jOrOb

I got to fish today for a few hours. Had the water pretty much to myself for about an hour, then a lot of people showed up. The fishing was pretty good on one "hard" generator. I was wondering who was fishing today that I might have seen. I am the chubby (read fat) guy wearing green waders and a big red hat. I fished just below #2 and then above #2. Just curious. jOrOb

Don't they have silver asian carp in the Mississipi? jOrOb

I hooked one about 5 ft long on Bull Shoals last year stripping a wooley off a rocky point. Seems they like olive and herl. I couldn't land him of course because of the reallllllyyyy hard mouth, but he held on for a pretty intense couple of minutes. I have seen them on BS come up near the boat and they looked about 15 feet long. In reality, the biggest I remember was estimated at 8 ft but might not have been that big. But those were long nosed gar and they don't have the body mass of an aligator gar. The Arkansas River used to be the primo location for big Aligators until they fished them nearly to extinction. Some said they had, but they are finally showing up again. Common practice then was to bring the brute near the boat and shoot him with a bow and arrow. jOrOb

Unfortunately I cannot be there on the 4th. I have to work. I would like to though. I would trade but the Super Bowl is on Sunday the 5th. Go Seahawks!! jOrOb

The problem I see is the ease at which a group can "lose sight of the ball." I think perhaps that is what happens most of the time with groups like TU and FFF chapters. The local clubs get tangled into the "big club" and become entwined in politics and national issues that push local fishing to the back burner. Doe that mean I support either TU or FFF? I think both are great organizations. I would agree with Dan that the Branson TU chapter is already there, making a group easier to start perhaps, but if it comes with excess baggage the it might not be worth it. FFF might be the same way. What do they require our group to do to be FFF? My vote is for a group that focuses on fly fishing and fly tying. Cold water, warm water, whatever water is fine with me. The rest will work itself out later. jOrOb

Seth, Have you tried wetting the marabou before working with it. I usually keep a small cup of water on the bench and just wet my fingers and stroke out my marabou clump before trying to tie it in. As for the crowding, remember that most flies are tied for the fisherman not the fish. Give yourself plenty of room at first. You will eventually start sliding forward and your heads will be right in place. Brian's suggestion about leaving an eye's width is right on. You might even make it a little bigger at first. Brian, excellent article on tying speed. I enjoyed it! jOrOb

I am interested. You and I have discussed this many times and I too think it is a great idea. Now all we need is someone who knows what the *&^% they are doing. Lets go fishing! jOrOb

I was commenting to my son just last week that most of the sow bugs on Taney were huge. I commonly find them in 14 and 16 or so. Your color description sound about right to me. jOrOb

I like the simpler patterns best. Tan has always produced the best for me but olive and grey work very well as well. My favorite is the ostrich scud (search the forum and you will find one). It is easy to tie and works well. Also a simple scud( also searchable here) works great. I don't tie any with bead heads or weight. I prefer to use a small weight above the scud instead. Can't say that that is the best though, just how I do it. For high water, there is a pattern called a nitro scud which has always worked well for me. You can view the fly at Charteredwaters.com but he doesn't have a pattern posted. You should be able to duplicate it though. jOrOb

I caught a lot of fish on this pattern last spring. I like to add a strip of pearlescent mylar christmas tinsel as a scud back and rib it with wire. Also, if you stroke the herl "legs down then lay the scud back across, it makes a pretty fair sow bug imitation too. jOrOb

Tippet, I myself have only had a few, and none have been expensive, but I can offer a little from that perspective. I am currently tying on a basic rotary vise made by Terra Fly Tools. It is relatively inexpensive and offers a very serviceable vise for the money. Terra also makes a spring jaw model similar to the Regal which is also very serviceable. Dano recently replaced his Griffin Spider with a Terra Spring Vise, and I believe he has been happy with it. I sell both for under $50, but unfortunately, I don't have either in stock right now. I have tied on the Griffins, Regals, and a few others, but never a Renzetti. Renzetti does have a great reputation and is without a doubt an excellent vise worth the money. As for pedestals, if the vise you choose has a good base, then that is the way to go. You could always add a clamp later if you decide that you would prefer one. They are pretty reasonable. If the vise you choose has a small base or a light base, then you might be better off with a clamp model and adding a base that will better suit your needs later. Getting a new vise is exciting, it is a good excuse to tye something! jOrOb

Ok guys, here is my first attempt at a recipe with photos. Please forgive the quality of the photos. This fly seems to have a pretty good following in the area both on the White and Taney, but I have never seen a recipe with pictures yet. Pattern Name: Unreal Egg Hook: 2457 Thread: Red 6/0 Uni Underbody: Red Glass Bead (or any other color you choose) Body: Peach Glo Bug Yarn (or McFly Foam - your choice on color) Debarb hook, slide bead onto shaft, mount in vise Start tying thread behind bead and wrap back to approximately even with barb Cut approximately 1 inch of egg yarn and divided lengthwise into two pieces. Tie in one piece of egg yarn behind bead. Roll the yarn around the shank so it surrounds the shank when tying in. Push the bead back against the butts of egg yarn. Don't worry about trimming out the exposed butts, they will add shape to the egg later. Now advance the thread across the bead and wrap forward to one and a half eye width behind the eye. Now push the egg yarn forward surrounding the bead. Be sure to surround the hook shank and bead. Push back a little toward the bead to make the yarn fluff out. Secure the yarn with a couple of good thread wraps. Whip finish and trim out the excess egg yarn. Coat the head with whatever head cement you prefer. This pattern fishes well but is not exceptionally strong. Unfortunately, they don't hold up to heavy fishing as well as traditional eggs, but the bead makes them look awesome and keeps the egg near the bottom without the need for weight. I can't take credit for this pattern, I just wrote it down. jOrOb

