SalarMan

It makes me have this flashback moment as I read about your first fly fishing show ever. I know I sounded like a cranky old fart in my previous post, but the shows have run their course for me. It is nice to know that the shows still hold a special place in the heart and mind for another generation of fly fishermen & women. They sure do get rid of cabin fever...don't they?😁😁

HA👍 HA😎 HA😂 HA

Good Morning Scott, Very basic obviously works well. My Nikon D3000 is ??????? years old and like you my setup is rather basic. A friend threw together a crude simple lightbox and I use that with the standard lens and a tripod I've had for 40+ years. My latest background is a slate roofing shingle which I learned from a friend in upstate New York. Thanks for the feedback. Cheers, George

Scott - What kind of camera gear are you using for such crystal clear and perfect photos? - George

I have followed the commentary about the TRV since its introduction, and it has been interesting to say the least. I have had 3 of them. The first would hold anything from a size 10/0 down to a size 8, but nothing smaller. The second one was good from size 24 up to 2/0. but nothing bigger. I was somewhat puzzled by this and spoke with the powers that be from HMH a number of times. They told me that as a small operation they couldn't just customize the vise to suit each and every tyers need, and with a quiet good natured laugh Jon told me "you classic salmon fly tyers are a pain in the ass". I believed it was the best thing I have tied on and became determined (obsessed ?!?!) to find one that met my needs. I bought a 3rd vise after a fellow on this site told me he had modified his own TRV in his machine shop to accommodate a full range of hooks and he would be happy to do the same for me. So I bit the bullet and gave it a go. My current modified TRV allows me to tie my classic salmon flies easily up to a 6/0 or 7/0 with the needed protective plastic around the hook. It also will hold a size 24 for tying Trico spinners no problem. I will add that a fellow at Breton's in Maine told me they had not had one TRV come through the shop that would handle anything larger than a 2/0 in several years. I still use my Renzetti Master as well and as it stands now my 2 vises are on equal footing with me. Finally...Norm got rid of his due to personal physical issues making it difficult for him to properly tighten the vise to hold the hooks he uses.

Nice to see you on this segment of the site again. Pattern has to be deadly!!

I have no need for the trade...but I'm curious. What is the issue with the TRV?

I stopped going to those Fly Fishing Shows a few years ago. They became the same old, same old...and like Gene L there is nothing I need. If I really need something I'd rather patronize a local shop anyway. I spoke with a friend who went to the Edison, NJ show and he told me the number of vendors was down, attendance diminished, fewer tyers...just generally pretty bad. I wasn't there, but knowing this guy well I'll take his word for an accurate appraisal. Anyone else go there? What was your opinion?

All part of the good fun among we fly tyers. Keep those beauties coming...

Thank you sir!!

Thanks gents...much appreciated.

I guess the fly is okay...if you like beautiful design, incredible workmanship, mix of materials & colors. Well...you get the idea. Just stunning!!👍

I know where you are coming from. One winter in Florida we made the same sort of excursion onto Worth Avenue in West Palm Beach. After driving past HUGE ocean and intercoastal waterway front properties for some 20 miles on route A1A nothing could surprise me...but Worth Avenue did. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls, Bentley and Aston Martin among others gives one pause as to just how much money is out there. Just amazing. Oh...did I mention the stores. Again...just friggin amazing!!! I hope whoever buys the vise puts it to good use and enjoys every moment.

You are so right flytire!!! Crazy...maybe Mark. Definitely greedy. Well one thing that is always true...people will collect anything. So don't be too surprised if it actually sells.

