brittsnbirds

FFM, All the years that I have been going down to BSP, last year was the first for the opener. It was interesting to say the least. I was in my Pop up in campground 5. Talking about experiencing some wierd things, tornado warning/evacuation, tons of people, massive cold front rolling in. We had it all. I think I will opt out this year considering it is on a weekend. Pat

Well the wife asked me a good question the other day when I made another trip to Cabela's for hooks. "Why don't you buy 500 or a 1000 at a time?" Good question I replied, he he he. I got the go ahead! Who has the best price on bulk hooks? I mainly use Tiemco 100's and 2499's.

Zander- I stumbled upon some stuff called French Crystal Braid. It comes in a roll. I use it for some of the bodies for CB's. One of my most productive colors is a Holographic color that they have with either Furnace or Olive Hackle. I buy it at Gaston's down at BSSP. It makes a very nice full body and holds up pretty well. I tried to find a link to it but could not. The other option is to use dyed Turkey rounds and tie them per Ed Story's recipe. That also makes a nice full, segmented body. Have fun!!

We went up in NE Kansas, Nemaha County. Birds were WILD as they normally are. However the wind was up it was 6 degrees out, we thought they would settle in. The biggest problem was they had a big ice storm. It packed all of the cover down where the birds did not have a place to hide. We saw several birds but they were in run and fly mode. Actually killed my last one in a slough that had cover. As far as feathers for soft hackles, I have found a few that work. The bird has sooo many colors, it would be a shame not using them somewhere. Guess I will experiment!!

I have a couple of I managed to kill a couple of Rooster's this past weekend and brought them home to skin out. I found some nice colored feathers near the base of the tail (rump area) and tried them as Soft Hackle. They did not appear to be springy as the others that I purchased. Any suggestions?

I broke down and bought a DeLorme PN 20 this past Christmas. They had a $100.00 rebate going I cannot remember when it expires. This thing does it all plus it has mapping overlay capability. Check out their site; http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtp...p?section=10106. I bought mine for road, hunting and fishing. I also recommend doing a google search for GPS reviews.

tinner- Would love to but got a Pheasant hunting trip up in NE Kansas Sunday. I promised the pooches. Plus I need to replenish my depleted fly tying stock. Would be a good weekend as there is a holiday on Monday!!

When I use full sink line I notice that I have to hit the Ibuprofen bottle pretty hard. It takes a toll on my ole shoulder. However it is a very effective technique especially when the sun gets high on a clear day. Another set-up that I have used is connect straight fluorocarbon about 3 foot to your line, add a small swivel then another 3 foot of fluorocarbon or tippet. It definitely keeps the twists out of the line! It is also a great technique when the wind is blowing hard!

Cat- Sounds like you did better than I did. I didn't use any egg patterns, tried the crackles, zebra nymphs, scuds, leach and some drys. Did not do very good at all, however it was beautiful Sunday. It almost appeared like a normal day at BSP with the number of people down there. I've pretty much decided that the day trips are getting to expensive (gas). I think next time I will pull the PUP down and camp in CG 1 to fish 2 days or more. Pat

Phil- Sent you a pm with my info for a sticker but haven't received it. I will pm you again with my info. Thanks

ffm- I have one and love it for attaching fly to leader. What knot are you using this tool on for leader to tippet? I don't remember seeing instructions for that one.

What about those little metal rings that come with some braided leaders? You can also buy them by themselves. I tried them last year on the end of my leader to tippet. Made changing the tippets very quick. Used an improved clinch knot on the leader to ring. I quit using them because I learned the surgeons knot.

I've noticed when tying the poly tippet to the fluoro using a surgeon's not I have to wet it. When I don't it fails. Don't know why but I've noticed a difference!!

I located a fly tying class starting in February down at the Cass Carreer Center in Harrisonville, Missouri. It is $25.00 for the 4 week class. The instructor is Dan Ogden who is a CAD instructor at the school. He is also going to talk about technique with the flys that are tied. If anyone is interested send me a PM or respond to this post. I will get you a copy of the enrollment form.

