I did it.. I finally did it!

After 1.5 years of training, finallyI caught a fish on the fly rod. It was exciting, refreshing, fulfilling, amazing and so much fun to catch a fish omn the flyrod. I simply loved it.. I dont know if I can really describe teh feeling, other than saying that the 1.5 year hard work I spent, was all worth it. Its not the last time I fly fish!

So what is new?

I have been neglecting the blog a long time, as you can see om the date for the posts. However, that doesn't mean that I haven't been doing stuff.

Take a look at the sketch gallery and you'll see new sketches done with new techniques - I really feel that I am evolving and moving forward with my sketching skills.

Regarding 3D, I have been using Zbrush a lot at work, creating textures for our models. Hereby gaining more control over this awesome software. Learning vray for Maya is also ongoing - I really like that renderer.
Been looking into effctive ways to do re-topology for models and found TopoGun, and currently looking into that and trying to see if that fit into our pipeline.

Fishing season just started, and I caught 3 trout so far. Still havn't had luck with the fly fishing, but I am getting better at controlling it. Its still a bit hard if I havnt got enough room behind me, but I am practicing every chance I get.


Thats it for now.

Fly casting training.

Saturday came, the day where I was going to the fly casting class at Filskov lystfiskersø together with my brother in-law, his son and my dad in-law. We were all quite excited and had been looking forward to the class. But the weather was against us with wind-speeds at 14 m.sec and heavy rain showers early in the morning, the possibility of the class actually going to happen was very minimal.

But we decided to go to the lake and take the chance that the class was going to happen. So we packed the car and added our normal spinning rods too, in case we couldn't get the fly fishing going with all the wind.

When we arrived, 3 others was attending the class too and the instructor had started helping one who just bought a fly rod in the store, showing how to attach the backing line, explaining knots etc.

He then put one of those loops on that you glue to the line, so that you don't have to tie so many knots and makes it easy to change the line on the reel. He also attached one in the end of the fly-line, so he could change leader very quickly - neat trick (which is the same way my own line is attached, but it still impress me when I see it)

Creating the leader, he told that buying the pre-made leaders was kind of waste of money, but instead you can just take some normal 0.26 mm mono line and use that. The tapering really didn't do that much difference in his opinion (However, I have only tried the pre-made tapered leaders, so I can't really tell if theres any difference or not. Once I try, I'll let you know).

A few of the things that just needed to be prepared was, that my farther in-laws fly line was rolled on the wrong direction on his reel, so we had to unroll that and re-roll it in the other direction. This was quickly done by grabbing the end of the line, and start running until the reel was out of line. Then Just roll it on again.

When all the rods was assembled, it was time to select a fly, and attach it to the leader - and he taught us a knot that was a little loop, called the Rapala-knot. This loop should enable the fly to act a lot more lifelike in the water.

I usually just use the clinch-knot to tie every hook to my lines, so this was a new to me.

The weather look a little better, but still with extreme wind, so we found a place where we could have the wind in our back. Far from optimal for a casting class, but at least we gave it a try.

The instructor started slowly, telling the basics of the fly cast:

- It's the line you cast, not the fly.

- Keep the elbow to the body

- Don't use the wrists too much.

- 10 and 12 o'clock stops of the arm.

- Timing.

Casting in high speed winds is hard!

Now it was our turn, so we spread out, making room for each other and started casting. I started by taking out a little line, and just threw the fly in the lake in front of my feet. And then I saw the fly's movements in the water, with the rapala-knot. The fly was moving like a lifelike insect struggling for its life, compared to my normal clinch knot which just lies there doing almost no movement.

People started casting some with nice success, others with limited success. My brother in-law had a fine grip of the technique however a little too fast and unrelaxed, but as time went on it got a lot better. His 12 year old son, who had never even held a fly rod before, was struggling in the wind with the line too long, too short, too fast and so on. Most of the time he was entangled in the line.

My farther in-law had tried fly casting once before, so he was a mess to begin with, but quickly got the hang of it, ended the class with pretty decent casts, but with the same issues that I just stopped having : the back cast stop. He was stopping at 2 o'clock instead of 12, which makes the fly catch the ground behind you more often. I don't blame him, since it is so hard not to bring the arm too far back.

Almost all of us had minor issues in the casting technique, but those of us who was "good" quickly got instructed very nicely how we should do it, and the mistakes was fixed during the session.

My learnings:

- One of my biggest problems was the actual cast, that often ended too close to me. And the instructor taught me to do the stop correctly and the result is a nice long controlled cast (yay!).

