Michal Duzynski - Sunday, January 31, 2016
By the time this front page comes out my knowledge about boats, outboards and handling boat set up in different conditions will be a bit deeper. I am writing it on Thursday, but on Sunday I am meeting a member of SWFF forum from Brisbane and he used to work with boats for past 13 years. Can’t wait - it’s going to be a good Sunday with casting, beers, and talking boats.
t.z. - Friday, January 29, 2016
Crane Fly a.k.a. Daddy Longleg is a two winged insect which is found all over the world. It looks a bit like a mosquito, on steroids. A slender body and thin, long legs and two wings. The wingspan varies from 1 to 5 or even 6 cm. It´s a good fish catcher and fished as a dry fly. Tying is fun and one generally receives very good comments as this easy pattern looks very much like the real «thing».
Scott Loudon - Thursday, January 28, 2016
I put it to a group of friends of mine to ask for some topic areas that might make for an interesting FP that others might want to hear about. One of the things that came up was someone that had a big influence on me. I thought rather than going solely down that route to have a brief recount of how I got into this whole thing in the first place.
Bernd Ziesche - Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Pretty often I was asked about what to expect from each instructor exam offered by the different organisations like IFFF, EFFA, AAPGAI, GAIA or SIM. The requirements to pass all the different exams are very different. That made me compare what and how I teach in my fly fishing and fly casting lessons compared to what and how will be tested in those exams. A few main differences immediately came to my mind.
John Field - Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Since Bob’s first book, Pop Fleyes, appeared fifteen years ago, I’ve been able to learn how to tie every fly described in it because the explanations and illustrations are that good. The patterns were groundbreaking. At the time, I wasn’t living far from Bob and I would see him on Island Beach State Park, or in a friend’s boat fishing, so I was using his flies for the same fish and conditions he designed them for. I finally met Bob a few years ago when I asked him for big squid patterns for a squid article I was researching for. I’ve learned from his problem solving approach and open-mindedness to new materials and ways to assemble them into practical flies.
Paul Arden - Monday, January 25, 2016
Last week we started something new on the Board: “A Week with…” Last week we had Jason Borger and this week Rick Hartman. If you’re not already a member you can join the Board by sending me an email, telling me that you are a real fly fisherman and that you don’t sell Nike Shoes, Viagra or Worms (FFS) along with your username and real name and I’ll create your account. Of course if you sell Nike Shoes and Viagra then you are still welcome to have an account but first you need to give all the Board members free samples to test. Worms we don’t need - our very first Board spammer tried to sell us worms some 17 years ago, so we have that corner covered.
Michal Duzynski - Sunday, January 24, 2016
In the past couple of weeks I was reading, researching, watching videos in order to narrow my future boat search. I thought that after asking a lot of questions one boat will get more votes than the others and when the time comes I will search for deals on that boat - NO WAY.
Viking Lars - Saturday, January 23, 2016
Continuing the theme from last Saturday's front page on synthetic vs. natural flytying materials, there's a quite present development to be mentioned.
t.z. - Friday, January 22, 2016
Legs …. a prime trigger for fish accepting a nymph when looking at a fly from a distance checking for «triggers» in the silhouette. I believe fish do the same. Tiny details which set an edible item apart from a piece of debris floating in the water column. A big part of this is the correct presentation of the fly, the appropriate size, shape and very very important ..... LEGS
Scott Loudon - Thursday, January 21, 2016
Lee posted an interesting question on facebook the other day about tailing loop demonstrations and whether instructors tend to show these to their clients. The majority answer was ‘not really‘ and only if it is a serious problem that needs addressing.
Bernd Ziesche - Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Which one would you prefer to fish for? Let's have a look at some pros and cons!
John Field - Tuesday, January 19, 2016
When a powerful saltwater fish strikes your fly, everything happens in a hurry and the excitement is electrifying. There is no guarantee how many jumps or runs a fish will make but the best way to experience the whole show until you land it, is to set your equipment properly and have a sound routine for beating your fish in a short amount of time. For the sake of the fish, good anglers prevent extreme exhaustion of their catch. This can include lactic acid shock when their muscles can fail and stop them from breathing permanently or being able to flea predators.
