Jordon W

Im planing to leave tomorrow for some of the best water in MI to do some fishing for trout. Thinking while there I will try some mousing at night. Only thing is wondering if a 9wt will be too large to be fishing at night with hex and mouse patterns or should I stick to my 5wt? Any tips for mousing will also be appreciated.

Here in Michigan I tied a few flies that look almost identical and wow I was supposed at how many fish I took on them! Very productive pattren here in MI and i'm sure many other locations as well. Only downside was only had a fish lives in them until had to tie a new one on and let other one dry due to the parachute style.

I found your advice helpful and with a little practice my flie and leader will straighten out in no time! I find roll casting to be a real PIA too some days. Most of the time when I get pile-ups as you describe, I find that I am pushing my rod tip down instead of out at the casting stroke. Also, try to make sure your leader and fly are right up on the surface as you make your cast.

This isnt about normal loop casting (I seem to have the idea of this alright) but writing today about my roll cast. When I roll cast my fly never straightens out but rather lands in a heap of line in front of me. I understand its difficult to diagnose without any photo/videos to base off of but thought someone might beable to offer assistants.

Yes, that can be very frustrating luckly I called him and spoke to him a few times on the issue he informed me that he was very busy and that the "Christmas boxes" I had ordered should've been sent out soon and since the Christmas boxes are a pre Christmas item I didnt breath to much down his back because I did tell him when ordering a few days before Christmas it would be ok if it wasnt here before Christmas but didnt think it would take 2 months. I read somewhere else on this site that MANY have had the same experiences and read with in that the owner does this as a hobby or part time. If he only does this on the side then thats alot of "extra' orders to make up and get sent out on top of regular business so I can understand a month shipping time.

I ordered a few Christmas boxes around late Dec and just got them 2 weeks ago. Almost 2 months is kind of frustrating good thing my friends Ive met in tying supplied me with materials while waiting. Could say the products were worth the wait but definitely wouldn't buy materials from him if your looking to use it soon. Nice place for cheap prices if your getting low on materials and just need to restock and can afford the longer way.

Nice fly what did you use for the tail? Looks like maybe micro tail. Think Ill tie a few tonight!

Well vise came in the mail on sat and have only had a chance to tie a dz or so flies on it. Overall Im liking it so far like many have stated in the reviews for it that the rotatory pin is a bit sloppy until you get it tightened down. I found that the angle of the vise arm also takes some getting used too. last comment about the negative is the closing of the hook jaws is VERY awkward its like you turn the large screw until its almost falling out then insert hook and turn a slight turn of the large knob(still falling out). Ive found tying only small hooks so far that there isnt really a need to use the small knob to adjust for hooks. Again maybe im adjusting for the hooks wrong just seems like the large knob shouldn't be almost falling out to have to hold a hook. I love the rotatory function has made my dz flies Ive tied so far MUCH better then the 30 flies or so ive tied on the old kit vise. Not sure why many in the posting said they rarely use it seems to me it would make wrapping and such much easier then wrapping by hand. The quality of the vise seems very good. Like said over all Im happy with my investment like with anything everything has its pros and its cons.

Thanks for the input. Now will this pattern work for a basic mayfly hatch? Thinking as MI is now starting to warm up there may be a few BWO's in the air.

I hope some tyers on here can give me some thoughts on this spinner I tied up last night. I understand the pictures are not good im trying to find my real camera but in the time being have to use the crappy phone camera.

Well Im glad to hear that because one day while fishing I ran in to a man from I believe Virginia and he was asking what was in the river to fish and I proceeded to tell him well salmon arefew and in between but there here and a few steelhead can be caught and before I said trout he said and your planing on steelhead fishing with that rod? so being new I just took his word. Hopefully I can try the new rod out on a few bass to this summer too.

I myself own a st croix imperial rod I found on ebay brand new for a steal and wow what a difference it is compared to my "cheap rod". Only complain with it was I wish I got the shorter rod like an 8'6 the one I got is a 9' and like you stated isnt really needed nor is it to functional for small creeks or rivers with alot of tight areas. The 4 piece is nice due to being able to pack in a small case and go doesn't take up much space in the trunk of the car (for the unexpected trips I make so often when passing a good stretch of water). What can I say I love to fish haha. I just got this rod a few weeks before I hung up the waders for the winter, so didn't get to try it out on many species of fish other then the few browns I took on it which handled very nicely. Not sure how a steelhead would react on the pole but im also taking ragingbull has been in the fly fishing world a lot longer then me since I just started this past May. Looks like when im out tommrow I better stop in to the gander mt here and see if they got any rods mismarked!

