Recent comments

Mothballs

I recently acquired some nice saddle hackle and capes but the previous owner stored them with mothballs. I have kept the material outside for ventilation but the feathers and skin are still very much consumed with the mothball vapors. Before I start using and handling the material I want to get rid of these harmful vapors. Do you have any recommendation on what I should use and the process I should take in cleaning, deoderizing and perseving this material? Thank you.

Hook sizing

I use Janns netcraft visual hook guide with actual templates to put your against. I use the fly tying hook sizing chart. it works for me Janns netcraft.com.

fishing programs

competition on is for the ring, court or politics , I fish with the long rod for the shear mechanics of the sport, winter river fishing is my zen , the staccato of the tree branches in the wind , the soothing murmur of the riffle and if the fishing gods so decide the moaning of my hardy in to the backing in the morning mist that's all I ask for ,,clean water healthy fish and the pleasure of the release for another day.. thank you

Help needed [travel]

Nice post about popular location. I'm currently planning new travel (to Belgium) and this information could be helpful. Thanks! Cheers!

nice job

Nice project idea for winter time!
I think it worth a little more effort to fix the lid that nice way like the bottom is made.

It is explosive

Joe,

The substance pricric acid is indeed explosive and considered quite hazardous. It was previously used in munitions and other explosives. So it's not a trivial substance to handle, but people who know how to store and work with it can usually do so quite safely.

Martin

Dyeing with picric acid yields colors between a gorgeous o

I'm confused is Picric Acid yellow dye explosiv or not?

Lamp power source

As an alternative power source for this lamp you could use one of the many USB power banks used for topping up phones. It would not be difficult to incorporate one into a vice base. I have one that came from Lidl for about 12 euros, and one off ebay with a built in solar charger. The solar charger would be ideal if you are going off grid, and want to tie.

Hooligan Crab Martyn White

Just one Word: Great
Video, Comments, Pattern, Humor!(Hooligan Crab :o))
Two Thumbs up!

Regards,

Winfried

soundtrack

I remember when this came out, great soundtrack and footage.

True words, Martin...

What else can I say? You're right.

Bring out the big gear

Jon-Anders,

The LED panel is pretty awesome, but also a beast. I use a Manfrotto lamp swivel head, a Friction Arm and a Super Clamp to hold it. It's a large and heavy thing and needs some serious support. I will see if I can dig out a picture of my setup and add it to the article.

Martin

How did you table mount the

How did you table mount the LED panel?

It seems like the best option in every way in my opinion.

Fly tying lamps

Dear all,

this is a serious advisory. Check it for yourself.
2010 I got diagnosed MD, Macula Degeneration. Iwas diagnosed to becoming blind.
I was a Computer Grafic and 3D Designer since 1987, first Flatscreens and 12 hours work in front of LED_Screens.
RGB = Red, Green, Blue LED'S in a matrix.
White and Blue LED's emerce a high frequent light, it's laserlight.
The blue light destrois the Retina - Macula Lutea Part of the Retina.

I'm not getting blind, I lost my business, but reversed my MD. Getting retiered soon, anyway.

That's what I did:
8.000 - 10.000 I.U. Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K2
Lots of raw green leaf vegies.
Most important:
Orange Glasses (High quality Sunglasses are okay), Blue absorbingly 98%, when working at the computer screen.
I where them all day long.
Giving up my business, I go fishing, tie fys and furle leaders.
My MD got better about 50%, I'm not getting blind, I'm improving. Ask my Clinc.

I use normal Lamps and Halogen - no LED'S. Best for Flytying - Sunny Days ore Daylight.
At darkness or night, don't tie. Sleep, than eat, than tie, than go fishing.
Profe my words.

Regards and all the best,
Winiefred

Great magazine

Moreno,

Thanks for sharing. A great and beautiful magazine, absolutely worth reading for anyone interested in split cane rods.

Martin

I will not watch these shows.

I will not watch these shows. Competitive angling is like competitive eating, the activity doesn't equate well with competition. "River Monsters" is basically this goof going around the world catching the local catfish species. HAHA We have bass fishing competitions here in the US which are as foreign to my fishing experiences as if I were underwater in bull fighting gear to catch those fish.

New reply

The Adhesive lined stick or reeled 3/1mm needs a heat source for it to shrink down, keep applying the heat and the inner glue lining starts to melt and flow and ooze outwards, when this happens stop heating and allow to cool on its own. This will give you an incredible water resistant mould onto what you require.

heat shrink

Excellent tip. I would suggest experimenting with 3 to 1 adhesive shrink tube in either 3mm or 4.8mm. It shrinks 3 times its diameter and the adhesive melts and bonds the tube to the fly line. The heat will also weld the fly line together so double secutity. Smooth adhesive that leaks out of each end to create a slick feel to the tube ends. No need to remove the shrink tube afterwards. Can be color coded as well. I use black for reel end and red for the tip which also acts as an indicator. On e-bay 500mm of 3mm costs £1.95

Yeah I remember that trip to

Yeah I remember that trip to Ulm very well.
I also had the chance to buy the vice but during that period I was a poor student and I already bought an expensive vice (Dyna King Professional) which I still use today.
I ran into Lawrence many years later but then he stopped making them…
Well, you can't have 'em all! :)

So well said. It is

So well said. It is reassuring to learn that I am not the only grumpy old bastard who loathes these so called "reality" shows where a lot of would be celebrities (in their own minds) compete against each other. I occasionally watch Robson Green because there is nothing better on at the time but can't stand Jeremy Wade calling his target species River Monsters. What makes a creature a monster when it lives in its own natural environment and needs to feed to live?

Thank you Martin. It takes a

Thank you Martin. It takes a lot to make me laugh these days, but you managed it.

Competitions are Boring

I refuse to watch any fishing show that smacks of competition. I won't fish with anyone who turns a trip into a competition, it isn't what I fish for. You should try to view a show from New Zealand called 'Big Angry Fish". The presenters and the show try to expand the water(s) you may seek and come across very well. Friendly banter, nothing competitive, even when one of them goes fishless.

Buy the right one

Wolfgang,

Sure you can argue like that, but that still doesn't justify the extreme prices on C&F (and they ARE extreme!). This article is written to help avoid both situations: buying too many or buying too expensive. My advice is to buy sensible the first time, completely avoiding any of these situations.

Martin

Fishing on TV

I have to agree with pretty much all you have said here, apart from the Robson Green thing, the part I watched showed him as boorish, with no apparent respect for his quarry, just the desire to shovel it down his throat, but to each his own.
I think the last decent angling programme on mainstream TV had to be A Passion for Angling, not much fly fishing but I can't hold that against Hugh Miles! I'd love to see the reception "Once in a Blue Moon" would get, I thought that was brilliant personally. I have to say, as much as I love to fish, it doesn't (generally) make a good spectator sport!