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Showing posts with label equipment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label equipment. Show all posts
New Season - New Stuff
The new trout fishing season is about to start. I find myself in "desperate" need of a new fly line. I recollect buying three fly lines a year ago, but somehow this does not affect the need for a new one. I have been hunting for high quality discount stuff for some weeks now and decided to visit another local shop.
I didn't find the new fly line.
I didn't find the new fly line.
With this ring, I thee wed...
Some time ago, a precious little Orvis Superfine fly rod was given to me.
Now, she has a companion for life (or at least for the 24-and-half years what is left of the warranty). Say hi to my new Orvis CFO III reel!
They were made for each other.
Towards the Essence
Being, once again, a half way through another trout fishing season I’ve, again, started to think about my gear. When I started fly fishing, I simply wanted to get all the stuff needed to catch the fish. Back then it meant that I needed to get everything; different rods and reels and lines for different conditions, all flies imaginable for the most unimaginable conditions, a fully loaded fly fishing vest, and so on. I was a teenager and my parents didn’t share my enthusiasm, so, perhaps luckily, I didn’t get everything I wanted.
In last few years I’ve been slipping more and more towards minimalism when it comes to the gear. The minimalism was not my idea, but when I read about it, when I thought about it, I found that it suits me perfectly. I had a lot of stuff, but I had already fished enough to know that I needed only a fraction of it.
A wife of a fly fisherman may think that this minimalism is a good thing, an idea that saves family resources, both time and money, and for the most part this is correct. But there are exceptions, like when I decided to simplify my fly selection, and to drop the number of my fly boxes down to two, I had to buy two fly boxes. And I also had to tie all my flies again. So it cost a bit money (if you're going to use only two boxes, they better be quality boxes) and a lot of time (about every Tuesday evening from September to May).
Half way through this season I look the contents of these two boxes and I know that the flies I actually use 99 % of the time would require the space of a half of a fly box. I’m currently searching such a fly box. Once I had a vest, then a chest pack, then a wading jacket, and now I'm thinking about a pocket that can hold one small to medium sized fly box. Then, when I have again minimized my gear, I start to slip again to the other direction. I’ll take some extra flies or a new gadget for next fishing trip. Little by little I’ll start to accumulate more and more gear. And it’s fine.
What is the essence then? I’m slowly beginning to learn what there actually is to learn. For all I know the gear has very little to do with it. They are means to an end. But even the end is not the point. Perhaps more time than thinking the answer should be spent thinking the question. If you say “I'm fishing to catch fish” then you either have the wrong answer or the right answer for the wrong question.
In last few years I’ve been slipping more and more towards minimalism when it comes to the gear. The minimalism was not my idea, but when I read about it, when I thought about it, I found that it suits me perfectly. I had a lot of stuff, but I had already fished enough to know that I needed only a fraction of it.
A wife of a fly fisherman may think that this minimalism is a good thing, an idea that saves family resources, both time and money, and for the most part this is correct. But there are exceptions, like when I decided to simplify my fly selection, and to drop the number of my fly boxes down to two, I had to buy two fly boxes. And I also had to tie all my flies again. So it cost a bit money (if you're going to use only two boxes, they better be quality boxes) and a lot of time (about every Tuesday evening from September to May).
Half way through this season I look the contents of these two boxes and I know that the flies I actually use 99 % of the time would require the space of a half of a fly box. I’m currently searching such a fly box. Once I had a vest, then a chest pack, then a wading jacket, and now I'm thinking about a pocket that can hold one small to medium sized fly box. Then, when I have again minimized my gear, I start to slip again to the other direction. I’ll take some extra flies or a new gadget for next fishing trip. Little by little I’ll start to accumulate more and more gear. And it’s fine.
What is the essence then? I’m slowly beginning to learn what there actually is to learn. For all I know the gear has very little to do with it. They are means to an end. But even the end is not the point. Perhaps more time than thinking the answer should be spent thinking the question. If you say “I'm fishing to catch fish” then you either have the wrong answer or the right answer for the wrong question.
Are you fishing enough?
How can you tell you're not fishing enough?
There are a few good signs like: nobody is complaining or your fishing gear can't be packed to go in 5 minutes.
Or you can simply check your wading boots:
A wasp nest is a definite sign.
Straightening the leader - or "opax-flyfishing tip of the year"
Although, it is hardly the focus of this fly fishing blog to give fly fishing advice or tips, I'm going to do it this time. I was reading a thread in a fly fishing forum where beginning fly fisherman was asking how to straighten the leader when it is taken off the reel after a while or when the leader is new. I was surprised by the answers that were given. I thought that everybody a bit less than little experienced fly fishers knew the answer but all sort of hints and tips were given. Of course ,there is more than one way to do this, but the simplest solution that is used by me and was also given by a few guys that answered the question goes like this: a normal trout fishing leader can be straightened by stretching it when it is slightly heated.
