Paul Arden | Monday, 27 April 2026
As anyone who knows me well, will know that I think 3000 days of a specific type of fly fishing is enough to know about 95% of it. Here on the jungle lake I’m on about 3500, pushing 4000. 3000 is enough to be a guide. I am a guide. But I need to get out of here soonish and become a beginner again. I prefer learning the big stuff and I believe that the greatest attribute of fly fishing is that you can become a beginner, many times over, simply by changing fish species and/or sometimes location.
Two things have to happen before we go. 1) I need to acquire a sailing boat, so I can be a pirate. And 2) I need to learn Malay in order to get Permanent Residence, in case we come back. I think it’s unlikely we will actually come back, but I’d like to leave that door open. I think it’s much more likely that we end up living on a pacific island, or shipwrecked and living like Robinson Crusoe, but I really don’t know. I don’t plan my whole life out. It’s not an exploration if you know where you are going or what you will find!
Currently we have some major things happening. In Texas, Andy is building amazing Sexyloops Tornado rods. And they really are amazing. This is key for us. I’d like for Andy to be building 350-500 rods/year within two years. That’s what he wants too and it’s my job to make this happen. The first 25 HT4/5/6 built by Andy will have a unique launch edition burl wood spacer. That’s 25 total. Not 25 of each.
In England, on the Zoom coaching front, I’m expanding by bringing in Nick Moore. I have 120 students and I’m struggling to keep up. Nick can coach full time and teach 180 students plus per year. So I’m working very closely to share everything I know. Nick is quitting his job and I can’t wait to expand Sexyloops coaching in a big way. This needs to be done in a way where we can cover for each other when necessary.
In Ukraine, I’m trying to get Lena to quit her online marketing management job and work full time for me. I need a full time assistant. And an assistant who is an online marketing expert rings all my bells.
In EU, I’m looking closely at a rod builder in Germany and another, now next year, in Tasmania too. It’s going to be an extremely tall order to match Andy!! And finally, we have a new Sexyloops front-end website in the wings.
I’d like to say I’ve planned all of this. Actually I have planned all of this, which is very surprising! I’ve been planning this for over 25 years. There is another key component, which will come. But first I need to get all this in place because this is my window and it’s perfect timing for everyone involved too. Thankfully the Snakehead fishing is slow at this time of year, otherwise I would have to quit sleeping.
This is what happens, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, when instead of working through your 20s and 30s, and apparently 40s too, you decide to go fly fishing. At some point you will work!
The plan is that Sexyloops will become known as the producers of the finest fly rods in the fly fishing world. And also, the pioneer of online Zoom advanced flycasting coaching. I think that’s pretty exciting and we can do a lot of good with that. Specifically when it comes to my goals of initiating fly fishing conservation projects.
Anyway, apart from being as busy as fuck, I’ve been Ironman training too. That’s been going well. 5hrs Saturday night spent on the in-boat bike ride on Zwift. I had two runs in town around the airfield last week. One afternoon it was 36C. I don’t know… I’m 55 and almost in my prime, but when I see someone running in front of me then I absolutely must pass them. They might be 35 years younger and no doubt running less distance, but I must overtake them. I can’t help myself.
It’s the same on Zwift. At the end of the long training group ride, other people can see that I’ve ridden over 100km, and I must pass them too.
Yes I know it’s ridiculous and I have a good laugh at myself for doing it. But I simply can’t help it!!
Ok I must learn some Malay. I have a class in an hour. Miss Soo will not be happy if I haven’t learned my vocabulary. Have a great week!
Cheers, Paul