In the Eastern part of the U.S I fish only 22-24 and find that big fish are easily temped with smaller sizes flies. Good hook ups come fairly easy with small flies and provide great sport on light rods 2-3 #. The small hooks ,I find do not seem to require a wing case which really make the fly very easy to tie.
Hi Radoslav
I will come to Bansko in 2 weeks, do you can recommend me some good spots? Can I fish in the mountain lakes in Pirin?
Thank you and regards
René
I fish Humpy's as a surface/near surface fly for bluegill. While I know that's probably sacrilegious, they like it and I'm a rebel.
- I prefer a short tail with some flair, a skinny hump and wings with less hackle.
Here's why
- The fish jump the fly when it first lands, but often miss because they are "swatting" it with their fins/tail. This attempt to stun and submerge what they think is a bug drags the fly down, subsurface - where the fun starts.
- Tied slim, with less hackle, the "Slim-Fast Humpy" suspends near-surface, and I slow strip it like a wet fly. A twitching, then a slow figure-8 hand retrieve. Repeat.
- At some point, the fish get excited and grab the fly, very nearly snatching the rod from your hand.
I discovered this Skinny Humpy, subsurface connection by accident. In trying the pattern for the first time, that's just how I tied them.
I do add micro dabs of varnish and half hitches through the tying process, to add durability in the old school manner. Its probably not necessary, but bluegill can be hard on flies.
Steve, the SMHAEN bobbin holders are slowly hitting the shops this autumn, but mainly here in Denmark and Europe. Stig tells me that he's working on US contacts, but have no serious options yet, so I guess they will eventually be available more locally in the US, most likely with lower shipping costs.
Martin
Steve, as far as I know the only source is Stig directly, but I have inquired about US sources. I guess the postage would be pretty steep if they were to be sent over through ordinary mail. I'll post the information here once I get it.
Martin
Hi Martin,
Late May this year , I contacted Mr. Stig Hansen re:obtaining a Smahaen bobbin in the US. In his reply on May 29 , he told me I could purchase one directly from him for 54 euro plus 25 euro for shipping to the US. I think I posted this here in late May ,early June.
If this price is incorrect , does anyone know the correct price with shipping to the US or if they are available in the US ?.
Best Regards,
Steve Keim
Eric,
I just got a note today from Stig - the manufacturer - himself noting the wrong price, and it has been corrected now. Back when I wrote the article, I didn't have a precise price, and put in the price I could gather from the correspondence with Stig and people who bought the bobbin holder.
Sorry for having the wrong price for so long!
Martin
There must be a "little" mistake on the price of that bobbin holder, which seems to be a great product,
i've recently ask for a price on Smhaen website: 59€ per bobbin = 65usd, it's no longer 20 usd.
How such a difference is possible in 2 years???
Florin,
I'm sorry, but I have to say that I have no idea which one to choose. I don't know any of the lines or the rod. I can see that it's a full line and a shooting head, and my only comment is that I'd probably choose the shooting head myself for my ordinary fishing and the full line if I was looking for a slightly better presentation. And I'd go for the slow intermediate in both cases.
Hope this helps just a bit.
Martin
This whole fly/photo challenge is a great idea, and my best wishes for a speedy recovery for Mr./Mrs Hise.
A friend of mine discovered this trick--Kleenex!! Yes-- wipe down a fish slimed cdc fly thoroughly with a small wad of Kleenex.it will float like a cork! Do NOT ever use liquid flotants OR dry desiccants. dry cdc doesn't need it.
I am back to tying leaders. It helps me relax.
Greeting Martin!
Really useful article. I want your opinion about 2 lines and the rod.
http://www.guideline.no/Coastal.d2Y-18UlNO38pBp7q5B8Nxh0xE2N13PYpwtrI4p…
or
http://www.guideline.no/?module=Webshop;action=ProductGroup.publicOpen;…
and the rod
http://www.scierra.com/rods/srxv2/
all #6 class.
I hope you will reply soon and thank you for your time.
Try Amazon for bulk felting needle purchases. I'm just getting started with tube flies and ran across the article while researching materials and techniques. If you tie on a Norvise as I do, there are a couple of instructional videos by Norm that address the problems of tube slippage.
Well if you don't fully cure it then it could. Using a low powered light with a short cure time will keep it tacky, however if you use their light, it will cure quickly and without tackyness as they advertise. Depending on the formula, it can cure tack free in as little as 8 seconds. The thicker the formula though the longer it takes. The thick hard formula takes 30+ seconds. I usually cure it to keep it from moving then stick it in the sun to finish. But the rest of their formulas are much quicker.
David is a Good tier and a poor communicator. Extremely difficult to understand, I speak English, his voice Trails off and he has a tendency to mumble. Fortunately one can visually see his tying steps but it's almost impossible to hear what he is saying.
The above is meant as feedback if he cares. Speaking up, more clearly and no mumbling would be a huge improvement. Especially for those of us that don't share his dialect.
I made one of these rod Tubes For my Three Piece Fly Rod.I'm not paying a big price for a ROD TUBE? when there so easy to make
I have used nothing but homemade/handmade tapered leaders my entire life, growing up in western Maine, fly fishing has always been a large part of my life, and economically it just makes sense, and the transfer of energy through the cast can actually be felt as the leader unfurls, nailknots and homemade leaders are the way to go, i just like whipping them up every spring and handing them out to family and friends who lack the patience to do it themselves. 5 minutes and total cost with mono about 11 cents per 10 footer, or tapered factory extruded 3-7 dollars, with greatly varying quality/strength, using Maxima Chameleon for the entire leader, (tannin rich coffee clored waters) it has yet to let me down, so if you got the dough go with what you want, but if youre a bit more frugal like myself, build them yourself, there are hundreds of formulas through LeaderCalc right here on site that are the best around, I cant say enough about the quality of info here, again thank you and as always "tight lines and big smiles".
Thanks Martin for the reply and the link on Leader formula. A Question remains . In my 6X WF-F line I choose a choose a 4X or 5X tippet ? So I choose a similar rated Leader i.e. 4X / 5X. Or, my Weight 6 WF-F Line is to be matched with 4/5X Leader to which I may install a 4/5 X Tippet depending on the fly size. Will the Fly size influence the tippet (as explained in the link) but also the leader ? Do we have a Fly Line/Leader/ Tippet/ Fly ratio formula too ?
Trevor "McTage" Tanner has designed some killer carp patterns in addition to the trouser worm. For me, the mcluvin and chubby chaser have yielded the best results. give any of his patterns a try and you will be pleased.
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