Fly Fishing Nation

INTRO

2010-05-28T23:35:00.004+02:00

Update 1st May 2010

Fly Fishing Nation

"All over our beloved planet earth, even on the most remote places one may possibly be able to get to, chances are, that there will be somebody flyfishing. Fact is, that it is such highly spirited flyfishing individuals who are instrumental in pioneering pristine places such as Tierra Del Fuego (Argentina), Khalovka (Russia), or New Caledonia (Australia), to name a few.

(Silver Ghost - Carribean Sea - S.Dombaj)

Thanks to the enormous drive and the almost on madness bordering dedication these guys sport, it is, that the formerly white spots on our maps have turned into the most desirable places to go for enjoying the great sport of flyfishing. These pioneering sportsman and women are the living proof, that for the kind of flyfisher we are talking about here, there is no place too far, no wind to strong and no waters to rough, to take a flyrod just there and even beyond, so god will.

(Argentina - Rio Gallegos - Private Estate "Las Buiteras" - S.Dombaj)

Curious?

Well, then let´s go and catch some of our spirit by the way of a photo journey around the world ... Witness flyfishing-freaks going beyond borders and obstacles. Be part of the experience when people of different countries go for their goal:

The often seemingly featuereless appearance of some of the most remote locations on this planet, reveal their secrets and hidden treasures often only to the eyes of the spirited flyfisher."

Stephan Dombaj

Hook Magazine Issue 5

2010-05-01T17:04:00.003+02:00

Hook Magazine Issue 5

Hola Guerillos!

May - tribute to this toothy month! Pike close-season has just ended and freaks around the globe are hereticly celebrating these days on the shoreline, ambushing toothy critters. Still can´t get enough of fishing? I gotcha. Here´s your golden shot:

(Click the pic)

Don´t forget to check the Picture-Story of my buddy

Aleksandar Vrtaric

Cheers,
Esteban!

SFFM - URGENT

2010-04-29T08:47:00.010+02:00

Hola Guerillos,

I am proud to announce the frigging hottest event in the history of flyfishing:

THE SFFM
"The Saxonian Flyfishing Meeting 2010"

13.Juni.2010

In terms of fishing fairs, the SFFM is considered to be the redefinition - the riotkid that cracks the borders of a simple game angling fair. Hard to believe but did you guys ever see a fair with a Shisha-Bar, Chill-Out-Lounge, Models (presenting the L way of fishing) and much more? I could go on forever, but after all it´s very simple: Be there or be square!

-The FlyFishing Nation is part of the party
-Pro Team Loop Int. Members are hitting the spot!

Cheers,
Esteban!

(I wish my wife was this dirty!)

Slovenian Bash 2010

2010-04-07T18:02:00.006+02:00

Slovenian Bash 2010

by Julian Sion feat.:
Stephan Dombaj, Blaž Klančnik,
Günter Bosch & Stefan Haider

Shortly after Stephan´s "home coming bash" a couple of days ago we were hitting the road once again towards Slovenia. Time to bring him back to real life since he spent a whole season down in the dirty south of Argentina. Changing his hardcore adjusments for decent lightweight tackle - ready to sell versions of LOOP´S XACT and EVOTEC (additional tackle for 2010)

(On the road again)

Although he tried to convince me that he´s is not soo keen on fishing I didn´t believe him since he was sleeping the whole way from Cologne to the HQ in Graz (Austria)...saving up his energy for the task. Meeting up with the rest of la familia in Graz we continued our way to Bled (Slovenia)

(...on tour)

After a long journey around 900 kilometres through the night and mountains, we arrived in Graz/Austria.

(Slovenia)

After our arrival in an amazing stunning area we felt miles away. All the exertion seemed to be forgotten and we looked forward for our seasonstart in a beautiful river.

(Sava B.)

We got some support from Blaž Klancnik. He knows all rivers in Slovenia well and helps if you want to visit this great area (www.flyfishing-marmorata.com). Blaž was a very skilled and friendly guide and brought us to nice fish.

(New Stuff)

Standing on a small bridge, we had a nice view over the river. My heartbeat began to beat faster and faster as I saw the gorgeous trouts and graylings, swimming in the clear water.

(Sightfishing)

Furthermore we went into the water and started to fish. Only after a short time we caught some nice rainbows and some smaller graylings.

(Hitting the spot)

On the first day we had a fantastic fishery with strong rainbow trouts.

(Fighting a bow)

After a good rustic meal we felt quickly asleep. On the next morning we took small breakfast and bought our licences. Just 30 minutes later the tackle was rigged and we started to try a different section of the river.

Misc Pics

(Evotec and Xact)

(FROG ME)

(Releasing a Grayling)

(Down and dirty)

(Clearwater treasures)

(Julian´s GF beats it)

(Infected)

(Stalking)

(Grayling)

(490 for the win)

(590 Xact)

(Gass performes)

(Chrissy with a DH-Bow)

(Stalking II)

(Average)

(Browntrout)

(Jules fighting a bow)

(Double Trouble)

(Goldie)

(Square nymping)

(Xact)

(Little Grayling)

(Too deep)

(...)

(...)

(Hitting the far bank)

(Bow for the win)

(Strippin´off)

(Double Trouble)

(Portrait)

(Fighting another bow)

(Reelz)

(Copper John)

Ready to go...

The Battle Of Kattegatt

2010-03-26T11:20:00.004+01:00

The Battle Of Kattegatt - Expo Varberg 2010
Martin Falklind, Tellis Katsogiannos and Stephan Dombaj

Annual Sportfishing Fair in Varberg (Sweden) opens it´s gates once again. The int. Pro Team is hitting that spot - so don´t miss this chance to blasts some casts with us. Cheers!

(Klick the pic to open the link)

Fake Punks

2010-03-24T23:35:00.001+01:00

Fake Punks
BassBooster Tales

It´s really funny to see what other guys are doing as soon as you leave the stage for a couple of days. I got a request from a friend asking me about the BassBooster Series, which was quite amusing since there were just a couple rumors about it and nothing really specific. I should know it because I was spreading them while getting my hands on the very first design-type. The BassBooster was supposed to be an addition to our PikeBooster Series - almost the same design features except the EVA-fighting grip, lighter and shorter though.

(Down with the syndicate)

The first design-types are still 8-9ers, so not lighter at all since we built them up on short and high modulated versions of the "PikeBooster" blank, supposed to be for intern use only. BASS BOOSTER wont be released! The most fucked up thing... this wrong information were spread by formerly hopes that got it all wrong now... Anyway, all the rumors about the BassBooster Series are fake - don´t listen to the fakies and wannabes out there...stick to a reliable source: Either to official Loop Page/Blog or to the one and only Guerilla-Page since oh7! Down with the syndicate! If you wanna see real prototypes - check this out:

(Evotec G4 5/8 Stealth limited edition)

Fuck Of The Month

2010-03-08T11:47:00.005+01:00

Fuck Of The Month - Hall Of Fame

I'd like to propose a toast to all the sick moments in flyfishing, all the crazy guys that crossed our ways, of course to the magnificent countries we fished in and never the less to the all the fish out there...Cheers guys! The Hall Of Fame is a tribute to all of them. Monthly updated, rude and unspoiled just like this whole thing here. Love it or hate it.

2010

January

Shortly after my arrival in Rio Gallegos (Argentina) I felt this irrepressible urge and desperate longing for some chrome... so I took my 5# 9ft. Loop Yellow Line. Long Story short. This 84cm Chromer was the initial of a long history of seatrouts that crossed my path in the Argentine desert. Why fish of the month... well the story behing that fish is pretty cool. Check it out (Bad Guys Fish The Night)

Tackle:

Rod:LOOP Yellow Line II 5# 9ft
Reel: LOOP CLWC 5/8
Line: LOOP Opti Stream WF5F + 150yds Backing (20lb)
Tippet/Leader: 0,22 Crystal Dense Fluo
Fly: Hotcone RL Spey Bugger Black tied on TMC 777SP

Crime Scene: Rio Gallegos - Cojones Pool - Argentina

(Desert Chrome)

February

February was a hard decision cause I had do decide between two PBs: A 10,5kg Seatrout on 6wt Switch or a magnificent Kingsalmon. As you can see below the Kingsalmon made it because we allready got a Chromer in the list just one month before. Anyway I liked the story behind the Kingsalmon much better. This Kingsalmon is a part of 14 fishes that are (still) the living proof that there are some pacific Salmon on the atlantic side! It was a urban legend and big Papa LOOP Tackle Design sent us out to scout this uncharted water. Well, we let you know when the season is over... just a little hind, this is the sickest stuff you can do to your DH-Equipment! This super-mean male fish gave me 15minutes a hard time! Before I forget, we are talking about the only Creek that holds Kings in Argentina!

Tackle:
Rod: LTS X1 9wt 13,6ft.
Reel: LOOP Opti Megaloop
Line: Prototype SH - 0,32 Runningline (Opti) and some 50lb Backing
Leader: 0,40 Crystal Dense Fluo
Fly: Pollo´s Revenge (articulated fly by S.Dombaj)

Crime Scene: Glacier King - Argentina

(Mean machine)

March

What´s missing to round up the Argentine Grandslam? You are right, a fat resident Trout! And here we go, the picture below shows a beautiful Bow taken on a 5wt on sight at Rio Barrancuso. It was not the biggest fish of the 3day trip but anyway - this adorable vicious buck gave me a hard time on my MultiPWR. I could tell you something about numbers and averagesize at Jurassic, Barrancuso and Laguna del Inferno but you wouldn´t believe me anyway... Ah, before I forget: 2 minutes wrestling - down&dirty (what else?) Fight a fish like a man! (Toast to all the sissyguys who are fighting fish like a frightned little pansy - and believe me... there are a lot!)

Tackle:
Rod: LOOP MultiPWR 5# 9ft.
Reel: LOOP Opti Dryfly
Line: LOOP OptiStillwater WF5F - 120yds. 30lb.
Tippet/Leader: Multi Light + 0,20 Crystal Dense
Fly: Copper John Size 6

Crime Scene: Rio Barrancuso - Argentina

(Bowhunt)

Artificial Creek – Dope for a Trout Addict

2010-03-07T20:22:00.006+01:00

Artificial Creek – Dope for a Trout Addict
By: Paulo Hoffmann

Stuck in the middle of nowhere, Kansas – at least from a flyfishermen’s point of view who is greedy to get his periodic dose fresh trout-smell on his fingers.

(Ready to go...)

Fortunately, a group of geniuses once came together to establish an artificial creek for these men and women who wander around in the sunflowerstate with their rods and reels in order to find a place to fish for trout. The approx. 2 mile long and 15 ft. wide creek is stocked every other weekend with new rainbows of about 10-15 inches, where however occasionally trouts are hidden that measure up to 20 inch. The season restrains on october thru april due to the heat that would warm up the water dramatically and kill the trouts later anyway.

(The Rules)

Trying to build up structure in the water, the creek runs in a dam system which helps to create pools and different water levels in flowing speed and deepness. It really helps to figure out the good spots and often gives you a huge advantage. The fly selection is not that big of an issue for the most parts since the trout are not used to live in a natural environment, thus, not used to nourish naturally. The only ingredient that usually helps is tungsten to get down to the ground where the target sits, often with little nymphs or bugs. Concerning fly color, natural colors like gray, brown, or olive always work, but sometimes on these breed-trouts, irritating colors such as pink and violet bring miracles.

(Damn dam)

The enormous impact on the water caused by fishermen coming from all around to satisfy on this construction has the interesting effect that the fish only feeds when it doesn’t hear, see, or feel an angler approaching, although it stays in its spot watching you crawl on the ground trying to bow-and-arrow the fly in front of it, there is no way it’d eat your fly - it can be damn frustrating.

(...)

Equipped with a 7 ft. #4 weight, a box of random flies, and a Kansas-trout-permit, I started to graze the water upstream. Tied on a tungsten emerger, I had luck with 10-12 inchers – not enough for a troutbum from across the pond. Tungsten caddis for the win and a big old fat 19 inch rainbow for happy Paulo. It really felt good to hold these wet creatures in my hand after so long, even though there is no comparison to a wild stream with graylings and mean brown-trouts waiting for you to set the 20-size CDC emerger right in front of them.

(19 inch)

(Tungsten caddis for the win)

(Fishermen's friend...questionable)

(pt.II)

('till the last sunlight)

(pt.II)

(pt.III)

(...and longer)

Fisk&Fin

2010-02-25T00:49:00.002+01:00

Contribution in Fisk&Fin
by Stephan "Esteban" Dombaj

For all our friends around the globe a quick shot of our latest contribtion in the danish magazine "Fisk&Fin" - for those who have the chance to get an issue: check out the article Giga Havörret and you´ll find some FFN Prints! Here´s a preview. Cheers!

Raubfischmesse-Sauerland

2010-02-16T21:21:00.004+01:00

Raubfischmesse Sauerland

It‘s Time For A Revolution…

Germany’s 2^nd predator fish fair is on its way.

Experts from all over Europe are going to show interested visitors how to catch pike, walleye, perch, asp, catfish and many other predator fish, using different techniques and styles. For example, how to catch pike on the fly or fish top water lures.

We'll be showing you Loop´s latest tackle for 2010 and some tips and tricks in fly tying as well as a diashow.

The expo will take place on the 13^th and 14^th of March 2010 in the St. Georgs Hall in Meschede.

You´ll be able to visit us from 10am to 6pm on those two days and the bonus is that teens and women do not pay entrance fee, all other visitors pay 5,- €.

You will find a list of the exhibitors here:

http://www.angeln.de/forum/raubfisch/aussteller-raubfischmesse-im-sauerland

As well as:

http://www.raubfischmesse-sauerland.de/

We are looking forward to seeing you at the expo - "keep your lines tight"!

Stay tuned,

Julian Sion & Team

Hook Magazin 3

2010-02-08T19:52:00.002+01:00

Hook Magazin 3 is out now!
by Stephan Dombaj

Another Issue of Hook Magazin has just been released! Beside other HQ Footage from contributors around the globe one can find a brief picturestory by FlyFishingNation (Page 80), showing the thrilling fight of a raging tarpon. Check it out!

Chasing Silver - click the pic for the Story!

