The English fly fishing shop's customer's letter page

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The English Fly Fishing Shop's

Customer's letters page

Black Earth Creek, WI, USA Here's a great rainbow, one of six that I caught on 30th September 2003. Five of the six were caught on your Bead Head Orange Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph and the 6th one was caught using one of your Royal Coachman dry flies. Black Earth Creek is in the South Western part of Wisconsin about 20 miles west of Madison, about 150 miles from Chicago's O'Hare airport. Some people consider it one of the best trout streams in America even though it had a pretty bad fish kill a couple of years ago it looks like it's recovered pretty well since then. The inland trout season starts in early March but there's usually still a lot of snow and sleet until early April. I went there the first day of the 2003 season and it was beautiful with all the snow, pheasants and geese around, but my line guides kept freezing up every few minutes. In early to mid-April the Black Earth Creek and Mount Vernon Creeks are very pretty and great places to fish. There are quite a few other good trout streams in South Western Wisconsin like the west Branch of the Kickappo River, where I caught a lot of wild brown trout last August. On the last day of the inland trout season I went back to Black Earth Creek, my favorite nearby stream. (2 1/2 hour drive) Tried several flies that you sold me, when BINGO! Caught the three biggest rainbow trout that I have ever caught or seen, all of them on your GRHE5 Orange Gold Ribbed hares Ear Nymph Fly. I took a picture of the first and the smallest. I caught a 10 incher on your Royal Coachman Dry Fly. When I was reaching for my little disposable camera, the 2nd big rainbow was in my net (which I kept partly submerged). He broke the fly off the 6X tippet and jumped out of the net. No lie he had to be 16- 17 inch long. From his back bone to his stomach, he had to be at least 4" high. This is very large for our small limestone (chalk stream) streams. A little later I hooked onto another big rainbow and got him within three feet of me when he snapped my tippet and took off. Had at least four others on the hook but could not land them. On of them broke off my 12" 6X tippet when he hit the fly and another just hit the fly and bit it right off the line. I have sent you a few pictures of this old guy fishing on the Kickapoo River. Caught 13 fish on one day and 8 more the next all on your flies. Since I flatten the barbs and practice 'Catch and Release', I also had hooks in, but did not land another 12 - 15 trout, Not bad and lots of fun! Thanks for your quick response and great service/deliveries on my previous orders. Hope all is well with you and continue to have safe and enjoyable fishing trips in the future. Best Personal Regards Bob Olach Member of Trout Unlimited's Lee Wulff Chapter (State of Illinois) Monster trout caught on a Woolly Bugger Craig-Thanks for all your trouble on my fly order. Appreciate all you've done. Am enclosing a picture of a trout I caught while visiting friends in the Lake District National Park last fall. This fish was caught in a lake near Kentmere, Cumbria, North West England. It was caught on one of your black woolly buggers that my friend had.. As a matter of fact, this all led to me getting your email address and ordering from you. I caught the fish while staying with the Richard Allen's, Crofthead, Kentmere. The fish weighed 11 pounds 10 oz-- (30"x 17 3/4"). It was caught in late September last year. The Kentmere Waters is a mile north of the Allen's place and we fish it every chance I get to go over there. We've also taken 5 and 6 pound fish. Thanks again Dick Stevens, Denver Colorado, USA Australian Fly Fishing Hi Craig, Most of my fly fishing these days is for trout, although in the past I have also caught Australian bass and saltwater species. Starting with trout. As you probably already know, our reliable trout fishing is restricted to Tasmania and the higher points of the Great Dividing Range along our south-east coast (principally the Snowy Mountains near the NSW/Victorian border, the Blue Mountains and highlands immediately to the south and west of Sydney, and the New England area further north). There are trout in other areas, but conditions for trout are marginal at best. Even in the better areas I have mentioned our climate is not altogether suitable for trout. Unlike New Zealand (where most of us frequently visit to fish), our trout areas are a little too far north and our mountains not high enough to ensure cool summers, so mid-season fishing can be extremely challenging on both streams and lakes. We also have big seasonal variations. For example, until the last two summers (which were remarkably cool and wet), we