Charlie P. (NY)

10 hours ago, petelangevin said:

Happens to everyone,  flash forward 30 years and you have enough materials to fill a semi trailer.   Its ok,  my name is Pete and i am an.......   lol

You beat me with that.  DON'T but materials just because they "look good".  I learned to shop for specific flies and keep ALL the materials in a pouch or zip-lock baggie for that specific pattern.  Except threads and hooks.  Before doing this I had accumulated six .50 Cal ammo cans, two cat litter lidded pails, and two suitcases full of odd material I may never use.  I still have two backpacks and two tackle boxes (one to hold multiple 3700 Plano boxes) of the "currently useful" materials that I keep in a hall closet.  I set up like a gypsy on a folding table to tie.

Someday my ideal is a desk just for fly tying.

Metz has some #3, but Whiting at $145 is the way to go. If you want to go that way.  The trout won't likely notice. 😉

Agree the first one is an ice-fishing "bumper" lead so you can find the depth (pull the line and remove but then you know you're just over the bottom when you put the line back in).

Second image is an arm? Red barberry berries under a green condom? I really can't make out the image.

i use the shank of the hook as a hackle gauge.

 

That's what I do. Bend a hackle under the hook and see how the fibers are in relation to the hook tip. If 1/3 of the fiber is pat the point you're golden . . . mean. ;-)

For wading the little blue lines I have a very old bent wood net that I replaced the old course cotton netting with a Tenkara fine mesh. Traditional yet trout friendly. In my kayak I keep a 20" Surehold.

I have a pair of Orvis Ultralight convertible & breathable (with the boots - I have relatively small feet for being 6'2" and there is always way more stocking foot than I need in sock-foot waders). I now keep a medium UV glue tube and light in the SUV but have had good luck keeping them water-tight.

In the summer I wet wade with old sneakers.

Hey guys, just wanted your opinions on these questions relating to stillwater fishing.

 

 

1. Favorite damsel nymph and damsel fly pattern.

 

2. Wading back to the car after sunset, I noticed small fry jumping out of the shallow knee high water. I thought at first maybe they were jumping to get away from something, but now I wonder if they were jumping after insects?

 

3. Fishing dragonflies/hoppers. Is there success in fishing them in the middle of the pond, away from the weeds and grass. Would you use a dropper? And if so, what would you use that is not a midge/nymph.

 

4. Should I get a 3wt for panfishing around grass line with small drys? I use my 5wt and it does fine, but think a softer rod would give me a better presentation at short distances, and the 3wt would make 6" pumpkinseeds more fun.

 

I'll accept any other stillwater talk as it's all I do. Hope to fish some streams someday, but I have no say in how my vacation days are used...

 

Thanks in advance.

My opinions:

1. Muskrat nymph in sizes 6 - 10. I don't mimic adults.

2. Perhaps. Fish a streamer to catch the big ones if small fry are present.

3. I like hoppers but fish them right up against the bank. No reason for a hopper to be out "in the middle".

4. 5 wt is fine. My smallest trout/smallmouth/panfish rod is a 6 wt and my large lure bass & pike rod is a 9 wt. It's about the size of the lure. Not the size of the fish.

NY Smallmouth don't have a tendency to short strike or nibble. I never found a trailer hook necessary.

In fact, I use 34007 or 2X shank hooks often and lots of material behind them.

There were at least a #3, #5 and #7. Mid 1940's to mis 1950's (?)

Is this a good picture? People say I need improvement on my photography skills. Also, is that a good coho fly?

Because I care . .

Slightly out of focus.

Background makes it appear the fly is half as wide as a 18" +/- chair back.

Natural lighting (window) is behind the fly instead of behind the photographer.

If it is weighted at one end the material end will always follow the head because of drag in the water if there is any motion up or down going on.

I don't think the fish will care of the leech isn't exactly parallel to the surface.

Ever watch a leech swim?

https://youtu.be/MY3E_Cnq-8s

I learned to do it decades ago with two fingers. I practiced at work for HOURS on my lunch breaks. Eric Leiser drew it up in The Complete Book of Fly Tying that I about wore out from the local library but eventually bought a copy off a used book store.

I do use a whip finisher tool for smaller flies.

Wo . . .!

That's some serious ground tackle!

Not your first rodeo, though (trip set-up with the cable ties and bottom shackle).

I have to say 90% of my fly tying is in March or evenings during the winter. Other things doing the rest of the year. ;-)

No. Maybe 60 hours of fly tying annually.

The only time I have tried multiple flies is when lake fishing with minimal gear. I sometimes put a nymph (typically a chronomid) on a dropper tied to the bend of a hopper.

Nothing against the concept - I have enough trouble keeping just one fly in control on streams. And rivers I generally use larger flies.

I'm working on training my new fishing buddy. Duffy (our one year old Airedale Terrier) loves water and this was the first time I tried him in my kayak. Perfect gentleman and seemed to grasp "low center of gravity is good" quickly. We spent two hours cruising the shore (no tendency to jump off), cruising past dogs splashing after balls and sticks (stayed attentive but still and quiet), THE ADMIRAL circled us and throughout he remained happy and seemed to be enjoying it (you can tell buy his ear positions). He did fine out away from shore as well. Much better than the prior pup (a Kerry Blue Terrier) who would try for shore whenever we got within 20 feet and was never at ease when on board.

New trip will be with a pole! He gets pretty excited with fish on the bank or shore. Everything will be tethered for sure.

I so agree. Memorial Day is a somber and reflective day. I fly my flag in the front yard at half staff until noon. Then raise to full staff.

So many lost their futures so we could be where we are.

I would just go with whatever you normally fly fish for 350 to 400 lb fish with, but make sure to use a lead core sinking line and have a goodly amount of backing . . . especially if under a 6 weight line. ;-)

Sometimes it can depend on the knot you tie and the leader stiffness on an eye up or eye down hook.

I'm kind of a fan of "symmetrical" patterns for that reason.

I'd have to go with epoxy. I have done some playing with UV and it seems the outside cures but a few millimeters in the resin does not cure because the UV does not penetrate - at least not in a few days. LOVE it for heads and wing case "lids", though.

Once epoxy "kicks" it doesn't matter how thick (unless it overheats - but that's unlikely in small quantities). You can also add wood flour, micro balloons, dyes or colloidal silica to make it thicker (like catsup) or lighter or colored.

I've constructed boats with gallons of epoxies and I trust it. The longer the hardener cure time the stronger.

It's not the rod - it's the fly line. ;-)

Lines are sized to the fly, and whether floating, sinking, shooting.

THEN, the rod is selected to the best match.

With a lot of leeway in the useable range of weights/sizes/lengths.

Use what you like.

The happy man does not have all he wants. He enjoys what he has.

Business manager at the largest wastewater treatment plant on the Susquehanna River in New York State.

Keeping the water clean and the public healthy. ;-)

Prior to that comptroller of the City of Binghamton.

And even prior I was in the private sector as a cost accountant and then controller for manufacturers of various things - photographic film & paper and then a sheet metal fabricator.

Taught economics and accounting at a local business school as an adjunct for a couple years. THAT was an interesting job. I have great respect for teachers after that.

I try not to get too attached to any fly - that's why I like simple "impressionistic" ties. If I lose one it's an offering to the fish spirts; especially if it would involve wading into the water I am trying to fish.

Though when fly-fishing from a kayak I have used my "assault paddle" (Backwater Paddles) to get in close and then retrieve a lot of stuck flies out of sweeps and bushes.

Looks more like a Letort Cricket (Ed Shenk) than a Muddler. ;-)

Bet the fish will still like it.