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bowfin47

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About bowfin47

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    South Louisiana

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  1. 29th Annual North Toledo Bend Rendezvous Co-Sponsored by the Gulf Coast and Texas Councils - FFI Nov. 3 - 5th, 2017 Held each year in the first weekend of November at the North Toledo Bend State Park near Zwolle, LA, this will be the 29th Rendezvous (since 1989) of this gathering of fly tyers representing FFI clubs from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and beyond. Experts to beginners, this is the longest running, tyer's event, held by tyers for tyers, in the South. With no planned activities (i.e. no pograms), but plenty of fly tying, food, fly casting instruction and fly fishing, and with only a minimal fee to cover lodging and meals, the North Toledo Bend Rendezvous remains one of the top tying events held each year in the U.S.A. See more at: http://pages.suddenlink.net/w/Rendez/indexR.html If you have never attended the North Toledo Bend Rendezvous or haven't been in a while, your are hereby invited to attend... Hey, we haven't gathered on the shores of Toledo Bend and thrown this party for 29 years for nothing!!! Rendezvous is your chance to sit down and tie flies with some of the very best tyers in the Deep South! No matter if you are a beginner to tying or a master of the craft, you will learn a lot or at least have fun tying with your friends &/or teaching others. We always have a great time! This kid friendly, event is appropriate for your whole family... So bring your "significant other", as well as your kids/grandkids! If you attend just once, you'll want to come back each year! See you there!
  2. Mike, It seems to depend upon where you are in the country.. Like you I have only very rarely seen a bass hit an adult dragonfly, but my friends in Texas tell me that it is a very "regular occurrence" in the "tanks" (ponds) of central Texas. I have also read that in those tanks, dragonflies, both dragon fly naiads (nymphs) and adults make up a much higher percentage of the diet of a bass than in many other areas of the country. These same folks often tie and fish adult dragon flies with success. The very best nymphs and adults that I have ever seen were pattern tied by Mike Huffman (Mike works for Bss Pro) and the late Michael Verduin. I will try to take a picture of one of Michael's adult Q T Dragonflies, but in the meantime here is Verduin's West Texas Dragon Fly Nymph: Enjoy! Bowfin47 PS This is also a n excellent video on how to "weave" a fly!
  3. Mike, It was wonderful to meet you and that you were able to join us! I hope that you will be able to come back next next year for the 29th "Rendezvous" (Nov. 3-5, 2017) and that didn't gain too much weight! HA! Kyle
  4. Okay ... here's my situation. I will be teaching a class in Houston the weeks before and after this event. I am seriously considering attending ... but I can't do many of the prerequisites. I will be leaving from a hotel, not from home. 1) I can't bring a sleeping bag. It would take up too much space and weight in my luggage when I fly out to Houston. 2) If I leave the hotel for two nights, I will check out of there ... so I might not have towels with me either. I will have my shaving kit, but no towels. (depending on weight, I might be able to pack a towel from home) 3) It says there's no reservations ... so, how did you pay for cabin space, Add? I don't want to check out of the hotel, drive all the way up there, then find out this is the year it's filled up before I get there. 4) I'd be leaving Houston after the class finishes on Friday ... no way of knowing when it will finish, but there's a good chance I would arrive late Friday evening. I'll need someone's phone number so they can let me in if I get there after 10:00. 5) I can't prepare food in the hotel to bring with me. I'll need some info on what I can buy and bring, to do my part. Do you guys know anything more about this event, pertaining to my above comments? Or should I contact Walter? Mikechell, 1. The lodge, shower house, and cabins are all heated... But as I understand your situation, I'll be glad to loan/bring ya' a sleeping bag. Not a problem... 2. If ya' can't bring a towel, I'll bring ya' one. It will come from my wive's "old towel" stack, but then, so will the one that I bring! Heck, I might even bring ya' a wash cloth! Hey, I'm a nice guy! Ha! 3. No need for reservations... There will be space.. Never been a problem, and like Ron stated, we all pay Walter (cash or check) upon arriving. By the way, Rendezvous is a gathering of friends that is held as a "break-even" event. No individual, nor any organization, makes any money from this event, and therefore, the cost is minimal... Probably about $50 for two nights room and board! Believe me, the food alone is a bargain at that price! 4. Walter will have the gate code. Be sure to get it from Walter or from the Park, as it is about a one mile walk, in the dark, from the gate to the lodge, and phone reception at the lodge is not very good! 5. The lodge has a great commercial kitchen complete with pots, pans, large commercial refrigerator/freezer, ice machine, and stove. So stop along the way at a grocery store and pick up some veggies (as typically we have piles of meats), or grab anything that you like (but not breakfast items, as eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, and usually a number of other items are always in ample supply)... If your food items need to be cooked, you can cook them. Actually, people will be in the kitchen cooking most of the time... You are not expected to feed the whole crowd, just a reasonable "cover dish" size. We have never had a single time when everyone didn't go away regretting how much they ate! Please "Message" me, and I'll send ya' my contact info. Then we can talk about any of the above. Glad you're coming. You're gunna' have great time! Tight lines, Kyle Bowfin47 PS There is always hot coffee and a table full of deserts... But if you desire anything else to drink, other than water or iced tea, you will need to bring it.
