Hook Orvis Dry Fly x2 Size 12
Thread Sheer 14/0 Grey
Tail P/T
Body Green Drake SF
Rib Yellow Floss
Wing Grey Hen (Orvis)
Hackle Peacock hackle with Grizzle hackle over
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Saturday, 19 March 2011
.......Fly Dressers Guild Auction Part Two - 19.03.11
Same time same place as the last one, a fortnight ago in Croxley. Met up with Graham (Salmo) and what a surprise but Roy Christie as well and went really for the fly tying stuff as I have decide that I am nearly reaching saturation point with regard to my books. There are probably no more than six books I am craving for now without counting the new ones that come on the market regularly. Also introduced myself to Chris Reeves a magic fly tyer from Surrey. The capes that were on offer went for prices much higher than I was prepared to go. A superb Jungle Cock cape was up for grabs quite one of the best I have seen - I thought I'd bid twenty pounds for it but it finally went under the hammer at £50.00. I went a bit silly and bought a jamboree box of tying stuff at £28.00 and was quite pleased when I discovered over six hundred hooks worth £40.00 inside together with copious amounts of seals fur and some great synthetic dubbing, a mink skin, a fox tail, a purple cape and a lot of other bits and bobs. So the trip was worth making in the end. But I've got to stop meeting up with Roy everytime I do so I end up crying with laughter.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
.......Rib Valley Ware - 17.03.11
Met up with Wes finally at Ware and although quite bleak started to fish and managed to get into one at around 11.00am. No wind little ripple and a temperature of 9°C recorded in the car but felt a lot colder.
A four hour ticket costing £15.00 to keep the first and release another five can't be bad in any body's book. Managed another two fish and the third fought like it was on drugs - huge leaps and pulls. All fish were returned to this four and half acre lake called the Millennium Lake. Wes took one on a buzzer suspended below a sight indicator and mine came to a black and green nomad. The nomads do exceptionally well here from experience and I much prefer to use buzzers when it has warmed up a bit more. Wes took his fish and spooned it and confirmed it was full of buzzers. Unfortunately Wes's back began to play up so he had to go straight home and therefore no drink afterwards. Forgot the camera like the proverbial...........! Next time.
A four hour ticket costing £15.00 to keep the first and release another five can't be bad in any body's book. Managed another two fish and the third fought like it was on drugs - huge leaps and pulls. All fish were returned to this four and half acre lake called the Millennium Lake. Wes took one on a buzzer suspended below a sight indicator and mine came to a black and green nomad. The nomads do exceptionally well here from experience and I much prefer to use buzzers when it has warmed up a bit more. Wes took his fish and spooned it and confirmed it was full of buzzers. Unfortunately Wes's back began to play up so he had to go straight home and therefore no drink afterwards. Forgot the camera like the proverbial...........! Next time.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
.......Stockholm, Sweden Fly Fair - 10.03.11
Mrs Loopy and I decided to take a short break together and the good lady consented to a visit to the Swedish Fly Fair which also encompassed outdoor activities and pleasure craft boats. The exhibition Centre was pretty big almost up to the dimensions of the Excel Centre in London. As I mentioned there were plenty of other activities going on apart from fly tying! There was Rock Climbing and Ice Sculpture and even a demonstration of panning for gold.
And loads of kayaks being demonstrated. But turning to the Fly Tying Exhibition there were superb examples being shown by Nicklas Runersson............
Check out his bicycle fly on the left.
Then of course there was the Green Drake fly and book signature by A K Best and here is the man with Roy Christie.............
The fly in question being a Green Drake................
In the meantime Niklas Dahlin was tying up some beauties and managed to place a few in my newly acquired Lars Anderson fly box.
Bought a frame of flies from Igor Stancev for £170.00 (gulp did I really pay that?) and received a contribution from Mrs Loopy for my birthday. The kid that inherits my flies better take some good advice if they want to sell.
All in all we spent six hours at the fair and both enjoyed it. Quite a lot of time was spent with Roy who had us both in hysterics with his great stories.
