Sean Juan

Frankly I'm a bit surprised that there is any money in selling flies, I always figured only a distinct minority of fly fishermen didn't tie their own flies. Setting up factories over-seas is just a part of capitalism, its the American way. Another part of the American way - my favorite part in fact - is the freedom of choice. Personally most of my fishing equipment is made in America, the reason is simple. This country has provided me with enough resources that I can afford (money and time) to have a hobby - if my hobby can support American business so much the better. Although after reading several of Nightfish's comments I almost wish that I was a Rainy's customer. That way I could instantly cease having anything to do with that company and be in a position to tell them why. A while back I offered to host anyone who wished to fish Cape Cod - consider yourself uninvited. Your little "actionable" comment betrayed your personality enough that I know full well that I want nothing to do with you.

I know I've said it before, but a Hi-rise building filled with young Asian women tying flies is STILL my vision of heaven. Unless Dateline NBC/ perverted justice is reading in which case I find it shameful. Shame Shame Fie for Shame.

I just use a picture taken of me at work.

You got it. Since the coating of the line is meaningless the cheaper lines are better - also if I nick the crap out of an INT for my 10 wt I get a head for my 8wt. Although nowadays I rarely use anything that isn't a shooting head. It takes a little getting used to the cast and the feel of the running line but its no big deal, also you will get more backing on if thats important to you. The first few times I'd buy several more feet of LC than you think you'll need (you can trim but you can't add more) save the clippings for weight for flies. The big savings is no more spare spools. I'd have to say its more feasible for the heavier weight rods than the trout stuff, but you can make it work for anything. There are some downsides (aren't there always) but its worth a try. The best lines are the giant DT Spey lines they make great heads.

I think I'll do an article with pictures but this should get you started. LC-13 is Lead Core (13 grains per foot) its a very thing vinly covered lead line made by Cortland T-14 is Tungsten (14 grains per foot) and its made by RIO. You can buy spools of it or get it by the foot - online BobMarriots or SanJose fly shop I'm sure there are others. I just slip a braided loop on both ends of a section and viola instant shooting head. All you need is to get a reel with some backing and then a running line - there are a lot of different things to use braided mono is my favorite since thinner materials cast further but can cut you or are a pain to work with - thicker materials just the opposite. The beauty of them is that with one spool and one running line you can easily carry a wide variety of lines (you can make heads out of old fly lines generally two lines higher than the rod. So a 10wt line would make a head for an 8wt unless its a DT then it makes two heads. Orvis bargain bin is a good place to look I've bought lines for 5 bucks. They aren't perfect but for getting deep nothing is better, and for myself where I fish from a yak. Switching from an INT to a sinker is a bitch - but with teh head just loop off one and loop on another.

It's funny you should mention that Sandflyx. I have used and like Cortland's braid for a running line, but I perfer Gudebrod's for making loops since it it denser. I have tried Slick Shooter, Amenesia, level fly lines, and even that wonderline running line. All in all braided mono is my favorite. I really don't know why more guys don't use either LC-13 or T-14 for the price of one 60 dollar line you can basically have a lifetime supply of customized lines for all your rods. On top of that the clipped off sections are the perfect material for adding weight to flies. Maybe someone should do a Hatches article about it.

Why not just cheap out and buy a spool of LC-13 100' for like 10 bucks and then just make a heavy head test it and cut it back till you get what you and the rod likes. I have heads I make special just for certain flies. Doesn't matter what you do anyways since the second Dble Haul sees that you compared his fly to that hack Dahlberg's he'll beat you and beat you...the man can turn bricks to dust with his bare hands - I wouldn't want to be you for all the Bacon in Estonia.

I get more annoyed with the people who equate being a fisherman with being a raging alcoholic. The real issue is access - doesn't matter how good of a fisherman you are if you can only fish the 15' at the boat launch. Financially you can get a kayak, canoe, or belly boat and greatly expand your opportunities for short money. Personally I could easily afford a boat but I perfer not to have one, primarily because a kayak gives me some much needed exercise, dealing with launch ramps in the summer is a freaking nightmare, and I like the quiet.