were in the grip of a severe fourteen-year drought. During the drought streams and dams dropped dramatically, some dried up and disappeared completely. The coming season, however, looks like it will be a beauty. The problem now is to get on a stream when it isn't in flood. Choice of fly depends on the particular area fished, and also whether it is early or late in the season. In Tasmania there is some stream fishing, but most fishing is done on the lakes of the Central Plateau, mostly for brown trout. Early in the season, when water levels are high and trout are patrolling flooded margins, larger wets flies like the matuka, woolly bugger, Mrs Simpson and so on are my choice (sizes 8-4). Now you know why I bought those matuka. Later in the season, when there is more aquatic insect and beetle activity, nymphs and dry flies come into their own. Then the "must have" fly in Tasmania is the red tag, tied and fished dry, particularly in smaller sizes (18-14). Fishing on mainland Australia follows a similar pattern. I have read (and I think it is correct) that compared to Britain and the US our mayfly and caddis hatches are less significant. Aussie trout rely far more on terrestrial insects, grasshoppers, crickets and beetles, as a food source. When condition are right, the mid-season grasshopper/cricket fishing can be exceptional. Now you know why I bought the black grasshopper patterns. There are times, however, particularly on our Snowy Mountains lakes, when we have huge midge hatches and the trout can only be taken on very small midge patterns, like the black gnat. Early and late in the season, where conditions are suitable, streams feeding into lakes will have runs of spawning trout (rainbows in spring; browns in autumn). Heavily-weighted flashback nymphs (tungsten bead heads) and egg imitations, such as glo bugs, are mostly used. There are, of course, many other flies used in Australia by trout fishermen. While traditional English flies might have been favoured in the distant past (I caught my first fly-caught trout on a March brown dry more than thirty years ago), American, New Zealand and local Australian patterns are now more popular. During the 90s American tiers such as Jack Dennis visited and developed a big following, so hair patterns such as the royal Wulff, humpy, elk hair caddis, rat-faced McDougal, shaving brush, and Muddler Minnow (fished dry in Australia) are very popular, and sometimes fished in faster water as an indicator fly trailing a small nymph on dropper. Understandably, other New Zealand fly patterns, in addition to those already mentioned, such as the fuzzy wuzzy and craigs night time are also frequently used, particularly for night fishing lakes when mudeyes (dragon fly lava) and yabbies (freshwater crayfish) are around in numbers. Australian fly patterns frequently use local possum and kangaroo furs (the Tom Jones is my favourite). The hook sizes for our larger wets can be up to size 2 -- when conditions are good, Aussie trout grow big (6 to 8 lb browns and rainbows, sometimes bigger, are taken in lakes most often at night). In recent years the bead-head/ cone-head phenomena has spread to Australia. Nymphs and woolly buggers are often beaded where it's necessary to fish them deep. I haven't fished for Australian bass for some years, and I've only fished for them in the freshwater reaches of our coastal rivers. Our bass is said to be similar in habit to the American small mouth. I caught nearly all my bass on one fly, the Dalberg diver. During our summers, as well as there being an abundance of grasshoppers, crickets and beetles, the forests surrounding our coastal streams can seem to be alive with cicadas (large in Australia), so I'm sure any hair/cork/foam popping bug would also work well, as long as it is tied with a weed guard (it's necessary to cast very close to cover). Fly size obviously depends on fly rod weight -- I use 8 weight. Size 6 stinger hook or about size 1 or 2 normal hook meets my needs. In recent years bass have been stocked in many large dam impoundments, and fly fishing for them is deep using fast sinking lines (not to my taste). The local fly of choice is something called a bass vampire, which to me appears to be a dark coloured variant of the Clouser deep minnow. Some fly fishing is done for other native fish, such as the Murray cod and golden perch, on inland western-flowing streams, although I haven't tried this myself. Flies used are larger than bass flies, in keeping with the larger average size of the fish. I should think American big mouth bass flies would work well, but I'm not qualified to say more than that. As I live on the coast, just north of Sydney, and much of my fly fishing has been in salt water, I'm better qualified to comment on my local flyfishing. The saltwater fly fishing opportunities are split