REALTIME FLOWS    U. Kern: n/a cfs    L. Kern: 1341 cfs    E.W: 312 cfs    U. Owens: 108 cfs    L. Owens: 496 cfs   09/02/19 1:15 PM PST

The most neglected tool in flyfishing.....

For topics that don't seem to have a home elsewhere.

The most neglected tool in flyfishing.....

Postby Wildman » March 22nd, 2017, 8:36 pm

Good article from Tactical Fly Fisher blog. Mark Allen has drummed this into me from day one and I do carry a sharpening tool. He is always checking the sharpness of his flies on his fingernail.

http://www.tacticalflyfisher.com/blog/the-most-neglected-tool-in-fly-fishing
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learnt something from yesterday."
John Wayne
User avatar
Wildman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 3747
Joined: August 17th, 2008, 2:07 pm

Re: The most neglected tool in flyfishing.....

Postby planettrout » March 23rd, 2017, 5:51 am

Daughter to Father, "How many arms do you have? How many fly rods do you need?"


http://planettrout.wordpress.com/
User avatar
planettrout
 
Posts: 1607
Joined: December 6th, 2008, 11:22 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA / Pullman, WA

Re: The most neglected tool in flyfishing.....

Postby DrCreek » March 23rd, 2017, 6:28 am

I recently bought one of those things off eBay. Havent used it yet. But why would I - considering I cant seem to keep the hooks attached to the fly ! :funnyup:
Image
"You can't keep a good Dr down."
Days On The Salt in 2017 - 114
Days On The Salt in 2018 - 39


Image
User avatar
DrCreek
 
Posts: 1417
Joined: January 31st, 2008, 9:46 pm
Location: CA

Re: The most neglected tool in flyfishing.....

Postby WanderingBlues » March 23rd, 2017, 10:51 am

I switch out my fly a few times an hour. Trees, rocks, myself... No need to worry about sharpening!
"We're a cross between our parents and hippies in a tent...."
180 Degrees South
User avatar
WanderingBlues
 
Posts: 5299
Joined: December 2nd, 2009, 10:49 am
Location: Living in a Tin Can

Re: The most neglected tool in flyfishing.....

Postby fly addict » March 23rd, 2017, 12:32 pm

I think a hook file is so important, I carry two. I have dropped a few things in the water over the years. :roll:
Dr Creek, saltwater fish have much tougher mouths than trout. Hone your hooks before you fish.
I can't help you with the hooks falling off the fly. ;)
Make Fly Fishing Great Again!
User avatar
fly addict
 
Posts: 2560
Joined: August 3rd, 2008, 1:57 pm
Location: In your honey hole!

Re: The most neglected tool in flyfishing.....

Postby Joseph Burns » May 29th, 2017, 11:22 pm

How do you check your hook points? It’s a quick three step process for me:

Inspect the hook point visually. Often you will be able to see a burr or rolled point.
Give your fly the thumbnail test. This is simply pressing the hook point into your thumbnail at about a 45 degree angle. If the hook bites into your nail it’s probably sharp enough. If it scrapes across the surface, you’d better sharpen it.
Rub toward the hook point with the tip of your thumb. This will help you feel which side of the hook the burr is on if you can’t see it visually.
Joseph Burns
 
Posts: 1
Joined: May 27th, 2017, 12:04 pm

Re: The most neglected tool in flyfishing.....

Postby flybob » May 30th, 2017, 8:58 am

I NEVER leave home without one!

The Mrs. bought one for me when I first got back into fishing.
Not soon after, I was loosing a few fish on one of the creeks, I checked my hook, sure enough, smacking on the rocks had bent the tip.
I pulled out the sharpener for the first time....problem solved.

I have one in every one of my pouches and gear bags.
But be careful, there are some that are garbage...like the one from White River, the best one is the Dr. Slick.
It has two grits, and they are perfect for your tiniest of hooks, up to about a #8. Bigger than that, you need to go to the next grit level.
"The accomplishment of flyfishing is all about the experience of diversity......and the occasional element of surprise."
(rmg/2012)
Image
User avatar
flybob
 
Posts: 4275
Joined: July 27th, 2008, 10:26 am
Location: S. Orange County

Re: The most neglected tool in flyfishing.....

Postby briansII » May 30th, 2017, 10:20 am

This weekend I was missing a lot of grabs. Checked the hook on a brand new fly I tied, and the hook point was rolled over. :fireangry: I have a built in hook sharpener on my nippers, but of course I couldn't find them. ......I take that back. I found the clip that holds the nippers to my gear bag, but the retractor and nippers were MIA. Hopefully I can find my other pairs.

briansII
User avatar
briansII
 
Posts: 4902
Joined: September 3rd, 2008, 12:39 pm
Location: Central Ca.


Return to General Fly Fishing

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 86 guests