Thomas Magnusson joins the BUG-BOND Team

As I have mentioned before I get a great many emails from BUG-BOND customers that include images of flies they have tied and fish they have caught… one such customer is Thomas Magnusson from Sweden… Thomas ties flies to catch fish but also as a method of relaxation… a self-confessed perfectionist.

Having looked through Thomas's portfolio of flies for some time now I am pleased to welcome Thomas to the BUG-BOND Pro-Tying Team… here is what Thomas has to say about himself…  


“My name is Thomas Magnusson, a 44 year old Swedish passionate fly fisher and fly tyer. These have been my major hobbies for the last 30 years. I got into golf for some time, but that sport really didn´t give something that fishing already did. As the years have turned my hair grey, it is the fly tying that gives me relaxation and satisfaction, a lot more hours than I find myself with a rod in my hand anyway. After a long period of Atlantic salmon fishing, I have found myself more and more exploring the kind of fishing that´s not far from home, and not so very crowded. I have the luck to be blessed with nice trout waters a bike ride away, and a wife that is happy to have me home more than a few days a month…

I have also taken up writing again and my first article in about 20 years will be published in Fly & Tie #1 2014. It is a fly tying article with some patterns around the use of moose in fly tying… which features in a lot of trout patterns here in Scandinavia…

I bought by my first bottle of Bug-Bond from Whitewaterflies in New Jersey some years ago; I consider that I have been an ambassador for the product since then. So for me it is about keeping up the job. For me it´s fun to be able to contribute and that puts an extra spark to my own tying... I will shortly have my own blog to share my fly tying with more people”


Welcome Thomas…

BUG-BOND Footswitch goes live at Tackle & Guns trade show

I’m just back from the Tackle & Guns trade show in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire… a great couple of days meeting up with both new and existing retailers of BUG-BOND. For the second year I was on the Veniard stand… the BUG-BOND brand has received tremendous support from Veniard who celebrate 90 years of supplying fly tying materials this year.

Interestingly multi-award winning BUG-BOND came to the market 5 years ago next year as the first tack-free UV resin designed and developed for fly-tying… we will therefore be the only brand of UV cured resin to have a 5 year tack-free track record in the fly tying world… undeniable innovators.

Since launching BUG-BOND I have ensured that the product has stayed at the cutting edge… and I have maintained this by launching the BUG-BOND footswitch which is a retro-fit accessory to the existing single UV-LED Professional light… power is provided from the grid via an AC/DC adapter. It is a first for the fly-tyer!

The footswitch has been used and tested for almost 2 years and I announced its impending release in June this year. It has been used in public by Barry Ord Clarke, Dougie Loughridge  and filmed by Chris Sandford. Two weeks ago its release was formally announced at the Glasgow Angling Centre open weekend. 

I was pleased to be able to demonstrate the BUG-BOND Footswitch as part of Veniard’s 2014 new product range at Tackle & Guns trade show over the last couple of days. The benefit of the footswitch is that it will deliver a consistent level of UV for curing and will be of great benefit to those who tie regularly or those who don’t wish to be troubled with when to change the battery in the light. Convenience and consistency are the key words that have been the centre of the BUG-BOND brand and this follows through into the footswitch.

The response from the trade was brilliant!

It is one thing me showing off BUG-BOND… at shows I take the opportunity to have someone who has never used it to tie a fly and get their response. At this show I persuaded Danielle Hicks from Total Fly Fisher magazine to tie a relatively simple stalking bug… Danielle though working for a fishing title had never tied a fly. Taking time at the end of the show she tied a great fly which she is going to make Steve Cullen the editor of the magazine catch a fish on!

Well done Danielle...

A rookie's view of New Zealand - Wilderness Woman

 

I love getting DVDs across my desk and I find a lot of inspiration through fishing by other people... this DVD is by Swedish businesswoman Sarita Eliasson.

Interestingly I came across Sarita as she stayed in the same hotel as me in Aruba and used the same fishing guide... not at the same time though. We have exchanged comments on social media and I knew she was going to New Zealand and was keen to see the results of her labour.

A couple of weeks ago the DVD arrived... and due to other commitments it took me a couple of days to view the full film.

Hey... this is a well put together and well filmed DVD... plenty of action from the word go and a lot of information. It also showed that conditions are not always easy when you have a fishing vacation! This is the fault of many videos that just show the "goodstuff" not this film... we had warts and all. High rainfall stopping fishing in some key rivers BUT showing the worth of the guide in getting Sarita to the fish on lesser known waters. If you want to indulge yourself in some winter TV fishing... or you are considering a trip to New Zealand then this DVD is a must.

With Christmas coming up this would be a great present for any fly fisher - actually don't wait, buy it for yourself! The DVD can be purchased from Sarita via her website... http://wildernesswoman.shop.textalk.se/ 

Kick back (chill out) and enjoy it - I did! 

About Sarita Eliasson


My name is Sarita Eliasson. I live on the West Coast of Sweden close to the sea with my family.  

I came into contact with (fly) fishing a few years ago. I found a passion in this harmonious way of fishing. It is like meditating in some cases ... In other cases it may be full action.

I have been fishing since childhood but it was more traditional fishing. My everyday fishing is a way to calm down after a tough day at work. I run with my brother and sister a medium-sized service business, which I started almost 25 years ago.

