Saltybum

So you must be a doctor...cosmetic surgeon to have knife skills with something sooo small.

He started it in the last century. Well that's how long it would have take me anyways.

Some butte ugly redfish and blackdrum stuff. These went to FRN.

Saturday went to see a friend of mine who builds customs rods (mostly big offshore stuff) to get some guides for a spinner I have. Standing in the corner was a wad of old rods, very old. He said I could have what ever I wanted on a donation basis to help our dying lagoon. In the middle was this old Martin 8.5ft, 8wt fly rod. All the guides and wrappings are original and intact and surprisingly the rod came apart w/o much struggle. A little bit of brasso and the reel seat cleaned up nicely. In spite of 20kt winds I had to lawn cast it some. Actually threw a 7wf line fairly well for a guy quite used to fast action rods. Weighs a mere 4.1 oz on the postal scale. Love the way it glows orange when the sunlight shines through it. I gave him $20 for a full set of spinner guides plus tip and the rod. Any ideas on the age and value of this rod.

Mine went out yesterday. Included what I believe to be the ugliest fly I ever tied, maybe 8 or so years ago. Never got it wet. I was afraid it might scare away any fish in the area. But it's yours now.

Just 8400 posts...you really should try socialize a little more, you know?

Hey you young guys...that girl looks available. Very impressive woodworking.

Don't know anything about the Montana butte stuff but my butte ugly fly is tried and true and also has the right colors.

Very entertaining indeed. What time is dinner?

Dave, take some pictures and show us what the stork brought you.

A Bullwinkle fly, Bravo!

Hmmm. Me, I'm left handed but learned to do a quite a few things right handed over the years. However I never thought about right or left handed fly tying. I just like to hold my materials with my left and wrap the thread with my right. Looking at all the photos of flies taken in the vise by others told me I was a right handed tier I guess. What ever works. How old is your grandson anyway? I first played with a fly rod when about 10 years old ( fifty yrs ago ) but never got into it probably because my dad didn't take to it and no else I knew fly fished. Sad because it is truly a great recreation and stress reliever in so many ways.

OK Flatrock, I'm in. It will be ugly but proven.

Just two rods Flat Rock? I think you need a few more. Or just two from Steve to go with the closet full?

Please do show us what eats that Adam.

No photos for those of us who didn't get in?

Reminds me of a dentist's office or something.

Same here, stacked up on wall racks, ready to go.

A little bit of fluff.

Yes, make them fish eat crow!

I rather prefer the way the small fighting butt feels against my arm versus the edge of the bare reel seat when fighting fish, even small ones. Not very hard to add on either.

Thanks Kinni. Soon as I catch something with it I'll post it. Most likely a bass at VA clinic retention pond next week when I go in for appt.

Thanks Dave I'm not an authority on the light weight rods but I really like this three weight and how it feels and casts. If it didn't have the spare tip I would probably buy another one. Checking the bay I see he has two of these 3wts left.

A couple weeks back I bought a custom full wells grip and butt from Steve to rebuild the bottom end of my CPS 6wt. I managed to save the Redington reel seat and decided to get a 3wt for it. Already had the cork and guides, so I went to town. The 3wt came with two tips ( ebay/Roger) but only wrapped the one. It cast 60 feet quite easily and I'm very pleased with the blank. Here's the results of both rods. The 6wt CPS also balances much nicer now with a bit more butt weight. No where near Steve's quality but I'm pretty happy with the final results.

The Atlantic side of Lower Matacumbe Key has a nice sandy beach with easy wading hard bottom flats. It heads west to a jetty by a marina and should have some bonefish around. Google up satellite images to see a few more areas just west as well. Once back up to Melbourne there is a lot of areas off U.S.1 to wade as well. Maybe the surf too if it's not blown up.