Recent comments

Thank you for your help

Thank you for your help ,Martin and pike. I`m decided for breathable .It`s always worth to learn from experienced bodies. Dear Martin (and or any fisherman from Denmark) I got another problem. We all fishermens are crazy. Me and my friends thought about taking boat (6 m long ,all safety equipement on board) . Could you explain me regulations about fishing from the boat. We want to be correct and take care about the rules. Nobody from yor embassy could help mi because they think they are not out of mind like we ,fishermans. Please help us .Best regards. Fisherman.

nice looking fly t.z. simple

[quote:e3adecc2ed="Glenn Parkin"]nice looking fly t.z. simple for you maybe :) but I think I will give it a shot[/quote:e3adecc2ed]

Here´s how you do it - in case you wonder - after laying a thread base tie in a small bunch of deer hair by the eye and cover with thread going backwards to the hook bend at about opposite to the barbe point. Form a ball shape body segment with dubbing and fold the deer hair forwards. Secure with 2 or 3 wraps, fold 3 or 4 hair fibres backwards and keep tying the rest of deer hair forward by covering with thread. Repeat the process - dubbing and folding over - with just less dubbing so you get a smaller segment. Check some Ant pics or the real things in your area.They vary in proportions. Whip finish under the deer hair so a bunch extends over the hook eye. The rest is trimming with scissors and crushing the legs a bit.

nice looking fly t.z. simple

nice looking fly t.z. simple for you maybe :) but I think I will give it a shot

Anders,

I think f

Anders,

I think few photographers would submit their camera to what I have offered my D200 (as you can see above). My camera has rusty screws, severe problems synchronizing a flash using the hot shoe due to oxidizing and is slowly loosing the rubber cover. It's seen some action and is clocking steadily towards its shot number 40,000, but it still takes great pictures.

I wouldn't recommend other people being quite as rough, but on the other hand I see way too many photographers not realizing that their camera is supposed to be out in the air! And a bit of rain will not hurt any camera.
Cameras in general have no problems with drops, splashes and dirt, and your D60 like most SLR's are surprisingly robust. I have a D40, which is a small plastic camera compared, and it runs like a clockwork in spite of the things I have done to it. Armed with my new small 35mm f1.8 it will live a swell life inside my waders while I'm fishing this coming season, and it will most likely get its share of saltwater and sand - and most likely take some nice pictures for me.

But if you want a makeshift protection for your camera, simply use a plastic bag large enough for the camera and your hands. Cut off one corner of the bag to create a hole for the lens, slip the camera into the bag, the lens through the hole and a rubber band around the lens hood to secure the bag. You can reach into the bag and operate the camera and see both the viewfinder and display well enough to shoot. The camera is quite well protected from the rain.

Martin

I tied 20 clinch kno

I tied 20 clinch knots last night and 20 trilenes, then pulled them to failure. The clinch knots all failed at the knot and noticebly with less pressure needed. Only 2 trilenes failed at the knot 18 were snapped mainlines. I used 4lb Xcelon.

When I first started

When I first started fly tying back in the 60's, there wasn't the wealth of materials, instructions, or patterns for that matter for a young lad to choose from that exist today. Herter's,L.L. Bean's, Orvis, Dan Bailey's,and Eric Leiser's Fireside Angler were my main sources. The Hornberg tied by one of l.L. Bean's local Maine tiers was one of the first flies I tried to imitate. Unfortunately, I have never successfully imitated the style of Hornberg I received from them in the mail nor have I ever seen anyone ever come close to that magnificent little fly. The Mallard feather was lacquered and rested completely on top of the hook in a typical wet fly fashion. The width of the Mallard feather makes it extremely difficult to tie the feathers without either cutting them or making an ugly mess. The original I received was absolutley perfect and although I have come a long way from those early days of teaching myself to tie flies, I have never been able to duplicate that masterpiece. I would love to know if anyone has any information on that particular version of the Hornberg and who that master tier might have been

Nice article Martin!

Nice article Martin! I have been thinking of this situation for some time, when I have bought my Nikon D60 on fishing trips. Can It handle the environment or does the camera have to be specially sealed? I have so far saved my camera from rainy weather and haven't found any simple and effective protection yet. Ideally I would be able to bring my camera over the shoulder when fishing on the coast - but is this possible?

Waders

Hi, I prefer breathable to neoprene waders. Nowdays there is no problem to buy top quality underwear to protect yourself against cold. I usually fish during winter months, winter can be quite cold here in Czech republic and I can not imagine to use neoprene wades if I need to walk hundered meters or a couple of kilometers during the day. Sometimes it is neccessary to make a long way to access your favourite spot and in this situation you always find breathable waders more convenient.

