Fletchfishes

Here's my spot:

August isn't the best month for fishing, but I don't think it's as bad as you currently fear. I fish plenty in NH during the month of August. Like many places, you will have better luck early in the AM and in the evening. Wild fish are certainly possible - 8"+ might be a tough challenge. I'd start with these guys: https://www.northcountryangler.com/ Great shop in a really nice area (North Conway) with lots of fishy water in the area. The Saco will have stocked trout including big holdover browns. The Ellis has lots of mostly stocked brookies and rainbows. The Peabody should have wild brookies and the occasional rainbow. The Andro isn't far away and has big trout and the potential option for a float trip... etc, etc. Lots of options. You won't be hitting peak season, but you can still get into fish for sure. My comments are on the North Conway area - there are a lot of other options (such as Pittsburg) that may be better and a similar drive from Manchester. North Country should be able to point you in the right direction. Good luck and enjoy!

Happy day to my fellow veterans! Hope you had a good day and thanks for your service!

Love the flies, thanks for posting!

I keep some 28 and 30 midges - mostly emerged style with a CDC wing - on a threader in a small box. On the tailwater I fish here in MA there days when that's all that will work on the surface. 7x tippet. I have some Tiemco dry hooks in 28 but normally use the Gama emerger hooks. They have a nice gape and are remarkably strong for the size.

Really liked this shot...

Glad they are getting out there. Enjoy! Would love to see flys, but no pressure!

Stimulators:

OK, here's who I have that's interested: -Rocco -Fshng2 -Bimini15 -ihang10 (already have you address) -agn54 -mvendon -stabgnid Unless noted otherwise, if you are on this list send me a PM with your mailing address and I'll get your package in the mail.

Hi Michael, Good to hear from you - I still use the Nancy's Prayer pattern you showed me. Good stuff.

Salacinski - Sorry I haven't been checking this much. I sent you those images via email. Let me know if they don't arrive. Also happy to answer whatever questions or other photos you might want. Just let me know. Incidentally, I've always heard it's a bad idea to post your email address in public forums. Bots can pickup your address and add you to mailing lists so you'll get more spam... might want to edit your post and remove that detail. Good luck!

Wow, this thread is back from the dead! Sorry I haven't been online as much these days. I've been inspired to cut up the pelt and will be happy to give it out to some of the regulars from this community. First ten replies in here get a small square of materials. Here's some rules: -Interested in sharing with those that are contributors to the community, so need to have 150+ posts. -Just let me know if you are interested, I'll review the thread and post a list of who is in. -Once I post your name as in, you can send me a PM with your address. -I'll cover shipping your way. If you feel inspired to send something back my way, it would be appreciated but certainly not required. -US based address please. Rocco - no need for you to respond, just send me a PM with your address and I'll get yours in the mail.

Hi Rocco, Life has been crazy lately so I haven't been online as much. Send me a PM with a shipping address and I'll get some in the mail to you. I assume you want some of the longer hair / fur if you are going to use it in a dubbing loop?

South Holston?

Had a cabinetmaker build it. While I do some woodworking - nothing on this scale or quality. Thanks for the kind remarks!

Thank you for all the kind remarks. Couple answers / comments: 1) Three windows looking outside - although this is in the Boston suburbs so while we have a nature reserve behind the house, I'm not looking out at much besides bushes and lawn. It's on the Northwest side of the house, so not much natural light. 2) The water in the glass was for soaking BIOTs.. Scotch was in my hand and a decanter on the shelves you can't see in these shots! I like where you are going with that comment BCT! 3) It's a mixed use space, I also use it as my home office when I don't go into work which is why there's two other seating areas (three if you count the leather armchair you can't see in these shots.) 4) Still working through the storage space - outside of all the bins which I've labeled (really saves time) - I find myself digging through drawers that are mostly empty at this point trying to recall where I stashed something. I suppose that'll work out over time. I'm planning to build a hook storage tower out of cut off pieces that can hold all of the magnet lined plastic trays I use for hook and bead storage. 5) Conflicted on tool storage. Part of the time I keep them in a foam block. The other half I keep them in the top drawer on the right side. I might end up using the drawer more often as it's nice to be able to just sweep the desk when it's time to clean up. 6) Trash can under the desk isn't really working... misc odds and ends just pile up on the desk and get in the way. Need to figure that out. I thought about the removable piece in the back of the desk that allows a trash bin but didn't have the heart to cut the desk surface. Such a nice piece of wood. 7) Speaking of wood - Walnut is softer than I would have expected. Not a huge deal, but definitely marks easier than other hardwoods. 8) Finish is a semi poly... head cement thinner doesn't play nicely with it! Hard lesson to thin my head cement over the sink next time.

Just completed construction of a new library room in the house that includes a fly tying area along with storage. Thought I'd share a few photos. Let me know if you have any suggestions on how to improve! Thanks! Details: All stained solid Walnut cabinets. Drawers and display cabinet for fly tying storage. Desk is ~37" (counter height) to provide options for sitting and/or standing while tying.

At least the scenery was nice!

Took the day off today to go fishing and got skunked. New water so it shouldn't be such a disappointment, but I'm having a couple unproductive outings and it got to me. Had to look this quote up to remind myself why I love this sport. THE TESTAMENT OF A FISHERMAN Robert Traver 1964, (Judge John Voelker 1903-93) "I fish because I love to; Because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly; Because of all the television commercials, cocktail parties, and assorted social posturing I thus escape; Because, in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion; Because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed or impressed by power, but respond only to quietude and humility and endless patience; Because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time, and I for one dont want to waste the trip; because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters; Because only in the woods can I find solitude without loneliness; Because bourbon out of an old tin cup always tastes better out there; Because maybe one day I will catch a mermaid; And, finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant and not nearly so much fun."

Nice. Does it work? I put glowing parachute posts on the flies and it seemed the fish avoided them.

I tie size 28 and 30 midges for the local tailwater. Not to be a tough guy, but it's the only dry fly game in town at certain times of the year. I've found that you can use an oversized amount of CDC relative to the fly body. Should work for small flies in general and really helps with visibility when you put some Frog's Fanny (or equivalent) on it.

PT Soft Hackle. Simple, elegant and super effective in every trout stream I've visited. I've always had a soft spot for a Parachute Adams as it's the first fly I had real success on.

I have a foam patch with Velcro on the back that attaches either to the front of my sling pack if I'm using it or the front of my waders if I'm not using a bag. That collects all my flies over the day as I switch em out (I'm a chronic fly changer for no good reason.) When I get home, I put the ones in good shape back in the box and the trashed ones go in a pile for recycling. I have a small box with flies that are some sort of milestone (first fish caught on a fly I tied, big brown I caught, etc.). Someday I'm going to find a way to really preserve those. Would be fun the suspend them in an acrylic paperweight on something...

Plenty of good stuff at Cabelas. Especially for starting. I had recommended a local fly shop - still suggest you look into that. Hopefully someone that is in your neighborhood will check this thread and point you in the right direction. Two online resources (besides this site) that I found immensely valuable: 1) Charlie Craven's site: http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/ Awesome site with really nice step by step instructions with a focus upon techniques. His books are great too. 2) Tim Flagler's videos (Tightline Productions): https://vimeo.com/user3412872 In my opinion, the best made videos on the web. Also has a nice focus upon technique and not just a pattern. Good luck!

I think a good local fly shop is the best resource for someone looking to learn fly fishing and fly tying. Not only do you get access to experts you can question, but there's often a solid connection with a community of like minded folk you can learn from. I see from your profile that you are in Northeast MO? Perhaps some members on here know of the best fly shop...