Recent comments

Somewhat confused

Mr. Joergensen,
I have read your excellent article concerning shooting heads, but I am still somewhat confused, (not very difficult for me).
I would like to make both a sinking and floating head system. My current saltwater rod is a St. Croix Legend Ultra, 10 wt., 9 feet long. I will most likely use the sinking head system off my 18 foot center console here on Long Island Sound(Connecticut/Rhode Island), but will also use it wading.
I was considering using Rio T-14 line for the sinking head. Here's where I am confused. From what I have read, my understanding is that I could use a 350-400 grain line for this rod. That would be anywhere from 25 feet to 28 feet of T-14. Yet, the AFTMA rating for a 10 wt. is 280 grains, +/- 10 grains.
Now if I were to build a floating head, the ideal length would be up to 30 feet for ease of casting. My confusion/question is, Do I go to 280 grains, or the 350-400 grains? How can 350-400 be ok if the rod is properly loaded at 280 grains? If I try to go to the 350-400 for the floater, the head would be very long, even overlining by two to three line weights.
I did learn in your article that practice casting is really the only way to accurately measure the length of the head. But I am still confused on how that rod can cast 350-400 grains for a sinking head when 280 grains loads the rod properly.

Sorry for being long winded here. I hope I have accurately expressed my confusion.
Thanks in advance for your response.

My buddy tied his fi

My buddy tied his first fly after consuming multiple beers in Alaska. A fugly orange wooly bugger bead chain eyed knot of fur and tinsel. He casted the fly one time and landed a 5 lb char. The fly now is inside the frame of a large fishing print with a brass plate inscribed: "One cast, one catch!" Spoken like a true Marine who used to go ugly early.

Austin,

Click on

Austin,

Click on the image and you will be taken to a whole article about this fish: the African tigerfish.

Martin

Yup ...

Cornelis,

Yup.... we know about the background. Ken and I already discussed it. Use the large images, they are easier to see, but you are right. We want some ambiance in the pictures, but not that much! We will clean it up a bit the next time.

Martin

The background is a bit to much

nice fly ! ( hope the pictures of the tying are better next time , the background is a bit to much...)

Cornelis
The Netherlands

GREAT ARTICLE, UNFOR

GREAT ARTICLE, UNFORTUNATELY HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA, YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE AN 11' TO 12' ROD TO APPROACH WITH THIS METHOD. HOWEVER, AFTER A RAIN STORM I MIGHT GIVE THIS A TRY.

WHAT kIND OF FISH IS

WHAT kIND OF FISH IS THAT

I AM LOOKING FOR A F

I AM LOOKING FOR A FLY TO MATCH A RED DEVIL SPOON FOR ATLANTIC SALMON

Been waiting

Niiiice, been waiting for this article. I haven't caught anything on this fly but I'm sure it's a good imitation of pretty much everything:). No pink Demon? Come on, every Dane has a pink version no? Hehe, :)

Have you guys tried this fly on Österlen Skåne? I'm going there tomorrow with a box of gammarus looking things and mysis.

Well, I don't know a

Well, I don't know about genius, but as they say, a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile (pun intended).

wow you are a genius

wow you are a genius i would have never thought of that. i have played guitar for 10 years now and tied flies for 4 yrs and i never would have thought about using the ends of the guitar strings. Thanks for the great idea !
i give you an A plus.

Dear bamboo enthusia

Dear bamboo enthusiasts.

It seems that a good deal of questions in the comments to Harry Boyd's articles on bamboo rods have to do with getting hold of materials and tools.

We can't do much to help you there. Building split cane rods is a rare and exotic craft, and the materials and tools cannot be bought in any hardware store. In fact, many rod builders make their own tools or have inherited them from other builders.

I will spend a few minutes doing what you could have done yourself: search the web for resources. Here goes:

When it comes to cane, there are precious few suppliers world wide. Andy Royer's Bamboo Broker is one of them. Andy was featured in the DVD Trout Grass, which can be recommended to any potential split cane rod builder. Some rod builders also sell cane - some as whole bamboo pieces, som as split and prepared parts - kits so to say.