- I also learned how to do the roll cast, how to lift the rod keeping the line tight by the tension of the water and then with a flick of the wrist/arm, the line rolls two meters forward/sideways. Its going to be very useful for when your having trees or the like behind you, preventing a real back cast.

- The rapala-knot, was a nice learning, this baby really moves the fly.

To my surprise the instructor praised my technique, and he could really see how I had practiced a lot and he didn't really had much to correct! I had seriously feared that I would be corrected a lot and my hard work had been wasted.

So it is really possible to learn to do it without an instructor, just use Youtube and other videos a lot! and then practice, practice..

On the hook

While we were fishing, the guy next to me and I was talking about this and that, when I spotted a fish wakes in the water and I said to him "one there" and we both casted for it, both very close to it. And the fish took his fly, he landed the fish nicely - this was really fun to see, so his second time fly fishing and he caught something - Well done!

There was a farther and his boy attending the class and the boy accidentally caught himself in the nose about 1 cm from the eyes, in a way that it was impossible to take it out. The blood from his nose was not the way it should have ended for him and I wish him all the best.

But this should be a reminded for all to wear a hat and glasses, every time you fly fish no matter how experienced you are. Theres always sudden winds, other people fly casting or a moment where you are not 100% focused - so please wear the glasses and hat!

My conclusion of the class is that even though we didn't have the optimal weather conditions, we still learned a lot and I am really looking forward to next time I am going fishing - I am most certainly going to fly fish!

A couple of hours of solitude

Yesterday I went to Billund Put and Take. Just to try the place and get some fly casting training.

Now the place might be cheap, but it is in horrible condition. The lake need to be cleaned, and there's almost no place where you can land your fish, due to the grass and weed is do high at the bank of the lake.

During the two hours I spent, I only saw two splashes from fish, which makes me think that, the lake is almost deserted. Also the quality of the water wad really bad, with tons of Algee all around the edges of the lake.

Anyway, I got to practice my casting, which was my goal, and I tried the roll cast too.

But I don't think I am going to the same place again.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Diaries of a fisherman.... I must be crazy.

Well, the thing is...

My wife gave me a fishing rod and a reel for birthday a year ago. I was a bit baffled by that, because I had no idea whatsoever what I should do with that, when was I going to go fishing? Yes, I had been fishing as a child, so I wasn't completely clueless, but it was more that I don't ever fish - why would I want a fishing rod ?

I was frankly a bit disappointed by that present, but fate wanted it differently.

My brother in-law came visiting and we found a put and take lake not too far away from here and I brought my new rod and behold I caught a nice trout - And at that moment I was interested in the sport again.

During this spring, I have been fishing in Put & Take lakes quite a lot, my fishing equipment has grown to a considerable size, at least compared to before, and I have caught and eaten several fish, mainly trout.

I have been experimenting quite a lot with different kinds of fishing using spinners, different kinds of lures, made my own lures etc. and caught fish!

One day, I caught 2 really nice Rainbow trout at a around 1.5 kilos each. The next many times I didnt catch a single thing, but then one evening, two 1.5 kilo Rainbows and a Brook Trout around 1.1 kilo.. all in the same evening.

So now the problem arrived! Now I want to learn fly fishing!

I hate my wife was right, but I am HOOKED on fishing!

Fly fishing for newbie like me:

Okay, so I decided to learn fly fishing, so where to start? Well first of all, my brother and father in-law are crazy with fishing, so I mention it to them. And with enthusiasm in their voices they both say that they have tried and have taught themselves how to do it, but they really want to learn how to cast the fly correctly.

So I have enlisted all three of us with an instructor later this month. The course will cost 1000,- Danish Kroner and that includes a fly fishing kit and training and some fishing etc..

And I am waiting patiently - but....

one day at a P&T lake, in the little shop they have, I chat with the owner and I mention that I have enlisted for above mention casting course and telling him about the included equipment.

He then looks at me and tells me that I am about to do a mistake; not with the casting course, but with the equipment. And he then pick up the last fly fishing rod of a brand that I most certainly wouldn't be able to get in a kit! And also a reel of a quality that most certainly is NOT in a beginners kit like the one the course include! Total price is 1200,- but it is top notch quality gear!

Now to make a long story short, I end up buying the rod and the reel, and now I am the proud owner of a top quality fly fishing rod that I cannot use, because I have no idea how to cast the damn line.. I am living the dream of being one of those cool guys in the sunset, with the fly rod and - add more dream sequence here yourself..

Determined to learn how to use the rod, with the casting course awaiting in the horizon, I start to google. And end on Youtube where I watch numerous videos on how to fly fish. I even go to the local football field, to train by myself (I have seen the video, I can do this.....)

