Monthly Archives: August 2015

Deer Creek UV Resin review

Deer Creek Diamond Fine Flex

Deer Creek Diamond Fine Flex

Well…well…well, another review of a UV resin. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t planning to do another review of a UV resin or comparison or anything like that, for that matter. I used to think my light wasn’t strong enough or when it wasn’t completely tack free, that it was as tack free as UV resins get. Then people would say, “Just put Sally Hanson’s over it and it will be tack free.” To me, that was asinine and I wasn’t even about to attempt that process. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of being tack free? I thought all of those things—until now, that is.

Actually, I don’t use UV resins these days unless I have a specific purpose for them. I just use Krazy Glue if I need to seal my thread head or to do normal gluing on streamers. For example, if I need the head of my fly to look good and shiny, I’ll use Deer Creek UV resin. Another instance; I have a soft hackle fly I designed called a “Bit of Alpaca” where I needed to coat the Flashabou body, so I used Deer Creek Diamond Fine UV resin. Then I have this new fly I’ve been working with this summer and I found using Deer Creek Diamond Fine Flex worked perfectly.

Bit of Alpaca

Bit of Alpaca – soft hackle

So there, I said it, Deer Creek UV resin. This is the reason I have come to the point of writing another UV resin review. The truth, Deer Creek UV resin just plain works! The first time I used Deer Creek Diamond Fine, I was shocked and really impressed all at the same time. The light I was using and the light I still use is a Deer Creek pen light. When I first received it, I chuckled and thought to myself, “This little light will never work.” Guess what, it did work and it still works. It takes about 15 to 20 seconds to dry the resin for most applications. Sometimes it may require a little more time. But what matters is, the resin actually dries completely tack free. You can count on it and I count on it for my own flies.

fine

Deer Creek Diamond Fine

Deer Creek just released the Diamond Fine Flex this year and I wanted to try it for this new fly. I’m not ready to say much about this new fly, but I’ll briefly explain, so you understand why I was using the UV resin. This new fly is a bottom bouncer with lead dumbbell eyes. I want it to sink to the bottom of the river or creek and drag it for smallmouth bass. So the dumbbell eyes are coated yellow and of course the way I’m using this fly causes the paint to chip off and it looks like crap. So I now use Diamond Fine Flex on the bottom of the lead dumbbell eyes to protect it from chipping. This worked like a charm! I have been fishing and dragging this fly that you see pictured below with no chips out of the paint. I have also taken this same fly by the tail and smacked it on concrete with no harm done to the paint or the dumbbell eyes. As you can see, there in no discoloration to the UV resin, it is still nice and clear looking.

mc-r

Deer Creek makes one other type of UV resin and that is the Diamond Hard. This is to build up and thicken your resin application, but I haven’t tried that particular type. But I’m sure it works just as well as the other two. Like I mentioned, I have tried the Diamond Fine and the Diamond Fine Flex and I’m completely happy. This is the UV resin for me and I won’t have to worry about writing another review, because Deer Creek UV resin works and I’m sticking with it. I honestly and wholeheartedly recommend Deer Creek UV resin, without a doubt!

Deer Creek is a company located in the UK. You can visit their website here: Deer Creek website

Casters Fly Shop is the main Deer Creek outlet in the United States. You can visit their website here: Casters Fly Shop website

written by Paul J. Beel

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Filed under Product Review, UV

Dumb Bunny Streamer

A simple streamer called the Dumb Bunny, by Tim Flagler.

