well done...

Few weeks ago I have received a nice fly tying accessory from Daylight – fly tying lamp with true daylight spectrum. The main reason for purchase was to have convenient on the go solution that is possible to use in a car or in a small camp, where usually you do not have enough lite for fly  tying. When I have received it I was a bit disappointed – a large electrical hardware was able to produce only a tiny light that was just more than nothing. The spectrum was good but the brightness – uhhh, certainly for twilight tiers. Meanwhile the construction and idea was close to brilliant, but a bit outdated in electrical part. So, I thought it would be nice to convert it according to todays technologies. Light emitting diodes know as LED’s was the name of the game.

(more…)

Finnaly loaded

During the last few month my tying activities was more less focused on sea trout flies. After the two weeks I will be chasing these magnificent fish somewhere in Sweden, so I have prepared a bit of flies for this trip. In spite of the fact that i believe in retrieve rather than fly, it is always fun to experiment. Seatrout during the early spring tend to focus on bigger prey like small fish, rag warms, etc., so even big fantasy flies sometimes excels in this season. So it is time experiment a bit and tie few different patterns, because you can never know what to expect in the spring, especially in the Sea. On the other hand someone may admit, that usually we fish with the one fly mainly, and there is no need to carry around tons of fly boxes. Yes, if I’m landing one fish after another there is no need to change a fly – thats for sure. But if not? Or suddenly during the day waves become bigger, or opposite – you see some fish feeding in shallow quiet water, where heavy flies are worst to put on? Yes then you take out your fly box and realize that all Grey fredes are with heavy eyes, and shrimps are overloaded with led. “Oh dear, I should also tie lighter flies!” an old English gentlemen would suggest. Fisherman from our country would not be so tedious with expressions in same situation, but there will be no difference what the fishing is concerned. So more flies gives more possibility to adapt -main key to success almost anywhere.

So this season i have tied same flies i was using last year in a different weight ranges and color combinations. Main patterns to play with are still sand eels, grey fredes, rag worms, woollys and different shrimps. While tying techniques remains simple, material and color combinations are endless. I have found 3 favorite materials for epoxy sand eels, that still have a lot of movement, but does not bend around the hook while casting. So these are kinky fiber, buck tail and vide variety of hen and other hackle feathers. My eels are not as small as usual, but when it will be necessary I will not hesitate to shorten synthetic tails, what basically is one of the advantages that synthetics like kinky fiber have over natural materials. You can not shorten natural tails like buck tail or hen feathers with out loosing the movement in water and without affecting fly shape. You will also find a few flies inspired from one of the best scandinavian fly fishing page globalflyfisher where people who loves sea and specially sea trout share their experience.
I have already prepared article for the next week where I will share my experience  how to create a perfect striping basket – some tips may be new for you, so,
See you next week.
RR

Here are the flies:

My soldiers

Feather sand eal

Pinky pig shrimp

Orange frede

Classic sand eel - kinky version

Albino sand eel, also kinky

Pinky Frede

Chartreuse frede

Classical Grey frede

Green sand eel

Rules are following:

1. Everyone from all countries can participate, just send me a link to your Catc&Release video in Youtube or if you have not uploaded it yet send video directly to my email -- see contacts page.

2. I will display this video under the Video pages in between already existing movies.
(Check out the new entry from Ernestas)

3. There will be 3 categories awarded in 31.december 2010- Biggest fish, Best video and Thats  crazy.

4. Prizes are from LOOP see bellow, so come on and join us:

#1 Biggest fish

Superb Loop Opti rod

#2 Best video

LOOP C&R net

#3 Thats  crazy

I`m bussy - will decide later...

Uwe Rieder

There are good days bad days and since this year Fly Fishing Days in Lithuania. This is rather a fly fishing festival not a competition. During the both days there will be fly casting demonstrations and lessons from EFFA master instructor Uwe Rieder (www.pro-guides.com), so do not hesitate to participate in casting clinics.This is nice chance to fix some casting faults. For those who are focused more on tying than fishing, there will be also some tying corner indoors to share your experiences. So bring your own tying stuff too. You can come with your families – organisers promise that assistants will take care of your children and if it will be necessary also will help to find your way back to tent or lodge.

Event will be held at June 6-7 in the river valley SVENTOJI next to the coast of lake Pastys in camp side “Pastys” You can find map here.
Event price:
The guest fee 5 €. (With your tent)
Guest-house fee 15 €. / 1 pers.
P. S.: Number of rooms are limited.

For more information ask here or try to connect Eugenijus directly: eugenijus#salmolita.lt
See you there,
RR

This spring is a birthday of new fly fishing festival and championship in Latvia. Few years ago few enthusiasts from organization “Mes Zivim” started to stock grayling, trout and rainbows  in the river Ogre with the aim to establish licensed fishing for these species in long term perspective. Lets say, sustainable development. Now river has its own grayling population and pretty good chance to land some big one too. To help organization continue efforts in this river and also to promote this scenic part of Ogre, at the May 16, fly fishing championship and festival, will be held at Mengene.

Map

Rules are as always – one rod with maximum two fly`s and of course barbless hooks are the  must for anyone who are out in the river. Also you must have a landing net and general state licenze – so called Makskeresanas karte. I hope organisators will provide it. To be honest we can expect some spin fishermen also at that time in the river, but they will fish in different parts, and hopefully will not disturb our activity`s. Usually there are nice persons, and just a few steps away from fly fishing.

Prices for participants are aprox 10 Euro for guests and 30 Euro for participants. During the day, there will be  casting pool as well as casting clinics from me, Egils and Guntars.  For more information call V. Rozentāls  +371 29159593 .  I hope i will see some friends from Lithuania and Estonia – Ogre is worth to see at that time, and you can come with the family if you like.

See you there and any questions are welcome!

Classic Salmon flies

Back again. This time from Kolding Flyfestival. I was there together with friends from deaddrift.org nice beer and rod casters from Lithuania.

Some years ago together with Egils we passed fly casting exams here, so for me this festival has an historical background also. 24 hours of traveling in one direction was worth to see how fly fishing is developing in Scandinavia.  This is one of the biggest fly fishing festivals in Northern Europe, so it is a must to see what happens there.

News are following. (more…)

I`m currently working on my web page. Come back soon and post a coments and share your oppinion about fly fishing.

Reinis Sigulda 2005