Recent comments

Line

Hey,

Well, here's the thing...
I don't claim to know much about fly lines. I stick to what works well and holds out over time. Given the fact that I, stand in salt about 2 to 3 times a week will put any fly line to the test.
More than likely, I can't be that concerned about rinsing, cleaning, lubricating and farting around with the line after I return. It's just left on the reel, sometimes not even removed from the reel seat, until the next time. And that's my routine.

So, what line have I been using, currently use and would recommend?

Fenwick Aircutter WF 5 F. The line I have on my reel at present has been loaded on the reel for two years. No sign of wear and tear here. The line previously, also Fenwck, lasted 4 years. Nothing was wrong with it, in fact I still have it as a spare, I just fancied another line, had the cash, and thought - what the hell.

Many will say and boast about different lines. Ask a question and get a thousand different answers. We all swear by what works for us.

There are many good lines and I am not claiming that Fenwick are the "bees knees".

Any reasonable #5 WF/F will work for salt.

Salt will eat into any fly line, regardless of brand, price, colour or what fly fishing instructor / guide sponsored by NASA will say.

There you have it...

O, one last thing...The colour has no effect on fishing. Don't get a sleepless night over blue, red, yellow, clear or the like...

I hope it helps.

Regards
Ripley "gives just the facts".

When will we see you

When will we see your review of SALTWATER PREY by Aaron Adams,fish biologist?

Whiting Bird Fur is

Whiting Bird Fur is a product that is quite long, wispy and soft. Perfect for spey flies.

Re: My gear

Hei again from Norway Ripley,

I am using #8 (The old Loop) LTS Ultimate on my Scierra 7/8 Rod and the line works very well.
But i cannot find a good #5 line for my Vision 3-zone Rod :?

What kind of #5 line do you prefer there in Denmark Coasts?

Thanks for your answer 😉

Well done Im on this

Well done Im on this pattern right now, it looks cool and a little belter. Thanks jan Johansen

One of the best dres

One of the best dress salmon fly tiers in England is Dave Ryding he only ties the traditional way this article reminds me of him well done Jan Johansen

Hi Peter,

Hi Peter,
thanks for the hint. I had to improvise a little because I didn`t have the spey hackles required. I exchanged them for hen hackles. I will give the pattern a shot,
TL
Florian

Well I almost had on

Well I almost had one of these. I contacted Leisure Time in Denmark. What really great people. They told me that the adapter has been discontinued.. and then sent me one for free! Some moron between Denmark and the USA, opened the letter and took the adapter! And then put the packing back into the envelope
If there is anyway any of you ever can shop with this store, please do so and tell them thanks from Peter... thier kindness should be rewarded.

So cool! I just fou

So cool! I just found your podcasts, and really enjoy them!! Thank you so much!

Hi Florian,

Hi Florian,

Tied these a while back for a friend of mine going to Florida for tarpon, but I think they`d work for stripers as well. Pattern is the same as you can find here on GFF.

Pattegrisen/"The Pink Pig" tied on 4/0 Owner Aki`s,

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2166/10204188/18815558/308562168.jpg

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2166/10204188/18815558/308562173.jpg

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2166/10204188/18815558/308562162.jpg

Cheers,
Peter

Re

Yes, we fished the same place a couple of times. Very interesting place. A friend of mine caught there beautiful seatrout over 70cms. As I said you are lucky man.

Distance no option...

Its actually 724m to the waters edge. It's amazing what boredom can do on non-fishing days!
The GFF summit is held on the very beach - 724m from my home. It's about 7.2km of prime coastline. Is that enough I ask myself?

Rip.

Thanks so very much.

Thanks so very much. I been away from fly fishing for 15 years. Your article was superbly done. A great course for beginners and people like me that need a refresher course.

Beginner set

Ripley, you are lucky man, lucky man. Live only 700m from the shore, it is superb.
I started my seatrout fishing with #8 Sage Xi2 and found it little bit heavy. Thank I went for freshwater #5 Sage XP and it was fine except cigar handle. Than I had #6 St.Croix Legend Ultra and I liked it too. Nowdays I use another #6 rod together with Rio Outbound lines and It seems to be best solution for me.

My gear

I have been using a Fenwick HMG AV rod, class #5 for the last 6 years with the Fenwick Nighthawk reel. There are still in perfect working order and handle salt well.
I have been using them all seasons and as frequently as 3 times a week (living only 700m from my home waters), in all weathers, and caught all size fish.

Scierra do some good rods and reasonably priced but there many other good brands to choose from.

Floating lines WF serve well in most conditions and a standard 9 to 12 ft leader. Tippet: 20-25mm.

Claus gave good advice. The Danica Compo is superb and the Loop Evotec clear not only looks dandy, but can handle the salt.

Go forth and catch that fish!

Rip.

