Gammarus imitation

I had promised a tying tutorial for a Shrimp (Gammarus sp.) on the River Fly Box. At last, here it is:

Tying instructions are here.

It is a really simple pattern to try out. I'd love to hear how it works for you.

~Dave

Barrio Fly Lines

I have been using Barrio Lines a lot this last season... here are some more for testing this weekend.

Unbelieveble performance and value: Barrio Fly lines

~Dave

Eat, Sleep, Fish... a new E-Zine

Eat, Sleep, Fish...
A little stroke of fly fishing genius. The brain child of Pete Tyjas.

Enjoy!

~Dave

Outlander Fly Tying Bag - Review

If you’re honest with yourself, how much of the fly tying materials you own gets regular use? How many necks and capes have you purchased that rarely get looked at, let alone a hackle selected and actually used? How many spools of thread do you own that never even come near to a bobbin? You probably don’t even know which beads, shell backs and hooks you actually own!

 

It’s not about ‘needing’; it’s an uncontrollable force that compels you to want more. As most fly tiers know, the range of materials you accumulate just continues to increase. As a result, travelling with fly tying equipment can be a frustration. Whether tying at shows , club demonstrations, teaching fly dressing or just fly tying away from home, there usually comes a time where you just cannot find that specific pack of feathers or that particular skin. Having tried for years without, it seemed time that I invested in a bag designed for the purpose of carrying materials – and the ‘Outlander’ bag, from fishing tackle supplier, Fishtec, has been a huge step forward.

Toughened plastic wallets - eight in total

 

This is a well designed and sturdy bag. Well made with stitched seams, you have every confidence in it keeping you kit safe. It’s pretty big too: 50cm x 40cm and with good depth. A clean, neat design, the bag looks good with its brown fabric exterior and tertiary coloured motif. With an external, zipped pocket, it certainly looks the part from the outside. 

Plenty of room and storage in the Outlander bag

Open it up and you are presented with a range of storage wallets. I must confess that filling the bag was really quite therapeutic – like a spring clean and a chance to really question ‘when did I last use that?’. At either end of the bag there is an open space for materials with a fabric cover. I found this perfect with one end holding a range of capes, necks and game skins. I could easily fit a couple of dozen of these in this area. The flap then pulls over and everything is secured with an adjustable strap and buckle clip. The other end houses rabbit and squirrel skins and a range of dubbing boxes. The pull-over flap on one side is actually a breathable zipped bag. Ideal for bulkier boxes of hooks, UV torches and beads.

 In the middle of the bag is a large, padded dividing board with 4 toughened plastic, zipped wallets on either side. Each bag can hold a good amount of materials. I chose to divide my materials up: for example specialist feathers, Coq de Leon, Shell backs, Synthetic strands, Wing post materials etc.  Usefully, this whole middle section is held in place by a tough Velcro strip – and therefore it can be lifted completely out of the bag

 

Plenty of room for all sorts of capes

The padded bag that keeps your vice safe and gives you even more storage pockets

 

A padded bag is also secure along the main bag’s Velcro spine and this is ideal for storing your fly tying vice safely. The range of pockets on the outer skin of this padded section is perfect for holding packs of hooks and magnetic hook boards. Each section of the whole bag seems to lie neatly upon the next.

Safe cushioning for your vice

Skins and dubbing boxes easily fit in one end of the bag

Both end spaces have secure clips with adjustabke straps - keeping everything in place

There’s easily enough space to house a few spools of thread and your tools too. Longer feathers, such as ostrich, peacock and pheasant tails centres can fit in the bag. In fact, it holds a surprising amount of kit.

I travel a lot with my fly tying materials. Whilst this bag hasn’t yet been overseas with me, I have every confidence in its design. A tough and reliable design, I have no hesitation in recommending it. The fact that you get change from £50 make it a no brainer! Highly recommended.

The Outlander fly tying bag is available from Fishtec.

~Dave

My new favourite toy!

Over the past few years, there has definitely been an increase in demand for longer rods when targetting trout and grayling in running water. The control that the extra length affords you is unquestionable. The popularity of French and Czech Nymphing styles have acted as a catalyst for these longer rods' popularity. I have been using longer rods for nearly all of my fishing; all except the very most tree-lined and overgrown streams. For nymphing, a 10'4" #3 rod has been put through its paces - and I am without doubt my catch rate has increased due to the better fly presentation, hooking potential and better take indication. So when a Maxia MX4 10' #2 rod arrived here this week, I was itching to get out and get a feel for it.

The build quality is very high, with the blank sporting carbon-wrapped guides and matt, stealth finish. Cork is high quality with a solid up-locking and ported reel seat. When nymphing, holiding the arm outstretched whilst tracking flies through a run is often essential. So fatigue can play an issue. This rod is whisper light but remains stiff and very much tip-action. Balance is essential and my older style Orvis LA1 reel balances the rod perfectly.

The perfect balancing act:

With the recent (and very welcome!) rain, my first view of the river tumbling beneath the Bridge looked promising. We may be some way off proper levels, but at least there was a healthy push down the weir pool. There was a slight stain to the water - certainly very inviting. I am always happier approaching the river when targetting grayling when there is the sound of crisp frost under foot. Not today! There ground was very soft and in places, thick with mud. I started by flicking the nymphs into a very promising run, working the flies through the foam line. It wasn't long before the hot orange tip of the furled leader flickered and then stabbed fowards - a neat lift being met with the bouncing rod tip and a small grayling showing itself.

Starting fly choice was a slim, heavy-weight caddis imitation and a pink-beaded biot nymph:

Each pool and run was finding plenty of small fish. The delicacy and accuracy of this rod was immediately obvious. The nymphs could be flicked onto a penny piece. When lifting into takes, the rod tip was immediate and highly effective. A quick turn of the wrist easily set the hook - and although it is a stiff rod, the soft tip forgave every twist and turn of the fish.

However, finding the better fish was proving rather difficult. Indeed there were times the fish seemed to be getting smaller and smaller:

Moving up through the next pool, several very quick takes resulted in a small but very pretty out of season brown trout.

 Time was short today, but what a pleasure to be out on the river and casting with such a delightful rod. Lots more to tell soon - watch this space!

~Dave

Taking some new maxia rods for a swim later... grayling beware!

~D