Well the day was certainly different. What with meeting the holiday makers which was great. Then the boys putting posts in. But a great day. Always a great day if your fishing.
My name is Kevin Ryan and I want to say I am intrigued by your videos, Shaun, and I appreciate that you are successful with buzzers without having to resort to the "bung". The "indicator" is regarded as essential in the western U.S. where I live, but I resist using them. One can't feel the tug, you see. Regrettably, I'll pass on the braided leader because Snowbee is the only source I have found for them, and it imposes rather steep shipping costs for goods sent outside the sceptered isle. I am about to try some Airflo polyleaders, however. I look forward to further line reviews and any observations you may have about the utility of faster sinking lines. May you all be liberated as soon as possible.
Hi Kevin, really nice to hear from you. And well done on resisting the bung. It takes so much out of fishing, and for myself it is more about the hit than anything else. The main reason I use the braid when fishing on top. I will sometimes use a 2' tippet and if that came straight off the fly line it would be very aggressive. So the 7' floating braid helps turn over and presentation. And at the same time allows us to fish the fly at the depth we want. The fish are not spooked by this line, its line flash that spooks the fish. When the cast hits the water, and that's any line. But now we can simulate the method of the bung, but we get the hit. I have tried the poly leader from Airflow and found it was to stiff. Alex from trippin on trout swears by his, but its not Airflow, and bare in mind he fishes mainly rivers which eliminates most of the problems which we will experience on stillwaters. Its funny you mention line reviews, I have started a line review today, which should be out soon. Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth and a Hardy. All floating. Sorry I will not be doing one on sink lines as sink lines for most will cast well due to there density, and they don't have the problems that floating lines have such as memory and stretch. Thanks for the comment, And I hope I have answered every thing for you. Please contact me again if there is any thing, will be great to help. Take care mate and thanks again. Shaun.
@@shaunfishes101 Shaun: I am delighted with your comments and that you were able to respond. I think your comments display a high level of sophistication using your floating lines. Your observation about the Airflo Poly being too stiff tells me you are meticulous about eliminating all possible slack from fly to fingers, so you don't miss the slightest tap. Sometimes the bung, with its L shaped leader form, builds in problematic slack, although you control your depth well. I have friends that will fish chironimids on the bottom in 25+ feet of water and do well, but the "tug" is missing. I really like your approach if the fish are high enough in the water. If not, do you resort to the sinking line - DI3, 5, and the like? I would appreciate your thoughts. K
Hi Shaun.. good videos mate. Im just wondering what tinsel you used for the blue body cause i have a fly thats the same. I'd like to send you a photo cause ive been been hitting fish in 2 different wild brown trout reservoirs when most were not catching but ive only got the one fly and dont know what the blue is but it looks like the tinsel you were using. Cracking fly by the way mate. I dont tie my self but my mate does. Hope your doing ok 🐟🎣
Not sure if the colour is the thing here. I think its the way it fishes. It drop's through the water so slowly and its got that look about it. I do have them in a few colour's. The boys always use the blue, but I have caught on the others. Fished it today. And it was on it. These were those awkward sipping trout, size 16. A few false cast's and it dries off enough to sit in the film, or just as it goes under. I have fished this fly steady figure of eight or even really fast just under the surface. The results are always the same. Fish. When the fish are nearer the top, this is the fly to have. But the tinsel is Uni Mylar Hol lt Blue. We have them from size 16 to 12. I send these flies to people I know north and south of the country and they work. Thanks for contacting me and let me know how you get on with them. Shaun.
I hope you did sort some of the blue and black flies out with your mate. Cus the fishing is on it again this year with this fly. Got a mate in Glasgow, has this fly and he has had some amazing browns. Us boys are picking up a good few fish with it, when a lot of patterns are failing. Hope your keeping well. Shaun.
