A very interesting tie… and it is key you watch all the way to the end… all the way.
😉
Flies
16
Mar 13
Eyes for Flies
I got sent some of the Eyes-N-Tubes and I have to say… I now officially love them. I’ve been trying a lot of big flies, eyes in back flies… EP Shrimp, Peterson Shrimp, Revers Gotchas… that sort of thing and the ease of tying, the consistency of the eyes is remarkable.
I’m a fan… I need to catch a fish on one of these flies. Has to happen.
Yes… I like these.
11
Mar 13
Totally Silent Fly Tying – Hot Nosed Gotcha
The hot nosed Gotcha, some close ups of my hand, some background music and… yeah, low on the production values.
I love this fly. Simple, effective with just a hint of something different going on.
—
06
Mar 13
Cliff Box Scavenger Hunt, Day 2
OK… the give away is in full swing and thanks to everyone who has participated thus far. To be included in that, please go to that page and leave your reply there.
I thought I’d add another bonus question after Jenn nailed the Belize City Airport bar yesterday.
So… please find, on this site… which Cliff boxes I use myself for my bonefish flies and tell me the name of those boxes (I use two of the same style Cliff boxes). Tricky, eh?
Comment on this page and I’ll send the winner a few flies. First correct answer gets a few flies (3-6, depending on how lazy I get).
I have no idea why I keep committing to give away flies, since it means I have to tie them and they don’t end up going in my boxes. However, I like giving things away and I happen to be able to tie flies. I am not going to make a rod, or build a boat and I don’t currently own a lodge, but I can give away some flies that I tie myself, so that is what I’m going to do.
I’m writing this from the Phoenix Airport… three hours to kill until my flight back home. I brought Kaufmann’s “Bonefishing!” along for a little light reading.
A little light reading
05
Mar 13
Cliff Box and My Flies Give Away
UPDATE: The box was won by Colin from Naples, FL. Sorry all, the contest is closed.
Thanks to Cliff Outdoors for giving me this box to fill with bonefish goodness.
There they are.
So. How do you win these flies and the Cliff box?
Simple. You need to answer the following questions in a comment below, on this page. Please number each of your replies so we know which question you are answering.
- Where are Cliff boxes made?
- If you have FB, go ahead and like Cliff Outdoors and tell me what it is they are trying NOT to do (from their About page)
- Name three sponsors of the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.
- Name two lodges participating in BTT’s Angler Participation program.
- Tell me your favorite fly rod and reel for bonefish.
- What is your favorite bonefish fly?
Bonus Question (I’ll send a few flies to the first person to answer this correctly… and that is Jenn, who got it… the bar in the Belize City Airport):
- Where is the picture on the “Our Team” page on the Cliff Website taken (Hint, I was there in 2010 and 2012)?
Bam. That’s it. The contest will go live as of now and it will conclude probably in a week’s time at which point I’ll declare a winner and send this damn fine box off to a new home.
05
Feb 13
Cliff Box Update
I’ve been slow getting back to the vice to fill up the box from Cliff Outdoors, but I’ll make some headway this weekend.
Today, just 4 of the hot nosed gotchas, tied on a #4 Partridge.
More to come.
Four, lonely flies.
I love these flies… long, orange nose. Guides tend to love them too. The orange is supposed to elicit the orange of a shrimp’s egg sack. I don’t know if it actually does that, but they work. So, maybe it doesn’t matter what it is supposed to do. Orange + bonefish = goodness.
28
Jan 13
The Cliff Crab Shack and Bjorn Fly Give Away
OK… I think I know what we are going to do to give away the Cliff’s Crab Shack box that Cliff Outdoors gave me. First, I need to fill it with flies. My target # is 24. I’ll update over the coming weeks to show you how the box is coming along.
Once it is all filled and ready for you to go catch some fish I’ll put up a new post with the completed box and you will need to comment with one thing that happened on a fishing trip (preferably bonefishing, but it doesn’t have to be). Just one random thing. Anything. Sticking to random, I’ll choose a random winner and send this box off to them.
So, in the immortal words of Eric Cantona, “Watch this space.”
This is where the flies go.
25
Jan 13
Crab Shack
The flu is still with me and I hope that explains why I’ve been a little slow on the postings this week.
I got a package in the mail yesterday. It was mostly destroyed and it came in a plastic bag from the USPS with a note saying “whoa, totally sorry about destroying your package.” I paraphrased. Inside the ravaged package was a box from Cliff Outdoors and the box was, somehow, totally unharmed. Awesome.
The box was given to me (thanks Cliff) to fill up with my flies and give away to you good people.
With my brain full of flu, I put in the box what I think would be most useful.
My selection of Vics.
I may think better of this in the morning. Stay tuned. I need to fill up the box and then figure out a good way to decide who to give this to.
Why a Cliff Box? Well, that is what I use myself. Typically, I bring two boxes out, both Cliff Bugger Barns and any pack I take out needs to fit those two boxes, which are a little longer than most others and certainly longer than this Crab Shack. I like the boxes. They hold the flies well and it is easy to get the flies in and out. I also like that those boxes are made in Wyoming and not China.
14
Jan 13
Gama vs. Tiemco, a little test
OK… it was suggested that I do some testing of that SC15 Gama hook and that is exactly what I did.
I put some pyramid fishing weights on a line attached to the shank of the #4 and saw what it could take. The Gama could take it all. When the weight was applied straight down on the hook it bent at 12.5 pounds into more of an “L” shape, but it didn’t fail (see bottom picture).
Next, I wanted to see what would happen if you put pressure on the hook not in the totally most ideal location… like might happen in the real world. Securing the hook in a vice and putting the weight at the back of the hook saw the Gama bend 90 degrees at 3.4 pounds. The picture of that is below.
#fail
I also tried this with the Tiemco 811S… in a size smaller, a #6 (which means it was even slightly bigger than the #4 Gama because the size chart guy for the Gama is compensating for something).
Not #fail
This was with 12.5 pounds.
Um… I’m not going to fish these Gama SC15’s. Anyone want them?
Now, I know this isn’t “real world,” (or “reel world” if I wanted to be punny) but I think if you want to assess the strength of the metal, this might get you there.
I tried to straighten the hook and ran out of weights. It didn’t straighten. It “L”ed, but it didn’t turn into an l.
I still don’t want to fish this.
Yes, that’s a horrid picture, but the point is that the hook on the right turned into the hook on the left with weight. It doesn’t break, but it sure does bend a lot. I can’t imagine a fish staying on if it encountered this L.
Yeah. I’m still trying to get a more realistic testing method and for the time being, I’m failing at that.
