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Posts posted by DFoster
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18 hours ago, SilverCreek said:What is valuable to me are warnings with practical SOLUTIONS. It does me no good to tell me that fossil fuels causes global warming when the weather prediction is temps below aero and the choice is between using my furnace or freezing to death!
Really well stated Silver. I try to live in reality and right now humanity does not have a viable and cost effective replacement for fossil fuel. Saving the planet will matter little to people who can't afford to eat or stay warm as a result of an economic collapse.
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I really look forward to this show every year. It's held within a stones throw of my office and It's always a nice to cut out early on a Friday to attend. I had a list of hard to find materials and a pocket full of cash ready to go for today but NOPE. I will be in California on the reschedule dates, so this will be the 2nd year in a row that this @#$% virus has ruined a simple mid winter pleasure. 😠
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16 hours ago, Moshup said:Like many of you who have posted I’m pretty set with my hackle inv but I still may lust over
a particular variant but at the current prices I need get get ahold of that vice. I have many chicken
coops in my neighborhood so I might take to making a midnight raid or two and blame it on
the fox.
b
Beautiful photo Moshup- I'm also pretty well set with hackle and at the rate I tie a full cape will probably last my lifetime. I'm glad I bought when I did given what they are selling for this year. Dry fly mini packs that sold for $14 at Cabela's a year ago are now $19. That's a pretty serious jump in just 12 months.
My brother in law lives 500' behind me and has chickens. While walking my dog I see Fox and Coyotes pretty regularly looking for an easy meal- 😲 He has at least 2 that I've asked to "pluck" assuming they avoid becoming four legged food.
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17 hours ago, flytire said:she probably wont be able to afford the air conditioning bill either. probably didnt think that through
$3.39 for gas today and thats coming down in price 👍
if you want to play you gotta pay. i have enough hackle to last another 40 years of tying. gotta use up the stock from the 1980s
Even in the south AC is a luxury but in the North you can't live without heat. The weather guessers are saying single digits over the next few days.
Yes our fuel cost have dropped a little recently but it's still $1.13 more than a year ago and most economic forecast are predicting $4+ per gallon for gasoline by spring.
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The cost of fuel both for vehicles and heat in my area has doubled in the last year. A lady in my office who is a pretty radical environmentalist is talking about moving south because she can't afford to heat her home this year. I guess saving the planet isn't as appealing when your kids are shivering?
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Magnificent work George! Looks like the modified TRV is working well for you-
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5 hours ago, skeet3t said:I don't watch the leader, as you say, it is submerged. I watch the end of the floating line. A lot of the time, the trout on the tailwater where I fish set the hook themselves. When the line twitches, fish on! What is really fun is when the line twitches, goes tight and your rod bends! A bummer is when you find a twig with leaves on it!
As for your last sentence, I'm on your side.
One of the best parts of fly fishing is that there are so many techniques possible and I'm happy for any one who is able to enjoy themselves for a few hours out on the water. The important part is to get out there and figure out what type of fishing you enjoy.
4 hours ago, niveker said:Sometimes all I really need is to be standing waist deep in water waiving a stick, to paraphrase that author guy.
I'm quite certain my euro nymphing friends on the Swift would describe my style as "standing waist deep in water and waiving a stick" LOL and I'm fine with that. They do out fish me most days. I'm usually on the Swift for the brookies anyway and pass up the best Bow water which as you know is always crowded with "high Stickers". I've had more than one ask me if I was lost while fishing in the shallow fast stuff. "Nope" I say, I'm just happily casting a size 10 Royal Coachman winged wet with a #12 Silver Invicta dropper. Yes that's correct I'm actually trying to catch another one of God's 5" masterworks". I don't dare tell them I had to drive an hour to get there because then they would really think I was nuts.😜
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11 hours ago, Shmang said:Strike indicators will change your success rate in my humble opinion.
I agree but there are advantages to not using one depending on the type of water. I use indicators when fishing fast broken water because it's just not possible to see my leader. I also use them when fishing in deep holes because most of my leader will usually be submerged and again I can't see it. However on clear shallow streams (waist deep or less) I prefer to float 60% of my leader and use that as my indicator. We're talking short range here, no more than 2 rod lengths of fly ling on the water so say 20' - 30' at most.