>Hook Magazin<

Girls Gone Wild For Seatrout

2010-02-07T20:04:00.004+01:00

Girls Gone Wild For Seatrout
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Claudio Martin

Okay Guys, hard times ahead. Check these pictures! The girls are cleaning up Rio Gallegos! Private Estancia las Buitreras

(Sara blasting a cast at Canterra)

(Sara´s 14pounder at Puesto)

(Fernanda´s Brute)

(Girls for Chrome)

(Sweet release)

(Boo...)

(Pt.II)

Loop Equipment Research - Evotec MF

2010-02-05T17:29:00.004+01:00

Evolution Of A Flyrod - Evotec MF
by Stephan Dombaj

A couple of month ago I introduced the very first shots of our crossweave Xact and Epic Flyrods. During this time of evaluation in both action and design, we decided to change the former "EPIC"Series into EVOTEC MF (or FA)

(Zone V)

MF stands eighter for MediumFast Action or for Motherf+cker, up to you. The whole Evotec-Series is an add-on to the our famous MULTI-Series. Here are some exlusive previewshots right from the shore in Zone V - Rio Gallegos - Argentina.

(Evotec 7weight)

(Reelseat)

(+ mean machine)

Stay tuned - more to come! Saludos!

Boot Düsseldorf

2010-02-04T22:02:00.029+01:00

Expo - Boot Düsseldorf
by Alexander von Dombois
feat.: Julian Sion

Iced roads, 20cm of snow and it was freezing cold…

But this winter weather didn’t stop us from going to the world’s biggest watersport expo. I left Cologne at about 8am hoping not to get into traffic and be able to arrive in Düsseldorf on time were I would meet Jules. Our job was to show some fishing newbies what fly fishing is all about and teach them some basics. The first step was to explain the difference between “normal” fishing and fly fishing, and what bait we use. We had a few streamers, dry flies and Pike flies for them to look at so that they could feel how light a fly actually is.

(Expo...)

After this short introduction Jules and I took our three interested beginners to the “Giant Fish Tank” which was actually a container full of water were everyone was able to hold a fly rod in their hand and try out a few casts before going out into the cold were the “Casting Clinic” was build up.

("Giant Fish Tank")

(Casting Clinic... and it's cold!)

(Candidate No. 1)

( No. 2 )

(Need some help ?)

At the end of this day we held a lecture on fly fishing for pike.

(Well...)

(That's it)

Argentina Weekly - Week III

2010-02-02T11:47:00.003+01:00

Argentina Weekly - Week III
Estancia Las Buitreras
by Claudio Martin

The arrival of good friends from the UK known to us as “The Baker Group” marked the beginning of our third week of season 2010. For Michael, Martin, David, Derek and Richard it was neither their first time, nor the second one… actually not even close to that.

(Burning Sky at Bridge Pool)

It was their 10 season on the Gallegos… quite a remarkable record and certainly much experience reached as a result of it. For Val, first time chasing silvers in south Argentina, the challenge didn’t look much as he started in his first session with a fresh 15 pounder out of Golfo, a large slow-water, fish-holding pool, where he happened to be after following Bakers usual “week rotation scheme” with Martin as the responsible one for arranging it that let them fish around in even number of sessions in the different beats as well as fishing with different partners equal number of times. Still sometimes the scheme didn’t really work, and mostly when some unknown person tricked the others by changing the real scheme for a fake one… confusion reigned in the room and arguments took place until the truth finally came out.

(Richard - Double Spey)

El Henrik (Pool) delivered, like it normally does, and this time in favor of Richard who managed to get not only a 21 pounder but also followed with an 18 pounder, both on Buitreras top secret fly (meaning a regular Bitch Creek nymph!).

(Chrome on the run)

By Monday noon there were already 20 sea trout caught and a big part of that had double figures… still things got tougher later on in the week making the group use all their experience plus the help of the guides team to figure out the best approach and how to succeed on this task. The wind didn’t make things any easier either, gusting up to 100+ km/h (60m/h – 28m/sec)

(David´s mean male machine)

In contrast to this the average size keeps rising and we hit new records. This Rugby ball-shaped fish are without any doubt feeding very well out in the sea. The best example was Mike’s biggest fish of the week, caught on a session when none of the other zones produced, pulling 22lbs on Juan Manuel’s scale.

(Mike´s 22pounder)

In addition to the fishing a very much anticipated event took place once again at the lodge: the guitar duel. Derek started the session with Animal’s “The House of the Rising Sun”, a Buitreras favorite, and kept amusing his friends and the staff with some great songs that we all followed and enjoyed. On the side of the locals Juan Manuel performed a part of his wide répertoire showing off once again his talent as singer.

(JuanMa lost in music)

Finally, our dear British friends topped it off by performing their own version of Eagle’s “Hotel California” for the staff, where phrases based on the few mishaps, the guides and kitchen team and words in Spanish like “pelado”(Spanish for baldie) got mixed up along the beat to make everyone laugh.

(Male Chromer)

We’ll be looking forward to next year to see our friends again casting flies out into the wind and singing along and playing guitar, maybe some of many things that make Las Buitreras a magic place.

(Estancia)

Claudio Martin – Las Buitreras Camp Manager

Number of Rods: 6

Total Nr of Fish: 48 sea trout

Top Rod: Richard Bright (UK) with 13 fish.

Top Pool: Upper Limit & Peso Ligero

Top Fly: Yellow Tummy #8 + Bitch Creek #8

Biggest Fish: 22lb (Michael Baker)

Average Size: 11,1lb

Ghost Of The Flats

2010-01-28T07:53:00.000+01:00

Bonefish: Ghost Of The Flats
by Stephan Dombaj

To be upfront with it: After ones first encounter with a bonefish on a flyrod it´s obvious why this fish gained it´s reputation as one of the most challeging gamefishes around the globe! Rocket-like runs that devide the water just like Moses did, sightcasting for schooling sizelike fishes or big singles and doubles, beach-bumming, flat-stalking... boundless possibilities! Here are a few pictures as a tribute to this pretty brilliant gamefish: The ghost of the flats.

(Hydrodynamic in perfection)

Refering to Wikipedia, that is well known for it´s sober descriptions in terms of adorable gamefishes, I was quiet suprised: "The bonefish, also known as phantom or gray ghost, is probably pound for pound the strongest and fastest running animal in the collective of salt-water fish." Well, it´s the truth...

(Bonefish-encounter!)

(Transitionzone bonefish)

Despite the fact that this fish is well reknown for it´s versatile preyscheme like benthic worms, fry, crustaceans and molluscs, we also gotta face the fact that the ability to "respire" aerial oxygen enables bonefish to get even into the most oxygenless parts of the water... such as the most shallow flats and mangroves! Just like all other inshore species, their feeding-activity is influenced by the tidal level. Moving water is always a garantuee for some sort of activity. Get yourself into it...listen to the sound of your reel. You´ll never forget it. Here are some unpublished pictures of our christmas-journey:

(Too much of a cliche...)

(Killing mantis)

(Oceanside-flat and hightide)

(Stop it...)

( Reef-Fish)

(Release)

(Defeat)

(Fish ooooooooooon)

(Sand-Bone)

(Bright fish...)

(Go and tell your mom)

(Snapper)

(2nd Advent - Streetlife)

(Killing Minnows)

(StreetGang ahead)

(Stealing Minnows)

(Gotcha...)

(Small beachfish)

(Crabby)

(Opti Salt kicks ass)

(The Only)

(My way to the "office")

(At work)

(Coffee-Break)

(Ahhh)

(Release Pt.II)

(Safty first)

(Peeeps)

(...)

(Jerk-Off time!!!)

(CrabPatty)

(Flatsneaker)

(Coolest motherfucker in the ocean)

("... and stop nailing my flies! Bitch!")

(Alex´s Surf-Candies...inhaled)

(Pompano)

(Boner)

(Spotting Minnows)

(Ready to kill em)

(Fat ass Pelican)

(Flats)

(Baby Poon Action)

(Stefan landing the fish)

(Motherfucker ate the bonefish clouser)

(Yeah)

(...)

(Testing lines)

(getting taned)

(getting dirty)

(...)

(Story about wanting too much)

(...)

(Birds)

(Long Tom)

(Good morning hookup)

(Jack)

I have to stop... to much for one blogpage ;-)

Bad Guys Fish The Night - Las Buitreras

2010-01-21T12:14:00.010+01:00

Bad Guys Fish The Night - Las Buitreras
Story about Cojones
by Stephan Dombaj

I never though it would be that hard to sit right in front of my notebook and write about fishing although I could be fishing right now. Typing these letters here is a real quest for me, especially since we are talking about not some sort of pond or urban stream... One of world´s most renown seatrout-waters, the Rio Gallegos, located in southern Patagonia is literally just a few steps away from the estancia. I know you are going to hate me for that but I am going to stay here the whole season...

(Sunset behind - Seatrout ahead)

Maybe it´s a relief for you to hear that I got to do some work here in the dirty south. The photographers from sports illustrated know exactly what I mean when I say: It´s a hard job but someone...you know the rest. Working the weekends and the nights can be tough... especially in this case. Claudio, Las Buitreras Camp Manager and head guide, told me that there´s a new cut bank-pool just around the bend of a major holding pool (Loop Hole) Still unnamed since no one slammed a Chromer out of it, either because it possibly no holding spot or because Loop Hole is just around the bend so they never really tried. New pool, unnamed and without fish so far. Jesus! Do I have to go on?

(Rio Gallegos - Seatrout-legend)

Chance of a lifetime! Entitling a Gallegos-Pool! The only thing I had to do is catch a chromer... Time for a plan. Either LOOP´s Gass 6120 or 693 Opti Coast, C/I Shootinghead (depends on the Combo) + 0,29mm Runningline + 13ft+1 1/2ft leader and tippet. Fly for the win: Hot cone Spey Bugger with Grizzly Rubber legs tied on TMC 777SP. Thou shall be slamming chrome! Amen. Beyond all theories I really had to check out the water. No watermarks, no m³/sec - just a little walk along the shore.

(Strippin´off)

I love Chromers. Fat-ass, strong, silverish migratory salmonides. But I really adore Gallegos Browntrout's! Every single scale of them. I simply can´t get enough of them and they can´t get enought of giant hoppers: Miss Knobby X for the win! Of course I had to carry a 5weight Loop Yellow Line II (rigged up with an OptiStream WF5F on a CLWC) with me - just in case that something is really stupid enough to rise in a radius of a mile when I am around with a deadly pattern tied and approved in New Zealand.

(Gallegos treasures)

On the way downstream to the section I got a couple of fish rising for this pattern so that it was almost dark when I arrived the unnamed pool. For some strange reason I exactly knew what was going to happen... I changed the leader for a 14ft with 0,22mm tippet... While I was opening my flybox a fish showed up close to the cutbank. Chromers ahead, head&tailing just a few meters away from my position. My welcome present was a Hotcone Spey-Bugger with Rubberl egs. Almost dark and wind picked up rapidly but anyway I managed to hit the spot. Long drift with a floating line to get the the fly down and dirty.

(Amen)

Full contact swing. Forget everything around, the only thing that counts now is something that is really hard to explain. It´s that feeling that takes over when you feel the current in the line, when you know that your fly swings just into the right spot, when you know that everything you are aiming for is waiting for something to pass by just under that specific bubble line... It´s a good feeling! You know that it ain´t no trout, it´s the silver flash, the leaper or simply one of the meanest motherfuckers of the collective of all freshwater fish.

(Prince Beadhead with RL tied on Mustad R90)

Focusing on every on every movement, I started to retrieve my fly. Slow and even. A splash on the surface that simultaneously leads to a violent pull in my line. Stripstrike! Connected! The semitransparent reel gets into serious troubles. Left-handed version hits me on the wrong turn. But right now I don´t give a damn f*ck about it. Jump and run, jump and run... silver bullet is heading downstream. Although I am using a 5 weight I can feel that this is a big fish. The current is too strong to land it here so I move a few steps downstream. Headshakes and heavy pumps hit the butt section of my rod - hell yeah, now we are talking. After a couple of minutes it´s almost done. I am moving backwards, trying to beach that bull. Got it...

(Chromer!)

84cm length - 52cm girth (according to the calculator: 7,95kg) - taken on a tiny yellow trout rod, a dry line and a streamer. A few quick selfportraits and some fucked up night shots with a gorillapod and mama is back on its way to the spawning grounds. Mission accomplished! Some of you may think that I have missed the chance to set myself a monument by calling the pool El Steph or something like that. I have to disagree! We named it "COJONES"... and I guess you know what that means!

Some shots

(Bridge-Pool)

(Hernan: Trinas Bugger for the win)

(Gridle Bug Chromer)

(Claudio and the guys from Mountain Media)

(Richard Pt.I)

(Blast a cast)

(Wild horses)

(Prepare for the darkness)

Argentina Weekly - Week II

2010-01-20T16:54:00.002+01:00

Argentina Weekly - Week II
by Claudio Martin

Week 2 started on Saturday as usual with the new group’s arrival at Rio Gallegos City International Airport. There were three things that marked this week: the presence of two different film crews, lost luggage and rolling fish teasing us in every major holding pool, still “showing fish” is not necessarily a sign of “taking fish” and it demanded hard work from all to accomplish it.

(Henke rippin´lips)

The highly expected arrival of Swedish fishing legend and book author Gunnar Westrin completed the group with a mixture of Americans, Swedish, British and one Australian angler, Dr. Paul Gibson, 2^nd timer at Las Buitreras.

(The group)

Mountain Media® from Sweden and Hooked on Fly Fishing® from the US followed some of the groups along the week as the chase for big sea runs was on!

(Chromer)

In the middle of the week partying took place at Las Buitreras for the Birthday of Mr Loop himself, Christer Sjöberg (aka Don Chrillo), who was turning 35 years old – according to him, of course!– but certainly feeling 25 in heart and soul.

For our great friend Howard Evans, the beginning of the week wasn’t quite what he was expecting, and it involved the loss of his luggage and the later consequences: i.e. having to wear the same summer shirt he put on the morning he left his home, over and over again; and the fact that the underwading equipment provided by his former dear friend and top guide from Las Buitreras, El Pollo, was a bit too tight. Someone called this an “accident”… then unfortunately for the rest of us, it’ll be hard to erase that image from our minds.

(Release)

Angler David Moore, who also went through the same, finding himself without his bags at the arrival airport had whatsoever no “unpleasant surprises” on the equipment provided and always available at Loop-Las Buitreras Lodge.