Viking Lars - Monday, January 18, 2016
Because it gets worse... It's me, VIking Lars again, and let me again begin by stressing that there is no (apparent) reason for worry, but here's last nights bulletin from Paul:
Viking Lars - Sunday, January 17, 2016
Paul and I do communicate quite a lot - usually on WhatsApp, which is a nice app for short messages. And while messages like: "Dude, I'm stuck - could you please (yes, he really does say please every now and then) upload this for my FP on Monday (yes, sometimes he really does let me know in advance), because my car's stuck in the mud 60 miles up Mystery River X and this message took 20 minutes to send", the message I received last night really took me off guard.
Viking Lars - Saturday, January 16, 2016
Synthetic vs. natural - an old discussion in fly tying and one that most of the time involves more of less religious beliefs and convictions.
t.z. - Friday, January 15, 2016
1, 2 ..... 3 - The common fly, Diptera (from the Greek di = two, and ptera = wings) classifies as a Buzzer. The term is derived from the noise these insects make when flying. They come in a lot of different sizes. However, the ones found by the waters we fish tend to be rather small. But don´t get fooled by the small size of that food item. This has nothing to do with the size of fish one can catch on such small flies. However, the number 3 plays a big role in this fly. In the big book of (f)lies it says: "Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then .... well you now the drill. Amen."
Scott Loudon - Thursday, January 14, 2016
For some people catching a trout in an urban environment is quite appealing thanks to the romanticism of escaping the city and being lost in your own little world of running water and aquatic animals sipping flies from the surface. I was one of these people for a short time and thought I'd share a story from a good number of years ago.
Bernd Ziesche - Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Many fly casting books present the perfect vs. a faulty rod tip path in order to shape perfect loops. Very few of these books present an effective rod hand path in order to hit the desired tip path. Since it will always be YOU (not the rod tip) making the cast, I think all these books are missing an important key factor!
John Field - Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Our selection of fly rod and reel for saltwater species puts the angler at a disadvantage, compared to other choices in tackle. One-handed fly rods are generally longer and with less leverage than a spinning or conventional outfit. Some big-game fly rods do have a fighting fore-grip located up the blank from the handle but they defeat the stiffness of the butt. Fly line has greater diameter than superbraid or mono and therefore has more water resistance and larger knots. In order to succeed, we must make good choices and strategies for tackle, rigging and fighting technique. Even when we do, saltwater fly fishing is a wonderful challenge. Since I touched upon leader design last Tuesday, I’d like to cover the other components before technique.
Paul Arden - Monday, January 11, 2016
I've done my Christmas and New Year stint at the Rainforest bar. It was great to socialise and meet very many people, discuss fly fishing as well as numerous other topics, party a little and play a hell of a lot of pool. Working a small bar in the Rainforest is great fun. However the late nights - and there have been many of those! - have seriously curtailed my fishing, and this can't last for very long! The lake level is some 6-8 metres higher than a few months ago and this is going to be a game changer, however the good news is that the wet season is now over, which means now it might not rain at all now for the next three months. I've spectacularly managed to break all my original rods on this trip - all apart from the HT Instructor 6. This week I head deep into the jungle again.
Michal Duzynski - Sunday, January 10, 2016
It’s only first week of 2016, but in my life things are happening quite quick. Firstly I am changing my sponsorship here in Australia for the third time-as they say third time lucky. My job history here is interesting and might be a subject for a FP. Anyway as I mentioned in my previous front page I have a project and seriously considering buying a boat. I am looking at aluminium power boat/tinnie with min 20hp on the back.
t.z. - Saturday, January 9, 2016
Everybody seems to be away. Paul in the jungle sweating and Bernd casting in the ice. Whatever Bernd calls cold at least. Here in Norway it is a bit more chilly and finally the snow came to Oslo as well. Even though I am not a big fan of winter, I like snow. Everything looks more peaceful and calm …. specifically when sitting behind my trusted vice. Or vise as the people on the other side of the big water spell it. And I play around with Instagram, Facebook and my iPhones camera. Fun I think. When discussing what has been the best for my fishing I tend to answer - Internet and digital photography. It is amazing what can learn in forums and on the net. I am the best example. I started flyfishing 15 odd years ago. And learned (and still learning) a lot through - yes - mainly sexyloops and the people I got o know on the sexyloops board. Quite a group of people this. Join the fun and tell us what you are about. Share your flies, your casting vids and and fishing lies ...