between pelagic species and other species. The most sought after pelagic species are kingfish, Australian salmon (not a true salmon but similar in shape) and tailer (related to the American blue fish although rarely as big). I've heard reports that fishing for kingfish in Sydney Harbour in recent years has been truly sensational -- there are full-time fly fishing guides who will provide the heavy tackle/ big flies necessary. Most fishermen, like me, prefer to target the smaller salmon and tailer (which can still average 1 to 2 kg) on lighter tackle. Size 4 to 2/0 deceiver and Clouser deep minnow flies will usually work, however in spring, when the fish are feeding on very small baitfish, it can be necessary to use epoxy/ silicon "eye" flies tied on size 6 or smaller hooks to incite a take. Saltwater fly fishing for other species has fallen out of favour of late, most anglers preferring easier lure fishing methods -- the soft plastics revolution took Australia by storm about ten years ago. Two species can still be easily taken on fly by those who wish to try: flathead and bream. Our flathead is a bottom-dwelling ambush hunter. Weighted flies fished near the bottom, such as the Clouser deep minnow, work well. Flathead are aggressive, have a large mouths, and can average over 1 kg, so hook size can be as big as 2/0, or even larger depending on line weight used. In shallower water various bend-backs, seducers and deceivers also work well. Bream are more of a scavenging species and have smaller mouths, but can still be aggressive, particularly when feeding on prawns (shrimps) and small fish. Bonefish patterns such as crazy charlies, smaller Clousers and baited-breath catch fish, as do smaller versions of the seducer. I should think crab patterns would work, although I haven't tried them myself. Hook size can be from size 8 to 2, possibly even larger, depending upon size of fish targeted and fly line weight. Craig I hope some of this helps. Glad to flesh this out further if necessary, or answer any questions you may have. Kind regards, Bob New Zealand - North Canterbury - Lake fishing in the wind Hi Craig, Thanks for your interest, I fish the Wulffs dry on our High Country lakes when there is a ripple or rough waves on the water. Here in North Canterbury where I live (Hawarden, population about 90) we are subjected to the "Nor'Wester" which is a wind that blows across the Tasman sea from Australia. When it blows, and I happen to be up on the lakes it really blows! For example, I also play the odd round of golf at our course here in Hawarden and when that Nor'Wester blows it disconcerting to see my golf clubs and trolley being pushed along by Wind power! Some of the trees on the course are growing at an angle of 45 degrees! When it is really windy I have found that I take quite a few fish by putting on the biggest Wulff and fishing the edges of the lake, just about a metre out from the shore. We do get huge hatches of damsel flys, Blow flys are always flying around (large blue bottles I think is the UK nearest fly) and cicadas, a mantis/cricket type insect plus the green and brown beetles. I am sure all represented by your black wulff ! a versatile fly don't you agree! The strong wind stirs up the edges of the lakes and those browns come looking for a meal. It is not unusual to catch fish only a metre from shore. Trout also come in close to chase "cockabullies, which are a small fish about an inch in length. A "Mrs Simpson" is a good imitation for them, fished on a dry line with a long leader, a good option when nothing else works. I have also used most of the patterns from your "ugly bug" selection purchased a few years ago, they work well too. We also have one of the best trout rivers in the South Island nearby, The Hurunui river. Trophy browns to 10lb +. For the Hurunui river your Humpys come into play, they are great in the rough stuff. In the Hurunui from November through to April we get the spawning run of salmon. These enter the Hurunui from the ocean and make the great journey to their spawning area. The river is popular with kayakers so you can image what the water flow is like, rapids, gorges, shingle beds and pools.They spawn and sadly die. Salmon of 20 - 30lb and not rare. The salmon species here is the Chinook (an Indian name) more better known in NZ as Quinnat Salmon. Kind regards Tim. Elms North Carolina fly order Sir...yesterday I received my order of an assortment totaling fifty flies. Frankly, I had ordered them from you with some trepidation, having had several really bad experiences in the past with orders placed via the internet to ofhte fly shops in the UK. However upon inspection, I was quite pleased with with the quality, the packaging, the shipping time, and the postage free pricing. It now remains for me to offer them up to trout. Jim Daniel, North