Julian Tapping

Julian Tapping

Sharpen Your Shooting

fly casting with Joe Mahler

Double your line length in a single cast without false casting, with Joe Mahler. Any fly fisher knows that stripping in and lengthening – or “shooting” line – is part of the fly-fishing process. Understanding how and when to lengthen line…

The Catch With Catch & Release

Keep fish wet

As fly fishing continues to grow in popularity, with enthusiasts targeting almost any species imaginable, it’s important to remember the principles of proper fish handling with a few tips and reminders. In this recent article from Flyfisher magazine, Sascha Clark Danylchuk provides an…

Poppin’ Flats Shrimp – Fedeles Variant

The Poppin’ Flats Shrimp is a great saltwater pattern for baby tarpon, snook, bonefish, and anything else lurking near the mangroves or on the flats. It is easy to cast with great movement in the water. In shallow water fishing it on a floating like will work, but a full sinking line can give it some different action.[...]

TDF Shrimp

TDF Shrip in olive

The TDF Shrimp, from Blue Ribbon Flies and tied by Craig Matthews, is the “To Die For” Shrimp is a capital bonefish fly all over the tropics. It can be tied in white or olive. Materials Hook – Umpqua XS420…

Australian Native Gudgeon

western carp gudgeon

There are a large number of gudgeon species native to Australia however by eliminating those found only in the tropics and those limited to altitudes below 700 metres (Dunmore is above 1300 metres) left us with only six species. The…

Gambusia

Gambusia

Female (large) and male (small) gambusia. Gambusia were introduced into Australia from North America in 1929, in a misguided and unsuccessful attempt to control mosquitoes. In appearance they are very similar to a guppy, except the Gambusia males lack the…

Dusky Flathead Release

Several months ago I came across a DPI grant advertisement where funds were available for various fishing related projects, including “fish releases”. So, on behalf of Hastings Fly Fishers I put together an application requesting $30,000 to purchase some 23,000…