speyghillie

A few more in the cold.

Thought i would post some pictures of Loch Leven as i am there attending some Fly casting Instructor Clinic's for the next 2 months. The little Island in the distance is where Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner... wonder if she fished Dry Fly in the Summer evenings. The Scottish Champions list includes PD Malloch, who made some great reels in Perth a hundred years ago, and they still work great today.

Well it had to happen... we got Calgary weather here after all the nice weather, the fishing is done.. the cold came and buggered everything up -12 o go away and let me get ......oot of the hoose, happy Hogmanay. Gordo in freezen cold Scotland.

Well its almost that time of year, Hope all of you Calgary Speycasters have a great Xmas and a really good (Hogmanay) New Year. slainte Gordon.

Thanks for the Info Monger, Will speak to the guys in the new year. Gordo.

Cheers Max, Will find out the detail after Xmas and the new year, see what there plan is. I will be back on the Bow in the Spring for some fishing all being well, the weather here is really mild so gettting out fishin everyday, plus 14........ 2 day. Gordo fae tropical Scotland.

Thanks Guys, I know the weather can be funny... well not even, they have to be there for Oil meeting kinda thing, i just thought i would ask the guys that live in Coo Toon, i forgot about the run off so thats a good point. Will speak to them after the New Year parties.. here thats about the 6th of January, thanks guys and have a great Xmas and New year.. go easy on the booze..... as we can run abit short here at New year. Gordo

Hi Guys, Got a couple of buddies heading to Calgary in May, and looking for some advice on fishing the Bow or other rivers at that time of year. They have done loads of Trout fishing over the years, and are looking at maybe a day on the Bow and a day on some other river, they will be in Calgary for 2 or 3 days. Any info for that time of year ? Cheers Gordo.

While waiting to see what everyone else swings, i thought i would post the description given to the Bloody Butcher. "The most deadly loch fly ever invented, dressed with split wings well laid back, used on the bob and made to trip across the waves, it is an exceedingly reliable fly on every loch that I have fished. If winged in the ordinary way it is quite a good tail fly and used by many in this position with considerable effect". So said R. C. Bridgett. Credit for the Butcher is accorded to Messrs Moon and Jewhurst. Originally known as Moon's Fly, around 1838 the name changed to "Butcher", the trade of its inventors. The name is apt in other ways. While most are fished here on the Lochs for wild broon troot, i use them on the Spey , really good fly for night fishing for Sea-Trout too. The Black Pennell was named after H Cholmondeley Pennell, now thats a name. Gordo.

Been swinging some old Scottish Patterns for the last few months of the season. Bloody Butchers Peter Ross Black pennell Grouse and Claret Kate McClaren That sort of stuff and loads more. I know you guys know you flies ...... and i have always wanted to spend some time swinging the old Scottish Patterns, see how they do, has anybody tried these flies on the Bow for the Boonies, i fished them in some lakes in BC and did pretty good, but they were Rainbows and not Broon Troot. I will fish them one day, let me know if you have tried them or old style Dries on da Bow. Gordo.

Hi Islandguy, Yes its true.. been havin lots of fun casting the wee lassies rod, hopefully you will get to meet her in the Spring . I knew Scott would make a great range of rods having fished the ones he made years ago, but now with a total free hand to pick his own graphite and finish the rods they way he wants, well they just blew me away. The 12ft 7wt is mine.. and you can look, BUT NO TOUCH. I guess we are lucky here that the weather is so good, and we really dont get it that cold in the winter, never any real snow on the River Ness, so its ideal for casting all winter... and can be on the river in 2 mins from Scott House. On to some new Spey lines to match the rods now. Will give you a shout Max, will be in Calgary when it gets warm.. when is that ? Gordon.

We are talking big rods here... not the little wee lassies rods aren't we, never see me fishing a ladies rod.. ha ha , i have a plan to fish more rivers in Alberta and BC next spring, and will be looking for advice from some of the guys on this site... or maybe we could put together a fishin road trip . now that sounds like a plan... Gordo

Hey Toolman, Thats right, all being well i will be back for some fishin in the Spring, got some new toys and waiting for some new fly lines from Norway , short Scandy lines that are out in the Spring. I bet its warm and sunny in Calgary right now. Gordo.