(Juan Manuel with a happy client)

Howard’s temporary loss of luggage had a good side. We were able to put in his hands Loop’s world class Shooting Head System for double handed rods, a tool he found very helpful for managing the existing conditions. Having become a very good caster throughout the years fishing this river, plus counting on the right set up and being ready to follow every instruction the guides had, helped him become the Top Rod of this Week, with 13 fish and a personal average size of 11,2 lb.

(18pounds)

Happily for both of them by the second day the bags were not only found but immediately taken to its owners. Everything was safe and sound.More big fish were coming in and before finishing the first half of the week there were already some important double figure fish on the book, like Swedish guest Lars Ivarsson’s 20 pounder to show the year-after-year improvement of the quality of this river and its fish.

New Yorker Dean Mades also had his share on flights issues, starting with a 24 hr delayed flight, followed also by the temporary loss of his luggage and the late arrival to the beginning of his journey, at Jurassic Lake. Catching up quickly with the rest later on in Las Buitreras and using his experience learnt from Canada’s Atlantic Salmon and other migratory fish to conquer the sea run browns…Even though the final number of caught fish wasn’t that great the week concluded with big smiles among the faces of our guests who’ve achieved once again the challenge of catching these explosives but yet timid, chrome beauties.

Claudio Martin – Las Buitreras Camp Manager.

Number of Rods: 9
Total Nr of Fish: 55 sea trout (over 5lb)
Top Rod: Howard Evans (UK) with 13 fish.
Top Pool: Golfo and Upper Limit
Top Fly: Yuk Bug #6 + Blk Wooly Bugger #8
Biggest Fish: 22lb (Chris Travis – Hooked on FF)
Average Size: 11,4lb

Fight The Elements

2009-12-27T16:28:00.012+01:00

Fight The Elements - 3 Months Patagonia
by Stephan Dombaj

"Hola to all Guerillas around the globe!
I am glad to announce too you that I am going to leave Europe behind. Well, at least for 3 months starting Januar 2010. During this time I will be assisting the guys from Loop´s Private Estancia Las Buitreras in Rio Gallegos/Argentina as an assisting host/campmanager, journalist and instructor. Beside world reknown Rio Gallegos and Jurassic Lake fishery I am looking forward to explore Patagonia´s remote areas. Meet me in Argentina. Experience a trip of your lifetime. Fishing the andean Patagonia region is always harshly tinched be the ancient spirit of this region that is bourn out of fire and wind. Take a step on this ground and you´ll feel the deepest greatfullness overcome. Like every usual, I´ll keep you updated with week-reports. Be part of the party or stay tuned for some more action...

Tight Lines,
Stephan Gian Dombaj"

(Argentina approved)

Here are some dates for available rods:

13-20 feb - 2 rods
6-13 march - 4 rods
3-10 april 4 rods
10-17 april 4 rod

Contact via:
travel@looptackle.se

(Rio Gallegos beauty)

(Jurassic Lake)

Addition:

Guys, check out this Email adressed to Don Chrillo himself. As I said before... it´s hard to describe but it´s the truth:

"DEAREST CHRISTER AND SJOBERG FAMILY..

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS... AND A HEALHTY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR..!!!

I am Just back from the Jurasic Lake, Dec 9 thru 12...After arrival around 4 in the afternoon, I fished for about 4 hours... and caught 35 .. fish...!!! NO WIND...!! The next day... weather was UNUSSUAL WARM, and WINDLESS..!!! I fished, DRY FLIES... in the Pool...( the back of the " island" facing the camp... ) was the most awesome dry fly fishing on my life...!! by noontime, I had counted total of 76 fish ..LANDED !! The afternoon, after lunch, was the river time.... by 4pm in the afternoon, had completed the number 100 ...!!!By the end of the day ... I had counted 120 fish.... alll fish were in the double digits...!!The next day... our last day... was a more selective fishing, totalling 167 fish in two and a Half days of fishing..!!!AWESOME..!!!TWO FISH WERE over 22 pounds plus, one male and one female.... have the TV Tape and Pictures of this wonderful trip.... MY FIFTH TRIP TO THE JURASSIC... counting the days and hours to return in March or April....!!!WARM REGARDS, FOR YOU YOUR WIFE & DAUGHTER... FOR YHIS XMAS...!!!
Your Friend
JORGE"

(Get bend)

(Double-Double Digits)

Argentina

2009-12-25T20:35:00.001+01:00

Argentina
(Back On Demand)

Video

2009-12-25T20:33:00.001+01:00

Videos

2009

2009-12-25T14:08:00.001+01:00

2009

Instructions, Courses & Guidings 2009 (click to big)

2008

2009-12-25T14:05:00.001+01:00

2008

Coming Soon (FFN ROAD SHOW):

Stealin' Minnows

2009-12-21T19:00:00.007+01:00

Stealin' Minnows - Big Bones and Mermaids
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Stefan & Alexander Haider

Big Pelicans hammering down like a bomb carpet. Thirthy in a row. An incredible spectacle indeed, but I am focusing on something else and these pelicans are the indicator. My illuminated advertisment that is praising big fucking bonefish. My ticket for the ultimate run on a flyrod...it´s just a few casts away!

(Bones)

Excitment is taking over. A pelican just in operating distance get´s in trouble... Street-Gang: A couple of Bonefish are trying to rob paralysed minnows out of it´s mouth. They literally force the pelicans to share their prey by pokeing them. Especally bigger fish are quite vehement. They kill everything that falls out of the pelicans mouth if it just fit´s into the prey-scheme. Quest, present your minnow as close as you can to the pelican...

(Street-Gang: Minnow robbery)

If you come close without an accidential pelican-hookup don´t dare to move your fly too much. Just let sink, nice and neat, keep the contact until something on the other end of the line decides to get you into serious troubles. As I said upon, also big bones are used to penetrate these birds for an easy lunch. Especally when sightfishing is for some reason impossible, the birds will show you the prey and if you are lucky... they´ll also lead you to bonefish.

(Searching for something to pierce)

(Perpare...)

Sun is painting everything in a tinch of orange - an unmistakable sign for dinnertime. I am perpared. And here we go again...

(In range...)

(Nervous pelican)

(Jerk-off time!)

Presentation right infront of the bird. Big fish twiching out, following... following with it´s back out of the water. Sweet marry of mercy, this bonefish want´s the minnow so bad... a few more strips and the fish nails the fly away like burying it with it´s nose into the sandy ground. Stripstrike! Contact! Good fish...

( Fish turns...that´s bad)

Instead of leaving this planet by running it´s tails of in direction of the sun, this fish turns by and starts off in parallel to the beach - passing several anchorlines meanwhile. Must be a good one. No useless rushing...this fucker knows how to get rid of my fly. But guess what, Mr. Bone is not the only one swimming...

(Sunset Rush)

Busy with fighting the fish, untangleing anchorline and worrying about my leader. But somehow I managed to get some line back. Shortpumping, holding the fish away from obstacles, another run... not that intense. It´s not over yet and I don´t dare to get a picture with that rocket until I hold it. I don´t care: Pressure to the max. Last line untangled. Time to finish this...

(Dinner is served: Bonefish with salad)

(K@#O%!)

(Racoon & Bonefish)

(Releasing the rocket)

(...to fight another day)

(8 pounder is swimming away)

(Pt.II)

Hard to explain but sometime i catch myself thinking that the second the fish leaves your hands and swims away is the most precious moment in flyfishing. Nothing lasts longer than the memory... not even the fish population that is, in spite of catch and release, still rapidly decreasing.

Story Of A Mermaid

Ambushing beach-bonefish is also a quite productive way to see/catch legendary mermaids. Ah, you don´t believe me, do you? Well, check this pictures out.

Hook Magazin

2009-12-20T06:27:00.005+01:00

Hook Magazin Issue 2
Out now!

During our last demo and expotour in Northern-Germany, Stefan Franzmann and I also visited the "Hamburger Werfertage" The Guys from HOOK-Magazin made a pretty cool article out of it. HOOK, the first serious and professional E-Magazine on the German-Market, has just released the 2nd issue...

Check this out: www.hook-magazin.de

(Page 54 - Loop Performance - klick the pic)

Running Down The Beach

2009-12-16T19:12:00.012+01:00

Running Down The Beach
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Stefan & Alexander Haider

Imagine, you are standing on a lonesome island. Nothing but endless bluetones of water infront of you, brilliant white sand under your feet and a couple coconut palms behind you to round up the cliché. While you are glancing into the endless blue, almost forgetting that this is soo real, the firm grip your flyrod reminds you of your quest. Running down the beach… up and down – losing your breath, swearing, getting up and once again.

(Are you ready?)

You would rip off your right legs just to get connected to the unseen force that was killing minnows in a feeding frenzy just a second ago. Here we go… 30 Meters away: Windsprints...too slow. Damn! Tunas, Jacks, Kingmackerel or Flacktail-Snapper? You can’t tell, but it’s raging out there and you wont be happy until everything comes together…

(Bonitos and Jacks killing baitfish)

Another baitball - restless eyes have found their nirvana. And your urge a ventile. Still too far away from the bank. Time to strip off and swim!

(Double-Trouble)

(Baaang)

(Smallie)

(Pop-out! FUCK!)

(Still watching...)

(Garite and small Horse-Eyes)

(Grunting Jack)

Bonitos out of range! Swim for the win...the swarm is passing by... my fly inbetween. A little twich and a massive impact leaves a deep inpression in form of a fleshwound in my finger. That´s passion unleashed! Let´s get it on! Stunning to see the spinning reel losing backing: Meter for meter. 20 Meters left and the fish slows down. Sweet merry mother of mercy!

(Swim for the win. Backing run!)

It´s almost impossible to both comprehend and explain how strong these fish are. They have just one goal... reaching the horizon! After endless 5 minutes...the reward!

(Bright Bonito)

(Tuna-Eyes)

(...)

But for real, even if there´s no fish around... things could be worse:

(Our office)

(Guides)

Tarpon Madness - The Baitball

2009-12-12T23:00:00.009+01:00

Tarpon Madness - The Baitball
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Stefan & Alexander Haider

It´s just one cast away: The fulfillment of a dream. Pelicans are running crazy, Tarpon - all sizes - rolling everywhere, Horse-Eye-Jacks and Snapper inbetween. I am holding my breath, but the sound of a thousand predators killing minnows still remains. Now that we are soo close I don´t dare to pick up my rod. I am cleaning up my lenses to secure this moment forever.

(Killing Minnows)

The first sunrays are hitting the clouds upon as we are cruising into direction of our hotspot. Easy to see, the crowd of birds is already hailing down to slam into the endless masses of baitfish. The water is boiling. Time to get nervous.

(Early morning...)

(Blast a cast)

Feeding fish everywhere! Here are some shots:

(Tarpon close to the boat)

(Feeding frenzy)

(Pt.II)

(Good 15kg fish)

(Another single)

(Fins)

(Fins Pt.II)

(Tarpon Madness)

(Three juveniles crushing into minnows)

(A Horse-Eye-Jack chasing bait)

(The Bait - The Fake)

Ready for some action! As we don´t see the big ones crushing into the center of the baitball but gathering around at the edge of the happening we decide to leave the frenzy behind. Tought decision but it worked out. Stefan took the 10weight OptiSalt and after a few blindcasts the lines straightend up. Stefan nails via flyline and the leaper appears... Almost losing my breath I pick up the camera.

("No strippin´!" Searching for big singles)

(Action!)

(Still running...)

(The leaper appears)

(Supersized)

(Bow for...)

(the king!)

The howling reel complains about the loss of backing as the tarpon tries to reach the horizon. Stefan maximizes the pressure. The fish turns and it´s time for the good old down and dirty game!

(Megaloop)

(Ready for some bends)

(Now it´s getting nasty)

(180 degrees)

(Silver King)

(Landing? No!)

(Static Warfare)

(...)

(What a powerfull tail)

(Landing)

20Minutes after hookup and endless down and dirty warfare, we get a chance to get it into flat water. Alex is already waiting for his turn. Just a few more moments and an epic battle is yet over...

(Fish and Salad...the dinner is served)

(What a head)

(His Majesty is pissed of...)

(BIG MOTHERFUCKING FISH!!!)

(BANG!!!)

(70Pounds)

(Silver body armor)

(Just perfect)

Fish is landed. Stefan and Alex are holding his majesty gently in shallow water. The perfect and giant scales are sparkling almost too bright to be true. After a couple pics, Alex and Stefan are releasing the fish. Stefan´s perfect birthday present!

Alpine Lakes

2009-10-26T20:52:00.002+01:00

Alpine Lakes
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Scott Raggatt,
Stefan & Alexander Haider

It was a coincident, just a few days before I left once again to the dirty south, Scott’s mail arrived my inbox just in time – telling me that he’s looking for some good fishing in southern Germany or Austria. Two flyguys from different corners of the globe but one irrepressible urge! First station was Sava Bohinjka, where we had a pretty nice day on a beautiful water but there was much more to go.

(Fish on)

It ain´t no a secret that the Alpine region is blessed with numerous streams and creeks, most of them are surrounded by a tremendous landscape and wildlife that one can easily be lost in such a magic place. Captured by this rural pureness it is simply the most grateful thing ever period to be a fly fisher.

(Alpine lake par excellence)

Since the lakes are kinda out of focus, stillwaterfishing is an underestimated game. Of course it is a matter of fact that a productive Stillwater holds much bigger fish than a river but I don’t want to complain about this tendency. No really, I enjoy it…drifting on a crystal clear pristine lake, spotting some shades, enjoying the fresh air and being almost alone. Big trout’s from pontoon boats was our next thing on the to-do list.

(Connected)

Obstacles, submersed logs, lillipet and weed fields or any other form of structure are typical hotspots and yet to be found. Question of retrieve? Well, for trout there's one simple rule that almost always works out: Big fly = fast almost steady-retrieve and the smaller the slower – never forget to pause the fly to give it a more lifelike action.

Pictures

(First fish for the day)

(Alex is playin a big bow)

(Rubberleg Damsel = good fish)

(Massive release)

(Hot Cone Killer)

(Scott´s turn)

(Black Opti)

(Another Bow)

(Stillwater cliche)

(Lake Brownie)

(POV: Thrilling)

(Here she comes)

(Sweet Brown Hen)

(POV: Release)

(Stefan)

(With a darkish fish)

(Release)

(Red Hot Cone)

(Inhaled)

(Playing a good bow)

(Landing)

(Scott)

(Landing Pt.II)

(Landing Pt.III)

(Congratulations brother)

(Scott with a lakechar)

(Spinning reel)

(Ambitious fighter)

(Selfpic fail)

(Tube-Brownie)

(Portrait)

(Release)

(Stalking the shoreline)

(Alpine Lakes)

(Bow after Bow)

(German Sheepherd)

(...)

