Skip to main content

Recent comments

Submitted by JB5000 on

Permalink

You can solve this issue easily by using two full-sinking fly lines, connected end-to-end. To prevent tangling, you will want to have the boat drifting or moving slightly after the first line is casted and paid out, then when you have the line straightened out, you feed out the second line, sinking portion first, then running line. Both lines will hang down in the water, if they are each 100ft lines, and there is no current, the fly will get to 200ft depth, eventually. More likely, there is some current, and the extra line will allow you to control how deep the fly gets and the angle of presentation. Secondarily, the running line sinks slower and responds to current more than the sinking sections - this may pose a risk of tangles if you pay out too much line all at once, but it also provides for a unique motion to the fly, because the fly will follow the pattern of the line though the water if the line is slack and not straightened out - it will follow a curve, or even an s-curve, if that is the shape of the line in the water. There is no water too deep to fish with a fly line, unless there is wind and current. In high winds and current, you may find that a double sinking line of 200ft length only gets the fly 30-40ft down on a fast drift. A double line set-up also allows for normal casting, as the second line acts as backing when not in use. Using gel-spun backing under the second line is advisable as it uses up less space on the reel. This type of set-up can be used in any line weight for any deep water fish.

Submitted by Lucian on

Permalink

This is a great option to the Nikon/Canon light rings which are quite expensive. Probably if is fixed in a soft box ( simple made of cardboard with white paper ) will provide very good photos.

Submitted by Jerri Bullock on

Permalink

I've done this for years and it's a lot of fun to convert flies from one usage to another. One of my favorite sources of inspiration was the book "Fly Patterns of Alaska" , a compilation of the Alaska Fly Fishers from Amato Publications. Many of those salmon ad saltwater patterns can be tweaked into wonderful, down-sized largemouth bass streamer patterns for Pennsylvania lakes.

Submitted by Jill Lionvale on

Permalink

My father found this video and is trying to share it with me. My grandfather Lewis Lionvale is in the video. I am unable to view it. Lewis was President of the Club twice. I would love to see him. Is it possible for you to send me the video? Thank you,
Jill Lionvale Vink
mobile: 805/459-1093

Submitted by Pierre on

Permalink

@Daniel D Holm: To change the colour of the tying materials is not an "INVETION". Inovation ...mmmm, may be.

Graham,

I don't sell any of the things I have made for my vise. I don't have access to the laser cutter on a regular basis, and don't want to start a production as such. online services do offer to cut on demand from a PDF. That was how I made my first laser cut parts. You might want to look into that. They typically charge per mm cut, and small parts like these will typically be very inexpensive.

The black thing is a small hair clip (for holding human hair on the head) bought in the women's accessories department in a large store. I use it to hold stray materials on larger flies when I want them out of the way. They are cheap and very useful. Like these found on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Pcs-Black-Plastic-Mini-Hairpin-6-Claws-Hair…

Martin

Submitted by Graham on

Permalink

Hi Martin,
I have a law vice but not an acrylic cutter to make the material clip based on your design, do you sell the parts? Also on your photos above whats that black thing in front of the material clip.
Cheers
Graham

Eugene,

I don't think it's likely that Tom will sell any of his tools. He makes them for himself, and people have asked before and been kindly turned down.
I will convey your question to Tom.

Martin

Submitted by Phil Ewanicki on

Permalink

Details are critical. A discreetly displayed $120.00 line clipper is a compulsory accessory, discreetly displayed but brightly enameled so it does not escape notice altogether.

Submitted by Phil Ewanicki on

Permalink

Pick a moonless night, stand in one spot, measure out the length of line you want to cast, tie on a fat streamer, wait an hour after the sun goes down, and have at 'em.

Submitted by Sally on

Permalink

Thoroughly enjoyable article and—as a beginner flyfisher of three, loooong/pricey years—I can say that you are perceptively accurate in the fickle philosophies that drive all things consumerist in American, flyfishing gear and apparel in particular. But ain’t life grand? Anyone can play. Wear your father’s hand-me-down gear! You’ll stick out from those less endowed but probably fish better if only for the genetic urges and fate that put a rod in his hand, originally, too. If you can afford to dress head-to-toe Simm’s, you won’t likely fish as well but you’ll be the cool kid that you might not have been in youth. It’s just a great sport, regardless, and I wish that I’d read this article before flailing around with various retail staffs’ notion of “necessity@. Martin’s second article in this series is even better.

Submitted by Bruce Doucette on

Permalink

Hi Davie;
I Have been watching your video's and learning alot of techniques....your explanations of doing certain things during the video's is valuable info. to the novice tyer like myself. Although you make it look so effortlessly I know it takes years of practice and learning with all the new materials coming out in the market.I just wanted to let you know how much you have made my tying easier and resulted in a much cleaner and well formed flies, undoubtedly you been told by other tyers that you are considered the best among the rest....and I totally agree with that assumption....your dedication to the art form of fly-tying..and in helping others thru your video's and personnel appearances can only lead to recognizing you as the... "best of the best"....once again thank you for making me a better tyer each time at the vice....
Best Regards;
Bruce

Actually Catfish will rise for surface flies more often then you'd imagine. a Hex hatch will bring Channels, Blues and the various Bullheads to the surface to feed. also Calibaetis hatches will bring them to the surface on lakes and ponds. , in Rivers and creeks, Cats will rise to Drakes and larger caddis. I have caught Bullheads in a local creek on Black Gnats and Blue Dun dries i was fishing for Bluegill with.so while not all the time, You can - occasionally- catch various catfish species on surface patterns.

Submitted by TJ on

Permalink

Use caution if you do ever come across owl feathers in New England. Using them is very illegal and might be the last day you fish for a while.

Submitted by Jay on

Permalink

Sounds & looks very familiar Martin
The times we tied there in the early 1990's makes us seniors by now... :)

Submitted by Tom on

Permalink

Met Bob every spring on our way to camp in Maine. He sure could talk fishing and would often tell stories of just teasing the trout by skimming the Brown Owl over the surface.

Submitted by jan ole willers on

Permalink

Hi Martin, I like the picture from Zwolle and the very cool one Rob Dings made! BTW biggest collection of Waldron Vises during recent Kolding fair. Rgds Ole

Your comment is much appreciated.

I hope we get to fish together again sometime, even though I do need more help than I used to.

Martin

Submitted by Ken Hanley on

Permalink

Well done my friend. You've provided the online community a steady place to celebrate the FF experience and beyond. What an amazing legacy.

Cheers (I'm lifting a beer in your honor!)
Ken

Since you got this far …


The GFF money box

… I have a small favor to ask.

Long story short

Support the Global FlyFisher through several different channels, including PayPal.

Long story longer

The Global FlyFisher has been online since the mid-90's and has been free to access for everybody since day one – and will stay free for as long as I run it.
But that doesn't mean that it's free to run.
It costs money to drive a large site like this.
See more details about what you can do to help in this blog post.

The Global FlyFisher was updated to a new publishing system early March 2025, and there may still be a few glitches while the last bits get fixed. If you meet anything that doesn't work, please let me know.
Martin - martin@globalflyfisher.com