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Fly Tying

Swamp Fly

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Everything posted by Swamp Fly

  1. No Need, it's all good. The topic is directly related anyway. Carry on...
  2. Thanks for all of the input! The reason I gave tippet rings a try is because I tend to change flies a lot, I shouldn't but I do. As such I go through a couple of lengths of tippet a session. Not only do I not shorten the last section of leader to the point of needing to replace it over a couple of sessions but it is much faster to replace the tippet using a ring. Just as an FYI I'm warm water fishing down here in Florida though I will try them for Cold water whenever I get the opportunity again. I am loath to try them for salt water fishing down here, I have enough problems with mackerel and needlefish cutting my leader by eating knots zipping through the water without adding anything that might provide any more glint/sparkle. Swamp
  3. Interesting, I have the exact opposite experience with clinch vs. improved clinch knots. I wonder why.
  4. So I decided to try using tippet rings a while back. I really like the functionality of them and I've only found a drawback or two. I've also realized that the White River (Bass Pro Shops) branded rings suck for me. They weaken the tippet in the knot or even cut it out right. I am using an improved clinch knot. My first reaction of course was that the idiot tying the knot (me) was the problem but I'm using the same knot at the other end without problems. I thought maybe the hook wire diameter was more conducive to knot strength but I use hooks both larger and smaller without issue. I've tried varying the number or turns and always lube the knot before tightening. Upon closer inspection the rings look like they have flat sides. This creates edges but the angle is so obtuse I I'm not convinced that is the issue in and of itself. That said it is the only difference between the ring and the eye of a hook that I can see. I have after testing and breaking 4-5 knots in a row used a uniknot out of frustration. I don't really like uniknots that much. They aren't bad knots but I don't tie them often so have to fiddle with them every time because they are not committed to muscle memory. I'd like to stick with the improved clinch. I'm thinking I should try another brand of tippet ring to see if that helps. Any suggestions? Anyone have similar issues and found a solution? Swamp
  5. My wife had one of those and I agree if I chucked the whole thing past 10 feet I couldn't have hit a darned thing! Swamp
  6. Hi Caloosa. Nice! Looks like a fun time! What is smack in the middle of that mess of fish? That brown oscar is covering most of the bottom half of it. It's probably a bass, but the color looks more walleye which I know can't be right. Speaking of the oscars, why did you pass on them? Just too many? Swamp
  7. I'm in N Ft Myers. Less than 4" of rain and some breezy weather was it. We had more rain and wind during a thunder storm a week and a half ago. Not that I'm complaining, not at all. Some areas to the south got a bit more rain with some "flooding", again I've seen worse from afternoon storms over a couple of days. I'm sure that anyone that had some of that flooding or had a tree limb fall on their lanai would disagree with me but this was a like driving over a possum that the fully loaded dump truck in front of you plowed over first. All in all we got lucky and then some. Swamp
  8. I still like the bigger canoe for some things but the solo sure makes it easy. I've been watching the USGS Fisheating Creek site. The water level has come up but zero discharge so far . Once I see flow I'm going. That place is as close to precolumbian Florida as it gets. Can't wait. I just hope it doesn't go from zero to blown out overnight.
  9. @ Capt Bob That must be a tough pill to swallow. I hope that you are able to continue to absorb the cost for a while yet but I would blame you if you couldn't.
  10. Because the water was so low, the caves from the last few years were high and dry, especially if the substrate was clay based. I came across more than a couple of sections that had thousands of holes per 100 yds. That really doesn't seem to be an issue during normal years, but when those creeks get flooded from a tropical system or other major rain event I'll bet an extra 10-14 inches will come off the bank because they are full of holes. Yes they are egg eaters, I imagine it depends on the population of the plecos or the concentration of the nests they are raiding as to whether they make a significant impact. Bream beds might take a pretty good hit, not sure. I haven't observed them eating much algae that is in loose clumps but I see them scraping growth off of surfaces, that is one of the reasons many Loricariidae are popular in the aquarium hobby. This is where I'm not sure what to think. That film feeds a lots of small fish and fish fry. I think one of the biggest impacts that they have is with water clarity. Together with the also exotic invasive Hoplo catfish they will muddy up the water completely. Don't get me wrong, they are cool looking fish but I think they have a pretty serious impact on our water ways.
  11. @Mike When I lived in Melbourne I used to fish the shad run right around the corner from you at Lemon Bluff . Some pretty water up there too. Both of those are an hours drive from the house. My rule is that I have to spend more time fishing than driving so driving 1-3 hours to get in 6-10 hrs of fishing doesn't bother me too much. I don't make a habit of it though, and I admit the older I get the tougher is to drive 2-3 hrs, fish for 8+, and then drive home. I hear ya about the gas. I dropped $100 worth of gas into the truck and it still wasn't full. 🤢 Still others elsewhere in the country pay even more so I guess i shouldn't complain too much.