Amurcity

2009-10-25T21:43:00.004+01:00

Amurcity
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Nikolai Prietl
& Matthias Burget

A crystalclear coldwater-lake with giants shades close to the small island inbetween and three guys in floating tubes or pontoon boats, rigged up 6 and 8weights in their hands, ready for their run. This scene could be easily found in some imaginary saltwater areas, but the landscape reveals that we´re drifting on a lake right in Austrian´s lap. Once again... to slam down European Carp´s brother from another mother: The Amurcarp or Asian-Carp.

(Searching for shades)

During the trip we had to learn the diffrence of fighting an Amur from the shore and fighting the fish from a boat. Since this fish reacts very well on pressure directions we had massive problems lifting these tremendous fighters from the ground. Amur is a very spooky fish, especally in clear waters - long leader with a fluocarbon tippet are very helpfull then.

(Sightfishing for Amur)

The following footage is supposed to be a visual appetizer for a possible fight of your life. Once you are "attached" to such a fish (in a coldwater-lake) you´ll get to know if your dragsystem is built to resist. Check this out:

(693 Loop Opti Coast)

(First encounter)

(Niko tortures his rod)

(7minutes full power)

(Finally)

(A decent carp)

(See you soon)

(Yeah, Baby - Hookup)

(Get bend)

(Still...)

(After 12min)

(After 14min)

(Power)

(Happy landing)

(!!!)

(Amur-cuddling)

(Unhooked)

(Mission accomplished)

(Catch &...)

(Release)

(Uhhh - got the wrong shade)

(Niko's Amur)

Rainprayer - The Calculated Defeat

2009-10-19T22:05:00.006+02:00

Rainprayers - The Calculated Defeat
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Henrik Larsson, Stefan & Alexander Haider
and Christian Maihold

Women, send your husbands salmon fishing. Where else can one see adults crawling around in dirt, suffering from insomnia, hungry, eating crap, unwashed and defeated (I could continue this list forever) If we boil it down, Salmon fishing is a torture. The sweetest one though, since the reward is one of the biggest one may archived in freshwaters. Are you ready for the run of your life?

(Salmon Bums)

4 Guys and one target: Migrating and spawning Salmonids – Sea trout and Salmon. The water conditions changed from lousy to perfect. But I don’t want to tell you something about the theoretical chance or the things that could have been. This is a picture story about some hard facts... about my chance, about a fish that kick my butt and about another elevation of my addiction. About fishing 3 1/2 days from 6 to 24 o’clock or simply: About Salmon-bumming!

(Salmon Guerrilla)

Last Pool, Knaggalid, Mörrum River, South Sweden - 12th September 2009: One of the last pools before a hydro energy damn builds a barrier. A lot of moving fish close to the shoreline - what has to mean nothing. It’s more an eye catcher that tells one: Fish is there... there, to give a damn fuck about your presentation or fly. That’s the way it is. I was fed up fishing a heavy 9wt. rod – that’s why I choose a 12ft. 6wt Göran Andersson Signature Series.

(6wt 12ft. GASS)

Equipment:
Göran Andersson Signature Series 6120
LOOP Evotec G4 5/7
OPTi Adapted 23gr. | 10 Meters (floating Belly, Sink III Tip)
14ft. LTS Sinking Leader with a 0,30mm tippet (Stroft)
Fly: Phatagorva, 3cm, tied on a copper tube
Size 10 Ken Sawada Treble Hook

(Winning tube)

As we arrived we decided to split up. A perfect day - something was going to happen. I could feel it. The water just looked to good to be true. A bit stained - but not too much. The current was just perfect. I made my first cast - the tackle was just perfectly adjusted. Made to deliver the fly accurately across the whole run. Even the fly played very well, but I decided to cut all shinny and glittering flash parts away since it was very bright. A fish head and tailed right in front of me - about 15 meters away. Simple cast, a bit overloaded in order to get direct contact to the fly. Angel was just right and I started to strip my fingers off. After my second strip something happened, that I thought never to be possible after all. An attack... almost from upon. I lifted my rod from the surface and felt a lot of pressure as my line disappeared in a giant boil. "FISH ON!" - I scream to the others. Oh yeah, my chance and it felt damn good!

(Fish ON!!!)

(;-))

My one and only chance to be true and I knew it! Estimated weight - around 10kg. No time for fooling around... First in upstream direction right thru a Lilly pad field: Good Job - bad for me. As usual I started to strip off and take a decent swim...following the fish. Finally I managed to untangle the fly line. For fuck's sake, that fish knew how to get me. Still dripping wet I had to realize that this fish was searching for any form of obstacles or cover it could find, just to get rid of my fly.

(Line´s cleared again)

(The fish turns around)

(...and runs it´s tails off)

Still a little bit wondering about that fish, it went instantly downstream - violently ripping off a decent amount of line! Crossing the bank by wading seemed quite impossible in that situation so I decided once again to take a swim. Well, I was trying to reach the shore while the fish ran it’s tails off.

(Swim for the win?)

(Pt.II)

(Still swimming)

"I don’t want to stress you, but that’s a huge pig!" The only appropriate way to react on such a statement was a smile from one ear to another. Fish turned into more deep and calm water and I got some meters back. After a couple of minutes I had my line back and the fish was angrily fighting right in front of me on leader length but I couldn’t see it either. Well, the only thing I saw from that fish was a scheme with in the boil when it took the fly. Just a few more pumps and I would hold it up, my autumnal Shangri-La, a big fat brown male monster salmon on a 6weight. I guess that this thought must have scared the fish so much that it simply kicked my butt by ripping off 30 Meters of line in direction of another massive lily pad field close to the other shore. As I increased the pressure to the max it turned upstream once again and I my line was about to burst

(Running downstream)

(Upside down)

(Still running)

(My chance... almost there)

(Upstream again!!!)

The thought of decreasing the pressure in order to get it standing still came a second too late - a backbone cracking bump in the line was the inconvenient signal that this fight was over. 15minutes for one second of defeat. That salmon was better than me - I didn’t deserve to beat the king. That fight was lost - but the war is not yet won.

Some Mörrum Pictures:

(Sierra Gorva Tube)

(Sierra Gorva and Mikkeli Blue)

(6wt performance)

(Dreamsection)

(Spey-Dude)

(Rainprayers)

(Epic DH Test)

(Alex is ready to blast the next cast)

(Just a little bit too amibitious)

(Epic Prototype)

(Hiding: Salmon Stalking)

(Low-Water-Stripping)

(Epic Pt.I)

(Epic Pt.II)

(Epic?)

(At 17)

(Kiss´n Go: LTS x1)

(Building the Loop: High Stop)

(Blast the Cast)

(Seatrout Killer?)

(Get equipped)

(At 23:44 o'clock)

(Checking knots at 4)

(The headquater)

(Granny PIG)

(Massive)

(Boner)

(Oldschool)

(Pool 5)

(Fast retrieve for the win)

(Vittskövle)

(Lower beat of Vittskövle)

(Local kicks ass)

(Fighting a hybrid)

(Reel screaming)

(Yeah)

(A Hybrid - Tight Lines)

(Release)

(To fight another day)

(Good bye)

(Male Seatrout UW)

(Salmonfishing)

GloBugs

2009-10-15T22:09:00.004+02:00

Globug
by Alexander von Dombois
Footage: Stephan Dombaj

It’s round, It’s fluffy, It’s big...It’s a Globug!

Globugs are really underestimated flies. They catch tench, carp and even trout and they’re easy to make! They are available in almost every colour and size. Why does it catch!? It ´s supposed to imitate salmoneggs but a little bit adjusted it’s just a fluffy ball of something that could look like bread. Many fish have adjusted to eating bread because of their location like in ponds where “grannies” feed ducks and swans with their old leftover “breakfast”. So of course the fish will eat bread if they are fed with it every day. Enough about why it encourages fish to bite ---- lets catch some!

(Underwater - a fluffy GloBug)

There is one thing about the Globug that makes it so much fun to fish. SIGHT FISHING! It’s like “search and destroy” find a carp, cast for it, watch how the Globug disappears and then - STRIKE! But if you ain’t fast enough you fail. If it works you could have the fight of your life with the “Golden ghost”.

(Golden Ghost on sight)

While fishing Streams all over the place I realised that bridges are perfect spots for Globug fishery –because people feed the ducks with bread. Those kinds of places are full of chub and various trout. And they ain’t difficult to catch!

(GloBug Trout)

(Big Bow on GloBug)

But if don’t belong to one of the lucky folk who have a stream at their front door, have a try in one of your local lakes for carp and tench. The sound of a carp inhaling a Globug is insane! We tried it as one can see …

(Tench on a GloBug)

(Koi-Carp on a GloBug)

(Sneep on a GloBug variante)

(Fishing the bottom...leaded GloBug)

(Chub killed the BUG)

(Stealing Eggs...)

(Sunsetfishing)

(Scott and Stephan)

(Dark side of fishing)

(...)

LOOP NEWS 2010

2009-10-15T21:00:00.002+02:00

LOOP NEWS 2010
by Stephan Dombaj

This is the ultimate golden shot for all LOOP-Junkies around the globe. The following footage contains highly exlusive pictures of some stuff for 2010. I know you gonna hate me, If I were telling you that I have already seen everything including the new extraordinary clothing and stuff. These shots were taken directly from the heart of LOOP Tackle Design Sweden - in Akersberga.

(Seen in Akersberga)

Some are taken during our fieldtesting-seassion at Mörrum River and Vaxholm-Bay. Prepare yourself for EPIC, XACT,G4 Stealth, 4-Streech Clothing and some other bad ass stuff!!! Don´t forget! The final product may appear in another design - these are some prototypes, except blankcolor. Of course there is more to go...so stay tuned.

(Alexander Haider with an Epic-Prototype at Mörrum River)

(Handle fieldtest)

(7100 Singlehand Version - Cross-Weave Tec.)

(Boytoy for skerry garden pikes)

(Branding Sample)

(Creating a waderprototype)

(Opti Power DH Handle)

(Our cheapest model: Xact - Just perfect)

(7wt. Xact with G4 Stealth)

(G4 Stealth: too rude!!!)

(EPIC and XACT Detail)

(Christer and Ola)

(I am sorry guys... I have never seen something like this before...)

Stay tuned!!!

The Giant Carp Quest - 2nd. Day

2009-08-29T19:36:00.005+02:00

The Giant Carp Quest 2nd. Day| 40pound + On Fly
2 Days Rod´n Reel Torturing
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Matthias Burget &
Nikolai Prietl

Make sure that you don´t miss the first part. Click here to get some more information!

Our last chance for the big bang and the forecast was a mess: Rain, Hail, Harsh Wind and Thunderstorms - Sun in between and time is running. A dark front at the horizon sets a deadline of a couple of hours untill thunder and lightning makes the handling of a carbon rod even more thrilling. Far more complicated than the weather situation is the simultaneous atmospheric pressure drop off, what leads to a feeding stop - from one moment to another. The air bladder is responsible for this phenomenon since it’s highly affected by this sudden drop off - it makes carp feel unwell. Anyway, the quiet before storm wasn’t quite at all since carps went nuts! Good chance for a 40 pounder?

(First fish of day II)

(A real fighter!)

(Greenback)

(Need a landing-net for this one)

(First attempt)

(2nd. attempt - WOOHHHA!)

(Safe!)

(Old fish with giant fins)

(...)

(Get away...)

(Yeah, Baby!)

After a couple of "smaller" steroid-bulls, Niko got in serious trouble... he hooked something really big from the drift boat. I pushed the "rec-button" and took some pictures meanwhile. The situation was tense since we all knew that this fish could be the fish we were all aiming for: The Holy Grail, the big Mama! Check this unique footage out:

(Driftboat for the win)

(Niko gently lifts the monster!)

(OMG, it´s in the net!)

We all were very eager to see if this fish could break the barrier! It was just massive -the best word to describe this perfect giant fat ass monster carp! I taped the weight-in: Exactly 18kg...
18 Kilogram = 39.68321 Pound - 150gr left for the win!!! 150GRAMMS!!! Congratulations Brother... this fish is for sure one of the biggest ever documented carps on a fly rod!

(18 Kilogramm = 39.68321 Pounds)

(Fat belly)

(Giant head)

(What a fish)

(See you soon... at least 150gr heavier)

150gr... that’s the weight of the little word "almost". Actually not even worth talking about it, just a little scratch on the surface of perfection, but in this case it means everything. We could easily round the weight off to reach the barrier but the bad taste would still remain. Don’t get me wrong... this fish is perfect, a mark that is very hard to break, but if you are just an eyelash away from your goal that you set yourself... you know... Niko rose the bar! We all realised that the average size increased rapidly and the last fish was a irrepressible evidence that some big fat crackers were feeding actively!

(Deep wading - big fish)

(Steriod bull)

(Release)

(Rain beginns to fall)

Our time ran off, just a few minutes after we had reached a shelter the wet apocalypse crushed down. Seriously, it felt like a massive wipe-out. Branches, uprooted trees, blown away tents - a picture of destruction. It was still raining after the first thunderstorm passed by, when I got back into the water; assuming that the muddy water along the shoreline must be a prefect feeding spot.

(Niko and Matthias are fishing the shoreline)

A quite bright GloBug with a tinny indicator should do a good job under these conditions. It was absolutely impossible to see some movement or any hind of active fish. Anyhow, I blindly decided to present my pattern close to a submersed structure that had produced some good fish before. Just a few seconds passed by until the indicator disappeared. Still wondering about the quick reaction something underneath glazed the surface by a simple flap of its fin. OMG that must be a real pig!

(Seriously Dude, that´s a real pig!)

The first run was unhurried but constant - almost deliberate! Oh yeah, that was my chance and the quote was on my site since the the air pressure and the oxygen level in the water were decreasing simultaneously due to the thunderstorm. Long story short, considering this circumstances it shouldn’t be as hard as it’s supposed to be. The fish came up the first time and I was almost pissing my pants as I realized that this is the stuff we were looking for... and I was damn sure! Check this unique footage:

(Lifting the submarine)

(Landing a giant)

(OMG)

(Incredible Body Mass Index)

(Weight-In Time)

(19KG!!! - MISSION ACCOMPISHED)

19KG = 41.88783 Pound. Take that, Nemesis!!! I lost 3 fish of that range before during the last 4 years. 41pounds - almost 42pounds, sweetest revenge. Maybe the biggest carp on fly in my life - overwhelming. I need a drink.

