A few more flies for freshwater comp

Tied a few more flies
Some yellow black versions of Peter's Orange Black Toga fly
Again simple fly, quick to tie and very very effective in  amongst the lilies

Also some size 6 semper style flies for tiny tarpon (not at all like Northern Hemisphere Tarpon

The tarpon in the billabongs are numerous, but only averaging 20cm, but the occasional 40-50cm plus are about at times. One year two 63cm versions were caught in open water - quite big for freshwater locations
But as fish are fish when nothing else about and they are still lots of points, and points are points when the sun is high and nothing else about

Last time Peter and I were at Corroboree we had a ball catching in total 6 meters plus, each of cumulative measurement of the tiny tarpon we caught in a hot afternoon session (temperature and numbers).
It was a very hard weekend of fishing and the bountiful tiny tarpon empowered our weekend when other species, Saratoga and Barramundi, were not cooperating.

But we only caught them on tiny anorexic flies that Peter had just a couple of
one hook broke after many fish, lost another fly to a worn leader- so we were desperate not to lose the last ones we had currently tied on our tippets!

So this time I made a few quite small semper style baitfish flies, on size 6 hooks.

Not easy but not difficult to tie, but still with practice you start to get the shape right

Lay down a tight bed of thread along the hook shank
Next, tie in a clump of craft hair extending from tail
Then next clump is tied midway along hook shank with fibre tips forward facing
Once ties in, fold the tips rearward and place a few judicious  wraps of tying thread in front of the bend point
Given size of fly only fit one more clump of craft fur in, tied behind the hook eye
A few more wraps in front of tie in point of third clump then tie off thread

I add a few drops of 'Tulip' fabric paint, usually white in colour that dries clear. I use a fabric paint with glitter in it. This is smoothed out over the head area of the fly with a toothpick rolled not stroked over the craft fur

Once fabric paint is partially dried (about an hour) I added some red 3.5mm 3D eyes by putting a single drop of fabric paint on the sticky side of eye. The eye is then placed on the head area and a toothpick is used to smooth out any lumpy bits

The fabric paint takes 48-72 hours to dry according to the packet, but I have fished this type of fly 12 hours after using the paint.

Anyway - tying is fun no matter if the fish like the fly or not
However, hopefully they like the little fly like I do

Ready for more fly tying and heaps of it!

Recently had a few materials arrive from various places and some hooks (thanks Roger!)
Stick on 3D eyes, synthetic tail material, a nice white saddle hackle patch (for white deceivers) and some Loon UV Clear to hold those 3D eyes in place.

Today via the new Spotlight store in Darwin that has just opened, I bought some craft fur - and it has a good range of craft furs

I bought a 50cm width of white fur - not quite polarfibre but a very useful fly tying material all the same
Especially the price for VIP spotlight members $28 a metre (thirty something dollars for non members)
So my 50cm width piece was $14 ............and is 1.8m long!!!!

Here is my youngest daughter laying on the material thinking its hers now she has laid on it!


Plenty of
useful fibres from 4-7cm

Click on image on left to a closer look

There were a few other colours and tricolours (one interesting fur was white, with purple and pink tip like streaks)

As I will be teaching my Yr10 Marine Studies students how to make some jigs and flies with this material - I will need plenty of the material. Finishing touches to the students flies will be some clear sparkly fabric paint and some stick on eyes.

Last nights fly tying efforts

Over the last Few nights, I have been tying flies for an upcoming fly only comp at end of April
Regular SWOFFING partner 'Aussie Pete'  (a.k.a Canadian Pete) and I are keen for some FW competition action with the Darwin Fly Rodders club

Haven't seen many of them since the club fallout and split a year and two ago, so will be good to see some of the old faces and catch up.
Despite some still ill feelings by some, it's been Awesome from a selfish point of view to now have two local fly fishing clubs to be a part of. Just wish I had more time to go on ALL the group outings that two clubs can offer. (oh, to be single, retired and plenty of finances! and a new boat while I am fantasizing)
 
Got more than a few of the flies that I regularly use in Tropical FW but been tying one of Peter's favourite that has given good results in the past

A simple pattern but been very effective for Peter, who almost always runs a place in the FW comps

It has a Synthetic black tail, orange hackle collar, bead chain eyes and a mono weed guard. Not too big tied mostly on 1s and 1/0s

