Polarbear78

you should be able to make your own.

 

I agree. All of the "stands" I have seen like this appear to have been homemade and seem very simple to knock a few out in a night (not counting time to allow the stain to dry)

Got a set of nice flies from B*ss in today!

Just waiting on varification from a mod about my info for hosting and I will start the thread and include all who have posted with interest.

 

I don't think they send you anything back. They just record your info and if any problems arise they have it on file....

-Forrest

I believe Forrest is correct... as long as you have done your three swaps and sent them your contact info and haven't done anything wrong I would say you are ready to start the swap when ever you are ready...

I'm really bummed I can't go this year... a buddy of mine showed me it last year and I had a blast...hopefully next year though!

A really nice set of yak streamers arrived today from rfsup. That is three sets I've received, is shaping up to be a great swap. How are the rest of you doing?

 

Yak streamers are in the mail!

Will be in the mail tomorrow... sorry for the delay. Classes and out of town conferences got me distracted from dropping them off at the post office.

Got MTfly's in the mail today. These look great! Thanks for the extras! You guys are making me excited for the hot summer weather to throw these things on the water!

Got Fishingbobnelsons in the mail today. They look great and thanks for the extras!

If I could get an address I can have these things out later this week... unless you want to see if any others want in

The mouse sounds like a great idea!

Sounds great I will let you all know when they arrive.

What type of fish do you go after? Bass? Bluegill? Trout? Do you have any favorite patterns you already like to fish? Youtube is great if you have something in mind and want to see how it is done. Start out with a wooly bugger though. You can use them to catch bass, panfish, trout and many more. Start out slow...try to get one or two patterns down before moving on to another one.

Some simple patterns...

Bass: Clouser minnow and wooly bugger

Panfish: spider, ant, grass hopper (anything foam really)

Trout: Wooly bugger, mickey finn, black ghost

There are many more options out there. Maybe if you could give a little more info...where you will be fishing (ponds, lakes, small streams), what fish you are after, I will try to get a better list together for you... and I'm sure a few others will be sure to help out too!

And welcome to the obsession... I mean hobby.

Sherri, I got yours in the mail today. They look great.

Thanks everyone. I'll go with the second option.

Mustad #2

Some sort of eyes I received from a swap

Mylar Tubing

White and chartreuse Icelandic sheep hair

Smokey Mountain Black Bear

Red and green thread

Red Sharpie

Some sort of orange feather I had from a variety bag

I just use the improved clinch knot...

Well this is what I plan on tying up... there are three options for you guys to choose from..what ever has the most interest I will tie that pattern. The only difference between them is vertical bars, one horizontal bar, or none.

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Thanks... All good ideas... I would say I did go over board when I first got interested...as a result I have a little of this, a little of that...what ever I thought looked cool at the store or online I would get with out really having any idea what I would use it for. I think from now on I will try to keep a list of materials that I use on the flies I tie and a list of the ones I have good success with... Maybe this will help reduce the amount I buy and try to buy the hooks I use in bulk as opposed to the 25 packs (already try to do that but sometimes the bigger ones are so expensive...) I'm sure this will also make me more creative for trying to use materials I already have and substitue them into patterns I like...

I'll bite. I'll get back to you on a pattern though... Have something in mind, but may do a little searching for something new.

I have a pattern. No clue what it is called... I'll post a picture of it tomorrow to see if you guys like it or not.

I'll bite. I'll get back to you on a pattern though... Have something in mind, but may do a little searching for something new.

A friend just sent me an email containing these pics of a 55# new state record Pike for Michigan. The other Pike was 36". I guess we need bigger flies, like 2 or 3 feet long.

Quick google search.... looks like these pictures have been going around for a few years...

Address please

Thanks for the input everyone. I was just going to try the furled leader because it was something new I saw and I don't want to spend the $7-$10 each on the toothy critter leaders...

Those look pretty good for only tying less than a month. Might not be what you're looking for exactly, but some easy dry fly patterns are some terrestrial type flies... foam grasshopper, foam spider, foam beetle, foam ant... you can tie all of those with thread, hook, piece of craft foam, silicone rubber legs, and a bright colored piece of yarn or something of the like on top as a strike indicator (optional). Another classic dry fly (maybe more of what you are looking for)- the Adams...Might take a few tries but isn't the most difficult out there.

My first was a Cabela's starter kit Starter kit When I first started nothing was pretty and the vise was pretty cheap and crappy... I didn't know any better when I first started. I couldn't lock the upright shaft so that would want to spin and the tools it came with were well, starter tools. I now use this Current one and I love it. I have the base mount and it works like a dream. Yeah it is a little more money but it is good quality. Worst case scenario you decide it isn't for you... with the Renzetti you can at least sell this and get money back where with a cheap starter kit you would probably be giving it away or trash. I am sure you will find this as addicting as the rest of us and if you do buy cheap you will be upgrading before you know it like others have said...It is all in how serious you want to be with it though.

Okay. Thanks. I didn't want to go out and spend $10.00/ leader or what ever for the toothy critter or Scientfic Angler stuff... I figured I had plenty of stuff already that could work just fine. I'm not targeting trophy pike, anything that'll bite... to be honest, even if I hooked up on an 18" pike that would still make my day. I just didn't know it the braided line would scare them off. Thanks!

I am going to try and make my own furled leader this year... Just not sure what pound mono/flouro to use for pike. I was thinking that 12# flouro or mono should be plenty? Then for a bite tippet would it be bad to just use some 60# powerpro in dark green color? Or should I just put a snap swivel on the end of my furled leader and attach the fly to that?

I have not been successful catching a pike on the fly rod yet so I am just wanting to try something different this year... last year I was just using some braided line as a leader with the fly tied directly to that.