trout fanatic

Recently I have been stocking up on hooks. I have mostly used Tiemco and Mustads until I recently bought a batch of Dai riki's and discovered (much to my surprise) that I like them and they are easier on the wallet than the Tiemco's. Has anyone tied on the Allen hooks? How about any others (I have tied on some Daiichies and like them as well).

Nah, it was a really big fly swap that caused a demand for them red winged stahlings.

1 for 1, then they asked for my e-mail add and I quit.

After a lot of research have decided on the peak vise (flytyingforum.com has an exhaustive 41 page poll on vises-I never knew so many even existed). Thanks for the info I will give a report on how it ties when I receive it.

I have decided that I need a new vise and have pretty much narrowed it down to the peak rotary or the Renzetti traveling vise. Both appear well made and respected and are comparably priced. Which one would you choose and maybe more importantly have you tied on both? Any major differences between the two that would influence your choice? Looking forward to your responses. Thanks Dale

NOW I know what you guys are talking about. I swear I thought he was trolling for a minute. Ha ha

They can have 50 full time agents working for all I care. The issue for me is that camera. I do not like having my picture taken (by anybody just ask my kids). I really really, do not like having my picture taken against my will, and I really really really don't like having to pay for the privilege. If a majority of folks like or do not mind it fine, go pay yer monies and have at it. My boycott is permanent as long as that camera is tuned on. Last time I checked, it was my money I was spending and I have a right to be paranoid with it if I so choose. So there ya go

Don't know if it's a glitch or they came to they're senses. Hopefully, it is a permanent thing.

Def looks like fun-bet they could make one figure out what a drag was really for!

Don't know why I never considered a pheasant wing having biots before but I ran across the info on another forum. So I went out to my garage and checked a pheasant wing and lo and behold there they are. On the wing they appear mottled and really cool looking but when tied on a fly are more of a yellowish cream colored. Look great on a golden stone or prince pattern. Learn somethin new every day. Just thought I'd pass it on just in case

I think businesses across the board think they have the "right" to our personal info. Just this morning I went to Lowes to buy a BBQ basket. I took it to the cashier (who was very young and quite pretty). She rang up my purchase, smiled at me and asked for my home phone #. I smiled back and asked for hers (she didn;t get mine and I didn't get hers, lol). I then returned home and sent an e-mail to corporate HQ and informed them that I was a cash paying customer and my home phone number was no business of theirs (I also informed them I would not return to their establishment. I think that businesses have been asking for (and getting) personal information for so long that it is considered an acceptable practice

I like slow rods so I have gone back to glass in order to get my fix. However, of my modern rods, my favorite is the old (6 years old) Clearwater Classic mid-flex is by far my favorite. Orvis seems to offer several of its rods in its mid flex configurations but as far as I know the only full flex models are the trout bum models. Sage only offers the TXL and most other companies follow suit with only 1 or 2 models. TFO has the finesse and its lower priced models (like the pro) are advertised as moderate/fast, but my 5 wt pro is way too fast for me (I have lined it with a 6WF to slow it down some). Reddington has come out with the new CT (Classic Trout) model, has anyone cast or fished this yet? How does it feel compared to say the TFO Pro? With its price point of $120 bucks or so, I'm very tempted to buy one, without testing, but I am all ears. If anyone has fished one, please chime in. Thanks Dale

Went back this morning with the fly rod. Didn't quite turn out like I had planned it. Started out with zoo cougars and stealth bombers but no interest from the bass (although a rambunctious bluegill successfully attacked the size 2 stealth. Switched tactics and went with a size 10 orange and yellow marabou bead head fished under an indicator (the crappie are so close to the bank an indicator is necessary). The crappie just murdered that thing. I don't know what my final tally was but I am guessing that 40 or so crappie, 8 (or so) bluegill and 1 6 inch largemouth (told you it didn't quite work out like I planned it) were the mornings take. Great fun and all fish were released (tired of cleaning them)

Went fishing this morning at Hazel Hill conservation lake as the crappie are on the beds. Lost count of how many I caught (mostly 6 or 7 inchers with an occasional 8-9 incher) but had a hit on nearly every cast. After about an hour of throwing small tube jigs, a small crappie inhaled the jig and I proceeded to reel him in only to have a huge bass explode out from under my feet and inhale the crappie! The adrenaline started to flow but I realized he would probably just spit the crappie out, but instead he takes off across the lake, my ultra light reel screaming like crazy until finally the line breaks. Dang, I hate it when that happens. I finished up my day, took a few home for supper. Think in the morning I'll be fishing that shoreline with a 6 wt and some zoo cougars just to see if I can make something crazy happen

Looks like a green sunfish.

Went to a small local lake today for the express purpose of fishing the stealth bomber. I have tied several but it is a new pattern for me and I have never fished one. So I tied on a green one and started casting-strip-strip-strip, love the way this fly dives under water then pops right back up. Around the third cast a fish explodes on it and misses, next cast same result. Third times a charm, strip-strip-strip, yep he nails it and I bring in a rather large bluegill (this is a size 2 fly I am using). I dropped down to a size 10 foam hopper pattern and quickly caught 2 more but it slowed down considerably after that. Gills are just starting to bed up here, another week or so and it will be game on.

So I take my "twisted" leader out for a test drive this morning to a local lake. Last nights storms left the water high and the color of coffee with lots of creamer. Steady wind blowing right in my face but managed to punch several casts through the wind. Only managed 1 small largemouth, 1 nice gill and a nice sized crappie. Leader performed flawlessly but I had no snags or breakoffs so I could not test the birds nest theory. So far, I really like these leaders but lots more testing will be in order before I am fully convinced. By the way, I tied up 3 of these leaders with no problems but further efforts resulted in me trashing the line and starting all over. The line wants to tangle around itself during construction resulting in a total mess. I went back to faol and re-read the links. One of the forumites posted a tip that he passes each end of the line through the handles of coffee cups before he begins. This helps in keeping the two lines separate. So I tried it and voila. Works like a champ!

I agree that these are actually twisted and not furled. However, at about a quarter a pop, I'm using the twisted sistah. I am taking one out on wednesday or thursday and report back on my results. I don't plan on using a twisted tippet (just the butt and mid section) the tippet will be standard. Don't know if that makes a diff or not but will let you all know.

Yep, that's the one. Furling leaders is a whole lot easier than dropping a link.

I have always liked using furled leaders (suckers last forever) but I was unable to make my own so I bought them from time to time. Well this morning I was browsing flyanglersonline and noticed a youtube link on how to make one. So easy a cave man could do it! I've tied up 3 so far and am very impressed. I would drop the link if I had the technical knowledge (I know, speaking of cave man ha ha). Just thought you might want to check it out.

OTF: My go to rod for bass is a 9"6" 6 wt. I alternate between my 7 weight fiberglass rigs and the 6 weight. Shucks a 5 weight is more than ample for bass, but for throwing big bugs in a wind the 6 is a better all around rod IMO. I would not buy another rod if I were you unless you want to (nothing wrong with that idea either). Good luck

I would go with whatever you want the most. If it were me, I would buy a medalist and pocket the change. It ain't like you are gonna need a big honkin drag on a 4 wt.

I did send Mr Bryan an e-mail to voice my opinion and I got a very quick response back. I don't see anything changing (good thing I have been tyin up a bunch of warm water flies)-just thought I would let you know that the powers that be are very aware of the concerns of everyone on both sides of this issue.

Thank you IT, I will certainly make my feelings known.