Markbob

Okay, Norway added to the Bucket list. Just have to decide which is higher, Norway or New Zealand...

I am feeling a humpy session coming on at the vice and I am trying to decide if I want to go with the traditional hair humpies or if I should run with a synthetic wing and a foam back. Does anyone have experience fishing both? Does one float better than the other, last longer? I have all of the materials for both, I think the traditional ones will take me longer to tie and take me longer to tie consistently but I have a real soft spot for tying the patterns with the traditional materials. On the other hand, I expect that I can churn out the synthetic version at a rate of probably two to one...but, I am not on any time line as I don't live anywhere near any trout water and I do not have plans of being near any any time soon. I guess I could use a humpy on bream once they come shallow...

Yeah, I have to figure out something better. I like the idea of building a bunch of 'chutes then just stitching them on to some midges. Whacha think of my fly?

I wanted to use the two vise method for the parachute and post but I don't have two vices. Seems like it would be easier. Here is my pic. The post is a little rough but other than that, I am pretty happy with it.

Well, I could understand it being expensive except that I already have a large box full of them that I do not use for a whole lot. Especially the white.

I have been experimenting with different things for parachute posts, except foam, I can't bring myself to like the look of a foam post, anyhow, I was wondering if anyone had tried EP fibers for a post? Seems like it could be a good material and I have a ton of them.

I just tied my first dandelion fly and it looks good but now that I am thinking about it, I am thinking that it looks like a fly that the leader could easily get fouled on and that maybe I would be better off with klinkhammer style flies for the same purpose. Thoughts?

I really like the look of wings done that way. Are they as fragile as they look?

I love the opal. The color is much more opaque and I think it is more effective.

I have been using what is labeled as "ostrich marabou" for the tails on some wooly buggers. I am almost out. I usually shop feather craft or J Stockard but don't see the same product. Are the feathers labled "small plumes" the same thing?

Yeah, I am not sure why but this stretch of the river is always muddy from what the LFS guys say. It is a tail water but those, in my experience, are normally pretty clear. The odd thing to me is that they say it clears up a bit in the winter but that the fish don't bite so well when it does clear up. I am more inclined to believe they don't bite so well because its colder than because the water is clear.

I am in Santa Fe visiting my mom and managed to get out to the Chama on Friday. Nice stretch of river but too many bait fishermen near Cooper's (the only access on this stretch). Hiked up stream and managed this guy. Its nice to get out for trout when I get a chance as I live in SE GA. I had to sit on the large rock on the left and flip my nymph rig up under the "cliff" to start the drift. He nailed it on the tail out as it came out from under the cliff. Got him on a crane fly nymph pattern. nice fight in the space he had.

Anyone tried these? They seem a lot cheaper than what is for sale at my LFS. Lots of pretty colors too.

I picked up some various types of raw wool in a yarn shop while sight seeing with my Mom the other day. looks like great dubbing and comes in natural or dyed colors. Its kind of funny how you stumble upon materials in other craft shops. I wonder if it ever works the other way around?

I have recently signed up as a Boy Scout Merit Badge Councelor for Fly Fishing and Insect Study merit badge. I live in SE Georgia so I do not have a lot of access to mayflies, caddis flies, ect. I am putting together a specimen set to cover as many species as I can for instruction. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to capture various samples from their local streams and send them to me so I can share them with the Scouts who earn the badge? If you can help me with this, let me know and I will PM with my address.

I haven't had any problems with my tinsel but I have had good experience with their customer service. They make a tray with two foam inserts for holding spools. Its supposed to hold something like 36 spools but when you have more than just one side filled, the lid won't close. I wrote them about it and they sent me a new one. I had the same problem with the new one but the service was good. In this case, it was really just a bad product in that they tried to take a container that is already on the market and specialize it and it didn't work.

I am heading to Oregon on a business trip and was hoping to get some heads up from you guys. I will be flying into Boise and working in Vale, staying in...Ontario I think... Anyhow, it looks like I will be quite close to the Snake River and several of its tributaries and fishing primarily on the OR side when time permitts which will probably be in the evenings. I am hoping to get into some trout. Any pointers or bits of local knowledge you guys might like to share? Any thing I should know about OR or ID access laws? Anything would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have seen it happen oh the east coast of the US. How long it can last is not typically predictable. It depends on how hardy it is in those waters. A lot of times, a good storm will clear it out.

I hear anything in 'Bama will eat something that looks like a tiger...

I have an opportunity to fish a small lake near the hotel I am staying at in Choctaw, MS this weekend but not a ton of time. I will be fishing from shore and have two different types of structure I can fish, shallow dark bottom coves with some fallen tree branches and docks or a rock levy with a little vegitation at the waterline. The weather has been quite cold for this time of year and as far as I can tell the fish have not started to bed yet. if you had to fish only one of the two types of environments, which would you choose for this situation?

I live in the area. If you are fishing low tide which is when most of us fish, a black fly such as a clouser or other critter pattern will be good, make sure it has a little wieght on it to get it to the bottom. on a moving tide, cast around the oysterbars, if it warms up, try a top water during low light periods like dawn and dusk.

I travel all over the country for work and when I am on the road is about the only time that I have to tie any more since the wife and I have taken on 4 foster kids that we are about to adopt. I went to the container store and bought what amounts to tuperware for all of my materials. I use the Spirit River/Wapsi boxes for my hooks, beads, other small stuff. I have one specific container that is divided in two, one side holds all of my tools (for now) and the other side holds my liquids like head cement, softex, dubbing wax and such. I use a Regal Vise and they make a nice carring case that I use for it. Once I am at the hotel, I take a pillow case off of a spare pillow and drape it over whatever table I have and use it as a working surface. Never had any problems and the staff vacuum the room daily anyhow. All of the stuff goes in a large plastic shipping container with wheels that I bought at Lowes for about $80. It is also lockable. Next time I am on the road, I will post pics.

What passes for country music these days is hardly the depressing slow stuff you are refering to Jam. Honestly if you tweeked the subject matter and put Taylor Swift in a red vinal jump suit, I am pretty sure you wouldnt be able to tell the difference between that and "pop". I typically listen to rock alternative from the 90s and 00s. But I also have a pretty good clasic rock collection and what I call elevator music with your Phil Collins and James Taylor type stuff. There is some country I like but it is the stuff from the mid-late 80's and the really old stuff. Oh, as far as what the topic was actually written about, I don't have much input, I dont tie dear hair much.

Post pics of anything you have questions about, we'll be happy to help you out.

Its even worse when you have to explain what fly tying is...