Goats

I usually tie flies the night before or morning of a fishing excursion (unless camping or on a trip away from home). I tie flies for the conditions and type of fishing that I will encounter that day. If the forecast is wind and clouds I tie up trusty patterns for the location and conditions I will be fishing, if the forecast is sun and no wind it may some different colors or the same flies or different weights of the same patterns. I tie for utility and my theory on fly tying is that I tie what works for me so that I have what I need and I'm able to keep costs low. I focus my pursuits on one species for the day and tie up trusty patterns and a few new ones so that I can give'em a shot.

Hopslam is great. In the summer I make the hearty double IPA a bit more light with just a small squeeze from a fresh lime.

Miaassa hairs should be illegal to tie with in any country but I send all mine to Canada to avoid issues with the EPA.

How about shipping your stuff to the location that you will be at in the states. Feathers are light ;-) so it shouldn't be to expensive. Make the delivery so that it shows up the day or day after you arrive.

So the original poster adds a photo of his PB Brookie and then most others pile on with a bigger fish story or pictures of bigger ones or even posts saying I know where you can catch bigger ones........ Nice fish and congratulations of your personal best.

I knew the whole time that you were using your previous location as a user name I am VERY familiar with a beach in Crackaig Scotland. http://www.nakedscotland.org.uk/beaches/crackaig

Cool show chronicling a competition between two fly fisherman and two cast and reel fisherman out of Sweden. The competition is to catch the biggest and most Pike over a 3 day period. I have watched the first 4 episodes and I thought it was entertaining.

I tested it knotability (sp) and it was pretty good. I may try it as a leader too once the leader material I'm using runs out.

Is Beadalon a good wire product to use for articulated predator (Esox) flies. I came across some in the tool box. It's (0.18"/.46mm) gauge(?) 7 strand bead stringing wire.

I thought for sure the wife would call "safety" as I neared the end of that one.

I tried sucking and it didn't work for me so I went back to threadin-her

If trying to keep it cheap, get the 7 weight rod for the fight, put your 5 weight reel on it and up your leader strength. You can fight a large carp on a 5 but it will take an hour to land it, and as some have mentioned, you may not be able to turn the fish if it goes on a run.

I'm not expecting these flies to be fish able when I'm done it's more about an attempt at humor. The flies are going to be tied BIG on 4-0 musky hooks. More like paper weights or desk decorations.

I lost $1 on a friendly bet with my Dad (Iowa vs. U-M) and my step Mother (MSU v U-M) so I all told I owe $2. I was thinking about incoporating the $$ into a fly somehow. I was thinking for one I would make some type of epoxied crab fly out a golden dollar and then for the other I would use a bill and incorporate it into a streamer pattern somehow. I would like to tap the forum community for ideas for using the paper money in a fly. Any Ideas?

I went to an Ice Fishing show last winter and I can tell you it's not just fly fishing but any outdoor pursuit, you can do it cheap or you can go big. There are ice fishing set-ups that could runs thousands of dollars between a quad or sled to haul your portable ice house, gas augers, live bait bucket systems, tip-ups, sonar systems, seats, heaters, blah blah blah. Look at what Lake Michigan salmon fisherman need to go out trolling for salmon during the summer: boat, downriggers, lead cores, poles, reels, gas, etc..... As with most hobbies, fly fishing can be a relatively cheap endeavor (one I believe can be the most self sustaining after entry costs) or ultra expensive. Like most things separating wants from needs is paramount to controlling the money spent.

The size of the minority ethnic population was just over 100,000 in 2001 or 2% of the total population of Scotland in 2001. The ethnic population in the US from the latest census is 27.6% (non-white). I would bet a typical Scotsman has had much less exposure to "other cultures" than the typical American. From the 2000 US census: 15.2% of the US population has German ancestries 10.8% of the US pop has Irish roots 8.8% African American 8.7% English 7.2% American 6.5% Mexican You can not live in the US and not be exposed to other cultures we are one of the most culturally diverse nations in the World. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18876/32939

I fish for Pike, Musky, Carp and Small Mouth. I work to get those fish on the reel ASAP. My reel has a much better drag system then my fingers! When I did fish Trout exclusively in CO rivers I would occasionally land a fish without being on the reel but when you are fishing from a cataraft on a moving river its always better to get the line in.

I just bought a trimmer to keep my hair short. Shaving with a number #2 guard, I like my hair "high and tight". No SH%t, when I bought this trimmer at CVS I saw the beard trimmers and thought about using it to trim deer hair. LOL

My other vise is my first vise. A $15 hunk a junk that I bought at the Midwestern Fly Fishing Expo 2 years ago. I'm ready for a "real" vise. I'm not sure I can try them out first.

I have a $150 budget for a second vise and I have narrowed it down to two. I don't tie much on hook sizes under 8. Dynaking Kingfisher Vise or Peak Full rotary

The hunt in an ever-changing environment.

I fish the flats of Lake St. Clair for carp. I use my kayak to find'em and then I jump out and wade to catch them. I always know when the "feed bag" is on when in my kayak because I usually see the fish I am spooking. When the carp are not feeding all I see of the fish is a silt cloud. One thing you really need to watch for in kayaks is "hull slap". I fish flats that are well sheltered on most days so it is not an issue.

Ocean ProwlerTrident 13. I have had on Lake MI, Lake St. Clair, numerous inland lakes, the Manistee River (from Hodenpyle to Red Bridge, Everglades (Choko), ...... and many other places. The boat has performed well for me. On the Manistee I loaded it with my backpacking gear fished and camped for 3 days. I'm right around #235/ 6'2" and with another #45 of gear the boat handled well. I have strictly fly fished out of mine. I also have a native 12' which is just as good. The Ocean is faster and more nimble but the Native is much more comfortable and fly fisherman friendly. It really depends on the type of fishing you plan on doing out your future boat. I one trip to Charlotte Harbor/Punta Gorda I fished out of a Jackson Cuda and it was pretty sweet. It was heavier and slower than my Ocean but the seat system and the flexibility it provided made for a neat fishing experience. Hit me up if you have any questions. I have been fishing out of that Ocean for 5 years. I have not made a single modification to it and the only damage was a broken handle that was easily repaired. The boat has no leaks and has not warped even with my BIG ASS on it.

Get it from the guy who used it. Thanks for the laugh

I have the same bench side reference book. The best I have seen.