Kytroutbum

Fox squirrel definitely

At Cabelas in Cincinnati, they told me they are dropping all fly tying and almost all fly fishing! I spoke to several "outfitters" who all said the same Thing!

I tie this with either blue flashabou or blue mylar to get a deeper richer blue. This tie is a GREAT Brookie attractor. I started tying up a few as a novelty but have just whipped up several dozen as attractor flies for brookies this summer.

I like to lay down one layer of thread, buildup a Dam of thread behind where the weight will go. then a drop of CA glue, then wrap the barbell while it is still damp. Figure eight it, then wrap between the barbell and hook to tighten it. I tie a series of weights on hooks, then go back and soak the figure eight threads with thin penetrating CA again. I let it dry while tying up the number of them I need before tying the rest of my fly. I feel that letting the thin CA penetrate may be as good epoxy. Using epoxy for me (appologies to Bob) is just one extra step and time to fool with. I've not had any "turning" of the barbells, but have had to repaint several.

I'd highly reccommend Jay "fishy" Fullum's book on using Household Materials in Fly Tying (Not sure of exact title). He uses a lot of different types of paints and coatings. Very well worth the price. Amazon has used copies very reasonable. I use Creamcoat sealer on cork and balsa before painting. Delta Ceramcoat- Sparkle Glaze DecoArt makes Star Lite TopCoat, Duraclear makes a Varnish all available at :Michaels, Hobby Lobby, other craft stores. Some folks use epoxy- I don't like to use it. A fingernail polish called TOP COAT works also. I highly reccommend TESTING a coating on a sample of foam and paint before using it on a lot. I've had some melting and peeling with some combo's. As far as the position of the popper, I believe dying fish on the surface may actually have their tails submerged- heaqd up often. I tie my pencil poppers with some slight weighting so that they sit tail down on a 45 degree angle. I want to fish them "Walking the Dog" like a bait caster fishing a Zara Spook.

Be aware that you will have SNOW MELT conditions in that area. Discuss with any guides the possible- probable river conditions, that will probably be bad, and alternatives they may offer. You might check into the Firehole etc in Western YNP. Don't want to be a drag but I work in the NE Yellowstone area and we don't see stream fishing until Mid-July most summers. We usually visit the Tetons in early July and mostly hike and bird,m the rod stays cased. Again work out alternatives before agreeing to book!!

Peterjay- try placeing a "colorado" or a willow leaf blade on the tailend of your streamer. Called a "Fliptail"?

Used to read about the Lower 40, in the back of "Outdoor Life??). These are NOT FLY FISHING but for anyone with Interest and Knowledge of the Greater Yellowstone, Wyoming area I highly recommend any of C.J. Box's Joe Pickett series. The main character is a Wyoming Game Warden who in involved in Mysteries in the Yellowstone-Bighorn Mt. area. Having worked in that area I can identify with the types of characters and situations involved. April Christofferson, is a Cody Wyoming writer who has three novels based upon issues in the Greater Yellowstone. Alpha Female- Wolf Introduction, Trapped- Preditor trapping in the parks, Buffalo Medicine- Bison migration and Brucellois. (Her son was a Bear Biologist for YNP for 9 years, and currently does speaking engagments. He and his family camp in my campground several times a summer.) These are set in the Park area, her descriptions of locales, individuals, and situations are very accurate.

I tie at home and during the summer in a camper. My place my hooks in a pill envelope, 1 size to an envelope, then all sizes of one style go into a "ziplock type" snack bag. I place small cardboard labels in each bag. I keep my hooks in a drawer in an shop organizer. When I am tying, I remove only one envelope- size at a time. When packing to go on the road, I can load the needed small packets into the snack pack "ziplock" and place it with my traveling kit. I only keep 100 or less hooks out in the organizer. My extra packs, usually bought when I find a great deal, are stored in a shoebox till needed. I find problems, clutter, etc occur when too much unneeded stuff is out. Randall

I read somewhere yesterday, that the hackle growers will need sometime to recover their stock but things are looking up.

Pfish- sent you a PM on the hooks. I've been having problems with pm's.

I haven't recieved any PM's.

Bassbugn- I don't have much of what you need but I think Pfish can use my "extras". Thanks a lot anyway! Pfish- Sent you a pm.

I usually spend my summers as a camphost for the USFS in the Greater Yellowstone from Mid May till Oct. so I don't fish warmwateer much and tying trout stuff usually. I'll check and PM you later this evening. Thanks Randall

I'd just rather trade to reduce some of my "abundance" since I don't tie commerically.

I have several requests to tie some poppers and sliders for family and friends and need about 2 dozen each of size 6 and of size 10. I have a large amount of Size 12's (33903) or other dry fly hooks (14's and 16's and 20's) that I'll trade. I would rather reduce my over abundances than buy more hooks that may not be used as I don't use poppers much. PM me if interested Randall

I guess I blew it. I only left his shop a few years ago with several of his signature flies, an autographed card and a stream map. I Plan on finishing it as a shadowbox this winter. He spent some time allowing me to watch his tying an Ausable Wulff one of my favorite spring flies for the Smokies. I picked up the book as an afterthought, just being happy with his tying the flies for me that I forgot to get the book signed. The book is a lot more than just a how to tie his flies guide. As one of the innovators of Fly Tying, his book shows his multigiftedness and love of our sport.

Having trolled for smallmouth in a shallow lake very successfully, I wonder what depth do you troll at?

PM sent, thanks Randall

WOW, I'll grab them up if still available! Randall

Send me a pm. I might have a copy in almost new shape.

I'm fairly sure you've got FLEXAMENT or a clone.

I just found bugs in my calf tails hair. I am going to wash them but would like to microwave it to kill any eggs. Does anyone have info on how long it is necessary? I also have been using flea colors in my necks, which seems to be working, anyone have opinions on them. Randall

Having tied on a lot of vises, I've had a Rezentti Traveler for 25+ years using it with a pedistal and clamp base. It travels A LOT with me. I tie Saltwater and Trout in my camper or clamped on a small folding table outside. Absolutely had no problems with it. The O-ring broke once, and I did a temporary field repair with tying several strands of rubber hackle. Temporary turned out to be several years before I replaced the O-ring at Lowes. Mine recieves some punishment, a lot of use (but no abuse) looks a lot more fragile than it really is. I'm 63 years old and believe I will not need nor want to replace it and will pass it on to my grandson. My advice is try to find someone who has a vise you might like and tie on it some before making a choice.

I, also, use swiss straw but strengthen it with flexament. I think it has more translucent when wet on caddis emergers.