  12. One of Florida's invasive exotics, this one is a Pleco. They are rather destructive because they burrow into the bank for the purpose of mating. Finally I had some visitors when I took a break to eat lunch. She got very upset and ran away when she finally discovered me. In her defense, I am known to be very good at sneaking up on cows while sitting on a bucket eating a sandwich. Cows are silly. That's it, sorry for the lousy quality but even with post editing a cellphone can only do but so much
  13. I call these "South Florida Class 2 rapids". 😁
  14. The orchids are in full bloom. This orchid is doomed, the tree will end up in the river eventually. Resurrection Fern. If you are not familiar with it it will curl up and "die" when it gets dry. This patch is half and half so you can see both states. One final poor quality picture.
  15. Various shots of one of the Peace River tributaries.
  16. This is another impressive cypress but from the Peace River. All of the knees away from the trunk are also part of the root system.
  17. Let's see if I can make this work.. Here are some phone pics from this year. This is a bald cypress from Fisheating Creek. I believe it is call monument tree. It reminds me of a big WW2 class battleship. All of that is one tree and it's root system.
  18. Unfortunately I missed the freshwater Glades canal fishing again this year. Boat needs a new steering cable and I need to address a bunch of deck rot. Oh well. I really love fishing all of that. Like you say, there's nothing like the Glades. I like poorboy leaders too, but I'm fishing 3-5wt rods so I'm either fighting a fly that's a bit to big/bulky or will have a hard time turning over something that is stiffer. That's okay, if I'm after "bigger" tarpon and snook I'll fish the salt with appropriate gear. I also don't mind being under-gunned for the occasional fish, makes actually landing one even better.
  19. I acquired a solo 14 canoe at the end of last year. Since it weighs half of my two seater I've been doing some river and creek fishing over the last couple of months here in SW Fl. It looks like rainy season is starting so the fishing will change from what it has been. I love fishing the dry season, I get to wade and pick apart every nook and cranny of small stream water in a postcard setting. The fish can be small on average but extra enthusiastic and all colored up. Not to say there aren't some bigger fish to be had, caught a few 4-5 lb bass, and plenty of hand+ sized bream. Depending on were you fish there are always some surprises. I caught a half a dozen Snook that were at least 60 miles from the salt. Had one snook take my lunch money without even breaking a sweat, she was pushing 30" and parted my 8lb tippet like a pair of nippers. That was over before it began, only thing I left with was a big smile. I was in less than a foot of water, with a live oak canopy, and the native orchids where starting to bloom. Go to flies where small tan deer hair sliders, and black woolly buggers. No pics, I keep threatening to leave the fishing gear at home and bring the camera gear instead. One of these days I'll do it, honest I will, but then I'll remember that snook as I start to pack... Swamp
  20. Hi Steve, I remember when your sister passed, we chatted back and forth a little about it. I feel the same way about it 3 years (going on 4 for me) one minute it feels like 30 seconds and 30 yrs the next. I share you sentiment about learning to live with it (most days). I don't think I'll ever get "over it" though. Not sure I want to get over it, to much of me is wrapped up in it. Anyway I'm glad you are doing well and are moving in positive directions. Swamp
  21. I have to be honest I wasn't sure where to post this since it is very fish related. I have the TV on in the background and during a commercial break the local news teased a segment to be aired later this evening. It was about a gator swimming in The Gulf and if it was common yada yada yada. I'm thinking I wonder how big it is so I look up and see what's what. Sure enough good sized lizard, then the drone camera pulls back. Well there is a school of fish following the thing. First thought was Tarpon! What the heck? I hit the rewind button and I think the were actually Snook. Okay they've got my attention either way, where's my 8wt... Never even considered throwing a fly at a gators tail. Got me laughing pretty good. I'm just not going to be able to resit trying next time I'm come across a cruising gator. Swamp
  22. Duck, that has nothing but suckage attached to it. I hope that he does well. I used to have a little Toyota pick up that the A/C did not work and had to drive everywhere with the windows down and the vent fan on full (think Florida), good thing too. The bolts that are used to connect the exhaust manifold to the est of the exhaust system failed about an hour away from home. Noisy as heck so I pulled over, I figured I couldn't do any damage and didn't want to pay for a tow back to town. By the time I got to my mechanics shop I had the mother of all headaches. If I did not have the windows down and just running the A/C I probably would not have made it. Didn't know any better back then, I got darned lucky. Swamp
  23. So if the lawn where to die and turned into a dust bowl or sodden mess a pond might be viewed in a better light? Just saying...😈 No I'm NOT suggesting you try that! She would probably make mince meat out of you and then you would fly over here to do the same to me! LOL! Good plan with borrowing a mower. That should give you a much better idea with your particular situation. Let us know how it works out, I'm kind of curious now. Swamp
  24. Denduke, that blade reminds me of when I was a teenager and worked in a small engine repair shop. We once got a mower in to be repaired that "wouldn't start". The mower had the blade sticking up through the top of the mower deck, it was a subtle clue as to what the problem might be. Come to find out that she had hit an old iron pipe sticking out of the ground. The crankshaft was bent almost 45*. She did not understand why we couldn't just straighten the crankshaft. Swamp
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