KAKADU BILLABONG

A phone call from the “Broken Flagons” set the wheels in motion for a trip to a special Kakadu Billabong. Unfortunately, work meant that I had to wait until Friday to join them so leaving straight from the office it was a nice smooth drive to the start of the dirt then only 25ks to go to a camp fire and a cold beer. 2 hours later (for 25ks) on some filling removing corrugations, never seen the track so bad, but the cold beer never tasted so good at the end!

Mossie dome set up, a beer, talk with Marty and Justine, a beer, looked at their photos of some great fish, a beer, a beer then off to bed at 1 am!!

5.30am alarm to launch the boat then it was off into a fantastic sunrise with not a breath of wind. After only 6 casts to the edge of the weeds produced a Barra into the boat and not too many casts later a Saratoga had the same fate. In many ways catching fish was just the icing on the cake as the scenery and wildlife activity is just priceless and I can never get over how lucky and privileged we are to have this on our doorstep.

Throughout the day there was a constant stream of fish to the boat, Barra, Togas, Long Toms, Archers, Sooties, Catties and not one Tarpon!!!

The camp fire in the evening rounded off a great day, in a great location with great company.

The 25ks out on Sunday had not got any smoother, still took 2 hours and removed the last fillings I had left.

Remember; “You’ll never never know if you never never go. Get out there and fish”

Tight lines

Jim Churchley

MILLION DOLLAR FISH

Some of the mob went to the launch of the Million Dollar fish yesterday afternoon, some interesting stats from The Chief Minister, Adam Giles.......there were over 30,000 that have registered.....over 200 were from overseas...ONLY 5,700 from the NT....all the rest were from the southern states.  

It costs nothing, and you may land the $1,000,000 fish or one of the seventy five $10,000 fish that are being released.....would be a shame if you were not registered...

here is the link to register.....http://www.milliondollarfish.com.au/

We managed to get up close to the $1,000,000.00 all decked out in an Engel....hope you get the fridge too...

here's how to enter and register......



There was about 200 at the launch, which was held in the Main Hall at Parliament House.  Heaps of fantastic finger food including barra and croc.  Lots of cold yummy bubbly too.  The catering and staff were marvellous.   I couldn't believe it when I got an email from Parliament House that said,        " ...you were the first to register..." and I got a few little prizes, including a shirt like Matthew Hayden is wearing....hope it's a lucky omen for the mob.

THE IDIOTS GUIDE TO BYNOE

I hope I don't offend anyone, but, unless you are one of the gurus, Bynoe can be difficult like any other harbour on the flats for fly....so seeing I'm not the smartest, but have done well out there, I thought that I should give some very suspect advice....especially seeing the Bynoe Sheep Station Stakes is on in a few weeks.

For some really good advice click onto these links  Accuracy  and Game Plan from Graeme the Grey

First off.....since we have been fishing with an electric motor we have caught less fish...why?????

I think it is because we keep moving.....I have watched some of the gurus.....they use the electric....but on the slowest speed or anchor....in the old days we would beach ourselves and wait for the fish.....I think,  the Grey Ghost ''GG'(Graeme) often sits and waits for the fish too....but with the bloody electric we keep moving.....so when the fish arrive we are often not there.

The year that the old girl got seven species for the Challenge three days in a row, we did not have the electric on and we sat in spots for a set time, fifteen minutes, then moved on.   If the tide has over 4m movement.....as the gurus says...you only have that short window to fish before they move on....so if you keep moving on the motor you often miss the fish ......on this occassion it worked.....while other boats only got a few we killed a pig.

I think the electric scares them too, or you are too busy looking and not fishing...so using it less may keep the fish around....not to mention what nearly always seems to happen is that you get into fish, get careless with you line and the next thing its wrapped around the electric and no one can fish....and if you are uncorordinated like me, how man times when you hook a fish, instead of turning off the electric or heading out away from the fish, you hit rocket propelled and drive into the mangroves.   I first saw this fishing with Chris Makepeace before I had an elecric.  He would catch a fish, forget the electric or hit the wrong button and the next thing we were on the bank.   It must be an old mans' thing (both Chris and I were born the same year in the 40's) because I do the same bloody thing.

So, maybe you need to change your habits with the electric???

the next thing is the fly.....truth is...I have heaps of 'pretty' flies....but the simple white clouser is really the must fly to have....it works every time...I must say though, for big fish, a special fly often works better but look at this...a small white clouser when nothing else was working

The fly is an anaemic white clouser.....

