vicrider

Yeah, thanks a lot Mark.

I'm looking BACK at 80 and the next step is coming fast. Just stick to bigger hooks nowadays.

Mine hit the post today. Slimey little suckers didn't want to stay in the package but kept trying to slither out. Story line: When I had the bait shop up north leeches were a big part of the business and I trapped them but could never get enough so also bought them. When I trapped them I'd get all the ones the lake had to offer in the burlap bags or traps I used. When I got back to the shop I'd leave the 5 gallon buckets outside about 3/4 full of water. The real leeches we used for fishing we called ribbon leeches and they were basically a smooth bodied leech and a fantastic walleye bait. Small sizes were so far superior to any big bluegill bait you could use. Also in the bucket of trapped leeches would be what we called a horse leech which had a fat and heavily segmented body. People who would try to use them for bait said they just weren't taken like the ribbon leeches were and while out in the bucket they'd all climb out of the bucket and save me a lot of sorting time. Also in there would be the "bloodsucker" leech which was flatter brown leech that had orange spots on it. Again, a poor leech for bait though if it got on you it would quickly break the skin and leave a bleeder when you pulled it off. One of the things I loved to do when I saw a family pull into the bait shop that had young kids was run over the leech tubs and start sticking them to my arm. When I had a bunch hanging on my arm I'd wait until the young kids came in and ask if they were here for minnows or these leeches and hold out my arm with a bunch of leeches dangling from it. "UUUH Gross" would always back them up and they'd go to play with the minnow tanks.

Can't guarantee they'll all hang as horizontal as I'd like. Ran out of the few hooks I had to experiment on had it down right. Got new hooks and they're thinner and lighter and original setup was way tip heavy. Think I have it now but need to play with it a bit more. If not perfect they'll be close to horizontal anyway and Simiseal makes nice movement and color.

The added success of this swap for many of us is the contributions you made from your vise. 3 beautiful flies for each swapper meant you actually contributed more than any other single swapper and gave everyone some great inspiration to attain to. Being a long time admire of your work i really enjoy have some of them for my desk and if I ever get to trout fish again I will send some of them out to get wet. Nick

As Santa I always have a choice of boxes. Usually I don't take one out but this year DarrellP had box I really liked. It has flies in there I know the white bass run here in OK will love and streamers and poppers that will be great for the bass and really great if I ever get the Florida bucket list trip in in next year or two.

Remembered to save the bone and leave some meat on this time and had forgotten how much I like split pea soup. Wife did a great job with it cooking I did a great job with it eating for a couple of days. Sorry I haven't been haunting this thread at all but will make up for it with binge reading.

Having just recently examined several of your bugs Bryon I can say they are very nice and with the cost of a damn cork or balsa popper today it's ridiculous. Great work.

Years ago it was common to see various lures on the dash of fisherman's truck dash to fade them in the sun. This would give a more subtle look in clear water than bright shiny colors. Yours is all set for that. On another laughable note was that we used to tie buzzbaits to our antennas (remember antennas) on a short piece of heavy line to spin them while driving to give them the "squeak" we were looking for. ps...Yes, I could have said antennae for plural but just go with the way we Americans do it.

thanks for the efforts. I'm all too familiar with the cutting open and resealing packages. As for smoking I only smoked for about 15 years, then quit over 45 years ago. I still ended up with COPD and need oxygen on and off, especially at night and if I do more strenuous than the dishes. Fortunately I can still fly tie without oxy but not much else. I am both a pessimist and a realist and realize the time for me to have a big tackle sale is next spring. From years of trout fishing, years of Lake Superior fishing, years of bass tournaments, musky fishing, walleye fishing and about anything else that swims between MN and OK I've done it and just accumulated the tackle along the way. Hang tough and there are some good inhalers and nebulizer treatments that make day to day living and breathing easier.

Now this is a Thumbs Up

Winkler's, balanced.

Me too.

And they're on their way...

Thanks Woodenlegs. I didn't notice until after I'd taken the picture and posted it after editing that the package right in the center has a large trout's head breaking water. Or maybe better said he's trying to break out of the wrapper. I had to go and check for a tear in wrapping but it's just how the fold of paper and illustration came out. Kind of cool though the head breaking out of the package.