Recent comments

wonderful place, ple

wonderful place, please do not speak the name of the river, but end up with everything!

my son would use a t

my son would use a tiny red and white bobber with a hook tucked in close for frogs and bluegills.

there he was 3 years old with a snoopy rod outfishing me, just as he does to this day.

to duplicate the popper/bobber we would drill out flipflops with sharpened brass tubes and impale the foam on a hook. works great.

Good one Martin, lau

Good one Martin, laughed til my sides hurt, I guess I will have to leave my cardboard box full of my fishing stuff at home in April. Wouldn't want to embarrass myself or anyone else in the group.

Excellant workandship. The tiers illustrated should be proud of their of their work. I have been tying flies since 1943. I began when I was 14. the classics have been my favorites, however, when I see some of the new designs, and styles of the tiers, I'm always impressed.

Great article Martin

Great article Martin,

I had a good laugh :) That said, I find it a good idea to have another setup of rod/reel/line available if an accident would happen.

Looking forward to the next chapter and wearing neoprene waders until it gets warmer ;)

Folks,

Just for t

Folks,

Just for the sake of not being judged as a complete dork! This is tongue-in-cheek, OK? And very much so! In reality I'm a no-brand man myself, and actually own very few brand name products, act like an average numbnut when I prepare for fishing and altogether don't adhere to (or endorse) any of the behavior that I mention in the article above--except for a few small tips, which *can* make your fishing life easier.

If that isn't clear from the above, it's only because of my poor writing skills, and it will only get worse when I publish the next chapter...

Martin

Agree With Mike,clot

Agree With Mike,clothes,fahion, & the price of equipment don't make the fly-person,seen a lot of people with the high end gear & not caught or impressed any thing,but cheap gear is'nt good either,the problem with low ball gear is A:Does'nt last B:does'nt allow the new person to realy find the love of sport C:Puts a lot of the mom & pop fly shops out of buisness,if your going into ths sport go right or go home.

Hi Martin,
I have h

Hi Martin,
I have heard stories that there is a tendency amongst some New Zealand locals to fish with less than trendy gear. They take great pride in catching trout with the oldest, tackiest and crappiest gear they can find and do very well too I am told. They focus on the fishing rather than the peripherals like rods, reels and brands. A fly fishing counter culture for the disenchanted. Call it "Punk Fly Fishing" if you will. Now, where are my safety pins?
Regards Jason.

Jason,

Reality is

Jason,

Reality is harsh, isn't it?

I have met many anglers in my time who looked like *beep* and outfished me severely!

I recall one guy that I met on the coast a few years back: neoprenes, a red jacket, a rod consisting of sections from two different rods (true!) and a trucker cap in severe need for an oil change...

I thought little of him--actually felt a little sorry for him--until later when I met him on the beach carrying two nice, bright sea trout, which he had kept out of the eight that he had hooked. Needless to say that I hadn't had a single tug--in spite of being dressed and equipped like a combination of a men's fashion magazine and a brand name catalog!

So it goes...

Martin

Nice one Martin. I k

Nice one Martin. I know a few fashion tragics who do tend to out fish the rest of us... but look so bad doing it.

:-D

Very cool ar

:-D

Very cool article!

There is a new lodge

There is a new lodge in the area, the Grand Slam Fly Fishing Lodge, I was there in November. Spectacular. They are offering a 2 x 1 special this Summer and, I have heard, your fishing package is free if you're able to get a Grand Slam during your stay; accommodation free if you get a Super Grand Slam. Tempting.
The area is a paradise not only for fishing but it is wilderness at its best, dolphins, crocs, flamengos... It is really a place out of the beaten path where to take tour wife and even your teens, specially if you have a jacuzzi waiting for you when you return to the room... like at the Grand Slam Fly Fishing Lodge.
By the way, now they have Bobby "Jack" Settles, former Casa Blanca GM, managing the operation, plus a great combination of guides, definitely, they make the difference. I tried to fish by my own and just got a couple of barracudas. With a great guide next day I caught two permits, one tarpon and one bonefish. My experience was rewarding. I am planning to go back this fall, they say fish is more abundant, maybe I get the GS this time! But instead of driving by that killing road again, I think I am going to take the boat at the Arch after Tulum.

Grab your drab, and

Grab your drab, and your impossibly expensive gear... there's a trout to catch! :)

good one Martin, are

good one Martin, are we getting a little stir crazy :). Personally myself I always went to the river to fish not a fashion show. :) Hope spring gets here quick...er

Style is everything!

Style is everything! Style is everything! Style is everything! :-)))

Mike,

I can only

Mike,

I can only agree that patina is essential. I have met anglers who will add dirt to jackets, waders and even cork handles on new rods before using them for the first time! This only supports my thesis: style is everything!

Martin

Having lots of gear

Having lots of gear and/or wearing cool clothes, in my book doesn't quality anyone to be a fly fisher. Check the recent Sports Illustrated swimsuit model casting flies in BC. Can't cast, can't hold a rod but looks damn good. Flyfisher? Not even close.

"Patina" is the term to strive for. Well, worn, broken in and aged. Dido for that fly box. One that is too organized is one that is not fished with. Boots should be muddy, grip on the rod-dirty, dings in the reel, cap that looks run over, now you are getting close.

The "LL Orvis" ( a combo of LL Bean and Orvis) doesn't impress me much, just means you know which end of the magnetic strip to use on the Amex gold card. All those pretty boxes with paint are way too nice for the river.

Sort of like the kid in school with new jeans or new shoes. They generally got a boatload of crap about that.

I know what you mean

I know what you mean. As you say it is mostly cosmetic although if the loose coil gets frayed it could eventually start unravelling.

Try being more uniform when forming the loops and also apply a fraction more tension when winding.

AWESOME! I'm going

AWESOME! I'm going next Thursday (Mar 24) I've heard a lot about it, and I have high expectations,
hoping to find some brookies and cutts as well as the plentiful rainbows and browns willing to take a "painstakingly" hand-tied streamer,nymph,wet spider,or dry.
Seeing as I've only got two years left to fish here I,ve been preparing for it for months.
Any productive patterns for here would be greatly appreciated.
Hoping to submit some pictures worthy of consideration for the lunker board,
Bennett

i have one problem i

i have one problem in making furled leaders. After i twist each of the two halves of the leader they are very tight and smooth. when i twist them together i often find little single strand loops at the point where the three loop line ties into the five loop line and the one loop ties into the three loop. It does not affect the line but is unsightly and would like to know how to eliminate this problem. thanks

Pleased to meet you

Pleased to meet you Chris. I'm Stefano and writing to you from Italy. Just met your creations (I mean the sunlight shrimp and Mirror shrimp) on "Fly Patterns" web. Simply wonderful!!!. So I would like to buy few of them. While waiting for your answer, I wish to you a good day.
Best regards. Stefano

Beware the Ides of...

Mike Martinek you ha

Mike Martinek you have done yourself proud. What a fine tribute this is !

That is absolutely t

That is absolutely the most life like fly I've seen. Excellent job!!!!

Recent comments

wonderful place, ple

my son would use a t

Good one Martin, lau

Excellant workandshi

Great article Martin

Folks,

Just for t

Agree With Mike,clot

Hi Martin,
I have h

Jason,

Reality is

Nice one Martin. I k

:-D

Very cool ar

There is a new lodge

Grab your drab, and

good one Martin, are

Style is everything!

Mike,

I can only

Having lots of gear

I know what you mean

AWESOME! I'm going

i have one problem i

Pleased to meet you

Beware the Ides of...

Mike Martinek you ha

That is absolutely t

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