1. Right hand fingers hold the fly line leader junction, left hand fingers takes a strong grip of the leader.
2. Pull about half a meter (2 feet) of the leader between left hand fingers so that it feels hot but doesn't burn the fingers. This is the heating part of the procedure.
3. Stretch the piece of leader with both hands.
4. Move right hand next to left hand and repeat the procedure until all of the leader is straightened.
There, no need to buy any fancy gadget or get a good bottom snag and break the leader in order to straighten it.
1. Right hand fingers hold the fly line leader junction, left hand fingers takes a strong grip of the leader.
2. Pull about half a meter (2 feet) of the leader between left hand fingers so that it feels hot but doesn't burn the fingers. This is the heating part of the procedure.
3. Stretch the piece of leader with both hands.
4. Move right hand next to left hand and repeat the procedure until all of the leader is straightened.
There, no need to buy any fancy gadget or get a good bottom snag and break the leader in order to straighten it.
Leadercalc 2007
Steve Schweitzer has updated his Leadercalc formulas. If you make your own leaders or plan to do so, check Leadercalc 2007 at Global Fly Fisher - it is the best resource you can find about hand tied leaders.
In 2006 I used exclusively hand tied leaders, this year I plan also to use some ready made standard leaders and as well as braided leaders.
In 2006 I used exclusively hand tied leaders, this year I plan also to use some ready made standard leaders and as well as braided leaders.
4 Pieces of Joy
Life is a series of decisions.
Some of them easy:
And some are hard:
After the contest results I am facing hard decision.
It is a personal choice, but if you have any suggestions or comments, please speak now or forever hold your peace.
EDIT
More specific:
Superfine Trout Bum 795-4 Full Flex 4.0 or Superfine Trout Bum 763-4 Full Flex 2.5
Some of them easy:
Do I ask her to marry me?
And some are hard:
Would you like to have a 7’9” 5-weight or do you prefer a 7’6” 3-weight?
After the contest results I am facing hard decision.
It is a personal choice, but if you have any suggestions or comments, please speak now or forever hold your peace.
EDIT
More specific:
Superfine Trout Bum 795-4 Full Flex 4.0 or Superfine Trout Bum 763-4 Full Flex 2.5
Custom fly rod
A Custom fly rod should look something like this:
Dan Craft FT #4 9’ 4-pc by Antti Kymäläinen.
Check out his other rods as well...
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| Copyright (c) Antti Kymäläinen. Used with permission. |
Dan Craft FT #4 9’ 4-pc by Antti Kymäläinen.
Check out his other rods as well...
Rod Building - Part 6: The Decision
I have ordered a Temple Fork Outfitters Professional Blank and Component Kit. My final choice was a 7 weight 9 foot rod, which is a compromise: I would had preferred a 10 foot blank, but the ones that I could find at this rather low price range (I don’t want to spoil anything expensive) were not reviewed anywhere.
The TFO Professional Reviews were easy to find and they were also rather positive. Other than that, it is a four piece blank which makes it rather transportable and it does have the no-fault warranty that might become useful. I also got a pretty good deal with local dealer on this one.
This rod building project of mine has two goals. First is to find out can a person who’s thumb is located in middle of the palm (it’s a Finnish expression, I don’t know is it used elsewhere) build a fly rod. The second goal is, if the first one succeeds, to have another useful fly rod.
The uses that I have thought so far are: streamer fishing for big trout, Atlantic-salmon dry fly fishing, and perhaps some still water fly fishing. I use a 9’ 5 weight rod almost all the time, but it is not at its best with big streamers.
The TFO Professional Reviews were easy to find and they were also rather positive. Other than that, it is a four piece blank which makes it rather transportable and it does have the no-fault warranty that might become useful. I also got a pretty good deal with local dealer on this one.
This rod building project of mine has two goals. First is to find out can a person who’s thumb is located in middle of the palm (it’s a Finnish expression, I don’t know is it used elsewhere) build a fly rod. The second goal is, if the first one succeeds, to have another useful fly rod.
The uses that I have thought so far are: streamer fishing for big trout, Atlantic-salmon dry fly fishing, and perhaps some still water fly fishing. I use a 9’ 5 weight rod almost all the time, but it is not at its best with big streamers.
Rod Building - Part 5
My friends at the fishing club are planning to start building fly rods in January - and I am with them. At this point it still seems that a 10' 7 weight rod is what I am building.
However, I have been tempted with the idea of 5 weight fiberglass, and it is too early to tell what the final decision will be...
However, I have been tempted with the idea of 5 weight fiberglass, and it is too early to tell what the final decision will be...