Carolina Muddlers in Virginia Once again, great success fishing your Marabou Muddlers for Bass, many this year in the 3-4 lb range. Took a trip to SAg Harbor, NY. Wade fishing for small bluefish, you Mickey Finns and Lefty's Deceivers produced excellent action. I caught a 3 lb largemouth on one of your blue and white Lefty's Deceivers the week before thanks giving. Went to Myrtly Beach SC over thanks giving hoping to hit the early end of the sea trout run, but it had not started. I have become aware that what you call sea trout in England are what we call steelhead. Our sea trout are known as weakfish, speckled trout and gray trout. I don't know if they inhabit waters near you Tight Lines Fred Laird, Cross Junction. VA, USA HIS FIRST FISH I have just returned from a trout fishing trip in the Blue Mountains. My son Ben caught his first big trout on a fly with one of your white Wulff patterns. A 50cm 3 pound rainbow trout. He was wraped and has not shut up about it. The dam rose from 35 per cent to 40 and that was smashing them as they left the water. Ben matched it with the white Wulff and he got the result. Everyone was so happy to see the kid catch such a nice fish, good on him. One of the blokes fishing with us was very impressed with your flies and asked me to send an order. Thanks for the great service. Tight Lines. Peter Wilson. Jesmond, NSW. Australia Teenage Fly Fishing I want to thank you for having such great flies. I had a great summer and it would have never happened if it wasn't for www.flyfishing-flies.com. This is my first summer fly fishing I got my rod for my 14th Birthday and I have caught so many fish with your flies. I've caught about 200 Brim which one was the biggest I have ever caught. I have also caught many trout. One of them was a brooke trout that was huge. He was 2 pounds and I am trying to get mounted but i can't get the money. I want to thank you so much for having the best flies your flies are the only ones in my box. Be Buying from you soon. Mack W, Washington. GA Atlanta Fly Fishing Club My order arrived yesterday and I was amazed at the quality of your flies and reasonable prices. While they will be used as models for my own modest fly dressing efforts, it is remarkable that you maintain this quality at such prices. I will let the Atlantic Fly Fishing Club know of my order and recommend your site. We meet next Wednesday. After trying for many years to tie a spun deer hair bass bug (even viewing videos) that look decent, your dressings are outstanding. Why would I ever want to clutter my tying bench with deer hair again! Once again, thanks for the response, have bookmarked your site and will recommend you to all my non fly tying friends Bill Hetzler, Georgia, USA Northwest US Greetings from the northwest US. I had a chance to get out and try some of your flies for the first time this last weekend. I bought an assortment of flies for my first order to check out the quality and to try a couple of patterns that are different there then they are here. The quality of the flies are fantastic and after a couple of hours on the river I landed one of the nicest fish of the year for myself. I found myself in the middle of a dunn hatch quite by surprise with fish rising everywhere suddenly. I matched the hatch the best I could with one of your flies I had just received and landed a 21' native Redside rainbow, one of the states most prolific fighting trout. After five runs and five leaps, and three screams and whoops from myself, I removed my fly and released him to be caught again. Thanks Guys! Doug Lasit Pete from New South Wales Good day English Fly Shop. Just writing to thank you for the excellent flies you sent me and for the very professional service that is second to none Your flies have proven to work very well in Australia. Aussie trout love them especially the dry fly collection I purchased off you. Our trout season opened in October and I have told all my friends about your flies and good service. Thank you. Pete Wilson, Jesmond, N.S.W. Australia USA customer Thank you very, very much for the promptness of the arrival of the flies I ordered. I am very impressed and pleased with the quality of the flies. You have restored some faith in my belief of "good deals". I will certainly recommend your business to my friends and will definitely place more orders myself. Bryan Newman Letter from Tulsa, USA Hello again, Adrian Wow! The faxed order was sent a week before the postal order. I thought you never got it, so I didn't expect it to be filled. But it's not a problem; I got the other order yesterday and I LOVE the flies! What a bargain! We pay much more for the same flies here in the States. You've got a very satisfied customer. I'll look forward to the next parcel. Thanks for the great service. Aleta Letter from Augusta, Georgia. USA Dear Sirs ...I put your flies into action on a week-long trip recently and they performed well. The hare's ears were the trick on our North Georgia streams. Alex Letter from Aberdeenshire, Scotland Adrian Your flies are of excellent quality, I have had much success with your gold bead damsel catching three over wintered rainbows on my first visit of the season to my local reservoir. I look forward to placing more orders with you in the future.. Jim Eddie
