Galten Farm A historic fishing destination with a touch of Victorian flair. Sometimes things just fall into place perfectly and this is what happened right from the start when Barry and I made our entry to Galten farm … Continue reading Smith Seter & Galten Gård – fly fishing in Norway.
The feather bender’s new book is out, and it’s fair to say I’m pretty excited about it! Check out this video for a little sneak peek into some of the incredible techniques & patterns, all celebrating the wonderful world of … Continue reading The Feather Bender’s flytying techniques book
For all you CDC fans, the Petitjean book is now available for order from: http://www.petitjean-cdc.com/en/home/182-petitjean-cdc.html This monumental book gathers on more than 40 years of fly-tying, innovation and a passion for fly-fishing. In this his legacy, Marc reveals some of his secrets about CDC’s unique properties, his concepts in designing flies and, last but not least, a series of brand new, appealing and easy-to-tie patterns. Marc Petitjean Photography Barry Ord Clarke 500 pages 3000 photographs Continue reading The Book – Petitjean CDC
The long awaited book ‘Petitjean CDC’ that Marc and I have been working on for seven years, had its launch at the weekend at BFFI. As with everything else that Marc gets involved with, the book is beautifully designed and a joy to use. Each step by step page is a wealth of information, with required materials and tools for each pattern, step by step instruction, tying difficulty level. Each pattern is photographed from four different angles, side, above, under and forward, giving you detailed information on each fly. Each chapter is colour coded so you can finger your way … Continue reading Petitjean CDC – The book
Although you can never have enough flies, after 30 years of tying trout flies for articles, demos, courses and videos, I have decided to have a clear out of all the boxes of flies I have tied over these years. I am going to split them up into dozens with a signed card, and let them go for $25.00 per dozen, including package and postage anywhere in the world. Thats not even $2.00 per fly! All the flies are of framing quality, and tied by me. Each dozen will contain a mixture of dry, nymph, wet, emerger, classic and modern … Continue reading 30 years of flies…
A new batch of sculls now available… The feather benders home grown and hand crafted fly tyers wax scull’s. It’s not that long ago that pre-waxed tying thread was not readily available, and tyers, especially of the more classic stile patterns resorted to various types of wax to make tying more easy and the natural threads such as cotton and silk more durable. Because the majority of tying threads available today are pre-waxed, the practice of waxing your own tying thread has been somewhat neglected or almost forgotten for most fly tyers. Apart from the obvious advantages as mentioned above, … Continue reading A great Halloween fly tyers gift!
584 lochs that are larger than one hectare and trout swim in 98% of them. Thats what drew me to the islands that lie between the North sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The flight to Sumburgh Airport on the southern point of Shetland took a little longer than anticipated, due to fog. I was informed that when there is a heat wave on main land UK , there will be fog on Shetland. Looking at the BBC weather forecast while waiting in the departure lounge of Inverness Airport, they reported several deaths due to heat stroke in southern England while … Continue reading Fly fishing the Shetland islands
The feather benders home grown and hand crafted fly tyers wax scull’s. It’s not that long ago that pre-waxed tying thread was not readily available, and tyers, especially of the more classic stile patterns resorted to various types of wax to make tying more easy and the natural threads such as cotton and silk more durable. Because the majority of tying threads available today are pre-waxed, the practice of waxing your own tying thread has been somewhat neglected or almost forgotten for most fly tyers. Apart from the obvious advantages as mentioned above, waxing your own thread makes easy work … Continue reading A new batch of sculls now available…
The feather benders home grown and hand crafted fly tyers wax scull’s. It’s not that long ago that pre-waxed tying thread was not readily available, and tyers, especially of the more classic stile patterns resorted to various types of wax to make tying more easy and the natural threads such as cotton and silk more durable. Because the majority of tying threads available today are pre-waxed, the practice of waxing your own tying thread has been somewhat neglected or almost forgotten for most fly tyers. Apart from the obvious advantages as mentioned above, waxing your own thread makes easy work … Continue reading The Bee’s Knees!
