Mark Knapp

I just got back from my first trip of the season to the salt water near Sitka. We were there for eight days and worked on the boat for the first one, worked on the cabin for the second one. The boat needed new batteries and a few other things. The cabin just needed opening up for the summer, normal maintenance stuff. On the third day we got to fish but it was so rough, cold and windy we only stayed out for a half hour. My buddy was changing out a reel in the V-berth and he got sea sick, he never does that. I was conventional fishing because fly fishing wasn't going to work with the conditions. I told Rick I wasn't having much fun anyway and since he was sick we went in. The first day, I caught these in a half hour. The second day was still kind of rough but at least it wasn't windy. We were able to keep the flies down so we managed a reasonable catch on fly gear. The second day, these on fly gear. All black rockfish and one ling. Third day, all black rocks, on flies. One of the black rocks and the fly he bit. On the forth day, we moved to halibut country. While Rick was catching these two 75 pounders on conventional gear, I was fly fish and caught nothing. I did get a video of this guy chasing my fly around though. He never did get it. He's at eighty feet in this snapshot. One of my flies in it's natural habitat. Some black rocks swimming with my fly. This fly is intended for Ling Cod and Halibut. The rockfish just swim with it. An Argus Herring, one of my patterns with Argus pheasant eyes, and died mountain goat fibers. An EP herring. It worked well but needed to be combed out once in a while. Here's a variety of rock fish we've never seen before. With enough fish in the coolers we both fly fished for halibut the last two days of the trip and on the fifth day I hooked into one of the biggest halibut I have ever had on the line, conventional or fly. It would have been the new world record halibut on a fly, the record being 138 pounds. Last year we caught a 92 pounder on a fly and this one was twice the size of that one. He hit and started to run. I slowed him down twice and started to gain line back and then he went on his forth run. He had me 400 yards into my backing and just about spooled so I tightened up on my drag a little, then just a little more. Then, my thumb hit the winding knob on the reel and the leader popped. A twenty pound leader is the largest allowable by the IGFA. I had had him on for almost ten minutes. That was about the most fun I ever had. I learned a lot about fly fishing for halibut and will do better next time. The rest of the day and the next were pretty much uneventful, boating only smaller fish. We came home with 85 pounds of halibut and thirty five pounds of rockfish, all vacuum packed and frozen. A great first trip to be sure.

Good for you my friend. Happy for you.

Like these. https://www.google.com/search?q=laser+engraved+fly+boxes&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwilvp-o_uHwAhXlPn0KHWteDZsQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1920&bih=966

I've seen some real nice laser-engraved wooden ones.

Fairbanks is, and has been completely mask free for some time (except if you want to go to Walmart). Out of town visitors that come into our store are told "Masks are optional" when they come in and sooner than you can say "Baby, smell my breath" the mask comes off and a smile goes on the face.

Nice Buddy.

I don't know. They don't seem to have a line-class or fly fishing category for them. I may set a new record for my OPB for fly fishing fun. The guide I'm going with has been guiding fly-fishers there for forty years but not for shell-crackers. No one wants to fish them that way. (Me do)

Very nice Norm (as always)

I would put them in a nice but inexpensive (or expensive if you like) fly box

Thanks Barry. I'm trying to keep from making it another job. What I'm going to do is make two of each version. This one's going to be a Dyna-King Barracuda style trout vise with midge jaws. I'll make one for charity and sell the other one to support this endeavor. I'm planning on making at least four pairs, one pair will be a LAW type vise.

No, I like work too. I can't say I'd rather work than fish though. I think there will come a time I can't fish any more, maybe then I'll catch up on some of my work.

That was wonderful. Thanks. I say to h*ll with that work ethic. I'm leaving on a ten day trip tomorrow, one of eight this summer. Not trying to brag. (maybe just a little) My wife and I worked really hard to build up our business, now it's time to reap the rewards. I Just got my free, forever, hunting, fishing, and trapping license and I'm going to wear it out before I die. My wife is going to feel like a widow and I don't even feel guilty about it. (Well, maybe just a little.)

Wait just a dog-gone minute there Poop, I saw your last deerhair-dragon tail popper and it looked like righteous bass tucker to me. Don't you try to buffler me.😁But thanks, I appreciate it. The pike season will have to wait a minute. My boat's still in the shop and I'm leaving on a ten day trip to the salt on Wed. I'll try to drown that duck when I get back. Really, thanks bud.

😊

And I'm more excited about that than anything else right now.

Nice. It looks like you were rassling in the mud with him.

It's duck season. No it's pike season. This full size duckling is tied on an 11/0 Hook with deer belly hair and felt feet and bill. It only took me three hours to tie it but I'd love to catch a huge pike on it.

I really appreciate seeing the whole bug. Those are very nice. If you get another chance could you do one with the tails? I'd love to see that. I'd use it for the wall paper on my 'puter.

Yep, it's starting to sound better all the time. I'm going to get a guided trip for this one so all i have to do is fish.

I have a strange, overwhelming urge to visit Lake Havasu next time I'm in Arizona for the Tucson gem and mineral show. Those big guys would be a kick on a fly rod. Anybody know the best time to fish for those big redears in Havasu? I did a search but it turned out pretty ambiguous. I might have to call someone.

That's all Latin to me, just like the bugs name. I'll leave all that fancy stuff to you guys. If I try to put some of that stuff in my brain, I'm sure something else will fall out the other side. I'm glad you like it though, that way we get to see cool pictures.

I don't have a problem with him keeping it. I just think it's ridiculous to hold them way out in front. You're not fooling anyone. It makes the picture incredible as in "Not Credible". Isn't it like a guy who wears a cod-piece. 😊(Get it, cod-piece? Now that's a good pun, I don't care who you are.) PS, you aren't wrong. (not this time, anyway) It's your opinion and opinions, by definition, can't be wrong.

Nice bug, do you have an un-cropped version? I'd love to see it with the leg and wing tips. What a neat bug.

Yep, I try to be polite but it really irks me.

I don't know why those guys always have to hold there arms way out. Seems like you wouldn't need to do that on a new world record. Anyway, nice fish. https://www.facebook.com/100057652591957/posts/212304537367965/