One advantage is that the presentation lands a lot softer than with an indicator, therefore less likely to spook the really spooky small stream residents. Second, every time you miss a strike or just lift to cast the indicator will create a surface disturbance. A leader and fly(s) lifts with minimal disturbance so strikes cost you nothing and when fishing this style you should be striking at every twitch of the leader. Also indicators, even yarn add weight and more importantly air resistance which for me anyway takes some time to get used to and that effects my casting accuracy. The type of fishing I'm generally doing is on small streams with lots of overhangs and obstructions just waiting for a slightly off target cast. I've ruined a lot of promising spots by wading through them to retrieve my flies from the bushes.
Lastly and speaking only for myself the success rate isn't my main focus when I'm out there. Obviously l like to catch fish and I do catch enough to be satisfied but If it was all about quantity I would turn to euro nymphing. The trouble with euro nymphing for me is that I find it a really boring way to fly fish. There's a certain Zen quality that I like that comes from casting, mending and getting a good drift. I just really enjoy the traditional old school style of fly fishing I guess.
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On 1/4/2022 at 3:41 PM, skeet3t said:14 hours ago, skeet3t said:Update: HL had the light but light and very small bottle of resin would be a bit over $20. Will do without and find something else.
Skeet are you looking to get into using UV resin or did I misunderstand? If so you can get a UV light at Cabela's, their brand for $10 and a bottle of Loon resin is $15.
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On 1/10/2022 at 7:52 AM, flytire said:a little to late but i definately wont be needing it after my morning trip to the post office
it wont work on my renzetti traveler
You can get an awful lot of tying materials for the cost of a TRV!
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12 hours ago, Jacks Grampa said:Thank you Bozeman Fly Supply. "Feed your vise". Go Bobcats.
Beautiful vise!
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5 hours ago, upnorthtier said:I have no idea if the hydrants work in this cold, I do get water threw the faucet, I would have to think the hydrants work, must be on some sort of recirculating system and maybe some heat trace.
Yep don't need to deal with snakes or gators here, I never seen a gator live in my life.
What we do have are bears, and lots of them. I usually pack a 12 gauge when salmon fishing, never had to use it. What's even worst than bears here are mosquitos.
The funny thing about mosquitoes is they get worse the farther North you go- My son in law spent 2 weeks fishing in Alaska and told me a mosquito net over his hat was a must.
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5 hours ago, niveker said:Hydrants work on the same principal as an frost free outside faucet, only vertically instead of horizontally: supply lines are buried below the frost line, with a dry chamber running up to the hydrant.
Good to know-
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On 1/6/2022 at 5:45 PM, upnorthtier said:Its been in the minus 40 for the last few days here, today it got to a bombing -46c or -51f with wind chill it was -52c or -62f (almost tshirt weather haha). I took a pic around noon, what you see is ice fog not snow, about 500 feet visibility. The tires on the vehicle where square, made for a bouncy ride till they warmed up. What would I give to be in Florida right now.
Well on the bright side, poisonous snakes and gators are probably not a real big concern for you while your fishing. The forecast high tomorrow here in Massachusetts is 6F to 11F. Tee shirt weather for a Yukon resident -
I see the fire hydrant and I have to ask at those temps would liquid water actually come out of that thing if needed?
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On 1/4/2022 at 3:41 PM, skeet3t said:DFoster, I don't use an indicator now, just watch the line. One technique I use is to cast downstream, stop the rod at 12 o'clock and let the fly and line float with the current by lowering the rod tip. As for catching more fish by one technique or another is subject to a lot of variables. I have fished for about 68 years and found what works one day does't work the next day. Consider bass anglers who fish different lures and techniques.
Checked at Hobby Lobby and will be getting UV resin and light later this week. Out of the light right now.
Agreed Skeet- I'm not sure what name the pros call the down stream cast your describing but I use it often. I'm sure you know that you can also pull the rod tip back to 2 O'clock on the forward cast down stream (aerial mend) and then let your line dead drift up to the point of drag. One of the best trout rivers I fish is very heavily pressured especially since covid hit. Because there are usually other anglers nearby being able to dead drift upstream or downstream is a must.
It can be sadistic and maddening how the technique that hooked a dozen fish yesterday may not work at all today. Trying to solve the puzzle is the allure and magic of fishing.
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Welcome to the site- Out here in Massachusetts size 12 to 18 seems to be the sweet spot for nymphs as well as dries and soft hackles (targeting trout) and generally speaking that's probably true in most parts of the country. The size #12 PTN and Hare's ear are classics and according to Orvis " they will catch trout anywhere in the world".
