Iroc_Jeff

This is the whole point of the problem, though. If a manufacturer slaps one weight spec on their rod and you read tutorial after tutorial online that say you only have that line and maybe one size up or down and then 3 sizes is fine, its just confusing. They probably do this for marketing reasons to get one to buy more rods or try new lines or whatever. It would be nice to have a broader range labeled and say this is what happens casting on the lower and higher range wt scale depending on what you use.

Sitting in the garage is an old Fenwick FF908 8wt rod that I was going to sell until I went against convention. I went outside and put my 5wt reel on that old fenwick, put on a fly, and managed to cast just as well as the rod I broke. In fact, barring the weight difference, I didn't really notice anything different as both the rods were 9ft. I'm just curious as to why it casts so well being the line is 3 sizes smaller? Is it the slow action of the rod that helps or is this just a case of dumb luck? At any rate, I don't have to buy another rod and get to use this old timer again.

That is a pretty cool demo. I've been using Water Shed on my wingless Adams flies but after a bit of bluegill slime they aren't what they used to be until they are all dried out again. This may be worth looking into.

That is a nice looking frog and it should work fine. In fact, when I made up my own frog, I think we both saw the same frog pattern to use as a reference. My frog doesn't have an open mouth, but, like you, I did pinch the foam when I tied it in to give the frog a bit of a natural, roundish body. I also tied in a bunch Legs Alive material for the back legs. I also superglued them to the underbody so they splay out to prevent them getting tangled.

I did this same thing with a bunch of clear tackle tote containers I had of different sizes, although I never thought of adding in the secondary layer of foam like the original poster did where the flies hook into. I'll have to redo that part of them. I also painted mine black with Duplicolor automotive trim paint. Two coats and these clear plastic organizers look pretty good and the paint doesn't chip, either. Didn't even have to sand or primer the containers, either.

Do you strip back the coating on the line and whip the uncoated portion to the coated portion back a way? so you are left with a coated loop? or do you just whip coated to coated and have that little bump? I have done it that way but saw a recent article saying I should be stripping a bit of coating off. I do the same thing JSzymczyk does, since my really good line got sucked up in the vacumn cleaner and I lost the welded loop and about 3-4 ft back as well. I take a razor blade and cut a wedge out of part of the line so there isn't as much as a bump there. Then, just tie the loop in, whip finish it, then a few coats of nail polish.

I have one of the TFO Lefty Kreh rods that flyshack.com had on clearance a while ago and picked it up for about the same price you got yours for. I really like the rod a lot and like that no-fault warranty even better.

If you have a Hobby Lobby near you I found this Marabou that is sewed into some fabric material that's about 3-4ft long. I have no idea whats its used for but I have more black Marabou than I know what to do with for $3.99, and no feather stems either. I think they only have black, red, and white but its a great price. I made really neat leeches with this stuff. I also like using doll eyes for my poppers and foam frogs from hobby stores, too. They kind of bug out a bit. Oh, you can also find Stretch Magic in hobby shops which you can substitute for V-Rib for nymphs and stuff.

I've been in Ocala since 2005.

I absolutely love them especially since I started making my own with O-rings and foam. I kept throwing off those Fish Pimp ones that looked dimpled footballs. I usually use them for my ants, meal worm, and worm flies. Most of the rivers here in my area of Florida are snaggy so having them suspended is a plus. I can drift right over stuff.

I started with San Juan Worms since that is about as easy as they get. Here is the Google Image search for them. I've caught bass and bluegills on these before. I really doubt it matters which you choose, but I only use the chenille or vernille or whatever it is labeled as depending on where you buy it. https://www.google.com/search?q=san+juan+worms&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=EVZBUdnJHYXI4AP8oYHADw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1206&bih=897 Ants are also really good and super easy to make as can be seen in the link below. I don't even use hackle in the pattern anymore. I just line the hook with black thread, make my two dubbing ends, and tie it off. I even started using peacock herl instead of dubbing. You can read about winding peacock herl here. http://www.invictaflies.us/Articles/peacock_herl.htm. I usually fish them under a homemade foam indicator but you can fish them without. I've caught mostly bluegills, some bass, and a 10 inch golden shiner on these. http://hipwader.com/2003/ant-fly-pattern Beetles are pretty easy and catch-able patterns, too. I tie mine like this but use rubber legs instead of hackle. The bright piece by the head is there so you can see it. It could be deer hair or foam instead of what is listed. It doesn't matter. http://www.swedneckflyfishing.com/foambeetle_steps.htm Clouser Minnows are really good for bass.This was the second fly pattern I learned after the San Juan Worm. Its easy to make. In fact, these are pretty fun to make with all the different colors you can make and stuff. http://www.taneycomotrout.com/howtotieclouserminnow.html Poppers are probably the most fun to make and to fish. I usually make mine from cork or foam. I also usually use doll eyes from the craft store for the eyers but you can paint or marker them in if you want. You can get some ideas here https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1206&bih=897&q=popper+fly+pattern&oq=popper+fly+pattern&gs_l=img.3..0i24.3032.6162.0.6440.18.11.0.7.7.0.61.591.11.11.0...0.0...1ac.1.5.img.FiEgLg9vdKk#hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=popper+fly+patterns&oq=popper+fly+patterns&gs_l=img.3..0i24.2036.2036.0.2904.1.1.0.0.0.0.60.60.1.1.0...0.0...1c.1.5.img.KlkNhDRDzbU&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43287494,d.dmg&fp=724110a88f8408ec&biw=1206&bih=897 Most of these patterns aren't really hard to make and will catch fish. I fish mainly for panfish and bass or whatever else is willing to go after my flies. I'm not really picky. Whatever you want to make just to to Google and type in "whatever" fly pattern. Don't stress out on materials, either. If you don't have exactly what the pattern calls for you can substitute stuff.

No, but it wasn't for lack of trying! I bought an 8wt rod specifically for carp but it is now relegated to bass,crappie, and whatever else wants to hit my flies from the back of my friend's bassboat. That was caught on a specific carp bait called a boilie, which is basically a boiled doughball with gumball hardness, flavors and amino acids, proteins, birdseed, and other stuff added into it. I sometimes take my flyrod with me when I go but don't have much luck. I made some crawfish flies that may work up there on them and will probably take them when I go next. The river is a bit snaggy, though. I fish about 3.5 hours away from me west of Tallahassee so I don't go often. The game wardens in central Florida won't tell me where the grass carp are stocked since you aren't supposed to catch them. No commons near me. Panhandle is a bit different. Here's me with a 58lb grass carp from the same location. I don't think the fly rod would have survived.

If it had some scales by the dorsal fin its more than likely a leather carp. I'll agree with you it could be more than 15lbs, but from the pictures its hard to tell. I'm including a picture of a 22.5 lb fish I've caught for a reference for your fish. If you need any help with catching carp don't hesitate to send me a message.

I do the whole Euro-style carp fishing thing so I'll chime in. I'd say its probably at least 12 lbs from looking at the pictures. May even be up to 15lbs. It looks like it has a noticeable gut on it that single digit carp don't really have. It also looks like it has no scales from your pictures which could make it a leather carp. Its still a common carp, just scaleless.

Hello.. I've been fly fishing since the mid 90's off and on but just started tying this past December. Bought some tools to just tie up my own take on some San Juan Worms and then went to tying Clousers around Christmas. These are my new favorite fly for bass. I'm mostly fishing off my friends bass boat which is nice since I won't get stuck in trees Going to start on insects next, mainly simple foam stuff like ants or whatever...