|
|
Post by paul on Dec 15, 2014 14:48:26 GMT
Hi, Made a pigs ear off first attempt with modern technology! The mention of purple reminded me of a tale. Some years back, I went to Lapland for the grayling fishing at a small lodge where the river formed the border between Sweden and Finland.   The grayling were obsessed by purple- large purple klinks with a pink butt. These were 'trotted' downstream for 20- 30 metres- nearly into the backing- and had to be large to remain visible in the pretty disturbed currents. There was another troublesome complication. The grayling there are very territorial- even nationalistic- and it is important to choose your fly to match the bank you are fishing from!   Paul |
|
|
|
Post by paul on Dec 15, 2014 14:49:20 GMT
GOT IT
Thanks Andy (Barlebanker)!
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete Tyjas on Dec 15, 2014 16:47:35 GMT
Nice one Paul, I'd think those flags would also make great sight indicators with 20 meters of line out too!
Pete
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete Tyjas on Jan 2, 2015 8:17:13 GMT
I managed to get out with some friends NYE and fished with a slightly brighter blue thorax on my grayling flies. Worked pretty well.
|
|
|
|
Post by kevzim on Jan 17, 2015 6:05:07 GMT
Stunning shots there Paul. That is one fat klink for sure, there was a show on one of the channels in December covering a trip to Sweden and the klinks were still purple. I walked that river after a very late stop on a roadtrip (without rods) a few years back. Was a work visit so sadly no time to fish, but there was so much potential across Sweden and Lapland. Rather a lot of weapons grade mosquitos too!
Fully agree with all that has been said about confidence in flies, and that leading to us tending to use the same old patterns - particularly likely where the fish stocks are not high (i.e. salmon) and you want every tiny incremental advantage in your favour.
That said one man's sow's ear is another man's silk purse - e.g. I have hare's fur in one shape or another in probably half of my river trout flies; pink shrimps have never done that well for me (including some of Tobys that he uses to stunning effect, some from Andy Wren, and various others who swear by them) but orange ones do a proper job - for trout as well as grayling. Horses for courses I guess.
Thanks for the tip on the peacock spider Pete. The original featured on the FFF a few years back it seems, just had a look. Bears a passing resemblance to a "goats toe" on a salar hook, I'm sure a chartreuse makeover will improve it. Coincidentally I had a pack of peaock blues on my Christmas list and have been busying myself with them since.
Reference your comments on blues and UV - certainly plenty relevant in some conditions and at particular depths. I used a lot of UV ice dubbing to mix with my traditionals when I dabbled in trout competitions on reservoirs to good effect, often with hare's or seal's fur. A particularly successful "blue" trout fly for me has always been a "Jay Bach" - Diawl Bach with a body of peacock sword herl and throat/tail of jay fibres. Rainbows love it, sure it could be downscaled to good effect for wild browns.
There's an awful lot to be said for donning a pair of goggles and getting in the river on a dog day of summer. You learn a shedload in terms of clarity, currents, lies and sounds. The noise of my small terriers's claws on gravel and rocks as he padded along the shore beside me whilst I moved slowly along the Dart was shocking. I know fish don't "hear" per se, but the vibrations from a terrier had an effect on the parr within my field of view. Makes one painfully aware of how much impact wading studs on stones will have even when in best ninja heron mode!
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete Tyjas on Jan 25, 2015 8:44:12 GMT
Hi Kev,
I am giving serious thought this year to getting in the Taw to have a nose around. There is a pool by Eggesford Bridge I am dying to look in. We guided a family 2 years back and the mother said she was happy that she'd caught some fish and wondered if she could go for a swim in the river. I said no prob and asked her to go to a pool just downstream of where we fished and asked if she could tell me how deep the pool actually was. She did it good as gold!
|
|
|
|
Post by kevzim on Jan 25, 2015 17:17:48 GMT
Funnily enough I have decided to take this to another level this season... managed to secure myself a place on the Dart 10K! Not sure much will be visible in the washing machine created by another few hundred eedjits heading downriver at the same time, but sure it'll be a laugh.
Depth is always surprising when viewed from within the river rather than above - e.g. how many times have you stepped into a foot or two of water to find it's nearer three or four (or more!)?
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete Tyjas on Jan 26, 2015 16:56:42 GMT
As a non athlete you have my utmost respect, for a second I thought the Dart 10K was a fishing club I was unaware of!!
You're right about depth from above, nearly come a cropper on a few streams in NZ that looked only a 1ft deep.
|
|
|
|
Post by kevzim on Feb 15, 2015 18:58:10 GMT
Just spotted this Pete... I am most certainly a "non athlete"... I'm relying on the blubber to keep me afloat, reasoning that all I need to do then is wave my arms and wiggle my legs for propulsion  |
|
|
|
Post by jonnie on Mar 12, 2015 23:31:32 GMT
Great thread. Being new to salmon fishing in Devon it has been really useful to read. I'm planning on sticking to Gold Bodied Willie Gunn, Silver Stoat and Yellow and Blacks in doubles and tubes and then adding in a few Red Frances, Collie Dogs and GPs into the mix as well.
Unfortunately I'm living proof that salmon flies catch more fishermen than salmon, so no doubt that list will grow!
|
|
