brittsnbirds

Cricket- Dixie and I can't make it. I was initially going down on Friday, getting the PUP set up and fishing the river Friday and Saturday. The warden has other plans, will be down on the 12th for several days. Rich- Thanks for the PM. I noticed you got your marching orders to west? You lucky dog. My son re-located to N.J. (lost job). So my trips back to Idaho will be at will. Btw did you get your pics back? Later Pat

How about the little stainless rings? I've used them in the past. Work pretty slick and saves the leader. Plus you can use an improved clinch knot on both connections. Pat

Doug- I agree with you about the BPS's up here. Have you gone all the way over to Cabela's? They have several vices set up that you can play on. That is what I did before I dumped my Dyna King and switched to a Peak. I got the pedestal version. It works great, I purchased the smaller midge jaws as I tie some pretty small stuff. Only 2 complaints, it did not come with a material holder (spring) and the base is very heavy making portability a pain. If I take my fly tying stuff with me now I take one of my old cheap clamp on units. Based on price I would recommend the Peak. Pat

taz- Check this site out; http://www.flyshopcloseouts.com/cpoint201/...alogStyleId=528. They have a Gore Range for $83.00 as opposed to $120.00. They have several others also. Plus they have free shipping on anything over 100 bucks I think. Pat

jd- They are all there. However my hand and fingers stung like heck. My trigger finger was all black with the exception of where the trigger made contact. You are so right, if it had been a poly frame unit I would probably be on a medical retirement. Pat

Sig is a good gun. Most of the semi-auto's are easy these days to disassemble so cleaning is relatively easy. As far as price, Sig's are not cheap. Sometimes you can find one for around 450 used. At that price they don't last long. In fact my neighbor bought one that I found for that price and would like 2 more. I would not be opposed to a M & P unit, Smith and Wesson's early auto's had some issues but the new ones are pretty good. Like I said earlier, just be sure to use quality ammo! Btw I haven't heard of any Glock's blowing up. I think overall they are well worth their price! Good luck. Pat

Haven't seen a response about what your plans are with it. But here is my professional opinion. I have been carrying a Sig Sauer P220 .45 every work day for approximately 17years. We previously carried the Smith and Wesson Mdl. 66 .357. I have put thousands of rounds through the 220 at the range with only one failure (I will describe that later). If you are wanting something that is reliable and easy to use I would recommend any Sig. I presently carry the P245 which is the compact .45 version of the the P 220. A few years ago we switched to the P220ST which is the stainless version. It is a little heavier than the 220. I wasn't happy with the change but I will have to admit that my range scores increased a little due to the extra weight. In regards to failure, we qualify with rounds that are purchased out of Florida. The ammo is suppose to be as close to the real deal using non-toxic lead (due to the EPA). I had the misfortune of one of the rounds detonating in the barrel at the base of the extractor ring down towards the magazine. It blew the magazine apart and out through the base including the unspent rounds. The grips blew open and the slide split at the weakest point on the slide rails (both sides). My hand was a little numb but still in-tact. Long story short, the ammo manufacturer bought the PD a new gun and concluded that it was either a weak case or a little too much powder. My range officer's comments were "thank god you weren't shooting a Glock". I have shot Glocks and like them but after that experience I am especially respectful of Sig Sauer. Whatever type of gun you do purchase make sure you use QUALITY ammo. Pat

Dano, you nailed my New Years Resolution!! I have all of my boxes and fly's laid out on a table in the basement. I have come to the conclusion that I am a pack rat. I see fly's on this and other sites that look good or there is a good report on and I will tie it. I fail to cull it out if it isn't a producerf as a result I have many that could be culled. I have flirted with looking at the Scientific Angles new boxes. They offer more storage, see through and are waterproof. I was looking specifically at the 752. I think 700 fly's would be enough to carry for all situations. I would love to get my fly's sorted down to 1 box maybe that one would do what I need? Pat

Have you tried taking the Cabela's waders back? I had a friend that took his back after a couple years, they replaced them free of charge. Pat

