ness

...or if you like shopping at Cabela's, you could have the same scissors for 3 times the price http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Fly-Tying/Tools-Vises|/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/104340780/i/103884480/Rainys-Fine-Tipped-Scissors/1546645.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-fly-fishing-fly-tying-tools-vises%2F_%2FN-1100441%2FNo-48%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd744267%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNP%26recordsPerPage%3D48&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd744267%3Bcat103884480

Good luck to ya mike.

I'd skip kit too. Get a decent vice, the materials and basic tools to tie a couple patterns. Wayne had two great choices for a beginner that will catch fish. They both require minimal ingredients, and will teach a couple basic techniques. A trip to YouTube would show you how to do it, but ideally get someone to tutor you. I got a pair of Wiss quick clips years ago and have never looked back. Economical, ergonomic, last a long time. The finger ring means you never have to set them down. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000P1HKHA/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1363727338&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

Wise 1 Spencer 0 ness N/A

Lemme tell you -- those guys are ALL business.

Brian Wise is good too. Here's a picture I took when he was guiding me a few years back. He made me take the back, and between his casts he would turn back and bark out instructions to me. Looking back on it now, it seems like I did most of the work...

http://www.sunburstranchcanoe.com I've always dealt with Amy there. She's real nice. There's a dude that works for her -- name escapes me at the moment -- he's ok too I guess.

New York

Mine are going in the mail tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing what everybody comes up with.

A lot of the time when I'm fishing small creeks, it comes down to a roll, flip, dap or bow-and-arrow -- depending on what obstructions there are. A roll requires a clear opening in front and can deliver the fly more accurately once you've got the technique down. Just a little flip may be all you can squeeze in if there's a lot of brush around. If you're in skinny water, you've got to think about the movement of your rod, line and leader through there. Dapping the fly -- just dangling over the water -- can be effective when your options are severely limited. I've rarely used the bow-and-arrow. It takes more room to load the rod than you'd think, and I've never really been able to get a lot of velocity on the fly or deliver it with any accuracy. It's really a last-ditch move for me. Roll casting is a technique you should master, including a cross-body roll cast. I still practice it when the fishing is slow. Flips are less scientific -- just getting the fly out there -- but it's worth working on.

Good going on that Matt!

Jd: Gotcha - essentially a cold frame. I guess I was thinking you we're talking about regular beds with glass over it. Are those permanent? Wayne: sounds like the classic setup. I built something like that but only use it to harden off. Then I put it away. Kinda like what you're doing jd .i'd like to get a few cold tolerant things going earlier in the cold frame or under hoops in the garden

Jealous! Those are some cool birds. Whenever I've seen an active PM house I have enjoyed watching them. Haven't seen any in several years here in the burbs

I think we've all got the picture hoglaw. Glad to hear how wonderful you are. Sometimes on the web you can't tell until someone up and tells you a few times.

We were doing this stuff back in the '60s:

How are you suspending the glass over the beds? Are the sides high enough, using hay bales or something else?

I fumble around with it -- nothing to brag about. Mostly traditional, Irish or Bluegrass. Been using Promasters the most, but have a few other odds and ends too. I've got more than I need, so I've been thinking about putting them on e-Bay. I've restored a couple old Marine Bands, including this pre-war mouse ear that was a rusty mess when I got it:

So, how 'bout them Royals?

mixermarkb: nice remarks concerning the government. Here's hoping Luke gets out of that mess, and his dad gets well enough to work and provide a good home for him. JD -- looks like the Indians finally showed up, so I'm outta here.

The triangle? Yes, it's done and really nice too. They even got the marketing guys to come up with a new name since Grandview Triangle has suck a stigma: 'Three Trails Crossing'. The $250 million they spent shaved a minute off my daily commute. Nice! The $300 million they're spending on widening 435 to 75 lanes at Quivira could save me another minute or two on top of that.

That's a pretty sad story right there mixermarkb. I wish I had the time to respond in full to that and a couple other things that have been said here too. Maybe later on.

You gotta be driving for a living....If you ever drive up 71 to KC around lunch time, let me know you're coming.

Blazerman, Building the raised beds was the best thing I ever did. A lot less work and a lot better results. I really enjoy starting seeds indoors. For one, it starts in the doldrums of winter when I'm ready to see spring come along. I can choose my varieties and have them ready to go when the temps are right, and shave a little time off things. It's a little cheaper too. No fancy setup, just shop lights, shelves, trays, cells and a timer. It's something I really look forward to in the winter when hunting and football come to an end.

I need it too, OB. I'll be wrapping things up this week.