Recent comments

What I prefer

Smhaen is by far my preferred here for my needs…Sea Bass and Pike flies. Bulldog clamp is not good, there are always hairs & fibers stocked in . I had used hair clips for a while and still use them when needed, like when Smhaen not large enough for big head flies.

no doubt, this fly will catch fish

What I particularly like about this type of fly is that even if it is lost in the mouth of a big pike or a big lake trout, you don't have the impression of seeing hours of work disappear in the bottom of the lake…which happens to me :-)

Ace of spades

The ace of spades was originally created by David Collier a British fly tier in the 1960s. He based it on the New Zealand patterns just arriving in the uk at the time.

Adored fly tying desk

Bob, It was fun to get a peek at your desk. What a great desk for tying. I think I have a lot of materials until I get a look at other folk’s collections. I think all fly tiers will die with hundreds, if not thousands of flies that have never seen the water, and materials to tie thousands of dozens more. You know you have been tying for a long time when you have little cubbies labeled ‘Condor quills’ and ‘Polar Bear’. It’s pretty hard to acquire those materials now, if not downright illegal. My favorite were the boxes of Mustad hooks. I don’t know when Mustad quit selling hooks in those boxes, but I bet it was at least 40 years ago. I still have a few of those boxes, usually with a couple of hooks still in them. I think I still have a nearly full box of size 20’s. Mustad size 20’s from the 1970’s are a whole lot smaller than new size 20’s from Tiemco and the like.

Much appreciated

Serge, Thanks for the support! I'm now about 90% done, and the upgrade is coming along. There's still a few bits left, but I'm pretty sure the new site will go online soon. And then it's back to doing fly fishing related stuff! Martin

GFF is suffering but I feel better days are coming

Martin, what kind of encouragement can you give a guy who is thousands of miles away working hard to get a sick patient back on his feet! I don't know how to express my appreciation for your dedication, except for a few words.

Fishing camp

Thanks for the information. Love this idea.

I haven’t seen you for a long

I haven’t seen you for a long time. I’m glad to hear you’re still fishing. Take care

A tying table on a overbed table!

I was influenced by Jan-Ole's table a few years ago. I set mine up on an old hospital overbed table with wheels and adjustable height. I bought this table for a few dollars at a hospital surplus sale.

Fishing near Istanbul or an airport.

Is urban fishing near bustling airports a sustainable practice, or does it negatively impact local ecosystems? What unique challenges do anglers face when fishing in such developed areas, and could this phenomenon lead to innovative fishing techniques or conservation efforts?

Fly Fishing in The Philippines

Bo, I'm not on Facebook, but my wife who is says you should look up Filamflyfisher His name is Albert, and I've spoken with him in the past over email. He's also on Instagram as well. This is, "the guy" I plan to connect with when we travel to the Philippines to get my nieces and Nephews hooked on fly fishing. I wanna say he's based out of Manila, but can't recall it exactly. But he's your "goto guy" who can get you started over there, or be your guide, or at the very least, point you in the right direction. Good luck to you both.

Nice!

Very nice pupae pattern. Would certainly be good here in Canada in lake and also, under ice during winter fishing. Thanks!

A real gem

Davie McPhail is a great tyer…not surprising he is followed by thousands of people on YouTube. His channel is a large library of trout and salmon patterns. The quality of the videos he published are very good.

Glad you succeeded, Martin

Reading the things you had to do to get GFF up and running again, I can almost feel the frustration and hardship you had to deal with. Big compliment for your efforts and the result. Thanks to your perseverance I stil have acces to the articles about the time during the nineties when you and the others from Virtual Fly Shop fished with us in Lake Oostvoorne.

Changing Web Sites

The internet is live an ever changing river. We need to adapt to the changes. Good luck!

Belated Congratulations

My congratulations on your 30th anniversary are belated but heartfelt. I would echo Serge in his thanks and admiration in keeping GFF going as a non-commercial enterprise for so long in the face of personal challenges as well as huge changes in the way that digital flyfishing content is delivered.

Thanks

I've always tied the classic salmon flies, and have just begun focusing on tying hairwing salmon/steelhead flies. Your site and this list of patterns are fantastic! Just what I was looking for. Thank you.

Fantastic!

What a great collection…I know the work it has here. I am blow away. Thanks Mr Petti.

Another great book from Barry

Another very good book from this author and tyer. I am a big fan of these books that are supported by videos via a QR code.

pool in the bend of a river

I can think of no name for a "pool in the bend of a river, however I can help you hook more fish. you hold your rod high. If you keep the rod tip low and close to the water, about 75mm, your reaction time will improve and seface tention on the line will make for a more positive hook set. I enjoyed the vedieo very much clif

Great true fly

Is it over detailed? Not necessarily. Is it a great fly? Absolutely! Frosty Fly has a version they sell that is no better, just more steps and a little flashy. I respect anyone that can come up with a fly like this. PS, for avid tiers like me, that is not so complicated. A huge benefit.

Clyde style flies

I live in the village of Crawford on the upper Clyde. I have tied and fished Clyde style flies for 50 odd years what I know as Clyde style is tied with a rolled wing upright, I have only once seen websters style of split wing fly being fished on a Clyde tributary about 1985. Both styles have been about on Clyde and Upper Tweed since the early nineteenth century and possibly earlier. The split wing style is never used today and the rolled wing style is going the same way, very few wet fly fishers left I fish wet fly a lot I use a cast of five flies upstream or up and across depending on the wind they still catch a lot of trout. There is good information on both styles in E M Todd’s book wet fly fishing

I can tie on a Regal - I just don't want to

Eric,

You are absolutely right, but why would I use a tool I don't like? I simply don't like tying on a Regal. I haven't said it's a bad vise or that it has flaws. I personally just don't like tying on one.

Thousands and thousands of people tie perfect flies on Regals and love it, and good for them! But that doesn't mean that I have to like the Regal vise.

I'm sure no one would be able to see the difference between two flies that I tied on my LAW and on a Regal (or on a Thompson A), but I'd have a much better time and experience using my LAW - and be way more efficient too.

Martin

Rare is the vise that isn't more capable than the tyer using it

Rather than write a long post about the misunderstandings of Regal vise "flaws," I'll just say this: If you can't tie beautiful flies on a Thompson A, don't ever rate yourself as a great fly tyer.