Mark Knapp

It's OK, I got a couple of gray hairs, and had a stroke and I died once. Seems like people call you an old fart more often when those things happen.

I think I know who you are talking about. Who you calling an old fart?😁

Thanks for for writing in. I'm going through all the same stuff. Besides the fly tying, I've started programing my CNC mill. For me it's one of the most challenging things for me to do, academic wise because accuracy is paramount. Because of the stroke, I haven't programmed in six months. The stroke has affected my memory some but I think programming is all coming back to me. Next, engraving. All of this is good occupational therapy. I've also been fishing about 25 days and that's going OK too. I still have the balance thing to work out. It's getting better a little at a time. Nice to talk to you.

It's been coming and going for me on a day to day (even hour to hour) basis. So far the administrator nor the owner has been able to fix it. For just a little while I thought this new version of the site fixed that but then it came back. You are right, Norm, we don't have enough power to fix it as Moderators.

Thanks bud.

The problem would be the momentum in the hammer. The only thing that would work would be a break on the ram that would fire when the power was killed. I think I'll get there, it's only a balance problem.

Thanks everybody. I'm still not supposed to run machinery like power hammers to make knives. Something like if I keep falling over I can't be trusted to run equipment. Big deal, I've fallen over a few times. It is nice to be at the vise again. Thanks again Mark

Thanks everybody, I did a few more. A nicer Royal Coachman. Again, the real Mydas Fly My imitation of the Mydas Fly Thanks again everybody, good tying to you.

On many of the creeks and rivers I float, grayling seem to bight on one thing, and one thing only at certain times of the year . Royal Coachman. Now why would that be, Royal Coachman are known to be attractor patterns and grayling are generally known to be cooperative participants. The first fly since my stroke and subsequent death from cardiac arrest. Apparently the thirteen people in the room did a good job of bringing me back in time because I don't think I'm any stupider than I was. I was worried about my hand/eye coordination. I have been working on it and it seems to be coming back. Next I'll try engraving again, that may be the real test. Now back to the story, After the interest of the grayling for Royal Coachman I started looking at bugs again and looking in Grayling stomachs. In both, I found a propensity of these. Mydas flies. Mydas flies can get very big, in fact, some sub-species can get to be the biggest flies in the world, but in my streams they only get to be about 3/4 of an inch long. I could tie a fly that matches the Mydas fly closer. Maybe with black wings and a black tail and probably an orange band. It seems like that would be fun to do. For now the Royal Coachman works really well and, it's a classic. I'm tying them in sizes 10, 12 and 14. My best to all, have fun, be safe and catch fish.

NO

How come the old mods can't delete? Sheesh, we're not dead, just old. 😁 You got it made man, time with your' daughter. Can't beat that. But on the serious side, isn't 2023 this summer? I'm with Norm, a little too late to be asking. Those places are all filled up, up here, and elsewhere I'd think. Sorry to be a bummer.

Very cool. Nice paint too.

I fish for the experience of being there, I think most of us do. With that in mind and since you had a great experience, I would say you did not get skunked. If all you had intended to do was bring home some fish, you could have gone to the market. I wish for you, many more happy days like that.

Wow, nice water, nice fish, nice flies. You got it all, man. I especially got a kick out of the wildlife sanctuary.

Glad both of you got out. Sounds like fun.

A couple of days we filled coolers with a fly rod. Halibut, ling cod and rock fish. A couple of others days we had to fish conventional. We filled seven coolers of frozen, vacuum packed fillets for three people (at Sitka). Didn't see a moose we wanted to shoot, saw 11. We got one deer, and I got a Canada goose at Sitka.

Glad to hear you are well.

Hope you are doing OK

Thank guys.

I just wanted to say that this site works really well now. Kudos to all that have had a hand in it, and thank you.

The doctors are still doing tests to see what course to take. I will keep you guys posted. Instead of surgery in Sept I went fishing and moose hunting with the help of friends and a walking stick. Thanks for asking, Mark

I'm happy to do what I can. congrats to you and Mike and enjoy a little more time off. Thanks for all you two do and have done. Welcome to Norm. The new version of the site seems to work very well. Thanks everybody.

Welcome aboard Norm, glad to have you.

Very nice as usual, my friend.

Very nice Mr.