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Tom Biesot

Tom Biesot

Angler and reel maker.

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I was born

in The Hague (Holland) in 1953.
Grew up with a twin brother, sister and a fishing father. At the age of 6, I was already fishing with my father for Bream and Carp in the Dutch waterways (Polders). I started fly fishing about 33 years ago and was hooked for live.

When I was young

, I always dreamed about fishing in far foreign countries. In 1978 at the age of 25 I had saved the money to travel to Florida and did some serious fishing with a spinning rod.
I caught an abundance of fish in those early days like, Ladyfish, Black drum, Speckled sea trout and red fish. I did it all over in 1979, is was a great adventure.

In 1980 I met

my current wife (Fousjia), she was originally from South America (Surinam) and she also liked to fish.
In 1981 we made our first trip to Surinam, the fishing over there is really great.
She became my best fishing mate. She also is a respected fly fisher.
Together we made some 15 trips to Surinam for the last 30 years, not only for the fishing, but also for the overwhelming beauty of the Surinam nature. Most of the fishing in Surinam is done by boat on jungle rivers. Until now we caught about 40 different species of fish in Surinam, like Peacock bass, Drum, Snook and Tarpon. Also a lot of catfish species.

Anjoumara from Suriname
Peacock bass from Surinam
Anjoumara and peacock bass from Suriname
Tom Biesot

We also fished

together in a lot of other exotic places, like Panama in 1982 and 1983, Costa Rica in 1986, Belize in 2001, Cuba in 2006 and Tobago in 2008. We love fishing in the Caribbean for Bonefish, Snook and Tarpon, to name a few.

Mutton snapper from Cuba
Tarpon from Tobago
Snapper and tarpon
Tom Biesot

We also enjoy

the fly fishing in our home country, especially for Rudd, Roach and Bream. The Dutch waterways (Polder) are still great for fly fishing with dry flies and nymph. In the fall and winter time we hunt for Perch and Pike with streamers.
We also have a very nice big trout lake called Oostvoorne Lake.

Fousjia with a little Rudd
Rainbow trout from Holland
Fousjia with a little Rudd and Tom with a rainbow
Tom Biesot

Other hobbies are

making my own fishing equipment, like Reels, Rods and fly tying tools and keeping Koi Carps in our back garden.

Koi Carp pool
Koi carp pool
Tom Biesot

Tom's Reel

This is a first! Rod building is common, but how about making your own fly reel? Dutch Tom Biesot takes us through the process of making a beautiful home made fly reel, step by step and in meticulous detail with tonnes of pictures.

Tom's Hopper

Before you know it, the summer is upon us, and a hopper pattern can suddenly be what makes a day. Tom Biesot's hopper is a good bet. Using a foam body and a couple of neat tecniques 

Tom's Line Winder

Build your own line winder for maintaining your fly lines and getting them on and off the reel. Tom Biesot considers the line cleaning process and use and construction of your own line winder.

Tom's Vise

The design and making of a homemade fly tying vise.

Tom’s bobbin holders

Get ready to meet the “Hummingbird”, a very different bobbin holder designed and made by Dutch Tom Biesot

Tom’s new Hummingbirds

Dutch Tom Biesot has shown his skills in making tying tools before, and now takes his Hummingbird bobbin holder to new levels.

Since you got this far …

A money box
The GFF money box

… I have a small favor to ask.

Long story short

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