Letter from Ontario Canada Thanks so very much for the care and attention given in servicing my order. Everything arrived yesterday well in time for opening day. I will let my fishing buddies know of you and hope your business thrives. Best of luck and thanks again, John Scheel Letter from England Thanks for the quick response. I received the flies yesterday. They look fine, I hope they catch some fish!!! I have bought flies by post before (not from you) and this is the first time they have been labelled and packed separately which is great. Ian Green Letter from the Fisheries The flies are well tied - none came undone even after being chewed and spat out by two or three fish. The hooks appear to be good quality, nice and sharp. They are also of a consistent standard and pattern. All too often you get vastly different looking flies even in the same batch - bloody annoying when the trout are being fussy and you've just lost a successful fly on a branch, and nothing in the box which quite matches it. They caught fish. I only tried the three smallest patterns - Black Gnat, Gold Rib Hare's Ear and Pheasant Tail. Chris C North West Doug's letter Greetings from the northwest US. I had a chance to get out and try some of your flies for the first time this last weekend. I bought an assortment of flies for my first order to check out the quality and to try a couple of patterns that are different there then they are here. The quality of the flies are fantastic and after a couple of hours on the river I landed one of the nicest fish of the year for myself. I found myself in the middle of a dun hatch quite by surprise with fish rising everywhere suddenly. I matched the hatch the best I could with one of your flies I had just received and landed a 21' native Redside rainbow, one of the states most prolific fighting trout. After five runs and five leaps, and three screams and whoops from myself, I removed my fly and released him to be caught again. Thanks Guys!. Doug L Letter from the Navy Hey Adrian I have received everything and thanks for the spare fly reel it will come in handy . I have e-mailed several of my friends and have given them your web site I am sure you will receive some orders from them also. Thanks Michael H

Steve's first letter Just a note to say I received my flies and have already had good luck with them. The browns seem to love them! Thank you for a good product at a good price here in the USA. I will let others know of your offerings. Steve P. Eden Prairie, MN. USA Steve's second letter I recently bought some woolly buggers from you and have enjoyed great success with them. I would like to order a few more flies of different varieties. Thank you, Steve P, Eden Prairie, MN. USA Steve's third letter ... received the flies and put them to good use catching a number of browns and rainbows last week. Steve P. Eden Prairie, MN. USA Steve's fourth letter I've already used the emerger patterns you sent me and love them. I will be ordering more as the trout beat up the ones I've got. Have a good one! Steve P. Eden Prairie, MN. USA




Letter from Cincinnati Hello, I am a new fly fisherman and I was having a hard time finding quality flies in my area. Being able to order my flies from your web site has been great. Your large sized photographs of each fly has helped me in my decision on what to order. Thanks again for the advice you sent me last week. I'm faxing over a second order for 100 flies today. I came second in my local fishing club's tournament using your flies. Not bad for a beginner. I'll aim for first next using the new flies. Mitchell B, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
Letter From Iceland Adrian your salmon flies are excellent here in Iceland. I want for me and my partners more. I have this day faxed an order Eric M, Reykjavik, Iceland
Tackle Shop Letter Adrian your flies are selling fast I need another shipment. Your traditional British and Scottish flies have got the customers excited as the are different from what the other tackle shops sell. Your Bass Bugs sold out in the first week so I have ordered double the amount of those. You should have the fax tonight. Doug K, CA USA
Letter from Miami Adrian I have just received my order for saltwater Tarpon and Bonefish flies. The quality is better than I can get from my local tackle shops and your price is great. I'll be ordering some more soon Ed N, Miami, Florida USA
