Johnwvan

I moved from western Ma. to just north of Boston area 12 years ago. Best fishing is in western Ma.I travel anywheres from 100 to 160 miles

one way to do some decent cold water fly fishing. The closest decent area in Ma. is Quaboag River in Palmer on Rte. 67. What

is also nice is the Willimantec River in Ct, just 15 or 20 miles south of Sturbridge. It has a nice TMA catch and release area right

at a rest area on Rte. 84!!!! Not far from Stafford Springs, Ct. The best fishing is "out west" in western Ma. at exit 2 of Ma. Pike in Lee Ma.

Catch and release area in Lee, Ma. on Housatonic River, Housatonic River is blue ribbon in Ct. by Cornwall Bridge. REALLY want

cold water fishing at it's best do TMA area in CT. off Rte 44 near New Hartford, Ct. Farmington River is very cold tail water. As for Boston

proper forget it. Take up Red Sox or Patriots games, don't waste your time unless you like salt water stuff.---John

Hello---have to replenish my stock of stonefly nymphs due to uncontrollable

stream conditions. I have used a turkey wing slip folded, dubbed then folded

again to make wing cases. Is there a template or pre cut wing cases to make them

faster and better looking? Possibly a wing burner of some type.---Thanks---John

Looks like I'll be trying Sally's. My wife has a "collection" of it in the medicine cabinet! ---John

I thought they were the industry standard for years but as Utyer says their tools and materials are made by someone else.

You are paying for the name. I just received their antron dubbing, ginger. I have their caddis lifestyle selection

in antron and the ginger ran out. I got orange, same color orange as in the caddis selection but the bag it came in

said ginger. It was sent back today. They also don't seem to have the large selection they use too. The main store in Vt.

looks more like an upscale sports clothing and expensive knick knack shop, not the fly shop I remember from 20 years ago.

Change is good. Really?---John

Tried a new approach. Straight hook, and I cut wings from Spirit River

stonefly wing pre cut "skeleton".---Better I think?---John

Here's my dilemma.

Hello---I'm trying to improve my deep caddis pupas wing . The biggest problem is finding a good

material and getting to lay flat against the body. I have tried quill sections and

starling feathers from the wing base but nothing looks quite right. Thanks---John

UNI-Thread---John

Some say a fool and his money are soon parted, and others have more money than

brains and others if you got it flaunt it! It doesn't bother me in the least,

my Peak rotary with the 15 buck Materelli whip finisher work fine.I guess it

all comes down to"whatever floats your boat".---John

Thanks for the compliments. I never knew about the wing

interfering with the hook up. Thanks for the tip.---John

Here's the one that got away. I tried this pattern yesterday

and had a lot of hits and follows. I did have one hook up until

my knot gave way and I lost the fly and fish. Very bad knot as

I found out when I brought my leader in with all the little

curlys that use to be a knot. I used Partridge hook, Swedish Dry Fly

style #16. I have found my tying has become a lot faster and better

quality since I purchased a Peak rotary and a Materelli whip finisher.

I still have a ways to go.---John

I am guessing the height of a tying table would be about 26 t0 29 inches to the top?

Would love to make my own but I no longer have my house or shop in the cellar. I would

also consider buying one. I also would love a wood chest to keep my tools and material

in. My brother is a machinist and has a beautiful wood chest with felt lined drawers for

his micrometers and verniers. I have seen a lot of fly tying chests which look a lot

like that.I definitely need something for my new Peak. Here's my current storage box,

an old Plano tackle box for hooks,tools and material and an old Tupperware bread box

for my feathers.---John

I was in Pa 2 weekends ago. Was in Allentown when I had to make a U turn, ended up turning into Little

Lehigh River catch and release area! I had no idea it was there, just shorts and flip flops, on my way

with the wife to do some touring of Lancaster and Valley Forge. How is that river to fish? I was looking

at coming back to Pa this fall and trying my luck.Is there more catch and release areas on that river or in

that area? Thanks---John

East---New England. The Gray Drake here is Siphlonurus quebbecensis and the

Isonchia I am familiar with is the Isonychia Bicolor, Leadwing Coachman or

better known to me as the White Gloved Howdy.---John

Thank You! Excellent sounding patterns.I am guessing I also wouldn't need

an Isonchia emerger as they too crawl out to emerge although I have seen

a lot of Isonchia emerger patterns. Some say they do both depending on

water conditions? Thanks again for the help.---John

I have lots of CDC and wanted to do some mayfly loop wing emergers. What

major hatches would use this pattern. Is there somewhere I can get colors

of body, tail, loop wing for each hatch?---Thanks---John

Thanks, I will try a thread base of chartruse 6/0 tying

thread to see if I can get that glow.---John

I googled red oak fly and all I get is chairs, tables and oak

chests. Any pictures? ---John

I am giving my new Peak rotary a good workout. I also received my

Griffin whip finisher, Martarreli style, and took a quick You

Tube course on "how to use". I saw some nice BH caddis pupa but

didn't have the exact material so I concocted my own, I think.

It's a Mustad 3906 size 12 with green translucent Larva Lace,

Orvis Life Cycle brown dubbing, a gold bead and a wrap and a half

of brown partridge.---John

I need to mix some dubbing and it calls for amber antron mixed with the

dubbing. Is amber more yellow or orange? Thanks---John

As of this week I now use a Peak rotary with c clamp. I ordered the brass bolt

upgrade and am awaiting it's arrival. This is it with a #14 rubber legs swimming

caddis pupa. Very smooth operation, but still getting use to it.---John

I have fat fingers, and in the dry winters my hands crack and

bleed plus the thread gets caught in my cuts. I will learn the

Thompson I have and the Griffin on the way. Leave my fingers

for grasping the tools.---John

Thanks---will do!

I just watched a video on You Tube. It was almost full screen so I could see

it good. It was a Thompson whip finisher, one I could never master, and I just

made 4 whip finishes, not in Olympic fashion but they worked! Now if I can remember

tomorrow how I did it maybe I won't need that Martarelli style Griffin whip finisher

I ordered 3 days ago.---John

Hello----My Simms breathable waders got a bit wet inside. I took

a tumble on some rock snot and got a bit of water inside. The neoprene

stocking foot is the worst, how do I dry them? Hang up by suspenders

in right side up position and let them air dry? It's been warm so

the area, hallway, they are hanging in is warm and very dry.

Thanks---John