Brian K. Shaffer

John - did you happen to see the Orvis DXR I posted the photo of ? It was made by Ross for Orvis in the middle 90's. I am sure I can find you an Orvis catalog from the era ... I believe retail was around $265 or thereabouts.. they said it was the toughest reel available at the time.. as in you cannot scratch it. The ad showed an Abel being scratched with a knife, but the DXR would not take a scratch. This reel is super clean tight reel, spare spool, lines on both and boxes.. paperwork.. everything. (I do have the Ross R2, original Ross, but its a 4wt.) Send me an email if you would like more pics or info on this setup. Nothing out there you guys didnt buy for yourself for Christmas ? Brian

Boy, I sure would like to try anything this outfit has to offer. The rods seem pretty well received, but the reels.. I sure would like one of those.

Gavin - yes I do.. let me get a few pics taken .. in the meantime : here is a JWYoung boxed Guilline Bros reel, Here is a Hardy Lightweight, an LRH and a CFO IV if they are needed : ( i do like how the birds on the bat show thru on that picture ) Tim - I have this Large Trout Bodgan... but I think I will hang onto it cause it is RHW : Laker - I have only the 45L at this time. I saw that 67M which sold a few weeks ago and before that one its been a while since I have seen a 67Light. My 45L with 2 spools is still here if you ever want the need to 'lighten up'... and I see them come up a bunch, but not so often the 67L. I do have the Orvis 7wt equivalent - The DXR : Trout Commander - I love my Pflueger Gem. I've got a real early one in 'faux' spitfire finish. It's so smooth. Remind me to send you a shot if it.

jwpage - an 8wt Ross reel.. hmm.. I only have 2 Ross reels.. the original R series (but thems I'm keepin) Which model you looking at ? For bass or for bigger fish ? An 8wt gives you lots of options John... will it be your go to reel on a daily basis ? or seldom used ... ?

Trout Commander - would you consider a vintage Pflueger Medalist ? -- I wouldn't own 13 vintage if they weren't legit. (only the ones made in Akron,O are worthy of my opinion by the way, with 6 rivets) This is a 1494, a good 5wt version from around the late 50's : sorry a few shots : Any way to change your mind to try vintage instead of modern ?

Wow.. I might have bitten off more than I can chew here. But wait - let me check my stock....... I did just sell an Abel .5 - but it wasn't mine and I think it sold for too much money. I have a Tibor Spring Creek CL, but its more like a 4wt. Picture : Strike one for me.

If you happen to need a fly reel.. let me know, as I have built up more than I can handle. I have over 80 reels now and I would like to start getting back down to a manageable level. If you are in the market for a fly reel, you might check with me first. Just trying to save you and I some money - Brian

What a cool looking reel with a few major flaws... first for me was the one way bearing. but yikes, grit in the clicker pin detent ?1?!... .. did Bass Pro take care of you on a replace ? or upgrade you ?

I have some pricey specialty Bead Head hooks.. what a gimmick... they are just 3X shanks with a smaller barb to let the bead slip thru. I say - crimp the barb and use the bead. A cheapo lead bead, painted or otherwise. Tungsten is just too costly for my mending tastes.

Tim, Tim, Tim... you should know better. Why don't you let me take it off your hands. As long as its a RHW 00 in all black.

mic - I swing it sometimes and drift sometimes... Sizes 12-14 as a point fly or 18-20 as a dropper (maybe below a Turcks or a hopper)

Have you ever given up on a reel ? For one reason or another something about it let you down. Sometimes the drag knob slips and tightens more than needed for no apparent reason, or you cant figure out how to quiet it down or to make it louder ? Is it hard to get into the "guts" of the reel and even when do it looks to confusing to take apart ? Tell us your stories. As a guy who is infatuated with reels, I would love to hear what you guys think.

