"Murphy took a day off"

Ahrex Hooks Podcast

You have to admire people that work. And not only work, but do it day in and day out without weekends, holidays, leave of absence or other of mankind’s inventions, laws and regulations.

Mr. Murphy is one of the very few. I can’t believe that he has never ever taken a day off or even packed sunscreen and bathing trunks and escaped to the beach. That would never happen. Mr. Murphy is a guy with incredible high work ethics, he has a law to uphold. No doubt about that.

I went to my beloved channel with the sometimes pretty strong tidal current. The evening before I was sitting tying very small critters. Well for saltwater they were small. Deep down at the bottom of a drawer I had found three short double hooks size ten. Those are the meanest hooks I have ever laid hands on. That’s not the right expression. Don’t ever lay hands on them. If you touch them the wrong way, you’ll need surgery to get them out of your finger.

The Bricklayer, calls them Velcro made of steel. They stick to everything they get close to. With all the care I could establish I created three gammarus in my vice. Not the most complicated flies to tie and the hooks only scratched my fingers a few times. In other words they cost me very little sweat and a bit more blood.

• This podcast is written by Danish photojournalist Søren Skarby and voiced by Patrick Johnson