Wednesday 29 August 2012

Bank holiday ties.

 Well first, the good news is my step by step section is back up and running, thanks to my good old mate Gareth(micro flies) Lewis. cheers mate, what would i do with out you.

Well i have been very busy over the weekend tying, they all went in the post this morning. do hope i get a bit of time this week, to get a bit of salmon and sewin fishing in. not been out much this yea,r what with the weather and flooding rivers all this season. but back to the tying, have put up some of the ties that i did this weekend just gone. plenty of the toucans still being asked for and going out, the Kinermony Killer flamethrower is going out in big numbers to. but my snake flies are still in very big demand,   
 Above 1" Toucan cone head tube,
 Toucan, tied on a Deercreek size 6 gold salmon single hook. great strong hook this one,Will be tying a good few of my flies on these for my BC salmon fishing trip.
And above, the Toucan on a Deercreek, gold double salmon hook size 6.




 Above a range of 11/2" tubes, these are another popular one for the sewin and salmon.



 The snake flies above, are a style that as been asked for a lot now. since i have started tying them, these are tied on 0.24" dia 7strand stainless wire. the wire is very flexible, and does not get cut on the rocks like hollow mono braid does. and these move a lot better than the mono braid, as it stays light in the water. it does not take on water like the mono braid,,
 Above, my glow in the dark snake fly, tied on braid. as some anglers still like the material,
 The one above, is a snake that has been fishing well for my mate. black wing/ throat hackle and strands of fine pearl flash, plus peacock pearl mylar on the body. he fishes middle range of the river Towy,
And above the Jambo, love tying deer hair. and great fly to fish when waking these, the takes can be out of this world. just love fishing them in the dark for sewin, but also work well on the salmon in the day.
 And the Kinermony killer flamethrower, all the colors in this fly just work.
 Above 1" tungsten tube, Krystal flash head.
 And this one,1/2" tied on a heavy brass tube and cone.
 And 1/2" Tungsten tube, with krystal flash head.




Above, more snake wire mounts, ready to be tied up.















Tuesday 21 August 2012

Bala, North Wales Game Fair.

 Last weekend, I was tying at the north Wales game fair at Bala. I have been tying at this show from the start, this year was the third year. and have to say it gets better ever year, and a great show to catch up with a number of mates. that don't get to see enough, myself and my mate Gareth Lewis above. (very well known for is super micro flies) drove up from south Wales very early Saturday morning, and the satnav did give us a great look around on the way up. why do these things always want to take you the long way around, but will say it was a great look at the country on the way up.
 Above, my good old mate Emyr Breese, again a great tier of competition flies. i was very lucky to be tying and sitting between him and Gareth Lewis, i picked up a lot of great tips. tying these small trout and grayling flies, 
 And above, another mate and great tier of trout and grayling flies Louis Noble. top guy,
And yours truely tying on the weekend, i was tying salmon flies.  
 And above we have the one and only, Gwilym Hughes top guide in north Wales. and writer of the book the Angle of the cast, top read get hold of this book you will love it. i always stay with Gwilym when i go to this show, he and his lovely wife Sarah really look after myself, and also Gareth this year.
 Another North Wales buddy, Dylan great guy and tier.
 Another north Wales mate Paul, as you can see both in the photo laughing. as when i went to take photo, his thread broke.
 Above Trevor, an other top small trout and grayling tier. and also along side him Sue, who ties some nice saltwater patterns.
 Above, above the Cookshill stand. great materials.
 And above Christina Tooley of Chevron, and my mate Dewi Williams tying on the stand. great around tier but will say love is wet mayflies,
 And above John of Celtic fly craft, great materials again.
 Out side the tying tent, was the casting pool very popular venue over the weekend.

Above, two photos of Gwilym Hughes casting, single and double hand. later i will be putting up some videos of him casting,

Sunday 12 August 2012

Elvers and toucans

 I have not posted for a bit, just had my head in my tying room. thank god it's slowing down now, so hopefully i will get a bit more fishing in. i am really missing getting out on the river at night for the sewin, here are a few flies i tied up this week to send to a customer to fish the river Spey. he wanted these elver flies tied on copper tubes and snake flies, he saw them in trout and salmon back a month or two.


 Above the copper Blue JC Elver tube, 
 And above the Elver snake flies,
And above the Elver snake fly

    
 Half inch cone head Toucan cone head, 
 3/4" inch cone head Toucan, 
 And above the set of Toucans, this fly has been going out all year. i have now tied up 3500 of them,
 And did spoil myself this month, i had this new snake vise made for myself.
Close up of heads of vise, and my take on the Green highlander.