Category Archives: fly tying materials

July 19, 2022 · 9:47 am

Umpqua – Soulful Beginnings – the early 60’s

Umpqua has posted an interesting read about their beginnings on their website. I found it to be a fun read and I figured you would too. Below is a small exert from the story with a link to the entire post. There is also more to come on this story, so stay tuned.

Dennis Black (left) and Carlos Urtabae (right)

Umpqua has built an empire in our industry, and it started with an A Frame Cabin on the banks of the North Umpqua River. Based on all accounts, it should not have happened. It was such an improbable story you could have never come up with most of it. Doing things that no one had ever done before, and yet, it happened.

In the process, Umpqua changed the way the fly fishing industry was able to scale and grow through the production and delivery of fly tackle and the highest quality flies, designed by Royalty Tyers. Umpqua is built on a legacy of innovation and has encouraged innovation at pivotal moments.

This is the Umpqua Story told by some of the people who were witness to the events.

Soulful Beginnings – the early 60’s

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Filed under Fly Fishing, fly tying materials

January 18, 2021 · 12:38 pm

Unboxing – Flymen Fly Tying Kits

Brian Wise talks more about Flymen Fishing Fly Tying Kits from Flymen Fishing Company.

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Filed under fly tying materials

November 27, 2019 · 11:01 am

New Partridge USA website

Partridge Hooks has a brand new website covering the US side and its fly tyers found at this web address https://partridgeusa.com/. Willowemoc Creek is the primary US Distributor behind this ran by Joe Fox of Dette Flies. You can find Willowemoc Creek on both Facebook and Instagram.

All of the hooks are covered on the website including Partridge of Redditch, Sprite, and Cox&Rawle.

I have been using Partridge Hooks for years and they have always performed extremely well for me. Partridge of course has a lot of great models and they have some really nice new models available as well. If you haven’t yet checked out the new Sprite Barbless Hooks, they are high quality hooks you should be looking into.
-Paul

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Filed under Fly tying hooks, fly tying materials

November 3, 2019 · 4:58 pm

Uncle Jake’s Fly Shop and Smitty’s Sports Shop

There is a real nice fly shop located in Battle Creek, Michigan that I’ve personally visited. This place is a real gem and has an interesting history. The fly shop has many fly tying materials and flies and other supplies. Because it is housed inside an even older business known as Smitty’s Sports Shop, normal fishing tackle is also available. Uncle Jake’s is owned by Paul “Jake” Jakubiak and his wife Cat. Jake has many years of fly fishing experience in teaching fly fishing and fly tying. The shop holds classes for both rob building and fly tying. If you ever wanted a fly shop that you could go and hang out in, buy what you need, and just relish in fly fishing splendor, this place fits the bill. If I were closer, I would be there all of the time!

Jake recently filled me in on the fascinating history behind Smitty’s and Uncle Jake’s.

“Smitty’s and Uncle Jake’s are two separate businesses and both still exist inside Smittys Sport Shop.

Smitty’s has been a neighborhood sporting goods store for many years. I believe close to 75 years.

Murray “Smitty” Smith passed away many years ago. His wife Kate passed away back in 2006.

Seven to eight years ago Smitty’s was a mess and was up for sale and Uncle Jake’s was looking to grow. The sale never worked out but I was asked to move Uncle Jake’s into Smitty’s anyway and to grow both. That’s what Cat and I try to do. We keep Smitty’s running and with it our fly shop.

I have been Uncle Jake’s since the early eighties. I’ve tied for 50 years and taught fly tying and rod building for 45. Our business revolves mostly around that and fly fishing. But to say I’ve taught hundreds would not be an exaggeration.”

So as you know mom and pop shops like this one are getting to be a thing of the past and I would hate to lose another one. It is up to us to keep them going. If you are in the area or passing through, stop by and check out Uncle Jake’s. If you live in the area you should definitely be going in and getting what you need at Uncle Jake’s. The address is 1408 W Michigan Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49037.

Uncle Jake’s has a Facebook page here.

Cat inside the shop.

Outside the shop at night.

Fly tying materials.

Murray “Smitty” Smith

Murray and his wife Kate Smith.

Paul “Jake” Jakubiak

Old photo of inside Smitty’s.

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Filed under Fly Fishing, Fly Rods, fly tying materials, Michigan

October 9, 2019 · 10:49 am

Semperfli Golden Spools

This is a really cool idea from Semperfli! Just like finding a Golden Ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Check it out!

