Blue Bottle Humpy

This post was originally posted on Aug 26, 2022

Anyone remember this iconic video called Trout Bum Diaries - Kiwi Camo that came out back in 2007?

After their adventure in Patagonia a year before, this group of friends now traveled to New Zealand. Besides big trouts, lots of tiny biting bugs there was a part where they used blue candy wrappers to tie an imitation of the blue bottle fly. Need to watch the DVD again...

I have been looking for blue candy wrappers here but none had the same shimmer (and the right characteristic for tying) as in the video. After looking at many materials in fly shops I finally found this material in color Holo Blue, Unlike many similar materials it is incredibly tough (won't break easily when stretched), has the right sheen and there's so much in a pack that I have a lifetime supply of it.

Dave Brandt talking about Catskill tradition

A little hidden gem of an interview with the late Dave Brandt about the Catskill tradition.

Dave was also featured in the DVD Land of the Little Rivers, a nice video about the life that goes around in the Catskills.

Rare video with Winnie & Mary Dette

Here are two pretty rare videos with Winnie and her daughter Mary Dette about the early beginnings of the Dette's fly tying operation. The second video Mary ties their famous Coffin fly and Winnie explains how it got its name.

 

March Brown

 

SIM Fly Fishing Festival 2024

Just returned from attending the SIM Fly Fishing Festival in a tiny and scenic town called Castel di Sangro, Italy. This festival being deeply impressive is an understatement. This year was the 21e edition of this festival. A festival to celebrate the art of fly fishing & tying but foremost celebration of camaraderie. Among many top Italian fly tiers a group of international fly tiers were invited, including yours truly.

SIM (Scuola Italiana di Pesca a Mosca), founded in 1978, is the Italian fly fishing school where knowledge & history of fly fishing is educated. They have many regional meetings with the yearly festival at their headquarters in the civic museum in Castel di Sangro being the main event.

It all started with the amazing diner Friday evening at the center square of the town with live music. The hospitality of Italians is heartwarming. It was a joy to see old friends and meet friends that I've known for many years but meeting for the first time. Saturday started with a nice walk from the hotel to the venue. Tying at 'center stage' in the wonderful auditorium was simply humbling. The weather was glorious making the weekend really special.

The venue is an abby just along the little Sangro river. Not sure how old this building is, but the central square inside is beautifully decorated with frescos. 

Thanks to all the friends, what a joy to see you (again)! Finally a huge thanks to Umberto Oreglini for the logistics and taking care of us. Grazie Umberto!

Here's a video of the SIM festival from the local TV station

Rise

Here's another golden oldie DVD by Confluence films that can be enjoyed for free!

Observing

Observing in a small spring creek in Spanish Pyrenees

Fly fishing Bhutan

Not the most obvious place to go fishing but after watching it certainly one of the most special. The scenery of the lower Himalayas, the history and culture of Bhutan and for sure the fish. The two species of the mahseer are really exotic for any angler.

Mr. & Mrs. March Brown

A little gig I did with one of the Norwegian fly tier, Jan Håvard Krohn, at the recent Nordic Fly Fair was to collaborate in tying a couple called Mr. & Mrs. March Brown.

I tied the dry fly and Jan tied the (wonderful) wet fly version of the March Brown.

Short tour of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum

Here's a nice video which takes you through the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum in Livingston Manor.

Hope to visit it one day myself.

Drift

I bought a fair amount of DVDs back in the years. My favorite ones were videos that had various types of fisheries or destinations that were spotlighted rather than one subject.

One of the great videos produced by the now gone company called Confluence Films. I enjoyed them a lot on DVD, now Drift is available on Youtube to enjoy for free!

This video was released in the late 2000's. DVDs were still the main way to enjoy movies as well as fly fishing videos. Now I'm feeling really old...