Andy Fisher

Looks like quality machining, bearings or bushings?

I have periodically rotated skin and feathers through the freezer, and so far, my infestations have been limited to inconsequential stuff, but I have always wondered if the freezer is really effective in killing eggs/larvae, or if it just keeps them dormant for a while and I've been lucky. Any freezer experiences to share?

I stumbled onto my hardcover copy as part of a large lot I bought through Craigslist from a guy who had quit tying. My jaw dropped as I began to realize just how much info is included in this one book. It is practically as valuable as all the others put together. Several well photographed and detailed methods for doing just about anything.

My last Collins neck is almost 10 years old now. I'm sure glad to see Charlie is still producing. His stock has a buggy quality to it that is unmatched. I'd love to see Charlie come out to one of the West Coast shows.

Give "Fly Tying Made Easy for Beginners" a try. This is one of Randall Kaufmann's newer books. I met Randall and his wife at the Pleasanton Show in 2012, and he was kind enough to give a copy to my (then) 7 year old daughter with an autograph and personal note. That made her day and made my week. It is an outstanding book with great photography and step by step instruction.

Beautiful workmanship. Now that you have the lathe, you obviously need to start turning custom reel seats and grips.

Found a roll top desk at a thrift store for under $150. More storage than I could fill up in, well, several months. And everything closes up to keep the dust off and stay out of sight when not in use. Thrift stores are the bomb for fly tying storage!

Thanks for the lead on cookshill. Any issues shipping to the States?

The E/C Caddis has gotten more water time than everything else combined for the past several years, but it fishes weighted wet as well dry.

When you look at the butt end of a hair fiber, you should see a hollow core big enough to stick in a fine needle. It's that hollow core that allows the hair to flare when crimped by tightening thread. My biggest frustration as a young tyer was trying to use deer hide sections with fibers that were too thin to flare. With good hollow hair and strong heavy thread, there is a lot of forgiveness no matter which way the clump twists and turns on the hook. I've thought many a bunch of hair was ruined by twisting and going all over the place only to see the fly turn out nice and smooth after a good packing and trim.

Search the local thrift stores. I found this roll top desk for very cheap. It holds a ton of stuff and keeps everything dust free and out of sight when not in use.

Do the tea and kook aid dyes fade quickly in use? I've read about these methods but keep picturing a color trail in the water behind the fly.

A fancy rendition of the timeless Muddler. I call it the Brookie Mudler. The extra shades of color in the fins does seem to have an effect.

24 years, good grief how time flies. I still have the pitiful ball of yarn that was my first attempt, and I cherish the memories of evenings with my fly fishing/tying mentor, Gus. Caught a bass lst weekend with my son on one of his first flies.

Anyone notice the Damascus LAW vise on our favorite auction site right now? Drool, maybe I can at least save the photos, current price has one too many zeros for my wallet.

Has anyone used the Petitjean vise. I keep eyeballing it to add to my collection, but it sounds like the Jvice might be the odds on favorite, sure looks like it keeps itself put of the way of your hands.

Great lead, thanks

I have the clear cure goo kit with their UV flashlight. If I want to experiment with some of the other brands you are referring to, will the CCG light work on others?

I picked up a C&F for an extra $5 on a Craigslist deal. I don't think I would ever pay the $45 retail, but I do love the weight and balance. The foam insert that keeps the thread from backing out is a useful feature as well.

I learned to tie 23 years ago from one of my life heroes and mentors named Gus. Gus was a Marine veteran from Korea. He looked a lot like Santa Claus with one wooden leg. His disability, which he was very thankful for, allowed him to fish 300 days a year. I met Gus at a local Recreation District casting class he taught. It was a low time in my life. He apparently picked up on that and invited me over to his single wide home where he took care of his seriously ill wife and mentally handicapped daughter (both of whom had ear to ear smiles I can still picture clearly today). For the next couple years I spent countless hours with Gus, tying, fishing (he was on friendly terms with every farm pond owner in Northern California), talking about life, reading from the Bible, and listening to each other. Those were glorious days. Gus passed away a couple years ago. I guess what I'm saying is that I can't think of any other hobby (at least hobbies that men get into, women seem to have plenty), that gives you the chance, not just to teach a skill, but just the right kind of time to invest in someone's whole life. Thank you Gus.

Great idea. Can you give the spelling of the epoxy alternative?

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a pictoral atlas of various feathers from game birds as well as protected species. The photos are well taken at high resolution and many are divided into primaries, secondaries, tails, and coverts. Also included is the taxonomy of the various species. A link to the site is below. http://www.lab.fws.gov/fa/index.php

I've been looking for hopper patterns that are intended to be sub-surface. Bait fisherman around my area of the Tahoe Sierra have a lot of luck drifting crickets through pools underwater, but most of the hopper patterns are intended to floar like a cork. Looking forward to trying this one. Thanks.