bowfin47

If you're truly interested in learning about tying with deer hair, then: 1. Find and purchase a copy of Billy Munn's DVD on tying with Deer Hair. It is an amazing clear set of instructions and information from one of the best hair men ever! You will not regret this purchase. 2. Attend the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave and Fly Fair in Mountain Home Arkansas on Oct. 6-9th, http://www.southerncouncilfff.org/conclave/2011/index.php At this show you will have the opportunity to learn from a variety of marvelous deer hair tyers from across the country. (And while you're there, go ahead and join the Federation, since 1965 the FFF has been the voice of fly fishing and the glue that held the largest number of tyers/tying instructors together.) Bowfin47

BINGO!! That's how this boy was raised!

I hope that the kid wasn't wearing his seatbelt!

Albright has their breathable Trinity waders on sale. Anyboby have an experience with these? Typically, I only get up to cold water from Louisiana a couple of times a year and tend to find that about every other year or so my "economy/sale priced" waders need replacement(and no I've never sprung for Simms). A year ago, I purchased a pair Trinity's for my two boys. I liked the waders, but we didn't get a chance to use them last year. Thanks, Bowfin47

As I remember that "wierd 'off white' color" IS a color that you have seen before... just not on a reel! It is the "bullet proof" paint that is used on computer cases.

Since y'all are talking about Chuck Davidson's midges, you might want to check out the letter that Chuck sent to me in 1984, in which he gives the recipes for his 5 favorite midges. This letter was published in Southern Council's "Long Cast", Vol 27 No. 3 Fall Issue P.16: http://www.southerncouncilfff.org/longcasts/2008/LongCasts-V27N3-Color.pdf I hope that ya' enjoy these patterns from the grand old man of the Norfork. He is still greatly missed by those of us lucky enough to have met him. Enjoy, Bowfin47

Antony van Leeuwenhoek first observed bacteria in 1683 in his newly-made microscope (He ground the lens himself), but the first microorganism identified as the cause of a specific disease (i.e. Antrax) in 1876 by Dr. Robert Koch (1843–1910). As a learned man of his day, Benjamin Franklin, (1706-1790) probably had the knowledge that the world teemed with small organisms, but like others of his day, he probably regarded this as an interesting but rather irrelevant. Besides in the 1700's, they were not called "bacteria". The term "bacteria" didn't exist until the mid-1800s. Franklin did however, state: "Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water." Bowfin47

Terry, I work for the Louisiana Office of Public Health - Sanitarian Services Section. We couldn't believe that anyone would eat raw crawfish (i.e. crayfish ). Every year, down here in Louisiana, we eat millions of lb.s of crawfish, and I've never heard of anyone eating them raw. That also takes into account those locals who were enjoying adult beverages while the tons of crawfish prepared and consuming those mudbugs. Kyle

The last fly rod that we had break was by my 17 year old son, Ian, as he was trying to put a Boga on a 35+ lb redfish, while soloing in a Sawyer Tripper canoe in a lighting filled, driving rainstorm in 3ft.+ white-capping waves... He "shortened' up on MY 6 wt. Orvis Clearwater, about 6 inches above the handle, as he was "horsing up" the red..... Guess where the rod broke? Kyle PS Many of ya' will remember Ian from many years at Southern Council Conclaves.

Are any of the Ithaca's, Model 37's? If so, I'd be interested... I've shot a 20 gauge Model 37 since I was a kid. It has always been my favorite "shooter". A few years ago for his 12th Christmas, I gave my 20 gauge Ithaca Model 37 to my now 17 year old son, who also loves it. While I have several other shotguns, he will only carry that 37. However, being 17, he is lusting for a 12 gauge Model 37. I'd love to find another 20 gauge Model 37 for my 9 year old. He'll be ready in a year or two. I was hoping to "pass on" the older son's 20 gauge to the younger son while replacing the older boy's shotgun with another out of the gun cabinet, but that just isn't going to happen! So, I'd be very interested in a 20 gauge Model 37. Thanks, Bowfin47