Keeping on a grayling theme heres one of my absolute favourites, Not only to fish with but also to tie. All these patterns from bygone days are remarkably simple, but still require a degree of technique to master them precisely. One of the peculiar characteristics of the grayling is that they have a preference for flies dressed with a hot spot of red in their make-up, probably the most famous is the red tag, but here are a few more, older patterns that still get the job done. Bradshaw’s Fancy Hook: Mustad Thread: Veevus Red 12/0 Tag: Red floss silk … Continue reading Grayling patterns my absolute favourites
but as I have mentioned many times before, its all about proportions! Spending time getting this right from the beginning will produce great looking flies only after you have tied a few. I am not saying that scruffy buggers won’t catch fish, quite the opposite, but there is more to fly tying than catching fish! What fly tyer doesn’t want his flies to look great? Continue reading How to tie a Wooly Bugger tutorial
The new book ‘Flies for Salt water sea trout’ contains over 50 patterns step by step. Currently only available in Norwegian will be out in March 2015 you can order it at post@vegaforlag.no Continue reading Fluebinderens bibel II Sjøørretfluer
I am very sad to learn that my good friend and world class fly tyer Chris Helm passed away yesterday. Chris had been battling Cancer for some time. He will be sadley missed but always fondley remembered… My thoughts are with his family and close friends. Continue reading Sad news
Fishing, or even identifying a mayfly spinner fall can be one of the most challenging situations a fly fisherman can experience! Its all about breaking codes and learning to read the signs. With the larger mayflies its somewhat easier to recognize the spinner fall, danica and vulgata are so large that they can be seen at a greater distance floating in a crucifix posture and lifeless in the surface, sometimes with such a high mortality rate they cover the whole surface of the river. But smaller darker and sometimes almost transparent species can be difficult to see even at close … Continue reading How to tie Pseudo Mayfly Spinner
The ragworms wedding as it is known, is called the springs most exciting adventure for the sea trout fisherman. And if you are lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time, there is no danger for … Continue reading How to tie the rag worm marabou streamer
For more information, availability and prices, about fishing for trout and grayling in some of Norway’s best rivers see, www.fishspot.no or contact Gudmund on post@fishspot.no Click on photos for larger image and text. http://www.fishspot.no Continue reading Fly fishing for trout and grayling in Norway
This is a quick and simple parachute technique that requires only deer hair and Bug Bond. Hook: Mustad C49 Tying thread: Dyneema Body: Moose mane hair Hackle: Roe deer hair and Bug Bond Thorax: Underfur from deer or moose winter coat. 1. Secure your emerger hook in the vice with as much of the bend clear of the jaws. Continue reading Fender Parachute
For all my German friends. In 2014, I will have deliverd fly tying step by step articles for the the top German Magazine ‘Rute und Rolle’ every month for the past twenty years! In december this year they will publish a whole special fly tying issue, with over 40 of my step by step patterns and a free pack of five of my favorit Mustad hooks. Danke Rute und Rolle! Continue reading Rute und Rolle
Hip, Hip and Hurrah ! The autumn sea trout season is just around the corner, and as I can see from the search engine terms on the blog, I am not the only one itching to get back into the … Continue reading Essential sea trout patterns for the autumn
It’s been a while, but I am back, and posting more patterns after a busy season photographing and fishing, where I have been testing new patterns and materials that I will be writing about later. I have also visited some new destinations that I am sure, will blow your socks off! I will reveal more later. On arriving back from my travels, there is a mountain of new materials, tools and books waiting for me to review so keep tuned as I will be going through the best of these as and when I get time. Marc also extends the … Continue reading Marc Petitjean – CdC deer hair caddis
