Comments on: Days Before Monofilament

By: Chris clark

Chris clark — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:44:48 +0000

Hi again dave I’m a new apprentice of yours and I’m in a bit of a ponder could you answer this question , is your double half hitch as strong and reliable as I whip finish as I have got away with your double half hitch but wondering is their any benefits of learning the whip finish thxs chris clark

By: DaveC

DaveC — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:15:56 +0000

hi bob
thanks for your e-mail. only got one hand to work with at present. will contact you again when i have got out of this sling.
regards
davec.and team

By: Bob Graham

Bob Graham — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:47:47 +0000

I started fishing when I was five years old in 1945 fishing mainly on the Clyde at that time with my father and grandfather. Nylon had just been introduced and I still have a wooden spool of Pearsalls nylon that was made in Germany.

At that time most of the old Clyde style fishers walked around with gut cast in their mouths to keep the gut supple. The casts (leaders) carried from four to six flies tied directly to the gut dropper which they tried to hold outside their mouth.

Quite a few of them could smoke a pipe or cigarette although their mouth was full of gut. The one thing they couldn’t do was to carry on a conversation.

By: Christopher C.

Christopher C. — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:44:53 +0000

Dear Mr. Cammiss.
My name is Christopher and I am from the U.S. I would have to say that it was my cousin that actually got me started with flytying and fly fishing. Which, in a strange twist of events, finally led me to your videos and then here to your site.
I am a budding flytyer myself, as are many of the others who have left their comments here. As I have watched most of your videos and found them quite interesting. I have learned many differant ways to apply my materials that never would have crossed my mind. And I just wanted to say thanks. I have learned more from you instructions than I have from anyone elses.
But, Sir, I do have a question. Is there anyway that you could show us some of the patterns that you learned from Mr. Proud, or others from your youth? And maybe show us some of your origional tying tools and materials. I would be ever so thankful, as I am sure most of your other students would be as well.
Thank you for you time and I apologize for babbling for so long..
From the States, Yours Truly:
Christopher.

By: DaveC

DaveC — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:51:44 +0000

Hi Mika
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. Your English is excellent.
It is true what you say about too much of our angling heritage being lost. The modern angling press is full of ‘must haves’ most of which are here today and unobtainable tomorrow. I have not met anyone in ages who even knows what I am talking about when I mention cat gut.The secret is to select what you feel is right for you and persevere with it until you have mastered it. Somewhere in the loft is a split cane rod I used when I was a teenager…..wish I could find it. I am still using some of the tools for flytying that I learnt to tie with over 60 years ago.
Happy Fishing
DaveC. and the Team

By: Mika Laakso

Mika Laakso — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:18:49 +0000

Hello Dave

Thank you very much. This kind of information is really good and usefull. I love the way you presented it. I personally want to know more about history of fishing. I think that in that way i can understand the whole picture better. There must be a lot of usefull things that has been forgotten while new things has become available. I have noticed that allmost every method my grandad have told me is better than every new things you can find from magazines and internet. I will continue my learning and try to fish more like peoples use to do in those days. Maybe that way all the precious facts wont vanish and be forgotten.

Best wishes to you all from Finland
Mika