I’m just past the learner stage (on my 8’0 Mini Mal) and I’m going to start experimenting by riding some boards that I either own or can get my hands on. This will lead me to a better understanding before I try my hand at shaping. I’ve got one board in particular that seems to be only several years newer than a traditional fish (early-mid 80’s, still a twin fin, but more rocker etc.) and was wondering how this will ride compared to say a Lis fish? The board is a 6’2"x12.5"x20"x15" and its 2 3/4" thick. It has a 1/8" vee through the middle back to a 1/4" vee between the fins. The nose rocker is 4 3/4", tail rocker is 1 3/4". The swallow tail is 5.5" between tips and 1" up the crack. The flyers are 8.5" up and width there is 13 1/4". The fins have 1/4" toe in and are canted. The fin base is 5.5", height is 5 3/4" and they are asymmetrical. The rails are soft and a little boxy but do get harder in the tail. Also, considering I own this board, would there be enough of a reason to still shape a fish or should this board ride in a somewhat similar fashion?? More pics can be seen at: http://www.spudnet.sytes.net/boards/TWINFIN/page_01.htm Regards, Matt. 
looks like an 80’s twin.There were so many “twins” made poorly back then-but great colors!!Why is everyone so into Lis fishes now?And why now?
I would have to say that Tom Curren had a big part in the renewed interest in Lis and Skip Frye fishes. It’s been a while since his session at J-Bay was documented in the “Searching for Tom Curren” video, but I feel he showed what could be done on the design (although he could probably ride a door and rip). I would also have to say that Joel Tudor has had a lot of influence on the younger surfers, influencing them to ride different designs and not to get stuck with just one design. I just got a copy of his latest video “Natural Expressions” and found it to be rather entertaining. Although its quite short at 20 some odd minutes, it features him riding the different models in his surfboard line. Starts off with him on his noserider model, then on to a fish, an eggy diamond tail and ends with a sleek pintail at a hollow Cali reef break.
I think people are into fish’s now because it’s a move away from the rip n slash attitude of the 90’s. You don’t have to be a pump monkey on a fish yet they can be really fast. The particular reason why I am after a comparison bewteen my board and a fish is two fold: 1. There’s alot of descriptions about how a fish handles which makes it easier to imagine what this board would be like. (I’ve got several months before I will get a chance to ride this) 2. I was thinking of making a fish as my first attempt at shaping, although if this board rides very similarly to a fish, then I will probably try my hand at some other shape first. Regards, Matt.
Matt, I rode a lot of twinnys back in the 70’s and liked them all. I had rocket fish, MR style twins and got to spend time on a round pin twin and a wide tailed 5’10" board with fins called porpus fins. Never had a true lis/Brom style fish (although Brom shaped the rocket fish). I just made myself a 6’4"big fish that looks very similar to the one that John Mellor posted a week or so ago. It looks pretty much like a Lis/Brom fish, but bigger. The mid to late 70’s twins were pretty loose and pretty skatey, but I don’t think they are as fast as the older true fish. My 6’4" is plenty fast and manuverable with lots of skate, and I am a streight-up nobody shaper. So, I say if you want a fish, go for it, it may just surf circles around your twinny. Sorry to ramble, hope this helps. Scott.
Many true (LIS) Fish diciples dont compare. They know. And so it goes.
the ultimate was Lis on a Lis-incredible to watch,unmatched speed.
There was no comparison.The guys riding lis fishes basically never considered other boards . The first real wave you caught, you realized, the speed was completely different and they were not made for little crappy surf at all . The copies were though.