Bms?

[Christopher]

Hey there guys,

I'd read quite a few references on this forum to a fly called a BMS. Now, I'm new to this bream-wanding game, and have only really used the bream vampire, crazy charlies and jelly bellies (plus baitfish imitations, clousers minnows etc for flatties), and so I've never seen a BMS. Can someone post a photo or describe it?

Does it work better than the flies I've mentioned?

Also, do you guys tie your own flies? I've been thinking about getting into it. I used to be a fairly good oboe player, and made all my own reeds, and I figure there could be a few skills I could transfer from that. Is it easy to pick up and get into? What sort of costs am I looking at forking out for basic starting-out equipment?

All the best everyone.

P.s., avatar coming soon, hopefully!

[Chris_Macca]

BMS= Bullen Merri Special (named after Lake Bullen Merri in the geelong area, Vic)

[wandtheswan]

check out these sites for what sort of equipment is availible.
www.flyworld.com.au

these will give you a price on rods and reels.

cheers:)

[Christopher]

Wandy,

I've got a fly rod, reel, flies etc., I was asking about the costs of getting set up for fly-tying.

I've been to the flyworld site a few times, but I will check out the other one, thanks mate.

All the best,

[Tony Ireland]

Try this link it will tell you all you need to know.

www.fishnet.com.au/flyswap/flybox/bms.html (http://)

[Stuie_02]

Hi

The reciepe and how to tie is in Fly life mag not sure which edition. It has a litle bit more information on the tying than the fishnet website. The fishnet flybox hasnt been update for a least a year to two years some very good patterns and info.

Cheers
Stuie

[jimi]

Hi Christopher,

I bought a basic fly tying kit from MO tackle for about $150. That came with a vise, tools, materials and a book, all aimed at making saltwater flies. Didn't have any materials for the BMS though (mostly the basics like bucktail, eyes, sparkleflash). I have bought a lot more materials since and also upgraded a few of the tools (the scissors were crap).

You need to pay at least that much for a decent beginners kit. I know that scotto from Alpine Angler has plenty of beginners kits so it may be worth ringing them for a price. Also flyworld can put one together for you although they don't have any on their site (just the individual tools).

Like all things in fishing, when you get the basic kit, you will want to buy more stuff and upgrade everything (a Renzetti true rotary vice would be nice - if I had a spare $1200).

Cheers

[Stuie_02]

Hey Christopher

i do tie my own flies but i do enjoy looking at other peoples interpertations or mutations of a basic variation.

The BMS was a smelt pattern that was a fly designed with trout munching on ait fish. Some how it got mutated for a tasty morsel for bream to chew on

Cheers
Stuie

[Justin]

While we are on the subject of the BMS - has anyone come across the new BMS blend? (Tiewell product I think)

Sounds like a good idea - especially the multicolour dispenser pack.

My only concern is that they are made from antron, as opposed to the normal SLF - but I guess it wouldn't make that much of a diference.

I was about to order one but thought I might bounce the idea off some fellow fly tiers first.

Also - does anyone know of a reliable source for larger beads for a saltwater/bream version of the BMS. My standard glass beads I tie my trout version with simply are not big enough and will not fit over a size 6 or 4 Mustad 34007.

Cheers

Justin

[jimi]

Hi Justin, I've been using the new BMS blend and find it much easier to use than the old SLF hanks that I used to get. It seems to look "fluffier" on the hook, and the small wads of it are easy to work with. I'm pretty sure that it was developed with the assistance of Muz Wilson who developed the original BMS.

As for the beads, I'm not sure where you are, but WA salvage has quite a range of beads that start at around 75c for 20. They are plastic beads, but still seem to work fine. Any of the discount type stores like crazy clarks etc carry this kind of stuff.

Cheers

[Chris Dunham]

There are now quite a few variations on the origional BMS or Bullen Merri Special as developed by profesional fly tier Murray Wilson.

The origional is a freshwater streamer pattern primarily for trout and salmon and is tied by Muz in olive

http://www.flyworld.com.au/flyworld.nsf/docs/MW7/$file/MW7_280.jpg

black, white and grey all of which work very well in different conditions, the white is very good on sea run estuary trout in Tas for example. The down side is that the hook guage is a little light for bream work which has lead to the development of the Estuary BMS which is tied on the new Mustad Signature hook (Allrounder). The PA Estuary has a pink tag at the butt.

http://www.flyworld.com.au/flyworld.nsf/docs/MW25/$file/MW25_280.jpg

The BMS Hammerhead (PA and Estuary) was a pattern that was worked out between FlyWorld and Murray a couple of years ago in order to chase bream and is now tied on the Mustad Signature hook "Tarpon" mostly on a size 4. This too is tied as a PA (pink arsed).

http://www.flyworld.com.au/flyworld.nsf/docs/MW23/$file/MW23_280.jpg

The Salty BMS is a larger version of the Estuary BMS and is usually on a size 2 hook. Works very well on Tailor, Kahawai and Tuna.

http://www.flyworld.com.au/flyworld.nsf/docs/MW12/$file/MW12_280.jpg

The final variation on the BMS theme is yet to be named but is a hook upward riding version of the Estuary BMS with bead chain eyes - sort of an intermediate weight fly. Will be available in pink, chart, olive, black and a mix called engine oil. Muz is tying these at the moment.

Cheers,

Chris.