Hopper magic

On our recent trip to Sterkfontein we found the Yellow's were not really eating the conventional flies we always used. Well we had a surprise up our sleeve's

Notice the nylon loop tied in at the hook bend. Most of you are familiar with static nymphing for trout. One would suspend a team of nymphs ( flies) below a strike indicator or a high floating dry fly.

Well with this loop , one would tie your team and the just loop to loop it to the BIG hopper. Some fish even had a go at the hopper!

The end result!

Sexy Flies

Some really awesome flies tied by Gerrit Viljoen.

The shrimp pattern below is a size 12 Swimming Shrimp , note the neat epoxy work.

This fly , The Extended Graphic Caddis Pupa , is most probably one of the better examples where the use of both Synthetic and Natural materials combine in to really fishable fly. The hook size : # 16

Thank you Gerrit , awesome ties!

Chicken for Dinner

Hatchlings

These two hatchling imitations were tied by John Travis.

The expression of these guys tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

John is still to name them , but i do not think the Bass will mind if he doesn't.

Thanks John, awesome!!

Jack Gartside 1942 - 2009

We were saddened to learn that after a long tough fight, Jack Gartside lost his battle with lung cancer.

Jack Gartside was counted one the most innovative and prolifically inventive fly tyers of the modern era. He got his first fly tying lesson in 1956 . Ever since he's been tying and fishing, accumulating an extraordinary range of fishing experience in fresh and salt water. He was one of the first fly tyers profiled in Sports Illustrated magazine (Oct. 12, 1982). Jack's best-known original patterns include the Gurgler, Sparrow, Soft Hackle Streamer, and the Gartside Pheasant Hopper. His designs have been featured in Eric Leiser's Book of Fly Patterns, Judith Dunham's The Art of the Trout Fly, Lefty Kreh's Salt Water Fly Patterns, Dick Stewart's Salt Water Flies, and Dick Brown's Flyfishing for Bonefish.