WdyCoachmen

I got nothing to lose. If I catch something on them, I will tell my friends they do not work to keep them to myself. Hahahahah!!! Thanks, Wdy

Hey everyone, I tied some Rainbow Warriors for a buddy of mine, size 16 with an appropriate sized brass rainbow bead on it. But, then I found some purple peacock in my supplies. Has anyone tried making a body out of peacock herl instead? (Without any flashabou until I tie in the wingcasing.) Or, am I just defeating too much of the attraction of the fly by replacing the body with peacock herl? I thought it might be an interesting wrinkle to the fly. Thoughts, opinions, judgements are welcome. Wdy

I think the tube is actually PVC, not 100% sure. I was just glad it was not an Aluminum rod one that would roll around, or when hit make that clinking sound my Orvis tube from the 90's does. Something different.

Thank you. It has a bunch of amenities I really like! Aligning dots on ferules & reel seat, square rod tube with sock, and canvas cover, plus backbone for days. My technique will have to improve to maximize the casting of this rod so, I like the fact I feel I can grow into this rod.

Well, I stopped off at a fly shop heading to my alumna mater this weekend and ended up walking out with an Echo Boost 3S (9'-8 weight). It's a little heavier then I guess I wanted, but it is a cannon.. The only thing holding me back using this rod to it's full potential is my casting. I think I can throw a size 2/0 kitchen sink fly on it.

Very detailed work! Very nice job. (I'll be in contact soon.)

hello everyone, I am wanting to get an 8 weight rod and considering either a Recon, or the Pro 4x Loomis. Any experience with either or both is much appreciated! I cast the Recon a couple of days ago and LOVED it, but would like to put my hands on a Pro 4x before I decide. Application will primarily be smallmouth with light saltwater duties. (I have read the new 2016 8 weight rod shootout by Yelllowstone Anglers, with a bit of salt.) Thanks, Wdy

I always thought the head attracted the fish. Personally, I didn't really think about the automatic "fake," given to the fish. I like the discussion and will acquire some black heads to mimic the caddis better. Thanks!

Hey guys, I am worried this bead head is too big for this size 14 caddis. It is a 1/8' Orvis bead, any opinions?

Good job! Well done!

Yes, I agree with your rule of thumb, skipping by 2's. My wife's rod was such a good deal and I thought a 5 weight would be a good addition. My 4-weight is an old Orvis HLS one-ounce rod. While, I love the rod, it does not have as much backbone of fish handling power as say a normal 4 weight, or throw bigger flies. Thanks for the input everyone!

Yeah, I have an old Rocky Mountain 8' 6-weight 2 piece, yeah, 2 piece. Ironically enough its weight (2-7/8oz.) is lighter then most 6 weights out today (I guess the extra ferruls add more weight), and I got this thing back in 1993 (when I was still in High School). My 6 weight does not throw the clawdads too well. I had major surgery back in April and for the first couple of months I sat around playing Xbox, and napping and throwing up. But, then I found my old fly tying kit and started tying these bigger smallmouth/bass flies. You are right, my 6 can throw it, but not too well, and I dare not throw a size 2 clawdad in the wind with that.

Guys, thanks for the inputs. To clarify more points more, I think $200 is about what I want to go for a reel. I would like a sealed disc-drag, a lighter reel that is bullet proof. I know most of the smallies I hook will not pull drag, plus using 2X leaders and higher sizes will allow me to lean on fish some more vs trout and a 5X leader. (I have a 4,5 (my wifes), and 6 weight rod to at least get frustrated with if I break a trout off using lighter tippets.) I have held the BVK and Mangrove. Personally, I liked the Mangrove a little better, but I have also read the Yellowstone Angler's 8-weight rod shootout article many times. That's where I read about the Mystic, plus a friend mentioned that to me. The real problem I see with that article, is the limits they used to critique rods as well as application is not the same as what I see I need. So, trying to pull out information towards my application is a little cumbersome. I will probably never need to cast over 60' on the James chasing smallies. So, when they start talking about 100' casts, that's "cool factor," points, but I doubt I will be able to really set the hook that well on a fish at that distance for example. Thanks again for your time responding everyone, Wdy

Hey everyone, I am looking to acquire an 8 weight set-up for larger trout, but mainly smallmouth fishing. I live in Central VA and with the James River here and not that many rivers in the mountains that require a heavier rod for trout I am trying to set up for wade smallmouth fishing. I am looking for rod and possibly real recommendations. I am pretty sure I a going with a Taylor Array reel, but the rods I am not sure about. I am looking at either a Mystic Reaper, TFO BVK, or G-Loomis Pro 4X. Any recommendations, or advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading this post, Wdy

Gees! I would chomp that if I was a fish! Thank you!!