I have My good friend Marc Petitjean visiting today so we will be tying and fishing over the weekend. I will post the full story and some nice step by step tutorials from Marc next week. Have a good one. Continue reading Fly Fishing with Marc Petitjean
Hi, I must start again by apologizing for my absence lately (again) but I have been very busy tying and photographing flies for the new Mustad hook catalogue for 2014. Heres a sneak preview of a few of the patterns. I hope to be back blogging over the weekend, have a good one. Bee Cee Clapping crab tied on a Mustad C70SNP-DT Kill Bill Salmon double Tied on a Mustad 80525-BL Sølv Dokka Tied on a Mustad R70NP-BR Vulturine Tarpon Tied on a Mustad C68SNP-ZS Circle shrimp Tied on a Mustad C71SNP-SS Streaking Caddis Tied on a Mustad R30NP-BR Buy MUSTAD hook on AMAZON Continue reading Mustad hook catalogue 2014
This is my variant of one of the best salmon flies in recent years. It is, without doubt my most productive fly for salt water sea trout fishing. There is something about this pattern that sea trout just can’t resist. On many occasions when there are sea trout feeding or on the move, and they just follow the fly and won’t take, this small fly works most of the time. Fished on a long fine leader and floating line just under the surface with a very slow figure of eight retrieve, the takes are savage and powerful, driving the tiny … Continue reading Proppen-most productive sea trout fly
Top Sjøørret tips When the spring sun has begun to warm the winter cold salt water, it’s not only you that begin to feel the effects of spring. The coastal sea trout that have gone the whole winter in energy … Continue reading Top tips for sea trout fishing
Firstly may I wish you all a happy new year! The seasonal festivities family birthdays and goodbye ceremonies are now over and I have more time to get back to what is most important. Thats right, fishing and fly tying! So please accept my apologies for being vacant the last couple of weeks, but now I am back in the saddle with the first sea trout fly of the year. Please enjoy and much more will come soon. Yours, The Feather Bender. The original flat wing pattern was developed by the late Bill Peabody a well known fly tyer and … Continue reading Sea trout Flat wing streamer
Confessions of a glue user… For over two decades I have been a serious user of various types and brands of two component bonding agents and epoxy in my fly tying and rod building, all of which have their (highs and lows) advantages and disadvantages! Although epoxy is available at most corner shops and relatively simple to use, it does take some experience working out the correct amount to mix for the specific job at hand, so there is minimum waste but also mixing the correct amount of both components to advance or reduce curing time as required. Also when … Continue reading Confessions of a glue user…
This is a quick and simple parachute technique that requires only deer hair and Bug Bond. Hook: Mustad C49 Tying thread: Dyneema Body: Moose mane hair Hackle: Roe deer hair and Bug Bond Thorax: Underfur from deer or moose winter … Continue reading How to tie Fender Parachute fly
Mayfly Nymph Hook Mustad R73 9671 # 8-12 Tying thread Dyneema Tail Olive ostrich herl Body Olive brown Antron dubbing Rib Olive Ostrich herl Thorax Olive brown Antron dubbing Wing case Golden pheasant tail Legs Pheasant tail This pattern imitates the nymph stage of our two largest mayflies, Ephemera vulgata, that is most common in lakes, and Ephemera danica, that is most common in slow flowing rivers and streams. These nymphs prefer sandy or muddy bottoms, where they live more or less buried for two to three years. These large nymphs can be recognized by the breathing gills along the sides … Continue reading Nymph-omaniac
To find a simpler dun mayfly imitation will be difficult. All you need in the way of materials is one long fibered CdC feather and a short foam cylinder and a hook. I named the fly “All In One” as the whole fly is tied with the same one CdC feather. You need to practice a little if the techniques I us are unfamiliar too you, but with a little practice or after you have tied a half dozen or so, it only takes about two minutes to tie this simple but effective pattern. All in one floats fantastic as … Continue reading All in one… a three minute dun mayfly pattern.
