Raspberryfisher's Blog

Have seen many bobbins from different manufacturers, see some good companies go (DH Tompson) and emergence of fair-at-best-cheap products. So with this knowledge, what would I recommend:

• Matarelli Standard for fine thread (the Gudebrod 10/0s and Danville 6/0).
• Matarelli Midge for Pearsalls and other thread on these machine bobbins.
• Umpqua for Uni (bonded) threads.

Some additional points:

• Never tried the Renzetti, Wasatch, Ekich and Rite Bobbins (at the time of this original post), so I have no comment on these products. For those that I rejected or not fond of, they such remain nameless.
• Returning back to Materelli, I also recommend their whip finisher and threader. Watching Oliver Edwards, I pick up the trick of using a clean thread end sucking the thread up, thus avoiding the need for a threader on many occassions.
• I have tried and believe there is limited value using a bobbin for wire and floss, as you lose control and sensitivty. Thus, I do prefer to wrap floss and wire by hand.
• For the any bobbin, and in particular the Matarelli, it may take some initial fiddling to adjust (bend) the legs to your liking, but once done, they work well for years.  You adjust the legs for two reasons:
  • 1. Ensure the legs are clearing the spool and not rubbing the edges. If it does, thread tension can be inconsistent as it rubs on features on the spool, such as labels, thread holding notches and other irregularities.
    2. Set the tension on the spool (id est, how hard it presses-clamps on the spool). I prefer the tension to be light, sufficicent to hold the bobbin in air, and I apply pressire with the palm of my hand as I wrap.

A small flying cinnamon-red ant, fish in late summer, in the film.

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The previous 7 posts have been a collection of flies, with a reference to fly-tying books-DVDs that I have recommended.  Now, pulling this flies together into a actual setup (rig) is the following  late summer rigging, for close-in high-stick (czech style) nymphing.  Given this technique, I recommend a long rod (10′) with a moderate action. My preference is an Scott ARC G1007-4 (10′  7 wt  4 piece from Scott), and though discontinued, there are other solutions available.

7wt may seem large, but it handle the setup with authority, and a delicate cast is not the primary requirement.

I do not use a float or indicator, but in lieu of a breader leader, I will use a bright red Amnesia (20-25#) at the start of the leader for 18-24″, followed by Maixma (15# Green) for 24-36″.  Very little of the fly line is out the top guide.

Note the weighted fly is on the point fly only, like a weighted woven czech nymph , cased caddis or one of the many bead-head nymphs out there..

The middle fly is not weighted, it also can be a woven nymph, caddis, partridge wet-fly or a general emerger such as a Whitlock’s Squirrel Nymph.

The dropper (top) is a drowned dry fly, like an ant, a wet fly,  Caddis Dry Fly or POPA Caddis.

As far a presentation, cast slightly upstream. Mend to get the point to bounce the bottom, and drift down. Ideally, the dropper fly drowns, and as the drift continues, lower your rod and may even release a little line.

Continue the drift into a swing. Once the swing is completed, setup for the next cast and try again.

My only compliant, several of the waters I fish do not allow for multiple fly rigs.

As I continue on the theme of flies from good fly-tying books and DVDs, I return to Oliver Edwards’ Masterclass, as I weave into a collection of lies that make an effective rig to be discussed in the near future.

So what fly should we look at having in our box, a Deer-Hair Body Caddis Fly.

What additional bits of wisdom, can I add:

• I tie in 3 colour variants: Black, Red-Brown, Tan.
• Hooks: TMC 900BL – 12-18, Daiichi 1640-16.
• Forgo the Hackle, just body and wing, so the fly rests in the surface film.
• For flies 14 and greater, go ahead and add the antenna.

One of the surprises to my non-fly-fishing friends, is that many of my flies are not dry flies, but effectively streamers (lures). But yes, I do like using dry-flies, and typically those that sit in the surface film, including emergers.

My fly boxes have 100s of dry flies, but those that I often go to are

The Chernobly Ant (on the left) and a Stimulator Size 18 (on the right) …..

 And the Klinkhammer – 12, a spring attractor tie ….

 Though, in my fly box I have these flies in many colours, and in the case of the Klinkhammer, in many sizes.