Comment on origin of matuka

Comment on origin of matuka. The name comes from new zealand where the first version of fly was tied using the feathers of the matuka bird (AKA as white faced heron, blue heron, blue crane) for the wings of the fly.

Wonderfully informat

Wonderfully informative and helpful. Good to read.

Here is another alte

Here is another alternative to the McFlylon material. Go to your local craft store where you can purchase flat sheets of 1/16" colored foam. Using a single razor blade and a ruler cut strips 1/16" by 8" long fold them down to 2" pull them through the o-ring and tie them down with your instructions above and they work great. You can even buy two colors and make them more visable in the later evening. I used the bright yellow and orange colors. I also tested these indicators buy attaching different weighted nymphs to them then I put them in a bowl of water after 12 hour of constant soaking they were still floating Great. The other thing I found is that they are also real easy to trim on the river with your tippet snips if you want to make them smaller so don't cut them too short when making them.

Hi Fedor,

Hi Fedor,

I would go for a six weight outfit:

Reel: My first choice would be a Danica Compo 69, but that might be hard to find. Second choice is Loop Evotec CLW 2six or Loop Evotec CLWC 2six. It is made from a composite material, is cheap and more than sufficient for Danish salt water. It will take a WF6 and app 100 yards of 20 lbs. backing.

Backing: Choose 20 lbs. dacron in a colour you like. Do not worry about brands.

Line: Either WF or shooting head - that's your choice. WF would be Rio Main Stream pike/panfish/bass which is a fine, very easy casting line. For a shooting head, I would highly recommend a Lawson neutral in 6 weight. It is a very slow intermediate, which is very popular in Denmark. Pair this head with Lawsons pink monofilament running line and you have a perfect match.

Leader: 12 feet with 0.25 mm tippet. Any brand with that spec. Flourcarbon would be the best choice, as it sinks a little faster that nylon.

Rod: Personally I use a Affinity MX from CTS in New Zealand. But I do have a commercial interest in that brand. In any case: Go for a 9 feet model that is not overly fast or stiff.

Tight lines

Claus Bech-Petersen

Starting kit

Hi, in my opinion, it is not necessary to buy special sea trout kit if you have some rod for lines #6 or 7. During my trips to Denmark I used my stillwater kit and it seems to be ok. As Ripley mentioned Salt can be problem. So after each fishing it is good to wash the rod and reel is fresh water.

Corrixa fished on 18' leader

Corrixa fished on 18 foot leader, below the cascades at Midmar. Absolute magic... The smash take and downstream run is way beyond anything a puny trout can ever achieve.It will leave the average English trout angler jaw-droppingly stunned. The only freshwater fish ever to take me into the backing. Sadly with the raising of the wall, the cascades has disappeared. Happy days!! I shall be in the Cape soon and looking for yellows. In the Orange maybe?

Wholy smokes.....fis

Wholy smokes.....fish gobbled them, tippet and all (sucked, but alas, wadda ya gonna do)! Great pattern. Added deer hair legs, knocked 'em dead!

A salty start...

Ask a question, get a thousand different answers...

If your a beginner in the salt, forget names brands - at least for now.
I do not know of any sea trout that care for brand names.

Your best bet is to look around for a complete set. These normally contain rod, reel, line and backing and sometimes flies, leaders and tippets.
These are excellent options for a beginner in salt.

Fenwick / Abu Garcia have a good set and today, I have seen a superb set in Aldi in Fredericia which contains a superb rod, reel, line, backing and rod case. The rod is excellent which also has a pretty nice reel seat and what seems - good cork. the rod is rated at a 6/7 which is perfect for Danish salt and looks as if it has a good enough backbone for sea trout.

Bilka in Denmark also stocks the Fenwick / Abu Garcia / Pure Fishing fly fishing rod set.

These are more than adequate for a start and I would avoid over priced gear that unfortunately doesn't come with any catch guarantee!
A bad salesman will hand you a Thomas & Thomas. A good saleman will direct you to a modest set or compile a set for you that won't break the budget.

Remember that salt is the most corrosive element on the planet.

You can look at spending up to Dkr. 500 - 1000 for a nice set - and one that may last but if you can, buy in Germany.

There was an article on GFF a while back about a fly fishing set that Martin found but I can't find it. Martin will help there...

If your visiting my neck of the woods on Fyn then I'd be happy to show you a few places and give you some of my primative instruction. You may even connect with something silvery-like.

I am surprised no-one has replied. This site is full of experienced sea trouters (unlike me), that can help with information not found in any 117 fine fishing places on Fyn book.

Rip.

Thank you for the ar

Thank you for the article on Bob White the artist and guide. His weekly Thursday Morning Art Review which i read every week in my office, transports one back into the peace of nature, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It nourishes my soul. I can only afford his Small Fry Cards, because of currency exchange rates, but they are an excellent personal memo for use in business. Bob White deserves support.