Monday 30 April 2012

Sea Trout & Bass flies Weekend tying,

 Well still been busy, its been sea trout and bass flies. that has been the main orders this weekend, The Toucans above still being asked for, the ones above are on there way to northern Ireland. its still on going i have orders for intruders to go to Sweden, and a big order i am in the middle of tying to go to the states. will post photos of them soon,
 Above, a set of sea trout tubes, for a local angler. 
 One of the tubes, is not a type of tube you see a lot. in a sewin (sea trout) anglers box, but one that works very well for me on bright nights. tied with pearl flashabou,
 The good old squirrel blue and silver,
 Black and peacock,
 The blue, great for fresh fish. and tidal water not forgetting clear nights aswell,
 Peacock black and red,
 Bass bait fish patterns, tied on size 2 main hook B175 & size 4 VMC octopus hook.
 These ones, tied on size 4 B175 & size 6 stinger.

 Again, the two sets above, tied on same sizes, the four sets will be swimming around the Gower coast this summer.
 The close ups, showing the light dressings, that still give a good full profile of a bait fish.

And above, all four sets together,

Friday 27 April 2012

Getting there, and spoiling myself.

 Well i am getting there slowly, sorting out my flies for this season. and i have been spoiling myself by having some new fly boxes made up, i am very lucky that my mate is a very good cabinet maker. and he built all my tying tying desk and material storage cabinets, and here are some of my flies for the coming season. Tubes, snakes and waddingtons. all the flies range from 11/2" inch to 21/2" inch and will be tying bigger later this coming week, Above ate some 2" Medicine snake flies
 The above tubes, are 21/2" inch, these have had some big fish for me. and fish well on a di5/7 line when a lot of water is in the system,
 Two colors i use a lot, these are 2" inch long.
 Again, two colors, Black tends to be the go to color in Wales. and the two tine blue fishes well in tidal water, but has also fished well many miles up the river Towy on clear nights.
 And the good old Alexander, a killing pattern. plus my gray ghost gray marble fox, fishes well again on clear nights and on dusk & dawn.  
 Here are some of the snake flies i use, the squirrel blue and silver a cracking pattern. Black and silver as i said a go to fly all the time,
 Blue and black, another great color combo, plus i do like my all black with glow in the dark eyes.
 Above the two large boxes, made out of Oak with oak burr and teak inlay around the side.
 The smaller of the boxes, again in Oak.
 The waddingtons, which i also use a lot. great for getting you fly down fast,





 And above some close ups of the waddingtons,
And one of the smaller boxes, with some of the flies in it.

Thursday 19 April 2012

Irish bass flies, and a few more.

 This Time of year, i start to get a lot of anglers around the UK and Ireland. to tie up bass flies for the coming season, and have to say its a part of fly fishing i like a lot. from the shore and boat, i am very lucky that i live in Swansea and to far from the Gower. an area i have fished for a long time to long when i think back, does time fly. i started fly fishing for bass back in 1972, but had many years before fishig for them with lures and crab plus live baiting with Mackerel . and have had many fish to over 10lb on all four methods,
So here are some bait patterns i tied up for one of my customer in Ireland. the ones above are double hook patterns about 6inch long,  
 Above ate some snake flies, these are about 3inch long from tip of loop to back of the double hooks.
 Above, some small singles, tied on strong size 4 Nash carp hook. about 3inch long and great for fishing on a dropper, fishing this way i have had a good number of double hook ups.
 The sets all in a bunch, will soon be swimming around Wexford.
 And also this week been tying a lot of Sewin flies, top three colors of snake flies 2 inch long.
 Above a set of orange snake flies, off to Scotland 2inch long,
 And above some singles, off to Ammanford just up the road from me.
 Black and silver
 Teal and Blue,
 And Some shrimp patterns, again just up the road from my area. i have fished these patterns for a long time and done well on them, i like the full long crest of a golden pheasant dyed black. gives this shrimp pattern lots of movement,
 Close up, size 6 DEERCREEK double.
 Close up, on size 6 DEERCREEK double.
And this glow in the dark snake, is one that i turn to some nights. when things are slow just charge the bead in front of the hook, and the fish seem to like the glow it gives off.

 And yes the Toucans are still going out, above orange/ black and red toucans tied on singles and doubles.

Thursday 12 April 2012

My Fly Tying room and a few flies.

 Above is my tying desk, and as you can see, my studio that i use to take the photos of my flies. with the blue back ground set in the tying desk,
 Above, are the cabinet's were i keep most of the materials. aswell as in the tying desk draws,
 A view of my tying books, and some new fly boxes. i had made for myself, will post some photos of them at a later date.
 And another shot of the cabinet tops, all the units are made of Oak. i am very lucky that my mate is a very good cabinet maker,
 We have had some low water, but did have a lift the other day. not much of one so tied up some wee cascades for myself on size 15s partridge salars,
 Also been tying again, for an angler in north Wales. tied up these Jambo wake lures, i also love using these lures. great fun fishing these lure on the top, and seeing the Sewin coming in to take these. also the salmon love them,These are tied with Deerhair body and black bear tail and silver/red flash.
 The six that he wanted, tied on a size 4 Kamasan B175. and a size 12 treble stinger in the rear,
 Plus he wanted a dozen, of my Ghost shrimp. this fly fishes well on dusk, and the fish take them very hard. 
 The full set of Ghosts,
 Plus still in big demand, the Toucan. i have now tied over a 1450 of these flies,

Well still tying, the only thing i am having repeat orders. and tying same patterns all the time, but i am trying to top up my own boxes.my new boxes that my mate John, who made my units in my tying room.  to get out after the sewin. we had a lift of water on the river Towy and i will be out for sure tomorrow day and into the dark, there are a few fish there. so let hope they are up for a few of my flies,