Recent comments

Bead-chain as extra bling and weight.

Hey Nick,
Great fly pattern and good use of bead-chain.
Back in the '80s, when looking to add some bling and weight to some fly patterns for winter-run steelhead on Vancouver Island, I used bead-chain as a ridged back on the fly body. It worked great. These patterns are now called Ridj-bak flies. The bead-chain can be attached by overwinding it with wire or coloured floss and could even have a saddle hackle wound over between the beads. Looks great and fishes well. Can't attach a photo here but will send it to you via private e-mail if you wish.
Cheers!

Merci!

Serge,

Thanks for the nice words about the site!

I'm sure you will not regret your purchase. It's a very interesting book, and one I hope you will like. Supporting books like this is important if we want to continue seeing them published.

Martin

Feather Mechanic II

Hi Martin. First, I want to wish you «une Belle et Bonne Année 2024».
I also say thanks…thanks for keeping alive and healthy GFF. I can’t imagine the time and efforts you had put in the project until now.

This book review is useful for me. I didn’t buy volume one and I kind of regret. Volume II is on the way. Fly fishing and Fly tying books are important object to me. My library has more than 150 of them. I am from this old school were the smell of the book is as important as it content.

Feather Mechanic II is different…that convinced me to put my hands on it. Knowing that some great tiers had collaborated is another good reason. Is this world of great photos and computerized images, hand drawings by the author is one more. So thanks for the review.

Stay cool

Well written. One more reason for tuning in here again. And for recommending GFF.

I was born 1962. States used to control TV. Now I can have my own weekly show and many are watching from around the globe. Super cool. Websites made many magazines redundant. Mail order catalogues turned into mainstream shopping -mobile first. Analytics.

But interesting stuff is often found in niche places. Nothing is new about this.
If GFF is to cater for the big crowds it will have to adopt. Not being niche. Not being cool.

Reply to Mark M Koscinski

Mark, I assure you those rods were cheap production rods such as Montague and H&I and were intended as entry level rods or wall hangers, the black "ink" being in homage to the minor trend of "Japanning" as black laquering was called, primarily in the 50s. He wouldn't have done that to a high quality rod from a classic maker.

Relationship to Bert Quimby

Just to correct the record. I recently discovered pictures of Bert Quimby in uniform from World War One and his letter to my Grandmother, Grace Miller Davis. They were cousins living in Whitefield New Hampshire in 1917. My twin brother, Bill Davis commented on 2018 that he believed we were related to Bert’s wife Jackie but the actual relationship is to Bert. I am looking for any information on Bert.

Framing History Ted

Give me a call Ted. Lots of work Ted and need to have this moving at this times of our life.

Brown owl orgins

Very interesting article on a fly pattern I had forgotten about for many years. The origins of a fly pattern can be very convoluted because we all build on patterns that came before us. It could be a bigger version of an old euro style wet fly. I don't know if related to a western pattern known as the Stayner Ducktail, a popular minnow pattern in reservoirs or the popular Zoo Cougar, but there are many similarities that may have influenced tyers.

A lousy old fly rod

Learning and experience can solve a lot of difficulty.

Andrej...

... is hands down the best guide for this region. He will take you places other guides don't even know exist. He is your man, 100%!

Thanks!

Carl,

Thanks to much for the donation! I wanted to send a thank you mail when I got the notification from PayPal, but my mail is still acting up, so you get a heartfelt thank you here.

Martin

Donation

Martin, I’m glad that GFF is back up and running again. The temporary loss of the site due to the ransomware attack reminded me that I hadn’t donated in awhile so when I was able to open it today I sent a PayPal contribution. Love your site and am happy to support it.

Just use the site

As it is right now, things seem to be running and most problems have been solved, even though a few glitches still need some attention.
So for the readers and users, it's just a question of returning to the site and start using it.
And my request for content contributions is of course the same.

Glad to see you alive and kicking

What can we do to help.

Not fish food

This one would go on my cap. Too beautiful for a steelhead.

Beach Science

Dear Martin,
Thanks for your positive comments. The book learns you much about waves , tsunami and what to (not) do when you end up in quick sand. All very important knowledge for flyfishers.
Greetings
Bart

The fly caster is the source

The fly caster is the source of ALL the energy, speed (and distance) of a fly cast. Fly rods do not provide accuracy or distance or energy to a cast. You can't buy a rod which will make you a competent fly caster - but competent instruction and practice can

Great article!

What an inspiring build story! I have been thwarted by the "equipment wall" many times and it's refreshing to see other ways to achieve beautiful results!

One thing that really struck me about this net was its elegant proportions...is the hoop a single strip from a 3/4" thick trim piece? How thin, in the other dimension, does it need to be in order to bend w/ stovetop steam?

thanks and, again, great build!

Sage X 8110-4

The new Sage X Switch line 6110-4, 7110-4, 8110-4 has revolutionized switch rod design. My pick for Salmon is the 8110-4. My standard King Salmon fly rod (fish between 20-35 lbs) is Sage X 896-4. The power of the X line, like Igniter allows you to fish way lighter rod weights and handle way bigger fish.

Looking for good fly fishing

Looking for good fly fishing video for salt water

Priorities

Personally, I would've put your Second as First.

renato rizzi

Translation: beautiful drawings done well, they recall the drawings that the big names in fly fishing made, not being able to count on mobile phones, photos in general. so they relied on the pencil, charcoal to reproduce the flies, a nice return to the past, it should be rewarded and valued plus it is Italian and this is a plus point

original: disegni bellissimi fatti bene ,ricordano i disegni che facevano i big della pesca mosca non potendo contare su telefonini,foto in generale. quindi si affidavano alla matita,carboncino per riprodurre le mosche ,un bel ritorno al passato,andrebbe premiato e valorizzato in più è italiano e questo è un punto in più

The Sam's One Bug

Thanks for re-posting Soren's video of him tying my father's fly. Check out @samsonebug on Instagram or additional videos on youtube. Thanks again. Wade Blevins

Featured on Murder She Wrote

S11, Ep. 20 "Another Killing In Cork", Rod Taylor presents one to each of his guests for the next day's fishing.