Letter from UK Tackle Shop Dear Sir I need more of those American Bass Bugs. I have my regular clients demanding them as they have had great results with large Pike down here in Devon John P. Devon, England
Letter from Scotland Dear Adrian I need more salmon flies. I have placed a 800 fly order in the post which you will get tomorrow. I have been getting coach loads of Yank anglers visiting the shop. They have been buying your stuff by the bag full. I also need a repeat order of those fishing books I had off you last time. Tight lines Colin McDonald, Scotland


Letter from the Inshore Saltwater Anglers, Inc Adrian Medcalf Now that's what I cal a web page. Excellent detail and great pricing. I will add your web address to our October 1998 Snail mail ISA news letter. Thanks, Capt. Steve Letter from the White House, Washington, DC President Bush goes fly fishing. We sent him some flies
Letter about red butted flies ...Second major highlight of last year was my annual fishing trip to Newfoundland. This recent fly order was to replenish my supply from the flies that I got from you last year before going to NF. The reason that it was a more memorable trip than usual was that I had a red butt single hook fly #8 that I got from you that was just a killer. I don't know why it worked when everything else pretty much got ignored, but it did. It was like a silver doctor but with a red butt. I only had a couple so I ran out quickly, but while they lasted I had the pool's attention. If I had had a gross, I could of sold them for $10 each. You'll notice that in my current order, I am well supplied with red butted flies. 'Course this year they may only want purple. Stephen Bronstein, Florida, USA
Letter from a Bass Fisherman Got the bass bugs! Look good, thanks! Spencer USA
Letter Caribbean & SW Florida Fly Fishing Hi Adrian: Nice presentation and good prices! I'll bookmark your site for future reference.

Letter about the Scottish Tartan Flies I wish to thank you for your prompt attention to my order of the Scottish Tartan flies. I am very satisfied with the order. R E. Anderson, Jr.
Letter from Zebra Entertainment I received my order, thank you. I am impressed with the quality of the flies for the price. Joel Letter from Jeff Wiley, Dover Plains, NY, USA Mr. Medcalf: It's been a long hot summer with few opportunities to fish the streams around here. I have taken a moment or two here and there and the results with some of the flies you sent have been eye opening for me. Smallmouth Bass and panfish were more abundant than trout but the flies worked (of course), and a 16 inch smallmouth is pretty fiesty. Thanks again! Jeff Wiley Letter from Melvin C. Raab Jr, Prosperity, SC USA Adrian - Received my order today. Great stuff! I'm certain you'll be hearing from me again. Mel Raab Letter from Professor Clive Langham in Japan Dear Adrian - Thanks for your e-mail. I was in Iwate Prefecture last weekend, fishing small mountain streams. The only flies I used all weekend were the caddis I purchased from you earlier in the year. Great results! Lots of char and yamane. I also use your flies at a small lake near where I live which has many Blue Gill and some Black Bass. Once again good results! Clive Langham, (Professor) School of Dentistry Letter from Betsy Howard in Vancouver Dear Adrian, My first order has arrived and I am busy pinching down the barbs. I do most of my fishing in regulated waters, restricted to barbless hooks on artificial lures, and don't want to waste precious fishing time squashing barbs while on the water. I have never complained about the in-transit time of your flies. It seems to me that yours come as quickly from the other side of the world as others from a neighboring state. And free! I don't know how you do it, but hope you can keep it up. I have been going about bragging on your operation - variety, quality of the tie, prices, and lack of "postage and handling". I don't know if anyone listens. If they didn't respond on your half price sale, I suspect that they are too dumb to bother with. It is dangerous to invite me to talk about my fishing experiences. The problem is getting me to stop! However, I am not doing any fishing at the moment. It is almost freezing here in Vancouver and raining sheets with occasional snow. The trout are taking a long winter nap. Steelhead anglers are going gangbusters, what with the biggest return in many years, but I have promised my spouse and offspring that I will not go out and stand in rushing rivers no matter how good the run. I tripped and broke a hip last spring (thereby missing most of the summer season) and I think the family fears that I will strip the threads on the screws that now hold me together. And then there is hypothermia.... Come March and possible sunshine, or at least warm rain, and I