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Filed under Streamers

Flies Around the Net – 8-26-2015

Academy - tied by Darrell Howard

Academy – tied by Darrell Howard

Caenis - tied by Markus Hoffman

Caenis – tied by Markus Hoffman

Fancy Loop Wing Emerger - tied by Holger Lachmann

Fancy Loop Wing Emerger – tied by Holger Lachmann

Gray Wulff - tied by Miroslaw Senderski

Gray Wulff – tied by Miroslaw Senderski

Lady Amherest - tied by Bob Macdonald

Lady Amherest – tied by Bob Macdonald

tied by Norbert Renaud

tied by Norbert Renaud

tied by Pat Cohen

tied by Pat Cohen

tied by Stuart Foxall

tied by Stuart Foxall

tied by Tomasz Zawiliński

tied by Tomasz Zawiliński

transFOAMer - tied by Clark Pierce

transFOAMer – tied by Clark Pierce

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Filed under Classic, nymphs, Streamers

New issue of This is Fly magazine

coverCheck out the new issue of This is Fly magazine!

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Filed under emagazine

Floating Gummy Minnow – Rupert Harvey

I’ve been noticing the fly tying of Rupert Harvey lately. He ties some cool stuff! Here is his version of the Floating Gummy Minnow. Below are Rupert’s notes on the video.
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This may not be the correct but it is my way on how to tie the Floating Gummy minnow.

Three simple thinks to make your life easier when tying them!!

Trick when using Gummy body is to wet your scissor(I lick mine) blades before you try cut the stuff.
Trick number two leave the backing on when folding the final layer of Gummy Body on as it will stop you stretching it and a kinking the tail.
Trick number three when using the Gummy Foil always apply the dull side to the Gummy body.

Materials Needed

Hook: #6 of choice is use a gamakatsu SL11
Thread: Danville flat waxed 210
Foam: 2mm white
Gummy body 0.2mm
Gummy foil: pearl, and peacock
eyes: 4mm funky 3D funky eye silver
Super glue and Plasti- dip

Available at www.funkyflytying.co.uk

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Dan Kozel’s fly tying

IMG_1528
Dan Kozel has gained a lot of fly fishing experience in a short period of time in his life. He will add a little more about that below. He has a couple of really cool streamers he has been fishing and working on called the Uggo Bug and the Obscene Gesture. He said they have been working great for him. Check them out below. So here is Dan to give you a brief introduction of himself.

“I’ve been tying my own flies for about 6 years now. I’ve tied for multiple fresh and salt species including trout, steelhead,bass, panfish, pike, and bonefish. I grew up in Virginia and have fished extensively throughout the east coast. Two years ago I was accepted to graduate school at the University of Montana in Missoula. In those two years I fished as much as possible on as many well-known and unknown streams throughout the state.  I worked as a videographer for a fly fishing show for awhile.  I’ve recently moved back to Virginia an plan to pursue more saltwater species as well as carp, bass, and musky.”

Uggo Bug

Uggo Bug

Uggo Bug
Hook: Daiichi 2220 Size 2
Thread: Black 210 Denier
Tail: Magnum Rabbit Strip
Body: Polar Chenille
Wing: Arctic Fox
Flash: Gold Crystal Flash
Eyes: Large Dumbell
Sili Legs

ub2

Uggo Bug


Obscene Gesture

Obscene Gesture

Obscene Gesture

Back Hook: Any straight eye streamer hook size 2-4
Thread: Color to match ducktail
Tail: Magnum Rabbit Strip
Body: Large Cactus Chenille
Front Hook: TMC 8089

Tail: Magnum Rabbit Strip
Body: Large Cactus Chenille

Head: Bucktail reverse tied
Eyes: MFC Jurassic Eyes
CCG to finish head

og2

Obscene Gesture

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Moodah Poodah – Fly Fish Food

This is a very cool attractor pattern by Fly Fish Food. Check it out!

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Filed under Foam, Trout flies

Andreas Andersson’s Skin Head – Brian Wise

In my eyes, Andreas Andersson has developed some of the most interesting ways to develop a head on a streamer…..and this is no exception.

Fly Fishing the Ozarks

Recipe:
Rear Hook – Gamakatsu B10s #2
Tail – Marabou
Wing – Magnum Rabbit Strip
Body – Schlappen

Front Hook – Gamakatsu B10s #1
Tail – Marabou
Wing – Magnum Rabbit Strip
Body – Schlappen
Rubber Legs
Underhead – Laser Dub

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