Jason and I have received the page proofs from our printers and are busy examining them. They will go back to the printers in a couple of days, and then the book will officially be “in the works.” We will, of course post the estimated release date and other pertinent information right here and on […]
Well, my old friend Jake Jordan doesn’t use a Gray Ghost for his tarpon fishing, but he certainly takes a lot of big fish on long flies at night. Night fishing for big browns is very exciting. Imagine what catching a 100 pound-plus tarpon is like–especially with the added thrill of sharks that can’t be […]
In my last post on the Gray Ghost, I showed the labor that I undertook in the days before I knew Carrie Stevens’ tying tactics. She greatly reduced the efforts that are required to tie the fly well, and also to increase its durability. Here’s another paragraph from Long Flies that explains her tying strategies […]
As I continue to tie flies for our third book, Long Flies, I am amazed at the richness of all the long fly designs. Probably, no not probably, simply the most brilliant early development of streamers (long flies with feather wings) came from the vise of Ms. Carrie Stevens. Here’s a two paragraph excerpt from […]
My apologies for abandoning all of you for the last 10 days or so. Jason and I have been working rather intensely to get book # 2 press ready. Reading Waters will be going to the printer this week. As soon as we have a release date we will, of course, post that on our […]
Our second book, Reading Waters will be off to the printers next week. Expect it out by the third week in May. Watch this blog for updates along the way. In the meantime, I’m cranking away on books three and four. Our third volume is entitled. Long Flies and covers the development of long fly […]
As I’ve given tying demos around the US this spring, I’ve had numerous requests from the audience to show them the Double Hitch knot that I use to tie off the thread at the head. It’s a very easy knot to learn (it had to be for an 11 yyear old who knew nothing of […]
The search for more genetic chicken feathers has lead to the development of some rather stunning hen saddle capes which are useful for a wide variety of flies, one of which is the Hen Matuka (which see). These capes are available from Dave Roberts at featheremporium.com/index.html. Have a look. Dave also offers a great many […]
Volume 3, Long Flies, in our series, Fly Fishing, is reaching its final writing destination. Here’s a short excerpt from Long Flies on a design I call the Hen Matuka, It harkens back to the original fly tied with the feathers of the matuku bittern. The Matuka, a New Zealand imitation, solves the wing/hook-bend tangling […]
The Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo was held this past weekend at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN. The event’s founder, and my good friend, Tom Helgeson, died last year, and his family dug in and pulled the Expo together for this year. They did a great job! They had to change venues, but […]