And Chris Helm markets one under the name "FlyTyer's Hot Point" (or at last he used to). I've had one of his for 5 years I think and I replace one battery at a time to ensure that the tip doesn't burn too hot.
Great tool - I use it mostly for kinking rubberlegs on nymphs and shrimps for my saltwaterfishing. If you want to try that, Martin, make sure you burn some power from the batteries - a glowing tip will sever a rubberleg before kinking it!!!
Lars
I got one of Bedeschi's other books (Fly fishing Patagonia - The Lake Destrict). This is one of his earlier books in the nice landscape format.
Wonderful pictures (some were cropped from larger pictures so the sharpness is lost sometimes), the writing is mediocre at best. It's definately not the 'How & where to fish' book, but a nice coffee table book to show of to friends why fly fishing is more expensive than playing golf... ;)
This pattern would be better adapted to Great Lakes Steelhead fishing if the tyer used a nickel plated, brass barbell weight on top of the hook. Use a holographic eye on the end of the barbell (grind down the rounded profile if necessary) and tie the entire pattern, upside down.
The barbell will cause the fly to ride, hook point up similar to a Clouser minnow.
The trick is to use this technique (pausing for a sip of Glogg) and create a fly that rides with the hook in a position so that when their is a strike, the fly lodges firmly in the corner of the mouth of your prey.
Also, try holographic silver tinsel on the body for more flash and sparkle. It will make the fly seem more alive.
BTW, I really believe in using a Mustad, downturned eye on this pattern. Because if you tie it as I have described the downturned eye uses the weight of the barbell to cause the hook to ride hook side up and will use the down turn as the flat stationary position from which the hook can be leveraged (again think fulcrum and lever) using the barbell.
Thats my two pence worth.
Having worn the same pair of 5mm neoprene waders for nearly 15 yrs with only a few brush holes which i patched I was hesitant to give them up for breathables. I sent away to Cabelas for a pair, mostly for the guarantee but have been thinking about just spending $50 for a pair of 3 mm noprenes. The whole idea is how small they will or won't pack so my suitcase isn't just full of waders and boots. Any thoughts on light weight neoprene?
Dear Martin.
I know very well what you say on Preben Torp Jacobsen: he was a great man!
I felt very much when they communicated to me his death now two years ago. Preben was a scholar of many topics related to the fishing to fly, between them the " Manuscript of Astorga "
Do you know who can be the owner of the original " Manuscript of Astorga?
As this summer I have thought to travel to Europe, if it could have in my hands this manuscript although I understand that this: it is a sleep!
Certainly Martin: do you know if the noble school of Preben Torp keeps on teaching the manufacture of canes of bamboo refundico and of artificial flies?
I have sent several e-mail to: flyleaves@mail.tele.dk and I have not obtained response. who is the new director of the school? do they have new e-mail?
Good Martin, I hope for your response, meintras receives an affectionate greeting.
Adriano
A clear and sharp photograph...but as Bob Capa always said, "the best lens is your feet", and also, if it doesn't look too good, your'e not close enough.
Next time, get the subject to kneel down, move in closer, switch to a 28mm, and get some info in the picture. Alternatively, stay where you are, and stick an 85mm or 105/135/180mm on at shoot with a wide aperture, and blow out the background, and really focus on the subject and fish.
Just a quick note from an avid Hawaii bonefisher... their are other guides in town besides Nervous Water now. Dave Hill of www.bonefishinghawaii.com guides in Hawaii in the winter. He is a USCG guide who has a flats boat... so he wades and poles around for fish. Ollie Owens and Louie the Fish are two local guides also who fish from shore.
Another note- don't expect good advice from Nervous Water. They will be happy to sell you generic flies, but not the patterns they use. They will also be happy to tell you about flats they never fish... but won't direct you to their spots. If you want to fish here, GET A GUIDE. Nervous Water or one of the above... otherwise you will have a very tough time.
Response to John Y- I think you are out of luck for guides on Maui. Maui has no guides and very few flats. Fly to Oahu for the day... you'll be happy you did!
Good luck and Hana Pa'a!!!
Martin,
I agree that the forum content isn't always golden and I have my doubts about a forum being anything than a suplement to an actual community. But, the forum does have its place, but only when there is enough interaction between users to really share/interact with each other. The changes that you've displayed are ok but I am afraid you'd lose some of the real "meaty" content by only showing the most recent posts? Your website is "huge" on quality and layout, I would focus on creating a forum thats practical for both user and owner, that offers really well thought out but basic functions that really mean something to the user and avoid all the bells and whistles. Do what works to create some traffic with really user friendly options.
I forgot to add - the fish was released. He's was covered with water when taking the picture and not exposed to air in the process.
But be careful with it. A friend, who shall remain nameless, tossed his into his tying bag, not noticing that the cap was knocked off. When something in the bag shifted, the cautery was activated. He could smell something burning, and when he opened his bag, the oxygen influx caused the bag and its superheated contents to burst into flame. He managed to get it outside and then under a hose, but he lost a lot of accumulated gear.
You can get this same tool called the Power-Zap that allows you to replace batteries from Sporstsman's Warehouse for $16.00 or Feather-craft for slightly more. This tool works wonders for bending Mono legs and creating mono eyes as well.