From Semperfli:
“At Semperfli we have something very, very exciting for fly tyers world-wide. Whilst we have been busy spooling your favorite fly tying materials we have been manufacturing some spools with special Golden labels hidden below the products. Yes, hidden world-wide behind our spooled fly tying materials there are hidden many Golden Spools, each with a unique magical code which will give the winner a $250 pack of some our best fly tying materials. Get to your local Semperfli dealer. Good Luck.”

Here are more details and the full rules: https://semperfli.us/gold

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Filed under fly tying materials

September 13, 2019 · 4:06 pm

The Chosen One – Gunnar Brammer

Gunnar Brammer has recently released a new material kit for a fly he designed this season, called The Chosen One. That means, if you buy his kit, you get all of the materials you need to tie the fly. Gunnar explains much more about this in the following two fly tying videos. See the link below for the kit itself. Gunnar provides information under each video.

“I’ve have spent the majority of this past fishing season designing a new fly called the Chosen One, and am excited to be able to offer a kit to go along with the fly and its various YouTube tutorials.

That being said, I didn’t just want to design a fly and sell those material, but I wanted to “design” the kit as well. This video breaks down the kits into its three components – Accessories, Hardware, and Color Combo – allowing you guys to purchase only the parts you need and nothing more.”

Note: Silicone is not included! I use GE II Household Silicone Clear To purchase Silicone, as well as Bob Popovic’s tying resource (Pop Fleye – which covers Silicone style flies) follow this link:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/gunnarbrammer

Link to Material Kits: https://www.streamersbygunnar.com/material-kits
My Website: https://www.streamersbygunnar.com/
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gunnar_brammer/

“Kicking off the first tutorial in the series with the Bare Bones BULKhead version of The Chosen One.

This is the most basic platform and is the foundation of all the variations for this pattern. The goal here is to build upon proper technique and material handling which will lay the groundwork for all the other tutorials.

Although this is the simplest version, it is by all means a deadly streamer pattern and perfectly imitates round bodied baitfish such as Mullet and Chubs along with those with enlarged heads such as Suckers, Gobies, and Sculpins.”

Short video of me Fishing this version of The Chosen One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38BAK3hQki8

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Filed under fly tying materials, Streamers

July 23, 2019 · 3:18 pm

Sprite Barbless Hooks

Back in 2013 Partridge of Redditch acquired Sprite Hooks. Sprite has had a history of making quality hooks and Partridge has continued that tradition with the Sprite brand. They have recently released Sprite Barbless Hooks, including Scud, Dry Fly, and Streamer styles.

If you didn’t know, Willowemoc Creek is the US Distributor of Partridge Hooks and they are also carrying the new Sprite Barbless Hooks. You can follow Willowemoc Creek on Facebook or Instagram.

Below are photos of what the new models look like. I have tried other Sprite Hooks in the past and they are definitely quality made hooks, so I have no doubt these will be as well. I’m excited to see other fly tyers try these new barbless hooks and to see what excellent patterns they tie on these hooks.

You can follow Sprite Hooks on Facebook or Instagram.

Sprite Barbless Streamer model S2200

Sprite Barbless Dry Fly model S2401

Sprite Barbless Scud model S2499

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Filed under fly tying materials, New Product

July 2, 2019 · 8:38 am

Deer Creek Flies

I wanted to write a post to highlight Deer Creek Flies which is located in Wales, UK and is owned by Nickolas Wright. The company has been around for many years now and has grown in that time. They started out making a very good UV Resin, but have continued to add products and carry many others now as well. Nick has been very generous to me and has helped me out many times.

I have used Deer Creek UV Resin for many years and it actually is a resin that is tack free. Deer Creek has expanded in this area too. Not only do they offer the normal resin, but many others, like Flex, Tungsten, GLO, Sculpt, Stardust Nano Flake, and Builder.

Another product I continue to use is Deer Creek Eyes. They have many different adhesive eye designs. I use the Dragon and Frog eyes for my FrankenFrogs. I have used many of the others for my streamers.
I use their Mega Lazer Dub for my Mama’s Cornbread. It’s a particular type of dubbing that isn’t want you think. You have to use it to see the difference. But it spins up a dubbing noodle very well.

Nick also carries my FrankenDUB Monster Dub over that way now too, which I appreciate. If you want to shop, they have all of their materials available online at https://www.deercreek.co.uk

If you are in the US, Casters Fly Shop continue to carry Deer Creek materials, but I believe Nick will also ship them here as well. If you have any questions, just send them an email from their website.

See below some of the images of the products that Deer Creek carries. Also, Nick has been busy improving his fly tying skills, so I have included photos of his flies.