howdy all

[xterrabill 0]

Ok, been trying to play with foam for the first time.

I can see it takes time to get used to working with it, but it is a fun and a very useful medium.

 

this is what I did with the stuff so far......

 

[xterrabill 0]

had a pleasant surprise last Friday, I stopped at a shop, flyfishing/rod/reel repair/custom rod building shop. the owner set me up for a Alaska trip I took years ago.

I also did a little job for his shop years ago, anyway....he is still there and in business ..VERY COOL!

and not far from where I work on occasion too!

so I talked to him for a bit and he remembered me and the rod he gave me "in trade for my work" and mentioned its a sought after rod today,

and I should look it up on ebay, well I did tonight...E-GADS MAN!!! I had no idea it might be worth 500. holy sheep dip!!!

its a sage graphite 3, 7'11'' 4 weight 2 piece.

I never use it, in fact I think I only used it 5 times in 10-20 years!

YE-HHHAAA!

I am so used to using my 9 weight, I never could get the hang of that 4 weight.

now I have to go try it out again....its funny because I am a cheap buzzard, I will be using my flip flop poppers LOL

HHmmmm....me wonders if the fish will like the eclipse.

[Tom Cummings 0]

Nice collection of foam poppers and great find on the rod.

[Tom Cummings 0]

Try some of these the ants gets hits on most all still for me. Simple low material. 2x hook size #16 and smaller. Spectrablend dry fly black dubbing and silly legs from bungee cord.

[xterrabill 0]

looks just like the ones in my backyard.

bungee cord! great tip man, thanks!

I need dubbing, I have been looking on line for material all night

but haven't pulled the trigger on anything yet.

maybe tomorrow.

I might hit up the dungeon soon.

thanks again tom....great fly..or...ant.

[Tom Cummings 0]

Use black yarn cut to 2 inch pcs add a few granules dessicant into a coffee bean grinder. Instant dubbing for dry flies black color.

[xterrabill 0]

took out that sage LL 4711 today, was a rough start for 10 minutes, after 20 minutes I was doing ok, after an hour or so....

HOLY CATS!!! that rod is the bee's knee's!!!

its like being chauffeured around in a bently compared to my 9 weight, that 9 is like driving an 18 wheeler sitting on a milk crate!

I was able to cast to my left and just curve into the shore or bounce off it very lightly, the fly would set so soft, the control

is incredible.... WOW!

I caught a few bluegills, trees, bushes, and my pant leg.

cant wait to get better accustomed to it and catch something of size, besides my pants!

catching a decent sized trout on a 4 weight will most likely scare me outta those britches though...LOL

a good cast is almost just as good as catching fish.

 

I am Very thankful to all of you here, this site help rekindle my interest in fly tying and fly fishing.

peace yall,

 

Xterrabill

[xterrabill 0]

hello again fly folks.

very sad news, I lost my best friend last Thursday evening, my feathered family member of almost 29 years, my exotic feather supplier,

he was truly the love on mine and my wifes life.

if you are a parrot owner you know what I am mean.

we are completely devastated. smarter parrots are like having a perpetual child that never grows up, they give unconditional love

and are 100% dependent on you.

when they pass its the worst feeling in the world!

he lived 10-15 years longer with us then he would have lived in the wild and 4 years longer than 99% ever do!

I cannot bring myself to tie any feathers on a hook at this time.

he was bred in captivity here in usa, hand fed/raised, but was neglected by his first owner, my wife saved his life!

he stayed next to us till the end.

appreciate your loved ones while you have them!

we sure did.

[Tom Cummings 0]

Sorry for your loss. I too am a pet owner and know that a loss of pet is hard taken. Took me years to adopt another and yes I know I will outlive the new pet but for now I spoil and am loved. Good luck my friend.

[xterrabill 0]

trying to get over depression, started tying again.

made a few poppers.

thank you stipple pant guy.....that inspired me.

nowhere as good as yours but I enjoyed trying/learning the technic for sure.

 

[xterrabill 0]

oh I forgot.....note the upper right small popper, I used a skinny bar straw dipped in pain to almost make a scale design.

gill stripes made with tooth floss thingie

 

oh and I forgot that I made these out of cork, I found a whole bunch of wine corks in my kitchen, cut them in 3rds and

turned them on a dremmel drill using a bit as an arbor, sand paper, and another bit to shape cup.

much easier to paint and clear coat before tying on material, I put on eyes and legs last.

 

if I only had a better place to fish!

[Tom Cummings 0]

Nice popper collection. Yet to tie one and streamers but can tie #24 dries and wets with ease though my eyes are slow south bound in my mid age.

[xterrabill 0]

man 24 is tiny, I think I have done down to 20 or 22 I forget now, and then I needed a magnifier with light.

the bulb burned out 2 weeks ago so I need another.

 

I thought you would like the bar straw paint tool

I cut part of the end off, so it made a C shape.

 

always good talkin with ya.

Bill

 

oh I did tie some ants, I used foam though. (I still need to get/make dubbing)

[Tom Cummings 0]

There has been a recent flying ant increase. So much so in NJ that fish have increased top water action. Gonna tie a few with wings forward and see if there is redemption for late hatch match as I work way too much still.

[xterrabill 0]

i used an ant foam pattern in yellow tied on a #18 (sorry, I should have pulled out the fly first and placed it next to the bluegill)

this is a larger bluegill for the pond near me, most are a 1/4 this size.

yes they are stunted in the pond and I released them.