Bimini15

One of these days I am going to make a video. That'll teach you what a crappy video reaaally looks like....

Welcome back! And keep them coming...!

Not sure the US has a huge problem with illegal immigrants running their jetskis all over, but point well taken on any irresponsible users. Flats, Take this turn of your thread as a lesson on what NOT to do when you get your Gheenoe.

Chris, I am curious about your reels. Are they CNC? The link on the post goes to a die cast model.

I hear next year's model comes with a Coq de Leon coup built in the back seat... And no, If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would not buy high end equipment, I would not buy a $60,000 truck and most definitely would not buy a boat. But I sure would go fishing a lot more than I do...

For me it probably is a pair of shimano branded combo locking forceps and scissors. I found them at Walmart, I have had them for probably 20 years and I can't find the exact same one anywhere. What I like about it is that the handle is long, but the nose is short and stubby. You can work as well on a hook down a bucketmouth or a tiny fish. Also crush barbs. The scissors are slightly serrated and still cut mono, braid and on occasion light wire easily. I am sure it sounds like nothing special, but it just feels right to me.

8€! That sounds like ei tarjous at all!

So, not every boat is owned by an idiot, but every idiot seems to own a boat. And the bigger the idiot, the bigger the boat.

The Lox is a pain to fish on weekends, full of canoers and kayakers doing the scenic trails. But, it is heaven if you can escape on a weekday.

My old neighbor developed the software for some of these gadgets and had one. It probably was just an experimental model, but it did not seem very reliable. But... ONE DAY.....!!!

Nice. Reminds me a lot the Loxahatchee, truly a gem in Palm Beach County.

Just for giggles... Original Coq de León from La Cándana: Genetic Whiting Farms CDL: Sorry, could not help myself.

I would say that size does matter in this one... Let me explain: In my experience, folks in canoes, kayaks and small boats are always nice. You can talk to them about anything while you put in and they share stuff after the fishing is done. This is in a place without a boat ramp, good enough to put in up to 16-18ft boats. Now put in, go out into the open and here comes a 21+ footer named something like "Reel Bitch" getting too close, trying to push you out of "his" spot, because he did not come from the ramp miles away to have a kayak, or a Gheenoe for that matter, delay his plans to soak a mullet chunk. You know the type, the "if you want to fish, get a real boat" crowd. And let's not talk about the boat ramp scene, which is bad enough to never want to have a boat. Sure, I am generalizing, and of course there must be plenty of exceptions, but it has happened to me often enough in the past.

Johny, The folks at Whiting have come up with their own CDL, bred from roosters originally brought from Spain. Those are, technically, CDL capes too, I imagine produced at a much larger scale in the US. Here is the thing... The story goes that the roosters loose their luster once they leave the area where they have been bred for centuries, which is just the kind of thing the sceptic in me can't easily take without raising questions: how far do they have to go exactly for the decline to start? Does it happen it all at once or per mile? And, a bit more seriously, what is the point of mass production away from León, then? In reading about it, the producers from León chuckle at the idea of raising CDL anywhere else, as if they know something. But the fact is that most of the fabled CDL sold around the world is not from León and still seems to be well valued by fly tiers. Can't wait for Adam to give us a first hand view on the tying aspect of it. Mike, I know this kind of mysticism around materials is not your cup of tea. But... imagine tying poppers with foam from Cinderella's flip-flops... Magical...!!!

Tidewaterfly, Have you tried to pole it? Given the right depths, it looks like it would pole well. My canoe is superstable, but also on the heavy side for a canoe. In real shallow water I can stand up and pole it more efficiently than I can paddle it. Fancy PVC pipe pole that I use...

Mike, I think that is what was in the back of my mind when I asked the question. I guess In a way am trying to justify the price. We Spaniards are traditionally horrible at selling our stuff, so if these feathers sell themselves around the world, they must be good...!

To me the Gheenoes are motor boats. Do not paddle like a kayak or a regular canoe and they are heavier to cartop. So, if I am going to have it on a trailer, which is going to limit where I can put in, I might as well have a motor to get to where I wanted to fish. There is no doubt about their fishability, and everytime I have run into one on the water I have heard nothing but rave comments from happy customers. You just need to realize what it is and also what it is not.

Adam, Is that a dozen saddle hackles for almost 8 euros?

I agree... I realize that most flies are somewhat abstract in nature, but some of the FTD flies seem like a blob of material on a hook. Then again, maybe that is the genius in it... Curious to hear others as well.

Thanks for the link. I am somewhat familiar with the "Feather Valley" area. My question is for those who tie with cdl and can compare the real thing from León against the cdl from different origins. Is there a notable difference to the educated eye? It is not my kind of tying, so I know I could not tell the difference.

Two questions: 1. It was always my understanding that only feathers from roosters in a very particular place in León, Spain, would have the fabled properties. So, are the ones grown in the US and other places still great? Is this all a thing of the past because of genetics? 2. Why does everybody use the French word "coq" to refer to the Spanish roosters from León?

Greetings from Boynton/Lake Worth. Keep those peacock pics coming...!

... And it looks like you did it in your own back yard!

I love that picture with the hoppers. It is like a hopper fight to death, hopper parts all around, and these are the last four standing.

What...!? Do you NOT wear tweed when you are golfing...???