rstaight

The length of the hair is an indicator of when it was harvested. Short hair was probably taken early to late fall. Longer hair mid winter to early spring.

Granted, multiple brands are manufactured by a few manufacturers. But they may be made to the "customers" standards regarding size, shape, and quality. Not all dry fly, nymph, streamer and terrestrial hooks are alike. A size 10 Mustad nymph will not exactly match a size 10 Daiichi, close, but not exact. But that's OK by me, creates some variation and character in what we tie. If everything was the same life would be boring.

Some of the nicest Guinea I have was given to me by a gentleman in our flyfishing club. One afternoon he was on his way home from work and hit three of them that were in the middle of the road. He picked them up, brought them home, skinned them, dried the pelts and gace it all away except for one which he kept.

Don't quote me but I think the gentleman that told me about this fly said there is a new(er) line on the market that is pinkish in color. You could also use the Cajun line that is red or one of the olive color lines.

Was told about this shrimp fly at Fly Fishing show yesterday. Had to check it out, awesome. Here's the link; http://saltyshores.com/wordpress/2014/07/21/video/how-to-tie-the-mahler-single-strand-mono-shrimp-fly-video/

I was at the Boat, Sport, and Travel Show in Indianapolis yesterday. They took over the Fly Fishing show this year, we will see how it works out. There was a company there called Riverwood Designs. They had a travel box that was about the size of a large brief case. It looked well thought out. Here's the link; http://www.riverwooddesign.net/products.html

Thought I would set down at the vise over the weekend. Nothing in particular in mind. Ended up with a Blacknose Dace on the right. The one on the left I came up with for Skipjack. The wing material is from hair extensions I picked up at a local beauty supply store when the wife went in to pick up some conditioner.

Awesome. I now have a new benchmark. Just awesome.

Nice.

After 20 years of marriage.... image.jpeg I told my nephew at his wedding there are 2 rules for a happy marriage. Rule #1 - She is always wright. Rule #2 - On occasion she is wrong, refer back to Rule #1

One thing to remember, when you were fishing for trout if you tried to set the hook to soon and missed you would likely put that fish in hiding for awhile. With bass, largemouth and smallmouth throw it back at them. You probably made him mad and he will try even harder.

There is one problem with a bunny strip fly. When they get wet it's like casting a wet sock. But they do work great.

Those are really nice btw... The left one is exactly like the bass leech I tie, but I just tie the tail a bit longer and a different color. Weighted and everything. You do some nice work! Thanks, the complement is greatly appreciated.

Nice video. Bunny streamers are always effective. I tie something similar except I use cross cut for the body, I think it's easier to work with. The one on the left I purposely tied down some of the hair to get it a little more streamlined in saltwater. I have caught cobia on that pattern. The one on the right I use for smallmouth in the creeks and rivers around home.

Do a search for bass tournaments using inflatables. I have seen some wicked mods. Mounts for depth finders, lazy susans converted to rod racks. Awesome.

I use an old pen. Get a stick pen, remove the point and ink tube and there ya go.

I don't mind the beard. I have one myself, had it for years. Shaved it off one time in 35 years. The wife didn't care for it, said it made my face look to hard, what ever the means. I keep my short because of my job. I have told the wife when I retire I am going to look like I belong in the band ZZ Top. Why do I have beard, hides a lot of ugly.

I have an inflatable pontoon from Creek Company. It's an in-expensive, entry level. The seat didn't swivel but I was able to add a swivel boat seat. The anchor mount also doubles as a motor mount for an electric motor. Only had a motor on it once, was indifferent about it. It does nicely on ponds and in the creeks and rivers around us. If you take it on a float trip with a group you will spend most of your time trying to keep up. Just not as fast as a canoe or kayak. So I have been looking at kayaks for a while. Based on the expierence of individuals in our club I am leaning towards a sit on. We had one gentleman just getting into flyfishing purchase a sit in. One day he got caught up in a down fall and almost didn't get out of it. He sold everything he had related to flyfishing. Scared him that bad. We have another gentleman start with a float tube and move to a sit on. He can be a klutz and as fallen off of it on three occasions. At least when you fall off you can get away.

I used to run the fly tying nights for our local fly fishing club. One night I thought it would be fun to do what I called "round robin" flies. One person would start the thread on a hook, what ever color thread and hook they wanted. They then passed the vise with the thread attached to the next person. They would add one material and pass the vise to the next person. They would add something else and pass it on. This went on till we had a completed fly. We tied 4 or 5 flies that night. Damn they were uuuugly. Be it was different and everyone had fun. Now I would bet they were original.

For blugill I mostly use the same flies I use for trout. Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Partridge and Orange and Gold Ribbed Hairs Ear. Sizes 14 to 16. I also use a Pan Fish Charlie, size 10. You may also give a Bully Spider a look. I have never fished it but one of my fishing buddies has fished them on some private ponds and says they do exceptionally well.

My apologizes for the pic quality. This was a quick setup taken with my phone. All 6 I use from time to time. Though the Griffin Mongoose is the only one that is more than $100, they all serve the purpose. By the way, don't tell the wife. She only knows of 3. She bought the Mongoose for a Christmas present about 5 years ago.

I have always wanted a HMH to tie my dries on. Maybe one of these days.

My first fly rod years ago was a Kmart fiberglass combo. Set for years collecting dust till some guys I was working with got into flyfishing and I found someone to teach me to cast. My next rod was a Cabela's Genesis 6wt combo. They no longer offer it but it has served me well over the years. And I have landed carp on it.

You can find all sorts of baskets, hangers, and doodads at many of the discount stores and home improvement centers. I have even looked at industrial catalogs for storage and material handling. I made a comment one time I needed to do something about hackles. My son was working at Target at the time and they were tearing down a furniture display. He brought home a lingerie chest. I have all my capes, saddles, packages of feathers, and bird pelts in it. Works great and has for a good while. But like anything else I am running out of room, again. Nice idea you came up with. It works well for you. But if organizing our "addiction", works for some of you as it has for me, I run out of space every couple of years. It's amazing how materials grow. Has a side note; Neat idea for the popsicle mold. Myself I use a Mug Boss. Made by the same folks who make the Bucket Boss. Instead fitting over a 5 gallon bucket it fits on a coffee mug. Keeps my tools handy and organized. When I go to tie at a friends house or at the fly shop just grab the mug. Also serves as a small trash can when tying. Here is the link http://www.bucketboss.com/accessories.html

Put a slight bend in the shank and they may do well for a small Chernobyl Ant. With it being a streamer hook it may set lower it to the surface film, but sometimes that seams to work for me.