25 replies to this topic

[Peterjay]

You know what I always say, Dave: "If you can't be an athlete, at least be an athletic supporter." BTW - I wisely spent the money up front and bought a high-end jock. Mine hasn't shown the slightest sign of wilt, which is more than I can say for its contents.

[Kirk Dietrich]

Only in the salt will you find guys complimenting other guys eyes and talking about sequin underwear and jock straps. Must be the salt spray inhaled for so many years that causes a deranged sense of humor; I've got to get out in the salt more often!

Kirk

[Peterjay]

I can't speak for Dave, (whatever happened to him must be too horrible for words) but in my case, it's probably the result of many years of standing on jetties under a broiling sun waiting for the false albacore to show up. (six hours of tide - five minutes of action on a good day) I was aware that my brain was slowly being cooked, kind of like a Crockpot, but I figured that by the time it reached the well-done stage, I'd be too old to fish anyway. But what really pushed me prematurely over the edge was the year that the albacore season coincided with a case of Lyme disease. Unfortunately, the treatment consists of daily doses of doxycycline, which renders the patient extremely sensitive to sunlight. Spending the tuna season indoors was, of course, unthinkable, so I just gritted my teeth and took it like a man. What happened was akin to being taken out of the Crockpot and tossed onto the grill. Nowadays, everyone I know is convinced that I've completely lost my mind. Funny thing is, I don't miss it a bit.

[Kirk Dietrich]

...years of standing on jetties under a broiling sun waiting for the false albacore to show up. (six hours of tide - five minutes of action on a good day)

I bet those were some memorable 5 minutes!!

...Nowadays, everyone I know is convinced that I've completely lost my mind. Funny thing is, I don't miss it a bit.

That is a great line!! I have got to remember that!

Kirk

[Peterjay]

...years of standing on jetties under a broiling sun waiting for the false albacore to show up. (six hours of tide - five minutes of action on a good day)

I bet those were some memorable 5 minutes!!

Amen to that! When you do hook up, there's not much to equal a 12-pound tuna on an 8wt or a 9wt. I've seen them fry quite a few reels over the years.

[Robert M]

Probably all the heavy metals and pollution in the water. I saw some 2mm plastic beads at the Michaels last week that I thought would make great eyes they were a nasty olive green color. I should have grabbed them.

[Tailn'Jax]

Those are awesome Kirk. I've been making mine for a while now, I've found some 13/0 black glass beads around and I could send you some if you like. Are you using a cautery to melt the mono or sticking with a lighter?

[Peterjay]

Probably all the heavy metals and pollution in the water. I saw some 2mm plastic beads at the Michaels last week that I thought would make great eyes they were a nasty olive green color. I should have grabbed them.

While you're at Michael's, you ought to check to see if they have "glow in the dark" beads in 2mm. They're a perfect imitation of the shrimp eyes we see in the outflow from the Millstone nuclear power plant. We usually fish two flies on a dropper rig - it's deadly on the two-headed striped bass that hang out over there.

[Kirk Dietrich]

Ryan, I've got glass beads of all sizes, I'm really looking for the tiny black plastic ones, I like the consistent round shape and the fact that they float. I'm using a flame from a candle to melt my mono. I tried a wood burner tool but it just melts the mono into thin air. I don't have a cautery tool, I looked for one for a while to use on melting wool and other materials to clear space for eyes on streamers but never could find one so wound up getting the wood burner set; that damn thing gets so hot though I rarely use it.
Thanks for the ideas.

Damn, Peter, that's scary, so in order to pick up a double, you'ld have to fish a four fly dropper. Now, that's crazy!

Kirk

[Peterjay]

Kirk, I don't know if it helps any, but those tiny beads are called "seed beads." Years ago, I worked for a time at Greene Plastics in Canonchet, RI, and I believe they were making some pretty tiny injection molded styrene beads at the time. Maybe 2.5mm. It'll be tough finding anything that small in plastic, as they are a bitch to mold and tiny glass beads are so widely available and cheap. I've never seen the plastic ones for sale anywhere, but you could always drop Greene Plastics a line and see if they still make them. Their retail operation is called "The Beadery." BTW - 10/0 beads are roughly the equivalent of 2mm if I remember correctly.

[Kirk Dietrich]

Interesting Peter. Yes, 10/0 is about the size of 2mm. The local craft store carries plastic, I'll have to check the packaging for the company name or ask the owner if he can get the black.

Thanks,
Kirk