DaddyO- You definitely have the bug. Just wait, you tie up one of your new flies, go down to the trout hole and WHAM you hook one. That probably was one of the most rewarding feelings that I had when I started. It is a confidence builder for sure. The next time it comes is when you see a fly that a guy is hammering the trout on. You go back to the truck and pull out your stuff and try to replicate what you saw. Then you run back down and WHAM, again that feeling is great. The fact that you were able to produce something from sight. Probably the biggest thing that I would suggest is "organization". Eventually you will have so much stuff that you will forget what you have. The other thing is make a shopping list as you tie so that you do not double purchase. Just remember to take the list with you. And what Jeremy said about the TMC SP-BL (super point barbless) hooks is right on. They are the best, but that is my opinion. Did not see what part of the state you are from. If you are around KCMO there are several fly shops that will actually tutor you. Matt at Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence MO is one as well as Wanda at the Bass Pro Shop. Most of the guys at Cabela's in KCK will also help, as well as K&K Fly Shop in Lenexa Ks. All of these shops have helped me from time to time. Plus this site (thanks Phil) is the best. My wife bought me "The Fly-Tiers Bench Side Reference" book a few months back. The book is a little pricey but I wished I would have got it several years ago. It will show you just about any technique to fly tying that you would ever need. Here is a link to it at Amazon; www.amazon.com/Fly-Tiers-Benchside-Reference/dp/1571881263 - 313k. Good luck on your new quest. Pat

Quillback- I don't know about Nebraska but Kansas actually publishes a booklet with all of their county's listing the walk in property's. It is in a map format. They also offer GPS coordinates of all the property's. You can also go on line and get them in a .pdf file. Sorry for the double post. Pat

Not near as much public land as there is in Kansas. But in Iowa you can road hunt. Some of the best ditches that I have hunted have been from the road. I have hunted public up around Spirit Lake, they do require steel or non-toxic. That was the only time I have been checked by DNR. If you do have to use steel be sure to go down in shot size by 2 at least. If you are shooting number 6 lead use number 4 steel. Steel just doesn't have the knockdown as lead plus I can't use my "special" loads. Pat

Not near as much public land as there is in Kansas. But in Iowa you can road hunt. Some of the best ditches that I have hunted have been from the road. I have hunted public up around Spirit Lake, they do require steel or non-toxic. That was the only time I have been checked by DNR. If you do have to use steel be sure to go down in shot size by 2 at least. If you are shooting number 6 lead use number 4 steel. Steel just doesn't have the knockdown as lead plus I can't use my "special" loads. Pat

Kyle- Great story, it brings one I had once to mind. Will PM you with the details. Pat

Bob- The toughest time I have fished C&R was in zone 1, it was about 40 below and the wind was about 60 mph out of the north. It just happens that most of Zone 1 runs North to South which makes for some tough conditions. That wind does crank through there!! Pat

And Lord knows I need all the help I can get!!

As Brian said, Kevin can hook you up. I went over there this past fall when they were having their Sage sale. Long story short Kevin took me outside with a Sage and 20 minutes later and his suggestions I was doing a lot better. Oh yea, and my wallet was a little lighter!! Pat

Rich- Haven't noticed you on for awhile. What was the ticket on Friday? Any plans for a trip down in the near future? Pat

Cat- Must of been slow if YOU didn't score on the river! Did you go upstream from the high bank at all? Pat

Ithaca, I would like to hear what you have. Send me a message I will hook you up with some websites that can give you some value. I will bet you will be amazed. I have a friend that I work with at the PD that knows his guns. Would be happy to give him a list and let you know. Then you could double check the value on the sites. Gunbroker.com is one. Pat

Phil- Whatever format you used in the first post worked good on my MacBook. I tried the 2nd one with the other format and it was slower. My wife is the techy when it comes to this type stuff I will ask her what the trick is. Nice video, makes me want to head down there and give it a try. Thanks Pat

Now that's the report I have been waiting all spring and summer to hear. Lucky dog!! Pat

KAT- I took the 2 of the 3 pooches to the farm last Sunday for a quick jaunt before it warmed up. My cousin failed to tell me that the fricking corn was still in. That pretty much shut the hunt off. The birds down there must have a deal with Nike as they all run like trackstars. They were probably out in the corn from hearing my heard coming. Probably hit it again after deer season. Pat

vanven- I will be watching the results of this post as I need some tuning up also. I live south of KC just off 71. Pat

I agree with you PC, the times I went down the Human hatch was in full swing. I will also add that the normal patterns were not on as they have been in the past few years. Fishing small and deep was the main pattern regardless of the type of fly. However the conditions forced me (with the help of BMA) to expand my fishing skills and using small (size 20 down) scuds and nymphs. Pat