mybadhabit

My guess would be one dozen, but we will take whatever anyone is willing to donate. Blane

This is a request to all of you for sets of flies for Project Healing Waters to be sold at auction for our local chapter. The man who has run the local chapter of PHW is dealing with cancer an doesn't have the energy to continue doing all the things he has done in the past so, my small contribution to the group is to ask you all if you would be so kind as to donate to our veterans by tying a few flies that we can have for our auction. I think I will be able to get boxes from one of the many companies that support the PHW groups to put the flies in, or you can send them in a box if you'd like. They can be any type of fly since we have access to salt water, trout waters, and warm water fishes here in the North Texas area. If you'd like to help out, send an "I'm in" to me and you'll be put on the list. These don't need to be received until mid February, so there is plenty of time to get thru the holidays. PM me when you need an address. Thank you in advance. Blane 1. mybadhabit - Bass Poppers - Done 2. Idaho RC - Trout Flies - Received 3. Jolly Red - Panfish Flies - Received 4. Flat Rock native - Fathead Minnows - Received 5. stabgnid - not sure - Received 6. L. B. Fly Tyer - Clousers - Received 7. carpflyguy - Trout Flies 8. RickZieger - Panfish Flies - Received 9. vicente - Bass Poppers 10. Rye_Tyler - Unknown - Received 11. tctrout - Trout Flies - Received 12. shoebop - Trout Flies - Received 13. DavidR - Flies - Received 14. Bruce Norikane - Trout Flies - Received 15. Saltybum - Received 16. RCFetter - Received 17. nsillej - Flies Received 18. 19. 20.

PETA would have a cow!!!

The starting package is for the group, I will teach one or two different flies each time we meet and wanted to kind of figure out what items would be best and most used to tie mainly beginners flies. I have more foam than I will ever be able to tie up, so not worried about that so much. Depending on who starts to show up, I may end up getting an Evergreen hand from the FFF to help the amputee tyer(if needed). Blane

I am planning on starting them off with basic thread control first then on to some really easy flies, and work into PT's and Hare's Ears.

The great thing about this is that the local leader of PHW has some of the stuff, I have some of it, and PHW program is going to purchase the rest or we are going to try and get it from FFF as a donation towards fly fishing education. A fellow club member and I talked about doing this several years ago and I just happened to be directed towards the tying program leader at Texas' Fly Fishing Expo a few weeks ago. We started chatting and I found out that there was a group that was doing this on the other side of town, twice a month. I am starting this group on the east side of Dallas and hope it takes off here too. Blane

I', in

Who's hosting this year, but I'm in. Blane

I'm trying to start up an all veteran tying group from my local Project Healing Waters group and would like to know what you all would put in a starters tying kit. I know the basic tools, but I need help so I don't forget the obvious stuff. We will be tying for panfish, bass, white bass, and trout. I think I will have a bunch of newer tyers so I'm starting with the basics and some of "Fishy" Fullum's easier ties. If you folks have Ideas for some basic or easier ties for guys that may be tying their first flies I'd love to hear them, please accompany them with a materials list. I have down: Chenielle: Olive, black and white Thread: 3/0 and 6/0 Pheasant tail Turkey tail Black and Olive saddle hackle or Bugger Hackle Black and Olive Marabou Wire: Copper, silver and gold Hooks Size: 8-14 Streamer hooks size: 8-12 Beads Hare's Mask Dubbing Peacock Tail feathers Rubber Legs After that I'm drawing a blank, can you help me out? Thanks in advance. Blane Thank you to all of you in advance. Blane

Does anyone know what an issue of "The Art of Fishing Journal's" go for, I've got 9 editions that are in proof condition and wanted to insure them possibly. Blane

Vic, I went to high school with the Cubs CEO and his brother. Their dad started TD Ameritrade back in the late 80's early 90's. If only I'd let him cheat off my chemistry exams back then. Raiders make a real run at it this year. Blane

I think I need to get some business cards, does any body know the best way to do this? Vistaprint.com usually has a special on 250 or 500 cards, you can design them yourself on their site. Blane

Depending on the size you need, if you buy hooks from Allen Fly Fishing, you can get two sided fly boxes for free or just a couple of bucks if you buy I think $30 worth of hooks, you just have to search for the button that tacks on the free flybox. Blane

I'll be there Friday and Saturday, taking the Intermediate class on Saturday and doing the BBQ on Friday night. Hope to see you there add147, and Rex, I know I will see you there. Blane

When I first started out I blew about $1500 on tools and materials(most of which will never see a hook). Since then I'd say I've spent about $2000 on better tools and materials for tying and I've only been at it for 6 years and slowed down the past 2 years on my purchases. The stress relief the first few years of tying was worth every penny, I don't have as much stress now so I don't tie as much as I used to. I will definately be in touch with the insurance guy on Monday though, don't want to think about losing all that plus the gear in a fire or something, that would not be good. Blane

Nice, but I have cats and it's amazing what a cat can do to a hank of flash in mere seconds.