I must not know how to shuffle! My son did it a little at first, and he just walked backwards one or two steps then dropped his fly at his feet. Then he would just take a couple more steps every couple minutes. I understand how that could be seen as unethical, and have since taught him better ways, but I don't see how it does more damage than wading in itself. Is there something that I don't realize about shuffling? jOrOb

Oops, forgot to login. jOrOb

Hello all!! My name is John Robinson and I hail from Lead Hill, AR. I am a paramedic with almost 15 years experience and I still love it. I basically grew up as a bass fisherman. Buffalo River, Bull Shoals, Table Rock, you name it I have fished it. My father got me into bass fishing, and I still enjoy doing it. I have also looked in awe at the fly fisherman, and I have to admit I thought "fly fishermen are stuck up snobs". Then I met Dan Sears (you know him as Dano). Dan worked as an EMT at the time and he taught me that I was mistaken. So I bought a rod and got Dan to teach me how to wave my stick. It was pretty interesting at first, and I just looked at it as another facet of my fishing ability. My then 7 year old son however took to it like a duck to water. Ryne is ten now and routinely outfishes me. He used to be a big shuffler, and I have to admit I let him because I wanted to make fishing fun for him. This year, I have been working with him on developing his skill. He still routinely outfishes me! We started tying together almost immediately after learning how to fish. I just couldn't see paying those prices for hooks with string wrapped around them, so I figured it out myself. I think I enjoy tying as much as fishing. Luckily, I have a job that allows me to tye at work, so that has been great. Four years later, Ryne and I have fished cold water more than warm this year. I routinely tye at every opportunity (although it still isn't very pretty), and Fly fishing has become a big part of our fishing lives. We love it very much. I learn a great deal from this forum and from the people here. Thanks to everyone! jOrOb

Pat McManus did write for Field and Stream (I think he still does from time to time). Pat has compiled a number of books referring to his adventures with the outdoors. I have read many of them, including "I fish, therfore I am" and have enjoyed every one. Definitely perfect bathroom reading. jOrOb

Jeremy, I for one would like to vote for adding the pattern if you have the time. I know that fishing is good and time becomes short so I understand. Thanks jOrOb

I agree with Jeremy. Pick up a basic kit and start tying. Most of the patterns that produce fish on Taneycomo are really simple to tie and you should have no trouble picking them up quickly. If you go to some classes at Lilleys, you will pick up some more, and then before you know it you are a full fledged tyer. It really isn't that hard. Hell, I do it, and this is how I started too. Sometimes I think I enjoy tying more than fishing. But then I have a great deal more success tying than fishing. (at least I think so) I do have one bit of advice when you start learning. Always remember that the fly is tied for the fish, not the fisherman. Tight Lines jOrOb

I used to have a problem with that too. I found that my start wasn't holding and the thread was coming loose from the start point underneath. Try starting forward and work back as far as possible before cutting out your tag. Also, don't be afraid to pull your wraps tight. If it breaks, then you will know what too much pressure feels like and you can go on. I also agree with Leonard on the two whips of 4-5. Especially on jigs, the extra thread will not be a factor. I like Sally Hansons since it is readily available and seems to penetrate pretty well. Head cement will probably hold better, and Super Glue is definitely the strongest but will turn white if you get it wet before it is completely dry. I know you are asking "why would I get it wet before it dries?" You probably wouldn't but just in case you do, it will turn white. Keep tying and having fun with it. Don't be afraid to ask if you have other questions. jOrOb

OK Leonard, you caught me too... What is a roo scud? jOrOb

I agree with Leonard. I like two or three for effect. I have also done three on a 20 then coated the back with Sally Hansons, which makes a wider profile more like a sow bug. jOrOb

I had really good success this summer using a fly called a Ray Charles. Basically wrap ostrich around the hook, cover with scud back, and rib with copper wire. I think the thin body is what makes the fly effective. Here is the link to the pattern http://www.flyanglersonline.com/alcampbell/ac022304.html Al tied it really simple, but I like to make it a bit more complicated. I use pearlescent icicles from christmas past for my scud back, and I add the copper wire to strenghten the herl. Seems pretty durable that way. Simple to tie and durable, plus it catches fish. Isn't that supposed to be the perfect fly? jOrOb

I am with you Seth, I have never scored big on a Zebra. I have been with others when they were cleaning up on them, but I was just snapping tippets and drifting along. I know that they will and do catch a lot of fish, I just need to learn them better. Still flinging. jOrOb

Looks great Phil! Always on Sick Em! jOrOb