Vicrider mention $2-3K a few years ago. Well that was for just a vise and base. But do all the gadgets and geegaws add up to another $7K. I don't think so. I didn't hit the lottery last night so my flies will have to be what they are without that $10,000.00 improvement😂 Capt LeMay probably nailed it...good old fashioned greed. The vise is located in Tampa...maybe you can get a looksee😎 Dean - You face the same problem I do. I don't have that kind of discretionary cash...and Linda definitely WOULD NOT understand😁

We are all familiar with the auction site ebay where you can find all sorts of fly fishing stuff from rods & reels to materials, etc. Well I'm certain many of you have heard of the legendary LAW fly tying vise. A highly desirable collectable, or so we've been led to believe. Well there is a LAW for sale right. It is in new condition with ALL of the goodies Lawrence Waldron offered when he was making the vise...and I mean ALL of those goodies as well as the carrying case. Ready for this? It can be yours for only $9975.00. Don't waste any time it could go fast. Now if I hit the lottery tonight...hmmm Betcha it is a good hook holder too

Love the look of that stream. Reminds me of an unnamed spot about 90 minutes from where I sit. I've been fortunate enough to have fished in a lot of places, but what you describe and the stream in these photos is my kind of fishing. Thanks Dean!!!

I was sitting going through Mike Radencich's book "Classic Salmon Fly Patterns" when for some reason this one caught my attention. Simple...yet something tells me it is a fish catcher, and is easily tied in other color combos that would be both pleasing to the fisherman's eye and and appealing to the fish. Finally...a special shout out to flytire. He told me he uses UV cement on the stunning heads on his flies, so I decided to give it a go. THANKS flytire!!!

AHA!!! Great tactic and if memory serves me well this was also something practiced by Jim Leisenring oh so many years ago in the Poconos.

HUH??????

Interesting comment about rarely fishing beyond 30 feet. When guys I know fish big trout water like the Delaware or the Lower Beaverkill for the first time they are concerned about being able to cast far enough. I tell them to break the river up into 30 to 40 foot segments and fish those areas like you would any other trout stream. You'll catch more fish that way and you won't frustrate yourself by trying to fish in a manner beyond your capabilities. I know that works for me!!!

Valid points SilverCreek. But...and you knew there would be a "but"...there is always something newer and better, or so the marketing folks would have us believe. That does not change the fact that those stats of 98% to 99% of the fly fishers out there just don't need to spend big bucks to have equipment that will perform for them to the best of their abilities. I must add I do own and enjoy my share of very fine fly rods and reels and I have enjoyed them immensely over the many years I've spent with a fly rod in hand. I just like to point out that the $$$$ signs on the tackle do not mean it is any better for the average person.

As you al know we have the Silver, Black & Blue among other color variations of the Doctor series of Atlantic Salmon flies. I have never seen a gold variation of this pattern so I thought I'd give it a go. I picked the colors in hopes they would work with the overall gold theme of the fly and to honest I am pleased with the result. The fly itself needs a bit more finish preening, but again I am pretty pleased with the result. Also, I like to give credit where credit is due. The hook is a reworked Mustad by my friend Gordeaux from the Pittsburgh, PA area. The fly will be a gift for my regular doctor and the gold theme fits for 2 reasons. She is a superb, caring physician and being a 6' tall, blond from California she deserves the gold classification on both levels👍

First thing - don't...DON'T...DON'T let yourself be fooled by the price. The high end rods are things of beauty with lovely gingerbread that is very eye appealing but means nothing in the end. Now what I am about to say please do not take personally. But...probably 98% to 99% of the fly fishers in this world who walk into a fly shop cannot make a $300 graphite rod perform up to its full capabilities let alone the $1000 extra high tech jobs. My long time friend Ed Jaworoski...who Lefty called the best casting instructor in the U.S....assured me this is oh so true. I fished for Atlantic Salmon for many years with an Orvis Clearwater 10'0" 8wt and I didn't cast any further, anymore accurate, land a fish any faster than their most expensive rod would have done for me...well you get the idea. I am one of those 98%'ers. Do as planned and try some at the Midwest Expo. Buy what works for you and your budget allows. DO NOT allow any sales pitch fool you.

Love it...Where was this trick when I started tying hairwing salmon flies the winter of 1973-1974? 😁