no apology needed @tjm...this is good conversation. Like yourself, I am a self taught fly fisherman as well. I've only been fly fishing for 6 months, and for the record, you can teach an old dog new tricks. I had bought some fly fishing rods/reels and fly gear at an auction in the spring of this year and have been learning as I go. One of the rod/reel combos was a Cabela's prestige rod/reel in 8 weight....that's what I am thinking about making my "streamer rod".