Fly Blog http://www.sexyloops.com/blog the search Thu, 10 May 2012 22:59:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Scottish Sexyloops event http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/11/scottish-sexyloops-event/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/11/scottish-sexyloops-event/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 22:59:32 +0000 Paul Arden http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2984 We had snow. We had rain. We had some actually quite warm weather (for ten minutes). Peter won the distance casting and totem pole climbing event. Trevor caught a Salmon. Matty lost two. A number of trout were caught, and Peter lost a very big brown on a dry fly. A wonderful weekend, as always, and looking forward to next year already! Here are some shots…

Peter and Trevor on score sheet. Matt from Australia, loving the hail stones. Stoats takes on the French Canadians. Tea cosies were in evidence. It's all about to happen. Stefan trying to stay focussed. Matt giving a demo on Aussie techniques. Stoats showing off his wicket keeping skills. Stoats and Mike. Mike has no idea what Stoats is talking about. Neither does Matt. Peter inspects the pink cider that they drink in Scotland. Half way up! Traditional Hungarian Scottish Totem Pole climbing. Peter knows that height can be an advantage when it comes to distance. Flytying! Quick flybox streamside adjustments. Into a fish. (it's a big one). Scottish Brownie. Some nice scenery. Peter fishing the woolly bugger for non-existent fish. Trev into a fish. Trev still into a fish. Trev and a Scottish Don Salmon. Yay! Beers on Trev :) Looking downstream on the upper Don. Upstream (same place). Positively nailed on the sunken CDC. Nailed on the Matty Zonker. Happiness! ]]> http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/11/scottish-sexyloops-event/feed/ 0 Ukraine Mayfly event http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/09/ukraine-mayfly-event/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/09/ukraine-mayfly-event/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 18:31:23 +0000 Paul Arden http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2963 Lars and I, along with Djordje, William Vorst and Robert Gillespie made our way to Ukraine for the Mayfly festival and FFF Certifications. I had an amazing time, thoroughly enjoyed myself, made some wonderful new friends and plan to visit regularly. The level of casting is quite outstanding, and there are a few here who will be serious contenders in Norway for the world championships this August.

Thanks Oleg for organising a fantastic event and congratulations on passing your MCI! And thanks Lena for kindly translating for us.  And thanks guys, for making us feel very welcome! FP to follow!

The Meet: Instructors, examiners and Lena our translator.

Ole introducing the Mayfly festival in Ukraine. Lena translating for Lars and I. He is talking about nail varnish. Vladamir starting the day off with Vodka. Paul is questioning this as a suitable breakfast item. Djordje and I stayed here for the first day of fishing. We were fed large rustic meals and vodka. The traditional Russian breakfast of vodka and cigars. Time for a second shot... The camouflage Jimny - not a common car in Ukraine as it turns out. Nailed a grayling... And a shoe. A beautiful river. Not many big trout in evidence, but they do exist! Looking downstream. If you are fishing for shoes I would recommend heavy sunk flies. An FFF examination. On this task the idea is to cast around the cow. Lars shows us how it's done. And eats it. Accuracy casting. Alex on strike, Ole dressed in face mask. Alex is a truly outstanding caster. The crowd goes wild, just after a dead man is pulled out of the river. Strange but true. Viking Lars about to bust his underpants. Ole on his MCI. A great exam and one of the strongest passes I've had the pleasure to examine. ]]> http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/09/ukraine-mayfly-event/feed/ 0 Some Dries for Lough Corrib, Co. Galway, Ireland… http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/09/some-dries-for-lough-corrib-co-galway-ireland/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/09/some-dries-for-lough-corrib-co-galway-ireland/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 02:28:36 +0000 Ronan Creane http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2951 I tied these few dry-flies for John O Malley to try on Corrib. I have no doubt that they will work. The mayfly patterns are an adaptation of my NZ emerger. They’re tied with a tail to keep the body on rather than in the surface film. The little ones are that emerger just tied in black to represent caenis. Caenis time of year in Ireland is rapidly approaching!

Tight Lines..   Ronan..

