Peddler

Here's a Blue John I whipped up. Standard Copper John but with blue Ultra Wire, blue peathingy herl and blue biots. Blue rocks!

Try using adhesive-backed lead foil cut in the shape of a fish folded onto the hook shank. Pull and tie-off the mylar tubing over that. The weight of the belly of the lead seems to keep the Zonker belly down.

What I would really like but think is way overpriced are the C&F design fly boxes. Even with the specials I see on this site they are still too 'rich' for my blood. I think what spoiled it for me is when I saw the clear, plastic folder that you store inserts in cost $45.00! There must be at LEAST $0.15 worth of material in there! I am a little nuts though... here I am sucking on a cigarette that cost mucho bucks per pack and I whine about a fly box... go figure!

Hatchbomb, toss a few of those new deer hair/marabou Kelly ties in that care package you're sending me. They WORK! If you can figure out the how-to of it, it would be a GREAT fly to post here. Your best friend, Schizzler and Brother from a different Mother, Jack

Nice! A dab of 2-part epoxy on the wing case and you have it made! If you have it, try some Bennachi 8/0 thread too. It doesn't build up and is strong-like-bull for its size.

Hey steeldrifter, have you ever tried plastic clothes as a base layer? Cotton never seems to dry and doesn't seem to keep you dry as you build up moisture from body heat or condensation. Polypro and other synthetics wick moisture away from you. Maybe this is why you feel neo is warmer than breathables, you had cotton on that never wicked over a cover layer that never breathed to allow that moisture to vent. The two secrets to keeping warm are to trap air to insulate (which neo and fuzzy poly both do) and to stay dry and unclammy which, from my experience, poly fiber pile and breathables do considerably well. I ditched neoprene years ago after trying a good layer system under breathables. Simms did too. They're also less a hassle to put on and take off. Just adding my two centavo's.

Tungsten makes sense. I read this thread wondering what in the world titanium would bring to the dance other than a little lighter weight and a lot heavier price. I have the Dr. Slick (ain't THAT guy a genius!) tungsten, fine point and serrated scissors but my favorite and most comfortable are still the relatively inexpensive Anvil's with the two different length finger holes. They hide nicely in my hand and never have to be put down.

Hey SFK, long time no post! Nice looking vise! When you make mine make a verical plate that inserts where the jaws are and allow it it rotate slowly by itself for drying epoxy heads. What IS the delivery time on something like that?

Thanks for hosting such a neat contest! It is a treat to have some eye candy to look at once in a while while visting fly fishing sites! That one winning picture made me cold just looking at it! Cool! Thanks for the compliment ridderbos3. What you don't see in that shot is to the right, just out of the picture, a grizzly snacking on an elk! I'm glad I went with the rainbows instead! The picture was made with a little Pentax WR-33. We need to do this again in mid-winter when almost all of us are suffering from the shack nasties. Thanks again!

Shoe, that huge loop is probably for the backing end of the line. You can use it to loop-to-loop different lines on each spool. A friend put those loops on my heavy duty lines specifically for that purpose.

Does anyone have a recipe for these flies? I've searched high and low on the 'net and am starting to believe they don't really exist.

Count me in. I will be needing some traditional hooks and salt water hooks. Can't hardy wait for the menu!

Nice... !

PentaxWR-33 or WR-44. It is made for fishing. Small, light, waterproof, easy to use yet lots of adjustments and gadgets if you need them. No need for using bulky, cumbersome and expensive waterproof cases with the Pentax either. I have a few pics taken with it on this board and get good comments from the results. It fits in a vest pocket and, when needed, can be worn around the neck it's so small. You probably won't find one at the 'Big Box' stores, they tend to stick to famous names that give them huge profit margins. Here are a couple of shots taken with the Pentax: http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?sho...t=0entry42993

We just got back last night. It's starting to pop out there. A strong north breeze seems to be pushing cold water and fish right where they belong. Here's one of the beach (one on the beach is worth ten from a boat!) Here's one with Sarah, the eagle-eyed wonder guide!

Just getting started! False albacore next week! Yahoooooooooo!!!!!!

I recall reading that A.K. Best got a terrible infection around the mouth from wetting tying materials. After reading that I just don't take chances anymore.

10 or 12 years. I resisted tying for a LONG time for reasons I don't know. If only I knew how much money I could have saved by tying my own in all that time!

Like Live2Fish I went from a C-Clamp to a pedestal. Same reasons too, any flat surface will do. I travel a lot on business and got tired of tying off of the edges of up-ended furniture because that was the only place a C-Clamp would fit.

QUOTE (SmallieHunter @ Sep 10 2004, 09:32 AM) So did you end up tying in all three colors at the same time and then wrap them together up the hook? Yup! Works like a charm! Thanks!

Thanks to your suggestions, tying Copper John wannabe’s just got better for me! Two wires: Even three wires is possible now! Thanks!

I wish there was a 'Yes' answer! Rods I'm a sucker for them. Never enough and ever changing. Never put in one pile for an easy wife-count! Reels Good reels are an art. Ross, Lamson, Hardy, Orvis, Charlton, Bauer... they all work too well for the fish I generally catch, but who cares? They're ready when the fish is. Line Life without the right tool (line) for the job would suck. Tying Materials They don't count. They're small enough to look innocent. Already-Tied Flies With all the tying gear I have you would think I would pass on these; it ain't possible! Almost every good shop has local ties that are one-of-a-kind, tied better, with better materials and with a bit more pride than production flies. Plus they are usually designed for the local waters. Going to the local fly bins is a prerequesite when I visit a shop. Books Too many. Our new home still doesn't have a good place to store them so finding the book I need is a chore. Clothing I hate being uncomfortable when outside. Nowadays there is no need for it. Other (please explain below) Video's, maps, 2 way radio's, GPS, tippet and leaders, floatants, fly boxes, flies tied by friends, stickers, foot ware, magazines and catalogs, nippers up the wazoo, zingers up there too, optics... the list could go on! Hello, I'm Jack and I have a problem...

If I were in the market I'd eyeball the Renzetti Traveler Salt Water model. It's beefier all around than the standard Traveler and holds a wider range of hooks... solidly.

Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries seemed to solve the issue's with my WR-33. The pics look great.

I like the off-set finger rings on the blue scissors I have. The off-set, bendable loop fits perfectly over the ring finger and they are always ready to use without changing finger position. I think they're made by Anvil. They are not the most expensive and not the highest in quality but they are workhorses and VERY comfortable.