Hi Shawnanother great helpful video thank you . Can I Ask what Braid you useand recommend please ? I thought all braid sinks ? Encuse my silly question butits how I learn from those I trust . All the besttight lines. Brian
Its not a silly question Brian mate, and honestly ask me anything no matter how silly you may think it is. If its important to you, then its important to me. The tapered braids we use are Snowbee. Floater and slow sink we use a bit, but the intermediate we use most of the time. Don't bother with the fast sink, they upset the balance. But if there was only one. It would always be the intermediate. They are loop connection, which means you will be looking after the loop of your fly line. Being that it is of a much wider diameter. Reduces the amount of tippet required. Helps turn over and presentation. Best of all they are cheap and you will not ever need a sink tip line. Oh I love the bit when you say, those I trust. This means so much to me. Thank you. Take care Brian. Shaun.
Hi Shaun, I subscribe to your channel and have watched all your posts since subscribing I really appreciate them and I was wondering if you would tell me were you buy your braids, also do you know of any accommodation close by the fishery my wife and I live in Leeds very few fly fisheries close by us, I would love to fish this venue too far to travel for a day but if accommodation was close by would be brilliant. Also good to see you were offering advise to other fishermen, but it’s what all good fly fishermen do help each other . Keep up the good work Shaun 👍👍👍
Hi Peter, Thanks so much for supporting my channel, and yes every thing you request, no problem. I will get back to you later in the week with all the details. Have you been to Pembrokeshire before.
@@peterb443 Hi Peter, Ros who owns the fishery also has accommodation 10 mins walk from the water. The details she has given me is, Cottages.com (agent) property ref: UK6139 Old Coach House, Hayscastle. If you like walks, we have the best coastal walks. Some amazing beaches and the smallest city in Europe. Go online check it out. Oh the water is closed to the public Monday to Wednesday. But if you are staying at this time I'm sure Ros will allow you the water for yourself. Any problems let me know. Shaun.
So sorry I have just seen this. They are Snowbee. I go online, and any body that have them. Sorry I can't help any more than that. And even more sorry for the delay. Shaun.
Over the years I've had some great experiences fishing the worst. And the best is you usually get the water for your self. Getting footage can be tricky. Thanks for the comment Rhys. Take care. Shaun.
@@shaunfishes101 a few years back I had three consecutive great weeks at Onnyvale fishing in the snow. Over twenty fish each week.... Thought I had it cracked...sadly mistaken!
Hi Have been thinking about using braided leaders, if yo fish 2 or 3 flies do you still use the 5ft braid if so what length of tippet would you use, I usually work with 10 or 11 ft tippet Cheers
Hi JJM, the first thing with braids is they help turn over and presentation, so if learning to cast I would work with them and single fly. Now if you are using a team of flies I would guess your casting is ok. So you are looking at presentation mainly. every situation in fishing is changing through the day. Now my self I don't use braid very often when I have a team of flies as I make up my leader with three tippets starting with 5x or 6x depending on conditions, but always with a line that has a welded loop. in previous years it was a needle knot. This allows me to bring the loop in through the top eye of rod so that I can net the fish. But if I have a standard line with a braided loop on end never bring it into or passing in and out of top eye. So for me and a team of flies yes braid, the sinking one which represents a sink tip. The braid is only a continuation of your fly line. So my tippet is the same as always. But if on top of water or say washing line method then I wont bother, as the leader and additional flies work well enough without it. Get them and mess about with them, they are cheap enough. And you will work out how they best work for your self. I hope this helps a bit. I will try and cover more on presentation in videos in future as there are so many combinations with braids. Thanks for watching. Take care mate. Shaun.
@@shaunfishes101 Hi Shaun Thanks for the reply I have been making 5ft furrled leaders from Fluorocarbon and using them which have been fine But I have problems with my hands and they are a bit fiddly to make,have ordered a floating and intermediate will see how they get on ,like the idea of not having to change lines just your leader. If I fish with buzzers nymphs I tend to use two fly's Cheers John
@@jjmbiker13 Hi John, I am well impressed that you made your own. I hope what you are purchasing works for you. As you were making your own you can decide on your own length and tapper. Take care. Shaun
I like braided leaders for light presentation with single flies, not so bothered when fishing droppers although the sinking ones can be good when the fish are down a bit.
