Chase Creek

This was in the Pere Marquette State Forest. I annoy the Brookies in the small streams that flow into the Manistee. Wonderful area.

Goshawks have been known to draw blood defending their nest. I believe the trail folks on the Appalachian Trail had to re-route a portion of the trail temporarily cuz a Goshawk had been attacking (and wounding) hikers who came too close to the nest. Kind of unusual to even see one in these parts.

When I was doing some exploring for small streams up North (between Cadillac & Traverse City, Mich) last week, I followed a small two-track to the end. As I got out of my car, I heard some screeching, and got buzzed by a Northern Goshawk defending its near-by nest. Picture is out of focus cuz I was DUCKING. They defend the nest Very aggressively, sometimes actually drawing blood. Second shot was when it was waiting to launch another fly-by.

Byron, the photo was taken at the Baxter Bridge State Forest Campground (Wexford County, I think), NW of Manton, Mich. I've never fished the Manistee, I was fishing some of the small streams that run into it NE of Manton; the Chase, Morrissy, Golden, etc., and staying at Baxter Bridge.

A fence along part of the Manistee River, Michigan. .

A 4wt is just fine. I use an 8'6 4wt. Any trout fly will work, dry fly or wet. Also, take a look at the Bully's Spider pattern - a real killer for Bluegills, and simple to tie.

I'm 66, and it seems, have the typical problems associated with that age. I also find that my fingers seem to have grown, especially my thumbs! lol. I don't tie many smaller sizes, generally in the 16-12 range. I tried the big magnifying lamps (the ones with the magnifying lens in the center) and found they screwed up my depth perception rather badly. I now use regular drug store reading glasses. Relatively cheap, and easy to find. I normally use a +2.75, but also use a +4 occasionally. No problems at all. My suggestion would be to try different kinds of magnification if you can. Good luck in your search, I'm sure you'll find something that works.

TSP's right. Rods are designed for a specific range of line weights, so if you venture outside that range, you're not going to get the rod to perform at it's best. Especially "underling" the rod, as in your examples. I often "overline" by using a 5wt line on a 3 or 4wt rod in order to get it to load quicker, with less line out when I'm on a small stream in cramped conditions. Again, not using the rod to it's full potential, but in this case to my advantage.

A small piece of inner tube works, too. Costs less than a leader straightener, too. Also has the advantage of confusing your kid about how his bike tire went flat overnight.

You're right in not losing sleep over small details - the fish don't dwell on such things, no matter what anyone says. Have fun in Mich. I'm heading up there (streams off the Manistee River) for a week, camping in the Pierre Marquette State Forest. Brookies beware!

OK, here's my .02 - I've owned a lot of the "bells & whistle" vises, roary, true rotary, fixed, over the years. Finally bought a Regal, and never looked back. Wouldn't even consider another vise now. Most true rotary vise owners don't use the rotary feature to anywhere near it's capabilities, anyway. The Regal is a rotary, and that's all one needs. I'm saving my pennies for the stainless jaws, but have never experienced any chipping problems at all with the standard jaws. It's just a matter of placing the hook in the jaws properly, and they tell you how to do that. I tie in the range of 10-20, no problems hanging on to those hooks like a pit bull. utyer is correct, the grooves are for the biggies. I would recommend the Regal to anyone, regardless of what size / style they tie. Just a damn good vise.

For the past 40+ years, I've used a simple clinch knot. Works fine, and by now, I can tie it in the dark with my toes.

Piker20 nailed it. Using a loop, or split thread, you can make the body while the thread is attached directly to the hook. With dubbing brushes, you make the brush separately, then tie in one end to the hook. Dubbing loops are usually made from wire for bigger flies, and from thread or silk for smaller flies - like the picture. You can also make up a batch of bodies and store them for future use.

JSz hit it. This tends to be one of those things where equipment is thought to be the most important thing. A good example is the vise. You can tie just as good a fly on a $20 vise as a $750 vise. You don't NEED a $1200 rod or a $500 reel to enjoy this sport. I think all of that is a phase that probably every fly fisherman and tyer go through. At this point, do with what you have and have a good time. For what it's worth, I fish small (and I DO mean small) streams for Brookies. I use either a 5'6 3wt, or a 7'6 4wt, depending on my mood. Once in a while, I'll use a 9' 5wt, just because. They all work just fine.

Very nice. Especially like the first one. Did you do any post processing on that one?

Absolutely right! As they say - the purpose of the big name streams and rivers is to keep folks away from the small gems. I fish a bunch of small streams in N. Michigan, some of which you actually have to get down on your hands and knees to get to, fighting the brush & brambles all the way. I can honestly say in 50 years of fishing them, I have seen less than 1 dozen other fishermen in there. Just the way I like it!!

Are you talking clear space, as opposed to the actual dimensions of the base?

Congratulations. That's quite an accomplishment. My wife smokes, but she says it's really easy to quit - she's done it several times. "I didn't trade my vice for a vise, since I had my vise before I quit my vice. Now my vise is my vice and I don't have any other vices to get in the way of my vise." Huh?

As Mikechell said, there are a lot of very good point & shoot cameras out there. I was into 35mm film SLR's years back, wandered away, then bought a point & shoot digital. GOOD GRIEF! The principles of photography are the same, but what a difference in the equipment! No more film / developing cost and waiting. Played around with that for a while, then bought an "entry" DSLR, a Canon T2i, which I still use. If you're looking for the option of changing lens, you'll have to go the DSLR route. Most major outfits (Canon, Nikon, etc.) have entry level DSLR's. Much more versatile than a point & shoot, but, again, more expensive. Most offer the camera body with 2 zoom lens (mine came with an 18-55mm and 55-250mm zoom lens) in a "kit". These will hold you in good stead for quite a while. If you're interested in macro, you can buy a set of extension tubes for anywhere from $15 to $200, instead of a macro lens ($$$). Whichever way you go, good luck, and have fun with it.

I've always carried a Pur Hiker pump type filter along with an empty water bottle.. When I get thirsty, I filter the stream water into the bottle right there. It's lighter than carrying a full water bottle, and the water from the stream is cold. Never had a problem. But I do remember 50+ years ago, just drinking directly from the stream, with no ill effects. Just lucky, I guess.

Beautiful rod. I can see the Wexford County Brookies falling all over themselves to get a look at it.

My wife and I were in Maine last June, in the Bar Harbor area. Incredibly beautiful State.

I've gotta agree with everyone here. I also started on an AA, progressed thru many fancy bells-and-whistles vises, and finally settled on a Regal Medallion. Built like a tank, no nonsense, VERY easy to use. The gadgets and adjustments aren't there to get in the way of tying. Wish I would have started tying on it years ago. The Regal will definitely be my last vise. You've had kind of a "preview" with the knock-off, so you should have a pretty good idea what you're looking at. Workmanship is outstanding. I have the standard jaws, and have never had any problem with them spitting out hooks like you sometimes hear about. It has to do with proper hook placement, that's all.

Good job. Every one of those flies will catch fish. Go get them wet.

Just judging from the amount of stuff I've accumulated over the years, I'd say you probably are looking at a great bargan. As far as old material, I still have a couple of capes from MANY years ago. They seem to have aged better than I did, and are still very usable. And, as said, if there are tools in there, all the better.