My passion besides fly fishing is photography and filming. These three interests are wonderful to combine. I have always been adventurous person. I have visited many interesting places on earth. I'm not one who just like to go on holiday for the sun, I prefer adventure trips that give adrenaline rushes. But I am no stranger to adventures in the wilderness where you walk for days. Sleeping in tents and eat what nature offers. On these adventures, I always have with me my faithful companion Nicco, an  Australian Shepherd (dog). He enjoys the great outdoors as much as I do.

A year ago I started a film production company, Walkabout Film production. Our first production is available since August 2013. It is the first part in a documentary series called Walkabout.


"The Red Thread" is fly fishing. The fishing will bring me to exciting places in different parts of the world. I will meet interesting people and take part of their passion for nature and wildlife. I will visit various Nature and Conservation projects around the world.
 
The next part of the series is being planned and will begin in spring 2014. It will be called "Walkobut in The Wild West." Montana Trout will be visited by me. Ranch Life will be experienced from the saddle of a Quarter Horse. Together with experienced guides, we will be traveling on horseback, deep into Yellowstone National Park. We hope to capture many fine Trout with fly fishing rod. And through the camera lens to experience the wildlife up close. Grizzly bear, cougar and other exciting species we hope to see during our adventure in the wilderness.
 
On my travels, I try to bring my family. Everything depends on the time of travel and adventure nature. A person who is always part of my crew, my sister Lenita Olsson, who is an amazing photographer.

I consider myself very fortunate that I have the opportunity to experience fantastic adventures with my loved ones.

Sarita

B-B-G-B does it in style with Chris Sandford

Quite a few weeks ago I reported on how the B-B-G-B fly of Chris Sandford had helped him and his team retain the 'River Test One Fly' competition... and latterly I had a day out with Chris on the River Test.

Well Chris has been out again and sent me a great email enclosing a few photos... I'll share just one with you. The fish above is a brown trout of 9lb 12oz and was caught on the B-B-G-B aka the BUG-BOND-Glass-Bug! 

Chris had 3 further fish that day... the smallest being 3.5lbs, then one at 8lb, one at 10lb 2oz but the prettiest by far is the above fish at 9lb 12oz... Interestingly two fish were taken on the B-B-G-B, one on the Ducking Feadly (both of these flies are BUG-BOND derivative flies) and one on the Mighty Eric...

To get the perfect tack-free finish Chris has achieved in his photo you need to ensure that you have fresh batteries or newly charged batteries in your UV light... the photo above shows the correct distance from the subject... remember light travels in straight lines so you need to rotate the fly so you get complete exposure to the UV light this will result in a full cure that is tack-free. You can see Chris tie the B-B-G-B in glorious Technicolour in his latest episode of STUFF his fly tying and fly fishing video magazine... more info can be found on his website www.chrissandford.com

 

Cat fever...

I love getting photos from users of BUG-BOND... Alex Wilkie is one happy chap after his recent trip to the  River Ebro in Spain... using a 9 inch fly tied using Funky products and BUG-BOND on a Mustad 6/0 hook on the end of a 13wt rod, Alex tamed a Wels catfish... Thanks for sharing Alex!

North Wales and the Butcher... It's a kind of magic!

 A rather ragged and sorry Butcher fly circa 1947-57 in August 2013

The Welsh river where the magic began

My father told me that the Butcher fly pattern always did well for him in Welsh rivers...

This weekend was a bit of a travel back in time for me as I drove into North Wales... I was looking the source of the magic. To chase wild brown trout in rivers and lakes with an outside chance of a sea trout or a silver tourist.

The 48 hours was fun packed on trout that played with me and jeered at me... then I put the Butcher on.

The line swung round and the fly was going to just in the right place in the river... bang, fish on. It was a solid take and perhaps a good fish but not the wild brown I was expecting... there was a flash of bright silver... playing the fish hard the line went slack... I retrieved the line cursing that I'd lost a fly and the fish... the photo tells the story!

This particular Butcher was tied in a possibly a 10 year window between 1947 and 1957... the specimen was out of my dad's fly box that I carry with me as a 'totem' on freshwater excursions. As a child I loved the iridescent blue hue on the wing, the starkness of the silver body and the tiny red tail... it was one of a very few 'brighter' flies in a box full of 'dull' & 'dark' flies that fascinated me as a youngster.

Will I be using other flies from the box... I think not, however, I'll certainly tie up a few Butchers.

Did I find the source of the magic - I most certainly did!

C is for Chris & S is for Sandford and his STUFF!

My good friend Chris Sandford has put the third episode of his video magazine up on his website... Fly tying in abundance in this issue... you'll find the use of Taser wire quite shocking and it gives the trout a fair old jolt as well... books, fishing books to be precise - I do love books... The BUG-BOND-Glass-Bug is a winner and then as a finale Chris gives you a look at his vintage tackle... do have a look, you'll enjoy it!

"At last! ...I hear you cry..... ‘STUFF’ 3!
In this enthralling episode we tantalize you with a Taser Bug...Humour you with history...Tie the One Fly winner and reveal my vintage tackle!" Chris Sandford

http://www.chrissandford.com/chris-sandfords-stuff#Episode3