Woven Flies

Been doing some woven flies.

Fish Pimp Brings Out 2010 Product Line

Fish Pimp has unveiled what it calls “highly evolved” fly-fishing accessories, including several products that deliver significant improvements to angling gear. The 2010 Product Line includes several new twists on classic gear. Formally known as Angling Evolutions, the company is rolling out with a new name, new packaging and a slate of new products such as it Shake-N-Float™ fly-drying system and Renew Line Tool™ clip-on line cleaner. The company has also completely re-designed it namesake Fish Pimp® strike indicator to be more aerodynamic and offer a new dead drift configuration option. “Our goal is simply to help people catch more fish,” says Quentin Hoffpauir, Fish Pimp Sales Coordinator. “That means taking a hard look at all of the traditional approaches, then figuring out ways to re-design and re-engineer to make them better.”

That’s what Fish Pimp’s new product line accomplishes, most notably with their three flagship products:

Shake-N-Float™: A revolutionary fly-drying system that keeps drying agent and floatant in a single container, but in separate chambers. With just a couple quick turns anglers can dry flies and apply floatant quickly with no mess and a longer lasting effect. Shake-N-Float is available in either a re-fillable premium version or a single-chamber, single-use disposable option.

Renew Line Tool™: A clip-on line cleaning tool that let’s anglers protect and condition while they reel. It simply clips to the rod, securing the fly line between two cleaning pads that apply Fish Pimp’s fly line cleaner and conditioner as the fly line is reeled in. Comfortably fits any size rod with no risk of leaving as much as a scuff.

Fish Pimp® Strike Indicator: One of the industry’s most popular strike indicators, the Fish Pimp has been completely re-engineered with a dimpled surface to reduce drag in both the forward and back casts, tighter, more secure hold, and a new dead drift option to give anglers three quick-change configuration choices. It is available in three sizes (mini, original and jumbo) and four colors— red, white, yellow and, now, black. The new, patent-pending Fish Pimp design is also 30% lighter than other foam indicators and can be used repeatedly without kinking your leader.

Fish Pimp’s line has a host of other accessories, including floatants such as Perma Fly™ premium dry fly spray and Fly Sauce™ premium dry fly floatant; fly tying cements Head Strong™ and water-based Hard Headed™ as well as Head Strong™ thinner; and refills for their Renew Line Tool and Shake-N-Float products. “No product is ever going to make fishing easy. We just want to make it more fun,” Hoffpauir says.

More information about the full line of Fish Pimp products can be found at
http://www.fishpimpco.com/ (website is under construction right now) or by calling 866.461.2449.

Japanese Ayu Fishing

So what is this? It's an interesting Japanese fishing technique that dates back centuries. Ayu is a trout native to Japan. The fish feeds on underwater plant material in his own territory. Say 100 square feet. The Ayu does not like invaders and will angrily fight to protect its turf. One of the fighting techniques involves bashing into the belly of an invader to drive it away.

Ayu fishing means "a fish brings another fish." In practical terms this is what you do. You start with one Ayu, threading mono through its mouth and gills. The fish is alive and only slightly hurt. At the end of the mono is a hook hanging out under the fish. The angler draws the Ayu (let's call this one #1) into the territory of another Ayu (fish #2). Fish #2 gets angry because of the invader and belly butts fish #1. During the scuffle #2 gets hooked by the hook hanging off of #1. #2 fish gets hooked in the dorsal fin (usually). You have used #1 to catch #2. Now #2 becomes the fish which will catch #3 and so on.

It sounds kind of cool. It is a favorite summer-time pleasure of the Japanese. They eat the small fish.

A Good Pattern For Fall In New England

This is one of my favorite bait fish imitations for fall trout fishing.

Fran Betters, Dean Of The Ausable, Dies

Sunday, September 6, 2009 marked a sad day in the fly fishing world, with the death of Fran Betters. Betters, known for flies such as the Ausable Wulff, Usual, Haystack and a host of other patterns for his home waters in the Adirondacks, was the proprietor of the Adirondack Sport Shop for many years. Due to failing health in recent years, Fran had been trying to sell his shop.

As do many anglers who travel through Wilmington, NY during an Adirondack trout adventure, I have many fond memories of dropping in to to say hello to Fran. He was always at his tying desk and ready to give advice on how and where to fish. Although known for his famous patterns, Fran also tied mighty nice parachutes, terrestrials, caddis and muddlers. The Piggy-Back Nymph was the forerunner of the parasol-style fly and his Haystack set the stage for what we now call the comparadun style.

Fran was a writer of many fine books about fly fishing in the Adirondacks as well as Fran Betters' Fly Fishing, Fly Tying and Pattern Guide (1986). He will be missed by many, especially his wife, Jan.

United Fly Tyers

United Fly Tyers will hold the first meeting of the fall this coming Thursday, September 10 at the Holiday Inn Select in Woburn, MA. Bring your tying kit and join in for a Tyers' Night.

Holiday Inn Select
15 Middlesex Canal Park Rd.
Woburn, MA 01801
tel: 781-935-8760, www.holidayinnselect.com/Woburn

Directions:
Take Exit 35 off 128, Continue on Circle to Main St/Rt 38S towards Woburn Center. Approximately 0.1 turn right on Middlesex Canal Park, Holiday Inn Select is the first business on the right, less than 1/4 mile off the highway, easy on easy off.

Another Creepy Angler

What is the story here? Jeez-o-Pete, these guys are so weird. This one looks like he is taking time out from a WW2 battlefield in Austria to wet a line.