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CoachBob

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Everything posted by CoachBob

  1. On a parallel track, some species of cicada can reach 6", about the size of a luna moth. Fly Tyer recently had an article on cicada patterns.
  2. I'm trying to see if, when I get on the soapbox, I'm only talking to myself. In which case I'll be quiet. Yes, I have high-sticked -- but only because I wanted to catch more fish. And, yes, I have tight-lined -- but only because I wanted to catch more fish. Regardless of your terminology, this method of fishing will almost always catch more fish. So... I'm not saying it's not "fishing", it's just not fly fishing and is probably not appropriate fodder for this fly fishing site. BTW, the first flies were actually wet flies. but, you are correct that, led by flyfisher F.M. Halford, the dry fly purists became adamant and unwavering in their belief that fish a wet fly was a vile and loathsome practice – even though there were seasons when dry flies met with humiliating defeat. On the other side of the conflict, author G.E.M.Skues promoted nymphing and fished to great and consistent success with soft hackles, wets and emergers, much to the chagrin of the Halford crowd. Nymphing is undoubtedly the most effective method of fly fishing. Czech nymphing (as proven by international competition) is the most productive approach to using nymph flies. Yet, we all knownthere are still reactionary purist dry fly fishermen who curse the hoards of nymphing blasphemers. They condemn silver tongued angling devils who seduce the minds of the unlearned fishing masses and fill these innocents’ heads with thoughts of glorious rewards without suffering. The dry fly purist knows that anguish and distress guard the only honest path to piscatorial salvation. For the true believer, misery and torment must precede success. For them, wretchedness is the normal state of being. But what is the important difference between Skue's approach and Czech nymphing? You can do the latter without fly equipment. The definition of fly fishing is that the weight necessary for the cast is a component of the fly line -- not the terminal tackle. If you don't need fly line, IMHO it's not fly fishing.
  3. Is Chuck 'n Duck fly fishing? Duh, no. It is a spinning rod technique that uses a fly rod only because it's longer. Here's the deal: just because you have a fly on the end of the line doesn't make it fly fishing. Consider that I occasionally use flies on a sabiki rig to catch bait fish. So...as I'm standing on the pier with the flies 50' below me, if I have put the spinning reel on my fly rod am I fly fishing? Hey, I'm using flies on a fly rod. IMHO fly fishing should be defined as fishing you can't do without fly fishing equipment. If you can do it with other equipment, you are simply using fly equipment for convenience -- not fly fishing.
  4. Czech nymphing High Sticking Tight lining Is it actually fly fishing if you don't cast and your fly line never touches the water? Couldn't you do the same with a 12' jigging pole? An article in 2006 on fly fishing for crappie suggested doing EXACTLY what we do jigging for crappie. Czech nymphing is nothing other than jigging. So...is it fly fishing just because the rod you took out of the closet is your fly rod not your jigging rod? Obviously, I don't think so.
  5. Interesting.... For me it's ESPN and every kind of scissors known to man.
  6. For anything smaller than 6 or 8 a matarelli is the way to go. Some production tyers I have spoken to use a hand whip all the time, but mostly because they are old school. A matarelli will give you a smooth finish and you can easily do MANY winds and still finish neatly. For saltwater flies, and flies using flat waxed nylon thread a hand whip is usual because sometimes you are whip finishing BEHIND enough materials that you need the large matarelli and most folks don't have it.
  7. Here's what you do. Go to www.softtiles.com and order a handful of foam mats in various colors. (These are $1.45 each and are usually used a floors for kids rooms. You have to buy a dozen to make shipping worthwhile.) Then go to www.harborfreight.com and buy a hollow punch set ($4.99). You now have the equipment to make foam cylinders in 9 sizes for the rest of your life for any pattern that calls for one.
  8. After some consideration (and searching the web sites of every southern wildlife department), I think it probably IS a goggle eye (warmouth)-- only a juvenille. Mature goggle eye down here have much darker colors but do appear to have the same turquoise vein-like markings and green to yellow coloration. The water in which it grew is always a very light olive, thus possibly contributing to the overall lighter coloration of the fish. Thanks for your input. Coachbob
  9. A new Louisiana urban pond, not stocked and plenty of these sunfish via natural avenues. Can't put a name to it. Any ideas?
