Kingfisher

... and the other one...

One of the boxes filled...

The foam I used is made by Frost King; I recall it being around $4 a roll. The box is from US Plastics and cost me a couple of bucks. Set up with the 4 foam strips as shown in the photos, I can easily fit 40-50 saltwater/warmwater baitfish patterns of various sizes and descriptions in. I'm going to do something similar with my smaller boxes for terrestrials and nymphs. Other benefits for this design is that the box is clear so the contents can be viewed while closed, and I have drilled vent holes in the bottom of the boxes to allow moisture to escape.

I ran across these boxes while doing a search today. From appearances, it looks like the foam is the same material used for insulation of doorways, garages, and the like. It's a foam-rubber stripping that's got adhesive along one side so it can be laid down along the crack, it comes in rolls, and can be purchased at Lowe's (and other places, I'm sure) in various thicknesses. I purchased some for an aquarium set up I did recently and think I'll use it in one of my large boxes for holding streamers. I'll post pics when I'm finished.

Re: jungle cock, I picked up a grade C skin yesterday from English Angling Trappings for $35, and it was in great shape. I would agree with Jack - fly boxes are pricey, so I buy the ones with open compartments; they're inexpensive and useful forever, as opposed to foam insert boxes. Silk thread is one thing I can't bring myself to buy.

CBS - In a swap, all participants tie the agreed-upon style of fly (in this case, a nymph). The pattern you tie is up to you; the only rule is that all the flies are the same pattern and size (i.e. all size 12 GRHE, for example). Feel free to tie a recognized pattern or something of your own creation. It would be helpful if all participants chimed in with the pattern they intend to tie so we don't get a lot of redundancy. When you have completed your flies, you will send them to the meister, in this case me, since you're in Canada. When I have received all of the participants' flies from North America (and the flies from Europe), I will distribute them to the North American participants, so each person will get one fly from the rest of the participants. For this swap, the number of flies required from each participant (except moskito and myself) will be 14. I'll be tying a variation of Whitlock's Red Fox Squirrel Nymph, size to be determined.

The only weekend I have available in December is that of the 4th and 5th; will this work with anyone's schedules?

First fish on a fly rod was a nice male bluegill on a small red cork popper, cast on my K-Mart special South Bend fiberglass fly rod with South Bend automatic reel and silk line (the reel and line were a trade from my best friend's dad for a Poe's crankbait).

I ordered this a couple of years ago; received about 10 pieces, all different colors, but the quality of the pieces was quite varied, i.e. the usefullness of the entire piece varied. A couple of them were downright crap, but on most of them about 75-90% of the hair was straight enough for some use or another. I thought it was a pretty good deal.

Just got in from the show; very cool. Saw Welshtyer there and spoke with him for quite a while. He was kind enough to show me the steps to tying one of the lake patterns they fish on the other side of the pond, and then gave me one of his flies. Looked like a pretty good turn out at the show, lots of people and good deals at the shops that were in attendance. I picked up some good saddles at one shop, then went over to English Angling Trappings and (as usual) was in awe of their selection. I wound up getting a bunch of neat materials, including a jungle cock cape in great condition for $35. Also picked up Steve Thornton's book, Listen to the River; incredible patterns that are reported to be relatively simple to tie (we'll just see about that ). My wife's uncle met me there, picked up a slew of great materials and one of those goose-neck lamp/magnifying lens/fly tying stations for $100. I got a couple of books autographed, as well. I'm sure there were others on the forum in attendance, but the only one I was Welshtyer. A most worthwhile event to attend!

Bump - See you all there! Look for me in that lacrosse hat with a slate-blue Bean polar fleece. If you want a visual, look at my avatar... see the hat?

I was already planning on letting a couple of my subscriptions to fly fishing mags run out this year without renewing; I'll donate an equal amount of money to the forum to take the place of the renewal cost of those mags. Makes perfect sense and stays "within the budget".

QUOTE (Sean Juan @ Nov 18 2004, 04:13 PM) Use a streamer... Hear hear!

I can't wait to see your fly for the featherwing streamer swap!!!

Jason - You ought to consider putting a book together.

I thought "loyal subjects" was funnier.

Craneflies, I think.

Tidbit - That material you're using on the nymphs is the same stuff I'm using, and I, too, am using curved nymph hooks (TMC 200 and Mustad C53S), having also recognized the fact that most of the nymphs found in the stream have some curvature to them.

Welcome!

Streamers of all sorts will dominate my Winter tying. The other area I want to work on is nymphs. I picked up some of that bug wrap from Fly Tyer's Dungeon and tied my first nymph with it yesterday; really cool!

Welcome to the forum! How long of a commute is it everyday to drive up to Pitt?

Are we in agreement that we'll by tying nymphs? To offset postage costs from the US to Europe, and vice versa, for Andy and I, how about each participant submit 14 flies, one extra for each of the two meisters? That is, if everyone can agree on this. The date sounds good.

moskito, that look like something out of Steve Thornton's book. We would call that pattern a "scud" over here, for the most part. It's a small freshwater crustacean that inhabits lakes, ponds, and streams with ample aquatic vegetation. Typically, we don't designate a size ahead of time, although if everyone was agreeable I suppose it would be an option.

Mine should be there today or tomorrow.

I would say... partners in crime fellow men afflicted with the same sickness fly tying support group