Johnwvan

I moved from western Ma. to just north of Boston area 12 years ago. Best fishing is in western Ma.I travel anywheres from 100 to 160 miles one way to do some decent cold water fly fishing. The closest decent area in Ma. is Quaboag River in Palmer on Rte. 67. What is also nice is the Willimantec River in Ct, just 15 or 20 miles south of Sturbridge. It has a nice TMA catch and release area right at a rest area on Rte. 84!!!! Not far from Stafford Springs, Ct. The best fishing is "out west" in western Ma. at exit 2 of Ma. Pike in Lee Ma. Catch and release area in Lee, Ma. on Housatonic River, Housatonic River is blue ribbon in Ct. by Cornwall Bridge. REALLY want cold water fishing at it's best do TMA area in CT. off Rte 44 near New Hartford, Ct. Farmington River is very cold tail water. As for Boston proper forget it. Take up Red Sox or Patriots games, don't waste your time unless you like salt water stuff.---John

Hello---have to replenish my stock of stonefly nymphs due to uncontrollable stream conditions. I have used a turkey wing slip folded, dubbed then folded again to make wing cases. Is there a template or pre cut wing cases to make them faster and better looking? Possibly a wing burner of some type.---Thanks---John

Looks like I'll be trying Sally's. My wife has a "collection" of it in the medicine cabinet! ---John

I thought they were the industry standard for years but as Utyer says their tools and materials are made by someone else. You are paying for the name. I just received their antron dubbing, ginger. I have their caddis lifestyle selection in antron and the ginger ran out. I got orange, same color orange as in the caddis selection but the bag it came in said ginger. It was sent back today. They also don't seem to have the large selection they use too. The main store in Vt. looks more like an upscale sports clothing and expensive knick knack shop, not the fly shop I remember from 20 years ago. Change is good. Really?---John

Tried a new approach. Straight hook, and I cut wings from Spirit River stonefly wing pre cut "skeleton".---Better I think?---John

Here's my dilemma.

Hello---I'm trying to improve my deep caddis pupas wing . The biggest problem is finding a good material and getting to lay flat against the body. I have tried quill sections and starling feathers from the wing base but nothing looks quite right. Thanks---John

UNI-Thread---John

Some say a fool and his money are soon parted, and others have more money than brains and others if you got it flaunt it! It doesn't bother me in the least, my Peak rotary with the 15 buck Materelli whip finisher work fine.I guess it all comes down to"whatever floats your boat".---John

Thanks for the compliments. I never knew about the wing interfering with the hook up. Thanks for the tip.---John

Here's the one that got away. I tried this pattern yesterday and had a lot of hits and follows. I did have one hook up until my knot gave way and I lost the fly and fish. Very bad knot as I found out when I brought my leader in with all the little curlys that use to be a knot. I used Partridge hook, Swedish Dry Fly style #16. I have found my tying has become a lot faster and better quality since I purchased a Peak rotary and a Materelli whip finisher. I still have a ways to go.---John

I am guessing the height of a tying table would be about 26 t0 29 inches to the top? Would love to make my own but I no longer have my house or shop in the cellar. I would also consider buying one. I also would love a wood chest to keep my tools and material in. My brother is a machinist and has a beautiful wood chest with felt lined drawers for his micrometers and verniers. I have seen a lot of fly tying chests which look a lot like that.I definitely need something for my new Peak. Here's my current storage box, an old Plano tackle box for hooks,tools and material and an old Tupperware bread box for my feathers.---John

I was in Pa 2 weekends ago. Was in Allentown when I had to make a U turn, ended up turning into Little Lehigh River catch and release area! I had no idea it was there, just shorts and flip flops, on my way with the wife to do some touring of Lancaster and Valley Forge. How is that river to fish? I was looking at coming back to Pa this fall and trying my luck.Is there more catch and release areas on that river or in that area? Thanks---John

East---New England. The Gray Drake here is Siphlonurus quebbecensis and the Isonchia I am familiar with is the Isonychia Bicolor, Leadwing Coachman or better known to me as the White Gloved Howdy.---John

Thank You! Excellent sounding patterns.I am guessing I also wouldn't need an Isonchia emerger as they too crawl out to emerge although I have seen a lot of Isonchia emerger patterns. Some say they do both depending on water conditions? Thanks again for the help.---John