In the Loop

AEG Signature - Built To Resist

2008-09-15T11:05:00.005Z

AEG Signature - Built To Resist
by Stephan Dombaj

The principle is as simple as fabulous: Take two worldrenown blanks and pimp them up to endure everything! Well, I´m talking about the latest generation of hardcore flyrods - the AEG aka. Troutbum Signature Series. Based on the internationally know Greyline/Multi-Series system both the 5weight (9ft) and the 6weight (9,6ft) are far more than just awesome troutrods. And I will tell you why...

(5wt AEG + WF5Multi - 6wt AEG - behind- WF6F OptiStill)

I have tortured both rods across Europe from Norway (Rena/Glomma) via Gemany, Austria down to the dirty south (Slovenia, Croatia) and of course at some meetings and expositions aswell. And I really mean it like this! Abusing tackle and clothing 24/7 without pause; and these rods are just the right tool for it - doesn´t matter at all what you´re aiming for. From most delicate graylings to monsterous pikes, carps and seatrouts...go for it!

(Climbing in waders - you want it? You´ll get it!)

Just a few words before the party starts: Some people keep asking for the gripmaterial: The grips are made of a non-slippery Cork-Rubber-Composite which is a logical consequenz when your fishing hardcore, because you eradicate all disadvantages of natural cork, like biodegradation, isolated inclusions on pressure points and so on. The quite rough structure of the material gives you a firm grip, even if you have taken a bath in living eels. A detail that makes the diffrence.

(Hand vs. Freshwater-Tiger...)

So time for some action now. For those of you, who are intrested in the shown setups: The 590-3A represents finest carbontechnology in additon with fresh and useful design that serves the idea of building the ultimative fishingtool. I use it with a WF5F Multiline and it performs very well on both distance and delicacy. The 696-4A is a true killer rod - especially with a WF6F OptiStill I´m about to run out of words. A versatile tool for every ocassion. Due to it´s very powerfull buttsection it´s predestined for BIG-FISH-Challenges. As I said upon: Trout, Grayling, Carp, Barbel, Sneep...and so on... typical targets for a 5 and 6weight - so it was time for a bit action: Item to go: 22cm PikeBoosterFly! Let´s play down and dirty!

After several carps it was time for a blast. Rules: Strip it fast and prey for the big band...and well: it banged!

(102cm Flyby)

(Landing)

(Yammy)

(Jumping mama)

Misc. Footage:

(Carp in 6wt AEG)

(Stream-Stalking)

More Pictures coming soon! Stay tuned!

Helga å - The Dark Side of Pike Fishing

2008-09-10T10:56:00.005Z

Helga å - The Dark Side of Pike Fishing (S.Sweden)
by Stephan Dombaj

The tiny preypattern twiches along a shady lillipet-field. If anything is there, I´ll surely have it´s attention now - time to speed it up. Fast and steady retrieve with both hands: Strip, Strip, Strip...BANG! Nothing than pressure - the fish get automatically nailed via flyline. Attack and first run are a simultaneous action...

Helga å, a small river located in southern Sweden, offers a wide variety of gamefishes including rainbows, grayling and brownies - actually the reason why we came there, but the shorestructure reaveals the beastious origin of it´s inhabitants...so, while Stefan and Alexander Haider went successfully for trout, I was in search for real troutkillers. Item to go: Loop PikeBooster Stick, Classic Reel for the Sound and Opti PikeBooster SH for the win!

Alex is fishing the beat for trouts. Apperantly no one there...TIME FOR PIKE!!!

First Cast and Bang...like it should be!

The fish has ripped of the slackline

damnit...in the cover...

got that thing

barbless hook easily removed

nice pike

release...

see you soon brother...

Resting

Opti Adapted lines made it for Per!

2008-07-09T16:12:00.003Z

During week 27 I fished the Evjen beat in Gaula, Norway together with Christer, Per and Niklas Brannstrom. We
had various conditions in water level and temperature (11-17 degrees Celcius). Per was the only one that caught a fish and lost two other big fishes. One of those was really big and Per had no chance to stop the "train" when it went downstream. It was actually the same day he got revenge and caught the salmon on the picture.
Per used consequently the Adapted system during the week and could in an easy way adjust the line to the circumstances.

