Neal Osborn
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JS . . . Ultralight tackle is very fun and something I just got into. Two of my fishing buddies are avid ultralight guys and often use the 00 and 000 setups with great success. I am going to buy a 00wt Sage in the next year and pair it with a small Abel 1 reel 🙂
The most knowledgeable guy on this topic is Bill Byrd http://www.byrdultrafly.com/. He is based out of Atltanta and is very approachable. He is a very detailed guy and his articles on the topic of ultralight fishing are full of information and well written. He is also a major supporter of the notion that ultralight does not “harm fish”. Just to warn you that people’s opinions on this topic are all over the place. In general, fly shops are against ultralight tackle (possibly because the rods are a niche product and the guys who buy them are usually a bit off the beaten path, which appeals to me personally). However, those who “really” fish these setups will swear by it and I have seen guys on the Chattahootchee river fish a 00 all day long and land 18″ trout just as quickly as with a 6wt. Also, ultralight setups are amazing casting machines because the small 00 fly lines are like string and they cut through the wind with little resistance. However, they are not effective at casts longer than 40′.
FYI, ultralight fisherman would call a 3wt a “heavy” rod, ha. In general the ultralight game starts at about 2wt. I recently started fishing a 3wt fiberglass rod and love the setup. After talking with Mr. Byrd, he believes it is best to go down 2-sizes from your current lightest rod and then get comfortable before downsizing again (i.e. if you have a 5wt currently go to a 3wt, if you a comfortable with a 4wt go to a 2wt, don’t jump from 5wt to 00 at one step).
You might also want to talk with Cameron and some of the fiberglass guys on this site. They generally have a good understanding about the qualities of shorter lighter rods for tight work.
Go to Bill Byrd’s site http://www.byrdultrafly.com/ or http://www.byrdultrafly.com/ultramain.htm, it is a must read!
I forgot to mention that rabbit zonkers also make effective articulated flies like the sex dungeon variant.
Great question Dusty and one I struggled with for a long time. You can’t use super-glue derivatives or Zap products on leather (i.e. zonker strips and rabbit) because it will change the chemical properties of the natural hide. Thus creating a cemented and brittle outcome and the fly won’t wiggle and act naturally. You have to use Tearmender http://www.tearmender.com/ which I get at Ace Hardware.
To quote Charlie Cravin (http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com) “Now, for my little trick . . . Tear Mender is the stuff used to stick rabbit strips together on flies like the Double Bunny and is stickier than snot! it dries in about three minutes and this stuff STICKS! . . . If you get any Tear Mender on the rabbit fur or hackle, just let it dry and it will come off cleanly…DO NOT try to wipe it when it’s wet.”
Nick, the best trick for getting a less bulky head is to use “cross-cut” rabbit zonkers for the head. Are you familiar with cross-cut? It is the best for wrapping/spiraling rabbit hair. I will post a few pictures of my busters and zonkers when I get a chance. Also, the Hairy-Fodder fly is one of my new favorites (Originated by Craig Reindeau here in Georgia).
Inspiring pictures, John. Thanks for sharing. I often take mental notes on your shots (e.g. composure, lighting) and try to recreate some of the effects in my own work. Not very successfully, ha.
The reason I got the Simms pack is because I already have the Simms water-resistant backpack and my new pack just clips onto it so nicely.
JS, I totally agree with your comments. I quoted your earlier statement in affirmation.
As an example, I bought a new hip/chest pack this weekend and this makes my 4th purchase just to get the one I wanted in the first place. I got sidetracked on deals and sales pitches and ended up buying other things until I finally realized what it was I needed. Also, I believe that a guy kinda has to “go through the steps” so to speak in order to have confidence with his fishing gear (and flies to that matter). Confidence is really the key in anything, and once gained it doesn’t matter what another person says because at that point it’s all about your own experience. It is that “honeymoon” period where all the marketing is targeted. Companies try to get you to brand loyalty early and for the most part this is not a bad thing. In many ways, the latest-and-greatest are usually a step forward in technology but if that technology doesn’t help your own confidence then best to stick with what does and not feel left out.
However, I tend to have skepticism about internet advice other than this board.
Nick, that is a decent slumpbuster. A couple of comments – the cone is correctly proportioned, the palmered rabbit strip is might need to be a bit more extended toward the back of the hook, and the wrapped wire caught a few to many rabbit hairs.
Here is an excellent video on how to palmer a wire through rabbit zonker strips. It is in Spanish but the technique is the important thing. Notice how the guys hands are all over the fly and “adjusting” during the wraps. This is an easy technique as long as you remember to keep adjusting the fly. (BTW, this is also a great video for learning how to spin wool heads).
Zach, that is a classic picture . . . you standing up in the surf. Might be one of the first pics you’ve posted of your shaved head without a hat, woops. Looks like you had a good trip. You’ll have to let me know how the heavy chain style anchor worked; from your report it sounds like a winner. As you know, I’m in need of an anchor right now, ha.
Billy . . . Furled leaders can be great in certain situations and conditions. One thing to keep in mind is that this is “controversial topic” if there is such a thing in fly fishing (?). Two camps so to speak. One camp believes that furled leaders are nothing more than a casting crutch and used by poor casters who can’t turn over a fly with a standard leader. The other camp sees them as a great advance in leader material that allows you do things more efficiently. For example, up in Michigan on the the tributaries guys are using furled leaders for roll casting and catching some big trout. Actually, they are great for roll casting in general! Here in the south they haven’t caught on much and so you might hear guys talking them down.
I just started using a small furled leader on my 3wt 7′ fiberglass rod and it is a great setup. A pure joy to fish on the small mountain streams (both dry fly and nymphing, not streamers). If I’m by myself I put it on and have a good time, but if I’m out with my serious technical fishing buddies I usually use a more traditional setup. Admittedly, it’s still kind of a niche thing for me.