1 Spey 2 Ness 3 Tweed 4 Tay 5 Dee 6 Don And was casting the double-hander on Loch Leven on Sunday, was looking at the past masters in the Scottish Championship on Loch Leven and i noticed PD Malloch was the champion in 1889, PD Malloch of Perth made some really cool Salmon and Trout Reels, i rate them almost as good as the old Hardy's. Will be out casting a new rod tomorrow, its a hell of a job. Gordo. Will post some photo's of Loch Leven so you can see where the broonie's came from.

Thanks Headscan for posting the first link i lost it a while ago, Way Yin is one of the best fly line designer and great Instructor, i have a beer or two with him (this year cider) at the CLA gamefair, this year Scott and Way did a demo on Speycasting watched by the Queen's hubby prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh. I think the Duke is getting into Speycasting. Gordo.

Hi Brian, You should try next year to come to Eoin's Tweed show, or the CLA you would have a blast, all the guys doing demo's and the distance casters are there and its weekends i hate to miss, the crack is just brilliant. I like the video, looks like fun, and i know Eoin well enough to know he is one of the best Instuctors there is and he was just havin fun, but great Instuctor ...that he sure is. As for Alexander Grant, well he was in a different league, , and there is nothing in the video that has anything to do with Battan Grant (his nickname), not the wrist movement or anything else, Battan cast in a very upright style , almost closer to an overhead cast. Anyway its good to see Eoin havin fun, you should come and watch Hywel Morgan casting and shooting line without a rod.. just his hands... and of course after the show when everybody is hanging around casting rods and drinking a beer or too, we where all trying it.. impossible for any of the guys to do, so he did it again and further.. just great fun. Over the last 10 to 15 years all the guys in the distance casting have used rods made by Bruce and Walker, or made for them by Bruce and Walker, the only one that has beaten them all was a Signature rod made my Diawa Scotland desgined by Scott Mackenzie, Diawa UK . Would be great if any of you guy could ever make it to one of the shows, you would love it. Gordo.

Hi Brian, Cool Video, with a good friend of mine, but....... The spiral casting shown in the video is derived from Alexander Grant's famous Planet Cast and has little practical fishing purpose though is impressive to watch given the level of control demonstrated by Eoin. Eoin is one of the best Instructors there is anywhere in the world, and his Tweed show is one not to miss, and one i see Klaus at too, but the casting in the Video is nothing to do with Alexander Grant, and you can quote me on that. Alexander Grants cast was a fishing cast, nothing like a spiral cast, or fancy dan casting, when it came to the Scottish team for the world championship, who taught Eoin... Scott Mackenzie. While we are all good friends.... i do take issuse with Eoin saying that anything he does in the Video is anything to do will Alexander Grant,............ and had he been casting like that and with that rod.... i think the team would have come last. Like a said.. Eoin is a great instructor and a pure gentleman and a very good friend, but the video has nothing to do with the Scottish World championship team, and nothing to do with Alexander Grant (he would have hated that kind of show boating) , i would like to see that rod handle a compitition 105 ft head line,, ouch. Gordon.

