ness

Maybe a stern collection letter threat is in order: Dear Outside Bend, We are disappointed you have not taken care of your fly swap with our forum. You now have two options: Forward our flies to our homes by July 15, or become a party in a legal action. A court judgment may add court costs to your obligation. A judgment against you will also damage your credit record and your standing in the Ozark Anglers community. Sincerely, ness, Esq.

That would make a good song!

South Bend was a kind of working man's fly rod, but that's a real treasure for sure. Do you know what he fished for with it? I guess there's no reel with it? That could zero you in a little. A friendly fly shop might let you try it with a few different lines to determine the right weight. Or a friend who's into fly fishing. As for repairs, it sounds from your description like it's in pretty good shape. A loose ferule isn't hard to fix, and a rewrap isn't too bad either if you find a loose guide. Lotsa folks could do it. Bamboo isn't drastically different from graphite, but given the value, sentimental and otherwise, someone with experience might be better. A lot of older cane rods can benefit from a new coat of finish too. If you can, post up some pictures. And, Google images might get you a little closer to what you've got too.

Eveything's looking pretty good under the plastic. Low of 35 last night.

Dang.

I was thinking about some kind of folding thing too. Pegboard on the back, some fold out wings with pegs for spools on one side, tool/hook storage on the other side. Wings support it when it's open, and close/latch so it can all be stuck somewhere when not in use.

I don't have much for you, but I hope this stirs some good discussion and ideas. I'm a fan of multi-purpose stuff whenever possible, and have always stayed away from a tying-specific desk with all the drawers and compartments and what not. Seems to me you're looking for two things: a good work surface with easy access to tools, and a place to store all the materials. Right now I tie on a table with a white foam board surface and a pedestal vice. Height is just right and I've got a little tool caddy for the tools. Materials are sorted into baggies in a big Rubbermaid container, so there's a lot of fumbling around when I need something. I've been tossing around the idea of some kind of peg board setup to hang the materials on like you'd see them in the shop, with an integrated tool caddy and some kinda hook storage and pegs for spools.

Yeah -- next pair I buy will be bifocal. When I bought these way back when I was good on up close work. Not any more.

Where's that global warming when you need it?

Similar to my setup Billethead. I like the idea of the chicken wire over the hoops. I've just been laying the plastic over the hoops, which requires pretty sturdy clamping at the corners to keep it from sagging in. Man -- that's a lot of salad you've got going there. I put the maters and peppers in last weekend, even though the weather said it was gonna get cold. They were still in cells and starting to suffer from it. Covered them all up Wednesday night. I got a little late start on peas, onions, spinach, lettuce and other cool weather stuff in the ground. Transplanted some lettuce and chard last weekend. Trying to stagger out the lettuce so I don't get it all at once.

Bogus address.

Can't say my setup is ideal, but here goes: I've got two big Plano boxes that stay in my big bag all the time. It's the inventory -- not what I carry in the vest. I've got four smallish boxes in my vest -- two for dries, two for wets -- one each for big and small. I like to carry nymphs in a boxes with foam, and dries in boxes with compartments. I could probably reduce it to two boxes, but I kinda like to grab and go, rather than fine tune things too awful much. I'm not overloaded, but could get by with less.

He'd go broke trying to eat steak with them every night.

Hoglaw -- did the same as you. I need glasses for distance, and can't wear contacts, so I popped for prescription polarized amber. Pretty expensive but I've had them for approximately 10 years. People always say they won't pay up for expensive sunglasses because they'll lose them. I always say once you pop for them you think about them differently and don't leave them laying around where they'll get lost or stepped on. I've always got them on a lanyard thingy too, and they're always in the case when I'm not wearing them. Mine aren't wrap around, but they do have wide sides -- which is nice for cutting out sun coming in from the side. moguy1973 -- I gotta find some cat crap -- fogging is always a problem for me. BTW -- skin cancer isn't something to take lightly. It's not just cutting off a mole or a spot and having a scar. That stuff can metastasize quickly and end up in places that'll kill you quick.

Dang. Oh, I guess I already said that.

Ha! Not a word you run into, well, ever. I had a boss years ago that would toss that one out there all the time.

Dang, ducky. Weather's been pretty screwy up here. Cold, hot, cold. Like JD -- it's greening up pretty good and making it tougher. Found one gray last weekend, and now we're looking at snow.

The outriggers? Not mine -- just grabbed it off the web.

I think we're looking at a defalcation here, boys. I'm gonna dust off my skiptracing skills and get back to you.

One of my favorite ways to fish flat water. I also take it to the pool and watch chicks.

I keep telling JD he needs to wall off his property. About 8 feet high ought to do it. Maybe some strategically placed arrow slits ad a drawbridge.

This may help:

So, uh....

Just a Cub Scout selling popcorn, and I've still got some from 1995. Anyway, it all turned out to be an elaborate practical joke. Nixon released Danielle and we all had a good laugh. Oh hell, there goes the red phone.