Returning to the art.

[HartlyRed 0]

Would like to take a moment to introduce myself before diving into the forum. I started fly tying/fishing about 25 years ago while stationed (US Navy) in Washington state. I found it fun and very entertaining. I spent very big bucks on my equipment and materials - then I got married - and children came along.

 

We moved to Hawaii where I continued to throws flies at the 'cuda in the local mangroves but, family life was starting to take over. It got harder to find the time to pursue this passion and eventually lost interest.

 

I retired from the Navy and moved to Delaware in '97. I was always too busy working, and all my gear found a home in the garage. There it has been sitting for the last 12 years.

 

Two weeks ago I turned the big 50 and realized how boring my life had become. While drinking a beer in the man cave (garage), I saw my gear and figured "Why not?"

 

I made my first tie about two weeks ago and what came off the vise was a very acceptable #8 Clouser Minnow in bluegill. I must practice my portions but, it was better than anything machine made! I had trouble seeing the hook - had to use reading glasses - but still proud as hell! I just have to except the fact that I'll never tie a #28 mosquito again.

 

Delaware, being a Mid-Atlantic state, I'll be tying mostly warm and salt water patterns. We have a good sea trout run in the fall and also a good stripper run.

 

My largest catches to date:

 

419 lb Grouper (Jew Fish), Somalia, Africa.

112 lb Sailfish, Kenya, Africa

28 lb Dolphin, Florida (Fly rod)

14 lb Steelhead, Washington (Fly rod)

11 lb 'Cuda, Hawaii (Fly rod)

5 lb Rainbow, Washington (Fly rod)

 

So, hello to everyone and hope I can contribute to the forum.

 

Phil Smith

[MIKE*A 0]

Welcome Aboard!

 

My FF history is similiar to yours (minus the exotic catches/locales)......I got introduced to it a little over 30 years ago and then many distractions......about 8 years ago I had ACL recon. and was laid up for awhile and wound up digging my fly tying gear out and started all over....it wasn't too long after that i found this site and have been hooked ever since. I turn 48 this year and have also discovered the "need" for reading glasses.....On the bright side, my youngest is starting high school in the Fall which means my coaching days are over which means more time on the water for me w/my new yak... :headbang:

 

Mike

[Guest]

Welcome to the Forum Phil.

 

I understand how it feels to need glasses for tying. I'll turn 70 my next B/D and have needed them since I turned 55. On the bright side, they make a lot of really good magnifiers, some with built-in lights, that make tying much easier. I've tied size 26 flies using them.

 

One of my fishing buddies is a one-eyed tier and he wears glasses. He can also tie flies in size 24 and 26. Just look for a good magnifier and go to work.

 

I've been at it for at least 25 years and still have trouble with proportions when I start tying a new pattern. I don't think fish are that picky or I wouldn't catch as many as I do. Either that or they're raising some really stupid fish these days.

 

I would recommend snelling any tiny flies that you tie while they are still in the vise. I do and use a small loop-to-loop connection. Works really well.

 

You certainly have an impressive line-up of fish you've caught. I'm surprised you were able to stay away from fishing as long as you have with catches like those.

 

I was always under the impression that Delaware had some pretty good trout fishing along with warm and salt water fishing. Although, I personally enjoy fly fishing for warm water species as well as trout. A Smallmouth Bass on a fly rod is always a fun time.

 

Good luck with your tying and fishing.

 

[utyer 0]

Welcome back to the "art" and the site.

 

You don't really need glasses, those flies your tying are SUPPOSED to be fuzzy. They'll catch more fish that way. You may need to have someone tie them on for you though. I tie wearing glasses, and sometimes a visor, and at 65, I still tie down to size 28 (not at often as i used to.) You may not need too many size 28s fishing salt water, but you never know.

[Arkansas Mike 0]

Welcome, Phil. I'm 41 and thought, "Who needs glasses" up until here recently. I've started wearing a pair of cheap Wal-Mart 2X reading glasses while tying, and am amazed at how much more detail I can see. Glad you found your way back to the sport and tying.

 

 

Mike

[HartlyRed 0]

Welcome Aboard!

 

My FF history is similiar to yours (minus the exotic catches/locales)......I got introduced to it a little over 30 years ago and then many distractions......about 8 years ago I had ACL recon. and was laid up for awhile and wound up digging my fly tying gear out and started all over....it wasn't too long after that i found this site and have been hooked ever since. I turn 48 this year and have also discovered the "need" for reading glasses.....On the bright side, my youngest is starting high school in the Fall which means my coaching days are over which means more time on the water for me w/my new yak... :headbang:

 

Mike

 

The exotic catches and locations were all courtesy of the US Navy. When we pulled into a port - I chartered a boat. I fished every ocean except the Arctic.

 

 

 

[HartlyRed 0]

Welcome to the Forum Phil.

