My mate's STUFF

My good friend Chris Sandford has released Episode 2 of Stuff on his website www.chrissandford.com

Enjoy!

BUG-BOND have you made the connection yet?

It’s been documented here in my blog and social media sites in addition to fly fishing magazines the other uses of BUG-BOND.

The first that I’ll recap on is the creation of a loop on the end of the fly line or connecting braided loops to a fly line.

The first documented test of BUG-BOND used in this way was by Tom Gorman on his annual sailfish pilgrimage… in 2010 we had spit outs as well as a shortage of fish, in 2011 Tom had his first sail on the fly his connections were BUG-BOND… here is the link to that original blog post  http://deesox.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/bug-bond-and-first-sailfish.html

The next loop connection article was published in “Total Flyfisher Magazine” in May last year and was written by Barry Ord Clarke “The Confessions of a Glue Addict”… and this was reproduced in part here http://deesox.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/bug-bond-how-to-on-rod-and-line.html . Barry’s loop was the creation of a new welded loop on the flyline… I tested this method on my own Scientific Angler’s Mastery Pike WF9 fly line… almost 12 months on and the loop is still functioning perfectly.

For my recent trip to Norway I had a ruck of new fly lines in front of me and no factory loops on any of the lines. I also took the opportunity to take old fly lines and renew the loops that had been placed on the fly lines many years ago. Speed and ease is the name of the game especially when you are up against a fast approaching deadline!

I selected Roman Moser Minicon trout loops… I have always used them – there are others but I had these to hand. Now this is really a very simple operation…

·         Follow the instructions on the Roman Moser packet in placing the loop on the fly line

·         Instead of solvent based 24 hour curing adhesives and cyanoacrylates “super glues” use BUG-BOND Original or Lite… I preferred using BUG-BOND Lite due to better capillary action

·         With the hand strap of the BUG-BOND UV light hang it from your fly tying lamp and switch it on

·         On the braid encased fly line place a drop of BUG-BOND Lite  - small amount and ensure that you coat fully the tip of the fly line (NOT the loop).

·         With the nail that is supplied with the Roman Moser loops place the loop under tension and whilst rotating backward and forward to keep the BUG-BOND Lite coating nice and even place it under the light and expose it to the UV light

·         Release the tension on the loop and there you have it - a smooth, flexible and strong connection

Roman Moser Minicon trout loops are designated as 8kg/16lb – By following the Roman Moser instructions and applying BUG-BOND Lite and then testing on a spring balance we registered a weight of 20lbs without failure of the loop or the connection.

Sea Trout 3# Finding Fish

Back in January talking to my pal Barry Ord Clarke we decided on a weekend that I’d travel to Norway to fish with him for coastal Sea Trout… Barry suggested a week before Easter when usually the weather has come up above freezing and spring is well on the way. This time last year we were looking at 16°C in Norway and Britain was bathed in a heatwave… this year temperatures plummeted and are below seasonal norms. In the days prior to me leaving the UK for Norway high winds and snow were forecast from the North East giving wind chill factors of -20°C. This was as much about survival as about fishing… never mind catching.

Last Wednesday night and on final approach into Oslo snow whipped past the window of the aircraft. On exiting customs I was met by a friendly face… an unmistakable broad Northern grin across Barry’s face.

Emma photo by Barry Ord Clarke

I woke to a white Norway with a temperature of -7°C in the sun… it looked so deceptive.  Stepping outside I felt the rawness of the wind this was seriously cold. Barry said that we’d meet up with Emma Bäcker Håkonsen a freelance fishing journalist later that day when the temperature had warmed up. I would point out that we are talking about the temperature increasing to -1°C! Emma had identified an area between two islands that had a pocket of ice free water… it looked like we were going to struggle to get sea trout in my 4 day trip to Norway!

We drove to the meeting place… everything was white; we crossed bridges over rivers and open sea that were solid ice… this was looking dire. To acclimatise I was dressed in my thermal underwear and Simms fleece bib… if you are fully dressed in the car then you’ll freeze when you get out into the open. On arriving at the bridge I got out of the car and quickly dressed. The wind was biting and by the time I was gearing up my fingers were freezing as I tied on my first fly. Emma arrived with her casting rods with dead bait rigs on which she would float fish a small brisling (sprat) along the current to tempt the sea trout. The wind was force 5-6 and fly fishing was going to be difficult… Emma was going fish off the main pier in the wind whilst I was going to fish on the leeward side of the bridge. Out of the wind and in the sun I covered the water with my fly allowing it to drift with the current. No joy! 

photo by Barry Ord Clarke

After a short while Barry and Emma appeared, they had retreated from the windy mark. Emma had success… 2 sea trout had succumbed to what is a deadly method of fishing and she had lost a further 4! They were surprised that I’d not seen anything and Emma decided to rig a second rod for me and we’d fish two rods on my side of the bridge in the relative calm. The action was basically over… she had hit the feed at just the right time. After 3 hours and plummeting air temperatures we called it a day.