Great thread, thank you for posting. But, if I want to tie my own leaders now, should I use this "Stren Hi-Vis," mono in decreasing thickenesses (say 2 steps of say 0.002" leader) to a tippet ring, then mono to my fly? This interests me a lot, thank you for the feedback fellows, Wdy

Well, I ended up getting a TFO fly rod, for my wife. It's a Finesse 5 weight, 8'-9" 10th Anniversary. Only 200 were made and at the price I got it at I could not resist ($150), normally $300. I have not used it yet, but excited to, I mean my wife is excited too. (It even came with a rod sock.) I also cast my buddies Allen Compass 4 weight. I thought it was a little heavier then it should be, but I could really throw the line with that rod,, very nice rod! So, I think either rod I ended up going with I am going to like for the 8 weight.

Thanks everyone for the feed back. I went out yesterday with my OLD Orvis Rocky Mountain 6 weight to throw some size 4 weight flies. Yeah, that was a bust, my rod just did not have the backbone. So, I am definitely looking to an 8 weight now.

Has anyone had experience with Taylor Reels? I stumbled across them today and got curious. I am thinking either the Array, Allen Kraken 3, or if santa is good to me, a Galvan T-8. (8 weight class reels.) Thank you, Wdy

Any breakages of the BVK's? I read the Yellowstone 8 weight shootout, and yes it gives us hope that a lot of money is not necessary for a good fly rod. But, also read about BVK's breaking. Thank you, Wdy

Really? I held both rods at the same time a couple of days ago and they about felt the same weight. Personally, I like the smaller diameter handle on the Mangrove better, Easier ergonomics for me.

Rocco, Yep, it seems to be! I have my eye on the red one, plus with Allen's "Allen Bucks," promo, those reels are definitely worth the cost! Wdy

Hey everyone, I am looking for opinions, or reviews if you have used booth rods. I am trying to put together a smallmouth 8 weight rod/reel. The reel is going to be a Allen Kraken 3, but the rod I am still deciding between the TFO Mangrove, or Allen Volant 8 weight. I have handled a TFO Mangrove in Bass Pro, but not cast it yet, nor have I held or cast an Allen rod. Any opinions or stories of using these would greatly be appreciated. Thank you, Wdy

Well, the reason I say it failed is I followed a Youtube video and my creation was no where near what turned out in the video. The result with my epoxy is my fly had a tacky, slighty milky white film on it, and well just not clear finish on my popper that was in the video. The video used the same white body popper, and sharpie combo so, there is little difficulty in following that. I applied the epoxy about 2 weeks ago to the fly, and it is still tacky so......The nail polish on an another fly did cause a little color to run, which was small enough I could live with. That one is still drying so, I do not have a final verdict on that. I will get a couple pictures taken of the poppers and post them in this thread. Thank you for your time on this helping me,

Hello everyone, I had a question or two about epoxy on poppers. I'm using the generic white Styrofoam popper heads and using sharpies to color on the Styrofoam, then living eyes and trying to seal them with epoxy. Well, everything has gone great right up to the epoxy. I got some 5 minute epoxy from my local tackle store. I applied it on after mixing it up. Meaning, I bought two clear syringe like containers joined together, push them both out to each parts, mix together and Shazam! But, that has not worked out. I mixed both solutions up then put in on my popper. Yeah, that did not work out too well. Later, after I applied the epoxy mix, I noticed the mixture was getting warmer and warmer. Did I apply the solutions too early? Also, my wife suggested I try clear nail polish, did work either and I think I lost some man points going through the check out line with it. So, I am looking for a specific epoxy solution that will work. Again, I am using white popper heads, sharpies for color and living eyes and trying to seal them up. Thanks for you time and help on this for me, Wdy