The Caenis patterns are tied on a Kamasan 175 size 16 hook, black squirrel body, dear hair wing and white post. Size 10 Kamasan 175, Red rib, deer hair and/or red game tail, mayfly colured body, Deer hair wing, high viz or white post. ]]> http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/09/some-dries-for-lough-corrib-co-galway-ireland/feed/ 0 A big New Zealand Brown to end the season… http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/07/a-big-new-zealand-brown-to-end-the-season/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/07/a-big-new-zealand-brown-to-end-the-season/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 01:32:51 +0000 Ronan Creane http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2916 The end of the season was a thoroughly enjoyable fishing and social event! Superb fishing, lots of fish, good friends, plenty good food and drink and a fantastic “Trout Cottage”  to kick back in when evening arrived. From about April 20th to 30th myself, Chris Dore, Simon Chu, Bob Wyatt, John Mclean, Quenten Donnelly and Mike and his brother James Wilkinson fished the Mataura nearly every day. For the most part it was challenging and that is a good thing! There was an intense hatch every day for 1.5 to 2.5 hours and the bulging rise forms made it clear to us that the fish were taking beneath the surface. Emergers were the way to go. We fished the glassy water during the rise because that’s where the fish were. Fishing glassy, flat calm water is never easy. An up stream cast to a rising fish simply didn’t work! It was essential to lead the fish well with a cast 90 degrees to the lie of the fish. Fine tippet, long leaders, reach casting, neat distance presentation casting and slack line presentations made the difference between a good day and a great day! We all caught lots of fish and probably averaged about 8 or10 each per day, mostly around 2lbs. Quality fishing!

Chris and I fished together on the last day of the season. We got off the Mataura and went in search of a big fish. We found a  few in a river that was rising and colouring after rain and snow but they were chasing each other around, pairing up, anxiously moving around pools, even spawning! Some appeared to be feeding and I got one of those, an absolute cracker and the perfect end to the season on a freezing cold, wet and windy day.

On May 1st Chris, James Wilkinson and I went to the Oreti bike track hearing. Fish & Game spoke very well and the witnesses they had expressed many excellent points. I had an opportunity to speak myself so I did. Many submissions were read out, All but 2 strongly opposed to the track running alongside the Oreti River. Those who spoke in support of the track really had no point to make at all. If the 2.5m wide track goes ahead it will be a travesty and a wrong doing. Most people oppose the track so lets see what happens next. Thanks to all of you who wrote to the editor of the Southland Times. It’s still not too late! 250 words or less..

Ronan..

Some spectacular gorgy headwaters.. I managed one fish on this day. Bob Wyatt and Chris Dore.. Angling legends! Cold mornings were the norm during the final week of the season! Bob taking on the glassy water.. Photography is a big part of fly fishing for many anglers.. Chris with a nice Mataura fish.. These were my flies tied specifically for the mataura. Size 16 claret emergers and nymphs. They worked. A good mataura brown.. the average size is down a bit this year I think. Simon Chu with the best fish of the end of season mission.. About to swim off... Glassy, flat calm water provided some very challenging and enjoyable angling. The end of the day.. As usual I was "Paddy last" off the river. My primary school teacher Mrs Ryan used to call me that! Last day of the season.. Chris is not too happy about the snow on the ground! Chris not catching a very big fish!! Me catching a very big fish!! A very big fish! Chris's truck, the transport home! The sun goes down on the last day of the season as we head home... ]]> http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/05/07/a-big-new-zealand-brown-to-end-the-season/feed/ 0 ORETI UNDER THREAT http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/26/oreti-under-threat/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/26/oreti-under-threat/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:36:01 +0000 Ronan Creane http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2906 The Oreti, one of the world’s best trout rivers is under threat. There is a bicycle track to be built alongside the entire upper reaches of this truly magnificent river. This section of river has the largest average fish of any river I know. There is a real chance of catching 10lb plus brown on any day fishing on this stretch. I dont mention the names of waters in my blogs to protect the rivers and lakes I fish from overfishing and overcrowding but now I have to name this river to protect it. All the big fish in my last few blogs have been from the Oreti so please flick back through them to see the quality of the environment, the fish, the water, the entire angling experience. It will quickly become clear to you how important this river is for both its aesthetic beauty and as an angling resource. 3 bridges over the river are in the plans. I can’t understand how the NZ government is backing this. Whether you are here in NZ or in some other corner the world, us anglers need to pull together to stop this bicycle track destroying this spectacular valley. To repeat myself, the Oreti is one of the world’s best brown trout rivers. Fact. Please email the Editor at southland times. Letters@stl.co.nz to voice your opinion and if you’re a Kiwi then please contact your local MP. The hearing is on the 30th of april and the 1st of May at the Workermans club in Invercargill.  Check out http://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/news-events/SearchForm?Search=Cycle&action_results=Go for more information. See you at the hearing.

