1-step looper review

After i posted my last video on how i make my own shanks , i got a message from "anthony_lee " on Instagram, and he put me on these pliers.
After a quick search, i found the best value was on amazon. Two clicks and two days later the loopers arrived. Right out of the package my first impression was not great , as the pliers were smaller than what i was expecting. Are they gonna do the job with thick stainless steel?...
 I ordered the 3mm loop maker for my pike shanks. Not disappointed with the size of loop it creates, i rather have a larger loop to help with movement and not to  get stuck sideways like some shanks can do when you cast them.
You have two other options as well if you want to make smaller and lighter shanks for your trout or bass streamers, the 1.5mm loop and the 2.25mm loop.
I open the package and as soon as i have them in hand, they feel heavy. (usually a good sign) The grip is very nice and it does feel like a quality product...Now lets bend some wire and see...
First go and it makes a perfect round closed loop, effortless! Just need a little squeeze with a set of normal pliers to finish the loop properly. This is so easy!
While applying pressure to cut and bend the wire at the same time, i didn't feel like the whole lot was going to fell apart. It's a solid piece of equipment! My first impression was well wrong.
The bonus with this looper is that you can do the "r" loop as well, not sure if they are fully designed for that but it works perfect. Just check the video to see the different way you need to feed the wire inside the jaws.
At around 25/30€ its not that cheap, but just look at  the price of the shanks in fly shops....If you buy more than five packs of shanks in your fly life, then this is a tool well worth having in your tying desk.
If you want to get one just check the left column of the blog ←, there's a direct link to Amazon (thats the cheapest i could find).
Now i will have to use it for the next 6 months, and i will come back with an update to see if they are still working...I have a good feeling about this one.

Articulation Nation: An introductory into the world of shanks

Over the years of fly fishing for pike my choice of flies as changed a lot. I'm a firm believer that size does matter , and this does not mean only using big flies. The size of the fly goes with the appetite and mood of the pike. Generally i tend to use  my big flies early spring and mid to late autumn into winter. Big flies range from 20 to 30 cm

The rest of the time i fish "small" flies (around 10 to 13 cm).
As for the models that are prominent in my boxes, well that's easy: the articulated ones. It usually involve one or many articulations.
If i only use one shank, its placed in front of the hook and not behind. I like that position as it pushes the hook back and balance the streamer very well.And it can result in more positive hook ups.
Mini T-bones are an absolute killer and you can make so many variations.

MiniBone, 40mm shank in front, 6/0 behind, rabbit whiptail

For this type i only use strong shanks, like the big game shanks from Flymen, or homemade shanks ( made from hard stainless steel wire of 1mm)
One type of fly that requires shanks is definitely the game changer.These are time consuming to tie but i absolutely love using them! Variations are endless on a GC, but i use two types:

Large, two hooks GC.

The first is the one with two hooks, and that's the larger model i fish. One large hook at the front, 6/0, four shanks and a small hook at the back  1/0. Only big game shanks should be used for this one as you dont want anything to open up if a large fish is hooked on the back hook.

Big game shanks, 100% secure.

Smaller GC where the lighter shanks are a good choice

If you want to make these yourself i made this short video where you can see how i make mine.

The second type is a smaller version with only one hook at the front. The body and tail is made with lighter shanks, stainless steel of  0.7 up to 0.9 mm. These are the normal shanks with the little eye at the front. Same here you can buy the directly from fly shop, or you can save money and make them yourself.

Normal shanks with a closed eye on one end.These are strong but could open as the eye is not secured with thread.

For this small shanks, you can of course buy them already made, but with the right tools you can make them yourself as well.If like me you can go though 100's of shanks  (i do tie a lot for clients that come to my lodge) It's something to consider doing, if you only use a few , many buying them from a shop would be a better option money wise...

So for them u need a lighter wire and one special pair of pliers, the Beadsmith 1 step-looper.This is going to make your life so much easier! 

Three different type of looper exist, make sure you get the large 3mm model so your shanks will articulate with ease.

Now for the wire i use, and where i get it!
The wire is stainless steel grade 316 ( medical/marine) solid, and never any rust even in saltwater use.( try them on seabass!Well with it!)
I order all my wires from https://www.wires.co.uk fast postal service and great products.