The original Thunder creek streamer series came from the vice of American, Keith Fulsher. In the early sixties, not satisfied with the regular head and eye size of streamers, he began experimenting and chose the reverse buck tail technique for his Thunder creek patterns. This technique involves tying the buck tail, as the technique suggests, the opposite way and then folding it back over the hook shank and tying down to form the head. The simplicity of this pattern and the minimal materials needed to tie it, is fly design at its very best! He achieved his goal, a slim … Continue reading How to tie Bug Bond Thunder Creek streamer
My pale yellow mayfly imitation that was easy to see on the dark water, drifted perfectly 7-8 metres from the boat, quickly approaching two rolling grayling in the next pool, that we had had our eyes on for the last 80 metres or so, drift. When without warning another, previously unseen fish rose from the depths of a dark pool and enthusiastically disappeared with my mayfly. Espen began pulling on the oars to slow our decent and dropped the anchor. I lifted my rod and it immediately assumed the golden arch position with the grayling diving deep into the pool. … Continue reading Drift boat fishing in Trysil whit Petitjean
Apparently trout roe patterns have been working well for they Grayling guys in the UK recently. This ones for you. Continue reading Grayling Heroe-Trout egg
The ragworms wedding as it is known, is called the springs most exciting adventure for the sea trout fisherman. And if you are lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time, there is no danger for you not connecting with fish. Although ragworms are on the sea trouts menu the whole year round, its in the spring under the annual swarming that the sea trout will go on a feeding frenzy and gorge themselves on the worms. There are many patterns known to sea trout fishermen to imitate the worm, some better than others, some simple … Continue reading The worm that turned!
House building caddis larva are available in most waters all year round, and are an important segment of the diet of trout and grayling. There are many techniques that have been developed over the years from fly tying benches all over the world to imitate the house of the caddis larva, but this technique really gives the right impression. This is a pattern I believe was developed in the US, but other than that I cant find any other information about it. The great thing about this pattern is if you trim the rubber legs close to the body you … Continue reading Elasticaddis in the house!
This is a quick and easy salt water crab pattern that I haven’t done any text for, other than the step by step. Enjoy. Hook Mustad circle streamer Tying thread Dyneema Beard Siberian squirrel & Grizzle hen hackle Eyes EP crab eyes Claws Red fox zonker Body Muskrat crosscut zonker Continue reading Tying the fur crab
This is a quick Friday night, simple and realistic melt glue caddis pupa. Although it takes a little practice to master the use of melt glue, once mastered its a great material. Continue reading A quick and simple one for Friday night.
“Steaming is term given to a style of mugging where an unsuspecting victim is chosen, followed and attacked suddenly at great speed without warning”. The art of camouflage, surprise and speed are the pikes most powerful weapons for securing a meal. Of course some meals are obtained easier than others, but generally speaking the freshwater crocodile wont say no to a free meal. Like the muggers victims the pikes are chosen for much the same reasons, easy pickings! weak and old, or both, unable to move fast or get away, once attacked and of course the bounty. The idea behind … Continue reading The fly for Autumn Pike…
Bee Cee Caddis Pupa video tutorial Hook Mustad C49S curved caddis # 6 -14 Thread Dyneema Gills Ostrich herl Body Fine leather strip (chamois) Under body Dubbing / Lead free wire if required Legs Partridge hackle & CDC Collar/Head Hares ear dubbing & CDC Dubbing Each summer a few fishing freinds and I make the annual fishing trip from our home town Skien in southern Norway to Lofsdalen in Sweden. A journey that under normal circumstances will take six hours driving, from door to door. Lofsdalen is acctually known for two things, skiing and bears. During the winter, when the … Continue reading Bee Cee Caddis Pupa
The 32 images in this coming exhibition endorse Barry’s love and passion for the sport as a fly fisherman, photographer and artist. The viewer is taken on a journey into the world of fly fishing that is rarely seen. On first encountering these beautiful images, they are sufficiently recognizable as images of fish and fishing, but as you approach and view them at close range, they transform into a graphic and sometimes abstract, overlapping of organic patterns and colour. All images are for sale, signed and numbered by the artist. Barry is also making a series of limited photographs with … Continue reading Contre-jour Fine art photographic prints