  10. Here's you answer. Cabela's Cahill rod/reel kit. $40. We have 6 FFF Certified Casting Instructors in our club and they wanted rods to teach with. We got them a couple of Cahill kits to try and they found them so suitable for new fly fishermen that we eventually bought 5 more to teach with. They are 9'5wt and come with line and backing, are mid-flex and cast very easily. You have to put "cahill" in the search window on the Cabela's site, but the kit will come up. It's usually $50 but goes on sale all the time.
  11. Okay, here's a suggestion or three. Get a small hole punch (Fiskars at Hobby Lobby $3.99) and punch out dots from 2mm self-stick sheet foam. When you have finished one of your beetles, put a few dots on the back in a contrasting color. This does two things: (1) it makes the fly easier to see, and (2) it adds flotation on the top of the fly. Since there are 350,000 varieties of beetles in the world, you can hardly go wrong on a color combination. Next, try using hackle on the shaft of the hook instead of chenille. Lastly, add legs by tying them onto the shaft, then palmer the hackle, then bring the foam over to make the wing/shell. The foam will force the legs to angle downward. If you don't want this, tie them in at the tie down crease of the sheet foam near the hook eye AFTER you have tied down the foam. These legs will stand out to either side.
  12. Try a small rectangle of Fun Foam from Hobby Lobby or Michael's or Wal-Mart. Makes a great post and if you use a hi-visibility color, makes your fly easier to see. Sheet foam comes in 2mm or 3mm and the thinner works well for posts on 14s and 16s if you cut it to 2mmx2mm. On 10s and 12s you can use the 2 or 3.
  13. Fourteen (14). Bluegill inhale their prey and 14s are easier to inhale while still having enough backbone to handle the fish. In the strike to catch ratio, using 8s and 10s produce a lot fewer hookups.
  14. Come on, guys. There's lots of options. Try some of these. www.cabelas.com www.bass-pro.com www.feather-craft.com www.hookhack.com www.bluequillangler.com www.jannsnetcraft.com http://bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com/ www.dan-bailey.com www.orvis.com http://jfisheronline.com www.theflyshop.com www,jsflyfishing.com http://www.kaufmannsstreamborn.com
  15. I'll get some today to try it. Meanwhile, the stick back non-glitter foam from Hobby Lobby makes great eyes. Use a hole punch (they come in various sizes) and the stick back adheres well enough without glue. It also works well for adding colored dots to the back of foam frogs or beetles.
  16. A traveler works fine and you won't damage it. BUT...why are you tying any bass bug on a 3/0? The largest I ever use is a Mustad 34011 in size 1 (usually a #4) or a Mustad 37187 stinger hook in a size 2 (although most often a size 6). I have taken bass up to 7 pounds on the size 6 stinger. Both have long enough shafts for any pattern (for a shorter shaft try the Mustad 34007) and the stinger is excellently shaped for frogs and popping bugs (with or without a weed guard). Quite frankly, the only thing I tie on a 3/0 is offshore patterns. Redfish and specks never larger than a 2 (usually a 4).
  17. Here are granny weave instructions. Of course, if you go on a search engine like Clusty.com (a good engine because you can open a new page for each entry) you can find this yourself. http://www.speyshop.com/channels/woven_fly...9042/index.shtm
  18. When I do shows I use a pair of Crown Vises. Same as a Regal but 1/3 the price. However, the jaws will not hold hooks larger than a #1. For smaller flies I use a Traveler with the midge jaws.
  19. Stretch Magic actually works best using a granny weave. Takes a whole lot more time but excellent results on nymphs and the fly is essentially indestructible. Wrap the hook shank with your preferred color and use the clear tubing. The result is the color of the thread. For larger flies you can use Pony Bead Lacing. Hard to find but generally available at Hobby Lobby.
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