Recent comments

Submitted by Stefano on

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Dear Kern, pleased to meet you. Writing from Italy. About Kern's Perfect Leo Shrimp...... simply perfect. Do you sell some of these creatures?
Best Regards

Submitted by Jonathan Cole on

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Just returned from Punta Allen. The road is still terrible. BUT, the Club Grand Slam, run by Greg Rahe and his terrific gourmet chef wife, Lupita, seems like the place to stay. Much more reasonably priced than the confusingly named Grand Slam Lodge which has just opened in Punta Allen, plus Greg was a guide in Key West, so he knows exactly was the serious fly fisher wants to have in a lodge-- Excellent guides (the 2-guide system in a ponga- very effective and if there are 2 fisherman, both can fish, with the wading opportunities). Fantastic fishing opportunities- one day we cast to a 10# bone, tarpon and snook within a 30-minute stretch. Great wade fishing. Overall excellent!

Submitted by Ron Tuttle on

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Are "true to pattern" and exact copies (Gray Ghost, Blue Devil) flies available?
Possible tiers ?

Submitted by von Streber on

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As once said in the TV show Top Gear about people harassing them (look it up on YuoTube - xtremely funny/scary) after writing "I'm Gay" and "Nascar sucks" onto their cars driving through the Southern USA : "Those people seems to have a irony deficiency.."
This seems to be the case with some flyfishermen as well ;)

Rick,

I wear Simms, Patagonia and other brand name products on occasion and feel no worse for doing so. Of course the big manufacturers generally make some excellent products, and you are definitely not a bad angler just because you wear them. But one of my messages is: wearing the best and owning the best does not make you the best.

Again: this is meant as a joke, and I sincerely hope it's received as such.

Martin

Submitted by R. Laughlin on

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Does it make a a bad person or a bad fisherman if I do wear the stuff mentioned in the article? I've been doing this fly fishing stuff for 25-30 years. Started out with crap gear. As my salary increased, my gear got better and pricier. You get what you pay for--mostly. Just because one might like the fleece and the name brand gear doesn't, necessarily, make one a snob or elitist. It just makes one discerning. Nothing wrong with that.

Submitted by George Akeman on

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What a great classic fly. I have used it in many situations, including as the dry on a dry-dropper rig combined with a damsel. I also have caught pike with it subsuface, the most memorable one being a 31 inch toothy critter from Spinney Mountain Resevoir in Colorado. This fly's remarkable versatility and effectiveness make it a must have.

Submitted by Renato Zanca on

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wonderful place, please do not speak the name of the river, but end up with everything!

Submitted by craig on

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my son would use a tiny red and white bobber with a hook tucked in close for frogs and bluegills.

there he was 3 years old with a snoopy rod outfishing me, just as he does to this day.

to duplicate the popper/bobber we would drill out flipflops with sharpened brass tubes and impale the foam on a hook. works great.

Good one Martin, laughed til my sides hurt, I guess I will have to leave my cardboard box full of my fishing stuff at home in April. Wouldn't want to embarrass myself or anyone else in the group.

Submitted by Dwight Caron on

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Excellant workandship. The tiers illustrated should be proud of their of their work. I have been tying flies since 1943. I began when I was 14. the classics have been my favorites, however, when I see some of the new designs, and styles of the tiers, I'm always impressed.

Submitted by Mikael on

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Great article Martin,

I had a good laugh :) That said, I find it a good idea to have another setup of rod/reel/line available if an accident would happen.

Looking forward to the next chapter and wearing neoprene waders until it gets warmer ;)

Folks,

Just for the sake of not being judged as a complete dork! This is tongue-in-cheek, OK? And very much so! In reality I'm a no-brand man myself, and actually own very few brand name products, act like an average numbnut when I prepare for fishing and altogether don't adhere to (or endorse) any of the behavior that I mention in the article above--except for a few small tips, which *can* make your fishing life easier.

If that isn't clear from the above, it's only because of my poor writing skills, and it will only get worse when I publish the next chapter...

Martin

Submitted by David Swart 17… on

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Agree With Mike,clothes,fahion, & the price of equipment don't make the fly-person,seen a lot of people with the high end gear & not caught or impressed any thing,but cheap gear is'nt good either,the problem with low ball gear is A:Does'nt last B:does'nt allow the new person to realy find the love of sport C:Puts a lot of the mom & pop fly shops out of buisness,if your going into ths sport go right or go home.

Submitted by Jason Cooney on

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Hi Martin,
I have heard stories that there is a tendency amongst some New Zealand locals to fish with less than trendy gear. They take great pride in catching trout with the oldest, tackiest and crappiest gear they can find and do very well too I am told. They focus on the fishing rather than the peripherals like rods, reels and brands. A fly fishing counter culture for the disenchanted. Call it "Punk Fly Fishing" if you will. Now, where are my safety pins?
Regards Jason.

Jason,

Reality is harsh, isn't it?

I have met many anglers in my time who looked like *beep* and outfished me severely!

I recall one guy that I met on the coast a few years back: neoprenes, a red jacket, a rod consisting of sections from two different rods (true!) and a trucker cap in severe need for an oil change...

I thought little of him--actually felt a little sorry for him--until later when I met him on the beach carrying two nice, bright sea trout, which he had kept out of the eight that he had hooked. Needless to say that I hadn't had a single tug--in spite of being dressed and equipped like a combination of a men's fashion magazine and a brand name catalog!

So it goes...

Martin

Submitted by Jason Cooney on

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Nice one Martin. I know a few fashion tragics who do tend to out fish the rest of us... but look so bad doing it.

Submitted by Ruben Lopez on

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There is a new lodge in the area, the Grand Slam Fly Fishing Lodge, I was there in November. Spectacular. They are offering a 2 x 1 special this Summer and, I have heard, your fishing package is free if you're able to get a Grand Slam during your stay; accommodation free if you get a Super Grand Slam. Tempting.
The area is a paradise not only for fishing but it is wilderness at its best, dolphins, crocs, flamengos... It is really a place out of the beaten path where to take tour wife and even your teens, specially if you have a jacuzzi waiting for you when you return to the room... like at the Grand Slam Fly Fishing Lodge.
By the way, now they have Bobby "Jack" Settles, former Casa Blanca GM, managing the operation, plus a great combination of guides, definitely, they make the difference. I tried to fish by my own and just got a couple of barracudas. With a great guide next day I caught two permits, one tarpon and one bonefish. My experience was rewarding. I am planning to go back this fall, they say fish is more abundant, maybe I get the GS this time! But instead of driving by that killing road again, I think I am going to take the boat at the Arch after Tulum.

good one Martin, are we getting a little stir crazy :). Personally myself I always went to the river to fish not a fashion show. :) Hope spring gets here quick...er

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