I love to work with natural materials as much as with synthetics. Having fished lures for a number of years, I knew what pikes liked, it was just a matter of putting all of that on a single hook.
I had many failures in patterns but that's how you learn and gain experience. I’m lucky to be where I am geographically speaking, this part of Ireland is full of rivers, loughs big and small. In fact, there are around 365 lakes and rivers in my neighbourhood, yes that's one for every day of the year!
It's the perfect test tank for my streamers, with a very healthy population of green mean jaws, I can quickly find out what will be an instant classic or just good for the chop and recycle the hook.
One of my most successful ones, “Chewbacca” was tied in the evening (after many whiskeys) and the very next morning after a few casts and some vicious attacks I knew I was on the money.
Now I'm happy to work with Funky Fly Tying in England, they provide me with some excellent materials, and they are always on the lookout to improve and extend their range.
I always try to promote in any way fly fishing for pike, and every day I see more and more interest in this side of the sport, from the mail I get and all the converts that come to my fishing lodge in Ireland. The future is bright and very promising ….
like a big Esox fly.