Valhalla 1

That may be the plan, but fashion is fickle and depends on the market to make the plans work. Pricing relative to supply is the best indicator...if supply is down and the price is going down, it can only be due to reduced demand.

I just saw Lefty at the Fly Fishing Show in Lancaster a week and a half ago and he just amazed me. He was giving a demonstration and had a volunteer student. When Lefty wanted them to stop at a particular spot in the cast, his hand would shoot out and stop them cold...struck like a snake. He's going to have to age a bit to catch up to being 87.

You will most likely be very pleased. I'm miles away from being a good caster, but I can say for certain that it is definitely easier to cast a decent line. The Orvis line you bought will be a real improvement.

I voted against a rating system because it would be too subjective. To exaggerate a little, a fly that would be listed as a "top producer" in one region can be the same as tossing rocks in another. I don't see how you can do it effectively and accurately, and lastly, it would make it too easy to miss one of those gems that would be just what you want and need, except too many people gave it a low rating. I prefer to decide for myself; there are already too many people trying to do our thinking for us in life. I've spent a number of evenings just going through the database on random searches...as good as sitting down with a good book.

I figure, I could see a psychologist or psychiatrist once a week at about $125 per 1 hour visit, for a total annual cost of $6500 per year... OR I can retreat to the man-room, put on some music or enjoy the quiet, and tie up some flies. Oh yes, I'm DEFINITELY saving some money tying my own flies.

Thanks Old Hat, you've given me something new to try today.

I'm not actually a beginner, but I should have asked this question long, long ago and I'm guessing some beginners would also like to know. So... I've seen hooks with up-turned eyes, down-turned eyes, and straight eyes. Are there advantages associated with each and if so, can someone tell me what they are? I've always tied with down-turned eye hooks, but I recently was given about 200 assorted hooks, all with straight eyes. They are all streamer and wet fly hooks, and I plan to use them, but I thought I'd ask about the differences. Anyone able to help? Thanks, Dave

I'm not actually a beginner, but I should have asked this question long, long ago and I'm guessing some beginners would also like to know. So... I've seen hooks with up-turned eyes, down-turned eyes, and straight eyes. Are there advantages associated with each and if so, can someone tell me what they are? I've always tied with down-turned eye hooks, but I recently was given about 200 assorted hooks, all with straight eyes. They are all streamer and wet fly hooks, and I plan to use them, but I thought I'd ask about the differences. Anyone able to help? Thanks, Dave

I went with "A decent enough tyer to catch fish and finding yourself critiquing your work and half the time thinking there is room for improvement"...but I have to wonder how others would rate our abilities in a blind test. I could be greatly over-confident in my skills, or riffleriversteelheadslayer may be over-humble about his.

If you don't mash down the barb, it is a swat she would not likely forget or repeat... :bugeyes:

Golden Retriever for Clousers. Not too weird, apparently. It has great action in the water. Black garbage bag cut into a "twister" tail shape. Tied to a hook by it's self and you have a killer Striper fly.

Funny, when I was younger I couldn't stand the "oldies" station...but now that they play the music I listened to in high school, it becomes my first choice if I have the radio on while tying. If I put in a CD, it could be anything except rap or opera. I just can't make up to those, except for Wagner...I've blown out speakers with Wagner, but not while tying. Could be anything from Patsy Cline to Bjork to Pink Floyd to Leaves Eyes to Handel.

Well, I've tied up a spun deer hair fish food pellet to use on my buddies pond. He feeds his fish regularly, and when he does the catfish come up and raise a ruckus and you can't catch a dern thing. It didn't work, though. Dang cats became selective. I believe it was W. C. Fields who once said, "Anything worth winning is worth cheating for..."

While I certainly can tie without it, a tall vodka tonic or Fresca with vodka really makes the bench complete. I can live without music at the bench...quiet is an increasingly rare commodity to be savored.

My wife is the one who encouraged me to start tying flies to satisfy the artist in me. She told me to try fly fishing because she knew I would like that kind of fishing. She bought me the components for the first rod I ever built...but checked to be sure it would be what I wanted. She encouraged me to buy my first bow. Now we are looking for a new one for her, too. She taught me to camp years ago. She goes kayaking and canoeing with me as well. Best of all, she seems to know when I need to do these things alone, too. She is a peach.