The winter temps seem to be dropping, but the local winter bonita bite is still hot. Here’s a beauty by our friend and kayak master, Jim Salazar with a 28 inch bone, landed in our backyard. Photo courtesy of Jim Salazar
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no more bow knots…
Here’s a qualifier for the Cool Sh#t section of my blog! These new plastic laces from Hickies. Great for on the boat or off, they will NOT catch a fly line and make ordinary shoes into slippers, easy to take on or off!
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carp love…
watch this video till the end, while swimming this articulated beast fly to inspect it’s action in the water, we had a surprise visitor take a swipe at the fly, luckily my buddy Jim pulled it away at the last second. I think the carp wasn’t trying to eat it, she was just in love with the sexy action….lol
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flies for the flats….
I will be doing an intermediate/beginner fly tying class on some classic saltwater flats patterns that I have personally used with success. The class is on December 15th, right around the corner at Marriotts in Fullerton. (info below)
The class is limited to 6 tiers and unfortunately just sold out…
We will cover 6 classic flats patterns. A modified Enrico Puglisi/Crab, Squimp, McVay/Gotcha, Fernadez/Snapping Shrimp, Ververka/Mantis Shrimp And Nauheim/Crazy Charlie. Also time permitting, I will demo how I make my DIY silicone crab legs and mono eyes…it should be a fun session, I hope to see ya there.
Next year I will try to do two more advanced fly tying classes: one on big saltwater streamers and baits, may throw in the Beast! …and one on warm water bass flies.
tight lines… -Al
Flats Fly selection tied by Al Quattrocchi.
Categories: Crab flies, Q Flies, Uncategorized
Tags: #alquattrocchi, #flatsfishing, bobmarriotsflyfishingstore, flatsflies
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a nice note from a friend…
My friend Wade Yoshi, is in my humble opinion, one of the best permit fly fisherman on the planet, with well over 300 to hand. I am fortunate to be able to listen and take notes every chance I get when we talk about these crazy fish. I developed my “Pinche Crab” a few years ago based on Will Bauer’s original crab fly, which Will taught me to tie back in the nineties. I modified it, using my home-made sili claws. It makes me happy when an accomplished angler like Wade lets me know we are on the right track…
Hey Al Q,
Been having some bad luck, past few trips. LDR (an acronym for long distance release) 5 fish in both Oct and November. Then this trip, not many shots again, but had every permit see the fly, attack the fly but no hook ups. Today, first shot same thing. Second shot landed the permit, but hook was bent, and broke when we tried to fix it. My guide picked one of your flies, and next shot we landed this nice single. Then for my 4th shot of the day, I casted to a push, and landed a nice bonefish on your fly….
Wade
Categories: Crab flies, Permit flies, Q Flies, Uncategorized
Tags: #alquattrocchi, pinchecrab
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giving thanks…
The set prior to the shop’s opening. Photo by Al Q
photo courtesy of Zino Nagasuji
Stan tying up a storm with Matt Abrams. Photo by Al Q
Lefty Deceivers tied by Matt Abrams and Stan Beringhele. Photo by Al Q
Thanks to Bob Marriott, Graham Day, Kevin Bell, Mike Maloney, Jim Solomon, Matt Abrams, Stan Beringhele, and all who took the time to come pay tribute to fly fishing legend, Lefty Kreh, I personally want to thank all of you that showed up to be part of this special day. The conversation I had with Bob Marriott was priceless, his insights and travel adventures with Lefty were truly a joy to hear first hand as they both pioneered some amazing fly fishing destinations together such as Christmas Island, Costa Rica and Papua New Guinea. Bob was a real sport to do this and I was honored to be able to engage in conversation about the early days of saltwater fly travel with him. The day was an emotional one for me since it was originally through Marriotts Fly Shop back in the late eighties, I first met Lefty Kreh, when i booked a two-day trip up to Hot Creek Ranch. Little did I know at the time, it would take me full circle back to Marriotts to pay tribute to one of the most important, legendary anglers of modern fly fishing history and my old friend and mentor, Lefty Kreh. I know he was smiling down on all of us… – Al Q
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Tags: bob marriotts fly store, flyfishinglegend, Lefty Kreh, thankyoulefty
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are U 4ocean?
I just stumbled upon this cool website, 4ocean off of instagram and really dig the vibe of the work this fine organization is putting forth. If you purchase a bracelet made from disgarded plastic trash removed from our ocean, ($20 purchase) you actually have helped remove about a pound of plastic! I just jumped in and supported them and will wear my bracelet proudly. Please share the love, we all need to do our share, and please remember to stay away from plastic straws, cups or water bottles, try to drink from metal re-usuable containers. The birds, fish and oceans will thank you!
save the date…
I have teamed up with my friends at Bob Marriotts Fly Fishing Store and many other close fly fishing friends to do a “Thank You Lefty” Day at the fly shop. I really think it is important to celebrate Lefty Kreh’s life here on the west coast, whether you knew him personally or not or saw him at the fly shows of past, he was one of the most powerful influential forces for any of us that waved a fly rod, in salt or freshwater. His casting techniques, sense of humor, articles, wit and blue collar approach to simplifying one of the most complicated pastimes goes without parallel. On Saturday, November 17th we will celebrate Lefty’s life and legendary status in our flyfishing industry. We will show films, tie Lefty’s Deceivers, have some of the best casting instructors on the planet explain his style and teaching approach to casting, do an interview with Bob Marriott who first hand, traveled the globe fly fishing with Lefty, tie some Lefty loop knots, tell some funny stories and jokes in memory of a man that really had no equal…hope to see ya there.
-Al Q
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Tags: #leftykreh, #saltwaterflyfishing, bobmarriotts, flyfishng, legends the flyrod, thankyouleftyday
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thank you lefty day…
Hope to see you all on this fun, tribute to Lefty Kreh, “Thank You Lefty Day” on Saturday, November 17th at Bob Marriotts Fly Fishing Store from 11am to 3 pm. Lefty “Bernard” Kreh was one of the most famous fly fishing personalities and fishing legends in the world. We will have demos in tying Lefty Deceivers, tying Lefty Non-Slip Loop knots, Lefty’s Unique Casting Style with the experts and I will interview Bob Marriott about being a close friend to Lefty and traveling around the world pioneering new fly destinations with him in the early days of saltwater fly fishing. Hope to see ya there…
If anyone is interested in tying deceivers or half & halfs that day, please contact me!
-Al
thanks for joining us…
photo courtesy of Larry Acord
It was fun hanging out with old and new friends at the SWFFF Fly Fair this weekend in Glendale. It was the first fly show in many years from the SWFFF and lasted two days, Saturday and Sunday. Thanks to everyone who made the trek and got to see Jon and my presentation entitled “The Corbina Diaries” We did one presentation each day. We went over some really cool inside stuff and shared the evolution of Corbina sight fishing which we and our tight group of fishing buddies (Corbina Patrol) worked hard at to pioneer and open up to the next generation of fly anglers. It was great having Jon share his angling insights to approach to sight fishing this fantastic fish on light fly gear. See ya all soon, hopefully on the sand. Think purple!
-Al Q
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flies, sand & surf 