy the trip we need at least two more people to go with us.If we found nobody we won't go. But if we do I'll try to write a report with some photos.
Michal

Hi Michal, hope you have a great time, perhaps you could do a trip report for everyone with some pics of all those fish when you get back? I for one would like to read about it.
All the best.
Mike.

I use size 10's with hook offset, Yep anything orange works ! Don't worry about patterns as the garfish will more than likely destroy the fly !

They will be here soon in Horsens Fjord. The seatrout fishing in Horsens Fjord is excellent at the moment with lots of silver fish being caught.

Steve

Great news Martin ! I was just speaking to Paul yesterday on the phone about this years summit.

Count me in ! It will be great to see all the faces again in one place !

Steve

Submitted by PVJensen 1737246376 on

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I`ve used a line tray for quite a few years now, and I guess it`s the same as with a lot of other things, some people don`t need them, some find them very useful. I know I would`nt leave for the beach without one. Try one, then make up your own mind. Could be the best buy you ever made:-)

Cheers,
Peter

Submitted by Sean Bradley 1… on

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Love the look of this fly . What did you use to bond and form the tail ? Glue ? Heat ?

Submitted by Ripley on

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I personally have never used any form of gadget or contraption.
I can see the advantages as well as the disadvantages Martin has pointed out. Nice article and I love the very first picture (top right: foot in coils).

All in all, the best item I can see is Sören Essebo's towel hook. I tried this some time ago and got it to work a treat.
As for line baskets, I have always thought they look strange and kind of silly and rates right up there with most other useless junk on the fly fishing scene you can do without.

I agree with Hans Jacob..."tangeling is part of the game". No one said that what ever you do and how you do it should be problem free or easy.
I have stood in the salt at Andros Island, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Tortola, Denmark and even the Falkland Islands in calm mirror like seas to a howling, bitter, blue finger, nose dripping nightmare in winter. I get coils and knots and other impossible tangles but have never let it get to me. It's part of the game.

I like these articles. Good and bad sides and some pretty "fine and dandy" alternatives. You decide but don't get sleepless nights and waste your money.

Last but not least...Don't buy what the fly fishing scene or some expert says you should have.

Shake a leg and get rid of those coils!!!

Rip Van Winkle.

Submitted by Hans Jacob Schou on

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Hi Martin
There is another even more obvious natural alternative to the bathtubs: simply pick up the line coils with your left hand fingers ( if you are a right hand caster of course). With a little practice its possible to handle a lot of shootingline with your fingers.

Using your fingers gives you several advantages. First, and maybe most important, you do avoid to buy, pack and carry another gadget. With the fingers its easy to keep the line clear of wawes and current, it gives you freedom to vary your stripping, it allows you to hold your rod and strippinghand where it feels natural and when the coils is slipping through your fingers it gives you better possibilities to add resistance to the shootingline to form those tight and sexy loops you need in windy conditions.

How do you avoid tangeling of the line? Well, as you all know tangeling is part of the game no matter if you use fingers, basket, tray, stripper or whatever fancy gadget. But if you want to use your fingers first of all use a minute or two to stretch the shooting part of your line so it forms nice even coils. Then you should mix between large and small coils as you vary your stripping and put the first one or two coils round your index finger, the next ones around your f*ckfinger and so on. If you use thin monofil shootingline like flatbeam, let the lower third of the coils be submerged in the water. When fishing short distance from a riverbank with brush and other obstackles I normally carry 10 meters shootingline (plus the shootinghead) in tight coils around 30 cm diameter. When I wade fishing longdistance I carry 15-20 meter shootingline in 5-7 large coils.

So gentlemen, save the money and effort and enjoy when the line is whizzling through your fingers into that murky water.

Thight lines and again and again......

Hans Jacob

Coming to my backyard! Fantastic! 😄 Let me know if you want ideas for October because I have lots. Most visitors tend to limit themselves to the Fraser Valley, which is too bad because there are so much more to see. I'm coming back to DK on May 4th btw, for two months. :)

Submitted by David Logsdon … on

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This is FANTASTIC!!! Love your website. I am from California, 56 years old. My wife and I love to fly fish.

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