jared

Heading down to RI/CT on Thursday for 3 days (perhaps only 2 if the Sat weather prediction holds...ugh). We might make the run across to Montauk, but not sure.

So I am told. Was intending to break out the 14wt tomorrow, but am unable to resolve a child pickup issue. With less fishing time on my hands, going to stick to chasing slower fish in the Habah tomorrow AM instead. -J

False Albacore:

'Fraid I can't speak to that...the few that we've kept over the years have either ended up as sashimi or pan-sear -- they are delicious. However the vast majority that I've caught have all been released. -j

Sarda sarda...aka Atlantic Bonito.

Nice to see line & backing flying off the reel once again...I love these guys! -J

If you are commercially tying, then presumably you would be getting materials @ wholesale prices no? Especially something like eyes which are relatively easy to quality control and don't need to be combed over the way fur/feathers would.... -J

Nice Clousers.

No great size to them (biggest maxed @ 24") -- but we got into an absolute smorgasbord of stripers. Sometimes busting on the top, sometimes busting under birds, often just a carpet of fish on the fishfinder. What can best be described as "stupid fishing". Too bad we didn't bring the kids along -- they would have had a field day. Both thumbs are shredded. Sadly, we didn't find any big bass, nor any of the Fall blues that we were hoping for. On the plus side, no sign of any gannets yet, so there ought to be some good fishing yet. Water temps are still plenty warm for both species. Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze another trip or two out before it will be time to winterize the boat. -J

Dragged the boat down to Rhode Island last Sunday with a buddy -- found small blues & decent bass off Watch Hill -- but too many boats for our taste. Ran down the coast and found solitude at a stretch that was good for me last year and once again produced -- but the fish weren't feeding with any pattern that we could discern, so it made it tough to set up on them w/ any regularity. Then headed across the sound and found a mix of blues & albies. Didn't catch as many as we'd have liked/should have...never got the pattern/presentation exactly right, despite boating some. Water temps are still pretty good though, so with any luck we'll have a prolonged fall season. My next shot won't be until the first weekend in November -- hope the fish stick around. tight lines, -J

Looks like I even found my bite-sized hooks so I should be good-to-go to tie tonight. Anyone else going? -J

anyone else going tonight? -J

Bones are awesome fish...until you catch an albie of equal size (which will drown a bonito)...unless you catch a bluefin -- then the game changes forever. Each is amazing in its own right. -J

Managed to get out with my brother for a few hours Sunday morning...landed my first bone of 2006. A nice 8lb'er to boot! Had a hook pull on a second...my own stupidity. One would think that I would have learned not to horse in a green fish by now. Oh well. Was great to feel that forked tail speed again. Happy fishing all! -J

Some excellent suggestions to be sure...do note however, that there are some parts of the world where use of lead in flies has been banned, so make sure of the regs before you start dunking some of these deep-diving-bad-boys! -J

Ted is spot on....early season fish are more hungry than they are picky. That said, you might also throw some bigger flies (herring patterns, white deaths, squids, etc.) into your box, something for surface fun (crease flies, gurglers, etc.), and depending on where you're going drop a couple of worm flies in just in case -- when the right factors align, it can be epic! Good luck & good fishing. -J

Yikes, must have been touch-and-go there for a while, but apparently the hunger strike worked...whew! What a relief! :j_k: Happy browsing, posting, tying & shortly fishing to one and all.

If you are coming, bring a light..hall is very dark! -J

Arthur, Hope we both manage to make the same meeting! Not sure I'll find the materials I want to bring, but no matter...see you on Thursday...hopefully. -J

I've never been involved in the judging, but I "believe" that the Dry Fly Senior Prelims are based on whether or not an insect will attempt to mate with the fly. However, the finals are based on the # of progeny, so as you can tell, it gets more difficult. Good Luck! -J :bs:

That is correct sir. My understanding is that this is the 21st year of the competition, and it's been run this way the entire time.

Please note that Flytyer posted LAST YEAR'S INFORMATION! The deadline is NOT January 2nd, but January 14th. The correct information can be found on the original posting -- please contact Rick Southgate with any competition related questions. Happy New Year one and all! -Jared

After 10+ years of doing the shows, they all kind of run together....but 2002 sounds like a reasonable candidate...and yes, I know who you are. -J

Reference: Fly Patterns of Umpqua Feather Merchants by Randall Kaufmann Junior Pattern List Preliminary Segment: Dry Fly: Madam X (page 51) Wet Fly: Wooly Worm, Yellow & Grizzly (page 109) Nymph: Bead Head Zug Bug (page 78) Streamer: Mickey Finn (page 116) Salt: Tropical Punch (page 163) Bass: Brass Hare, Black (page 134) Salmon/Steelhead: Roe Bug Pink (page 126) Senior Pattern List Preliminary Segment Dry Fly: Hemingway Caddis (page 46) Wet Fly: Soft Hackle Partridge & Orange (page 104) Nymph: Brassie (page 79) Streamer: Zonker, Purple & Black (page 118) Salt: Bonefish Bitters, Amber (page 152) Bass: Red head, Red & Green (page 143) Salmon/Steelhead: Dredger, Purple (page 123) Please refer to the original post for entry information.

It's always seemed as though the participants have enjoyed it. There was one year that Rick was out-of-town, so I got shanghai-ed into running the finals -- which was interesting/fun in a different way. As far as participation goes, UFT has always had sort of an unwritten rule that members of the BOD shouldn't participate in the comp. The blind-bugger competition that we've done for years is another matter altogether! Happy New Year! -J