Hi OldGold, like you single fly mainly some times two flies. But if its washing line method then it comes off. If I want to fish certain patterns fast I will sometimes put a sink braid on to maintain a certain depth. Thanks for the comment. Shaun.
I will only store them when not in use for longer. Clean them and hang on the spool they came on or find something with an even wider diameter. Never hang on anything that will give a sharp angle. Such as a nail. Hope this helps.
Hi Rhys, I nearly missed this comment. Its the Barrio GT. A nice line, easy casting. If you fish the whole line there could be an issue with the stretch. But I enjoy fishing this line.
Hey James, have you got a fly like this blue and black one in the video. Size 14 and 16. If you have not, go on line and look for something like. This fly worked a treat then and is doing the same now. I have had some great feed back. Some great browns with it too. Us boys are picking up fish with this fly when most patterns are failing. Good luck mate. Shaun.
Hey Shaun. Great video. To clarify, if you are going to fish a team of flies do you no longer use your braided leaders? Do you only use those if you are fishing single flies?
Hi Matt, I do use mainly single flies. But there is no problem fishing a team of flies with a braid on. However the only thing to consider is the fly line. If the line has a welded loop this means that it can be taken through the top eye of rod along with braid and any tippet, due to the length you would be using. This means you can reach the fish with a net. But if the line has a braided loop on the end, I really would not bring this through top eye of rod. So if you have braid loop plus 5' braid plus 5' tippet you already have 10' out side the top eye. this in turn means you can still land fish. A team would be est 9' min plus 5' braid means you can not reach fish. Does that make any sense. Take care mate. Shaun.
@@greenback2180Nice one mate. Many years ago was the last time I was in a boat, and I asked the boys to drop me off on the bank. It all depends on what you are fishing and what depth and speed. If you like a braid is like a sink tip. The big difference is you have more choice with braids, as you can quickly change braids being loop to loop. I have four, from float to fast sink. And you can get up to 10' ones. Most of mine are 5' and this is due to the fly line not having a welded loop. These braids do not replace sink lines. But yes I would always have them on the ready if I was fishing the top 10' or so of water. If I was fishing lures at pace I would be on my intermediate. Is that any good, like have I answered that ok. If not ask me to try again. Shaun.
Hi David, sorry me and technology don't get on. I have only just started doing computer since I started this channel. And not sure about putting phone number on here.
No problem Shaun. And no I wouldn't want you to put out your phone number. You never know. I'll keep to the RU-vid comments section with any questions. I'm still trying to figure out the angle of descent when retrieving a sinking line compared to a braided sinker attached to a floating line. Because I can't see how a braided leader can take a horizontal path at depth. If all that makes any sense 😉
@@outdammspot Yes David, it certainly does make sense and I am glad that you have given me an easy one to start. The braid is more for slower fishing. Or if your on rivers it can maintain a lower presentation as the fly swings around. If I want to maintain a more horizontal at depth and a bit quicker I would go intermediate or sink. Where I find sink braids handy is if I want to keep fly a bit deeper in windy conditions. As the wind will pull the line around a bit quicker, hence pulling the fly towards the surface. The braid does not replace sinking lines, it just gives you more options to floating line. Just as a sink tip does. Only with more choice. Are we getting anywhere. Shaun.
Oh was going to tell you, I will do more lines. And maxcatch will be one very soon. I will only do one line at a time as I found doing five lines a bit to much. And I personally rate barrio 1st and wulff 2nd. video out soon.
Snowbee seem to have dropped the braided tapered leaders from their 2024 catalogue. Do you know of any other brands or are we going to be forced over to poly?
Hi John, Yes very sad. Do not understand this. However there is a good few out there. Look under furled leaders. I have done poly leaders and don't like them. They carry too much memory. Happy Christmas mate. Shaun.