The weather was going to be a major problem for us and the fact that the ice had not retreated as much as Barry would have liked may cause us issues over the weekend when we were due to fish the Norwegian coast.

There was no need to get up out and early as the air temperatures were just too low and we had to wait for temperatures to rise for us to stand any chance of a fish.

Saturday arrived and -3°C in the morning sun… Mmmm… we had breakfast and set off for the coast. We drove on roads that punched their way through mountains passed settlements whose wooden houses generally painted red, yellow ochre, grey or white provided relief from the tracts of forest. Large fields covered in snow showed the evidence of Nordic ski tracks that continually looped the boundaries of the fields… crossing bridges I’d see folk fishing on the ice boring holes with giant augers. It’s part of the fishing experience seeing an alternative landscape.

The geological architecture of post ice age Norway is impressive, immense rounded granite rock structures carved by raging sub-surface ice melt-water rivers hurtling glacial deposits past and carving perfect curves in the bedrock.

We crossed from the mainland and then two islands to reach our destination… we saw inlets with ice and without ice… would we be in luck?

Photo by David Edwards

On arriving at the red (perhaps burnt sienna would be a nearer description) cottage we saw ice in the top of the inlet but open water glistening in the midday sun. Step out of the car – hell, it was cold… we got changed out of the wind on the verandah and set up our rods… I never took notice of what fly Barry tied on… I decided that as the sea trout that Emma had caught were eating brisling and sticklebacks then I’d tie on a Virtual Minnow… Pearl white BUG-BOND body with a dusky pink zonker – that’ll do nicely!

Virtual Minnow photo by David Edwards

My titanium studded boots bit into the ice as we crossed the top of the inlet… clicked on the granite and crunched on dry sea-weed.

Our first mark of the day was a granite finger that looked as if it was trying to escape the ice with the surrounding inlets on either side having ice in the upper reaches. Barry took the first inlet giving me the opportunity to fish open water immediately. The water was crystal clear every speck of sand was visible to the naked eye… that meant we were visible as well. A half crouching approach… strip line and fish into the water’s edge before getting anywhere near the water is important… many a fish is lost that is feeding close to land. Nothing, so I move in and strip more line… now I am punching the Arctic air with my 7wt intermediate line, working methodically in a fan shape in front of me and casting further each time.

Open water coastal fishing photo by David Edwards

The only sounds were the false casts of two rods working in unison, then I heard Barry exclaim that he’d felt a pluck on his fly and then another. My thoughts were none other than I was sure he was going to catch… his home turf and all that!  Then watching my fly come close felt a tug and a saw a movement behind… was this, a fish or my imagination? I cast again a full line toward the centre of two orange buoys in the inlet strip, strip, pause, strip, pause – bang “Barry, I’m in!” “Keep your rod tip high” was the response from my pal… I tried desperately to get line on the reel and play the fish with line in the other whilst watching this bar of silver flicking and turning in the water beneath me… for one horrible moment I thought I had lost it… line now on the reel I let the brake do its work with the rod tip taking each twist and turn of the fish in its stride. As the fish quietened and the fight ebbed from it, I slid the fish over the sea-weed and onto the ice. This was my first coastal sea-trout caught in open water. Barry measured the fish – 50cm and at 1.3kg was a fin perfect specimen – it was a male in prime condition. Wow! I was elated and could feel the internal glow and smile pervade my whole body.

My Sea Trout photo by David Edwards

Barry took some obligatory shots which were later lost when his camera short circuited and deleted the images he’d taken… fortunately he’d taken a couple of shots with my camera that is a record of the event… I photographed my fish on the ice with my phone and we recommenced fishing. Time to move on.

David Edwards photo by Barry Ord Clarke

This time I was wading in the inlet wading to over my waist… initially not unpleasant with my layered system but after a while I did find my personal tackle succumbing to the cold… the water temperature was 2°C, Barry had explained that the fishing really didn’t start until the sea was over 4°C… I’m not sure whether my body would have measured an extra 2 degrees of “warmth”!

photo by Barry Ord Clarke

We trekked across pack ice in inlets and across large smooth slabs of granite to get to open water but our casting met with a still cold silence… nothing doing was this going to be it for the day? Barry had packed some pasta from the night before which was eaten out of the wind and in the afternoon sun… warmth in my bones at last!

