pcg

VTflyhack, A quick check of tying exhibitions in Marlboro indicates that none of the tying exhibits on Friday are saltwater, and only half on Sat & Sun are. So the emphasis looks like it's on dries and wets. In addition, the New England Fly Tyers have a table for all three days, & my memory is that they basically tie throughout the day--and they're mostly inland guys. So there's a lot of non-salt stuff to pick from.

And there have been a number of inquiries about shows in Massachusetts. This is the web site for the MArlboro show in January: http://www.flyfishingshow.com/marlborough/ ($14/head under you're under 12, then $2)

Umm, interesting idea, Troutbum2.

Shows are good places, though, to see old friends--guides, salesmen, fellow fishermen. I've seen new products, great demos. The cost is minor--& common on: who can't pay $12-14 for such cheap entertainment? There's always a table with my local chapter of TA there, great charities, & usually 3 or 4 big name tyers. I met Norm Norlander there, which made a huge difference in my tying. Talleur taught me some cool caddis tying techniques one afternoon when everyone else was wandering elsewhere. There's always something new, & always something worthwhile. Don't let any of the "I can buy materials on the internet" discourage you from hitting your local show!

Great. UB-40 was the sealer I couldn't remember. I have a refinished bamboo rod (1940s) coming that's been treated with it, so I can compare corks. Many thanks.

Thanks for the fast replies!

Ice fishing? Wait! What about presentation, casting, drifting, dry flies, nymphing, slealth? Man, who brought the hot coffee & where are the heated stools?!

Sean, The usual monster fly fishing show is taking place in Marlboro, MA, this year (January 18 - 21). It's always packed to the gills, and has all the usual exhibitors. If you've never been, I recommend it highly. If you need more info about location, email me on the side...

My first reaction to your tale was to suggest you send all overseas packages with insurance, no if's ands or buts. Then thought of my own experience this week: I called Malinda (for those of you who don't know--she runs Malinda's Fly Fishing shop in Altmar, NY, beside the Salmon River). I ordered a dozen stoneflies as patterns. She said fine, that she'd bill me. Then she sent the dozen, with detailed tying instructions, beautifully mounted and insisted that there was no charge! Needless to say, I ordered materials from her immediately, but this is an example of the other extreme. May every bad apple be offset by an angel!

Glad you're tracking & deleting these. I moderate a forum on another subject & the challenges from this sort of s--t are endless.

Any tried & true ways to clean cork fly rod handles? I know that rod makers use some sort of breathable varnish (?) to impregnant the cork, but I'm damned hesitant to do so without knowing a little more. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks--

Another bug cure is the microwave. Far faster than using Borox power.

And thanks to all for the cool exchanges. Very witty. Very cool fly. :-)

Luke, Thanks. That's too damn logical. All this sweat & tears over forcing beads onto hooks. I'd never seen something so out of the box. Sweet.

Sure beats the price ($50+) of many "specialty" tying lamps.

The key, as you say, is the water movement. Fast water? Anything below 4X is probably not necessary. In still water I'll go down to 6X. (I'm describing trout fishing, and fished over trout.) There's too little difference betwn 6 & 7X to worry, IMHO. And 7X etc becomes progressively more & more fragile. In fasting moving streams, mono works fine. The fish have little time to observe, & the velocity itself argues against the tippet/leader becoming seen. Drag & presentation become the most important elements, not mono vs. tippet.

What fly did you use?! And I agree: what winter was the photo?

First saw snagging on the Salmon River about 10 years ago. Disgusting & astoundingly crude. There was a spin fisherman snagging in mid-October this year in the same location. Ripped through a couple handsome steelies. The same guy then set up a portable grill on the bank & began cooking burgers. And yelling that he was doing so to everyone else on the river. The worst of human nature. There's nothing good to be said of it, and eliminating it will simply require serious patrolling by wardens (that isn't now taking place).

Of course. Ingenious. I love the coloring!

Love the name, BTW. :-)

cheech, what is the backing material?

Looks deadly!

Sorry to hear about your shoulder. I had a similar thing--doctor wanted to operate--I held off a few months & the condition is now 98% gone. I'd recommend that you continue to nurse it a while before doing anything drastic. (Beautiful fish, BTW)

Reread Joe Humphreys books--he's a long time advocate of using mono. If the Master says so, I'd take a serious second look!

I'd love to see a photo of this thing wet! Looks "alluring."