@@shaunfishes101 Thanks for replying, I have tried furled leaders but they all seem to be too level, the Snowbee ones have a thicker butt end then taper quickly, so the furled ones don't funnel the energy as well. The poly leaders I find tend to be solid and the more hollow construction of the braided seem to land more delicately. with less "slap". Anyway, I hope you too have a Happy Christmas and look forward to more of your excellent videos in the future. All the best, John
They are Snowbee Sam. The Intermediate is by far the most popular. And for me it is on the line for 90% of the time. Don't bother with the fast sink. I will be covering leaders in a video soon. Have been asked about it a lot. There are times when a certain leader can improve presentation. Oh Roman mosser is another good make.
Cheers Shaun, I will stick to the Snowbee. I must admit I use them all the time,and get less tangles and hardly any wind knots. All thanks to your videos. Keep up the good work. All the best and tight lines
Hi Russell, There are so many benefits if you think out side the box. And I would not be without one in any windy weather. Which I have a video coming soon on fishing extreme wind. Thanks for watching and the comment. Take care. Shaun.
Hi Shaun put in 4 hours at a local fishery. Conditions were very calm with the water being dead flat for most of the time. I managed to find a corner where there was a small ripple and cast in the blue/black fly on a 6ft braided leader and 4 ft tippet. Used small tugs to retrieve and got into a rainbow. Tried the lures as well but without any luck. I think the fishery has been neglected during the lockdown period as there was loads of weed which kept snagging me in all 6 of the places I fished. Major breakthrough was the use of braided leader which I found very useful. Much easier to handle that compared to 10 or 12 feet of tippet. Again many thanks for all your help.
Nice one David, Fished my self today and conditions was the same as. Lures in these conditions is never the best. But I am glad the blue worked. My mate Di and myself fished hard all day and nothing till late afternoon. Go a bit of cloud cover so I put my latest fly on, it got me five fish then one more fish on the h/e gold head. Di also had one on new fly. If it does as well next trip I will send you a few. Try and fish on the edges of weed as a lot of fish patrol these areas. Take care David. Shaun.
Hi Chris, I honestly don't know which braid is best as I have always used snowbee. Cost about £3 or £4 . And mine last for years. And 5' is best as this gives you bit more choice on tippet length.
Hi Chris, Salmon fishing love it or did. I have retired from the rivers nearly 5 years now. Our rivers down here have suffered with Salmon and Seatrout stocks so much that I decided to do my bit and not fish for them. But I do miss it.
Shaun Fishes yorkshire esk where i live still good numbers of seatrout , double figured ones every year absolute monsters , salmon numbers aren't that great though but still a few when we get the water , but travel to Tyne 3 or4 times a year for a better chance of a big Salmon
@@chriswright2135 The best Salmon I ever hooked was at night. Bright moon, was fishing sea trout. My mate and myself could not believe the size of it. A 20lb fish would look small next to this fish. It snapped me off on the first run. I was more choked about loosing the fly as this fly had only made three casts. First cast nothing, second cast seatrout about 4lb. Third cast this big fish. Did make up more of the same but they never worked the same. Believe this or not but the fly was so simple. Two 3" hot orange cock hackles on electrical sheathing with gold tinsel wrap. This is how I would make my tube flies using electrical sheath due to this one river being shallow.
You are spot on there. I look back at the older videos and cringe. Half or more of what was said could have been shortened or even left out. I got into RU-vid by mistake. And to this day if it was not for the subscribers, I would drop it like a hot stone. But I am here now and I am learning. Thanks John for the pointer. Take care mate and have a great Christmas. Shaun.
First time ever about 4 months ago. I found one so put it on. Had a fish in about 15min. Have now put together a small box with about 10 in it. They do not get used very often. Actually I have only used them twice since then. One of the boys uses them very often. His catch rate is fairly average for the water. But have noticed he has struggled lately. I do use more natural configurations . I find I pick more resident fish. Thanks for the watch and comment David. Shaun.
Hi Shaun Thanks for you relpy. I just wondered as I have only used them once and missed 3 and landed 3 in about 2 hrs. I enjoy your natual way you present you videos and how you make flies to suite you water, I do much the same. Keep up the good work :-) Dave