t.z. - Friday, January 8, 2016
Welcome to the first SFTS in 2016. We continue right were it stopped. In section 11 we talked about dubbing and the three methods for blending / attaching dubbing to the thread. My signature fly is tied with hair fibres taken from in between the toes of an arctic hare. This material is said to be hydrophobic. The term hydrophobe comes from the Ancient Greek ὑδρόφοβος, “having a horror of water”, constructed from ὕδωρ, “water”, and φόβος, “fear”. Water repellent in other words. It fishes amazingly well as a dry in dead drift as well as a twitched wet fly. It even resurfaces all on its own. The answer to the “one fly only” question? Yes, maybe so …
Scott Loudon - Thursday, January 7, 2016
Bernd’s FP was perfectly timed this week as I’m a winter softy when it comes to fishing. Standing in the water, freezing my boys off as well as wondering if my fingers are still there just isn’t for me. Which is strange as I’m quite happy at -20C 4000m up! Winter means skiing for me and my only fishing outlet to be honest is casting practice in the park, casting practice indoors and the internet.
Bernd Ziesche - Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Right now we are having -4 to MINUS EIGHT degrees Celsius in Northern Germany. Paul doesn't think it's possibly to fly fish under such frosty conditions - maybe he's right?! Anyway we didn't care and so Marina and I have been out enjoying the winter all week long.
John Field - Tuesday, January 5, 2016
The leader in fly fishing makes it harder for fish to see the thicker main line and helps get strikes without detection. In addition, it must not only withstand the anatomy of the fish’s mouth and body but often the hazards of the places they live. I was taught to use a 50 lb. leader plus steel bite tippet for spinner sharks because they jump and wrap the leader around their body when they spin in the air. They’ll pop 20 lb. test regularly in this manoeuvre.
Paul Arden - Monday, January 4, 2016
I was asked a question last week about buzzer fishing... "I been searching online for quite a while looking for tips to improve my nymphing techniques. I have struggled to find the information / tips to suit my waters until I read some of your articles online. I'm wondering if you might help me out..? I have only recently discovered that long tapered leaders are vital. My nymphing before consisted of a 4lb Fluorocarbon Cast with 3 nymphs hanging from same. The lake I fish is Lough Leane in Killarney. This is mostly a top of the water fishery and the average trout are only a half pound in weight. I fish a lot of club competitions on this lake and I have discovered that the top anglers are getting the trout high in the water just under the surface. I have googled all types of information on keeping the flies high in the water, down to greasing up leader and tippet. Fishing washing line method with fluorocarbon and not mono. Fishing mono only as leader and tippet and so on. My problem is that I'm just not sure what technique to use to improve in my catch rate. I use a 5 weight rod. Not sure if I should drop to a 4 weight.? I normally use either a float or sink tip line. Would you be good enough to point me in the right direction here. I suppose what I'm hoping to achieve is to be able to have a method of fishing my small size 14&16 lightly dressed nymphs just under the surface or deeper if required as naturally as possible. I would be grateful if you could offer me some advice on this."
Michal Duzynski - Sunday, January 3, 2016
My front pages are not much about catching a lot of big fish in different, exotic locations, are not about specific fly tying, or technical fly casting. I know all of it and I am good at it, but I like to write about my PURSUIT in salt water fly fishing, things I can achieve in the future, things I am learning, and things that will happen in the near future. I have some ideas and plans (less then Paul and his casting pond in Hungary, or a bar in the jungle etc etc), but it requires some time and budget that I am currently working on.
t.z. - Friday, January 1, 2016
2016 ... blimey. Time flies (pun intended). Welcome to the new year. I am really looking forward to the next 365 days of which I will try again to go fishing and have a good time as much as possible. I wish the same for each and every one of you fantastic sexyloops people ... however - be careful. Hanging around this place is infectious. My goal is to continue helping Paul spreading the FF virus. It´s so much fun all that stuff "fly". Casting, fishing, tying ... and being out there. Having fun and feel part of "it" - whatever the fuck that is. I was more than proud when Paul asked me to write down my thoughts on fly tying. I strongly believe every fly-fisher should tie his own flies. I won´t go into why most of the stuff one buys in shops is pretty hideous crap - that would be not so very fair, even though it is. I see every self made fly as a masterpiece. Time spend thinking about fishes prey, the flies construction and why one wants to build a fly in a certain way is very valuable. Each minute doing this makes you a better fly-fisher or say "nature person". The SFTS - sexyloops fly tying school - is meant to give you the right tools in your hands to come up with your own flies. I explain certain patterns, but mostly for communicating some key techniques and philosophies. Basic handicraft of you so will.