DFoster

Organizing and arranging fly boxes is a never ending battle for me. My fishing is slowing as our weather cools so I've started working through my boxes in preparation for "fly tying" season. Which patterns to keep and which ones will meet the razor blade. I'm always trying new flies and some of them just don't produce for me on the rivers that I fish and I can't have them taking up valuable room in one of my boxes. Some times too many choices is a bad thing so- last year I scaled down and decided I would only carry 2 boxes for most days of fishing. Mainly (1) a large tacky for nymphs and (2) a 7" x 4" double sided for drys, soft hackles, winged wets and streamers. I have a 3rd large box for salmon streamers for use when the salmon are spawning on the Still Water. Finally a "scrap" box. This is for my less well tied flies or flies that are pretty beat up from combat- I don't use these for our wary trout but they still will catch the local blue gills, fall fish and perch just fine. There are some good videos on fly box organization on youtube that might help you out-

That's very kind- I wouldn't even need that much but a very small amount would be appreciated. I would just like to try and try to blend my own copy based from on a sample. When you get settled send me a PM and I will forward you and address.

CP you have been blessed to have known the love and loyalty of a true friend. Have pity for those who live their entire lives never knowing the wonderful joys of a good dog. I'm sorry for your loss-

It looks to be about a size 12. I know the Swift well and I know the Brook Trout there will gladly grab a large dry. Was it also effective on the Swift Rainbows and Browns?

I tied this one pretty faithfully to Jack's recipe (I added the black dot eye). GARTSIDE SOFT HACKLE HOOK: #8 3XL STREAMER THREAD: #140 WHITE UNDER BODY: THREAD TAIL: 3 STANDS OF PEARL FLASHABOU BODY: WHITE MARABOU TIP TIED AND PALMERED HACKLE: WOOD DUCK FLANK- NATURAL HEAD: THREAD S.H. HARD AS NAILS

Moshup - what does the stuff look like? I've only seen it used as a mild hot spot on a well used fly - to me it looked like a fine cream colored dubbing with some pink maybe red mixed in. Locally the land locks have moved up river and I've been tying some streamers lately. I hooked one last year on a streamer with a white marabou wing so I decided to tie some white Gartside soft hackles last night-

I ran across this short interview piece from Boston Public Television in 2004. I ran into a guy on the water last week who asked me if I had ever heard of Gartside. He told me he was still tying streamers from his remaining supply of jacks "secret" dubbing and said the stuff was magic.

Really nice work as always Scott-

GREEN BOTTLE – SOFT HACKLE HOOK: #12 1XL NYMPH THREAD: BLACK #70 UNDER BODY: GREEN FLOSS ABDOMEN/BODY: PEAL ICE BLUE MYLAR TINSEL HACKLE: NATURAL PARTIDGE UNDER HEN- BLACK COLLAR: PEACOCK HEARL -NATURAL HEAD: S.H. HARD AS NAILS

BLUE BOTTLE – SOFT HACKLE HOOK: #12 1XL NYMPH THREAD: BLACK #70 UNDER BODY: BLUE FLOSS ABDOMEN/BODY: PEAL ICE BLUE MYLAR TINSEL HACKLE: HEN- BLACK COLLAR: PEACOCK HEARL -NATURAL HEAD: S.H. HARD AS NAILS

I fish it all year. Brook trout have been rare this year. Besides the stocked Bows and browns there are some small wild trout and lots of 6" salmon par year round. Last year I hooked 2 large land locks but I'm still waiting to get a photo of one in my net. Maybe this will be the week?

Wow! That's the first time I've seem golden pheasant used as a hackle- that can't be easy to do?

In this case it's simply because the pattern I followed off pintrest had them set on the bottom of the shank. This year streamers were surprisingly effective against rainbows for me so I plan on tying some for trout this winter. These were tied for salmon- the land locks have come up into the Still Water River to spawn and the gnarly looking stuff seems to provoke them.

Beautiful work George!

Wow-that's impressive work George. Please give us a review of the TRV when you have had a chance to try it on one of these.

FAT BUGGER VARIANT HOOK: #8 3XL STREAMER THREAD: BLACK 210 TAIL: BLACK MARABOU BODY: GREEN CHENILLE HACKLE: BLACK SCHLAPPEN COLLAR: MULIT COLOR FLASHABOU HEAD: YELLOW DUMBELL EYES AND BLACK CADDIS DUBBING

Off topic- but what type of vise is that?

This is worth taking a look at- Derek is a small stream fly fisher and often fishes some remote areas with little chance of running into another person. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_YhflfaNbw

It's amazing what is out there these days if you have the cash.

There's never an ACE hardware around when you need one.

Beautiful Rainbows and scenery. I spend my autumns on the small streams here in New England chasing Brook Trout. Around here 9" is a trophy fish and on light tackle they are just plain fun. Some ask "why put so much time and effort into such a small fish"? Well....

I was a commercial pilot a lifetime ago (last flight was in 1993) and the value of a check list has never left me. I use a check list for almost every one of life endeavors as well as fishing. Simply following a list instead of having to focus on what I need to bring or in what order a series of complex task need to be performed saves valuable time and brain space for solving problems. Great points all! Let me add NEVER walk a trail without a fly tied on, leader through the guides and fly in the hook keeper. Many very expensive rod tips have been pulled off by branches when not secured by a leader and hook as you walk a trail with the rod facing behind you. A secured hook with the leader through the guides will prevent you from spending the day hunting for the 4th piece of your rod. Another simple thing I do is remove my key fob from my key ring and place it in the zip lock water proof pouch in my waders. Remember a the fob is as important as your phone. If you fall in and the fob gets wet you may not be able to get your vehicle started and depending on where you are in the world that can be a really big problem. I always carry a micro first aid kit in my pack. The one I have is made by Coleman and is about the size of a small cell phone. It weighs nothing but has the basics and it has prevented a couple of long hikes back to my Jeep after surprise encounters with glass and barbed wire.

Oliver Edwards said "I always tie at least two, one for the fish and one for the tree"-

It's maddening when the Swift Bows exclusively feed on those little "barely even there" bugs. Last time I was at the pipe- Dan Trela was next to me fishing #30 Wicked Pissahs on 9X and he said the naturals were even smaller than size 30s.

Here's a pattern I call an Angel Fish which cobbled together from the extra stuff on my desk. I had enough for 2 flies. They're super effective at catching tall trees 🙄 and I lost them both before I had a chance to fish them for long enough to evaluate them. They look like a summer pattern to my eye so I'll tie a couple more for the warmer weather. Hopefully something out there swimming in the river will want to eat them. ANGEL FISH HOOK: #10 MEDIUM WIRE 3XL NYMPH THREAD: BLACK 6/0 TAIL: CRAFT STORE HEN DYED PINK/RED BODY: HOLOGRAPHIC MYLAR -GREEN RIB: ULTRA WIRE - CHARTRUSE UNDER HACKLE: PEACOCK SWORDS COLLAR: HEN - DUN HEAD: SHHAN