Nearly a metre on .......

......a white clouser

so!!!!!.......what fly should you have with you???????

Now ...where to fish.....this is the most interesting and everyone has a 'spot'.....but each spot is subject to the tides...there is a group that loves Turtle Island  at the top of Bynoe, and if you get there at the right time....it will be great, trouble is....when is the right time.

Really I don't think you should lock yourself into a specific spot.....if it ain't fishing...move on.

In one Challenge we got into schools of threadies on a creek mouth to a flat that only drains on very low tides....I think we got eleven of them and could have got more....Lord Jim and the Stig got onto huge schools of them as they were coming out of a  flat opposite us, but this flat drains early and they didn't catch any. (I think the fish were getting off the fast draining flats and coming across to where  we were).....Wayne Hinton (A guru and the first to get the seven species) used to pick an area across from fast draining flats and sit in the quieter water.  So have a look at the flow/currents and maybe you will find these spots, and there are quiet a few of these spots on Bynoe.  What did we catch them on....guess??

So basically what I am saying, is that if the flat is draining fast, often the fish will go past without looking at the fly, whereas, even on the same tides, if it is an area that drains a bit later we seem to do better on it. (Maybe we a just arsey?)

You must really know and understand, as best you can, the tides in that area...

Lines...well we mainly use a ghost tip intermediate line with a floating back.   There are a variety of these about with 9 foot and 15 foot intermediate heads, both type 1 (sinks around 1 inch per second) and type 2 (sinks around 2 inches per second).   We also have back up 200 or 300gn lines which have a sink tip and intermediate running line.  (These are for over the rock bars on higher tides).

Leaders are only short.  Only a metre of 30lb from the fly line and a metre of 20lb or a bit lighter from that.   No bite tippet, but for macks will have a very short wire trace, no more that 3 inches because it seems to scare the fish off?.

Now I did say this is the Idiots guide so dont be too hard on me, but perhaps some of the tips might help....hope they do.

THE STIG - Bynoe DFR Slam weekend

See the Stigs blog at THE STIG

Late start leaving town with wife having a riding time with her horse on Friday arvo.

Peter picks me up and we arrive at Sand palms at 9pm, Got into the donga straight away and asleep in seconds - tough week and I was completely stuffed.

Day One:

While we were not fishing the DFR competition the goal of the day – catch the seven species of the DFR Bynoe Slam – Barra, Tarpon, Queenfish, any species of Snapper, Salmon, Trevally, and Mackerel. Far easier to say than do. 

But ya gotta try !

Up at 5:40am, on water just after 6am. Plan was to fly fish Knife Island at top of tide for pelagics -- macks, queenies and trevally, heading to far back of Charlotte river to chase barra on flats at bottom of the low tide. Good plan – but fish didn’t buy into it.

We managed a few queenies and I got a mack and queenie at top of Knife – missed a good trevally at side of boat. Fish were sporadic in activity but there at least. 

Local fly guide Graham comes by in his 21 foot Hewes, quick chat and off he goes up inside of Indian Island (maybe should have followed!).

The weather is not too bad - little wind, dropping tide – thought the SWOFFING would have been better.

We head up to the Charlotte River arm at back of harbour. Haven’t been up here in a long, long time.

At the main rock bar at back of river we venture further upstream and see a few fishing busting up surface – just small trevally. On gravel bars we see black fish (pikey bream?) but flighty.

All day any sighted fish was spooked on the cast even before a fly was placed near it. Tough day.

We cast to every dribble of water entering from drains, casting repeatedly along and through colour changes, cast to every rock bar and structure – zip – well almost not zip as sadly on one retrieve along a rock strewn edge as I prepare to roll cast – this giant flash of crimson chases the fly to the surface and turns leaving the hugest boil where the fly was. Bugger missed a very good Mangrove Jack.

We see rays, sharks and baitfish – but none of the target fish we wanted to catch from this backwater – Barra, salmon and tarpon.

We try several places on way back up the harbor towards Crab Claw Peninsular. Get my third (small snapper) and fourth (small trevally) species. Peter was after his fourth at Kiara Rock and rock strewn flats behind it but wind blew us off this area.