 

I understand how it feels to need glasses for tying. I'll turn 70 my next B/D and have needed them since I turned 55. On the bright side, they make a lot of really good magnifiers, some with built-in lights, that make tying much easier. I've tied size 26 flies using them.

 

One of my fishing buddies is a one-eyed tier and he wears glasses. He can also tie flies in size 24 and 26. Just look for a good magnifier and go to work.

 

I've been at it for at least 25 years and still have trouble with proportions when I start tying a new pattern. I don't think fish are that picky or I wouldn't catch as many as I do. Either that or they're raising some really stupid fish these days.

 

I would recommend snelling any tiny flies that you tie while they are still in the vise. I do and use a small loop-to-loop connection. Works really well.

 

You certainly have an impressive line-up of fish you've caught. I'm surprised you were able to stay away from fishing as long as you have with catches like those.

 

I was always under the impression that Delaware had some pretty good trout fishing along with warm and salt water fishing. Although, I personally enjoy fly fishing for warm water species as well as trout. A Smallmouth Bass on a fly rod is always a fun time.

 

Good luck with your tying and fishing.

 

 

No real FW trout fishing in Delaware. They stock a few ponds up by the Pa border, but that's about it. The water around here is murky and warm, I'm actually using cheap 6lb mono filament as a leader. Why use expensive tapered leaders?

 

Like you I'm gonna concentrate on Smallmouth. Any tips for SM patterns would be great!

 

Thanx for the snelling tip, I never would have thought of that.

[stonefly1 0]

Welcome aboard Phil! There may not be too many opportunities for trout, but you are close to some good smallie waters. I have just the ticket for a great SM pattern I can share. Send me a PM.

[utyer 0]

I fish for smallies with wooly buggers and crystal buggars. I tie them in white, black olive (several shades,) and brown (also several shades.) Crawfish patterns are also very productive, as are zonker type minnows, and Clouser deep minows. I tie the deep minnows in yellow/olive, chartreuse/black, white/black, chartreuse/olive, and orange and brown. Smallies and other warmwater fish will hit top water flies too. Try foam poppers, and gurglers.

[Alpinefly 0]

Welcome from someone who is as blind as a bat, wears bi-focals & still ties size 32 midges !!! :hyst:

[Futzer 0]

Welcome Phil, wipe off the dust and you go, man. Cheers, Futzer.

[Ridleyffo 0]

Hey Phil

White Clay Creek in Northern Delaware is a nice creek but is only filled with stockies and doesnt fish well in summer. Im just south of Philly so if you want to hit some local trout waters, I can turn you on to some of my PA haunts. I hit the Salt alot as well but mostly the North Jersey beaches.

 

If interested we also have a kayak fishing club with about 30 guys of which at least half a avid fly guys. We hit all waters too and for all species. Feel free to check us out. www.dvkfclub.com

 

Welcome to the forum and tight lines

Bob

[HartlyRed 0]

OLD FART UPDATE!

 

Took my first two samllmouth last weekend and also got two crappies. Good action - smallies are a great fighting fish - I totally under estimated them. I took them on a #2 Electric Chicken Clouser tied in a bulegill suggestion. Glad I was using a #2 hook because, the bulegill were knocking the hell out of it.

 

I used a sparse bluegill pattern and just a few strands of flash. Strip - pause - strip, seemed to work well.

 

I got the bug again! Would love any advice or pattern suggestions.

[smalltownfisherman 0]

OLD FART UPDATE!

 

Took my first two samllmouth last weekend and also got two crappies. Good action - smallies are a great fighting fish - I totally under estimated them. I took them on a #2 Electric Chicken Clouser tied in a bulegill suggestion. Glad I was using a #2 hook because, the bulegill were knocking the hell out of it.

 

I used a sparse bluegill pattern and just a few strands of flash. Strip - pause - strip, seemed to work well.

 

I got the bug again! Would love any advice or pattern suggestions.

Thats great! Welcome back to the addiction! :shifty:

 

 

As for smallie patterns I would look at the database for those.

 

 

 

 

 

 

gage

[smallieFanatic 0]

OLD FART UPDATE!

 

Took my first two samllmouth last weekend and also got two crappies. Good action - smallies are a great fighting fish - I totally under estimated them. I took them on a #2 Electric Chicken Clouser tied in a bulegill suggestion. Glad I was using a #2 hook because, the bulegill were knocking the hell out of it.

 

I used a sparse bluegill pattern and just a few strands of flash. Strip - pause - strip, seemed to work well.

 

I got the bug again! Would love any advice or pattern suggestions.

 

 

Sweet--Smallies are the best fighters on the block, nice job.

My all-around favorite smallmouth fly is the Bloody Deciever, doesn't look like much and is easy to tie, but is deadly on Smallmouths and panfish alike.

Try using bunny leeches like this one: leech Try tying it in black and dark blue or purple, alot of my smallies have to come to a similar fly.

And don't forget crayfish patterns.

Good luck--and welcome to the forum!

 

 

Jan