We crossed a snow covered grassed area near a cottage and spotted tracks… roe deer, squirrel, fox and then a set of large cat pads… lynx? A lynx had been spotted on the island some time ago… keep your eyes peeled! Each successive cast drew a blank… we were casting rather than fishing and the day seemed to be over. I heard Barry exclaim just like a football player does when he’s missed an easy goal by putting the ball wide of the open goal mouth! A fish of the 2kg mark had come to take Barry’s fly just as he’d lifted the fly off the water. The big fish was still there… he cast again a follow and a take but not from the bigger fish… it was still a keeper. Cast again and another follow – fish on but again not from the bigger fish… another keeper. Then all quiet… nothing. The show was over!  

During the casts to the bigger fish which Barry saw on two occasions, the fly was taken by fish coming from another direction. As we walked back with our catch my pal was saying that he should have been using his Proppen fly earlier in the day.

   

All three fish we caught were over 1kg. They were fish that hadn't spawned last year and having spent the winter in salt water they were in great condition and silver (just what we wanted).

Barry Ord Clarke photo by David Edwards

Sunday – my last day in Norway… an evening flight so a day’s fishing ahead. The morning temperature was -7°C with a raw wind from the North and clear blue skies again! As we got closer to the coast it was obvious that fresh ice had formed overnight… this was going to be a tough day!

We retraced the previous day’s tracks as best we could but fresh ice hampered us. The high air pressure also kept the sea level much lower… high tide didn’t happen! The wind was so excruciating at times… I could only tie on a fly by taking shelter out of the wind as I couldn’t get my finger tips to work properly. The spots from the previous day weren’t working and Barry suggested moving toward the mouth of the inlet to fish in deep water.

Much scrambling and clambering over rocks and we arrived to a howling wind that would carry your soul off to the old Norse gods in a whisker! Large flatwings were the order of the day… out with the secret weapon – a Steve Silverio Flatwing fly. The Guideline fast intermediate WF7 line had been on the rod all week and here I would have liked a sinking line – but you can’t have everything in life and patience is a virtue. I cast three or four times and waited for the blue line to slip deep into the dark abyss. During each retrieve I strained my eyes to catch a glimpse of the fly 9 foot behind the loop of the fly line… I must have cast a dozen times and I saw something follow my fly… as I got to what must have been 15 ft sub surface I could see a fish… it wasn’t computing in my brain. Pause the retrieve and fish on… I couldn’t believe it another first – a flounder that when on land weighted in around the 1kg mark. Fantastic… this is a fish that could save the day! We continued and had a few more flounder follows but no takes… no more fish were seen and we decided on a lunch break.

Flounder photo by David Edwards

Mushroom Arrabiatta pasta and a few sandwiches washed down with Farris mineral water… for entertainment the local wild cat stalked us waiting for a morsel from our plates.  After relaxing in the sun we decided to try for that big fish… it was evident that after a few casts this was fast becoming an exercise in casting and not fishing. We therefore called it a day.

I packed and stowed my gear ready for the off… the same friendly face with the Northern grin left me back at the airport content and happy that I’d got the job done and had caught my first Norwegian sea-trout in conditions that were far from easy.

Grateful thanks to my pal, Barry Ord Clarke for guiding me and putting up with me for 4 days... for his support, selfless enthusiasm and inspiration both on and off the water.

**********

Notes:

If you are contemplating a trip to Scandinavia during the spring you need to prepare for the worst!

I wore:-

Base layer compression top, waderwick thermal long johns, fleece pullover, fleece bib, fleece jacket. Two pairs of socks, one thin pair and one hiking pair. Breathable waders, tungsten studded boots and a Gore-tex wading jacket. Baseball cap with fleece lined wool hat with ear flaps(very important) and wore fishing mitts occasionally. Eyewear pair of Costa del Mar Double Haul Crystal Frames with Blue 580G lenses

Gear:-

Scott S4S 7wt with Danielsson 8Eleven LW reel, WF 7wt Guideline Coastal series fly lines Fast Intermediate and Floating. Tapered leaders Seaguar Fluorocarbon – own construction to an advised specification.

Flies:-

Too numerous to name BUT if you follow www.thefeatherbender.com for fly choice and advice of sea trout fishing you won’t go wrong! 

BUG-BOND Sea Trout #2

Well almost a month of silence... we've had the Glasgow Angling Centre 3 day free fishing show at the beginning of the month and that was a blast as usual. Thank you again to all that came to chat and discuss flies. Then back to earth with a bump and hard work... punctuated with taking the opportunity to tie flies.

I am sat here... 20kg of fishing gear, thermals, waders, boots and flies in front of me... I know its going to be cold... cold that I have never experienced before... with wind chill down to -20°C it is going to be a tough challenge... can we crack the sea-trout code? It won't be for the want of trying!

BUG-BOND Sea Trout box... getting there!