Now what else to tie................??
Have just got hold of some nice hooks (thanks Roger!), some krinkled Synthetics and awesomely great (& cheap!!) craft fur from 'At the Riverbend'  (please look this guy up on Facebook and ebay, he has some good products at very reasonable prices) that will work wonderfully for some profile, bush and hollow styles of baitfish flies. Will tie these in a range of sizes from 5cm to 15cm for applications and situations for the next few dry season months both fresh and salt water

Will report soon on the tying of these baitfish flies and on how Peter and I go at the Darwin Fly Rodders Freshwater competition at Corroboree Billabong 30th April-1st May
And importantly how the new flies I tied  performed or whether I stuck to my old favourite "Triple Bs" - Bunny Barra Busters (tied in various contrast colours of rabbit zonker tail, rabbit crosscut collar, eyes from bead chain to heavy lead dumbbell) for salt or fresh water applications

I also tie these flies in purple-black and orange-black colourings too

Until then I am earning brownie points from the wife and kids - a niece's birthday party, doing all the household jobs etc.

Man! the things one does just to go SWOFFING!!!!!!

my thoughts on considerations of a new boat

While I can't afford a new boat currently - here's what I am thinking about
Thinking about even though I have a massive road block in that I can't even afford a new trailer that I need for my current boat due to starting to build a house on our rural block

and not forgetting that I love my current boat (only one I have!)
A boat that I have caught a heap of fish species from

And while it doesn't get me offshore if any wind about - it gets me everywhere I need to go to catch fish locally and on a good day a fairway offshore

However........if I was going to (and I want to) but a new boat...............

I very much like the Quintrex 570 Top Ender - looks nice, rides well, plenty of fishing space
Will do offshore, the big rivers and some skinny water
but the basic boat is $50k+ here in Darwin without electics etc basically a bare boat
not exactly a fly friendly boat with no rear deck casting area

That's a lot of money for a boat when you list what you get and don't get. particularly what you have to buy and put on it to make it a good fishing boat - sounder, lights, electric motor, extra batteries, lots of storage and all the tiny bits that add up to a lot of money

Then there is the boat I really want
I used to have fibreglass boats only when on the east coast and the areas I fish here in the Top End are no harder on boats than there
So here it is - the Cobia 21 Bay - built for east coast US waters but it would be perfect here
offshore, inshore, rivers, and most shallow water like the ones I target most
fished with a guide long time ago chasing stripers off Montauck on one of these (well a much earlier model), then a different guide the next day who had a big Boston whaler - the Cobia was heaps better ride and fishability - loved it

just love watching this video!!!

The video clearly shows that the turn key standard options on US boats, far outway the standard boat we get here in Australia
Then there is the cost - under $40k US, on current exchange rates that's round $53 AU
When u compare the two boats and features and turn key setup of US boat, why would you buy locally made (well welded overseas most times)

there is also transporting the boat here which is between $9-15k. Which when added to cost price ends up being more but it is far more boat and options. I would also get a 24volt electric motor but can be fitted during building of hull to ensure compatibility and wiring. plus heaps cheaper for electric and batteries in US - so save there too.
Finally the the ride when compared to a aluminium boat is miles apart, with the glass boat far way superior

So if I had 60-70K I know from where I would be buying my next boat.

bugger - no fishing this weekend due to work commitments

Have just been so hugely inspired by NT Fly Fishers latest posting of fishing around the Peron Islands

but bugger - no fishing this weekend for me despite plans earlier in the week

school starts in three days................

and I have a few subject programs I haven't written that must be done

also got 90 iPads for middle school students that need software upgrades, app upgrades and a few apps taken off and a few added on

damn it I hate being conscientious!!!!!

but if I am going to push paperless classes we need the iPads don't we? 

I will be tying a few flies though while waiting for upgrades to crunch away so can fish that way even if not on the water

Have to replace all the clousers and silicone surf candies I lost in the last few outings to voracious fish

Might tie also some prawn sliders and deer hair sliders too if time permits (it wont!)

 Love these flies from Saltwater flies.com

Where next ?....

Fishing this weekend -..................................?????????????????
          maybe fishing big rivers chasing barra on plastics, (Never been and can follow someone)
          maybe offshore Dundee on fly and trolled lures, (lots of tun last time)
          maybe Vernon Islands on fly (great tides for this location)
Weather and a few other factors the deciding parameters for location
can hardly wait regardless of location!