There are enough variations of those two flies alone that if you tie four of a kind in size 12 I'm sure you could fill a couple large fly boxes. Check out youtube-
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Mark you designed and created this tool just to potentially help out somebody you've never met in person?
Only a really kind hearted person would do something like that - don't worry we won't tell anyone.
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On 1/5/2022 at 11:48 AM, SalarMan said:Let's just say I had a rather unexpected learning lesson at the end of 2021.
George I'm very sorry to learn that you are still struggling with the physical impairment. As a man of faith I will pray that you overcome your circumstances and can one day get to a river bank again. Thank you for your kind words, they are very humbling.
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1 hour ago, flytire said:my trv is a 2019 model and maybe the newer jaws are machined better
as i mentioned i have arthritis and trigger fingers in my right hand (less severe in my left) and that may be the problen in tightening the knob
i will try again tying with it but i wont use the grooves
i dont think i'll attend the marlborough show with this new covid variant spreading like wild fire
i tighten the cam lever renzetti traveler with my left hand and no slippage
There's nothing wrong with cam lock vises sir-
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54 minutes ago, flytire said:you may not use the grooves but i use the groove closest to the tip of the jaw for size 8 salmon fly hooks and i assure you they slip. maybe the shape of the hook bend plays a role in this. maybe not
maybe i have less than super human strength when tightening the knob than all others that use a trv vise.
maybe i'll dust it off and try without a hook in the groove
i'm sorry to differ in opinion and my experience differs from everybody else
in the groove
Norm something doesn't sound right- If the hook is in both the top and bottom grove is shouldn't be able to move even with the jaws only loosely tightened. Perhaps something is wrong with your vise? I don't know if your planning on going to Marlborough in 2 weeks but Jon and HMH usually have a booth. I'm sure he would take some time to diagnose your vise. The photo you posted looks correct so all I can think is that there is a defect somewhere. My vise does not require cranking on the knob to hold size 28-10 hooks, just finger tight and a quarter turn past that and It's good. Sizes 8 and larger require a good twist past finger tight if I'm not using the grooves. If the hook fits in the groves then finger tight will hold it.
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Really nice work there Steve! The RC world is something I know little about but I can appreciate the meticulous craftsmanship required.
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On 12/17/2021 at 2:44 PM, skeet3t said:Save your money re: the new rod. I have some old rods with stiff actions before actions were in vogue and have learned to be a "line watcher" for those nymph strikes. I fish long leaders and tippets. I fish downstream and watch the end of the floating line. Current helps keep the nymph or streamer up in the water column. When it twitches, set the hook. Some will use a bite indicator (bobber). Been fishing local tailwaters and streams around here since 1989. Takes practice which is a good excuse to fish more.
Skeet I couldn't agree more.
Dave on shallow streams I fish nymphs the same way I fish winged wet flies and soft hackles. For lack of a better term I call it the "English style" because I learned most of what I know from watching Oliver Edwards and Davy Wotton. It's the same technique they use when fishing winged wets or soft hackles up stream. Cast 2 - 3 rod lengths of line and dead drift. Instead of using an indicator grease your leader with Mucillin so that it floats and the tippet sinks. In effect becomes a 5'-7' "indicator".
Personally I enjoy fishing this style but on most days Euro Nymphing or High Stick Nymphing is probably going to catch more fish. For both euro nymphing and the English style strikes are free. Fishing without an indicator does have the advantage of not spooking the fish when you strike because your not ripping a bobber off the surface as you do if you suspend your nymphs under one. Also in areas where the fish are pressured they may become wary of indicators. Another advantage is you don't need to be as close to the fish as you do with euro nymphing and casting without an indicator at least for me is easier and more accurate. The disadvantage to the English style is that your nymphs are not suspended by either the rod tip or a bobber so they constantly sink through the water column though at times this can be a good thing. You will need to do a mental calculation as to when you need to recast before snagging the bottom and off course, subtle takes are much more difficult to detect.
The main point of the hobby is to enjoy our time on the water. When I started out and decided to try indicator nymphing it all went horribly wrong. It seemed like I was spending most of my water time untangling thingama bobbers from split shot, 2 flies and a thorn bush. So that is how I came to discover fly fishing without indicators. I still hate casting with split shot.
Hackle inflation !!!
in The Fly Tying Bench
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Tough times in America Mike, the cat now has to eat dog food and the dog is not one bit happy about that. 😦