I'm tying for a trip to Norway next month... it'll be a bit of a first for me on many fronts and I'm looking forward to it... eager anticipation but not wanting to get my hopes up at the same time... after all fishing is about catching as well... otherwise we wouldn't go fishing. So to the fly box... Thunder Creeks, Gammarus and... hold on a moment what is that bog eyed critter that is holding centre stage?

Well turn back the clock to November 2010... http://deesox.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/falklands-flasher.html Yes, it's is the South Atlantic's Falklands Flasher courtesy of Matthew Salmon. I thought I best tie some up for the occasion.

You can see me tie up a few more flies this weekend at Glasgow Angling Centre's Spring Open Weekend!!! Be there or be square!!!

Grant Bench from Utah joins the BUG-BOND team

Over the almost 4 years BUG-BOND has been in the public eye it has gained recognition from all corners of the globe and that is down to the fly-tyer trusting the material to do the job... the head of one fly tying distribution business said of BUG-BOND back in April 2010 "It does what it says on the tin!" 

Grant Bench from Orem in Utah is one of the fly-tyers that trusts BUG-BOND to do the job... Grant, however, needs materials to perform flawlessly as he is a professional guide... not just any old guide but an Orvis endorsed guide... and he guides at Falcon's Ledge (Orvis Fly Fishing Lodge of the Year 2012). Add to that he's an Orvis contracted fly tying designer with 11 patterns in the catalogue sets Grant's stall out as one of the best. In short he knows how to tie a fly well... not just for show but as food for fish that paying guests want to catch. As always the proof of the pudding is in the eating... hence the Orvis endorsement.

I've been corresponding with Grant for a while now. Based on his work and the constant desire to learn and to share what he knows I invited him to join the BUG-BOND Pro-Tying Team... 

I've included photos of Grant and one of his chironomids (which he had taken by Douglas Barnes who I am grateful to for allowing us to reproduce here)

I having written a little about the man I asked Grant to do a bio here... So in his words...

"I've been tying flies for half my life and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from a plethora of great tyers. Some you have probably heard of, and some you haven't. Having a constantly learning mindset has helped my tying but also my fishing, casting and others aspects of the sport. 

I learned to fly fish on small farm ponds in rural Missouri but credit my Uncle David Lloyd for igniting a passion in me that will last a lifetime. Fly fishing and tying has now become a lifestyle and it wouldn't be possible without the unfailing, loving support of others including my amazing wife Holly. I've had the chance to guide at Falcon's Ledge in Altamont, UT for the last 7 seasons. It's there that I have learned from and come in contact with incredible fishermen and tyers such as Phil Rowley. 

I've recently joined up with a few organizations to help others to see and understand that fly fishing is more than just a sport. Wearepals.org is a non-profit group dedicated to providing underprivileged, at-risk youth with ways of using fly-fishing as a vehicle toward healing, therapy and direction in life. 

I speak three languages because of time spent in Ukraine for my church. Learning Russian and Ukrainian has helped me to overcome cultural and language barriers and I've grown a deep appreciation for the people of that part of the world. 

A father of a 5 year old keeps me on my toes and has helped me to develop more patience than Mother Theresa and I would say that as a guide, patience would be my best character trait. I've also recently joined the Loop Army and am really excited to learn from those greats around me including many from Europe. 

Handling the fly tying side of the popular blog www.outsmartingfish.com, participating as a contract fly designer for the Orvis Company, and tying at shows throughout the Intermountain West has helped me to share my passion with others." - Grant Bench  

Grant, thanks for sharing your talents and welcome to the team!

FREE Online Fly Tying Course!!!

 

All fly tyers should read this... don't skip the page!

Do you know someone new to fly tying OR are you the new fly tyer looking for information? Well, if the answer is "Yes" to both of those then help is to hand... It isn't always possible to go to a night class/club or see a pal tying first hand... both of which are ideal ways to learn. The internet provides some of the best open resources BUT you have to search them out... well not now... it's here!!!

Barry Ord Clarke has set himself the task of helping to educate the tyro fly tyer... there will be a few tutorials a week... well written and well illustrated, this easy to follow guide will help the beginner and it will be a resource that the advanced tyer can introduce someone to who is interested in starting out.

It's a win, win situation... so please use it and do please share it... our pastime depends on new young blood tying flies and going fishing! The first two tutorials are there... hook placement and an explanation of threads and whip finishing...

Now this is the important bit... this is the link... 

http://thefeatherbender.wordpress.com/

Many of you will know Barry, for those that don't, Barry is an internationally renowned photographer with images in the National Portrait Gallery, London, UK... he's also an excellent flytyer (probably one of the finest), fisherman and hunter. He has written and co-written many titles on the subject of fly tying and regularly contributes to fly tying magazines of note. Barry is also a member of the BUG-BOND Pro-Tying Team.

Happy tying!