Recent comments

I really like the ar

I really like the article because I like flyfishing tackle :-)
I agree with Martin that "hybrid lines that combine a shooting head like front part with a thin running line" are worn and cracked after one season as my Rio Outbound is the proof. But on the other hand I spend less time on the Baltic coast than Martin so one Martin season is three seasons on the coast for me :-)
I would like to add one quotation from one czech movie: "It depends on each commrade's taste". So Martin is right in his last comment.

...using the same se

...using the same selection of scierra rods, even sold my #7sage :)

Brings back exciting

Brings back exciting memories of fresh water streams and learning to tie flies . Picky fish on the beaverkill helped me once moved to Florida... sanibel island area . Applying that I learned how fish key in on certain forage in saltwater as well . I dearly miss hendricksons pool where I caught a 28 in brown on a teeny nymph pattern.

Sarunas,

While I

Sarunas,

While I cerrtainly consider your setup a very nice and useful one (and I like the cheap-factor!), it just shows exactly what I try to point out in the article: it's a personal choice.

I would never use a mono shooting line.
And a stripping basket...? Over my dead body! I dislike them and never use them. Many of my fishing friends do, but I personally don't. I have one that I sometimes mount on my pontoon boat to avoid tangles, but for wading: a floating shooting line and no basket for me please.

Martin

The best set in my o

The best set in my opinion is:
Vision Nite Catapult #6-7 9'6
Vision Attack shooting head 7#
and flat mono running line (Varivas or Vision)
Seaguar fluorocarbon tippet and fluorocarbon tapered leader also do its job! It is protected from sand and stones much more than simple monofilament.
Striping basket is a MUST!
That set is really impressive. Casts like hell if you know how to do it!
Also it is cheap. Only one minus is that the rod comes in 3 pieces.

Jan,

I have writt

Jan,

I have written extensively about my shooting heads and running lines over the years, and you can check out these articles (which you may already know):

Shooting Heads
Fly Line Blues
Shooting Lines

And of course there's much more filed under the keywords shooting heads and fly lines.

I tend to use home made shooting heads fabricated from cheap mill end lines. They are mostly slow sinking or neutral with a few floaters in there. I have a ton of them. They are cheap to make and easy to exchange, so I tend to have a whole bunch, but I typically fish the same setups for long periods and don't change much while fishing.

My preferred shooting line is still the braided HT-line, which hasn't been made for more than 10 years now, so I'm running on the last reserves here. But they still work better for me than anything else.

Martin

Hi Martin,

thanks

Hi Martin,

thanks for your thoughtful article about gear. I like to read stuff like that from experienced flyfishermen. I would be also interested in the shooting heads and running lines you use with your rods as an very interesting complement.
All the best

Jan

Aleksander,

Aleksander,

As you will see I have now published a whole article on this specific subject.
http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbetter/sea-trout-gear/

I hope you can use the information in it.

Martin

The little bit of in

The little bit of interesting of this video is spoiled by the music chosen!!! Music is a thing for the "musicians", not for dj's!!!!!

I agree Martin, I wa

I agree Martin, I was present at the presentation of the film(s) during the fly fishing film festival in Rotterdam where Nick told us his stories about making the films. This particular one took 6 weeks. And yes, there were days that there was no fishing possible due to the weather; in August mind you!! I have been in Iceland a couple of time for business (I work for Eimskip, the Iceland Steamship co.) and my experience is that, as well in Spring as in Autumn, you can experience gorgeous days with sunshine, no wind, deep blue skies and reasonable temperatures. If you are lucky to fish on such days, there is hardly anything better. Even if you would not catch anything, the beauty of this country is breathtaking and will make it worthwhile to just be there!

Martin Great article

Martin Great article !

thank you

Dear Anonymous,

W

Dear Anonymous,

Whaddayamean "Nothing about showing how to tie the knot"? This is an illustration for an article about fishing Belize and not a knot page...

We have lots of knot instructions on the site. Just search for them, and you'll find them.

Martin

I've got alot of All

I've got alot of Allcock hooks (at least 1000) that were given to me as payment for a debt. I don't tie flies as much as I use to, so am hoping to sell them for collectors out there.

Nothing about showin

Nothing about showing how to tie the knot as selected for this page.

Simon,
Because I li

Simon,
Because I like to fish and not fumble arround with knots and sidecutter and it has proofed sturdy for the average Tararira / Dorado. Another reason, after several fly changes your bite tippet is getting significantly shorter and than I got to change the entire leader, because neither do I knot on a new bite tippet ! But as I wrote, since I lost my "beast" I admitt to use a figure eight knot to connect the fly to the tippet.

best Heiko Schneider / Latitud Sur Anglers

Great report & pictu

Great report & pictures but why are you using a snap to att. the fly to the leader??

Comment to Hook Reference

This is a fantastic hook reference, Darren. Very helpful and fun. Thanks a bunch.

Comment to Hook Reference

NP and thanks! More to be added too.

The best dry fly for

The best dry fly for me!
I tie it with red but, cinnamon brown body, 2-3 wraps of Whiting hen and natural elk wing.

Hello Martin,
That

Hello Martin,
That was a well researched and finely done article! I am especially heartened to see little use of hackle as in the usual Al Troth Elk Hair Caddis. Now, let me present my favorite hands down caddis imitation. I use it mostly in std. size 16-20. Body of natural hares mask/ear blended with like color of Lafontaine style of sparkle yarn for luster and for the way it helps grab the thread while dubbing. Wing of elk, deer, or antelope. 8/0 uni thread to match dubbing, camel or tan most often. Simple and effective and very durable. It can be sunk as well or stripped in but I usually fish it dead drift. Now then however, your experience will have me experimenting with CDC to see if it helps in the waters I fish.
Thanks, Gregg

Amazing article Mart

Amazing article Martin.

You just can't go wrong with this pattern.

Hi Ambjörn

Hi Ambjörn,

nice fly on a nice picture. What kind of feather is on the back and what is the name of the fly?

All the best

Jan

Hopper,

Hopper,

I would go for a TFO rod without hesitation! I have friends who have bought 10 weight TFO's and they are very good rods at a very reasonable price. The specific model must depend on your needs and mood. I prefer medium fast rods while most saltwater anglers like fast or even ultra fast rods. I would personally stop at a 10 weight, which will take you pretty far and not be that tough to cast.

Regarding reels I can (as always) recommend Okuma Helios, which is as much reel as you can get for your money from any brand. It has a good brake (needed for saltwater in my opinion) and is durable enough to withstand salt and fish, and looks and works nicely.
It's available in an 8-9 weight version, and should be able to handle all but the really large tarpon, GT's and that league of fish.
Apart from that I have fished Tibors and Lamsons for big fish, and they of course work like a charm, but cost an arm.

Hope this helps... and let us know what you decide.

Martin

Jan,

The Seatrout

Jan,

The Seatrout CDC & Elk as it should rightfully be called (I actually added this name since my fly only remotely looks like Paul Slaney's Bonefish fly), is a generally useful seatrout fly that is well suited for shallow, clear and calm water. It lands gently and sinks slowly, but doesn't have much flash or color. It fishes upside down and can be fished on the bottom without too many snags, but I rarely do that.

Martin