kerusso

When the mystery box began it's third cycle I can vividly remember impatiently anticipating its arrival. :hyst: :hyst:

Never too early for a swap of this nature. You have been a fantastic swapmeister! I'm in if you'll have me.

Steve, the mystery box is headed your way. Brace yourself.

Another great selection of flies everyone. I've gone through and picked out a few and added a few more than I took out. Great selection! Steve, I'll be dropping the box off at the PO tomorrow. Thanks everyone.

The mystery box arrived today. Have not gone through it yet; will do so later tonight. I'll let you know what I found. Box will be shipped back out tomorrow.

Thanks for the heads up Rich. My flies are tied and I'm looking forward to seeing the flies. I'll let you all know when the box arrives.

Mine will be dropped off at the PO today. Rather than including the materials list on a small toe tag I'll share it here: hook: Daiichi 1110, sz. 18 dubbing: yellow FTD body: bleached/dyed Moose Mane hackle: grouse It's been fun; looking forward to seeing what y'all tied.

Just for clarity ...... my post the other day about swithching the order was tongue in cheek. It was a very weak attempt to make you all grin to yourselves while at the same time thinking "Man this is getting so exciting I wish I was the first one to receive the box" -- I mean, it's like Christmas in August and the tree is up and there's about 200 presents under the tree and you get your pick --- it's crazy exciting. I was in no way serious about switching the mailing sequence. I am very happy just to be a part of this swap. Pat, I hope I've not created any confusion for you or any others in the swap. I was only kidding in the former post. Kerusso

Pat, I'm glad the box made it back to you. Like you, I applaud the efforts of everyone in this swap who have mailed the flies in a timely fashion. It really makes a difference. Pat, the way in which you have described the flies, as well as those from the new tiers, I felt something ugly rising up from within. I tried to supress it but that only made things worse. I then rationalized that everyone in this swap is a flyfisherman and flytyer. I assessed my feelings a bit more and concluded that everyone must be feeling just like me. I'm only surprised someone hasn't beat me to this request: I want you to change the sequence of the box. I want to be the first to get it. Me first. :j_k: Seriously, just kidding. But of swap of this nature sure is fun. There are some great tyers in the mix, and I'm getting some great ideas. Thanks to everyone. Kerusso

The box was dropped off at a PO in Dallas NC today at 1:00. Heads up Will, it's coming your way. Thanks to everyone who is participating.

Got it today BigDaddy. I've just finished going through them, taking a few and adding a few. Great bunch of flies, everyone. Douglas, you tied a great fly! Keep on tying and sending those flies. I've also enclosed a small bag of brass beads (different sizes/colors) and there's probably between 80-100. I'll be very disappointed if there are any beads left when I get the box during the next cycle. Enjoy! The box will be dropped off at the PO on my lunch break tomorrow. Will, brace yourself. kerusso

I'll play; the soft hackle is in the top four trout flies where I fish. I'll tie either a 16 or 18 sulphur soft hackle. Thanks for the invite.

Drooling worse than Pavlov's dog ........ giddyup!

Sweeeeeeet! Hey Rick, I'm glad you are in for another round. I've got to tell you those "sparkly coneheads" did the trick for me last night. THere were some smallies who went to bed last night thinking "You know, I've eaten bugs like that before and it's never hurt my mouth like this" Glad you have continued, and I hope, if you tie more of the same bugs, they will make it to my house. Flyfisher 13 tied up some serious floating foam bugs; the bluegill in the pond across the street from my house are suffering the same nightmarish thoughts as the aforementioned smallies. This is a great swap Gang. Thanks to everyone who is making it work, especially Pat. Round 2 Ding Ding Ding

Confession is good for the soul ....... I added a "bunch" (didn't count but estimated 120 +) of large nymphs that I acquired last year from a guy who lives in the North. Clearly, they are for a different breed of trout than I usually chase. I don't think I would ever use them so I included them in the box. They are not junk or garbage flies ..... just a type/style/color I would not typically use. I'm hoping some of you can use them all. The midges and streamers I sent are river tested and productive in my home waters. I'm loving the pace at which this box is moving; I'll start tying my replacement flies for the next go-round next week. Yeeee- Hawwww

The box landed at my house yesterday. Good looking bunch of flies too. I kept seven that I figured would hammer the big bluegills and bucketmouths. I enclosed some streamers, a dozen midges, and some other flies (about 120). I did not toe tag the midges because they were small and I figured they wouldn't stay on the hook. Will, the box is headed your way; dropped off at the PO this afternoon at about 1:00. Enjoy, have fun, prepare to smile. Kerusso

Gotta' love the pace at which this box is moving. Great job everyone. Looking forward to seeing some of those small midges. I fish a tailrace in E. Tennessee and small midges are the daily fare. Shoot, I'm looking forward to seeing all the flies. Won't be long.

Man, that's nice! Loved the color schemes. Thanks for sharing.

Rich, I have a tradition with my 9 year old son whenever this box arrives at my house. We go to my tying room and I open it just to see his expression and the "Oh myyyyyyy". Just wait .... the contents of the box usually has that affect on everyone who opens it for the first time.

cencafly, It's my understanding the box will be in motion as long as we keep it in motion. This particular swap has a beautiful format -- tie anything you want and put in the same amount of flies as you take out. There is so much diversity in the box and it's pretty cool to see what others are fishing all over the U.S. The "killer" for a swap of this nature is when people receive the box and then sit on it for 3-5 weeks or longer. Things happen over which we have no control, that's a given. But not having the flies tied and ready to put in the box before it arrives, or simply refusing to take it to the PO are two things that let the air out of a swap like this. Pat Carrol is probably the best swapmeister I've ever swapped with. There's only so much he can do to keep the box moving, and if you look at the swaps he's hosted in the past you'll see how much time he puts into making a swap work. Big kudos to Pat. As for setting a record ....... how much fun would it be for the swap to go so long that we actually have a difficult time thinking of a different/new pattern to submit. You've challenged us, in a way, to break a record. I say "Let's do it". Just about anyone can tie a dozen flies over the course of three months. Yeah man, let's keep this thing going for YEARS

I prefer the quills and biots over the dubbing for a couple of reasons. To me, it looks far more realistic. Like Steelie said, if you put down a base of cement, then wrap the quill or biot, then cement again it makes for a very durable fly. Also, I dye my own biots and getting the right color usually doesn't pose a big problem. Lastly, biot or quill bodies on a dry fly do tend to float "easier" from my experiences. I must add that the only time I use biots on dry flies is when I'm tying cdc comparaduns. I've also used some bleached, then dyed, moose mane with good success. I've never had a fly come apart on me after one or two fish. They do get chewed up after a while but it doesn't bother me one bit to have to re-tie after 12-15 fish. I was fishing a quill midge last Fall and caught 22 fish before it no longer looked like a midge. Just my thoughts.

Terge, I echo the thoughts that you have submitted only beautiful, well proportioned flies. I always look forward to seeing anything that you've submitted. Thanks for sharing.

Pat, My address is the same. Flies were dropped off at the PO today. Thanks, Kerrusso

Pat, My address is the same. The flies will be in the dropped off at the PO on Friday. Looking forward to being a part of an awesome swap. Greg

I fish for smallies in the Fench Broad river. By far, my favorite fly is a Shenks Minnow in size 8, 10, and 12. With or without a bead; I usually use lead wrap when not using a bead. Good luck.