From late autumn until early spring the majority of bait fish around our coastline leave the shallows and head out for deeper water where they will be protected from the bitter cold of winter. Many of the species of shrimp that can be found on the other hand move into deeper tidal pools and onto shelves were the coastline is steeper. Therefor shrimps are on the coastal sea trout’s menu the whole year round, and are found in great numbers all over Northern Europe’s coastline. These are particularly important to fly fishermen because they mature in the shallows where we … Continue reading How to tie Shrimp for all seasons
Hook Mustad S70SNP-DT Big Game Light # 4-6 http://www.mustad.no/productcatalog/na/product.php?id=191 Thread Dyneema Body E-Z body tube http://www.e-zbody.com/ Tail 15 strands of Flashabou Eyes Fleye Foils http://www.theflypeople.com/ Head Bug Bondhttp://www.veniard.com/section188/ The original pattern this is based on is form the vice of my late, old friend Jack Gartside. This is not only an extremely effective pattern but also requires the minimum materials and once you have mastered the technique is very quick to tie. Like the most effective coast wobblers that represent Tobis this pattern is a darter, and has next to no movement in the materials, but like a fleeing sand eel it “darts” … Continue reading How to tie E-Z Sand Eel-step by step
Mayflies and More A fly tyers Guide to the Chalkstreams Chris Sandford Chris is better known in the UK for his many years work as an actor and his numerous appearances on TV and in Film. More recently for his international angling TV series, Just Fishin’ on the Discovery channel. Mayflies and More, is an elegant, well presented little book and DVD combo, that covers the tying techniques for ten modern patterns, that Chris recommends for the English chalk-streams. Although these patterns will work just about anywhere else as well! If you are relatively new to fly tying and wish … Continue reading Mayflies and More Chris Sandford book
After a short drive, south east from reykjavik, a small farm road leads us the last few kilometers to the fishing lodge at Minnivallækur, the weather was perfect, for September. A little overcast, with small patches of blue, a slight breeze and 14 degrees “dry fly fishing was written all over the sky. Jan and I where so hyped, we could almost hear heavy brown trout rolling in the surface and sucking in size 22 midges, over the sound of the engine of our four wheel drive hire car. But in true Icelandic fashion, by the time we had pulled … Continue reading Minnivallalækur, Icelands prehistoric monster trout
Tied in Hand Odyssey of a Fly-Tyer by Sven-Olov Hård ‘Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art’ Leonardo Davinci In his early teens, Sven-Olov Hård began attaching yarn and hackles to the shank of … Continue reading Tied in the Hand: Odyssey of a Salmon Fly-Tyer book
Two great patterns but do they really have the X factor ? We all have patterns that for some reason or another, deliver every time, here are two that I just wouldn’t go fishing without. But its strange, some of my fishing friends know how many fish I catch with these patterns, especially when nothing else will work, but they still wont use them. They wouldn’t even consider having them in their box, not to mention tying them on ! What’s that about ? No really, I mean it, is it all down to personal taste or does it go deeper … Continue reading X flies – I want to believe…
With the onslaught of digital photography and inexpensive HD cameras, it seems like just about every fly fisherman has ambitions of becoming a film maker, resulting in, thousands of hours of voyeur “fishing porn” being released for sale. Don’t get me wrong! I have nothing against anyone expressing themselves through the cinematographic art form, quite the opposite in fact. But like poor Hollywood productions that go straight to DVD, with a few exceptions, most of these fishing films should go straight to Youtube. Gaula, River of Silver and Gold, is one of the exceptions! Following the river through the clearly … Continue reading Gaula River of Silver & Gold:
In Ungava Bay a two hours flight north of Montreal in Quebec, swim the worlds largest Arctic char. Small flies big fish. Fly fishing for the worlds largest Arctic Char Don’t expect too much of the cabin! these are the last worlds of the legendary bush pilot Johnny May as we unload the last of our gear from the plane and he wishes us farewell with a smile. We don´t really care about the condition of a cabin as long as his stories about char of 7, 8 and 9 kilos are for real. We climb aboard a bright red … Continue reading Small flies big fish Arctic Char