Great video. Personally my favorite part was how you handled the thread snap - great advice!

I'm opposed. I'm especially opposed to your logic Joe. More teams always equals diluted talent. Consider if the NFL was to cut half of its teams, the best players would be the only ones to get spots on the roster. Competition for those spots would be high which would cut down on the T.O.esque BS's. Double or Triple the number of teams and you'll be watching guys like me, ex-XFLers, and felons (although the NFL already has a significant population.) If there were some great European or Asian athletes who wanted to play football, they'd be on the team. Although it would amuse me to watch football as an olympic sport - but the wussy Europeans would probably put in some candy-ass no-touching rules.

Thanks for the info. I'm still at the stage of my tying where I think of materials only in terms of where they go in a fly rather than the materials themselves and I often get confused. What I use it for and I use a lot of it are Sedotti Slammer's. Basically the Schlappen and the "chickabou" at the base of the feather I tie in similar to a deceiver tail, then just finish the baitfish in bucktail. Can get flies with a very broad profle nearly a foot long this way. They move great in the water but aren't all that durable compared to a synthetic fly. Still nothing catches fish like natural materials.

God bless the Pimp that could sell that Ho...damn she must have been red tag clearance or something.

Just wondering if anyone has any info on Schlappen - specifically does it go by any other names? The store I used to buy it at has stopped stocking it so I need to order on on-line or find another source of long wide feathers for use in Slammer patterns. China Rooster Saddles seem to look like they are the right feathers, as are something called "Spey Hackle" I know a few places that sell Schlappen, so I'm really asking more for curiosity's sake.

I respool mine with 2lb or 4lb mono - makes for a great mono thread - and I've never found anything that spins deer hair better than 4lb mono.

Tightlines, Just curious which model TFO did you get? They have several and seem to come out with new models each year. I always find it interesting how different people view different rods. Couple of days ago I got the chance to fish with a group of guys and play with several different rods, and hear a lot of opinions - many of them deeply held.

Shouldn't that fly be laying on its back?

Kayaking - started just as a means to fish more water now I enjoy paddling as much as casting.

I think you will find the effectiveness of the patterns to be dependent on the water. Clear lakes are more fly fishing friendly than a muddy river. My favorite fly: Its designed to imitate a herring which run into fresh water to spawn - fished in rather clear water its easy to see and big enough to tempt a lazy lunker. In stained water you really need something that will push water my fly would probably be just a waste of time.

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by Sean Juan: Super Yak

I was in the same swap got the same fly. SD's minnow has plenty of action in the right environment - with a heavy current the stiff fly actually has more action than a marabou fly where all the material is compressed. That trout seemed to think it had enough action. Different flies for different situations. Personally I almost never use synthetics by themselves I'd much perfer to mix them with other synths or with natural materials - very stiff synths make an excellent support for more flimsy (but more active) materials.

Regal - its a great vise for holding the hook - pure and simple.

Here's hoping... I set it aside for a day - that probably simply wasn't long enough. The ziploc bag is hard to wrap my brain around. Does trapping the vapor speed the drying - I mean I remember the cohesive properties of water from 9th grade world science class so does having a droplet of water form on the bag serve to suck more water out of the camera?

While fishing for sea-run brookies and doing quite well I managed to take a tumble into the river and throughly soaked my wife's Olympus d560 camera - I took the batteries out and the memory card and attempted to dry the thing out but two days later its still totally dead. Luckily I had just recently bought my wife a new super duper camera so she didn't kill me. Is there anything I can do to try to bring this back? Or is it fixable if I brought it to a camera store? It was fresh water it was dumped in if that makes a difference. Also seeing as how I'll never use one of her cameras again I should probably get one for myself. Want something just for snapping pics of fish something waterproof - any suggestions. I may just get some of those disposable ones. Thanks

The Fly Tiers Benchside Reference Comes in handy

You know I've been trying to adapt a Crease Fly's water presence into someing bigger with more motion for a long time now. I think this fly is just the ticket - thanks for sharing.