(See you soon greenback)

(Pt.II)

There was nothing more to say. That´s why we shut the fuck up and continued fishing in the rain. Both Pontoon and Shore fishing was overwhelming. Seeing the orange mouth right in the middle of disturbed water...casting the fly right at the feeding fish... awesome! Here’s a compilation of pics how the day went on:

(Pontoon fishing)

(Niko fights a nice fish)

(Double action)

(Matthias kicks ass)

(Niko´s turn)

(Busted...on the ant)

(Tryin to land a fish)

(Good stuff)

(Yeah!!!)

(Fight back)

(Tight Lines)

The Giant Carp Quest

2009-08-24T08:51:00.015+02:00

The Giant Carp Quest 1st. Day | 40pound + On Fly
2 Days Rod´n Reel Torturing
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Matthias Burget &
Nikolai Prietl

A passion is always a walk on a tightrope, if you take it too far it tends to become an obsession. Well, I have to admit... I am pretty obsessed... obsessed by the thought of slamming down a carp of more than 40 english pounds on a tiny silly flyrod. Fortunately there was another guy who was crazy enough to give it a serious try. Nikolai Prietl, member of Loop´s Austrian Pro Team, a headguide of guidepool.at/live (best service for flycarp tours in Europe) and a real carp crack just like me...

(Intro)

Location: The Location was the cracking point because it's for sure the most important part of that whole quest. The chance of hitting an appropriate spot is rapidly decreasing if one may consider a flyfishermen´s requirement. During our last carp trips we were trying to figure out all necessary requirements and unlike coarse fishermen we are kinda bound to some limitations such as water depth... for a flyfisher, a 60pound carp ain't worth a penny when it's cruising around in 10meters depth. Best situation would be a mudding fish, a surface-feeder or a school of itinerant fishes. Another important point is the availability. Not every water can produce a fish of that size or even bigger ones. Finding an appropriate water that matches all requirements and fullfils all other facts is a puzzling game. So, back to the roots of modern carp fishing...

("Dude, that is nuts...")

Specimen hunting has a long history here in Europe and it's still in focus. Ever since carp/specimen hunters went out to explore new lakes, channels, reservoirs or rivers they wrote detailed descriptions, took pictures and conveyed the message of possible giants across Europe. There are even some sorts of lists of Europe's biggest carps, where they swim around and the best way to approach them... some of them are very famous like that fish from Lac. St. Cassien called “Banana” or UK´s “Benson” who died a few weeks ago. Long story short: This knowledge was a main part of our research. Our perspective journey should lead us to South-Austria.

(A hind?)

My first impression of the lake was just too good to be true. The upper and narrow section was part of a degenerated river mouth system with a lot of vegetation, submersed logs and, due to the former creek that flew into that lake, a very structurized ground. Within the first 10 minutes a saw a whole bunch of feeding fish along the shoreline – a dream came true!

(Getting ready)

Equipment: If a 40 pound meatball starts to run it's tails of you better should be prepared. It ain't no secret that a carp is a hell of a fighter and considered to be one of the most enduring warmwater-fishes on a rod. So let's have a look at the main part of our hardware.

(Tool of torture: 6# 12ft.)

Kick ass recommendation:

6120 Göran Andersson (UL-Doublehander) + 7/9 Evotec G4

890 OptiSalt (X-Grip) + Opti Speedrunner

693 OptiCoast (X-Grip) + Opti Runner

Of course you can fight a big carp on your trout 5weight - no doubt that it will work out, but we were aiming for the "DA MAMA"; a fish with an incredible BMI (Body-Mass-Index). Just in case you hook up such a monster, you'll get to know if your dragystem is worth it. The first run is breathtaking but nothing to fuck up a rod (if your reel works properly) - the landing is the cracking point. You need a rod with a lot of backbones because unlike troutfishing you need liftingpower. What I mean, don't mess around - we are not talking about a 15pounder! Not only because you could mess up your trophy-moneyshot... you could harm the fish as well; releasing a fish that is almost dead is just perversion at it's finest.

(Driftboat-Experience)

Two driftboats, sparereels with other lines, tying vise and material, landing net, digital scale, weight-matting and some other small items completed our hardware. Ammunition? Well, let's see: Glo Bugs, Crab- and Crawldadpattern, Damsels, Bloodworms, Terrestrials (Ants, Bugs ans Hoppers), some sort of Breadcrumbflies, Rubberlegnymphs, USD-Streamer, Charlies, San Juans...and so on. Carp's favourite dishes!

(After 2Days: Screwed Foam-Ant)

(USD-Damsel - heavy and light)

Starting up: Even though there were a lot of fish, it was still a tricky thing. Either because it was hard to stay calm or even harder to not react when a school of smaller fishes (Up to 15 pounds) passed by just to not mess up the chance of hooking a big pig.

(Wading the "turtle flats")

1st. commandment: " Act like a heron!"

3 guys stalking the shoreline, hiding behind any form of cover and remaining statically for minutes... just to get the perfect shot.

"School ahead, big fish infront - feeding the weedfields... can you see it?"

Yeah, I do... a simple bow and arrow cast with my 12ft. 6wt. and the presentation is done. The mudding fish in front of the school reacts instantly after my fly bumped just a few cm away into the water. As it "tails" for that USD-Damsel pattern I set the hook via flyline. Instant Start-up! A good fish... mid-twenties for sure! Check the pics from the first fish of the quest!

(Landing the first fish of the quest)

(Ups...)

(Weight-in: 24 pounds)

(Eat, Sleep, Fish Pt.II)

Every carp on a fly rod that cracks the 20pound mark is a real good fish, no doubt about it. Considering the facts mentioned upon, a 20pounder is often the top of the edge in most waters. Well, a 24pound warm up carp... seriously, things could be worse. I never expected the first fish to be that big, even though it's still far away from the our final goal.

2nd commandment: "Down & Dirty!"

(Structurized shoreline)

Due to the enormous amount of structure, which is very good for fishing but the worse case for fighting a giant fish, you need to get a plan... or at least a tactic. Carp reacts very well on pressure directions since it wants to reach mostly the opposite direction. If you pull your rod to the right, the fish turns left - if you lift it, it wants to reach the ground and way around. If you stay calm enough to remember this while you are playing a good fish you have a good chance to direct the fish away from any sort of obstacles...and away from the ground. "Down and Dirty" describes very well what I mean...got it? Enough theory for now... time for Niko to fight the next carp...

(Landing...)

(Portrait)

(Nice fish)

(Release)

Everything was possible, we knew it! The first rush yield to a collective insanity. We were wading quietly along the shoreline, watching for itinerant schools and it felt a bit like bonefish-hunting. Backingruns, fully bend rods, big crackers, massive boils... the first day was really a picture-book day of carp fishing. We thought it couldn't get any better... until we came back on day two...

(I want my Backing back...)

(First attempt)

(WTF, NO!)

(Yeah, Baby)

(That´s the name of the game)

(Good stuff)

(Niko with another one)

(Release Pt.II)

(Happy landing)

Click here for the 2nd part!

NZ-Flies

2009-08-22T21:01:00.003+02:00

NZ-Flies
by Stephan Dombaj
& Alexander v.D.

There is another way to attract trout beside imitation - it´s irritation. Since Scott (Raggatt) spoiled me with some decent NewZeland pattern, troutfishing revealed it´s puzzling side on another way once again. Pattern is maybe the wrong word for these hairy, giant, wiggling... things. Anyway, only the possibility of seeing a trout crushing on such a fly unleashes my prehistoric hunting instinct. Each presentation, which is supposed to be clumbsy and loud, is a 50/50 game: Eighter you´ll spook your target or you´ll get to see the most tremendous topwaterkill since Pike on prop.baits.

(Miss Knobby X)

Fishing this flies was funny as hell. The strikes were breathtaking, especally if you move´em. Check out this webpage for further information:

http://www.goulburnvlyflyfishing.com.au/nz.html

Feedback:

"In the beginning I was critical because of the looks of these flies … apart from the fact that these flies where huge and impossible to present. How ever it was worth a try and these foamy flies didn´t look bad in a trouts mouth. The fish just crushed Scott´s flies and amazed us to."

Alexander von Dombois

Now some footage:

(Ready to blow)

(...right in front)

(...allright)

(Crushed on a hopper)

(Miss Knobby X)

(Get adjusted)

(Boil)

(Bow)

(What a take)

(Alex´s trout)

(Killed a tschernobyl ant)

(Fatty)

(Miss X strikes again)

(Bloodworm action)

(Bow Pt.II)

(Lakechamp scored)

(See you)

(Knobby trout)

(The Miss Knobby X)

(Pt.II)

(Little Brownie)

(Big dry)

(Creek of evil)

(Pt.II)

(Baby-bow)

(Can´t get enough)

(Portrait)

(Close-up)

(Another bow)

Zwickau Angling Center - EXPO

2009-08-16T11:37:00.002+02:00

Zwickau Angling Center - EXPO

by Stephan Dombaj

The Zwickauer Mulde was a hot topic on my To-Do-List, not only because I missed the chance to give it a serious try last time I held my instruction there... The Expo, organized by Angelspezi Zwickau was a great chance for revenge.

(Casting Instruction)

After the Expo, where I was busy doing casting clinics and some diashows and stuff, I decided to head down to the river on sunday with a couple of guys from the area. Andreas had departed the river into several sections in order to get a detailed documentation of each section´s amount of fish. As a small appetizer, he announced that the biggest fish shall be rewarded with a brand new rod. Haha... time to get a plan. Getting a pike!

(Dia-show @ Expo)

That´s it – average pike in that river should be way bigger than a better trout anyway – so I spend 3 of 4 hours chasing a pike in a river that I had fished just a couple of minutes in another section. Long Story short again: I fucked it up... after 3 hours of pikefishing without even seeing one, I decided to switch it back to salmonides because I saw some pretty good Brookstrouts coming after my giant pike pattern. 1 hour to go. Pepping Caddis on a 4 weight = item to go.

(Zwickauer Mulde)

Finally I managed to get 8 fish out of my area including a 42cm Brookie – no bad for an unknown and limited area and just 60min left, but I knew that a 50+ fish would score the price.

(Zwickauer Brooky)

To my surprise I made the 4^th place which got rewarded with another rod. Fortune did a good job, because I was aiming for such a price in order to give it away to the youngest competitor of the day. An 8yrs. old troutbum from Zwickau, who was really surprised and happy with his present. He´ll keep this spirit up! What a great day!

(Future Troutbum with his rod)

Misc. Pics

(Fully dressed)

(Artwork)

(Good one)

(Beer? No Way!)

(Siggi Stümke)

(Cheers guys)

(BBQ)

(Distance with 12#)

("This thing is crazy..." Me want!)

(Siggi´s gettin´ready)

(Fat Brooky)

(Youngster prevails)

(Tight Lines)

(Mulde)

(Congrats.)

(First one - triple O TXL)

(Da group)

(Swim away baby)

( ;-) )

(Tying the artistic way)

(Tying the flyfishing way)

(...)

Troutbumming - The Creeks Of Evil - Day II

2009-07-28T00:46:00.011+02:00

Troutbumming - The Creeks of Evil - Day II
aka. I.F.B.T.
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Paulo Hoffmann &
Alexander von Dombois

Click here for the first day

What a night, literally made to screw us up: I forgot my sleepingbag what means that I had to sleep in my wet cloths – covered with my waders. Alexander got a serious cold and Paulo... well, at least Paulo enjoyed his night tinched by the sweet pleasure of torturing us with the Chili con Carne he had for dinner. Not to forget about the rain, the wind and the temperature drop-off in the night. Anyway, it was fishing time. Time to get up, time to explore a quite unexploited fishing water and off course time to show Alex some indian-fishing-bush-techniques (I.F.B.T.)

(The creek of evil)

Knowing from the very beginning that this would be a hard test for his casting skills we all were very excited to kick some troutbutts. This water was the very definition of a creek: Small... and I really mean it; abundantly covered with vegetation and without any signs of intruders in the upper area (no sings of other fishermen going thru the weeds and herbs) Some pretty beautiful babytrouts crushed on our nymphs... but there was more to come, I knew it.

(Rain-break)

While Alex and Paulo went upstream to mess around with some smallies, I tied a real-man-fly on. What happened then, was just to good to be true – I had awaken Creek´s Fatties... and they were hungry for more. The big and long bow was just the beginning – but a German-Cutthroat really made my day. Nothing more to say... just check out the pics.

(Swing for the win)

(Got it?)

(Fetish)

(Smallie...time for some big crackers)

(What about that one)

(Streamer for the win)

(What a beauty)

(BW)

(German Cutthroat)

(It made my day)

(Releasing that beauty to fight another day)

(Paulo´s turn)

(TL Buddy)

(Streamtactics...)

(Splitsecond before hookset)

(Hold it tight)

(...and away from the cover)

(Ambitious fighter)

(Portrait)

(Alexander and a 42cm fish)

(A real beast)

(Playing a bow)

(Nice fish)

(Green Hell)

(Alex plays a bow)

(Sun-Shot)

(Do your job, girl)

(...)

(Alex with a brownie)

(Portrait)

(Release)

(Lunchtime)

(Nymph-Bow)

(Scudfly)

(Crazy shit weed)

(Job done)

(What an ugly fucker)

(Fatty)

(Bow)

(Creekfishing)

(Cutthroat-Portrait)

(Another Bow)

(Release)

Feedback:

"It was a great experience fishing small German creeks with the guys from FFN. I learned a lot about fishing and casting under trees and bad conditions. Even though the weather was not that great I had a lot of fun an caught my first browntrout and my biggest (40cm) perch ever!

Thanks Stephan and Paulo for taking me with fishing!"

Alexander von Dombois

Troutbumming - The Creeks Of Evil - Day I

2009-07-27T13:25:00.011+02:00

Troutbumming - The Creeks of Evil - Day I
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Paulo Hoffmann,
Alexander von Dombois
& Peter Volkensfeld*

It´s a frequent ritual to pack our thing and leave everything except fishing behind for at least two days. The deal was convincing as simple: One tent, two creeks, three guys and two days... time is running! Due to the fact that we spend a whole day at the riverside, it really ain´t a surprise that even the well known water reveals it´s secrets from another point of view. And sometime it is far more than you ever expected.