Hey rockworm, when is the evolution swap starting this year?' Blane

I do both, a friend and I sat down one night and went thru almost all my swap flies and flattened the barbs on all of them and sorted them into categories: small, nymph, streamer, panfish and so on. It took three of us just around 3 to 4 hours to do them all, and I've only been swapping for about 4 years and racked up over 700 flies. I couldn't believe there were that many, and I had already fished and lost some. Some will go into display boxes(when I figure out just how to do them), others will be fished and some(very few) will be stripped down. Then there are those that came to me in display boxes and will stay that way(Evolution Swap Flies). Unless I move to trout country, many will never get fished, I just don't have the waters to use about 25% of the flies that I have collected over the time I've swapped, and I'm perfectly fine with keeping them preserved to just enjoy looking at or trying to copy. Blane

I heartily agree with netabrookie, I have hosted many swaps and had my fair share of drop-outs. There is nothing more frustrating than having someone sign up and then never respond to any of the PM's sent to them, not post on the thread, but just disappear into the nothingness that is the web. Then show up a couple of months later and do the same thing to another SM. It is my belief that almost everyone that has hosted more than one swap has had someone drop out, that's just the way things go, and speaking for myself, I understand that life can get in the way, I have had it happen to me on more than one occasion, but telling the people in the swap that I needed to drop out of the swap was what I needed to do to take care of the loose end I had incurred. If a SM has sent 2 or 3 PM's and gotten no response then I personally would start looking for a substitute for the missing swapper, at least that is what I have done in the past. If I take the time to host, the least the participants can do is to respond to PM's that are sent, if they are spaced a fair amount of time apart. I know that not everyone is on the FTF everyday and shouldn't be expected to respond in a day or two, but 2 weeks with no response is about the same as a drop in my book. Don't get me wrong, I don't enjoy replacing swappers, in fact I'd like to never have to do it again, but that's asking a lot from people. In my book there are many SM's out there that are more than forgiving when it comes to late send dates, and I appreciate their patience, and that of those that understand about being late, but leaving flies til the last possible day is just immature and irresponsible in my book. If you can't make the deadline then man/woman up and let the group know that you are experiencing life difficulties and move on. It's not like the world is going to end if you have to pass on a swap, but pissing off a group that has done their part in a swap, is just not right, no matter how you slice it. IMHO.

Where are the birds native to?

One of the reasons that I was late is that my business has really taken off over the last year, and I guess I thought I'd have time like I used to and I just don't seem to be able to make the time for the things I used to. The other is that I got an empty envelope back a week or so after I mailed them and had to retie all the flies. I really am torn about how things are going, I love the success, but I don't have the time to myself that I used to have. I haven't been on here nearly as often as I used to be, and I miss it, but I have to make some sacrifices and my business and family have to come first. I miss being an active member and into the swaps like it used to be, and maybe when I start up a second crew I will have some more time to do the things that I enjoy. Until then, I make it here when I can and try not to enter into swaps that I won't be able to finish. Thank rockworm for hosting and for the heads up pm. I wouldn't miss this swap unless I just couldn't tie at all.

The gun case looks like it's made from plywood. Working with solid wood is quite a bit different. I really like kennebec12's idea, start small, try a small hand crafted fly box. As time goes on, learn inlay and mosaics and he could do well on here. Practice with light, dark and red woods and simple patterns to start, then build up to intricate inlays and mosaics of custom design and he's got a trade. I would love to see a starter box, and possibly be open to a purchase. Blane

Sorry about being the last one in, someone's got to do it though right? LOL Blane

Congratulations to Team USA. The USA coach did a Czech nymph fishing speak at the club I belong to last year, it was very interesting, but the rivers they fish that in Europe seem more fitted to it than the one's we have here. Most of the creeks that he described were very narrow and deep, with swift moving water, like 5' deep or so. Not what I used to fish when we were in the rockies which were more broad and shallower. jmho. Blane

Have you thought about a sow bug?