Saturday 23 October 2010

Naturals vs synthetics

Here's a great example why I prefer naturals over synthetics. Here is a typical baitfish pattern tied with EP fibers. Sure there is no doubting they catch a lot of fish and the boys at Dykers produce and tie an extremely good looking and realistic fly, but as you can see synthetics when tied onto a hook goes extremely thin and the action it gives off although reminiscent of a fish in distress is rather limited. Again......these kind of realistic flies do account for a lot of fish being taken and at certain times of the year when pike are weary of a fly and have bellies full of fish this is probably the only line of attack.



Here on the other hand is a prime example why I prefer natural materials over synthetics. This double bunny has all the traits of what a fly should be doing for you in the water.Its bright....so it's visible & It pulses,vibrates and wiggles which in turn gives off a hell of a lot of vibrations under the surface. The downfall to using these kind of attractor patterns many people say is that they become extremely heavy to cast with. Well I can't argue that fact, but I've found that using these heavier waited flies I'm able to load my line better for casting and to be honest there is no need to be casting these kinda flies 25m. Another great aspect why I prefer naturals is..... if tied correctly it will last you ten times longer than a synthetic pattern purely because naturals are far more forgiving in a snotrockets gob. Some time over the next week I'll show you some examples of flies I've used this season between synthetic baitfish patterns and feathered fur streamers.

2 comments:

Dyckers.com said...

Simon, i totally disagree...

1. The strength.
There are so many synthetics on the market and the difference between them is huge. I doubt if you have ever fished with EP (3D) Fibers, but i can tell you that it is much stronger than all naturals simply because the material is stronger. Just take a part EP Fibers and try to break them. It is hardly possible. Compare this with zonker, bucktail or whatever and it is so easy to break.

2.Your synthetic flies.
Your synthetics flies are in my opinion wrong tied and thats the reason why it is messed up. The fibers around the shaft of the hook and near the eye are too long, so of course the fibers get messed up. Taking nice photos of your flies is something different than making fishable flies Simon....

3. extremely thin.
It is completely the other way. When you tie your synthetic fly the right way the hold the same shape in it is holding its size, while using zonkers or whatever under water is getting real thin. The only way to solve this is to use for instance double zonker strips, but they are so heavy to cast that you need almost a 10 weight to cast your fly 15 meters away.

4. Colours.
The EP pikestreamer in the movie has natural colours because the pikes in the Netherlands are being heavily fished and natural colours are more productive than bright colours. But if you want to use bright colours - use them - there are 42 colours from bright white till black in the EP assortment and you can use whatever you want. So again your story is not correct, I am sorry Simon, but I really do not understand why you count this as a reason.

5. Pulsing, Vibrations.
Man o man. It all depends how you tie your (synthetic) fly. Yes zonkers etc. are mving more underwater, but when you use other tying tactics you can make your synthetic fly dance like hell. And you want vibrations? or sounds? Use a rattle....

6. Casting.
You say there is no need to cast your pikestreamer 25 meter. Yes you are right most of the time it is not neccessary, but sometimes it can be the clue...
And when you are in the Netherlands please visit me for a contest pikeflycasting. I will use my EP Pikestreamer and you can use your double bunny. Lets see how the results are....

Please do not think your opinions are facts. We have lots of customers in the Netherlands and in fact all over the world using our pikeflies. More and more pikeflyfishers are using synthetics materials, simply because of the reasons above mentioned. If you are fan of naturals thats completely fine by me, but dont use my vid in the wrong context.

Cheers, Edwin
Team Dyckers.com

All about the grab said...

Firstly Edwin, In no way have I slagged your flies off....actually the opposite.There have been a few occassions over the last couple of years that I have plugged your flies for you with out a thank you from you even after telling you. Isn't always the cast that people are generally much quicker to complain about something when they dont like or understand what they see but when praise is given they generally cant be arsed with givng thanks.

I also Have never told you how to tie your own flies or remarked that they are badly tied in fact that has been the opposite on here,yet you have the fucking cheek to come on here and tell me that my flies are badly tied. Every fly tier ties their flies differantly mate & your way isn't any better than mine. I prefer natural over synthetics yet I still fish with synthetics every now and then. I tie and use all manner of flies as well as sell them, but looking at your Shops selection it looks like you sell a lot of enrico's stuff which are practically all synthetics so offcourse your going to defend your wares....well his anyway!

I have a lot of connections in the Netherlands mate,& also lived their for some time....its where I first started fly fishing for pike in 95 so I know a hell of a lot about fishing for them on your shores.....and if that is the case that you need to use more realistic fish patterns to catch your pike over there,why is it that so many Dutch pike fly fisherman use extremely large attractor patterns made from rabbit,bucktail,polar fiber then.

The post was definetely not having a go at your ep flies in the slightest, but more of a comparison between different materials. Maybe next time I wont have such glowing words about your stuff fella......swings n round abouts!