(The Creeks Of Evil)

The first water we had choosen was more or less frequented by flyfishers. Paulo and I had spend there some time before (Scare Tactics) and the Plan was to introduce trout and co. to Alexander who was the Creek-Newbie in the team. Although he´s used to Zeds, Asp, Pike and some more gamefishes including Shad, Macrele and Striper on fly he was a fly-trout virgin. (Check out his feedback below) The second water is a tributary of the first one and as far as we are concerned... it´s was totally unknown to us. Uncountable examples in the past had shown that water size is never an indicator of fishsize at all, so we were quite excited to blast some casts there...

(2nd day´s water)

1 Day - 1 Bang

"HOLY FUCK, ARE THEY SERIOUS?" - we got it bad. A parish fair... close to the creek! Damn it! Okay, it was time for purpose-lead optimism: A problem is a solution under construction. Sounds much better. Still focusing our goal to get Alex some trouts, we fished the areas upon and below, eventhough that specific part was very good for brutes...

(GTFO, MOFU!)

Anyway...especially the upper parts were a blessing since we found some schools of graylings rising for tiniest dries. Item to go: Size 22 "Oarscherl" (Austrian pattern) and 0,08mm tippet. Hell knows why, but these literally highly selective fishes were fighting like a drunk´n pillow - in comparison to their siblings in Austria. Nevertheless we enjoyed this pretty fine intermezzo as long as it lasted. As I said thousand times before, Fortune is a philandering bitch... that sent us rain-pregnant clouds. Long story short: Clear creek turned into coffee = Streamertime aka. time to slam some brutes. Beside the typical brownies we hammered some real nice perches (German Bass) up to 41cm. Alex´s 40cm perch marked a new personal best for his trophy gallery - and of course he lost his virginity. Wicked lockdown for the first day. Now that the stream got high and brown we were even more excited to see the small creek that shall not be influenced by the the rain.

(Rain)

(Peter´s playin´ a nice trout)

(Feisty Brownie)

(0,08mm Crackdown)

(Dark Grayling)

(Paulo and a nice tube-trout)

(Pt.II)

(Tubeflies rocked the set once again)

(Pete´s rocking on)

(Alex´s first brownie ever)

(Nervous trout)

(Pt.II)

(Alex is tying some flies while lunch is cooking)

(Tube trout)

(Paulo´s baby)

(Portrait)

(A real beauty)

(Release)

(Release Pt.II)

(Another lil lady)

(The lady)

(41cm Perch)

(Alex holds my fish)

(Alex´s fish)

(Slammed on a USD Leech)

(40cm Perch)

(Releasing a Perch)

(Troutfever has no cure)

(Dinnertime (no fish was harmed - tinned food to go ))

(Till late)

(Guerilla tent)

Click here for PT.II

Feedback

Thanks Stephan and Paulo for taking me with fishing!"

Alexander von Dombois

Bowhunting At Sava Bohinjka (Slo)

2009-07-19T09:12:00.007+02:00

Bowhunting At Sava Bohinjka (Slo)
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Nikolai Prietl, Stefan & Alex Haider,
Matthias Burget, Kurt Murer, Manfred Kemmer

Pic-Overview

It´s a fun job, but it´s still a job. Casting Clinics...especially if they are held at the riverside of the famous Sava Bohinjka in Slovenia. What literally means that a beautiful pristine river, full of trouts and graylings, turns into "my office". My Job? Teaching future flyfisher how to handle a flyrod and how to approach fish in different specific situations. For a real crack, things could be worse!

(Sava Bohinjka)

Even though the Sava is quite overcrowded at the weekend, you can still find some quite lonesome places to cherish your passion and the overwhelming landscape. By the way: I was arriving the village Bled, located nearby the river, on Friday 6am... 6.31am I made my first cast...

(Pristine Secret?)

22 Clients from Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Croatia decided either to elevate their advanced skills or to learn the first steps. After the theoretical and instructional stuff the group split up to blasts some casts towards feeding bows, browns and graylings.

(Theory)

Zeljiko and Mario from Croatia, Markus from Austria and Walter from Switzerland... my multinational killer group! Had a great time with you guys and I hope to see you soon down at the riverside! Due to the water conditions and the massive fishing-pressure, fishing was a bit tricky. Hold your breath and check out this short (65 images) collection of pics.

(My Group)

Pictures

(Foggy morning)

(Sneaking)

(Which pattern?)

(Flyfishing´s a feeling)

(Bow Wow)

(Slovenian Grayling - Massive head)

(Bow on killer tube)

(Kurt´s morning workout)

(...stripping)

(...)

(Once again)

(Fog me!)

(Out of the cover - bitch)

(C&F)

(Niko)

(Pt.II)

(Scare Tactics: ODDBALL)

(...and it works out)

(Another Tube-Bow)

(Tackle-fetish)

(Water-fetish)

(Stones)

(Zeljiko´s turn)

(Decent Sava B. Bow)

(A Happy flyfisher is a good flyfisher)

(Mario)

(Once again)

(Grayling on PMD)

(Mario and his first bow for the day)

(Para crashed into the lake)

(Walter and Markus (in the background))

(Adheasive Casts)

(Zeljiko - high-stop)

(Mario at the lake)

(Overwhelming landscape)

(The lake)

(Pt.II)

(Pt.III)

(PT. IV)

(PT.V)

(Fishing time)

(Check out the shade)

(Wild Grayling)

(Fishing)

(Mario and I - Doubleheader)

(Fishing the Black-Chatreuse Tube)

(Killerpattern that day)

(Mario hit the target)

(Perfect Bow - Congrats!)

(Release)

(Mr. Tube)

(... ;-) )

(Zeljiko at work)

(Jumping Bow)

(Walter hits the current)

(Once again)

(No words)

(I was hoping for wet t-shirts...)

Zwickauer Mulde - Here we go again

2009-07-16T00:06:00.006+02:00

Zwickauer Mulde - Here we go again
by Paulo Hoffmann
feat.: Stephan Dombaj

Friday – one day before Stephan was going to holds his DH-Clinic we were forced to blast some casts. The part we actually wanted to fish in looked like coffee and the waterlevel was unusual high, even too brown and high to use tube-flies. The upper-part was small, well structured, quite clear and full of fish - no brutes but decent small wildgrown brooks ans browns.

(Wild brookie)

The best methods to get these fishes on line were, no doubt, big, high-floating running dry-flies(e.g. deerhair- or CDC-caddis). However, even more important on these small and clear water-bodies to be successful is that you're not seen by the fish.

(Hide and seek)

One further imens important point in order to be successful is not to leave out the bankarea, that's where you mostly catch your biggest ones. The result of Friday was impressive, even though we just fished half of the day: Rainbows, brownies, graylings and chars.

(Bitch-creek brownie)

(Pt.II)

(Approaching Fish)

(Big Dries - Lil brookie = Good deal)

(On sight)

(Beauty)

(One of many...)

(The upper "Mulde)

(Pocketwater)

(...with a lot of trouts in it)

(Presentation)

(Refused)

(...)

(Keep it reel)

Day two, Saturday: We met the the group of five in front of Andi Stolle's fishing store „Angel SpezieZwickau“ at 9.00 a.m. Next stop: The Mulde. There, Stephan started to explain and show the advantages of scandinavian dh-casting-style. Once again, it has been prooved, that the biggest casting problem that people have is the high stop that finally provides a smooth and power-transmitting D-Loop in the back. I was responsible for those people who wanted to learn single-hand-casting. The problems were the same. Another thing you should pay attention to when you're casting either a sh- or a dh-rod is that your working-range is extremely near your body and to use as little power as possible. Despite these difficulties, everyone was able to handle their rods much firmer than before. Unfortunately, the weather turned into a thunderstorm. Since the riverground contains a high percentage of iron + the fact that we were handling up to 14ft. long carbon poles, it seemed quite uncool to get fried by a thunder. Well, the day ended in Andi's house with a relaxed barbecue and suspensful fishing stories.

(Fly Fishing Nation Roadtour)

(DH-Clinic)

(Stephan explains)

(...shows)

(and advises)

(Ralf)

(Instruction)

(Some gear)

(Practical use...)

(Nice run)

(Get equiped)

(Urban Warfare)

(Urban Brooky)

(Pt.II)

(Rain)

(For real...)

During the night, the more it rained the more the waterlevel rose. That was the reason why three of the seven Sunday's clients weren't able to show up as their basement was filled with water.Best conditions for day three – Not really...so, Sunday here we go: We started the day at a small carp-lake for a combo between casting-instruction and carp- as well as pike-fishing.

(Never fails)

(Crusing carps)

(Hookup)

(Away from the cover)

(Go´n get it)

(Good Job)

(Happy landing)

(First carp)

(Release)

Second stop was an artificially constructed, pretty clear lake where bass were waiting to be caught. Same evening, we had to say already goodbye from Andi and his wife Petra. The way back was easy and two tired flyfisher tried to get back their lost amount of sleep.

(Demonstrating the belly-stop)

(Give it a try)

(WTF)

(Pt.II)

(Last day´s group)

(Small perch)

(...)

Special thanks to Andi and Petra Stolle, without whom all that wouldn't have been possible!

Scare Tactics

2009-07-15T16:45:00.005+02:00

Scare Tactics
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Paulo Hoffmann

A story about atomic ants and thymallus tubes

"That´s a nice grayling - haven´t seen them for months here..."
"The whole strech is full of them - give it try!"
"What you got tied on?"
"A Black-Chatreuse-Tube..."

9 of 10 guys turn around now, loudly complaining about the waste of time talking to that strange wierdo... The one who stays will experience the meaning of our scare tactics and aswell a new dimension of approaching streamfishes.

(Scare tactics)

"Never change a winning team" - so why should we question the impact of patterns that worked at our local stream, lake, creek etc. for years? Simply because we are not the only ones to realise the efficiency - at first we got the fish, that get´s used to certain things (such as goldbeads for example) or other fishermen who´ll fish the same flies over and over again.

(The Creek)

Especally brutes can be quite sensitive as far as fishing-pressure is concerned... let´s say, there´s a certain reason why the got so big. The example of our local stream shows very demonstrative the effect of unconventional methods and patterns. The headline "Scare tactics" tells actually everything what it is all about: Fishing methods and patterns that are more or less unlogical: too loud, too big, too bright...simply too much of everything. Here are some examples: Giant Tschernobil Ant... running, Small Tubes for Grayling, running dryflies, UV-Reflecting Hotcone-streamers... and so on...things that would "normally" spook everything in a mile-radius.

(Paulo handling the Switch-Style-Rod)

The following pics are a parol for fishing your fly at the edge of good taste, for the trouts and other fishes that slam on these pattern and of course for the brutes who never thought that this giant wiggling thing was attached to line...

(Tschernobil Ant meets cover-trout)

(A good fish)

(Size 4 Tschernobil Ant and a 50cm Brownie)

(Gimme a smile - angry trout)

(Portrait)

(Fatty)

(Running Bitch-Creek)

(Gone...)

(Fish on)

(Brownie)

(Swinging Tube)

(Bang)

(Check the hat ;-) )

(Tube Thymallus)

(They love it...)

(Smallie)

(Pretty one)

(Paulo is about to score)

(Any question)

(*u#& the pain away)

(A beauty)

(Wild-grown)

(Going home)

(Breakfast - 36 hotwings)

(Lunch - 10 cheesburgers)

Bamboo Bang

2009-07-15T15:36:00.003+02:00

Bamboo Bang
aka.
Guide To Destruction

by Stephan Dombaj
feat. Nikolai Prietl

It ain´t no secret that I don´t really dig bamboo rods as far as their practical purpose is meant. But it´s true that I really marvel at the guys who can make a fishing tool out a giant toothpick. Anyhow, it´s a matter of fact that bamboo-rods are part of our great passion´s history and that´s why I finally had to give it a serious try. After casting quite a few splitcanes - classic and modern tapers - I was frankly satisfied with the range I had tried; not that these rods were ever made up to challenge my beloved carbonrods but the feeling was not soo bad.

(Preparing the reels)

A Splicane-Builder gave me one of his prototype-babes to beat the shit out of it. A 6 weight 8,6ft. - good cast-ability. He told me that he slammed some pikes with it... If it fits my interpretation of slamming - this would be an intresting thing. No Retention. Deal: 6weight Toothpic + Burgundie Classic vs. Carp.

(...)

That thing performed very well and I cannot deny that I was kinda keen on fighting a carp on that combo... and my chances were not so bad since a whole bunch of feeding mudrakers slightly moved into my castingrange. The small nymph just passed the front of a midsize fish. Move, Slurp, Bend and BANG! (I was actually more a cracking than a bang) the whole rod except the handle simply felt off into the water while the reel sang a sweet song. Damnit, 70hrs. of work what equals 950Euros - destroyed by a simple carp in a splitsecond. Priceless (or worthless) Finally I got that fish... and another one too because the part that wasn´t broken at all performed very well!

(Sweet bend)

I know that I potentially run the risk of getting accused to crack that rod on purpose but the reality couldn´t be further. We finally found out why that stick cracked: The hexagonal slipcaneblank was built up with a round windingcheck what leads to pressurepoints - due to this circumstance it was a matter of time... ah, before I forged... later that day I slammed a real pig (19kg) on a 8weight carbonrod. ;)

Here are some pics

(First run)

(Something´s wrong)

(Nice bend)

(Decent Fish - but way too much for that stick)

(Hooking up)

(Fighting that fish with the tip)

Ultra Light Double Handers - Sieg

2009-07-10T12:26:00.003+02:00

Ultra Light Double Handers - Sieg
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Paulo Hoffmann
& Alexander v.D.

It ain´t no secret anymore that brass- and bottletubes are far more than just a shamefull alternative to conventional streamers. Of course we can handle troutsize flies on a singlehand rod...no doubt. But if the riversize allows the use of a light DH-Rod, there will be no question. The latest generation of UL-DH Rods represent truely what one expects from a light weight rod. A fast progression but sensetive yet rod. Beside the fact that the handling and feeling is overwhelming there´s another good reason for these rods. It´s the best exercise for your next salmontrip... or let´s say, you get never out of training... Priceless!