Saturday, 5 March 2011
.......FLy Dressers Guild Auction Part One - 05.03.11
Graham (Salmo) kindly invited me along to the annual London Branch auction this one taking place over two weekends at the All Saints Church at Sarratt. There isn't much that I am looking for here but fancy the Franklin Mint Rainbow pocket knife and maybe a Young's reel. The rest of the auction today is made up of rods and bits and bobs but nice to be out with fellows who share the same interest. Thank You Graham. Secured the the knife at £12.00 but stopped bidding at £20.00 on the reel only to see it zoom up to £60.00. Met another Amwell member a neighbour of Graham's called John who treated us to a sandwich. Next auction two weeks time. Wednesday, 2 March 2011
.......Aborted trip to Rib Valley, Ware - 02.03.11
Haven't fished here for a couple of years ever since I brought my brother in law along and we managed to blank. This five acre lake still is still surrounded by seats which are mostly used!
The water receives heavy angling pressure but with the C&R policy of insisting that the first fish is killed does ensure that fresh fish are inttoduced to the lake. Fishing can be had for as little as £15.00 for four hours. Temperatures around 5°C and no wind. All a bit academic as Angel (an old non forum friend - retired publican and golfer) was supposed to be coming but he called to say he couldn't make it due to not feeling as he should. So arrived at 10.00 and expecting to see Wes but didn't, waited around until 10.45 and left. On the way back I called in at the bakers in W'stead High Street and walked over the road to take a look at the river which was very clear. So I am standing by the 'gulley' and dropping pieces of bread to ascertain the level of chub in the water when a lady stops and starts to tell me about the ducks which are on the other side of the road. I thank her for time and advise her that I am not looking to feed the ducks. The look on her face was classic so I didn't enlighten her. There were a couple of small rises to the bread so I decided to go back to the car and tackle up. The River Lea here is free to all to fish as long as they have a licence (if applicable). My heavy trout tackle was put together (#7!) and back to the river. There were some small olives hatching and one fish was rising I suspect to them. Not too many small olive patterns in the lure box! Found a couple of lightish F Flies and buzzed them about or rather bombed them about and decided that my extremities were getting cold and left.
On the way back I decided to check out a small bridge on the River Ver and low and behold there getting ready for the new season was a small wild brownie. I never get tired of seeing them and their beautiful colours.
Lessons for the future! Take river and stillwater gear because you don't know what is going to happen or not! When you say to yourself putting the glasses down "don't forget to pick your glasses up". Remember to follow your own advice.
The water receives heavy angling pressure but with the C&R policy of insisting that the first fish is killed does ensure that fresh fish are inttoduced to the lake. Fishing can be had for as little as £15.00 for four hours. Temperatures around 5°C and no wind. All a bit academic as Angel (an old non forum friend - retired publican and golfer) was supposed to be coming but he called to say he couldn't make it due to not feeling as he should. So arrived at 10.00 and expecting to see Wes but didn't, waited around until 10.45 and left. On the way back I called in at the bakers in W'stead High Street and walked over the road to take a look at the river which was very clear. So I am standing by the 'gulley' and dropping pieces of bread to ascertain the level of chub in the water when a lady stops and starts to tell me about the ducks which are on the other side of the road. I thank her for time and advise her that I am not looking to feed the ducks. The look on her face was classic so I didn't enlighten her. There were a couple of small rises to the bread so I decided to go back to the car and tackle up. The River Lea here is free to all to fish as long as they have a licence (if applicable). My heavy trout tackle was put together (#7!) and back to the river. There were some small olives hatching and one fish was rising I suspect to them. Not too many small olive patterns in the lure box! Found a couple of lightish F Flies and buzzed them about or rather bombed them about and decided that my extremities were getting cold and left.
Lessons for the future! Take river and stillwater gear because you don't know what is going to happen or not! When you say to yourself putting the glasses down "don't forget to pick your glasses up". Remember to follow your own advice.