I have a fun article called Pirate’s Party in this issue that talks about the beginnings of the flats fishing along Long Island’s north shore for striped bass in the late 80s. I got to interview two old friends Capt. Paul Dixon and John Abplanalp (Walker’s Kay Chronicles) who were both at ground zero when this all took place and started an entire new craze on the East Coast. It saddens me that many West Coast Fly Shops do not carry this publication, especially now that we finally have a voice on the west coast. Next time you walk into your local shop please ask them why this magazine is not in the shop? I am working my ass off trying to get good articles on our west coast fishery and talk about the history of our sport. If we want these stories to be heard we need to support this awesome publication, I believe it is the best saltwater flyfishing magazine in the country, please try to pick up a copy. Thanks…–Al Q
This month, all new and renewing members will be entered for a chance to win this awesome, one-of-a-kind, AMFF/Yeti Roadie Cooler. Winner will be randomly selected on May 1.
Recently renewed? No worries. You can renew again and your current expiration date will be moved ahead one year.
Consider giving a gift membership—and you’ll both be entered to win!
A big thank you to Yeti for their ongoing support of AMFF, and to our members for keeping fly fishing history alive.
Hope to see some of you guys at the Pasadena Orvis Fly Shop, tomorrow for a fun slide show of being prepared for your next local or international trip! We’ll be at the shop from noon till 2:30pm. I’ll be with my pal, Larry Acord who has much experience in the field of medical safety. Should be fun, bring lots of questions…
This is hopefully going to be some sort of a series. There is no rhyme or reason to when they will happen. Best to check this website. I will be doing a fly tying demo of the classic EP Peanut Butter, you are welcome to bring a vice and tie along. I would like to invite my friends and fellow fly fisherman to attend. Its free and something to help build community. Hope to see some new and old faces out there…. the first one we did was the EP Spawning Shrimp and I think there was some good info exchanged and I know we had a few laughs for sure. The EP peanut butter is a simple, yet effective small bait pattern that can represent any baitfish depending on the colors you choose. From a Bluegill to a Pinfish, i will do a classic Black/Purple used for everything from tarpon to freshwater bass… Cheers – Al Q
Top Row: Al Q and the great Andy Mill, The American Museum of Fly Fishing booth prior to the doors opening, Al Q and Ben Whalley. Second Row: Ben Whalley and Scott Stryker in Renzetti Booth, Dave Blinken (Mastery of the Vise Podcast Series, on-line host) and Al Q, Jim Freda (Shore Catch Charters, Ed Jaworowski, and Al Q Third Row: Jonny King and Q.
Sorry for this late post! Last month I was fortunate to travel to the Edison Fly Fishing Show in New Jersey with my good friend Larry Acord/Bajios Rod Socks. I was asked by Tail magazine to walk the show, distribute magazines and hopefully get some new and old friends to contribute content for future articles and fly tying pieces. I even got to meet up with all my friends at the American Museum of Fly Fishing booth which was great. Check them out online, they provide lots of great fly fishing history and content.
It is always bitter sweet for me to visit this well attended east coast fly fishing show because I have lots of history growing up back there and seeing all my old fly fishing friends kind of makes me sad we aren’t living closer to each other. There is so much saltwater fly fishing history on the east coast; it is where is all began here in America. The fly tiers are unequaled in their mastery. It always feels like its a high school reunion walking up and down the aisles. I always run into interesting people and get to make new friends. How can you not get inspired by all the talented new fly tiers on instagram these days like Capt. Ben Whalley for instance. Ben’s from Maine, he’s so talented and such a cool dude. As soon as I saw Ben we gave each other a big hug. Its that passion and mutual comradery that I always feel at this show. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great group of fishing buddies out here on the west coast. I am very fortunate and blessed. I just wish more of the younger west coast anglers would embrace saltwater flyfishing as one community and be more inclusive, less into their little clicks, and self promotion. Anyhow I am getting off my soapbox! Sorry for that digression.
It was very refreshing to be able to mingle with some amazing fly fishermen in Edison, see lots of cool new products and rub elbows with the legends of our sport. I am always learning something new. The fly shows look to be back on the rise after the dreaded Covid lost years. The Edison Show for me has always been a great indicator of how the fly fishing industry is doing as a whole, it always leads the pack! The enthusiasm seems to be high and we seem to all be moving in the right direction. Spread the love and take a stranger fishing. Cheers – Al Q
The Q’s Bay Ghost Shrimp! This simple shrimp pattern using synthetic Artic Fox Zonker strip in a peachy pink color for the entire fly. One material. The eyes are burnt mono, the legs are sand/black Sili-Legs. I use micro Krystal flash in black and pearl for Antenae. The body is dubbed with the under fur of the Zonker strip. Lead eyes are 5/32 and hook is a Gamaakatsu SL11-3H size 6. Weed guard is 40 lb. flourocarbon. Happy tying… –Al Q
I have decided to start a little series of fly tying sessions entitled feathers & cocktails. The first one will be held next Wednesday at the Shade Hotel dining patio around 6pm. There will be plenty of parking around the hotel. I will be demonstrating a really cool shrimp pattern designed by my good friend, Enrico Puglisi, called the EP Spawning Shrimp. This pattern is deadly on all species willing to eat a shrimp fly. You can tie them light with bean chain eyes or heavy with 7/32 dazzle or lead eyes. I like to used them for bonefish in skinny water, They will even entice a permit on the flats. I am sure our local corbina will eat one too. I will have very limited fly tying supplies, so please try to bring your own materials or just come to watch and take notes. It should be a fun –filled evening filled with appetizers, cocktails and lots of fish stories. I want to thank my good friend, Bill Matthews who helped organize this location for us and manages this restaurant’s hospitality and food for the Zislis Group. Bill is also a licensed captain with FlyTime fly-fishing and charters our local waters for calico bass, bonita, barracuda and other inshore species. Come on down meet some new flyfisherman and have a few laughs with us. Cheers –Al Q
This is a success story in the making, a great solution to cleaning up all the storm trash that filters out into Santa Monica Bay. It’s nice to finally see innovative solutions to problems that can be overbearing. Please watch this video, its really special….and I am so glad its in my backyard.
I will be doing a quick demo on how to set up your iphone settings to so you can take better photos on and off the water. I will also have examples of some of the apps I like to use to help make my photos stand out on social media. The slide presentation will be from 3 to 3:45 pm at the Double Haul Ball in Long Beach at the Long Beach Casting Club off 7th Street at Recreation Park this coming Saturday, December 10th. Should be a fun action packed day of saltwater fly fishing education. Admision helps to support The Mayfly Project and the Fly Fishers International SW Council Youth Programs.
flies, sand & surf 