TSPAngler

Green, there's nothing wrong with starting a new thread. We actually haven't had a Muskie one in a while. Here are a few I've done lately, although I'm not that good at these. There's a good YouTube video of Brad Bowen tying the Optic Minnow, just bucktail, Krystal flash, and feathers: I'd also like to see what's working for folks this season. I may go get after some Tuesday.

There's a lot of interesting, if only tangentially-related perspectives being expressed in this thread. I can't honestly claim to know enough about economics to make the kinds of definitive proclamations I'm seeing here, but I will add that I don't think happiness is ever found in just getting more of the stuff you want, it's found in wanting less. Most major religions generally renounce materialism. And most of us have more crap than we need. I've always believed that deep down, fly fishing is about the beauty of simplicity. And finding simplicity in fly fishing is only ever achieved through hard won skill. No amount of money can put that fly you tied down perfectly in front of that fish. Only you can, after you've put in the time to become good enough at what you're attempting to do. A king can do no more. Fish more, buy less.

That's a really nice looking rod for sure. I backpack to fish quite a bit, but I've never really understood the advantage of a 7pc rod over a 4pc for that application. Both strap to the side of a pack just fine in the tube. I don't get why you'd want more pieces to have to put together. I can barely contain myself trying to put a 4pc together stream side and do all the rigging. I'm always mis-aligning rod sections, skipping eyes and tying bad knots due to the anticipation. A 7pc might cause me a panic attack.

Both will still work, just not at the optimum efficiency of how they were designed to. You might have to get 55ft of 5wt line out to get the 8 wt rod to load up just right, and only 20ft of the 10wt line on the 7wt (just guessing), but they'll both still cast. An 11wt line on a 2 wt might actually break the rod.

So recently someone posted this link to the dyna-king tool carousel: http://www.dyna-king.com/product_dtl/?id=351 I thought was a really good looking product, but $70 was a little out of my league. So, I just decided to build my own. Here is how it turned out: I made it from just a few random bits I had lying around the house, including a small 8x10 nylon cutting board likes this: I also used a busted hiking pole and some all-thread I had in the basement. Cut it all up like so: And bolt it together: Drill some holes and, Voila! Sure beats the old one I hastily made from a piece of 4x4: I'll add some bits of dowel/steel to stack thread on, but I'm pretty happy with it. I probably have $10 in it all told, and I think it's as good as any you can buy.

Same.

I bought this tying light a few weeks back off of Amazon; http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NIBRH4/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Just finished building a tying room in my basement as the newborn took over my last space. Concrete walls make it tough to find outlets and I'm not a big fan of extension cords all over the place. This one runs off some AAs, lasts a real long time and is pretty bright. I find myself carrying it around the house to work in dark places like in my gun safe this morning. For those of you who do tying demonstrations, I think it would be a real asset as I know light and outlets apcan be tough to come by. Yeah, $35 is a little steep but I just thought I'd pass it along as I've gotten some good recommendations for other products off this site.

That's good work. When my little 4wt finally gives up the ghost I'm giving you a call.

In a boat, yes. Wading, usually not. Been a couple times I wished I had one though.

Well, I wasn't singling you out specifically or anything man. And I've had good luck with plenty of cheaper gear, especially wading boots. Currently using some Cabelas ultralights that I've had a while, so it's not like I'm about the name brands or needlessly wasting money. But with waders I've gone away from the cheapest ones. Particularly bps, I will not use. I paid like $259 for the Orvis ones I have now. They seem pretty good. But that's just me. One more anecdotal account. Just what I was warning against. And yeah, Red Green was a great show, for sure.