Ronan…

This is the top of the Oreti valley where the track is intended to start. Lets save this valley, NO track, NO bridges, NO coke machines, NO toilets... If you must have a bike track in this area use the Mararoa instead. Fish like this won't hang around in the presence of heavy machinery during the construction and maintenence of the track and 3 bridges. ]]> http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/26/oreti-under-threat/feed/ 1 Big fish hunting and a bed for my truck! http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/20/big-fish-hunting-and-a-bed-for-my-truck/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/20/big-fish-hunting-and-a-bed-for-my-truck/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:47:52 +0000 Ronan Creane http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2868 The end of the season is approaching and with all the fishing opportunities available to me I find myself going back to the rivers where a really big fish is always on the cards. A few days ago Simon Chu and I teamed up to fish together for the first time. We have know each other for a long time but not very well. One learns a lot about a fella during a day on the river together and now I know Simon a lot better and I look forward to fishing with him again. Not all anglers are compatible on a river. For example, some anglers move quickly and others slowly. A quick moving angler coupled with a slower moving angler means one or both anglers will get frustrated. Its important that both anglers fish at about the same pace and so work as a team, sometimes spotting fish for each other. Both Simon and I waste no time on the water.

Over the next few days I hope to catch up with my good friend Bob Wyatt. Bob has just completed his latest fly fishing book which should be on the shelves any day. I’m proud to be in it! Chris Dore and I will fish together one day and hopefully Chris, Simon, Bob and Myself will take on a river together. two up two down I expect.

Sean is heading back to Tassie in a few days so we won’t be fishing together for a while. He’s off to Invervagas for a farewell root but we may have a few beers on Sunday night. If not, All the best mate!

Sleeping in the truck has been uncomfortable lately so I went to the skip and got some ply and bits of wood to make a proper bed that I can stretch out on. I’m off the The Warehouse soon to get a mattress for it. Roughing it doesn’t have be rough!

Enjoy the photo’s! My big fish hunt continues…

Stuntman Ronan..

 

A tying session at Simon Chu's place the night before our day on the river.. Seans selection fresh from the vise.. And my few... these are quite heavily weighted 12's Anglers! Simon into the first of the day........ Note Simon's straight rod.. this is the moment the fish broke the cast! My first of the day! Lunch! A sandfly enjoying his last meal!! Magnificent, strong fish.. Today the fish prefered my size 12! One in his sights... Got him! This lovely hen fish reminds me of a very special hen brown I caught in Croatia during one of my best ever days on the water a few years ago.. Back she goes... It's not easy to get a good under water shot.. Simon into an energetic brown.. Solid I hope this valley will never change, It's far more than just a river.. Back at the car in time for a beer before the sun drops over the hill.. A send off steak for Sean! Steak and spuds. Borrowed the tools and got the ply from a skip! Waste not want not!! Finishing touches... The lap of luxury... once i get a matress! ]]> http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/20/big-fish-hunting-and-a-bed-for-my-truck/feed/ 0 I put on wet socks in the morning… http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/11/i-put-on-wet-socks-in-the-morning/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/11/i-put-on-wet-socks-in-the-morning/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:39:23 +0000 Ronan Creane http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2832 I really have no idea what to write about this week! I had some good fishing, camping and touring. I saw some beautiful places, I met some of NZ’s best anglers; One of whom I was watching in amazement about ten years ago in a fishing film. Robbie Mcphee is his name. He’s captured on film catching some really big fish!, I broke my TCX. That’s break number one. I broke my old XP 10′ 7 weight 13 times and currently all sections need attention. I broke John O Malley’s TCR 3 times I think (and his loomis and maybe his 10 weight pike rod!). Sage must love me! I guess that’s why the rods cost 1300 nzd. I don’t feel guilty but I should be more careful. What else? Some new water next I think. Maybe a lake. That’s all I have to say for now.

Ronan..

One from a riffle... 8lbs... Fishing! Fishing! A 7lb hen brown.. One for Sean.. A good fish about to go back... Losded up ready for a mission.. Here are my most effective flies. Very small. A NZ 20 cent has about the same diameter as a 20 euro cent coin. Camping without a campfire is not camping! Camp. NZ pt 12 050_1024x768 One of NZ's best rivers... NZ pt 12 059_576x768 NZ pt 12 060_576x768 NZ pt 12 061_1024x768 NZ pt 12 062_576x768 NZ pt 12 063_1024x768 NZ pt 12 065_1024x768 NZ pt 12 067_1024x768 NZ pt 12 070_576x768 NZ pt 12 079_576x768 NZ pt 12 084_576x768 Some big ones.. Fly agaric I do believe.. Nice water.. I had a few rainbows but no browns! "closed due to STOAT ATTACK" Man eating stoats?? Lots of mushrooms and fungi around at the moment! Lake Manapouri The view from camp.. ]]> http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/11/i-put-on-wet-socks-in-the-morning/feed/ 0 Dark Vs Light http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/04/dark-vs-light/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/04/dark-vs-light/#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:49:19 +0000 Ronan Creane http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2813 Day 1.