I was in the same boat you were and someone gave me this advice... If I only had four flies they would be: · Caddis - Dry - See what color your caddis are on your river to insure that they imitate correctly. · Blue Wing Olive - Dry - A standby. · Pheasant tail (preferably bead head if I need to get them down and flashback for visibility). · Beadhead or regular hare's ear - Tungsten bead helps it get down if the current is swift. After that, I would have: · Sulphurs - no substitutions work when they are hitting. · Zebra Midges - Midges occur all year long and they especially are effective in winter. Have a few in different sizes and see what sizes and maybe tie a few different colors and see what also works. The advice was also given to make to make sure you have a few size 18 even 20 tied up for many fishermen fish hatches with to large of flies. Hope this helps you start out with a few basic patterns that have been know deadly all around the world!

Decided to go ahead and get a blackfoot mongoose due to finding it for a steal on ebay! Once I get it ill report on how I like it! Thanks Curtis fly to addressing my topic of the griffin brand. You laid the brand out there and gave to good and the bad in a short response.

Has anyone used or heard good or bad about the griffin blackfoot mongoose vise?

Ive been tying for a few months on a very cheap vise that came in a kit and over the weekend I used a rotary vise and loved the ease of tying with it. been looking at rotary vises on ebay and see there are very cheap ones and very expensive ones and I dont really want to buy a 70 dollar vise then regret it. Anyone have any suggestions on a budget friendly rotary vise I will not regret buying.

This link is what I was looking for something that would explain some of the most common uses for each type of feather in the skin thanks!

I was given a Ringneck Pheasant Whole Skin for tying with but have no idea what feathers off the skin to use for certain type of flies. The skin doesn't have the tail feathers attached. Any help would be appreciated.

Took your advice and walked in the local thrift store looking for 1. tying material and 2. to see about finding a bag and come to find out I found a nice leather one with MANY pockets. I am now well on my way with my new tying station I built this weekend and my leather bag. Now this MI weather needs to warm up so I can hit the river!

I know this might be jumping ahead but since your asking about getting started i thought I would throw my 2 cents in about books. I felt I was "lost" when sitting at home and trying to learn how to tie but found a book that I feel is very good and detailed in building skills while making effective flies in the process. The book is fly tying made clear and simple by skip morris. I like this book because it lays out the basics while tying flies then builds the flies in skill level as you go on through the book also tells you the top 5 errors seen in each step of the tying process which is good because everyone isnt perfect and with less then $10 you cant go wrong with this book. Recommending books is difficult because everyone has there ideas and values in certain books but as a beginner I can tell you this book is one of the best to tie with. One thing I would also do is travel to the library and look through some of their books they have on tying. I know I went there and looked at a few books some had recommended like the benchside reference book everyone speaks of gold. As a beginner I felt just overwhelmed by this book so I tried to go the simple route to learn the basics first. just a thing to think about looking into as you prepare for the world of tying your own flies. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/187...;condition=used

I found one of these online for cheap wondering what your take is on this box? Do you think this is big enough to store a good deal of my tools and materials or should I find a larger one? http://www.basspro.com/Plano-7271-Rack-Sys.../52238/-1008362

Im new to tying and loving it so far but as I begin to collect the tools and vise along with my supply of materials growing. I'm looking for a cheap yet effective way to take all my stuff and a few materials and pack it up to take to tying meetings or just to a friends to tie (Looking kind of a joke carrying my supplies in to a tying meeting in a cardboard box my vise was sent in haha). I have been looking on ebay at "tying bags" but thats out of my price range with them running in the $100's. Any ideas would be great. Cant wait to hit the water here in MI soon!

I just started tying a few months ago and coming from a beginner buy the best vise you can afford and tools DONT go cheap! I bought a cheap kit and have already replaced many of the tools with name brand tools. So front the money and get good quality tools up front. I've found it best to start out with just the materials you need for one fly then once you tie many of the same pattern in different sizes then move on to another pattern at least until you get the basics down. Keeping in mind tie flies you will use for your area. Another idea is go to craft stores or even thrift stores I found a bag full of yarn and 10 foam sheets for less then $5 on my last trip through one of those places. One site that has some good materials is http://www.flytyersdungeon.com/ and there are many patterns with material list free online. Try to find a Fly tying club by your house I found one and you can learn so much in one sitting with them then you can learn in months trying to experiment on your own.