Wind gone crazy by now. We think to try top of Knife Island but by time we get there the wind has shifted 180 degrees and increases to a gale or so it seems. So off to Milne Inlet ramp we head – done for the day.

Peter gets three species – a queenie, trevally and a small mack from a spot way up the charlotte river – that you would expect to get a barra from – a muddy drain – what a crazy day.  

I was two species for the day after the first couple of casts at Knife Island (a mack and a queenie) then zip until Kiara Rock, where I picked up two tiny fish but two species all the same -- a trevally and a Russels Snapper. 

Main flies used for the day were small white clousers (some bucktail, some goat hair) and small silicone surf candies.  

Tomorrow if wind is nice we plan to fish the top of Harbour. Here’s hoping. 

Had as always a great counter meal at the Sand Palms Pub for dinner, then caught up with Lord Jim for a bit (he found it a tough day too!). 

Lot of new faces amongst the DFR members. a few of the regulars missing. Didn't hear much of any DFR competition results. Will have to check out DFR club website once updated with comp results. 

Then off to sleep and hoping to be off early to do it again on Day two.
(a bit pessimistic given same wind and tides on Day Two)

 - Day Two

Day Two of the Weekend dawned spectacular

We were going to head right out to Quail Island region at the front of Bynoe Harbour for the pelagics on our DFR Bynoe Slam list (and planned later to hit the flats on the western side of Indian Island for salmon, barra and tarpon as the tide bottomed out round midday) but as we sped passed Knife Island towards our planned destination we noticed regular bust ups along the sand bar that extends southward from the south west corner of the island.

With in a couple of casts both of us had a couple of species.

But just as quickly the fishing went quite as if there was no such thing as a fish in water.
We then continued our journey to the front of the harbour .
As you can see below Peter was quite comfortable during the ride north. That's Knife in the middle and the pearl farm sheds on the left.

We just could not catch a break out front

no fish showing, likely ambush points of predators empty of baitfish and predators

We come back in to Simms reef. Peter gets a follow of a large trevally when he hooked a smaller one.

I cast to a rock ledge and fluke a nice mangrove jack on a tiny anorexic bucktail clouser - which made my day!

on trip back up into harbor
Turtle island empty too

The flats opposite six pack we got blown off by the increasing NW wind

Just as we were starting to hear barra 'boofs' and see panicking bait at the front of drains - I lose control of fly line and it wraps securely around the electric motor. We didn't have the right socket to undo the locking nut on the motorguide. Pliers didn't work nor any other tool on the boat.

So that was it for the day - very sad. wind the surging wind and the need to control the boat to cast in the right places - would make it hard work and we were a little flat (particularly me!) - back to the boat ramp to head home.

I put the poor results down to the wind in particular (could it be flies, casting or me not showering!)

Sooooo looking forward to the calmer mornings prior to afternoon storms during the build up weather period over the next couple of months here in Darwin.

NT Fly Fishers Social Mob and its Sheep Station Stakes is on in four weeks - similar tides, so hoping the winds are kinder in four weeks time

see you there - start tying your flies!

The Stig 

Bynoe - Bad tides, bad boat electrics and only one Queenfish

From the STIG

The night before was awesome - but no room at the inn (or in this case the Sand Palms Pub and hotel)
Well at least rooms in the cheap dongas - so I set up the mozzie net beside the boat and put the camp bed under it to then sleep under the stars.

WHAT A DISPLAY OF GRANDEUR the nighttime stars are.
I so had high expectations for the next day!!!
And went to sleep dreaming of screaming reels and tight lines rooster tailing across the calm water's surface - Yeeehhaaahhh!!!!

But I told you the tides were bad for flats fishing in my last blog. But I knew this before I drove to Bynoe. I had some stuff to do on Saturday at Dundee and so why go all that way without taking the boat and taking the chance for some fly fishing!

Very much so bad tides as it turned out, with so little movement not many fish seen, those that were seen - flighty and inconsistent. What is the saying = 'no flow; no go' (??)

It must be said that the Barra were there - but right at the back of the mangroves boofing away at their breakfasts
Sadly for me, with the neap low of 2.9 at 4:40am - it meant that while I was on the water at 6:30am, by the time I got out front of Bynoe to Turtle (or Turkey on some maps) Island........
I was already too late for that prime time of casting flies at the edges of the mud flats as the Barra etc waiting to cruise up and onto the flats for a buffet dinner with the rising tide. Instead they were out of the range of my poor casting skills.