Pink

 One combo qui plait a tous! Rose et blanc! Et bravo a l'Irlande qui est le seul pays au monde a avoir légalisé le mariage gay par vote de la nation aujourd'hui. ( OUI a 62,3%)

Cela montre un énorme changement de ce pays fortement catholique...

Allez sortez le rose!

Articulé sur une tige Big game 40mm avec bien sur du flash rainbow...

The return...

Je commence juste a retrouver la réalité après ce séjour paradisiaque....De retour a l'étau, et pour reprendre les choses en mains voici un streamer articulé a deux hameçons.
Un Sakuma Manta xtra 6/0 en tete et un Manta normal pour la queue. Corps et tete est une mixture de funky fibres et funky hairs.Les deux hameçons sont reliés par du Carboflex de 40lbs.

Et en bonus...un peu de soleil...

San José central.

"Chops" sympa cochon de compagnie, mais limite casse couil**s

F.W.A

Avec l'automne qui arrive a grands pas, mon style de pêche va complètement changer....Endroits, soies, animations et surtout les streamers que j'utilise.
Apres avoir utilisé des streamers doubles ( deux hameçons montés en tandem) avec de très bons résultats, je préfère a present pêcher avec des mouches articulées.
Elles sont beaucoup plus fiables ( plus de liaison entre les deux hameçons avec du cable, qui après une,voir deux saisons a prendre du broc risque de casser).
Un seul hameçon suffit pour traquer les mamas, et quand il est derriere une tige, il possède alors un placement bien stratégique: au milieu, ce qui équilibre le montage et aide beaucoup lors du ferrage.
Durant les semaines a venir , je vais rentrer plus en details dans le montage et matériaux utilisés pour confectioner ces bêtes.

Celui ci est monté avec une tige de 55mm et un hameçon Sakuma 410 en 4/0.

F.W.A

Un gros streamer articulé sur une tige de 35mm.
Monté sur un 6/0 Grip hook 21711-NSL ,flash mix, funky fibres et funky hair,hackle, gros yeux super léger dumbbells en 15mm.Tete finie en mouton islandais.

F.W.A's articulated toad

Une serie de streamers articulés inspirés des "toad flies" a tarpon.
Ces streamers a tarpons ont beaucoup de mouvement grâce a la queue conçue exclusivement de marabou.
Sur ces modèles a brochet j'ai mis 5 a 6 grosses plumes de marabou et pas mal de flash et fibres d.n.a.

Apres une couche de bucktail inversé et une collerette en poils de cerf pour que le tout ne coule pas trop vite.

Puis on arrive a l'articulation, conçue comme les derniers posts avec les tiges de chez Fish Skulls en 35mm de long.

Maintenant finir le corps avec deux couches de bucktail inversé.Mettre du flash entre chaque couche.

Pour la tete, soit de la Funkyfibre ou sur le modèle rouge / blanc du mouton.

Mrs 205!!!

YEAP!! mrs 205 cet après midi, en allant tester mes flashtails articulés!
Merci aux deux couples de grèbes qui m'ont indiqués le bon spot...A environ 70 mètres du bord, 6 mètres de fond, mais cette mama a pris le streamers juste au début de sa descente!
C'est mon premier brok au streamer articulé...je pense qu'ils marchent pas mal ces flashtails....1m08 vient de me donner la preuve!

F.W.A's Articulated FlashTails

A vos étaux!!!!
Plus d'excuses pour ne pas être prêt pour la nouvelle saison!
Vous pouvez changer les tiges Fish Skull pour différentes tailles, celle utilisée dans la vid est la médium en 35mm.
Pour de l'exotisme pourquoi pas mettre un rattle a l'intérieur..
Et pour qu'ils coulent plus vite ajoutez des yeux dumbells devant la tête en fibres.
Pour des eaux claires ou un montage discret changez le flash de la queue avec 4 a 6 schlappens.

F.W.A's Articulated

Fun , fun , fun, happy, happy, happy.....C'est comme ca que je resume les tiges de chez Fish skull.
Facile a utiliser et votre imagination est la seule limite....
Ce coup ci des flash tails , bientôt des candies...mmmhhh...happy , happy, happy....