Get the Point?

While fishing the other day I went to tie on a chartreuse rattle rouser. There were two in my box. The hook point on one was rolled. Had a file been in my possession it would have been fine, but I didn’t have one with me.

The second fly was dispatched to its watery duties and performed flawlessly for a while. Then I missed a strike. OK, not unusual. Then I missed another. Not a good thing, but not the first time I’d missed two in a row. Then I missed the third. OK, never really got tight on that one. Then the fourth was stuck solidly, and came off.

I pulled the fly in and looked at the hook. The tip of the point had broken off. I was fishing with a blunt! The two flies that were needed for the dark dirty water were not serviceable for lack of a file. Well, duh.

When I got home I tied some more flies, and put a file in my fly bag. Let’s talk files.

My favorite used to be a small, steel mill bastard file. Around saltwater no matter what I tried, and that was quite a few different things, they would rust to uselessness in a month. Toss it out and get a new one. Again. And again. Etcetera.

Dr. Slick makes a pair of stainless files with diamond surfaces. Both are awesome. The four inch version has a fine grit and a medium grit surface. The six incher has a medium grit and coarse grit surface.

They work extremely well and last a long time, even around the brine.

Unfortunately, for them to work you still need to remember to carry it with you.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2011. All rights are reserved.