On the way to this spot out the front of Bynoe Harbour while zipping along at 5200 revs and 27 knots - unexpectedly the motor died for two seconds throwing me slightly forward and came to life again surging the boat forward again - "that was weird!" but I kept going arrive at my first stop 20 minutes later.
And after mooching along casting distance away from the edge of the mangroves with the electric motor for twenty minutes of fruitlessness casting (no, it was good casting practice - of which I need heaps more of ! My accuracy was atrocious, my loops far too big to put a fly under the tree limbs or into tight spots) - so time to move on to the next spot but as I go to start the motor =====

          NOTHING! zip,  no beeps no nothing - BUGGER!

I start play with the battery switch (multiple times!!!), every wire I could see was touched and twisted. I next set to undoing, scrubbing and cleaning battery terminals (Battery was in the green in its fancy looking eyepiece on top of the battery - so it was OK),
I check every wire joint I could see, worried about the ones I couldn't - after 20 minutes and much profanity and outbursts of frustration - I shove the battery with much intention and determination thinking I might as well throw it overboard - and would you believe it - a few sparks ensue and power is restored. (thinking it might be a crack in a wire that only connects at certain angles but was too scare to touch it while it was working

I abandon my plan for a full days SWOFFING and head back to the Milne Boat Ramp.
However by calculating the incoming tide and wind direction I am sure that if I stop at Knife Island, I can fish for a bit and get a queenie or two before heading to ramp. and if motor doesn't start then the electric, wind and tide would (hopefully) get me back or at least to Crab Claw to bum a ride back to Milne Inlet Boar Ramp to get my ute and trailer.

As I arrive one other boat is close to the mangroves on the north side of Knife Island. I place a cast in behind them at a disturbance of bait near the rock bar on the north east corner and start stripping the fly with a staccato motion. On lifting leader to water haul and cast again, I see the tell tale flash of an average queenie behind my fly and recast immediately - punching out half the fly line. I thought I was too short in distance but I am on after one short strip. YES! Sorry guys pinched your fish! As it turned out the only one keeper for the day for me after such high expectations. I did catch ten or so small 20-30cm trevally from various submerged rocks around Knife Island, but sent them all back to tell mum (or better still big grandpa) to come visit me!

While fighting the 50cm queenie, I hear a familiar voice - "Is that you Richard?"
It was Jeff Watson and his brother in law who spent the night at Crab Claw

Jeff making a habit of this - three times now he has seen me getting into fish - he promised he isn't stalking me (lol). I see it more of a lucky charm (lol).

We have a bit a chat, I pass over a few of my silicone surf candies- Jeff takes a long distance pic of my fish
Don't you love my footy socks! For sun protection and definitely not a fashion statement - thanks for pic Jeff (email got to me before I got home).

 (When looking at this fish - don't for get I am a big guy at 191cm and 110kilo - and most things look small in my hands or so I tell my wife! Trust me it was 50.5cm on the measuring stick (the queenfish not the other 'thing')

And with no real action about, I electric it around the Island a couple of times in search of opportunities. I see small macks busting the surface 200 metres away but they are quite elusive and flighty, a splash or two from other fish (?) but by the time I get there nothing for the several casts I place over the water previously disturbed.

I did hear heaps of boofing at the very back of the mangroves on the south side but by now the water was right to the very, very back of the mangroves. I tried to get in to them but it was too tight for a cast (well my casting) - let alone get the boat in there.So very frustrating to hear all that. I swear they do it on purpose!

So with the fly fishing aspects not looking like improving and boat electrics on the fritz - I start to head home to the boat ramp,
With a artistic and well aimed kick to the battery and a few more ensuing sparks - the main motor has power and off I go to the ramp.

Back at the ramp, another father's day fishing outing is in dire straights for some boaters who got no further than the ramp with no steering.
I have tools and grease but no go on the steering - very sad for them.
I cheer them up by giving them a few silicone surf candies. They were not SWOFFERS, but I tell them how to cast them on light spin gear with a running ball sinker the size of your little finger fingernail on the leader. Fortuitous too, as they had been looking for something to cast to tuna and this fly was perfect (well once their steering is fixed!)

