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Wednesday May 16th 2012 (today)
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We're chained to our computers, thinking about fly fishing.
This blog is our outlet to keep our heads from exploding

Fleye Foils

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Published: Wednesday May 16th 2012 (today)
Updated: Wednesday May 16th 2012, 7:46PM
by Martin Joergensen

Bob Popovics isn't exactly known for his traditional way of doing things, and his new product just emphasizes this

Fleye Foil fly
David Edwards

Pop Fleyes... yes fleyes not flies. That's what Bob Popovics calls his flies, and that's the reason for the strangely sounding name of his new product, a fish shaped foil with printed eyes and adhesive on the back, all ready to stick on the side of your baitfish imitations and cover with epoxy or one of the new LCR's.

Already when pioneering saltwater fly tying with Surf Candies, Poplip Flies, Jiggies and Siliclone Fleyes, Bob Popovics showed that he was willing to experiment with different materials for his flies. He has used the more “traditional” epoxy, silicone sealant, Softex, all kinds of fancy flash and foils and shiny eyes and a wealth of colors.
His excellent book Pop Fleyes clearly demonstrates how innovative he is and shows how to tie a long row of his now-classic saltwater flies.

So it came as no surprise when the Fleye Foils popped up (no pun) as yet another Bob Popovics invention. The foils are pre-shaped fish sides with a shiny, iridescent surface and gills, mouth and not least eyes printed onto the foil. The idea is that you tie your fly using traditional materials like hair, feathers, synthetics and flash, and then add the Fleye Foil on the sides and secure them with epoxy or even better, the new Light Curing Resins.
The result can be a close-to-perfect imitation of a small silvery baitfish, and combining the foils with different colors of base materials, markers and maybe some color in or under the resin, will give you an endless degree of freedom regarding color combinations.

The foils come in three variations: Silverside, Sand Eel and Bay Anchovy all available in four sizes apart from the Silverside, which does not come in extra large. The main difference is the shape. The tying method is basically the same, although some tyers are already experimenting with different uses of these new foils.

More Fleye Foil flies
Fleye Foils


The foils are made by the Swedish company L2DM, whose selection of fly materials is no less than stunning, spanning from shrimp and crab shields, stonefly legs and dry fly wings to the new Fleye Foils. Their selection is huge, and hints that fly tiers with a wild fantasy and a slight stroke of madness are behind.

My own use for the classical style US baitfish patterns is limited, but I will under all circumstances try to get my hands on some of these foils to pay around with. They seem very useful and the resulting flies very life-like.




This video clearly shows how to use the new foils.




Colorful beads

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Published: Tuesday May 15th 2012 (yesterday)
Updated: Tuesday May 15th 2012, 6:56AM
by Martin Joergensen

If you like to fool around with colors on your beaded nymphs, Bidoz has just expanded its selection of colored beads.

No, I'm not referring to something that Columbus brought over to trade with the natives, but to a new selection of beads from the French manufacturer Bidoz, whose selection in cones, beads, tubes and assorted fly tying paraphernalia is just growing and growing.

Andre Bidoz, the man behind the company, is not afraid of trying new things, and his steadily growing catalog is a testament to the width of his product selection, which contains all kinds of nymph bodies, cones, fish heads and whatnot.

These new beads are like beads are most: made of brass and round with a hole through them, but the color selection is large a varied with a wealth of options for the creative fly tyer as you can see below. The beads have been anodized with the color, which means that they are very durable and the color will not chip off when the fly hits rocks or other hard surfaces.

Refer to Bidoz' web site for more info on selection and sizes as well as sources for these new beads. If you go to this page and have some patience, you will be led to a clickable map with all outlets.



Old fly lines come alive

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Published: Friday May 4th 2012 (12 days ago)
Updated: Friday May 4th 2012, 4:57AMMore about: Fly lines |
by Martin Joergensen

Flyvines turn old and worn out fly lines into something different: bracelets, lanyards and sunglass retainers

I have worn out a bunch of fly lines in my time. They crack, they break, the coating becomes so worn and dirty that the line can't shoot.
I have actually saved a lot of them. Mostly because they are so darned expensive that I am reluctant to part with them, and secondly because I have thought that there had to be some way of reusing them – in some intricate fly line setup, in flies or simply as colorful string for any practical use. I did make a strap for a small camera once, and I have also used a broken fly line as a makeshift piece of string once to attach a clipper to a wading jacket. But I never really go a break through on reusing fly lines.

The US company Flyvines have gone all the way, and made reused fly lines into their primary product. They turn the lines into colorful bracelets, lanyards and sunglass straps by bracing them in nice patterns and finishing them for these different items.
Colors vary as they write, and I guess life is like a box of chocolates when it comes to ordering from Flyvines. You never know what you get, because the variation in fly line colors is almost endless.

You can take your chance on their web page.

Prices range from 7 to 12 US$ and the products can be ordered online and paid with PayPal.



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