Fisherman,

Fisherman,

If you ask me: buy breathable waders!
And then dress properly underneath.

And read this:
http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbetter/dont_freeze/

Martin

Greetings Martin and

Greetings Martin and Paul, if I might add to the thread I typically tie of copper tubes lightweight and heavy and would agree with Martin its a task casting it all day with a heavy line, I fish for Bass and other tidewater fish in the Washington DC area and find using a fast sink tip line maybe less than 200 grains does the trick, most of patterns or based on worms, baitfish, lizards, and I do tie a copper tubed spinnerbait fly, if you like to see one of those I'd be glad to share

Paul,

I never tie

Paul,

I never tied these flies on heavy tubes, but I guess that using copper or aluminum would be an option. Personally I'd go for weight in the lower tube the main reason being that the size of these flies would mean adding a lot of weight using a full length copper tube. I also think the concentrated weight in the front of the fly would induce a nice, diving motion.

I don't think the fly would turn upside down no matter what you did with weight, because the wing on the top of the fly would keep it upright anyway. But you'd have to test this yourself.

And speaking of weighted flies: I personally prefer a heavy line to a heavy fly - especially in this weight class. I hate casting both, but a heavy line and a light fly seems to be more manegable than the opposite.

PS: Pete Gray who originated these flies, sent me a new set of pictures showing how to tie them, and I think a whole new article on the subject will find it's way to the site soon.

Martin

Thanks Martin for th

Thanks Martin for the great fly designs over the years. You have caught a lot of fish for me!
Now my question. I fish stripers in a heavy current where it is hard to get a fly down.
Have you ever used a copper tube as the long tube? It might be necessary to change
something as the fly would ride upside down.
Thanks
Paul

Charles,

I am a b

Charles,

I am a biologist myself and have seen many specimens of Nereis during my studies, but spotting the difference between N. virens and N. diversicolor is not one of my core competences.

I stand corrected. Thanks!

Martin

ah yes, the woolly b

ah yes, the woolly bugger. the greatest fly, the fastest fly to tie, shit man you can build them any way you care to, and still the fish take them. any fish will take a bugger. from size 6 to size12, it really don't matter. the greatest fly.

Hi Martin, sorry, bu

Hi Martin, sorry, but I believe that the animal in the picture is an immature specimen of Nereis virens, not Nereis diversicolor. I've worked on both. Regards. Charles.

Hi Pike...Yes I am very lucky

Hi Pike...Yes I am very lucky, although it is 4 hours from where I live in Derbyshire to Hampshire where I do my SWFFing. I only get to fish there for a week every 4 or 5 weeks, when visiting family. The SWFFing "bug" has got inside my head and it's my favourite kind of fishing. I too would love to fish in Denmark, the Seatrout fishing looks amazing. If you have Facebook why not join our group, there are lots of pictures of where me and my friends fish.
Take care and tight lines.
David

You are very lucky

David, you are very lucky you have access to the sea.
I like coastal flyfishing very much but unfortunately there is no sea here in Czech republic.
Sea bass, mullet, cod, mackerel or sea trout, it would be enough for me.
Fortunately it is only 8 or 10 hours by car to Denmark, so I hope I will be at the danish coast soon.

Could it be that the

Could it be that the world of modern art has finally reached the world of fly tying? These flies would hardly fall in the category of impressionist. The quality is certainly the most distressing trait, for while they might catch a fish (singular), it would have to be done quickly before they came apart.

Cheers,
MiLo

Without a tungsten b

Without a tungsten bead, the fly will be much lighter, in fast water, you might not get the fly down to the feeding depth.
As for gold beads, the flash can act as an attractor. Getting the fish's attention.
For fish that gets a lot of fishing pressure, a black bead might be better. The fish might get use to the gold flash. The fly don't have so much bling and looks more natural.

I tie and use Copper

I tie and use Copper Joes in red, black, green and copper. I have found them to be as effecive as the much harder to tie Copper John. The Joe is a great nymph pattern on the Rio Penasco in Southeastern New Mexico.

Is there an advantag

Is there an advantage of a gold tungsten bead over a black tungsten bead or no bead at all?

Hi Jocelyn Le Blanc

Hi Jocelyn Le Blanc
Nice article and no doubt your blessed with phantastic waters!!!!
cheerio Heiko

the split antron is

the split antron is aa great technique. Thanks a lot..

I have had many wond

I have had many wonderful evenings fishing for lake rainbow trout using squirrel tail blue dun wets and catching fish after fish as people just shook their heads wondering what "magic fly" I was using. These patterns are very much overlooked these days I think.. and the photography is pure 'eye candy." wonderful plates. thanks.. I was looking for Wickhams Fancy and there it was..