Ed van Put's last book

Finally got the last book by the late Ed van Put.

Rest in peace Ed.

Yellowstone Angler's 2025 3 weight shootout

We probably missed a few years and here's another very elaborate shootout by Yellowstone Angler, this time it's 3 weights. 

So many (basically all big name brand) rods that are so beefy that one can cast 40ft. One does wonder whether a 3 weight rod needs to allow one to fish anything beyond small streams... Obviously boutique fiberglass and bamboo rods that are specifically designed to fish small streams by contemporary rod builders like Chris Barclay, Larry Kenney, Katsumi Harada, Yamame or Yoshiharu (and many more builders) are not included in this shootout.

 

 

 

Montana - wild fish, wild places

Here's a nice video about Montana and what makes us love it so much. I've fallen in love with Montana since 1992. But Montana also has its challenges to keep the habitat pristine despite the fishing pressure, development and climate change.

Humpy artwork from SA (again!)

What to say except ‘Wow!’ about this recent artwork of the Humpy by the South African fly fisher and artist Marcel Terblanche.

I’m happy to add this to my other Humpy artwork from artists around the world 😀

My other Humpy paintings by:

Gavin Erwin

Ryan Keane

Cindy Day

Henk Peeters RIP

Two days ago the legendary Dutch angling author and retailer Henk Peeters passed away. His father Jos started working in a tackle shop in Amsterdam in 1925. Jos opened his own shop short after the 2nd WW. Henk continued the shop, relocating the shop several times, until the mid 2010s. 

The shop 'Peeters Hengelsport' was one of the first fishing tackle shop in The Netherlands with an, for that time, extensive fly fishing and tying section back in the early 1980s. Their annual catalog was very much awaited. His shop was also the first and only Orvis dealer in western Europe back in the mid 1980's to early 1990s. I too bought my very first Orvis fly rod here.

 

Henk was since the late 1960s, together with the late Kees Ketting, the foremost authors of many books and articles on spin fishing as well as fly fishing. I too grew up with their books in the early 80s. 

Earlier this year (Feb 25th) I said goodbye to Henk as his health was deteriorating. 

Rest in peace Henk

 

Tribute

This Matuka sculpin is my small tribute to three wonderful tiers, the late Darwin Atkin, Chris Helm and Dave Whitlock.

The hair scissors in the background were gifted to me by Chris just a few months before his passing.