For canoing the upper section of the Buffalo River, you should bring your family and stay at Pruitt's Historic Stone Cabin. The cabin is located some two miles east of Jasper and 17 miles from Ponca. The cabin sits on on a hundred+ acres alongside the Little Buffalo River, which opens other easy canoing options. There is a great private swimming hole for picnicing or canoe lauching right on the property! Located within about two miles of the Buffalo River, you can easily drive, bike, hike, or canoe to the Buffalo. Pruitt's Historic Stone Cabin is very clean, comfortable, and well furnished. The cabin has two bedrooms, one bath, living room, fully equipped kitchen and separate dining room; sun porch with fireplace, day bed and futon. It can sleep up to nine. This traditional Arkansas stone cabin rents for a great price, and the the owners are real nice folks! Let's see... a private river landing/launch/swimming/fishinghole; deer in the fields in the mornings; 100+ acres of privicy; room for nine; located close to Pruittt's Landing and rents out at an unbelievable price... What more could ya' ask for??? http://www.mcrush.com/pruitts/ Kyle M.

Love it!

Soggyfeet, Terry did a great job of explaining Southern Conclave, except for the point that for many of us, this Federation of Fly Fishers gathering is a "do not miss" event... It is a gather of friends - old and new. It is not an "exclusive" gathering, but rather, it is one of the most "open and inviting" gathering of fly ftyers, casters, program presenters and other Federators that you'll ever have the joy of attending. While there will be commercial booths, this is not a "commercial" show. It is entirely put on by FFF volunteers... like Terry. People who often travel great distances, always at their own expense, in order to work at and attend this show. I have been attending since 1984 and tying since 1987 - Like everyone else, I've worked booths, helped with auctions, hauled equipment, worked the bar, helped at the Youth Conclaves, and cooked & served a bunch of food. I've only missed SOC a few times, mainly due to hurricanes and such, and I live nine hours away! Oh yeah, technically, I haven't been a member of the Southern Council since the South Eastern Council split off in 1990! Now I'm a member of the FFF's Gulf Coast Council, but I plan on being in Mt. Home in October! So, come and join us at the 2008 Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fisher's Annual Conclave in Mountian Home October 2-4.... I'm sure that you won't regret the time spent. Here is a link to the Southern Council's Conclave web site: http://www.southerncouncilfff.org/conclave/conclave.php If ya' catch me tying, I'll tie ya' one of my favorite flies... Kyle Moppert PS I see that your young one is only one year old, when he's (she's) a little older, you'll have to bring him to fish in the Youth Conclave on Dry Run Creek. My kids have grand memories of "their" Conclaves and times on Dry Run.

Thanks Dano... really nice video. Gary was a great guy... Bowfin47

Another option that has become a big hit in Louisiana amoung the crappie fishermen is the Bait Pump Soft Bait Injection System: http://www.thebaitpump.com/ It was designed by a Louisiana crappie fisherman who expressed the same complaints expressed above. There has been a lot of discussion about The Bait Pump for the past two years on the Louisiana Crappie Forum: http://www.crappie.com/gr8vb3/forumdisplay.php?f=43

Are ya' sure it was squirrels? If you left them out overnight, it may have been the "night shift", i.e. rats. If you have squirrels in the daytime, you probably have rats at night... especially if you have bird feeders in the yard... or dogs - 'cus rats love to eat dog feces!

Neat post... i enjoyed it. Now, to find out what my nephew did with my old Crossman and my father's Beemans...