My own fishing? Well, I lost a heavy one on a weighted Rio Gallegos rubber leg nymph, and no, I unfortunately did not use the Adapted system.

Atlantics in Quebec

2008-06-10T22:52:00.003Z

anyone of you guys experienced the east coast of Canada for Atlantics??? i know Klaus Frimor will be on the Bonaventure around June, which is the best time to go. I think it is an great fishery especially early season with spey rods..... remember, no weighted lines or flies....

got pics now....we still use also traditional canoes steered by a long pole. The use of spey rods is still very rare but soooo deadly...the Petite Cascapedia would be my favorite river of all. it sustains also huge sea-run brook trout coming in august. This river is also the first one to implement a catch and release sector for trout.

Pike time

2008-05-01T17:50:00.004Z

Photo: Niklas Brännström

Here in the north part of Sweden the rivers runs high and dirty at the moment. The warm weather the past two weeks has rapidly meltet lots of snow. The shallow water near the Baltic sea has been warmed up and today we measured 14.6 celsius deegres in a Pike spawning area. Lots of Pikes were moving around and was putting up a great fight due to the warm water. I was using Opti Power line 8 with the new Opti Booster shooting head (float) attached to Opti running line 0.032 and - what a great combo. This outfit is now my favorite for the Pike.

"A new flyfishing season has finally started."

Flyfishing in Thailand

2008-04-28T08:56:00.008Z

Photo : Kevin Was

Im back from Thailand and a couple of weeks holliday. This was ment to be a family trip without flyfishing but I smuggled a Opti Power line 8 in my bag. On Internet i had found a place just outside Krabi that it was able to fish. I contacted the owner Stuart Gillham and he told me it was possible to flyfish catfish and other specis that´s swimming in the lake.
The first fish that striked whent out in a powerful run. Was no way of stopping this fish. It ended with a destroyd flyreel and leaderbreak. With a new flyreel I got in to two new fish wich ended with leaderbreak.
-My good what strong fish but perhaps the weight of them was to much to handle with 0.50mm monofil leader. Anyhow i finally caught a nize sized Black Pacu wich is a sort of vegetarian Pirana. What kind of fish I lost we never know but they were big!!!
The Opti Power was great ! It cast very nice and has a lot of fighting power. A great travel rod.

Opti Runner and Speedrunner

2008-04-04T02:25:00.002Z

I have to admit that when I first laid eyes on the Speedrunner I was a little skeptical. I mean it was so different that I didn't know what to make of it. If nothing else the reel certainly was unique looking, what with the crazy large diameter, funky inset handle, V shaped spool and shiny blue finish, not to mention the large silver L making up the back frame. I just wasn't sure I could see myself stepping into my favourite Steelhead flow with one. Yet somehow I was drawn to the reel and eventually came to match it up with a 8124 Opti rod. The Speedrunner paired with the Opti and it's young sibling the Runner, paired with a 6120 GASS have been my go to Steelhead set ups for this past year. Despite their light weight the Opti reels have stood up to some heavy fish. The inset handles sacrifice a little torque in exchange for speedy pick up but are well up to task on heavy fish provided one pumps the rod properly. Talk about a sweet reel to fish, the large arbor combined with the silky smooth drag is pure butter and the V shaped spool piles the backing on nice and neat.

Pike + kids = new fly fishermen!

2008-03-12T21:49:00.002Z

Referring to Pers previous post "Why not pike" I can affirm that pike becomes more and more a very popular fish to catch with a fly rod, here in Sweden. That fact gave me the idea to make a three days long fly fishing course for young people. The first day they created their own fly patterns, the second day I gave them basic education in fly casting, and finally the third day we went fishing! The course was successful and a few new fly fishermen were born!

Black & Silver

2008-03-12T16:34:00.003Z

The fly Black & Silver has a given place in my flybox. Through the years i have caught a lot of both salmon and seatrout on this pattern. I tie it from size 10 up to big tubefiles. Its quite easy to tie. I think the red butt and the red head in contrast to the black ving and silver body its whats make this fly so good. It is a alround pattern that works good both as a day ore night pattern.