ANYONE WATCH RUGBY

Hi Guys, Been crazy busy.... i should be chillin oot, but no. Max , the easy way is for me to steal a couple and bring them over in the Spring, i wont be at the show in January, its way to early for me to get the latest stuff, the rods have been tested as always with floating and big heavy sunk lines, we fish alot of full sunk lines, and Scott would'nt make a rod that can't handle just about anything...... have you seen him cast. , if there is anybody in the world of Speycasting that knows how to give a test rod a good work out , its him. Will try and get some for the Spring. The Trout rod test of 9ft and 9ft 6in , was good fun, 4 broken , and 3 marked down as rubbish, the best on test will now go get some changes made to the finish and hopefully come out in the spring in the UK. Got one more test of 10ft rods and 10ft 6in (more for fishing sitting down in a boat) will be next month, the samples are here, but still in there boxes. Mr C, it sounds like your havin fun with the rods, i hope some of the UK companies keep an interest in the market over the pond, but with a couple of the companies pulling out of the market in North America, they are really killing the interest of others. I Think the Hardy Salmon rods will become the rod the price deserves, With Ian Gordon on board they will i'm sure turn out some really quality rods. Ian has a great track record over the years in Rods, lines ect. I am trying to talk Scott and Ian as well as a couple of the other guys to come to Calgary.. do a demo and some teaching........ and have a few beers. Will work on them some more after Xmas Enjoy casting the rods Mr C, the Clan will handle a big Grain window i'm sure, if you get the chance try the 15ft Ghillie's choice, o and i was up havin Coffee with Harry a week or so ago, see the new toys he has made, will take some pic's. Max, keep going to the mountains.. love the pic's on Facebook, and i will bring some toys in the Spring for ya to try oot. Gordo.

Hey Max, The 12ft will be a 7wt, the 13ft 8wt UK rating, as for the action i would say its a fast action, at least the recovery is fast with out the rod being stiff, you can feel the power all the way through the cast , they all cast the dogs bollocks, casting half way across the river Ness with a 12ft rod with a standard line and not a shooting head. They are pretty much dailed in, but remember fly lines made in the UK and the US are different at times as much as 2 wt's, so there will be a grain weight window, but you will find most UK rods will be ok with a wide line weight window because of the action. Islandguy, I have to admit i spent probably more time with the Ladies rods.... just loved the 12ft, just so different from others i have tried out, its no noodle , remember Scott desgined a rod ......and them beat everybody in the world of Speycasting distance a couple of months later. I will have some with me as soon as they are ready, or like i said i will steal a couple. I don't know why, but this year there are more new Spey toys out on the Market in the UK than ever before, but i already know some of the companies will not market in North merica, the word is out the Scierra spent a lot of time and money in the US and have now pulled out to concentrate in Euro land. Today i have to set up 14 trout rods for guys to try, they are all more than qualified to try the rods out, as they are full time Fishery Insrtuctors, Qualified casting Insructors and outright hooligans, a kinda get together to see what everybody likes, the deal is they pick what the like most on test, mark down 1 2 10 without telling each other and we see what turns out to be the best, and what gets binned. A bit of fun at the fishery, on what looks like its going to be a nice day with no wind. Got to go go go. Gordo

Hi Headscan, I think they will handle just about anything, i will bring some over and you can try them out with different lines, i even like the 12ft, and you know i normally like the bigger sticks. Scott has been out testing most days this last 6 months, and i saw the rods he has been testing, there must have been over a hundred, all rejected. These rods will be developed by a Speycaster for Speycasters. Will steal them if i have to , we are buddies......... but i know where they are ....AND I'M HAVIN SOME. Gordo.

Was up on Ness-side with Scott Mackenzie this morning trying out his prototype Double handers, and all i can say is WOW, just awesome and i mean awesome, from the 12ft to the 16ft , they are just wicked. Hopefully i will manage to steal a couple to bring over when i get back to the Bow, the action on the rods is just stunning, i got to steal a couple. Gordo.

Hi Jeremy, One of the reels has a big flaw, i wont say which one, but have sent you a PM. Gordon.

Wtforward you say that now, and i hope you can stick to that.... lots have tried and failed to control the Spey addiction, you can see already how others are fighting a losing battle with it, and i know there are other to come forward and seek absolution for there sins. I feel i had a small part to play in this , but surely there are other in and around Calgary that are not helping by showing Speycasting to others, and starting them on this road that never ends,..... SHOW NO ONE... SAY YOU NEVER HEARD OF IT. Gordo

Tai Chi for Speycaster. JD keep up the good work, you can always try it in the bar , you will get through a crowd and served before anyone, helps build up muscle memory .........as a side product of looking crazy. Gordo.