rstaight

I have 3 rods I use for smallies. They are 5, 7, and 9 weights. The 5wt is used for the surface such as terrestrials and some nymphs. The 7wt is used for heavier weighted streamers such as Clousers. The 9wt is used for the weighted flies that are predominantly bunny strips. Those are like casting a wet sock. All 3 rods are the previous generation St. Croix Avid. The 9wt is also my saltwater rod.

When it comes to an offset I take the pliers I use to crush the barbs. I put the point of the hook in the pliers making sure to go past the barb. Then take hold of shank and give it a tug. Really easy and you can put quit an offset in the hook. I do this before I start tying. Would really suck to do it after you have the fly done and break the hook. It does put the hook at a funky angle to tie but there is a simple remedy. Turn the vise so the hook is perpendicular to you.

Mark, What a problem to have, fishing getting in the way.

In my younger days I regularly would go 48 hours without sleep. Today I can't set in a chair with out dozing off. Crowds are not for me either. Would much rather be fishing or setting on the deck drinking an ice tea or an adult beverage. Anyway, I hope everyone has a splendid new year.

Can't wait to see the finished project. Looking good.

I have tremors also. It's attributed to my tying style. I always have my left hand on my vise. Hope the treatment helps. What helped me was medication, propranolol. I have been on a low dosage but has been recently increased. Just may be familial tremors and not parkinsons.

Scott, I only have one word, niiiice.

Agree with Mike on this one. Those big sunnies didn't get that size by being dumb.

Welcome back.

Welcome from Indiana. You will find a lot of folks here more than willing to help out.

Your welcome Chugbug. Over 20 years in the forging industry comes in handy sometimes. Even in my present job.

Mike is correct about cast being weaker. The reason for this is grain structure. A casting does not have any grain structure. The material you are casting is in a molten state and poured in to a die/mold. If the item is machined from a billet you have a grain structure created from the rolling operation in the steel mill. You may be machining with or against the grain. With forging, the material is not in a molten state but is heated so it is pliable and easy to move. As a result you can manipulate the grain pattern to create the strongest piece possible. Think of it as a piece of solid wood versus a piece of particleboard.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year.

I was at a show years ago and watched Mr. Norlander demonstrate is tying "system". It was amazing. I tried his dubbing technique on my Griffin rotary. Yes, it can be done, not nearly as fast. For it to be really effective, the vise needs to spin. For a conventional rotary vise to spin, the offset in the arm will create an imbalance condition. May not be very pleasant.

I have a 195 grain Wulf Ambush that I roll cast with an intermediate sink tip. I have it on a TFO Drift. I am really pleased with it.

I was curious about tying as a side gig one time. Found a website, can't remember who. They supplied the materials and paid .50 apiece. Figured I would have to tie 20 an hour to make it worth the effort. One every 3 minutes.

Damn eide, perfection again. I always enjoy seeing your creations.

Welcome, Here in Lafayette Indiana it's mostly smallies and bluegill. I do love my yearly trips to Wisconsin for trout.

Welcome from Indiana.

PBR, brings back some memories. My senior year in high school I would leave school for lunch and have 2 warm PBR'S. Then I would go back to phys ed. I was a PE assistant. Won't quench a thirst but I need to try some of those.

May have to start with the notebook on the flies I come up with. Why a notebook? No problem with a virus and it won't crash.

Welcome, glad to have you join in on the luancy of saving money by tying flies.

My wife has said nice washing machine.😁

The gentleman that taught me to tie can't stand the smell of mothballs. He also is not very found of borax or powders on his pelts. He takes every natural material he has and places it in the freezer for 3 to 7 days once a year. He has a an old freezer he got at a garage sale that he uses. Said his wife wasn't very happy the first time he did it.

Totally agree about the sound of a 12-string. They have a beautiful sound with the wright song. They sound even better when using a capo. It's amazing how many popular songs were done on a 12-string. Two that come to mind are Wanted Dead or Alive and Hotel California. Oh yeah, keep playing, nothing wrong with that Yamaha.