Shooting head testing continues
It's time to continue shooting head testing. I have made few Shooting heads for my 5 weight rod. There is a short floating line (about 7 meters or 23 feet of DT8F). It is good and easy to cast, but it is bit shorter than I like. So I have cheap DT7F that I try next. I also have fast sinking head made of old WF8 sink tip line and sinking one made of DT6S.
The question is: why to do this with relatively light 5 weight rod?
My answer: Why not? With DT7 head, I can cast streamers really well and my outfit is still light.
Have you made custom shooting heads?
The question is: why to do this with relatively light 5 weight rod?
My answer: Why not? With DT7 head, I can cast streamers really well and my outfit is still light.
Have you made custom shooting heads?
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| From Shooting Heads |
Reunited and ready
I now have my old 9' 5 weight 4 piece rod back. Actually it is now 5 piece rod, but not in a bad sense - I just have one extra piece. One might speculate that it is 1/4 chance that I have just right spare piece ready if rod breaks again, but I think that it is more like 1 out of 400.000 that just the right piece breaks.
Last weekend I failed to land three good rainbows in last 15 minutes of fishing session. It must have been because I had the wrong rod...
Last weekend I failed to land three good rainbows in last 15 minutes of fishing session. It must have been because I had the wrong rod...
Patience
It has been a while, but now my rod has been shipped back. (Edit: Currently some nice doggy is sniffing my rod at Finnish Customs.) This experience has raised me to a new level… But my cell phone felled to the floor last night and I found out that buttons [5], [7], [9], [0] and [Menu/OK] aren’t working any more. (Ahem.)
Water proof... part 2
I just got my cellphone back - and it works fine! Camera also started to work some 3-4 days after the water hazard...
(To see what I'm mumbling about, check: http://opax-flyfishing.blogspot.com/2006/06/waterproof-pocket-or-pack.html).
(To see what I'm mumbling about, check: http://opax-flyfishing.blogspot.com/2006/06/waterproof-pocket-or-pack.html).
Waterproof pocket or pack
At Tuesday night I noticed that I should either have purchased a wading jacket with waterproof pocket or have a waterproof pack where to put my digital camera and cellular phone. I waded too deep and both of these digital devices went dead. I noticed it when I tried to take picture of beautiful 50 cm trout...
There is first time for everything
I broke my fly rod yesterday.
I've been fly fishing for about two decades now, but this was the very first time that my fly rod broke. It was a strange moment: I was at the shore of local lake with my son. He was playing in the beach while I was practicing my fly casting. I even put the camera on recording an AVI-clip of my fly casting, so that I could improve my casting skills or at least to see what goes wrong.
Now on that AVI-clip, there is a moment when fly casting suddenly stops. I stand still for a second as I realise what just happened. I wasn't cursing or anything. The worst finally happened - and it happened at the peak of my this years' fly fishing season.
My rod is one of those "Made in USA" with life-time warranty, so the broken part will be replaced. I don't worry about that. I have other rods - so even my fishing isn't compromised while broken parts travel to the USA and replacements are sent back.
But it was a strange moment when I realised what had happened...
Keywords: Life, Casting
I've been fly fishing for about two decades now, but this was the very first time that my fly rod broke. It was a strange moment: I was at the shore of local lake with my son. He was playing in the beach while I was practicing my fly casting. I even put the camera on recording an AVI-clip of my fly casting, so that I could improve my casting skills or at least to see what goes wrong.
Now on that AVI-clip, there is a moment when fly casting suddenly stops. I stand still for a second as I realise what just happened. I wasn't cursing or anything. The worst finally happened - and it happened at the peak of my this years' fly fishing season.My rod is one of those "Made in USA" with life-time warranty, so the broken part will be replaced. I don't worry about that. I have other rods - so even my fishing isn't compromised while broken parts travel to the USA and replacements are sent back.
But it was a strange moment when I realised what had happened...
Keywords: Life, Casting
How do you carry your stuff?
A fly fisherman is equipped with lots of stuff like tippet pools, fly boxes, water thermometers, scissors, and whatever. And somehow all this stuff is carried along wading the river. How do you do it? When I started fly fishing in the 80's, it was easy to answer this question. Fly fishing west was the way to go. But today there are lot more options available.
In past few years I've been lessening the load. That means I only carry things that I need - or at least think I will need. If I don't use some gadget then I will leave it home (or in the car). And when I did leave a big load of stuff out of my fly fishing west, I noticed that it had lot more pockets than I needed. I was starting to look funny (well - even more funnier than before).
First solution was a chest pack. I used it more than a year. Chest pack was - and still is - good solution, because it has only limited space available. That way I had to think what I really needed - and I was able to leave even more items home. Chest pack was all right, but I felt that mine was bulky and not that practical.
This season I will finally try a wading jacket. I haven't had a wading jacket before, which is strange. It seems so logical choice as I usually wear a jacket anyway.
But what do I do when the weather gets too hot? Maybe I'll stay home... Doubt it.