From the way people talk, we could well be getting to the point that wader technology has trickled down some, to where a cheap pair of bps waders today is as good as top-of-the-line Simms from 5 or 6 years ago. Maybe. I haven't had real good luck with cheap waders though. I also know people just like to talk about how the budget item they bought is "just as good" as the high end stuff because it makes them feel better about themselves or their purchase or something. And a single good or bad experience can make or ruin a brand in a single person's eyes forever, so I try to look at trends rather than single anecdotes that sound conclusive. It's hard to really know who to listen to on stuff like this. That's the internet for you. Ultimately, all waders will leak. It's just a matter of time and how you use them. How often do you fish and what's an extra $100 worth to you? I'd probably buy the Redingtons you already know you like. Good luck, god speed, and keep your stick on the ice.

Depending on how much wet wading you do, it might be worth it to buy separate boots for with and without waders. I use my normal shoe size for wet wading in warm months, and then a size bigger for waders and thick socks for cold months/tailwaters. I don't like to hike or wet wade in big clunky boots, or the feeling of wet socks under neoprene. I use 2mil wading socks and no socks underneath to wet wade.

After reading this post, I bought this light off amazon for $11.99. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IR4D1AC/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Got it yesterday, and it works perfectly. Should save me a lot of AAA's.

I feel the same way. The traveler is a great blue collar, working vise. I don't see the point in spending more for some shiny bits that don't actually help with the tying flies end of things. I think I got mine 6 or 7 years ago. I see no point in "upgrading" to a more expensive one.

They can be reloaded and used to shoot stuff that can be skinned and used to tie flies.

Tipping outdoor guides is not a new tradition and dates back to well before any "entitlement generation" (whatever that is). It's just part of the culture of flyfishing now, just like drinking bourbon at the tying desk or letting a keeper swim free. The idea that a gentlemen should tip a guide or a golf caddy has manifested itself among blue collar types these days, as more folks other than the rich elite have the disposable income to be able to afford a guide. It is not a requirement though, so you don't have to participate. Any guide who expects or depends on one should just include the amount in his asking price on the front end. I have hired maybe half a dozen over the years, and they all worked hard to put me on fish in unfamiliar waters. If I only have a day or two to fish in an unfamiliar location, and I'm not pinching pennies, a guide is a great way to get on the fish and enjoy a new place. I don't mind tipping for that.

I use a lot of Cabelas stuff, usually clothes for turkey hunting but some fly stuff too like lines and tying materials here and there. IMO, the quality of their clothing has fallen off in the last couple of years and I have recently just returned some stuff that I ordered. It's still better than BassPro, which is more or less garbage now, but personally I'd go with something from a company more geared toward quality. Not saying you need to buy some $400 simms, but maybe some redingtons would get the job done. I usually buy Orvis, but that's just what I've had luck with and fits me. Also check out this link. http://www.yellowstoneangler.com/index.php/gear-review/2013-wader-shootout-best-waders-simms-g4-simms-g3-patagonia-rio-gallegos-orvis-silver-sonic-dan-bailey-guide-ultra-redington-aquaz-cabelas-bootfoots As for boots, I'll join the FrogTogg crowd there. I find that whether I buy $200 or $80 boots, I only get about 2 seasons out of them, so now I just buy $80 ones. Currently I'm in the FrogTogg Anura boot. I bet their waders are good too.

I use them and like the warm water line especially. Can't beat the price and they work as well as any other line I've tried.

Heavy and uncomfortable. I used to carry them for a living, so I'm pretty familiar. If it's all you had it would definitely work, but literally any backpack actually designed for backpacking or hiking would be more comfortable. I've been using the same north face electron 26 pack for hiking/fishing for like 8 years. It's great. I can't imagine what you'd be carrying on single day trips that would require a large, framed pack like that (maybe an iron skillet for shore lunch?) but if that's what you need, Kelty makes good, cheap framed packs.

http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showtopic=72654&hl=%22lacked+access%22

Chartreuse double bunny variant

Solid work sir.

Flytyers dungeon: Just got a baitfish box in. So much Congo hair... I think I'm set for life. Buying eyes or flash material from anywhere else is just throwing money away.

That's exactly what they are sniperfreak. Some crazy legs, Krystal flash, dumbbell eyes and you're good to go. Based it off the carp tease, but has some better action. Good for Smallies too.

I call these "fur burgers"