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

B is for Bug, B is for Bond, B is for Bentley and B is for Brown Trout (and also for 'Bow)

Chris Sandford a long time BUG-BOND user, team member, ambassador and all-round good friend of mine gave me a phone call...

Chris:  "What are you doing Friday 12th July?"
David: "Nothing at present Chris"
Chris:  "Would you like to come fishing on the River Test for the day?"

My response was an unequivocal "Yes!"

Now me and trout... well I can probably name all the captures to date... I've been a dyed in the wool predator and saltwater fisherman... that was until I had my first sea trout in Norway in March and then at SIM in Italy last month. There has to be something about this trout caper!

So arming myself with a Guideline Fario 9' 5wt, Guideline 5wt WF 4Cast and a Nautilus 5/6 FWX reel I drove south!

This is Chris's motor!

I arrived with Chris on Thursday and although I had a selection of Fulling Mill dries and a few I'd tied up myself, Chris kindly presented me with a small box of flies he'd tied for me... including 'Sandford's  BULLET' (now there is a hint for a fly that worked on the day!)

We fished a stretch of the River Test below Stockbridge... this IS God's own country... a little piece of heaven, call it what you will... it's a cracking piece of river!

I'm not going to do a blow by blow account... it was a great day and a very kind invite... and we did it in style.

Thank you Chris!

PS you can read more about Chris at www.chrissandford.com

Sergio Cordoba from Argentina - joins the BUG-BOND Team

It is always a pleasure to invite new people to the BUG-BOND Pro-Tying Team and I am therefore delighted to introduce Sergio Cordoba to you.

During my recent visit to Italy I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet Sergio and to spend some time with him and to see his work at first hand. We have corresponded for some time now via the internet - in fact since Sergio was placed second in a realistic fly tying competition organised by Andrés Touceda where I was a both a judge and sponsor of the event. Sergio's talent is undeniable and he is a super nice guy as well!

As you will see from the photos great tying involved great fun and friendship...

Sergio Cordoba

 Andrés and Sergio 

 Deep in discussion with Andrés

 This Damsel was a generous gift from Sergio

 It is all in the detail!

Sergio's attention to detail in his tying is amazing and these are a few words from the great man:

"The great variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects in our rivers in Argentina led me to start to take an interest in the beauty of their physiognomy and their complex structures.

Living close to places which - I believe - are the finest for fly fishing, such as Patagonia, has allowed me to observe plenty of species.

Tying “fishing flies” didn’t seem to be enough, so I decided to find another way of reproducing them.

After seeing creations captured in display cases or images of insects which appeared to be almost alive, I turned unequivocally to realistic fly tying.

Every single fly is a unique undertaking which requires a lot of time to assemble, as I endeavour to reproduce the smallest of details so that they look as real as possible.

I relied on various people as I embarked on this project.  Marcelo Malventano gave me the very first pieces of advice, Adrian García also helped me when I began to publish my work abroad and Andrés Touceda encouraged me to set up my web page (www.elatadorealista.com.ar), lending me his unconditional support.

Finally, I’d like to say that tying a realistic fly requires a lot of patience and time which is why, above all, I must thank my family who have given me so much of theirs and allowed me to produce these flies."

Sergio, thank you for sharing your talents with us all and welcome to the team.

Muchas gracias a mi buen amigo!

Jobina Chia joins the BUG-BOND Team is first for Asia

It gives me great pleasure to announce Jobina Chia as the latest member of the BUG-BOND Pro-Tying Team. Jobina is based in Malaysia and she becomes the first team member from Asia.

Jobina not only ties fishing flies but also extends her tying skills into art and jewellery. Her banner says it all!

This is how Jobina became interested in tying flies… 

“When I first saw some of my friends doing fly fishing they were hooking up fish on a fly, I would wonder how the fish can get caught with those flies? Slowly I watched and observed how amazing that those flies can imitate the action of a fish or an insect in/on the water that attracts and makes the fish feeling irresistible to take the fly. It was really amazing. 

 Sitting in my friend’s tackleshop (Nick Ooi), watching him tying flies, makes me feel more interested to learn about fly tying. He taught me the step-by-step in tying the basic flies like Clouser & Charlie. I grow to love visiting his shop just to sit down there with the vise and start tying flies.

On 16th February 2009, when my friends (the Yum Yum gang) gave me a big surprised in celebrating my Birthday. I was given a full set of basic fly tying vise, tools and materials. They made me fly to cloud nine. Then I started to practice and learn more in depth about fly tying.

I had 2 mentors (Nick Ooi & Dron Lee) who have been teaching and advising me in my fly tying. I also started to learn other patterns from online videos and write-up fly patterns. I learn to tie many different fly patterns on my own. I even created my own pattern of Shrimp fly, which has been very effective for me, my friends, and others too. Then I started to fall in love in tying semi-realistic flies like Stonefly, Cricket fly, Baitfish, Mouse fly, & etc.

Slowly my interest for fly tying was developed and molded as a passion of art. I feel very stress-free and relaxing whenever I tie flies. It makes me feel like I am doing meditation or yoga. Slowly I started to tie flies as collection, accessories and decoration.”

http://jcsartofflies.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/article-in-sj-echo-newspaper-may-issue.html for a great article about Jobina and her husband Damien How

Jobina sells flies and these can be found here http://jobinac.wix.com/jcs-art-of-flies

Welcome to the team Jobina!