Very interesting and well done. I am heading to Maui and hope to chase bones for a day. Am experienced with Bahamian bones. Please advise as to guide services.
I downloaded leader calc about 4 years ago- is it the latest version?
Also, I have a formula for leader calc that is not on your list and would like to put it in but the program is a write only and I don't have the password, please help
Steve,
Thank you for your suggestions for indicators. I enjoy making my own indicators and do indeed like your added technique of the latex. I'm always on the lookout for more effective materials to use.
Any updates to add? Have you found any material that is better than the Orvis' Marabou Hair (which I'm not sure they still make) or McFlylon?
Also, as for the twilight yarn element, what is the "best" material to use for that? I see you've used a twisted yarn in the photos.
Thank you.
Alan,
I know we have podcasts coming out frequently now... and you can expect more. I actually did one more today. But comfort yourself with the fact that they are stuffed inbetween the ordinary articles, which come with four days intervals right now and will keep coming in that rate in the next month or two.
Just skip the podcasts and enjoy the rest. We have plenty content for low bandwidth visitors.
Martin
Please, not *too* much content in ipod format. Some of us are still in the computer dark ages, without broadband, and files such as Wading at 19.69Mb are a bit hard going. Quite a lot of your current front page is in ipod and I am starting to miss out.
I wanted to thank you for the great photo's of these fly's. I have been tying fly's for about twenty years and feel that I have become a better tyer thanks to your efforts.
The colors you mention in your pattern don't match up with those available in the fly catalogs. Did you dye your own? If not where can I purchase these colors? Thanks
To Whom It may concern
Hello, My name is Benjamin Arnold, and I have a question in regards to a Bamboo fly rod that I am beginning a restoration project on. To begin with, let me first say, this is by far, above and beyond the oddest bamboo fly rod I have ever seen, and or worked on. What I am trying to find out now, is if I can get help from you as to the manufacturer and any possible value from what I can describe below. I can tell just from the condition that this rod is currently in a few things. First, a half hearted attempt has been previously made to restore this rod, as on one section it can plainly be seen that some wraps were not rewrapped, and it is obvious by fade in the bamboo and varnish that at one time, a manufacturer's sticker used to be present, but is/are no longer present.
Let me describe this rod to the best of my ability, hopefully you can provide me with some answers. First I will describe the bamboo, and right off the bat, you will see that something is bizaar. There are 5 different Bamboo pieces. I am certain that all 5 pieces go together just from the make and design of the ferrules. Of the 5 pieces, three are Tips, and two are mid-sections. Try and follow me here, as this part can be a bit difficult to explain. Two of the tips, one short, and one long, only attach to one of the mid-sections, the one that I call "long-mid". The remaining tip section, which is rather long, about 30" or so, only connects to the remaining mid-section (a two piece rod), which I call "short-fat" because it is only 22" long, and is rather fat. Here is the funny part, the "long-mid" section can if I so desire connect to the "short-fat" mid section and create a three piece rod, with two tips.
Before I describe anymore now, I must next explain the cork hanlde, which is unlike anything I have ever seen. The cork handle is just that, a cork handle, there is no bamboo sections directly attached to it, is just a cork handle, but built into the handle are two female ferrules on either end, and a hook keeper to go with each. Each Female ferrule is of a different size. On the cork handle are two sliding mechanism's, which I presume are for the reel, though their is no traditional reel seat. Both sliding mechanism's are free to move from one end of the cork to the other.
Now, getting back to the bamboo, and combining in the cork, things again get very strange. The two piece rod I described above, with the "short-fat" mid section only connects into the larger of the two female ferrules of the cork handle. With this in mind, you can see that this rod has here, using the larger female ferrule to be three different rods.
1. cork - "short-fat" mid section - long tip 30"
2. cork - "short-fat" mid section - "long-mid" mid section - short tip
3. cork - "short-fat" mid section - "long-mid" mid section - Long tip
Now, again getting back to the bamboo and the cork, using the narrow female ferrule, I can also make 2 different rods.
1. cork - "long-mid" mid section - Short tip
2. cork - "long-mid" mid section - long tip
So, as you can see, I have the ability with these 6 pieces, the five bamboo, and the cork section, to make five different rods. I hope that what I have been able to describe can give you enough information to identify this rod, and provide me with some insight as to the age, manufactuer, and maybe even value, if it were mint. Again, this is the oddest rod I have ever seen.
Thank you for your time, and any information you can provide me would be a great help
Sincerely
Benjamin N. Arnold
--
TIGHT LINES
CATCH AND RELEASE
FFO
BENJAMIN (TU LIFETIME MEMBER)
"In the beginning were the rocks
and on the rocks were the words
of God. Over the rocks flowed the
water. Eventually all things merge
into one...and a river runs through it.
I am haunted by waters."
… I have a small favor to ask.
Support the Global FlyFisher through several different channels, including PayPal.
The Global FlyFisher has been online since the mid-90's and has been free to access for everybody since day one – and will stay free for as long as I run it.
But that doesn't mean that it's free to run.
It costs money to drive a large site like this.
See more details about what you can do to help in this blog post.