Trip home to Darwin was uneventful (always waiting for a wheel to fall off my poorly maintained boat trailer - so pessimistic lately!).
Just a short stop over at the Sand Palms a minute or two from boat ramp - this to book a donga for the Sheep Station Stakes       - only five weeks to go!

Always loved the Bynoe Slam comp of the DFR club - catching 7 specified species in a day (got six once in pre-comp practice outing - but as expected the barra nemesis was the missing fish - arrggghh!)

But the Stakes has its awesome mojo too - with 5 fish species chosen out of a hat for each day of comp to catch for bonus points - it makes you really think about your options and SWOFFING
Certainly glad I will be fishing out of my mate Peter's boat (well I think we are) for the Stakes and not my aging beast that needs a kick to get it working (just like me says my wife!!)

I didn't even get to cast the latest fly - the Bynoe P&C
Next time maybe

See you on the water ----  get SWOFFING!

SIGHTFISHING AND THE NEED FOR ACCURACY

                                       Coming soon ...' the knock um downs' of Bynoe Harbour.

The past week you could certainly notice the change in humidity and the early morning cool disappearing,winds still seem a bit strong and have been relatively different, the southeasters that generally prevail have been more East and the afternoon Northwester has been more West, I have no idea why.

Crab Claw Resort Bynoe Harbour in the middle of some of the best flats fishing in Northern Australia

The change has brought temperature rises in to the 26 to 29 Celsius and the Barra and Threadfin have been pretty keen to eat,this year was one that the often experienced lows of 21,22,23,Celsius never eventuated.As the storm photo at the front of Crab Claw shows it will soon be time to pull the boat out every evening, I learnt the hard way when these storms turn up and unfortunately  sunk two boats on the beach in my 17 years there.

The fly ( top left corner )heading towards the Barra strike zone

Flyfishing is a hugely variable method used in many diverse situations, in my world it centres around the visual stalking of two iconic species King Threadfin and Barramundi, in many respects it matters little to me what rod or fly you use (within reason, no feather dusters ) it certainly is a concern if your line control and accuracy is non existent then the results will show.

                                        The eye watering knee shake bulge behind the fly

                                                          Fork tail is a give away

Threadfin need the fly to be at their level initially, they often follow and strike in a forward motion.

One thing that wont change is the pedantic attitude of Barra and Threadfin when sight fishing,pure and simple if its not in front of its mouth within one or two casts you wont win,I often say it is either right or wrong and after watching 1000's of shots this doesn't change,sometimes they wont eat but having raised their interest they will follow all the way to the boat where if you lift the fly to the surface they think its going to go airborne and grab it.

                   Tight loops and accuracy is a distant dream here but its at least a start

...forgive my bluntness, and assuming this applies to some, but my advice next time your in the park impressing yourself (and anyone else) with casting perfect loops and the ooh arrh bugger me long casts take the time to fine tune your accuracy because clearly if you want Barra and Threadfin you need to be able to land on a dinner plate at 10 ms  and within a metre of your target anywhere out to 25 ms  after that its all heading down hill.

Big Trevally and Queenfish in the shallows don't require the level of accuracy Barra need but be prepared for needing a fast reaction

Anticipating the link between the movement of your fly and the fish you are going to intercept is a major factor. No fish likes bait running into it and I have yet to see a Barra eat with its rear end (believe me many have tried)

     Remember  one/one rule,one metre in front one metre past and strip in front of there nose

                                                       Fish above is the fish below

Tuesday kicks off the run up to the new moon the last two sets of tides have gotten better and this week should be great

Cheers Graeme

2015 BYNOE SHEEP STATION STAKES.....UPDATE NO. ONE

More of a reminder than an update, we have had a lot of people checking the dates for the Stakes (BSSS) and with the weather improving...ie wind is dropping and the cold is going..

The dates are the 10th and 11th of October 2015

.....thought that we should put out a reminder as our last post on this was June this year link is.....BSSS 2015......this link also has the reports from the previous stakes in links on the bottom of the post, the tides and the rules.....ie HAVE FUN.

We not only have the sheep station for a prize.....there is also the trophy donated by Julie and Tommy at Sandpalms .....for the biggest fish....won by Crusty last year...

