Entries in Fly-fishing equipment (5)
Fullers Earth
The best line sinkant formula, better than any proprietary pastes on the market:
- Mix Fullers Earth with washing-up liquid, until you get a thick paste
- Add a few drops of Glycerine to prevent it drying out.
- Store and carry in air-tight film cannister.
flyfishertc
in Fly fishing thoughts, Fly-fishing equipment
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How do you choose a fly-vest?
Answer: Perhaps you shouldn't!
Here's a link to how I chose my carrying system.
flyfishertc
in Fly-fishing equipment
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British Fly Fair 2007
Having attended every British Fly Fair exhibition, this year's was perhaps one of the best in terms of fly-tyers and exhibitors present. But I am always left in two minds over whether I will attend next year's show.
On the one hand, it is great to be able to speak with great fly-tyers and watch them at work, picking up ideas ahead of a Winter at the tying bench. In particular: 
- The Clyde-style master, Charlie Davidson from Ayr with his Clyde-style wets. His Crow and Silver and his Grey Hen and Rust were flies I had not seen before and which I will add to my patterns to try out next year.
- Roy Christie with his reverse parachute flies and,
- Mikko Stenberg from Finland, well known for his muddlers.
However, there is something unsatisfying about seeing so much hi-tech equipment and exotic fly-tying material on display. Maybe it's my inner need to simplify and only have what is strictly necessary. Somehow I draw the line at polar bear fur, or a whole capercaille, or the latest expensive reel from XXX retailing at £450 (made in China), or a £200 fly-tying tool holder (just a shiny log with holes in it). I would rather tie a fly from a blackbird feather found in the garden, or improvise a tool holder from some flotsam found on the beach.
The one thing that I was looking for but did not find was a copy of Bert Sharp's "Let's fish the Clyde!".
flyfishertc
in Fly-fishing equipment, Fly Exhibitions
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Knives
I can't remember a time that I did not own a knife. I think I was about 7 years old when I managed to badger my father for a small foldable knife, and I spent hours carving drift wood, making spears and catapults, preparing fish, or gouging into green coconuts on the beaches in NE Brazil. I had what I regard as an idyllic childhood, free to explore my natural surroundings, occasionally making mistakes and getting into trouble, but, here is the important point, learning about my physical limits through trial and error, learning a sense of respect for rip-tides, sea-snakes, jelly-fish and of course, knives. So it's with a heavy heart that I read about the knife crime in the UK, particularly amongst the young. They face a different set of challenges, far more difficult than I had. It's just a shame that their challenges are played out through the symbol of the knife.
flyfishertc
in Fly fishing thoughts, Fly-fishing equipment
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Fly-fishing hooks
There aren't many good reviews on fly-fishing hooks, which is a surprise given how important they are to the pursuit of trout. The choice is bewildering and getting ever more technical each year. The right choice of hook can be the difference between a lost fish and one in the net. Weight, wire strength and bend resistance, hook shape, gape size, type of bend affecting the entry angle, barb size or barb-less, angle of the eye - there are many variables to consider. I have started a catalogue and some thoughts on some of the hooks that I have used.
flyfishertc
in Fly-fishing equipment
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