(6weight Göran Andersson Signature at work)

Sieg-River, located close to cologne, is a pretty decent water if you expect everything and nothing simultaneosly. Eighter because you must decide between soo much diffrent gamefishes at the same time and on the other side, because you have to walk you feet off to find them... it depends on the hell knows what. Anyway, this day we had to decide...Sneep, Pike, Barbel, Trout, Carp and many more... It was a pleasure to see Paulo and Alex going nuts for those bloody Sneeps while I covered the whole river with my Swings. The DH was a blessing! The small tubes gave me both the chance to cover not only a large amoung of water but also a lot of diffrent gamefishes eighter... let´s say every more or less carnivorous fish. Some samples... more to come:

(Happy Landing)

(Chub on tube)

(The Blue one did it again)

(Seeking for Cover)

(TT= Tubetrout)

(Once again the blue one)

(Portrait)

(Alex at Sieg)

(A Release)

Salzbury - Hohe Jagd und Fischerei

2009-07-10T11:43:00.004+02:00

Salzbury - Hunting & Fishing Expo 2009
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Stefan & Alexander Haider

Before the troutseasion is going to unleash its inferno, the warriors in green have enought time to equip theirselfs. Big Expos, Megastores or even the small shop on your corner are now filled up with trout-keen flyfisher. The Salzbury Hunt and Fish Expo is one of the first big events of the year...and here are some pictures:

(Salzbury)

(Got GUNS?)

(Prepared)

(Armed with...)

(..."Brezel)

(Ammo...)

(Hardfacts)

(Pt.II)

(Just the right thing for...)

(those bloody sharks)

(Uwe at the Pool)

(WTF, Ouch!)

(Sex sells)

(It really does, check out my pole!)

(Check it!)

(Loop Area)

(Servus, Bruno)

(Bruno and his Son)

(Blast the Pool)

(Get Loop or die tryin´)

(Fog you)

(Perfect Mugshot)

Tubefly Special

2009-07-05T16:10:00.003+02:00

Tubefly Special
by Kristján "Magic-hands" Ævar Gunnarsson
and Stephan Dombaj

Kristján Ævar Gunnarsson, icelandic guide, flytier and instructor, shares his top Seatrout/Salmonflies with us. Considering that the following patterns were made to fish some of the best rivers, lakes ans streams on the globe - the icelandic waters, it was Gin-clear that I had to get my hands on them. Now, a few weeks later, these flies found their way across europe back to me. I fished them from Germany via Austria down to the Slovenian/Croatian Border and back. Here and there I gave some away with the hind to take care of these flies that were made in a land were trouts and salmon are still spawning in rich numbers. Long Story Short: Kristján Ævar Gunnarsson Flies.

In a time were nearly all more or less known pattern are available as factory-bitches, it is good to see that some people still give a shit about what tangles at the end of their leader. This handmade dedication is something you can see... in every detail of these following pattern and aswell in the water...where these flies belong to.

(Slovenian Bow on a KÆG-Tube)

So, Kristján, here´s a passage for you: Your patterns were an enrichment of Loop´s Expo Gallerie, the feedback was overwhelming. Your Tubes caused a massive crowed when I fished some Pools in Sava Bohjinka River where some "uncatchable" Brutes slammed on flies. A guy from croatia described it quite appropriate: "Good for us, bad for the fish!" Just some short tags. Thanks a lot for your time, for these pattern and for the good time I had with them on the riverside.

(Detail shot - perfect materials meet skills)

ICELAND´S SEATROUT COLLECTION

(Teasing Templedog - KÆG-Tube No.1)

(Slim Dog - KÆG-Tube No.2)

(German snaelda - KÆG-Tube No.3)

(Red Tungsten Damsel - KÆG-Fly No.1)

(Indicator Bugger - KÆG-Fly No.2)

(Silver Flash Woolly Bugger - KÆG-Fly No.3)

(The Neon - KÆG-Fly No.4)

(Stringleech - KÆG-Fly No.5)

Never underestimate Tubes!

(Pike on a Orange Dog)

ÖFG Meeting - Pielach

2009-07-02T14:15:00.004+02:00

ÖFG Meeting - Rabenstein
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Stefan & Alexander Haider
and Nikolei Prietl

The annual ÖFG- Meeting (Österreichische Fischerei-Gesellschaft) at the shoreline of Pielach-River is a fixed date in my schedule and as well just another reason to visit Austria one more time. Together with Nikolai Prietl, Stefan and Alexander Haider, I fulfilled my duty as a representative of Loop Tackle Design Sweden.

(Suck on my pole...)

The prevailing heat-period was about to fry us alive what simultaneously means that barely covered tits were gathering along the river... The whole thing finally resolved into a beach-scene that was abundantly speckled with some flyfisher in between Long story short: Here are some pictures:

(Grillz´n Reelz)

(Pielach)

(Yellow Line II)

(Blast that cast)

(Boobwatch)

(Memo at work)

(Switch it.)

(No Words)

(LYL II DH... Sweet dreams are made of...)

(Alexander)

(Dinnertime)

(For Paulo)

Instructions

2009-06-05T16:28:00.007+02:00

Courses, Guidings & Instructions:

Carp Strobel - Austria

2009-06-05T15:07:00.003+02:00

Carp Strobel (Austria)

By Stephan Dombaj
Feat.: Nikolai Prietl

The “real” Strobel is located in Andean Patagonia and famous for it´s giant amount of giant Rainbows – check this out > Gucci Of The Outdoors (2007). The Strobel-lake I am talking about is a former industrial two-lake system that underwent a development to a naturally reconstructed habitat that also holds a decent amount of species including some awesome gamefishes (Catfish, Carp, Pike, Zander, Perch and two Blackbass in the first one, wherein the second one holds some reeeeeeal good carps)

(Fat-Head)

It turned out to be a hardly describable torture-track for rod and reel. Just the right thing to blast some cast towards some real carp giants.

The Photostory:

(The water)

(Niko plays a good fish)

("...I think you got a problem, don´t cha?")

(Pic of taking pics)

(Portrait)

(Holy smokes... a good one)

(Get´em down and dirty)

(Here we go)

(Fat Head Chunk on a 6weight)

(Niko again)

(Splash!)

(What a beauty)

(Get Bend... seems to be a good one)

(FAIL! '*#!$+#*...)

(Bursting carp)

(Portrait Pt.II)

(Kurt.M)

(Get bend Pt.II)

(Sweet Pig)

(...In shape)

(6107 Loop Switch Style = Item to go)

(Release)

(Kurt A. plays a good one)

(Kurt´s trophy)

(Landing)

(Triple header)

(What a bend)

(Come to me...)

(Piggy)

(Piggy Pt.II)

(EAT, SLEEP, FISH)

(Release Pt.II)

(Wildcarp)

(Perfect Shape)

(Release Pt.III)

(Get Bend Pt.II)

(...for Dr. Amur)

(Niko´s Amur)

(...)

Kyll Creek by Paulo

2009-06-05T13:52:00.003+02:00

"Kyll Creek" – bad conditions one more time.
By: Paulo Hoffmann

feat.: Alex von Dombois

Shallow water-levels, brownish water and almost 30 degrees – in other words: goddamn circumstances for trout fishery. Streamers made too much row and nymphs were refused. Thus, we had no other choice as trying dryflies. Result wasn’t considerable, but there was a result anyway. Due to the fact, that Alex only had an 8 weight rod spooled with sinking line, we had to take the 3 weight yellow line in turns.

(Kyll Creek)

CDC was the key to success – dark and small pattern were necessary to get any contact with fish. Fishing on suspicion was almost equal zero, we had to wait until we could see them rise.

Koi Inferno (Austria)

2009-05-27T05:32:00.002+02:00

Koi Inferno (Austria)
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Nikolai Prietl

In between our instructions/courses/demonstrations we got a few days off (kinda strange cause it ain´t no work but pleasure). And guess what we were desperately aiming for? Of course...fishing! Since nearly all available waters within a reachable radius were affected by the heat period that caused a long lasting melt- and high-water level, we had to switch to a decent stillwater. The so-promised trophy trout water turned out to be blessed with a lot of other worthy “chances”…

I fact it was way too hot and bright for serious Laketrout-brutes in that clear water. To our surprise we found a massive amount of carps – including some seldom Koi-carps – feeding the shoreline. Do I have to go one? 2 Hobies and 4 Fisherman... no genius needed to check out that 2 of us were bound to land. Niko and I took the greatfull chance to go for it. Check these pics out.

(6 am - time to get it done)

(Get in where you fit in)

(New grips ´n spacers)

(Kurt is ready to go)

(Niko Pt.I)

(Niko Pt.II)

(Stalking the shoreline)

(Typical Hotspot)

(Active Fish)

(Niko´s turn)

(Hook Up)

(Clearwater carp)

(Niko´s fish - I went down to land it)

(Release)

(Stalking again)

(One shot fish)

(Got it...)

(Lost it...)

(One and only trout of that day...)

(...will fight another day)

(Another Mudraker)

(Bend that 6weight)

(Pt.II)

(Brown Bullet)

(Switch Style bend)

(Red-White-Koi on sight)

(Happy landing)

(Sweet fish)

(San Juan Killer Worm)

(Kiss...)

(and go)

(Niko Pt.III)

(Orange-White-Koi to go)

(...6weight Switch)

(2nd. Koi)

(Portrait Pt.I)

(Once again: San Juan)

Wichtrach - Bernhard Fishing Expo

2009-05-26T05:30:00.004+02:00

Wichtrach (CH) – Bernhard Fishing Expo
by Stephan Dombaj

Close to Switzerland´s capital Bern some real cool guys meet to complete the flycasting showact at the annual Bernhardt Fishing Expo. Bernhard-Fishing is one of the most impressive shops I have seen so far – one could actually spend a whole week searching thru the rodsection. Quite logical that a whole bunch of people came by to see what was going on there.

(Hans Spinnler´s Show)

Caster:
Hans Spinnler (G.Loomis)
Michael Mauri (Guideline)
Marc Rädisch and Matthias Meyer (Zpey)
Stephan Gian Dombaj (LOOP)

(from left to right: Michael Mauri, Marc Rädisch, Stephan Dombaj, Matthias Meyer, Hans Spinnler, Urs Bernhardt (front))

Elements of my Showacts:

Singlehand (Basic): Eradicate countermovments. Bodymovement, Pull&Push effect, enhanced linespeed

Doublehand (Advanced): The Scandinavian Basics under comparison to classic (and other) styles. The Underhand-Demandments

(Fly-Kid)

Equipment to go:

8# 12,6ft. LOOP Yellow Line II | LOOP Multi Reel 9/12 | 0.32mm Custom Running Line | Opti Adapted Long Front Taper 8/9

6# 12ft. Göran Andersson Signature Series | LOOP Evotec G4 7/9 | LTS Flatbeam | Opti Custom 9,8m 22gr.

5# 9ft. LOOP Multi Pwr | LOOP Dryfly | LOOP Multi WF5F

4# 9,4ft. Göran Andersson Signature Series | LOOP Evotec G4 3/5 | LOOP Opti Stream WF4

(Equipment)

(Fly Kid Pt.II)

(Marc and Hans)

(Doublehand-Hans with a Singlehander)

(The Pool)

(Matthias and the Fly Kid)

(From 3 to a 5weight)

(Wild living bees that came by)

(On my way back)

Special Thanks to Marc Rädisch & Matthias Meyer
and of course Andre Gumz

Zwickauer Mulde - Anglingcenter Zwickau

2009-05-25T18:14:00.002+02:00

Zwickauer Mulde - Anglingcenter Zwickau
by Stephan Dombaj

Due to an advanced scandinavian-style course/instruction I found myself in the middle of east-germany. Beside the fact that these three days have been an awesome experience I had to admit that the Zwicker-Mulder was a blast of a water! 40km Shoreside to go! In the upper parts quite wild and strong, to the slower mid parts in the barbel-region, filled up with hot spots and some quite big brutes. Unfortunantly we had no time to give it a serious try because I came to convey the "10" holy demandments of underhandcasting.

(Group of day 3)

Demo-Tackle:

1st. Day (Singlehand - Underhand - Advanced)

7# 10ft Göran Andersson Signature Series | Opti Runner Reel | Opti Stream 7#

4# 9,4ft. Göran Andersson Signature Series | Opti Dryfly Reel | Opti Stream 4#

2nd. & 3rd. Day (Doublehand - Underhand Evolution)

9-10# 12,6ft Göran Andersson Signature Series | Opti Megaloop Reel | 11,3m. - 33gr. Shootinghead

Here are some photos of 3 groups in 3 days:

(The Zwickauer Mulde)

(Underhand Instruction - Theory)

(Under fish-conditions)

(Practicing...)

(Singlehand)

(After 30minutes...Awesome)

(Spray Pt.I)

(Spray Pt.II)

(Creating the D-Loop)

(Ready for some flies?)

(Andreas Stolle himself)

(Doublehand-Fever)

(It takes some time to coordinate the scandinavian style)

Check out:
Angelspezi Zwickau

Kleine Drau - Villgraten Creek (Austria)

2009-05-25T17:34:00.004+02:00

Kleine Drau - Villgraten Creek (Austria)(Instruction)
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Stefan & Alexander Haider, Matthias Burget, Max Lo Faro

The kleine Drau (Little Drau) is famous for some serious big fish. That´s why I travelled a whole day (and night) to get my ass into the delightfull situation of fighting such a brute in the pristine waters of Ost-Tirol/Lienz, located close to the Italian Border.

(Ost Tirol (East Tirol))

I arrived in the middle of the night what finally saved my heart from exploding into thousand pieces - anyhow, it felt like a massive hangover: I woke up and the water looked like someone had thrown a thousand tons of liquid concret into it (for real guys, I can deal with muddy conditions! To be true... I prefere them in certain cases, but this was just way too much to go) FUCKING GLACIER WATER. Damn!

(WTF, NO!)

No time to complaine, the group that was already keen on getting a taste of flyfishing, totally understood the situation. I want my students to be not only good flycaster but a better flyfisher. Leaving these fucked up conditions behind we decided to get our lazy asses up ontop of the mountains to crush some alpine browns. The upcoming thunderstorm was a sign that time was already running out. The Villgraten Creek was a the less unconvenient alternative or in other words: Our only chance to get hold of some fins. Wet, tired and happy! We did it again. Some new flyfisher were born!

