Recent tyings

Here are some of my latest tyings, I am trying to use body weights, soft hackle and long wings more this season. Their movement really is beautiful in the water.

Loop rods for the season ahead

Here are my Loop rods for the season ahead. Of course I have the switch which is the Cross S1 #7, but I have also taken a keen interest in a new rod offered up by Goran Andersson . It is part of his new signature range, its an 11ft #3 rod.

 

 Goran states that he has landed fish around the 10 kilo mark with this rod and when you lift it you do feel a deep power in the butt of the rod. The rod flexes nicely from the middle and casts a light line very well and when you need to fight a salmon you can rely on the strong butt section to take over.

 

 It is made with nano resin technology or Loop powerlux. Beautiful looking blank and finished to a very high standard. I have a feeling I will be reaching for this rod a lot this season, be it for sea trout at night or fishing for grilse and salmon in low water. I have an Opti creek line on it which is a #3 and the Evotec reel with the feather light spool.

Here is my new switch rod and I have to say I am really liking it already. The cross range can cast such a wide variety of lines and gram weights, I actually found a line around 18-19 grams was very nice on it, I do think I prefer a lighter line approach but Loop recommend a 22 gram line as a good starting point.

Tough and flexible black snake and rod wings, I love the matt finish, I don't like a flashy rod. Cool understated blue whippings, the Cross S1 is a really beautiful rod. Just looking forward to putting a bend on it now!

Finn from on high.

I have been to the Northwest of the country recently anticipating some water in the River Finn. So I was left wanting in that respect but still made the most of the trip with some hiking up Allt na Péiste which roughly translates from Irish as the 'ravine of the serpent/monster' which could well be a reference to the River Finn which meanders at the foot of the hill.

  Here are some snaps of my wanderings.

                      Robert and Louis also anticipating water ;)

 

 

 The Birthing grounds of the River Reelin and Upper Finn which meet to form the River Finn.

 

A gorge that feeds the Reelin

 

 

                                          The Ivy Bridge

                                     Cunninghams

 

                          Chapel steps and Footbridge

 

The Graveyard

 

The Glebe

              The grilse stream leading into the Corner pool and Martins

Loop GDC Custom Shooting heads

I have just cut up some new shooting heads for my Loop Cross Switch, here is the process and the formation of the loops also. The Loop GDC Custom heads come in 18.5 metres and 15.5 metre lengths. There is a table for cutting the required lengths on the Loop website. Custom 155/ 185



Essential items include a tape measure, some screwdrivers for pegging the line down, and scissors. Optional items include band aids, and a set of cojones when chopping up a brand new fly line!!! (It isn't that bad)



Loop provides a tables which helps when cutting up your own shooting head. The scale also has weights and lengths for cutting the front end of the fly line not just the rear end. Which is helpful as you may want to cast heavier flies or sink tips.

So measure the specified length to weight described and go 1 metre beyond this (just to be safe) here is what I got.



Keep cutting back small lengths and weighing, when you cut the line do it at a sharp angle, this helps with the braided loops later.



Ok so this is what I wanted. Great!



Now the Loops! I have dabbled with welded loops but I still think braided loops are just as good, simpler to make and easier to make neater through the rings.

Here is the Roman Moser micro trout loops, perfect for the business end of the fly line (usually) if the line has a nice thin taper they are spot on
Again cut the fly line at a sharp angle so that it will go fully into the braids tunnel, the further you get it up the better.



Whip the end of the braid a few times to secure it, then cut the stragglers and finish a nice neat whip, not too big or long, I like to keep the fly line as mobile as possible and big areas of thread and glue don't help.



For the rear end of the shooting head you are going to need a bigger braided loop, again cut the line with an angle.


Whip again, nice and neat. This is the RM Salmon braided loop.


The thread should be covered with Aquasure, a nice light even covering, use something like a small artist brush or small stick to apply it. (For the record there is no Aquasure on the thread in the photo)


Ok so the trout micro loop is a bit flimsy and needs some support (in my book) So I make up a small sturdy loop from the Roman Moser braided loop. Take some old fly line (hopefully you have it) the thinner the better. make a loop to loop connection to the braid and hang it somewhere suitable. Peg and a clothes line here, hang up the washing while you are at it, earn a few brownie points




Cover the loop to loop connection with a thin coat of Aquasure and focus on the thin flank of the braid between both fly lines, this is the flimsy part when casting.



So when the glue is dry literally pull the two end of the old fly line straight, you can now cut it and remove it from the braided loop. The removed fly line forms a nice mould for polyleaders or tapered leaders and a lovely neat connection. You will end up with something like this. Some might say that is a bit OTT but you end up with a super neat shooting head that you can fish through the rod rings with minimal scrape and no catching.


In this article I cut a 185 Loop custom back to 8.5 metres or so, it weighs 18 grams and I use this on my Loop Cross Switch 11ft #7 travel rod. The great thing about cutting shooting heads is that you can mould the line into what you want, more aggressive or delicate tapers, heavier or lighter. I can honestly say that my go to lines are ones that I have cut myself as I have cut them to my own specifications, not somebody else's. Hope anyone reading this got something out of it. If I had a penny for every time I typed Loop