will shower you with my experiences with your gear. Tight lines, Betsy Letter and Photo from Peter Wilson Hi Adrian, Here is a photo of a nice brown trout that found your hopper flies irresistible. I have been very happy with your flies and I have had many successful fishing trips with them. I am going away to my favorite trout river on the 12'th of January and I will keep you posted. Regards Peter Wilson. Letter from Pastor Randy Mishler, Portland, USA Hi guys! Greetings from rainy Oregon. Thank you so much for your speedy service! I ordered them on Sunday and got my flies on Friday! The flies look great - can't wait to try them out here in a few weeks. Thanks for the quality flies, unbeatable price and unbeatable service. Good Fishing Randy Letter from Rob Bourestom, Dallas, Texas, USA I placed my order for flies on Friday evening and was amazed to see them in my mail box today (Tuesday). I do not believe I could have had a US order delivered in that amount of time without upgrading the shipping to FedEx.You got the flies to me in a few short days and charged me nothing to ship them. Incredible! The quality is among the best I have seen and at half the price of the local fly fishing shops. I will spread the word about your on-line shop. Cheers! Rob Letter from Josh Hill, Carmel, IN, USA I received your flies via mail Friday. Thanks they look good! Good price-- fast service...I am pleased Thanks Josh Hill Salmon Fly Fishing on the Milwaukee River, Wisconsin, USA My son-in-law introduced me to salmon fly fishing on the Milwaukee River in Wisconsin. The King salmon had just started to run up river and we hooked several in two days, including one tenacious 28 pounder and another pf 20 plus pounds. Other big salmon were caught but lost. The most productive flies were polar shrimp and woolly buggers. Bob H Virginia Beach,VA Letter from South Wales, UK I today received my flies that I recently ordered from you. They are superb quality. Fantastic website, fantastic service, fantastic flies. Keep up the good work. Gareth Plumb, South Wales Letter from PA, USA You probably have some of the best flies I've used in recent years. Thank you and best wishes Frank E Sangiorgio, Altoona Letter from MI, USA Just wanted to say thanks for the fast delivery of my recent tube fly order. I received the flies within 7 days of placing my order. Tube flies are gaining a little popularity here in the great lakes region, and I'm working on learning how to tie some these flies. Chris Hatcher, Wixom Letter from VA, USA You will be pleased to hear that the maribou-muddlers and hoppers that I purchased from you produced excellent results on both large and smallmouth bass and some very large sunfish. Tight lines, Fred Laird, Virginia, USA Letter from SE Oregon, USA I fish a desert stream in SE Oregon called Owyhee River, which has big brown trout. I have caught these fish on the flashback Pheasant tail nymphs, Prince's nymphs, hare's ears, ranging in hook size from 18-16. Small winged olives are also a staple fly right now with the advent of warmer spring weather. Carmen

Letter about New York State Fly fishing Morning, I returned Friday from 5 days in Roscoe. NY, USA. My Son and I fished mostly on the Willowemoc and some on the Beverkill. We used your Caddis flies. My son did well on his first fishing trip anywhere and caught 12-15 inch range of trout. After listening to his old man he casted like a seasoned angler. I was proud of him. Gene Bathurst. Sag Harbour, New York Fly fishing Once again, great success fishing your Marabou Muddlers for bass, many this year in the 3-4 lb range. Took a trip to SAg Harbour, NY. Wade fishing for small bluefish, Micky Finns and Lefty's Deceivers produced exciting action Tight Lines, Fred. North Georgia and Carolina Fly fishing Craig I just wanted to give you an update on how well your flies have been to me. I have caught over 100 sunfish in the last few weekends on your woolly buggers. I have also caught ALL of my North Georgia and North Carolina trout on your flies!!! Keep up the good work, You will be hearing from me again soon Joe Poole, Washington. Switzerland and Scottish Loch Fly fishing I got the flies on Friday, Thank you that was quick. The Elk Hair Caddis is THE fly for me. They work like magic on the lochs in Scotland, in our Swiss mountain streams and on the Azores (and I bet they work everywhere in between) Walter Maurer, Switzerland Welsh Buzzer Fly fishing By the way the other flies which I purchased from you arrived this morning, thank you very much. I fished a local fishery known as Cefn Mably this afternoon. I used the epoxy buzzers you sent me and had a good day taking four rainbows all around the 2.5 pounds mark - all were taken on the bottom, Cheers Gareth Plumb, Wales South Island Rainbows, NZ The picture is of me with a 5.5lb rainbow hen