Turck's Tarantula Hook: Tiemco 5262 or Dai-Riki 710, sizes 4-14 Thread: 3/0 Tan Tail: Amherst Pheasant tippets Body: Hare's mask rabbit fur Wing: White calftail topped with pearlescent Accent or Krystal Flash Collar: Natural deer hair Legs: DBL strand of brown rubber, medium Head: Natural deer hair spun and clipped Tying Tips For extra durability cover hook shank with thread Tail length = hoop gap width "Spikey" body with lots of guard hairs is best Wing length extends to tip of tail IMPORTANT: Collar is tied in separately from head! Imagine tying an Elk Hair Caddis wing onto the top of the fly and you've got it. As with the Elk Hair Caddis wing, don't wrap thread over the butts of the collar hairs. The rubber legs are tied in at the precise location that the collar is tied in at The head hair is tied on in two separate clumps. After spinning both clumps, whip finish and trim to shape as shown in photo...flat on bottom, tapering from front to back on top and both sides Tips for Fishing the Turck Tarantula While a dead drift still may be the single best presentation method, the Tarantula is often very effective when twitched, skated or stripped under water The Golden Tarantula is a good fly pattern for imitating stoneflies and grasshoppers Despite the beliefs of some, the Tarantula can be great in slow glassy water as well as stillwater fisheries like lakes and ponds The Tarantula is incredibly versatile and has been used to catch, not only all species of trout, but largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, grass carp, perch, seatrout, panfish and even northern pike Read Tip #1 again

Absolutely! They work everywhere fish swim.

The 'B H H E S F' or Bead Head Hare's Ear Soft Hackle (any color), either that or a BHPT, Bead Head Pheasant Tail, or a bead head flymph.

High hopes for the season sure have faded into an injury plagued season. Shutout losses really sting too. Then look at Stephen Jackson - he is unstoppable in every way and for some reason doesnt mind playing for the worst team in NFC W. What can STL do to get back on track for next year ? Fortify our defense. From a fan of all STL teams -- being in this football cellar sure does stink!

Dalton - try some of the Traditional or Classic streamer patterns. They are seldom seen to the Taneycomo trout and believe me, they like them. Daces and Darters, Ghosts and Thunder Creeks. Tigers and Witches and Bucktails and Finns. Don't forget any Muddler variation. I am not kidding in the least bit. They have worked for over a century in trout waters because they look like real minnows when wet. Best thing is - you cannot fish them wrong! Swing em. Its easy. Quarter cast at 45 degrees downstream and just hold the line and follow the drift with your tip. (( Streamer fishing is even more fun in the dark! )) Have fun - Brian

The two names you mentioned, Tarantula and Scorpions... those are the ones I have. I'll have to dig them out and take some pictures. The wooden baits all have the name Bass Buster on them.. and I have one in the box that says New Amsterdam, MO on it. Your post about what catches fish in the Midwest is exactly what I found in the 6 tackle boxes I inherited. I have more jelly colored worms in the better worm boxes that do not melt than I will ever know what to do with. Shame the rods and reels were something that I never got a chance to see after their passing. Even more sad is that a neighbor friend came over and cleaned out the basement of all the glass eyed lures that were hanging. Something like 300-400 old lures hung down in that basement around the border. Thats the same basement that I rode my big wheel down the steps when my mom wasnt looking. Perhaps that is why my head is a little out of round. cheers my friend, we share the same fond memories only mine are only a guess as I dig thru these tackle boxes - Brian

This post should be deleted. The link is no longer active. Its now a Dead End.

I had some - but they are now gone. Brian

Nice Justin.... well done. I dislike his decision but it is what it is. The Big Puma will have to fill his shoes (as we all know Holiday won't). Here is hoping for a great farm system for 2012.

Nice blogspot! Great stories and pics! (are you sure you at Turkey Creek in Hollister and not Roark Creek in some of those shots?) Carmine Lisella, a bamboo rod broker, owner of The Jordan-Mills Rod CO, always has 2-tip blanks built by Tim Zietak on hand in many sizes. Ferrules are in place along with one coat of a tung oil. Tim will also put guide markings on the opposite side of the flats as a suggestion. From the Fall 2011 catalog, he lists the blanks at $425, which is very good price for the quality. Carmine can be reached at clisella at aol dot com You can email me for his direct phone number. Also, Mike Brooks makes a killer blank for around the same or just a little less. He should be most easily found on Clarks. Oh, and Hook and Hackle just sent me their new catalog yesterday with 1 import blank and like 10 USA blanks. Good prices and you can buy it all at once to do it yourself all at once. Most of it all - Fish and feel fit! South Bends 50's bamboo ad campaign slogan! Brian

I have an entire box of Virgil's baits... wooden ones. Somebody give a shout on these. Also have a ton of his spinner baits.. blades marked as such. My grandpa and uncle were friends of his.. or spent a lot of money with him. Brian

i cannot even read ... just disbelief in all aspects, and it will take some time to read thru all this.. just not right now its too soon

and like a lover scorned.. I am now angry... with no recover in sight