Well, no .. The result of the football field trip ends with me actually being able to cast the line, making the classical cast where the line is in the air, back and forth... I am on the right track.

Now I am ready to fish in a real lake! so I call a friend and we are going to the local P&T lake, fly fishing. But when I start with my newly learned moves, some old fly fisher starts talking to me and I have to confess that this is my first time actually fishing with the fly kit.. To my luck he doesn't laugh, but start teaching me (or rather correcting me) and I feel like I learn something that night at the lake.

The mistakes I made:

* I was holding on to the rod too tight, getting cramps in my hand

* I was casting way too fast

* When I got my false-cast going - lets say 30 meters in front and behind me in the air, when I wanted to make the actual cast, it landed frustrating 10 meters away, instead of the intended 30 meters!

Now during the fishing trip I learned a valuable lesson about fly fishing, "don't go fly fishing for the first time, without someone who knows what you have to do, so he can instruct you". Needless to say, we didn't catch a single thing, except what I caught : A tree behind me, where my fly was approximately 3 meters up in the tree - a trashcan that I pierced the plastic bag and a lamppost was hit with a loud "Tjiiiing" sound, but I guess that doesn't count like a real catch :P

However, I am very happy that I bought the right gear, everyone who has tried my fly fishing gear is saying "wow this is a great rod" - and it is also those who are experienced who said so.

But the effort was not wasted!

Since the total failure at the fishing trip, I have been studying fly fishing online and I found more videos on how to make the casts. And today I practiced what I studied on my lawn, using a practice fly (a piece of yarn) - And after a few casts, everything suddenly just worked as it should! ..

I am a lot more relaxed, I can shoot the line the full distance and not just the few meters, like at the lake, and the fly is ending in the place that I want!

I am not saying I am a pro now, that would most definitely be lying, but I am in control of the fishing rod, not the other way around!

So no, the effort was not wasted, but I need to practice, a lot! Practice makes perfect and I really want to make this perfect.

Whats next?

Next adventure in my fishing is waiting in the horizon: The fly casting course, next weekend. I am really looking forward to it, I hope to get to learn more about the different types of cast, I hope to be corrected a lot! - and I hope that I soon catch my first fish on the fly. People say it is so special to catch one on the fly fishing rod! But I am patient and humble.

I am also arranging a fishing trip for the colleagues at work, and I Am very surprised that so many were interested in a fishing trip!!

So, until next time - please post if you have experience with fly fishing and want to share your thoughts.

New Macbook Pro..... waiting...

I ordered a brand new Macbook Pro, with all the sha'bang included. Delivery was to be quick and easy, but behold... its been delayed. Due to Intel inability to produce the i5 and i7 CPUs fast enough - oh and a small volcano that decided to spew ashes all over Europe.

Now, I can understand the Volcano thing, but when I received an email from Apple telling that my laptop has been shipped, then I expect to receive it aswell. The 18/4 it was shipped and a message telling me that carrier details to be updated soon. But no update as of yet.

On my tracking report it says it will be delivered today 29/4, but still no carrier information. Come on Apple, update your carrier status so I can know where my Laptop is!..

I called Apple..... And the friendly Apple after sales representative said that all customers with a delayed MBP should have received a an email telling it will be delayed... wheres my email???

All I can do is hope that it will be delivered today..... tick tock tick tock...the waiting is unbearable!

What an inspiration and vray for Maya.

I know its been a long time since I posted anything on my blog, but I lost my HDD in my iMac, and then I was pretty damn crippled for a looong time!

Lighting,

At work we have had a visit from former lighting TD at PIXAR, Jeremy Vickery (www.jermilex.com) who helped us understand color and light a lot better. It was really amazing to learn from one of the people with a huge experience from the top movies like Cars, Ratatouille and The Incredibles.

Jeremy was so kind to share his knowledge and that he was sitting right net to you while working was such a great help, just being able to ask "if I want to, then ... ??" and the answer was immediately answered.

During that week I really learned a lot of process, practical lighting and color theories - thanks a ton Jeremy! - looking forward to the next visit..

We were also trying out v-ray for Maya, and found that it produces some fantastic images with very little effort, but also that it still can be improved a lot!. Simple Maya things that you take for granted is missing, like the manipulator tool on lights and IPR is simply too badly implemented still.

Documentation is an area for improvement and also tutorial material that is targeted at Maya would be really nice. And why have a shader available that will crash Maya when you click it??

However it is the first version of v-ray for Maya and with that in mind, its a great renderer! The look of the result is fantastic.

Christmas,

yes, christmas is very close, and I wish you all a happy xmas and a happy new year.