Conditions were promised perfect but they weren’t. It was cold, misty and cloudy. However, I was on the river and looking forward to the day whatever it brought. I knew I’d have the river to myself because bad weather deters most anglers from rivers best suited to sight fishing in NZ. Some, not many, but some fish were visible and feeding and I hooked about 2/3rds of the 15 or so fish I saw. I landed four. 6.5, 8.5, 8.5 and 5.5lbs. At least 2 of the fish I lost were over 8. One I had in the net; I had to get downstream of the fish in fast water to net him. I let the line go slack to let him fall back into the net. With my outstretched arm in the fast water I hadn’t the strength to lift him quickly due to the drag from the mesh in the fast water. The fish swam out of the net and in his next run he threw the hook. I didn’t mind. All the fish took my size 16 nymph trailing behind a weighted one 5′ under a dry. I’ll put a photo of it in my next blog. This was a great day. I enjoyed it all from the 1.5 hour walk downstream to getting back to the truck in the evening.

Day 2.

Conditions were promised perfect and they were. I saw about 5 fish and didn’t hook one.

Happy Easter everyone! I have no plans yet but they will include water………

Ronan..

PS. I remember about 10 years ago to this day fishing on Lough Corrib with my good friend Damien O Malley. We stayed at a B&B in Cornamona, Co. Galway. The woman of the house assured us that she would not cook us meat for our breakfast the next morning (because practising Catholics don’t eat meat on Good Friday, or cook it in this case!) so we better catch a fish. Thankfully Damien did!

All the fish in the blog were released of course!

All this to myself! Life! Early morning day 1. 6.5lbs 8.5lbs. A sea run I'm sure. very definate mottling along the back and the grey colour is not uncommon in sea run fish when they're in fresh water for a while. They day brightened up a bit in the afternoon. Back to the land of the living! 8.5lbs #2 5.5lbs to end a great day...

 

]]> http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/04/dark-vs-light/feed/ 0 Early season on the Gacka http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/04/early-season-on-the-gacka/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/04/early-season-on-the-gacka/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:24:34 +0000 Paul Arden http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2804 Great to be into a new season! Milan and I will be hosting trips here this summer. Details to follow this week! A released fish (a good one!) Another nice fish (it's a really big net!!) Flytying without underwear Akos fishing a corner. Still very early as the trees reveal. Sasha into a fish, while rod testing! In the net!

]]> http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/04/04/early-season-on-the-gacka/feed/ 0 Autumn in Otago…. http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/03/26/autumn-in-otago/ http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/2012/03/26/autumn-in-otago/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:26:23 +0000 Ronan Creane http://www.sexyloops.com/blog/?p=2779 Fraser, Sean and Myself headed off on Friday evening with big fish in mind. The plan was for an early start on Saturday morning to put in a big day through a gorge on a river known for its large sea run browns, or sea trout as we call them in Ireland. We forgot the map so Fraser’s i phone had to suffice but it didn’t! We got a bit lost so made camp near the river and then made our way to the gorge in the morning. We were lucky to get there first but the forecast was bad and the wind was howling down the valley so that probably deterred most! Sean had a fish first off and that was all we landed that day. We had no shot at a big fish.

On Saturday evening we stopped of at a friend of Fraser’s house for a few beers and food. Jimmy cooked up some fresh cockles followed by “sensational” pizza’s as Sean put it. They were sensational. Jimmy’s Grandfather started up Jimmy’s Pies so I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree… even on the second drop!

On Sunday we considered fishing some dams near and around Alexandra but ended up fishing a local river. It was coloured but not too coloured. We had about 8 or 10 small fish. On the way home we had a crack on Lake Dunstan at the southern end. We landed a few there in very cold and windy conditions. Autumn is well and truly here although the forecast for the next few days is good.

Have a great week!    Ronan..

This Goldfinch flew into the window before I set off on Friday. Knocked himself out!! He flew away shortly after.. The perfect start... First and only fish! Stunning water... Fraser! This pool must have held a fish or 2 but we didn't see any.. What we see through polarised sunglasses! Sean with the best fish from the river.. Getting off the river and heading to Lake Dunstan.. Decent Dunstan brown from a dence weedbed.. Smaller but very well conditioned fiish on a wooley bugger. Back home..

 

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