SALMONATOR

I'm the same as you when it comes to tying eggs Will. I descovered those things a few years ago and love them. I rarely tye eggs anymore. I use them on ESL's, and even tye in a viel like a nuke on alot of them. Two things I have learned about these eggs though. 1: Store them away from light. They bleach out very easily. 2: when placing them on the hook, first dress a small area with thread where you intend to place the egg. Then squirt a drop of crazy-glue, Zap-A-Gap, or the like to keep it secured before you slide the egg into place. Regular head cement won't hold them in place very long after they've been fished a while. Al

"Selective Trout", by Doug Swisher and Carl Richards, "A. K.'s Fly Box", by A. K. Best and "Good Flies", by John Gierach. Al

You there Red'? I can't send 'em if I don't know what to write on the package. Address??.....Anybody???? Al

Stonefly nymphs 'cause they seem to immitate........stonefly nymphs.......and while there are several flies that can catch steelhead, everybody knows tat 9 out of ten steelhead prefer stonefly nymphs over eggs, caddis larvae, wigglers, hex nymphs, buggers, ESL's, and all thos gaudy "out west" flies........most of the time. Al

It's true. I think I've had just about every one here fooled with this picture of the kid with the fish I chose for my avatar. Truth is, I just found it somewhere online, and wished I looked as good as him holding that beautifull fish. I don't even know who he is. Al is simply a pen name I use on alot of different sites. Actually I'm Lefty Kreh. Who else famous is on here BDH? You don't have to give up the handle with the real name. Al

Throw me the address Red'. I'll have mine done in the next day or two. Al

Tail feather barbs are great for wing cases, tails (on both nymphs and drys), as well, wrapped as bodies on some flies. Breast feathers make good crayfish claws and tails. Lower back is good for soft-hackle wets, and sparrow type flies. The maribou feathers are good for any drab fly that requires a bit of action ('buggers, etc.) Other than that, get creative. There are many more uses for all of these feathers. Good luck. Al

QUOTE I enjoy long walks on the beach, and getting caught in the rain But not Pina Coladas? Al (SE Mighigan)

Don't do it Bryan!! Dude, this site ionly like 6 monthes old. EVERYBODY is a "newbie". Al

QUOTE Sure catching fish on bait is cool, but the challenge of doing the same on flies is the ultimate. Then kick it up another notch and tie the flies. I guess that's the reason I set aside the spinning rod altogether several years ago. The challange of fly-fishing is what really makes it what it is for me. At the surface, it's still all about the fish. Bigger fish, more fish, etc. But the challenge to improve is what keeps me coming back and forces me to set the bar a bit higher with each passing season. Beneath that, I think, is where my real passion lies. "Hydro-therapy" I call it. From the moment I set foot into a river, it consumes me. The focus I have on what I've set out to do I guess. Everything else in my life just dissapears. Worries about work, homelife, etc. just aren't there anymore. It's just me, my rod, and some fish, weather I catch them or not. It's more of just a place to loose myself in for awhile. I've found that a couple hours on a river fishing can make my whole day. A really good day, and the feeling can follow far beyond the river bank and can cary on for even weeks. I couldn't imagine my life without fly-fishing. Al

Sounds like a plan Ralf. Nice fish, that's what I'm talkin' about. I've never fished the Mo'. Always meant to give it a try someday. Just let me know when you have some time to give it a go and I'm in. Thanks. Al

'Tis the one Ralf. I never got the chance last year to wet it below Mio (my origional intentions when I tied this fly), but I gave it a little shot on some smaller water on the upper Mann' between Sharon and M-72. It caught some fish, I can't wait to give it a go down on the big water though. Mostely I'd just like to hear a little feedback from other fishermen willing to give it a try. I'm not a great streamer fisherman myself, so any comments could go a long way in development. I gotta' think it'll be a winner down there, but we'll find out for sure this summer. I could buzz out a dozen of 'em and a case of beer to trade for a float and some streamer tips if your up to it this summer. Al

I've used both and never noticed a difference, other than estaz seemes to usually have longer fibers than ice chenille. Other than that, I've alway's considered them the same thing. Al

I know nothing about dying or tanning, but you may be interested in a post made last fall on the site. BDH mentions re-tanning after you dye a fur to keep it plyable. I found it very informative. Here you go (by the way, welcome to the forum).: tanning for tying Good luck. Al

Nice looking fly SJ. I've never tried really tiny stones like that for steelies (most of the ones I use are in the 6-10 ballpark), but I've been meaning to get a pattern going for early season trout myself. Looks like a killer. Nice tye. Al

My steelhead boxes are starting to look pretty good, but I just took a look a my trout flies the other day and it wasn't pretty. Must have put a couple boxes away wet. Lots of rust. Lots of "throw-aways". Got my work cut out for me. Al

What Lance said. Al

Hay, welcome Dan. Good to see you around. Al

Welcome Justin. Only been here a short time myself, but I've found this site very enjoyable. Have fun here. Al

A new addition to the fly pattern database has been submitted by SALMONATOR: Bloody Booger

I'm wth LK. I like the nuke style eggs best. I've used crystal flash too and had success, but I caught more small browns and pre-migrants with them than big fish. That's just been my experience though. I usually even tye ESL's with the nuke style egg anymore....but it is a fine egg pattern. Al P.S.: Welcome to the forum 'Junkie

I'll go along with that. Al

Cool Steve. Deffinately keep me in mind for that. Al

You damn carpenters. Sawcat (capenter), just the other day, was telling me about an accident on the job that left him without feeling in his left thumb (I Think?). Maybe he'll chime in here. Let me tell you, this dude does just fine behind the vice. I'm sure it'll take some time, but I'm also sure there's no reason you can't tye every bit as well (even better with time) as you did in the past. Good luck. I hope all goes well. Al

You ever try that stuff OSD? I've got to give it a shot. Hell, if it workes even HALF as good as Todd claims, it should float a dry better than anything I've ever used. Will, Guess I was thinking trout while lookingat this fly. If that were the case, I don't know if you really want this fly to "float" anyway. Looks like a killer emerger pattern to me. It's got just enough foam to keep it near the top, and a drop of floatant could keep it dangling in the surface film. It's tough to do a real good "float-test" in a bathtub or sink on a fly like that. Remember the current of a river will "push" this fly to the top of the water column anyway. I think it'll end up right in the strike-zone all on it's own if the trout are hitting emergers. Try the floatant thing when bugs first start riding the top. If you deffinately want it on top for still-water fishing, I'd try that fletch-dry stuff for starters. Sounds like the bomb. Good Luck. Al