Demo-Tackle I used for fishing and casting:

6# 9ft. Multi Power | Loop Evotec G4 5/7 | Loop Multi WF6F

5# 9ft. Loop Yellow Line (II) | Loop Dryfly Reel | Loop OptiStream WF5F

(The Villgraten Creek)

(Shoreline = Success)

(Andreas:first flyfish ever)

(Second one right ahead - nice trout)

(Mr. Instructor aswell)

(Dark patterns for the win)

(A couple of these...)

(Alpine Browntrout)

Special Thanks to Andreas Roschitz the two pics of me

Misc.:

(Train for the win)

Pristine Secrets - Alm River PT.III

2009-05-25T17:18:00.003+02:00

Pristine Secrets - Alm River PT.III (Instruction)
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Alexander Haider, Stefan Haider,
Nikolai Prietl, Kurt Murer, Matthias Burget

As you may have seen in our former adventures: Alm River, one of Austrian´s clearest waters, takes a special place in my annual To-Do list. This time we came with a group of beginners to lead their careers into the right directions. Effortless casting and an awesome fishery! A kickstart could be worse, couldn´t it?

(Adheasive Casts)

Allright, the expected crystal clear water turned out to be a lil bit muddy (glacier-water) what always resolves into the effect that fishing can be a bit tricky. No need to complaine - a problem is just another solution under construction.

Demo-Tackle I used for my demonstration show:

6# 9ft. LTS X1 | Loop Opti Dryfly Reel | LTS Ultimate WF6F

8'# 10,7ft. Opti Switch Style | Loop Opti Runner | Prototype Shooting Head System

Here are some pictures:

(Demo-Tackle)

(Da Ride)

(Opti Switch 6107)

(Baby Classic = Classic, Baby!)

(Practicing rollcasts)

(Overheads)

(Trout-addicted)

(Alm River)

(...)

(The first fly-caught fish in his life)

(dito)

(Searching for Whitefish)

(Too drunk to fuck)

Chubby Chaser (Germany)

2009-05-25T16:46:00.003+02:00

Chubby Chaser (Germany)
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Paulo Hoffmann

Curiosity, a word/feeling that can be easily described thru the eyes of a flyfisher. Recently caused by the Multi PWR rebirth series of that famous LTS X1, that gained it’s international reputation thru numerous tests and casting-records. Hand in hand with another field testing object, the new hybrid-rod (Opti Switch Style 6107) we went to another decent Guerilla-water.

(Ready to blast)

Once more we had to realise that fortune is a philandering bitch. The high waterlevels we had to deal within our last sessions were not geographically limited in Austria. Anyway, we had a mission. And we were about to take the first step to check out if the creation is finally more generous than the creator itself – the Loop Equipment Research Team. There’s no everybody’s-darling-tool – we all know about it. Even though the latest generation of “Switch” rods is much more than a well balanced compromise between single- and doublehand rods, but the first real hybrid tool, there must be also limitations. Or not?

(Prepared...)

Here are just some pictures of that day that was actually too short to be a day-review. Anyhow we finally managed the bad conditions more or less pleasing. Fortune is one thing, revenge another… check it out.

(Ready to switch - fast sink poly leader)

(Grip System)

(Switchcast - Fast sink polyleader)

(10,7ft. on a small water)

(Working the shoreline)

(...for trouts)

(and chubs)

(Bottomfish with leeches)

(Another Chub)

(Release)

(6107 Switch Style + Runner)

(Chubby Chub)

(Fat head)

(Shoreline fish)

(On GASS)

(Spacer)

(Idiot hat)

Shallows Supreme - May Pike

2009-05-19T06:29:00.010+02:00

Shallows Supreme - May Pike
(+unreleased Topwater-Footage from 08)
by Stephan Dombaj
feat. Paulo Hoffmann

There will be blood - not literally but metaphorically. May 1st. is the biggest relief since end of trout close seasion and it´s time to unleash those big and naughty flypatterns once again. Long story short, it´s PIKETIME. Unlike human, pike doesn´t aim for a cigaret or repose. after his annual dose of sex: Meat, raw and bloody, that´s what they want. And guess what? We have the right stuff to give´ em some.

(Leaping Pike)

Before I forget, May is the date to go and kick some big brute´s asses. Now that they are done with reproduction they are still remaining in shallows. Even the big ones...

(Sightfishing...)

Another quite (un-)logical conclusion: Shallow = Topwater Lures/Flies/Baits!!! Check it out:

(Dahlberg´s Diver = Item to go)

(Crush on...)

(Stripstrike!)

(Find the Dalberg´s)

(M.I.L.C = Mother I´d like to catch)

(... chasing topwaters!)

(Beauty)

(Pt.II)

(Release)

(Paulo: Stripstriking)

(Portrait)

(Baby-Preyfish)

(Bow and Arrow cast for tricky conditions)

(...another crush on)

(Average Killer)

(Neckgrip landing)

(Time for bigger ones)

(Hurt by Cormoran)

Tube for Trouts

2009-04-20T06:20:00.012+02:00

Tube for Trouts
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Paulo Hoffmann

Considering following circumstances, it may seem quite inappropriate to pick such a headline but in fact, there are some valid reasons for heavy duty flies. Kyll-Creek is actually the perfect playground for Ultra-Light-Tackle. A decent small water with some feisty trouts, abundantly covered with vegetation, and a easy-to-handle average size.

(Black Bottle Score)

What the hell brings an obviously proper fisherman to bomb such a water with heavy bottle-tubes? The typical springrain and it´s irrepressable outbirth: High brownish water. Such a situation can be a possible funsuppresser (or a kick into your balls if that specific date is your first day after closeseason) if you´re not prepared.

(High and brown water)

Fortunatly we were armed with some nice tubes, such as Dee Sheep, Black Simple Tube and tiny redish Templedogs. Eventhough we are using Salmonflies we MUST consider that we are aming for trouts... so don´t even think about using treble-hooks. Unfair Situation indeed, but still no need to slaughter...barbless singles will do a great job aswell. My favorite Hook is a ultrasharp shortshank saltwaterhook with the barb clamped on. You can use these tubepatterns like conventional Streamers or Swingflies - both techniques will bring you some fishes. Still here? Then take the time to have a close look at our pics... then get your ass back to the water!

(Paulo is about to score!)

(Tubefly saves the day)

(Pretty much of an average fish, but under these conditions...)

(Trout-Portrait)

(Another Tube-trout)

(Targeting the next one)

(Coffee-Bath)

(...for a Simple-Black-Bottle-Trout)

(BW-Tubefish)

(Fun on a 3weight)

(See you soon brother)

(Shore is gone...)

(Paulo with a Tube-Trout)

(Brother from another mother)

(Preparing)

(...and the beat goes on)

(Tiny Templedog-Pattern worked out very well)

(...)

(Releasing the last one)

(The biggest Kyll-Creek Trout so far)

Urban Trout II

2009-03-18T20:53:00.002+01:00

Urban Trout - To Swim Or Not To Swim
by Stephan Dombaj
introducing: Christian Droege

End of close season is the most hereticly celebrated date on a fisherman´s schedule. Whole Story plus video (Introducing Christian Dröge and some serious trophies) soon on FFN!

Preview:

The Legend Of Moby Dick

2009-02-14T19:55:00.006+01:00

The Legend Of Moby Dick
by Stephan Dombaj

Winter is pissing me off - not because I hate the cold and gray weather but the simultaneos incident that most lakes and reservoirs are frozen. A forced pause for pike and carp - what a mess. Anyway, now that some waters are partitally ice-free it was my and Paulo´s duty to check out what winter has done... meanwhile we were hot on getting the new Loop Shooting Head-Adjustments done.

(Cap. Ahab - prepared for every occasion)

It was more like taking a walk with the rod (last day before pikes are going to be preserved), so we decided to leave our waders and jackets at home to get a little overview. A little casting seassion - not on the lane but on the lake. Time went by and we were still busy checking and adjusting our equipment for the next adventures when the horrifying creature arrived out of the muddy depths of the lake. The unique white "Moby"-Carp, that fish that tortured a whole bunch of carp-freaks all over the summer: the fish that knows every highprotein-bollie by name, the uncatchable curse of every specime hunter... (I could go on forever)

Before I started to realize this possible one-cast-one-blast chance, I saw my hands nervously searching for a giant nymph or a GloBugfly. Got one... prefect. I really didn´t care about the sinking Pike-Booster SH. Now it was all about the fish and me (HARRRRRRHARRRR) Ready to get busted by a flyrod! GloBug just came right. Fish turned... came a little closer...and killed it topwater! SCORE!

(Cap. Ahab setting the hook)

What more can I tell... Ah, yeah - I got it! Here are the pictures. I´m sorry for the lame perspective and quality but a quite insane dude came by and acused us to be fishkillers and whateverbitch-stuff... so I landed the fish... held him for a short photo up and released "Moby" instantly.

(Happy landing)

(Moby the uncatchable got busted)

Yeah... I know... I look like a douchebag! Cheers!

Winter Anger

2009-02-11T21:24:00.013+01:00

Winter Anger
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Julian Sion

"...are you kidding me?" (the constellation that is otherwise known as "SICK BASTARD") - the common reaction when I am talking about wintertime pikefishing. But let´s start logically in order to get the whole impression of my sickness.

(Strip it)

The first days that the waters are more or less icefree and the fat bastard pike we want to nail is more lethagic than ready to rock: All metabolic functions are slowed down due to the watertemperatur in order to save as much energy as possible. What we need now is the old deep´n slow, nice and neat formula to score.

(Deciving Dahlberg Diver)

Now that ice can´t stop the water from warming up, the temperature in the shallows is increasing relatively rapid from (for example:) 2 to 7 degrees. That little kickstart is enought to tease preyfishes into the shallow zones. An appropriate reason for our target to follow...

(Strip it fast and prey for the big bang)

Now it´s time to own: Shallow water baits, such as the famous Dahlberg Diver offer the (probably) most exciting way to get these toothy monsters. Quite uncommon methode to get a hook up these days - but give it a try. The natural instinct of a predator is an irrepressible impulse and they want that mouse/frog soo bad.... A few days before pikes before the close season for pike starts (here in western Germany) we had the right conditions to bust our knuckles once again! Good excuse for topwaters in the cold!

(Opti Runner ready to go)

(Busted)

(Julian with a decent fish)

(Check it´s mouth)

(...)

(Nice one)

(Sweet fish)

(Release)

(Finally a better one: 82cm)

(Opti Salt did it again)

Can´t wait for May to come!!!

Hobie Tryout

2009-02-10T20:54:00.026+01:00

Hobie Tryout
by Anna Sjöberg

Captain Morgan

The Swedish magazine Fiskejournalen (http://www.fiskejournalen.se/) celebrates 35 years in the business and start 2009 with a competition for their readers. The first prize is a kayak from Hobie fully equipped with lots of goodies for us into fishing.

I got invited to try the kayak and to participate in the movie showing all the prizes.

It was an exciting morning when I met the crew, unpacking the kayaks, rigging all the gear and finding good angles to shoot from. Since we were filming in the end of August we had hoped for nice late summer days with calm sea, blue sky and perfect lighting for the filming. Instead we got wind, rain and waves in a never ending mix. I was accompanied by Morgan who also does some writing for the magazine, and the spirits were high when we entered the kayaks. We tried them out for a short while, checking how to steer them, how fast they were and how to make the fishing as smooth as possible.

Glad to see the filmcrew doing some hard work as well...

The special thing with this kayak is how to run it. Instead of using your arms you use pedals. You drive it with your legs, not much different from cycling or using a stepper. For a person interested in getting as much time for fishing as possible, this is the ultimate solution. Running it with the pedals makes your hands free for almost all the time which means you never have to lay down your rod.

The kayaks are also equipped with four rodholders and internal and external storage possibilities, suitable both for fishing gear or camping equipment. One of the kayaks we tried did have a GPS/sonar, which is also included in the first prize of the competition in Fiskejournalen amongst a lot of other stuff…

The steering of the kayak is made by a small controldevice on your side, just in perfect reach and really easy to handle. (For those of you who wonder how fast you can go. Morgan tried to reach top speed and according to the GPS he did reach 6 knots)

The immediate feeling when I tried the kayak was how steady it was. We tried a couple of laps with speeding, steering and stopping before we felt comfortable enough to start fishing and filming. We started by anchoring not too far from land, in order to try the spinning rod. Feeling a bit uncomfortable at start being filmed, we soon forgot we were the stars in this movie and had a great and relaxed time. Unfortunately not very successful in fishing, but Morgan did get a couple of catches. The bad weather soon made a stop for the filming and we found ourselves left in the water while the filmcrew ran to the house we had available.

Since the purpose of the trip was to get as much material for the film, we didn´t get that much time for fishing the first day. We had a long drive (or should I say pedalling) in this huge lake, and had it been a normal kayak I wouldn´t have lasted one tenth of the time. Since you use the legs you can cover a much longer distance. We were challenged by the rough waters and tons of rain, but the kayak felt safe and easy to handle also in these lousy conditions. There were shootings from different angles, repeated times of trying to make a smooth gliding on to the beach, rounds and rounds in front of the cameras and also some acting (which makes me realize why I am into finance and not an actress…)

The second day was planned for flyfishing. It was still a bit windy so we choose a different location. This time a small p&t forest lake. Surrounded by thick forest it made the conditions a lot better with almost no wind at all. Flyfishing from the kayak was a great experience. At first a bit tricky since the line sometimes got stuck in the pedals or the storagestraps. After a little while you learn how to avoid it and the fishing was easy. Since you don´t use the paddle, and the fins that drives the kayak is in the water all time it is a very quiet way to move around.

Personally I also like that the kayak runs forwards, in comparison to the tube when you go backwards. Of course there are times when you wish to go backwards, and that´s the time the paddles could be handy. During our two days of trying the kayaks I think I used the paddles about five times the most. The paddle is also in easy reach, strapped on the outside of the kayak.

We ended the filming in a third lake, this time trying some extra equipment consisting of two tubes that you easily attach to the kayak. This gives stability and makes it even possible to stand up while fishing. Morgan tried it and had no trouble at all managing to stand up trying some jerkbait-fishing.

Overall a great kayak to use for fishing and I can really recommend you to try one! Or if you´re lucky you might be the winner…

And the fishing….well, I don´t want to reveal too much, but this much I can say. It could have been better.

The glamour of filmbusiness

Behind the scenes

The producer trying the kayak

Preparing the underwater pictures

Tricky!