caught using on one of your size 16 Black Wulff dry flies. No fish were rising on that day but I spotted a swirl just below the surface and cast to it and the rest is history. Fish released, in excellent condition and caught at a High Country lake in the Coleridge group, North Canterbury, South Island NZ, Cheers, Tim Elms Maine Fly Fishing As you could probably tell from my order I target bass, and specifically smallmouth bass, although I do pick up an occasional largemouth from time to time. The northeast US is prime smallmouth country, and I mostly fish Maine for smallies. It is my opinion that Maine has some of the best smallmouth fishing in the US. Which is why I drive 1700+ km each way to fish for them. My all time personal best catching experience was 2 yrs ago on the Kennebec river in Maine, where I put my boat in and went no farther than 50 or 60 feet from the boat launch and caught a 19" largemouth bass followed in less than 5 minutes by a 19" smallmouth. They were relating to an old downed tree at waters edge in no more than 3 feet of water. Last year a friend and I did a 9 hour float trip on the Androscoggin river (Maine) and I caught smallmouth until my arm was sore. These fish were not especially big, ranging from 13 to 15 inches but they are such fighters, never giving up until the very end of their endurance. One memorable incident was where I had a fish hit my topwater bug, then proceeded to tailwalk for at least 10 feet, dove for the bottom and broke me off. This was my fault as I had a wind knot that had gone unnoticed. By far, most fishermen in Maine target all species of trout, including brown, brook, rainbow and of course, salmon. Which, of course, leaves all those wonderfull smallmouth to a minority of flyfishers like me. Wonderful! BTW, 99% of my fishing is on top for these acrobats as I've noticed they will put on a much better aerial display when hooked on top. Using streamers of any sort, they will hit and then bore for the bottom in most cases, maybe giving a jump or two near the end. I use a 9 foot 5 wt. graphite flyrod most of the time, but in windy conditions I will go to a 6 o7 wt rod to get those bugs out there. Just recently commissioned a split bamboo rod to be made for me, and should be in my hands later this month. This should be fun on those bass later this spring. The prime time in Maine begins in late May and runs through June when the fish are in shallow water for spawning. Later they move out to deeper water, but cruise the shallows looking for food early in the morning or late in the evening. They are voracious eaters of crawfish, minnows and leaches...and anything that hits the water that remotely resembles food FLY FISHING IN AUSTRIA I do most of my fly fishing in Bavaria and Austria. I really enjoy fishing in the mountain rivers and streams because of the challenge, the exercise and most of all the beautiful scenery. The fish I catch are mostly Rainbows, Browns and Char up to three pounds. Because 'Catch and release' is widely practiced here (especially in Austria) the hook size reduces as the season progresses but my preferred hook size is 12, 14 and 16. I am not a big believer in matching the hatch right down to the last hair but I tend to base my fly choice on natural colours. The handful of black Daddy Longlegs I ordered from you last time were a huge surprise and success last summer ( hence the 30 I have ordered this time). I caught my best fish on them with some amazing takes. I have tried various colored Daddy's from different suppliers but none with the success of the Black Daddy from you guys. I have managed to get some stubborn deep sitting fat trout to rise to the Daddy where all else failed so a "Big Thanks" for that. Michael Clancy, Austria

New Jersey Coast Fly Fishing I fish mainly in New Jersey on the coast, and occasionally in New England. The flies that I use nmost would be Clouser's Deceivers (large), Jiggy flies, half and half's , silicone mullets, surf candy and bob's bangers. Colors I am interested in would obviously chart/white, olive/white, black, all white and deceviers as mentioned with combos of dark colours and light colors. Thanks again. Triston Glynos.. New Brunswick Cold Fishing I haven't been fishing much with the super cold weather here in New Brunswick, Canada, but braved the cold two days last week. Went to small spring spring creek near here and got 20 small brown trout on a small green crystal bugger. Another day I went to a stream closer to home and got 4 nice brown and 2 rainbows...got the browns on the crystal bugger, but got the browns on the spinning rod using a minnow type lure. take care Ken Bohling

You can e-mail us at fly.fishing@virgin.net The English Fly Fishing Shop, Estate and Country Sports Equipment Ltd, 5 Woodland Way, Morden, Surrey SM4 4DS, England (Established 1978)