The design and styling of salmon flies have changed significantly over the years. Initially, these flies were made exclusively from feathers and silk, but today they often incorporate various hair materials. Over time, the choice of hair has also evolved. Early hair-wing salmon flies were tied primarily with deer hair, squirrel, and calf tail—all fairly stiff materials. In the 1980s and 1990s, however, Scandinavian fly tiers began favoring softer materials like fox tail and raccoon dog. It was during this period that tying salmon flies on tubes became the norm.
Svend Saabye in the process of signing his iconic book “Lystfiskerliv”. Photo: Søren Glerup.
Svend Saabye
Svend Saabye was an artist and fly fisher from Denmark (1903-2004). He was an important figure in the Danish artist community and motifs from nature is what dominated his artist’s career. Nature was a constant factor in Saabye’s life, because he was also among the first to write in Danish and more extensively on fly fishing. He was quite a prolific writer and his most important work is, “Lystfiskerliv”. For a proper translation this title needs a little explaining. “Lystfisker” is Danish for a sports fisherman, but without the “sport” – it translates more directly in to “a passionate fisherman”. This book was more than anything about his love for nature and fishing. Another important publication is “Fluefiskeri efter ørred og stalling”, “Flyfishing for trout and grayling”.
Svend Saabye was an important figure in the development of fly fishing here in Denmark and apart from his love for the Danish streams and lakes he travelled to Norway for salmon.
Søren Glerup knew Svend Saabye, as well as many of the others nestors of fly fishing in Denmark, and has allowed us access to manuscripts previously published in a Danish hunting and fishing journal “Jæger og fisker”, which we’ll be bringing here over the coming months. Saabye’s artist background of course meant that he painted and drew fish. We hope you’ll enjoy these musings and drawings by Saabye.
Blane Chocklett testing Game Changers on Jack. Photo: Blane Chocklett.
Ahrex Hooks and Blane Chocklett Present the XO784 – The Ultimate Game Changer Hook
Ahrex Hooks proudly introduces a brand-new hook series: the XO784 BC Game Changer – developed in close collaboration with Blane Chocklett. This innovative hook is the first ever designed specifically for the Game Changer shank system.
Where the road begins and home for the Ammarnäs trout and trophy Grayling
The village Ammarnäs is located in the western part of Swedish Lapland in Northern Sweden and around 100-200 people lives here, depending on season The slogan for Ammarnäs is,” Where the road begins” and if you look at the map, you can see why, or choose to see that only one road leads from or to Ammarnäs. If you travel up here by car or by bus, you can make a pitstop in the little bigger society Sorsele and pay a visit at Hook and Cup Sorsele Visitor Center. They have staff that knows a lot about flyfishing a little shop with fishing gear, a cafe and a museum. From Sorsele it´s only 90 kilometers on the road left up to Ammarnäs and the brown trout paradise.
By Mikael Lindström
Photos by Mikael Lindström, Henrik Kure & Morten Valeur
(this artickle has been published in the online magazine “FFE Magazine”)
The Gray Sky and the Magic of Rainbow Trout Fishing in Hökensås
The sky is gray, and the car’s thermometer shows a few degrees above freezing. Today, an extra fleece sweater is essential to ward off the damp chill. As I round the bay and cross the small bridge over the lake’s inlet, a vivid blue streak shoots past and out over the water. The small blue kingfisher that often makes an appearance here in late autumn didn’t appreciate my company and quickly disappeared to the far side.
As the coastal waters cool down, shrimp once again move closer to the shore. Morten Jensen often explores unconventional coastal spots with calm, clear waters, where his favorite fly, the Agne Shrimp, frequently tricks the elusive autumn sea trout.
By Peter Lyngby
(this artickle has been published in the danish magazine “Sportsfiskeren” and the online magazine “In The Loop Magazine”)
XL size caddisflies whet the appetite and curiosity of many trout. Even when insects are sparse on the surface, a stripped Grandis can be a winner on the river or trout lake. Here, renowned Swedish fly tyer Håkan Karsnäser explains how to tie his popular dry fly treat.
By Peter Lyngby
(this artickle has been published in the danish magazine “Sportsfiskeren” and the online magazine “In The Loop Magazine
The hatch of the large mayfly, Ephemera Danica, is a high point in most trout fishers’ season. Read along to get a few tips from seasoned dry fly fisherman, John Petermann, as he shares his favourite flies – and a joker.
By Peter Lyngby
(this artickle has been published in the danish magazine “Sportsfiskeren” and the online magazine “In The Loop Magazine”)
Frequent users of Instagram and YouTube know that Morten Hansen, also known as Coastfly, likes realistic imitations of shrimp. None the less his favourite shrimp fly is simple and features no feelers, shell or eyes. Follow along as Coastfly explains how he ties his Baboon Shrimp.
I believe it was in the fall of 2019 that I accepted the offer to write the weekly Ahrex blog. That means that I’ve probably written over 250 blogs on so many different subjects. I’ve covered so many subjects, flies, different fisheries, styles of fishing, species and much more.