Regarding methods, tools etc. start by visiting Harry Boyd's own site. He offers classes and some tools as well as tips on getting on.
Then try Bamboo Rod Making Tips, which has tonnes of information, lots of articles, tutorials, images of tools and links galore.
You can also simply search the web and find great sites such as Thomas Penrose's site on building a bamboo rod, which has instructions for building your own tools and much more or simply look at all the articles on split cane and bamboo that we have here on the Global FlyFisher.

The book "Fundamentals of Building a Bamboo Rod" by George E. Maurer & Bernard P. Elser can also be recommended. It has a list of suppliers amongst other things. We have it reviewed along with other rod building books in our book section.

Of course classics like "A Master's Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod" by Hoagy B. Carmichael, "Handcrafting Bamboo Fly Rods" by Wayne Cattanach and Ray Gould's "Tips & Tapers" as well as his "Constructing Cane Rods: Secrets of the Bamboo Fly Rod" are also available used in many online bookstores. Do a search for title and author, and you will most likely find them available many places.

In other words: we are far from the final resource when it comes to split cane. There are many books and web sites out there as well as workshops and classes where you can learn splitting bamboo and making it into fly rods.

Martin

I am very interes

I am very interested in making custom bamboo rods for trout fishing. This is my passion. I need to know were to get the equipment that i need to make the rods. I pla on making them for myself and if they are good enough madey sell them. I have been reired sence 1990 and i am very good with my hands. Please help me with my problem.
thank you

Looks like a great p

Looks like a great pattern. Very impressionistic which I like in a fly. This one might catch more fish than fishermen.

Willi

I echo the thanks

I echo the thanks on this page. I have fished for bass for 24 years and just recently ventured off to buy a fly rod. Pretty intimidating, but this article helped me a lot!! I can't wait to practice at a local pond tomorrow before I head to the river next weekend. Thanks for the time you spent setting up this instructional site! Best I've found.

It's like a lineup o

It's like a lineup of criminals in the movies. =)

Awsome looking!! If

Awsome looking!! If these don't work I don't know what will!!!

Sebastian,

As the

Sebastian,

As the caption says: a LAW reel. Made by Lawrence A. Waldron in England.

Martin

what brand is it ?

what brand is it ?

Sebastian,

The re

Sebastian,

The reel is a LAW-reel, made by British Lawrence Waldron. You can see more about Lawrence and the reel on Hans Weilenmann's page.

Martin

Roger,

On the the

Roger,

On the the later models I started using a short hook and gluing a bit out over the hook bend to avoid the rotating hook syndrome. Your idea with the tying thread is great, and should work fine. Another option might be to use a small file and roughen the hook shank a bit. This will probably improve the grip of the glue.

Thanks for the tip, and let us know how you do.

Martin

I have a question wh

I have a question what brand is that reel from ?

Hi
This is without

Hi
This is without doubt a great idea and a good fly. I have experimented with a number and can get a huge variety of sizes and colours incredibly easily.

However, I find that the hook can rotate after a few casts as it is only glued to the crab. I find that if the hook has a bed of thread, coarsely wound in a cris-cross pattern along its shank then it holds far more firmly. Also I tie the legs to the hook shank giving a few more bulges and lumps for the glue to bond to.

Going to try it out for snub nosed dart (permit) and bonefish at Lord Howe island (off the Aussie coast) in February. May not be just a cod fly and a darn site easier to make than a merkin with all those figure 8 bindings. Let you know how it goes when I return

Kind regards

Roger

If anyone finds a vi

If anyone finds a viable replacement for pharmacist formula head cement, please let me know. I just found this site and now I see that the Black Duck company is out of business. I have only a few drops left in a bottle that I've had for many years and am dying to get some new to replace it. I don't know anyone who has used this product that doesn't miss it, it was the best stuff ever made.