jburge

Received a really nice package of flies. Great job by all! Thanks, BB for hosting!

BB, I'm wondering if I'm in the same boat as Fishy Bob ;-) I sent priority with expected arrival 2/8, and still not there? Thanks!

BB, Prince(s) have left the kingdom. (Sorry, couldn't resist). Sent priority, so you are supposed to have them Saturday. Thanks for hosting!

BB, it'll be a prince nymph for me ;-)

I'm in.

Fantastic set of flies courtesy of netabrookie. Wow, thank you! Beautifully tied.

Been out of town for a few days, so imagine the big smile when seeing a mail package from vicrider. Woohoo! It's under the tree, and now I have to look at it every morning until 12/25 trying patiently to wait to see what's inside. An enormous thank you vicrider, for the work, the time, and the tradition. I'm glad to be a part of it. All the best and good cheer! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Flies are flying your way. Should be there Friday.

Oh yeah, count me in!

Ho, ho, ho. I'm in. A trout variety.

Had a burger and fries lunch today with Bob, and picked up a fantastic set of flies to boot. Thanks to all tiers, and big thanks to Bob for another just-in-time-Christmas-caddis swap. Merry Christmas!

Fishing Bob told me he mentioned this on the forum... I was well back in an area on the E Carson river that doesn't get much foot traffic. Matter of fact I neither saw or heard a single person for 3 days. I had already set up camp, and had NOT gotten any kind of food or bear "attractions" out. I was sitting on my bear canister, reading, minding my own business, when I just happened to look up and see mama black bear and two cubs cruising straight for my camp. They had not seen me, smelled me, or heard me. My past experience has been to make some loud noise, and that pretty much scares 'em away. However, this time mama just stopped and stared at me for what felt like forever. The more I yelled the more it appeared she was contemplating what the heck. Mind you I'm also keeping an eye on the cubs because I did NOT want them between mama and me. The little guys fortunately had heard enough and turned back toward the direction they had come from. Mama though, paced back and forth, and finally decided to give it all up and meander off after the kids. It took a LONG time before they left and were completely out of my view. OK, no dinner at that time. I waited over an hour to make sure all was clear. I fired up my stove, boiled some water, and downed my Ramen in record time. Put it all away, stowed everything in the bear canister and left the canister about 80 yards away from camp. Another hour goes by. Again, minding my own business, I hear some grunting and look up to now see mama has returned and just crawled over a downed log not 30 yards from me. Headed my way and cubs are behind her. Heck no. I couldn't believe she waited two hours to wander back. At this time it's also sunset and getting dark quickly. Again the routine with yelling, making lots of noise, standing firm and being extraordinarily loud. The cubs turned, bolted and climbed a tree behind them while mama again paces back and forth not really convinced she should leave. Finally (and of course it felt like forever), she slowly meanders away to gather the kids and take off. I stayed up well after dark with headlamp and whistle at the ready. It wasn't exactly a restful night, but they never came back. All turned out OK, but I think my already grey hair turned completely white.

Wow, I'm getting around to checking this week's mail, and man, oh, man, oh, man! What a fantastic set of really, really, well-tied flies. To all, thanks for all the hard work. To BB, thanks for all the encouragement and inspiration to get past the difficulties and attempt the challenge. Brilliant swap!

BB, thanks for the ever-so-kind words. Glad they made it one piece. Next project for me now is vacuuming deer hair out of every nook and cranny in my office. Ha! Appreciate all your hard work.

Sorry BB, I keep forgetting to post the fact that flies are in the mail. Rat-Faced McDougalls are McMailed. And is it just me, but every time I say "Rat-Face McDougall," I hear a Jimmy Cagney voice? Thanks for the challenge... I think. It was one tough tie (and I wish they were better), but I learned a LOT.

I'm in...

Had the privilege of afternoon coffee with fishingbob (you know--the man, the myth, the legend), and picked up a fabulous set of flies. Kudos to all tiers (nicely done!), and to Bob for another way cool swap.

Awesome--glad they made it! So much for "expected" arrival of 5/25, eh? Thanks for the opportunity to participate.

BB, first off, great news on your daughter! It's always a scary thing to hear "news" about your kids. So glad she'll be recovering quickly. As to the swap, like some warm water fish I've met, "I'll bite." I've tried it in the past but continue to avoid it--spinning deer hair. I'll go ahead and take the challenge primarily because I had the privilege of sitting at the same table as Shawn West at the Northwest Fly Tying Fly Fishing Expo in Albany, OR in March. If y'all haven't seen his work, it's phenomenal! (Google "Shawn West fly tying") I *think* I have some tips and ideas that'll help with whatever pattern you come up with. So (gulp), I'm in. Oh, and just so you know, I won't be able to match his artistry until I've spun deer hair for 150 years.

Flies have been sent. "Scheduled" arrival date is 5/25. Ha, we'll see how accurate that is. Thanks!

I too, received a fantastic set of flies. Thanks to all tiers, and to BB for yet another flawless swap. BTW, just so everybody knows, BB is not only a "southern gentleman," but also a one-of-a-kind swapmeister, great tier, encourager, and patient enough to track down some, ahem, mislabeled flies. KUDOS!

Had the privilege of lunch in the company of fishingbob today and picked up a fabulous set of flies. (Bob wasn't late, I just had way too many other family duties going on.) Great job by all tiers, and kudos to Bob for another successful Opening Day Swap!

To quote Robin Williams in Alladin, "Boy, do I feel sheepish. Baaaaa." I obviously wasn't thinking (or reading) when I printed out address labels and shipped flies off. Mea culpa, and I apologize to all for causing the hold-up. In all the swaps I've done, I've never mailed 'em off to the wrong "meister." Troutguy, thanks a TON for figuring out what happened and getting them to BB. BB, thanks for your patience! You both deserve a round of applause!

Let him in. Put that boy to work. Ha!

I'm in. How's about a Henry's Fork for your caddis collection. Ha!