...he's famous ...and also won this award  ...a picture says a thousand words

The Stig has been tying some beaut flies , click the link..What's in your Fly Box  ......and plenty of others at The Stig

From the Stig...Bynoe P&C fly

Courtesy of the STIG ......http://swoffingntwaters.blogspot.com.au/

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Crustacean pattern for Bynoe flats

On the vastness of the world wide web.......... for months and months I have been eyeing off and drooling over some of the countless and most realistic life-like prawn/crab patterns I could find

Not just to cast to fish but most importantly to tie, tie and tie some more

When tying prawn and crab patterns - materials are always the issue, 

Additionally, such patterns usually involve a plethora of a variety of materials

So when looking through your own tying cabinet............

It is about what do you have and what you don't have? 

And if you don't just the right material - what can be used instead of that suggested material? 

Critically, finding just the right bits and pieces to go with the other materials 

As too, finding materials with just the right sort of movement or lack thereof

And there is the matter of colour and or translucence of a material to think of - particularly with prawn patterns

Additional considerations are the 'eat-me-quick' triggers like size, eyes, legs, carapace and claws  

So after evaluating all these things and the materials I had on hand.....

Today I finally had a go at tying some, but prior to tying/making any fly, I like to organize my tying space.

First pack away everything but what is needed - materials and tools etc from last set of flies I had recently tied 

Then getting together all the bits I need on the one piece of foam

Lined up and ready to be used

as many as possible materials as possible are pre-cut and prepared where required, also the right quantity of everything counted out, and don't forget hooks need to be debarbed 

In this case of a prawn/crab pattern - the eyes are made. For this version, small black beads are heat welded on to 80lb mono.  For the 'heat weld', I just melt tip of mono stalk, then the bead is pushed onto the melted blob on end while pushing the bead and molten blob of mono up against a slab of metal or base of tying vise to ensure it is secured. 

If tying say 10 flies, I would feed twenty beads (two eyes for each fly - 2x10 = 20) onto a single long length of mono with a knot on end to stop them sliding off. The length of the mono would be enough for the twenty eye stalks and a couple extra just in case. Better then trying to pick up twenty stalks and twenty beads individually each time. After each 'heat weld', cut off stalk with side cutters from full length of mono to desired length, insert cut end into a piece of foam and make a few more. To finish off the eyes, give them a couple of coast of clear nail polish. Set aside to dry.   

Then the claws were made - these claws are a short piece of rabbit zonker with 5 minute epoxy stroked along its length but more so at base with not too much at tip of fur so still some subtle movement.

Less than hour prep for all this - then ready to tie the fly. 

This all makes the tying process far more faster to tie - more time efficient when you do the same thing repeatedly before putting down particular tools (or cleaning fingers after stroking epoxy onto the claw zonker).  

So with all all credit given to the multiple and highly talented fly tyers on the web, who have inspired me with their countless and very impressive prawn/crab patterns

But in the end - primarily based on the actual materials I actually had on hand that I felt worked worked together........

This is the pattern that ended up being tied........ part crab, part prawn, part lobster, part crayfish

A mutant of sorts!!!

Can hardly wait to test it out on the Barramundi, Threadies, and Blue Bastards that inhabit and frequent the flats of Darwin and Bynoe Harbours

So here's the sequence of how I tied it

• Lead dumbbell eyes tied in at the hook eye
• A touch of pink ice dubbing tied in at the hook bend
• Then rabbit zonker either side of hook shank at hook bend - using shoulder of pink ice dubbing tie in point to flare the zonker. may require a few judicious and purposeful wraps of thread to assist this flaring. 
• Some pearl ice dubbing all around hook shank at the claw tie in point but only a whisper of this ice dubbing material - not too much at all
• Turn fly over in vise so hook point is up
• Then rubber leg material - in this case grizzle rubber legs
• Then eyes on stalks either side of hook shank with black beads half way along claw length
• Then tie in Flash'n'Slinky material in 'shrimp' colour for this version - keep material on the to top and the sides of pattern as it would sit on the mud flats
• Finally, tie in some grizzle craft fur at hook eye - ensuring material lays along the top of the fly

Like always - tie ten of them and go SWOFFING

I have named it the Bynoe P&C fly  (basically a Bynoe Prawn and Crab fly)

Hopefully I can entice some flats inhabitants in Bynoe Harbour to like the pattern as much as I do 

(even though a few seem to have too much bulk in their claws)

Heading to Bynoe on weekend - so here's hoping the opportunity is fruitful

Enjoy life - go fly fishing, better still go SWOFFING!

Richard