Kids Today....

2008-03-06T09:20:00.005Z

Here in Canada there is a sense that kids are not fishing as much as they used to, probably due to the various electronic entertainment distractions so popular with the youth of today. I remember being 12 years old and racing home after school to grab my fly rod and ripping down the dyke to the river mouth to chase sea run Cutthroat Trout.

The two youngsters in the photo, aged 10 and 11 are from Australia. They visit Whistler each year and do a couple of days of guided flyfishing. It is neat to see their skills improve with each visit. They are becoming anglers of the highest regard. They both tie their own flies, cast great(even double hauling), understand proper angling ettiquite and most importantly have respect for the fish. They are pictured here with a beauty Bull Trout that the oldest one caught this past January in the Cheakamus River near Whistler. A nice fish no doubt, but what makes it really special is when they caught it. On this particular trip the older folks, including their hard core fishing uncle had decided to pack it in after lunch. Fair enough, it was one of those days where the snow is so wet that you get soaked and then frozen by the cold wind. The boys had looked forward to this trip so there was no stopping them. When the old folks went back to the hotel hot tub the kids fished on. Not long after the parents departure young Harrison latched onto this beauty, the look on the boys' faces says it all!

Why not "Pike" ?

2008-02-13T21:27:00.003Z

Here in Sweden we have pike in almost every lake and in the Baltic sea. Its a great fish to flyfish and its so easy to find waters that produces quite big pikes. I think more and more of our younger flyfishers have found the sport with this fish. Before and right after the spawn the big females are in the shalower waters and often will chase and take a big pike fly. Its not expensive when most of our coastline offers license free fishing.

My pike box is right now filled with new pattern and im longing for a new season to start.

Good news from Namsen, Norway!

2008-01-26T16:24:00.001Z

Fisherman by trade may not use "kilnot", (this is the Swedish word for a kind of fishing net which floats and is anchored to the sea bed) before the first of July. That is a month later than the years before, and will increase, referring to scientists, the numbers of big salmon entering the river of Namsen with 10000! Let us hope that the protests from the fisherman by trade will not succeed.

The picture shows Goran Andersson fishing the river of Namsen photographed by Martin Johansson.

Best regards
Martin
www.nordicflyfishing.com

A memory from the past

2008-01-16T19:27:00.000Z

With 5 hours of mountain biking "in my legs", I finally stood by the crystal clrear waters of Börsriver, surrounded by barren and desolate mountains. No other sound was to hear but one from the river and I was filled with satisfaction of the thought of having four days fishing in this desert landscape. A very stoney ground with only low vegetation showed that we where high up in the artic terrain. Probably it was up here the last remaninings of the inlandice melt and disapeared. On the northsides of the mountain lied snow and ice in spots. Small streams was made of the meltingwater from the area which "ran" together making a small flow, ending towards me. Below the smaller flow it turned into a fine "entranceflow" which seemds like it kept salmon. With great eagerness I loosened "the fly" from the flyrod. I started to fish from the entranceflow and from a part with bigger stones in the middle of the flow.

"The fly", a own variant of a Green Butt, swept off the assumed places. When I reached the stones it suddenly pulled hard in the line and the first Börsriver salmon was hooked. It went off downstream in a long rush. The leader was only 0.24mm and I started to doubt if this was gonna work out. The salmon ceased and was standing with streched line out in the flow. I took my chance to reach a spot below the fish making it swim upstreams. I succeded but the salmon was far from tired. My friends now discovered that i drilled fish and hurried for rescue.

- Now, don´t loose this salmon. We need one for marinating, Anders said.

After a few more rushes the salmon finally started to get so tired that Anders, with a firm grip around the tailfin, could lift it up on shore. Four kilos shiny Atlantic silver.

"Ohh, what I´m longin for a new season to start"

Favorite rod.

