Flymen Podcast

 Many thanks to FLYMEN FISHING COMPANY for inviting me to their brand new podcast! i truly feel honored to be considered on such a platform.

Podcasts are also available on Spotify if you want to listen to them on the go. 

The live sessions: Pike leaders

 This was a stream that had a lot of attention from viewers, and i hope the last stream helped some of you guys looking into making your own pike leaders.

Again, like i said in the video, i don't pretend that this is the leader for you, but it's the one that works for me and it has not let me down the last 5 years and after  100's of big fish caught and landed, none have broke me off so far. I use this leader here in Ireland, and used the same in Alaska.

I like to keep my leaders super simple, this is where less is definitely more! 

From the fly line to the tippet i use Amnesia Memory free mono from Sunset fishing. This only cost 5/6€ per spool and it's fantastic for leader making. Just google Amnesia mono and you will find numerous online sellers without any problems.

I fish 90% of the time with the 13.6kgs.

To attach the Amnesia to the fly line i use the perfection loop:

 

The tippet:

I use the Bleeding wire from American fishing wire: https://www.afwfishing.com

For some it can be difficult to source due to Brexit and the added charges, i buy mine from the US in 300m spools.Even with the import tax and post, it's still super cheap per meter. (around 0.33 cent/ meter ). Your best bet if you want this wire is to look for it either on Ebay (where i get mine from) or try a local search on your browser.

The one i use is the 30lbs breaking test. (picture is only for show).

To attach the Amnesia to the wire i use the 6 turn Yucatan knot:

Note that due to the stiffness of the wire you will need less turns. I turn mine 4 times .

Now to attach to your fastach , solid ring or straight to the fly i use the non slip loop knot (also called the Rapala knot):

Again , due to the stiffness of the wire less turns are needed, i only do two turns for mine.

Here the livestream now with a bonus fly, the classic flashtail whistler:

Thank you for the ongoing support via the beers donated and for the ones who used the super chat in Youtube! You guys are awesome!

The live sessons: Junkindatrunk 2.0

 Again i like to thank everyone  for the ongoing support for the livestreams! This  time we have a look at a streamer i developed about 4 years ago and over that time i changed it a little for best effect in the water. 

 

We are all used to see a streamer sink head first, and i wanted to change this by having the weight right at the back and adding a little foam inside the head. When fishing this fly its important to give it a pause once in a while to get the head to raise and let the cone and glass beads to slide back. 

As usual my ties work for me and where i fish them, feel free to customize yours  by adding more or less weight and altering the overall size and colours.

Here's the links for your body tubing needs:

https://flymenfishingcompany.com/products/fish-skull-chockletts-body-tubing

https://www.techflex.com/general-purpose/flexo-pet 

Clevise/Buzzbait rivet to tie your whiptail :

https://www.lureparts.nl/en/buzzbait-rivets.html

 Here's a lit of the upcoming streams for the next few weeks: 

19/02/21: Pike leaders/Flashtail whistler.

26/02/21: Brush making.

05/02/21: Jerkchangers.

12/05/21: Articulated flash tails.

19/05/21 : The Flasher.

Please don't be shy in sharing these streams with  your friends! Let's grow this channel together ;)

To finish i include the original Junkindatrunk fly:

 

Epic Bandit rod kit build

 Thanks again to all who attended last Friday's live stream on YouTube and all the other that couldn't make it, but watched it later. I also want to thank all the generous donations, much ,much appreciated guys!

So, many came to the stream to have a look at this fiberglass rod. Some already fish glass, but many were just glass curious and wanted to know why i use these rods. The Bandit is my rod of choice for pike for so many reasons. I fished the Bandit for a long time now, my first one was the original three piece rod, and it landed me so many fish, in both fresh and salt water.

First thing i want to point is that i am not pushing a product or a brand. Yes i am now part of the Epic Team but i was using their rods long before i was asked to join the crew,  and i am honored to be included with so many big names in the game! 

https://swiftflyfishing.com/pages/epic-people

I am proud to represent this brand, because i use their rods day in and day out  and now i can't really see myself going back to carbon, graphite or anything  other than fiberglass.

I try to explain as much as possible why the Bandit  is my favorite rod for pike in this stream.

And as a bonus, you can build your own rod with the Epic rod kits, fiber glass has a soul and if you build it yourself, you will (as weird these words can be) feel a real connection with this rod. It's much  more than a new yearly model that will be forgotten next year because a new model has arrived on the market...This will be your lifetime companion! Fiberglass rods are so resilient they will outlast you!

If you're not sure about building one yourself, you can always opt for the studio build rods.

If you consider getting a kit please follow this link or click on the Epic banner on the left collomn of the blog.You will not pay a penny extra, but i will get a small commision.And other way to help the blog and YouTube channel ☞☞☞   Epic rods

 Many have asked for an other stream to follow the built, so i will make have other live stream tomorrow (Tuesday the 2dn February) at 7 pm GMT on YouTube. And probably an other one to finish and show the finished product.If you cannot make it, don't worry these streams are available to watch when you want as they are saved on my channel.

As everything in this world, i need to make a disclaimer...

Fiber glass need a LITTLE adjustment in your style of casting, and therefore some people will not enjoy it . I didn't say they are the best rods in the world, but they are the best for me, they just suit my style and i love it!  Choice of rods is a very personal affair, but so many of my friends and clients have stepped on the glass side and all are still rocking their glass to this day...

Chris with a lovely hen in a sunny may

Don't be fooled...Glass can cast, far and accurate.

Epic 888 on a fabulous run on an Irish wild river.

Dom with a huge 115cm from a float tube on the Bandit!

Last a little word on how your donations help support the channel, the money doesn't really buy me beers, but help with streaming subscription, copyright free music, filming gear (batteries, light, accessories...) So thank you again, i am always aiming at bringing you informative or entertaining videos so if you have subjects you need me to look at or more fishing videos (coming this spring) don't be shy to contact me via MAIL or social media. 

Unboxing of an Epic kit:

 Reel seat handle:

 

Spining the rod and marking:

 

Wraps and finish:

And a quick look at a studio build rod from Swift (Boca Grande 12 weight)

 

 PEACE AND KEEP SAFE.