  5. The Gulf Coast & Texas Councils of the IFFF, annually co-sponsor the "North Toledo Bend Rendezvous". This is the best "hands on" gathering of fly tyers in the South! Rendezvous is held the first weekend of November at North Toledo Bend State Park near Zwolle, LA (Nov. 4-6th). This will be the 28th Rendezvous (since 1989) of this gathering of fly tyers representing Federation clubs from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and beyond. With no planned activities, but plenty of fly tying, food, fly casting instruction and fly fishing, and with only a minimal fee to cover lodging and meals, the North Toledo Bend Rendezvous remains one of the top tying events held each year in the U.S.A. http://pages.suddenlink.net/w/Rendez/indexR.html If you have never attended the North Toledo Bend Rendezvous or haven't been in a while, your are hereby invited to attend... Hey, we haven't gathered on the shores of Toledo Bend and throwing this party for 28 years for nothing!!! Rendezvous is a "hands-on" tying event, and is your chance to sit down and tie flies with some of the very best tyers in the Deep South! No matter if you are a beginner to tying or a master of this craft, you will learn a lot (or at least have fun tying with your friends &/or teaching others). We always have a great time! This is a wonderful event that is appropriate for your whole family... So bring your tying buddies, "significant other", as well as your kids/grandkids! And No - you do not have to be a member of the IFFF or a club to attend, but if you attend Rendezvous just once, you'll want to come back each year! See you there! PS A few of the "regulars" expected include: Ron Braud (i.e. Stipple Popper), Fred Hannie, Marc Pinsel, Bill Heugel, Kyle Moppert, Don Lawler, Mike Jackson, Dirk Burton, Peter Allen, along with a number of other excellent tyers...
  6. The third person in the photo is Don Lawler, an excellent tyer out of Shreveport, LA.. and a good guy... The North Toledo Bend Rendezvous or just "Rendezvous" is one of the oldest "pure tying events" the country... It is chance to sit and tie with great tyers, We've been throwing this party for tyers and their families for almost 30 years! Everyone is welcome, and we all eat very, very well.. You may arrive a stranger, but you will leave with a number of tying friends, and a good deal more knowledge...
  7. For almost 15 years, I have been using Xuron Model FF-1 flat-jawed pliers to de-bard everything from 6/0 stainless to 22's... I've tried a wide variety of pliers and none hold a candle to these Xuron flat-jawed pliers. I inherited them from one of the best tyers to ever come out of Texas, Michael Verduin (See: "Cap Spider" on You Tube). He loved these pliers and had used them for a number of years before he passed... I know several other tyers who also purchased FF-1's back in the mid-90's and sill use them pliers for de-barbing. Serrated pliers and forceps may work, but they lack the control /precision of FF-1's. Spend the money and purchase some Xuron's... You'll be singing their praises and using them 20 years...
  8. What size hook is that, in that it is not inverted by the bead chain eyes? I'm not looking to cause a problem, but as one who has tyed a whole lot of bead chain streamers over the last 35 years, I would be very surprised if that streamer didn't invert. For that fly move through the water column and not to invert, then either that wing has buoyancy, the hook is fairly heavy, or the bean chain is extremely light. To be on the safe side, I would tie the eye below the hook shaft... Tight lines...
  9. We've been throwing this fly tying "party" every year for 28 years... Over the years, many of the faces have changed, but every year, we have a great group of tyers and their families, plenty of great food and marvelous times... Hoping a few of you will be able to join us!
  10. Before packaging, you may wish to take the time to remove the "fluff" from the base of each feather. This will remove volume and make it much easier to sort your feathers and to find exactly what you need...
  11. In the last 12 years or so, American Crow populations have been decimated by West Nile Virus. Fish Crows populations do not seem to be as adversely effected.. The range of the American Crow covers most of the U,S., while the Fish Crow is found more in the south eastern sections of the country. If you're gunna' take a crow for feathers, make it a fish crow... http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/id http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Fish_Crow/id
  12. Google: Kanekalon braid or visit beauty supply stores in your area that cater to women who utilize "braids" and you will find abundan supplies of very, very, very inexpensive hair that can be utilized for tying.. Braid hair comes i numbero colors and many, many shades of brown. Bowfin47
  13. Spoon flies.. The very best intructionsare at: http://www.flyfishlouisiana.com/flies_knots_leaders.htm
  14. Niced little collection of squirrel flies... Most all warm water fish like little squirrel flies, of almost all types...
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