Fishyman

Must be a keeper.....we all tied it! That, or we're all just incredibly bored and can't get out fishing? :dunno: Good looking pattern dude. S.

You spelled that wrong buddy. It's actually "crack n fail", not Cannondale". S

Don't hold back Sal, how do you really feel? Not my style, but they're original. Great Lakes Steelheading tends to use quite a few synthetics and non-natural colors. Most of my Stoneflies have bright metallic mylar wingcases, my eggs are obviously an abomination against nature,...we won't even discuss things like the Grapefruit Head Leech or the Funny Bunny with the UV Ice Dub wing. Sinful i tell you, simply sinful. :devil: Sal, your opinion is your opinion and your point is your point. My opinion... lighten up a bit. We're still just a bunch of apes waving sticks and strings at fish. But then again....I could be wrong. Scotty.

http://www.flymasters.com About 3 miles from the house. It's a $25 cover charge for me to go in there, but I occassionally sneak through the back and get out for free! This is a mandatory stop for anyone coming to fish Smallmouth with me this year (that means you Terry!). Good dudes. Ian and I hang out quite a bit actually. S.

BLASPHEMEY!! Heretics I say..Heretics and Blasphemers!!! :nono: *lol* :j_k: Scotty

Kinda like the difference between a bicycle and a one wheeled bicycle. It's not a bicycle, it's a unicylce. A "single turn whip finish".....is a half hitch.

1 loop around with right hand (assuming) and then pull thread tight with left hand =half hitch. Multiple loops around and THEN pulling thread snug with left hand = whip finish. They are very similar. I gained clarity when I learned to whip finish by hand. Before then I had either thrown a couple half hitches by hand or whip finished with my Matrelli(sp?) tool and the difference wasn't apparent to me. :dunno: Cheers...

Wow...that was quick! Maybe we should all grab a drink and head to the chatroom for a knot tying discussion? :hyst: :drunk: Cheers....Scotty

Ray.. Sorry to disagree with you but half hitches and a whip finish are not the same. A half hitch is where the loop or "bight" of the thread is taken over the standing part of the thread (and in this case the hook shank) once and then tightened down. A whip finish can be performed by hand or with a tool and is actually a series of loops made over the thread and shank of the hook in succession and then drawn down by pulling on the tag end of the thread. Half hitch is, well..half a hitch. Whip finish is basically like a nail knot like you'd use to attach leader to a fly line. All in all, either is fine to use. I usually half hitch a couple times if it's a quick fishing pattern that I know is gonna get lost / mangled / destroyed. I whip finish when I want a smoother, larger head. Hope this helps....Scotty

My .02 Wax is not always needed, especially when working with prewaxed thread and very fine dubbings. However, I do tend do use wax quite often as I usually am dubbing some obnoxious synthetic or a natural thats very coarse / spiky / has a lot of guard hairs in it. A regular household candle / birthday candle will do in a pinch. Sometimes just the oil from the side of your nose is all thats needed.. Hope this helps...S.

Have a great day Al! S.

Tied some Pike Flies with those this summer. S.

Welcome Tim! Always nice to see another "Region Rat" on here..( I lived in Michigan City til a few years ago) :headbang: Here's what you do..come spring, you hop in the car and boogie down to Indy for a weekend and we'll fish Smallies during the day and do some tying in the evenings between rounds of fortifying refreshments. :drunk: Shoot me a P.M. whenever..Hell, we could always introduce you to winter Steelheading as well... Scotty

What up Seadog? Now loose that avatar and display the correct one. Scotty.. Indianapolis.

Spidey sense is tingling..... This seems.....off. Scotty.

Doty..I could be wrong but I don't think it's gonna be a "Tyers" show like Mason or the B.U.F.F. show in OH. I think it's more like vendors and some local shops as well as Holschlag pontificating about everything he's invented and discovered in regards to Smallmouth fishing. I may stick my head in. S.

N.F. was and probably still is great stuff, but I feel that they've kinda broadened their market just a bit too much (i.e Columbia) and have possibly lost a bit of their respectability. I remember when Columbia stuff was solid as a rock and had to be bought in dedicated outdoor goods store. Hell, Northface was really hard to get before the internet unless you happened to live in a climbing / backpacking hotbed area. :dunno: I now see it in Gander Mountain, Kohls, MC Sports, etc. etc. I know I'm becoming a grumpy old man, but it's no different than how I feel about SUV's. I stand in line at the store behind cute little yuppie mom and her two obnoxious kids that are wearing brand new North Face GoreTex shells and looking at me in my old Woolrich shirt and Red Wing boots as if I'd just farted in church. Usually it continues into the parking lot as they try not to rub against my muddy S-10 thats parked next to their immaculate Hummer with the chrome 22's on it. I suspect that the walk from the mall entrance to the parking lot is as close as they ever get to "The Great Outdoors" It's trendy and chic to look like a eco-racer nowadays. :wallbash: The best fortune cookie I ever got was about two years ago and I still have it tacked above my tying bench. " A lifestyle is something you pay for, a life is what pays you" Scotty

My world (when it's clean) I love this desk! It cost me nothing other than some hard work manuevering up the stairs of my apartment. Not looking forward to the day I move and have to remember how I got it up the steps and in the door. :dunno: S.

Hope it's a great day! :yahoo:

Today we did. Addai had a hell of a game though. 100 yds+ in both rushing and receiving! :headbang: Neither team looked particularly stellar today, Pats. just sucked less than we did. S.

Whaddup?.... :smoke: Welcome to the Jungle...Scotty

I found a dead buck in a frozen slough last year when I was pheasant hunting. Not sure of the legalaties, but his 9 point rack has made a few nice bodkins that I've given as gifts to friends. S.

I'll divide into my two categories.. Steelhead / Salmon. - I really like Jeff "Bear" Andrews work with nymph and hex patterns..I'm getting into streamers more and find myself checking out Kevin Feenstras' stuff quite a bit as well. Warmwater. - Bob Clouser, Chris Helm. :headbang:

Fishing in Iowa eh..well, there's lots of lakes. :dunno: My advice to you is learn how to hunt Pheasant and drink really weak coffee. They make it like Tea out there for some strange reason. If you have half a brain...you WILL root for the Hawkeyes! Good luck and congrats on the new gig...Scotty

Good job my man. :thumbsup: Wish I'd have started tying when I was your age. You've come along way. Keep up the good work! Scotty