Graylings and torpedo on the hook...

After a brief phone conversation with a good friend and colleague Dr.Kovacs, we decided to take advantage of the great April weather and to go out for some fly fishing. Although initially we opted for a river not far from home, after we analyzed the water levels in the area, we decided to fish on a river where we had  been a few years ago.

On this occasion I was going to test my new Orvis Helios got from another friend and great fisherman, Dr.Zerehgar. After achieving proper preparation we arrived early enough on the waterfront. Our decision proved to be correct in choosing this stream. The water was clear and not too high.

My first option was a gold BH nymph on the tippet and a PT hot spot size 18 on the dropper. Soon after we strated, my friend already had the first fish, a great grayling around 28 cm, caught on a brown nymph that I gave him a few years ago. Shortly after this first fish, he caught two other graylings about the same size at the same nymph.

After I changed the system, replacing the nymph on the tippet with a lighter brown one but still gold BH and increasing the distance between the nymphs followed three attacks and also three beautiful graylings.

The fourth attack was of a rainbow that managed to take the small PT. Unfortunately I didn't caught any other trout this day. Fish bite at tiny brown nymphs. There followed a few hours of sun and many superb fish. We stopped counting fish after the 10th grayling. 

After a well deserved meal, I choosed some larger and heavier nymphs and also replaced the leader knowing that we'll fish some places with deeper water. My choice turned out to be correct. I felt a heavy strike, hooked up and realize that hard minutes will follow. I was dealing with a large barbell. Already after a few minutes of drill, I missed my class 7 rod. My new class 5 rod performed very well in the fight with the monster. My right arm ached like hell and fish showed no sign of fatigue. After 20 minutes of struggle I managed to capture the monster with my friends help, the barbel had over 8 pounds. After we made some pictures, I released the fish. Pleased with the results, we went home talking about fishing days will come on other waters with other monsters.

On Transylvanian waters

Arriving after some time again on Transylvanian grounds, I was able to plan with a good old friend and former college colleague a fly fishing day. Although we planed this event more than seven years ago, we managed only now to put it in application. The news about snowmelt swollen river waters cut some of my hopes but didn't kept me away from dreaming about nice trout. 

As we agreed, I met my friend, Dr.Fridman, early in the morning. The first sun rays were able to awaken to life the entomological universe and the first tiny black flies were flying through the forest of conifers. We warmed up our throats and hearts with a shot of home made pear brandy and went to take a look at the water. On the river shore I realised that my new 10 feet Orvis Helios rod was to long for this mountain stream so I borrowed a shorter one from my friends arsenal. Since the water level was still high from snowmelt and fish showed no sign of activity, we opted for some nymphing. Shortly after beginning of fishing, my friend managed to catch a grayling but still a quite small fish.

The water began to get dirty cause some forestry work upstream so we decided to change fishing area. It breaks my heart when I see how unconscious people exploits what nature was building over centuries. Large patches of snow persisted on the waterfront on which we saw fresh bear tracks with a diameter of over 20 cm which led us to take it downstream. 

After a great meal we fished till down then we left that wonderful place heading back to the city, contemplating the beautiful moments spent on the waterfront. Too bad that people exploits the beauties of nature without to think about the consequences. I am concerned,  money and interest still goes over any rule of keeping nature genuine in Romania and we will realise what a crime we committed at the moment we can't make it good. When I'll return, hope to find a lower water level and more fish. I want to thank to my good old friend for the great moments spent there. 

Hatching Smut (version)

Spring is knocking on the door even temperature is still under 0 degrees Celsius during the night and some rivers still holds ice on their shores. Tiny little creatures are appearing from nowhere motivating the fish to rise. I found a pretty interesting pattern in Steve Thorntons book 'Listen To The River - Vol. I' that might produce some fish during this harsh days. I tied a few in two different colours ( black and brown ) and I'll use them during the next weeks. This pattern is called 'hatching smut' and I changed a little bit the tying materials. 

This are the materials I used and the tying instructions step-by-step.

Hook:        Partridge Grub Shrimp size 16-20
Thread:      Hends Elastic 1/14 brown
Abdomen:  Condor Hurl substitute
Legs:         CDC ( black and brown )
Wing:        holographic foil
Thorax:     strech foam ( black and brown)
Pens:         Edding black and 1200 metallic

 1. Attache the hook firmly in the vice and run on apply your thread base but keep a few loose cm of thread on the bent of the hook.

2. Tie in the substitute hurl for the abdomen.

3. Build the abdomen with the hurl.

4. Dye the loose end of the thread with the black edding and bring it forward, securing the hurl. Cut with a surgery knife a small wing out of the holographic foil ( about 5 mm long for a hook size 16 - trim edges to a little wing shape ) and attache it like in the picture.

5. Cut a strip of strech foam ( 3 mm wide ) and attache it on the top of the wing.

6. Split your thread and place inbetween a CDC feather, close the loop, cut inbetween the quill and thread and spin the bobbin. After this wind the CDC rope with touching turns over the thorax area.

7. Pull over the thorax cover and secure it with a couple of turns of thread. Snip off waste of foam, whip finish and apply a drop of head cement.

8. I colored the brown thorax with an edding 1200 metallic.

9. Voila this are the flies: