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| Name: Steve Buckley |
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| E-mail: sbuckley@link.freedom.com |
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Experience:
I've been a fly fisherman for 50 years. Most of my experience has been with trout and Atlantic salmon, but I also get in at least one flats trip a year for bonefish, permit and small tarpon.
At nine years old I started tying flies and have been at it ever snce. |
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Product Being Tested:
S.S.Custom Flies. I spoke with Peter Smith at S.S. Flies and asked for his picks for False Albacore Fishing off North Carolina's Outer Banks in November.
He fixed me up with a selection that included some #1 Silverside Bunnies, some #2/0 Golden Angels, some #1 Anchovy Bunnies and some #1/0 Bonito Bunnies. |
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Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I've fished streamers for Striped Bass, Tarpon, Blues and False Albacore. |
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Date of Test:
November 10-12, 2006 |
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Place of Test:
Fished for False Albacore out of Atlantic Beach, NC. |
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Test Condition:
Weather conditions were good for this time of the year. Temperatures reached low 60's in the afternoon. Moderate chop on the water. |
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Relevant related equipment or products:
Fished with #10 weight rod and 15 pound test flourocarbon leader. |
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Your experience with the product:
To begin, the False Albies loved the Silverside bunnies and the Anchovy bunnies. The flies are tied with bunnystrip, mylar, crystal flash and epoxy heads. They cast well, and the bunny tails seldom wound around the hook bend when casting. They look excellent in the water and gave me a sense of confidence. |
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Qualities you liked about the product:
There were two things that stand out for me about the S.S. Flies I used: the looks and the hooks. The flies were tied on Gamakatsu hooks. These hooks pass the "Lefty Kreh Thumbnail Test" with flying colors. The test is simple enough. Drag the hook point against your thumb nail. If it doesn't dig in or scratch, it needs to be sharpened. These hooks dug in.
The looks of the Silverside Bunnies especially are great. They have the sheen and sparkle of the real thing. |
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Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
Years ago I stood in Harry Darbee's shop as he flipped a dozen of Elsie's March Browns on the counter. They were all #12s, and every one was exactly alike. Since then, I've considered consistency a major attribute in well tied flies. The S.S. Flies were close but not dead on. It's hard to get epoxy heads in a uniform size and density, but the tails could be a bit more uniform. |
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Summary Comments
Though I tie many of my own flies, I wouldn't hesitate to use S.S. Flies for specialty patterns such as the patterns reviewed here. I'm also dying to try out a few of the bonefish flies I got from Peter when I travel to the Yucatan next June. |
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| Name: Christopher Lewis |
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| E-mail: clewis@srec.com |
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Experience:
Fishing in my family started at an early age on the rivers and lakes of New England. Upon my arrival in the Rocky Mountains, the rods became lighter and the lures turned into flys.
For the last twelve years I have been an avid salt water fly fisherman chasing species in shallow water environs as close to the equator as possible. |
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Product Being Tested:
Variety of salwater flies created by, SS Flies, Denmark Maine. Sells over the counter as well as custom tied flys for salt water fly fishing.
A unique company offering state-of-the art patterns for most species and utilizing an array of new and different materials not usually found on shrimp,crab and baitfish imitations.
www.ssflies.com
MSRP: varies with pattern. |
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Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I consider myself fairly well traveled in the world of salt water flats fishing having fished the Bahamas, Mexico, Christmas Island, Los Roques and the Seychelles over the last few years.
During those excursions, I have throughly enjoyed success with my creations from the tying bench. For the first couple days I let the guides pick the patterns. By mid week it's my turn and the first response from the guide is usually a shake of the head as if to say no. After a few hook ups and upon a closer inspection of the fly, It's "Good fly mon". |
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Date of Test:
October 8th --14, 2006 |
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Place of Test:
Testing was done in Los Roques Venezuela.
Species in residence that week were Bonefish,Tarpon,Permit,Snook,Baracuda,Pompano and Bonita.
Due to higher than normal tides more fishing was done from the boats and the shoreline than wading the famous pancake flats. However, the fishing was as good as it gets in that area of the world. |
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Test Condition:
During the week we had a high pressure system with daytime temps in the mid to high 90's and the all present wind of 10-15 knots.
Water was gin clear. |
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Relevant related equipment or products:
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Your experience with the product:
Upon opening the package of flys delivered a couple of weeks before my departure, my first impression was "Wow, What attention to detail!
From head to tail they were impecably tied and finished to a very high standard. Peter at SS flies incorporates an array of new and unique materials not usually found on store bought flys.
A few of the materials are; Marabou, Wool, Genuine Woodduck, Pecarry hair and a secret home grown chicken feather from his backyard coop. These along with other materials and the careful placement of premium feathers, makes for a very realistic imitation. Upon retrieval, when not attached to a fish, they look like the real thing. |
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Qualities you liked about the product:
very realistic imitations of the food sources that make up the diet of salt water fish in warm water enviorments. |
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Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
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Summary Comments
One of the benefits of knowing a custom fly tier is the opportunity to fish new and unique patterns which are not found in catalogs or shops and therefore not found in everyone's fly boxes. As you know, eventually, fish become wary of the same patterns.
Best of all, if you acquire that special guide fly that outfishes everything in your box, you now have a company that will keep you supplied with a selection of your choice and size.
As for the guides, Peter will reproduce your special flys and upon completion of your order, will keep the pattern under lock and key with your name attached.
I was so taken with the selection sent to test that I immediatly doubled the order and gladly paid retail to ensure that I would not run out in such a remote location.
Of the eight patterns tested, fish were caught on 7. Regarding the 8th, the permit were not in the mood that day.! How unusual! |
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| The Angling Report Copyright © 2008 |
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