2008-01-10T18:49:00.000Z

After the last season i now have a new favorite rod. Loop Multi 12 fot for line 7-8 performes great. It handles all types of lines even quite heavy sinking lines. This will be a new friend in my serch for seatrout and salmon. I had also a great time in BC fighting several steelhead with this great rod. "A must for the next season".

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T19:25:00.000Z

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope that you and yours have a very enjoyable and safe holiday season and look forward to a great new year.

all the best to you,

Brian Niska

Winter time.

2007-12-12T22:14:00.000Z

"Slowly we drifted down the Bulkley with a breath taking view in front of us."

Its like Martin put it, full winter outside here in the north of Sweden. Not much flyfishing up here at the moment. But its also a good time to reflect up on the season thats past.

I have the last days gone through some picture from my last trip to British Columbia and some steelhead fishing. It was a great time with some nice steelies. We stayed for a couple of nights at the Bulkley field & stream RV camping. -And guess what ! Next to us was Francois Blanchet staying in a camper. -What a small world we live in. -Thank you Francois for your help with tips to were and how to fish. Its always good to have flyfishing friends all over the globe.

Santa Claus will soon pick him up...

2007-12-12T20:43:00.000Z

Right now the temperature outside my window is minus 10 degrees celsius, brrrr.
I am sitting in my warm house looking at some pictures from earlier fishing seasons.
The reindeer walking down to the water to swim across the seapool in the river of Stabburselv, Norway, is a fantastic sight in the warm light of the midnightsun. My thoughts are up there with him, among the salmons, the seatrouts and the sealiving arctic chars.

But in this moment, I think he is just walking around waiting for his master Santa Claus.

Photo: Fredrik Holmgren

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Fishingyear!

Martin Johansson
http://www.nordicflyfishing.com

More time during the winter...Well !!!

2007-12-12T16:56:00.000Z

Like Tellis said, wintertime is grate! Time for relaxing, thoughts, reading, fly tying and adjust your equipment. Ooops! I almost forgot my family....... My family is of course the most valuable "equipment" I have. And this time of year they need a lot of time.
Have to quote Glenda Powell who said to me :
" Really busy playing undercover Santa! (when the kids are at school)". She's right about that! Every mother & father know what she mean.

Anyway! Regarding Glenda Powell, I'm plan to visit her at Blackwater Lodge, Ireland. Shall have tuition on the classic spey style and join them at the traditional grand opening at 1:th of February. Report from that event coming later on..... Now the kids sleep! = Time left.

Right now there are exeptional good conditions at Lilla Malma Fishery. The winter just disappeared, a lot of rain contribute to big flows. For you who don't know me! I'm the manager at Lilla Malma Fishery & Fly Fishing School and this summer and autumn was a disaster. We had almost no rain for about 110 days and as all fly fisher knows.... Fish like water and the water level was really low. The fishing during that time was no good, decent but not good.
Now we have water as I speak. And water there is! It's a strong current through all ponds and the creek offer exciting fishing. Lets hope for no ice until January....

Here is a thread!

I would really like to hear your opinion about this.
Have a look at the picture! Photo: Niclas Jonsson, Nijo Studio

This man was recently a fishing guest at Lilla Malma. Look at that wonderful and honest smile. Okay, It was a grate catch, but still he smile and show happiness. The twist is! I have seen hundreds of picture with fisherman & hunters "proudly" posing with there catches (including me). I'm not sure why, but it seems to be something macho about us. Wy don't we smile? Some times it even looks on the pictures that we thinking " To fucking horrible! If I catch more of these I will quit this stupid sport". How come? Let me hear your theory! Wy it's so........

Tight loop

Thomas Berggren, http://www.lillamalma.se/

Flytying - Let your imagination be your guide!

2007-12-12T16:28:00.000Z

During the vinter all of us have a little bit more time for flytying and our imagination wile sitting by the vice flows better then ever.

The flybox quickly fills up with diffrent creations and sizes.

Often when a new pattern has been born you can´t help that the mind plays with you..
All you can think about is the feeling when you do the first cast in the river with the new "superfly" you just tied!

If only the winter was shorter...

My latest creation for cold and coloured waters - The Monster

For more patterns - visit http://www.tellis-flugfiske.se/