Viking Lars | Saturday, 2 November 2024
Sadly and under tragical circumstances Bob Popovics has passed away. He was hit by a car and despite surgery never recovered. Bob has made his mark on saltwater fly in a way that few others have and ever can.
Popovics was best known for the striper fishing on the north east coast of America and the flies he developed specifically for that - flies that proved well suited and effective for virtually all other predatory saltwater fish. A few of the flies also for freshwater predators as well.
Bob’s Surf Candy with its head of epoxy that gave both a very credible profile and durability was a true innovation. Originally Popovics used two part epoxy, but was also one of the first to adapt the UV cured resins that have all but taken over for the use of epoxy. I’ve smashed several Surf Candies to bits on rocks in the back cast, but I’ve also had them last so long that even a stainless steel hook rusted away or the epoxy completely yellowed.
His Beast Fleye is another good example of an all round fly, effective on all fish that eat other fish. The style is a so called “hollow tie”, where sparse bunches of buck tail are tied collar style along the hook shank to create a light weight big fly. The style actually allows for huge flies, but also small ones and the flies are easily cast and transparent.
This style was also pioneered by Bob Popovics - again to suit his particular needs, but once gain a style that has spread widely and among many other things are popular for pike- and muskie fishing.
Thanks for all the fleyes, mr. Popovics.
Have a great weekend!
Lars
PoD: The picture was loaned to me by Steve Silverio and taken on their last meeting. Bob is holding two of his huge, hollow tied Beast Fleyes.