Meeshka

I was diagnosised with macular degeneration - where you loose some or all of your central vision in one or both eyes, but retain your periphrial vision - about 30 months ago. It sucks, and I really haven't tied much let alone make a bamboo rod in that time frame. It affected my left eye first but has now begun to affect my right eye, so I am slowly going blind. I still fish lakes in a boat,but no longer fish rivers as I have lost my balance. I have had 3 surgerys on my left eye and now 2 on my right which has only slowed the progress of the disease process. Magnification is definately a necessity as even reading texts on my phone is impossible without it Like I said it sucks, and I'm not even 60. I can still drive and do the macro stuff, but working with anythig small is tedious and frustrating. Doug

taxidermists my too

Way back in the day, and I'm talking 50 plus years ago my uncle used the insulation from copper wire for the tubes and different colored nylon rope for the wings. I was too young (they thought so ) to go out for coho with them so it was my job to scour the beach for rope. I'll post a picture if I can find one in dads old box

Dave, Got a book on single handed spey casting last christmas - read it, but haven't tried it. But I will take your advice

The Canadian Tube Fly Company web page is a great source for materials and information. I rarely use a spey rod as I just never got comfortable with one, and practiced very little with one. My preference is and 8 or 10 wt 9 foot - a disadvantage though if you are casting single handed all day you can get a bit sore and I just can't get out as far or as long as a swing as a person can with a spey.

To me that just looks like a piece of leech yarn?

SBPATT in my opinion deserves an honorable mention not only for tying a vast array of flys but photography and presentations

A reference I carry in my reel case is "The Little Red Fishing Knot Book"

In the words of Hobo Jims song "Fishing for Chickens" - it swallowed the hook mom grease up the skillet

I've got an Orvis Safe Passage Carry it All and use it in my 8 foot pram or when river fishing. When river fishing its just on the bank. Only have one rod set up for fishing at a time. Not the best but it works for me.

yup, just rototilled this past weekend. Still too cold at night to get anything tender in. Hopefully May20

Kimo, I really like the design of your last fly, but what are the black fibers in the thorax - just can't figure it out. Thanks, Doug

Lucian Love the simplicity of your flies and all of them look like they would catch here in western Canada. On an aside I am soon to place an order with you again. I would like to tie some perdigon, but a bit larger #12, what hook and tungston bead would you reccomend?

Used to be one of my favorite passtimes. But no Oilers again this year so watching more baseball now. Will cheer for Vegas and/or Winnipeg though Doug

Fished the Squamish several times in spring for C&R steelhead, but never in our fall. Its about 45 minutes north of Vancouver. Used the guides at Whistler Fly Fishing and found them to be quite good. You could probably google their web site for more info. Doug

Sorry Mike, I stand corrected! Worldwide only a few species of fiddleheads are eaten. Which species I have no idea. The ones in my garden are safe or I would have been tits up long time ago. Please accept this clarification

fiddleheads not poisonous, grow in my back yard. Must be cooked I have been told

A lot of my hook collection was purchased between 1970 - 2000, and I still use them. Problem, a lot of styles that I really liked are now obsolete

Nice Fletch, Wern't those old Pewter steins just made for pheasant tails!

If I remember correctly I thought my buddy put a small dab of cement at the base, let it dry completely, removed the comb, then cut off each individual wing seperately as req'd. That was some 40 years or so ago, and unfortunately he has passed so can't even ask and my memory might not be the best anymore. Seem to remember he was using it on matched mallard primarys for classic wet flies. Hope this helps. Doug

Totally agree with flytyer - lead cre line. There are different colors every so many feet. So when you find success that deapth may be replicated. I use ity almost exclusively trolling for big lakers in NWT

spokane dude I havn't seen that winging tool available in probably 40 years, but remember a fellow who had one - and it did work pretty slick

Brutally cold up here the last couple of days. Expected to hit below -40C with the wind tonight

Fantastic bugs dronlee!!!

Alberta, Canada.