Recent comments

Tying classics is difficult

tying classics is difficult but practice makes perfect i think your body length was not too bad look at a step by step sequence by a master and you will realise that a lot of tying these things is about concealment of ugly bits, i believe that ostrich butts were probably only put in to hide the unsightly bump that tying in the tails and veilings would create under a smooth silk body they are often omitted from flies with fur or wool bodies
also with regards your bit of silk showing the underwing should be tied in after the palmered hackle then another couple of turns of hackle in front of this to conceal its tie in, then the wing itself and then the gallina to conceal its tie in point and the mallard to conceal the tying in of the gallina
all this would have taken up the extra room you were left with so you see the experts are not doing superhuman things and reducing feathers down to nothingness at the tie in points they are simply better at hiding it Michael D Radencich has 2 books with close ups that explain the smallest details and i would say they are the best tying references i have ever seen and will explain all aspects of tying these things you will see the concealment
i think your teal is gadwall but i would suggest you try pintail nice bright feather and personally i find it much easier to get it to marry to the summer duck as unless your teal is super quality the tips tend to be rather wispy and separate easily
good luck but i warn you you are starting down a very slippy and addictive slope once these hook you you stay hooked
soon you will have a big jock scott of your own tying up in a frame

The trick to bronze mallard roofing

the trick to bronze mallard roofing is leave the short section of stalk on your slips, pair up the tips tie in with the soft loop technique between finger and thumb and then wait for it......... SPIT... apply a drop of spit to your forefinger and touch it to the slips at about the half way point and drag it back to the tip as it is a waterfowl feather it will take a few goes but it will shape to the contours of the wing and as it dries it will hold its shape

im de-hairing three

im de-hairing three hides 4 tanning an hate 2 throw away the hair but dont know what 2 do with it

David is correct - C

David is correct - Czech Nymphing for Yellowfish in South Africa is quite popular. You can check out www.upstreamflyfishing.co.za if you are planning a trip to SA and would like a guided tour to many great destinations.

Hi Martin:

Great

Hi Martin:

Great job on your site! I enjoyed the feature on the Bonaventure. I wonder if you would mind if I added a link to my blog - Random Casts?

Is this painting ava

Is this painting available? How much?

Fishing in South Sweden

Some exemplars of bait or fly can advice can me.
Or really, does not have webside about fishing in sweden (seatrout in Baltic sea)?

good artical, im fro

good artical, im from australia and I've been catching mullet down the beach and river for years, I just thread a bit of green or red wool on a size 14 and I'll catch a dozen in half an hour. Diffrent species though, we call them sea or bully mullet on the south east coast, great fun and the eaisest things in the world to catch (this side of the world at least!).

used the Butcher (al

used the Butcher (also known as the Bloody Butcher) to great effect in Fife, Scotland as a lad, coached by my sage Uncle Bertie who could talk to the fish !!!! Got some fine fish from the Frandy and other lochs. River Devon was a great source of scrappy little fighters, all released as gently as possible.

Rajiv,

As you can

Rajiv,

As you can see from the pictures, that's exacty what Steve does. The system even has a facility to print labels for the bags.

Matin

Great article very w

Great article very well explained,just one suggestion after you hv made ur tapered leaders put them individualy in zip lock bags with markings of tippet and fly size.

Hey Guys,

Thank y

Hey Guys,

Thank you for all your kind words. I hope to meet you all at the Symposium in November 08.

Keep the vices smokin... All the very best, Steve Thornton

Hey, Craig...

You

Hey, Craig...

You received the goods last year!

Shane,
I build my o

Shane,
I build my own rods, tie my own flies, and make my own leaders. Although I have used factory rods, store bought flies, and Orvis braided leaders, its just not the same as doing it yourself.

take care

Paul

Shane,

People tie

Shane,

People tie their own flies, build their own rods - some even cook their own food!
It's part og the game to do things yourself. then you get it exactly as you want it and can call it home made.

Your mileage may vary.

Martin

Like taking somethin

Like taking something as simple as fishing and making it sooo complicated. You could read all this study it a cpl days and nights, or go buy an orvis braided leader, connect the furled leaders, match the hatch, and catch fish. It works on the Madison in Montana, South Holston in Tenn(Best River in USA), Nantahala in Bryson City, and the miles and miles of native brookie streams in the appal. mtns. When your catching 40-60 fish, and some in the 30" range, why change?????

Tim,

congratulati

Tim,

congratulations. They are not easy.

Kasper Muhlbach

I've caught my first

I've caught my first mullet (from 75mm long up to 5lb) here in the south of England this year using white rabbit fur tied on a #10/#12 as a dropper, suspended a few inches below a white strike indicator (foam or anything that floats). After throwing in some bread to get them interested.

Hee Martin,
great b

Hee Martin,
great bench, maybe for the finished flies you can use and inlay of a C&F box. Maybe stick it on the other side of the white backboard of the vise or upright in a corner. Cork will wear and tear in time and the microslits can be used over an dover again and the price of an inlay isn't expensive
Maybe some food for thought.
Good luck

Joel,

I'm afraid

Joel,

I'm afraid I don't sell anything. You will have to build your own.