How bout a sticker my way? I will send you a PM. Thanks, Pat

Greg- Would have but........ I actually tied some #26 creme midges but they were at home in the nice warm basement. Pat

Great quote! I will mention it to my wife.

Terry- I guess I will tell you how good my ribs were! Just me and the 3 dogs at the house, the wife is up in Idaho with our son and the daughter (still at home) was at a friends. Mind you this is after I get home from BSP and leaving my fricking vest at home but that is in another post. I thought about grabbing a steak at the store and grilling it. But I forgot I had MacDaddy's leftover ribs in the fridge from the other night. My other daughter was in from NYC for the holidays. When she comes back she begs MacDaddy to BBQ. Now I'm not braggin but everyone at the PD thinks I'm the man when it comes to my BBQ. All in all the ribs warmed up nicely and the pooches will be in hog heaven today when they get their part. As far as staying at home. I stay off of the streets on NYE, I've taken too many of those nuckleheads to jail on that day. Thank god I don't have to work it anymore. I just pray my partners (or anyone else) don't get taken out by one of them. Good thing to your rant. It was the last day of the year, and you can start this one off much smarter on a clean slate! Happy New Year all! Pat & the pooches

Greg- I'll throw my 2 cents into the report. I started up by Gauge house, as I always do, must be a habit. Started getting all of my stuff together and RRRRRRRRR, no vest. I brought everything except my vest and all of my secret weapons that I tied the other day. I dug around in my tote box and found some stuff to try. I started with a Crackleback just dead drifting then strip at the end of the swing, had 1 and that was it. Headed up to Larry's to find some scuds and zebra midges, he only had a couple. Tried them down under the arch bridge and in the short water. Caught a couple on a gray scud sight fishing. Just like you said Snow Fly it was wall to wall down stream. Went down across from the swimming pool but the wind was howling through there with no success. Hit the hole just above the stone arch bridge with a green zonker and started catching a few. Back up at the gauge house I hooked a pig behind a rock on the far bank with a scud. Took my set up so I switched back to a green squirrel zonker that I tie and viola, they tore it up. Only had 2 with me and lost both of them to big fish. I think my tippet is old cause I broke off alot. Not too bad of a day considering. Pat

I figured out which Scud it was, it's Rainy's. I found it while googling for McClelland's Scud. Found some instructions on weaving but can not get the hang of it. Probably need a one-on-one with someone ahead of me! I hate to admit it but I may have to purchase those, they are awsome looking. I think I have a few others that should work. I will just get stuff to gether and hit it tomarrow.

I wish I would have drug myself out earlier this AM and headed down but need to get some things together. It takes 2 hours from where I'm at. If it was only an hour I would of been down every day from Friday. The wife is in Idaho visiting our son and I have the house to myself and my daughter. I think I'll get stuff together and run down early tomarrow and give it a try. Need to tie up some scuds anyway. Spoke to a guy at the BPS shop in Columbia about scud fishing at the parks. He disclosed that is all he has been using this fall and winter. He buys them from the BPS, they are called "someones name" woven scud. He ties them in tandem under and indicator. Usually uses a green and either gray or tan. I think I will try my luck at weaving one. Gives a really good leggy appearance underneath. Pat

In my profession we call them "telephone tough guys". I guess in this case it will be "internet tough guys"!

If you have a Kohl's close by they had their polypro stuff for 12.50 ea.

Cat- Have you noticed a difference when using a copper, gold or silver BH? Do you use tungsten at all?

Bob- Sorry for the delay, I got busy and could not get them into the mail. They are on the way!! RCGuy- Try and wetting your marabou. I wet mine then put a couple of wraps on and pull it up for the tip length. Bind it down then twist the long end a couple of times and palmer it up the hook shank. Tie it off and fuzz it up with a brush or pick. Pluck it for shape/length. It's not pretty but it does work.