O.K. as a "lurker in the shadows", I rarely post, but I do occasionally join in. I took your hint and amended my profile... I live in south Louisiana. Now, let's see if other lurkers will do the same? Tightlines, Bowfin47

While I've tyed my own for many years, I'd ask that you think long and hard about where ya' buy your flies, materials and gear... If you don't support your local shop as well as those shops in the areas that you prefer to fish, then you'll find yourself without ANY local shop or shop to visit when ya' hit the trail. We all know of great shops that are no more... Then you too may have to travel hundreds of miles to personally check out the diffences between A and B or whatever the latest and greatest items are... Yes, we can all buy it cheaper on line, and I do occasional do just that, but when I buy on line, I first try to check out the shops from the areas that I frequent... Over the years, I've purchsed a number of items and sent local friends to shops owned by friends (i.e. Tom Hargroves in St. Louis). For instance just today, I sent a link to a Cotter shop to my nephew who is in the market purchase a new reel... Alternatively, I also try to purchase "stuff" at the Federation of Fly Fisher Conclaves from both the raffles/auctions, as well as from the dealers who support the showes. Tight lines, Bowfin47

TG, A number of years ago I saw some FTDA marketing data that showed that the average age for people to begin fly fishing is 35 years old. 35 years of age to start a "new sport"! Think about that for a moment... it is somewhat amazing! Many believe that there is an esoteric component to this sport that (often/usually?) comes with age ... CC and others gave marvelous explanations of this, but in the end how do you explain an esoteric? Now, while most come to this sport later in life, there are number of individuals that take up the sport as youngsters, and of those individuals who do take up fly fishing as kids, the vast majority are mentored by an older fly fisher who introduced them to the sport. Most of those mentors followed CC's excellent advice about the popping bugs and bream. That is what happened in my case, and how I introduced fly fishing to my kids. I think that if you follow CC's advice, you may find that fly fishing to more appeal for you in years to come, than it does today. Tightlines, Bowfin47

For more opinions on this rod: http://p099.ezboard.com/eagle-claw-FEATHER...picID=375.topic

After reading the postings on the Eagle Claw "feather Light" Fly Rod, I thought that several of y'all may want to check out the Fiberglass Flyrodders Forum - A web Forum for fly fishers that enjoy fishing, collecting, building and dealing in vintage and modern fiberglass fly rods: http://p099.ezboard.com/fiberglassflyrodde...glassflyrodders Tight lines, Bowfin47

Oh boy, bait fishermen who don't want to "hassle" with native baitfish get to introduce another exotic into the ecosystem. Not just their local ecosystem's waters, but mine.... 'cuz your waters drain down here to Louisiana. Thanks a lot fellows! "most hybrids have very low reproductive capability" Yeah right, and hybrid white amur were not supposed to reproduce. So people put them in ponds and lakes across the midwest (It was illegal in Louisiana.), and now I can take you to places down here that are full of white amur - of all sizes, but those once beautiful clear waters are now always muddy! "if an adult is small the only eco-system impact i could see would be the consumption of various fish spawns and planktons and other small forages...as for them they would become forage themselves for larger species." Well, zebra mussels are small, but their impact is huge! "In the lakes that we fish I can't see a problem with a minnow that gets up to a max 8 inches being much of a nuisance fish" ..."I never have really worried about minnows that I use becoming a nusiance...but who knows." WHO KNOWS!!! darn, it's nice to know that YOU cann't see much of a problem, and I'm glad to know that your not worried! so "What the hell". How many examples do you (i.e the larger group of you) have to see, before you understand that random introductions of exotics are rarely ever good for the native species? Maybe you've heard of some of these: rock slim, hydrilla, johnson grass, kudzo, all species of carp, English sparrows, starlings, water hyacinths, tallow trees, pepper trees, Asian Tiger Mosquitoes, New Zealand Mud Snails and on and on... WHO KNOWS???? Oh, just ask the folks who like to fish Yellowstone Lake what fish introductions have done to their native cutthroats.... By the way, just this morning the local newspaper reported that Africanized Honey Bees have been found in south Louisiana - http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/9436881.h...owAll=y&c=y So, it's only a matter of time until they get up to your neighborhood. When they do, please remember the idiot that brought them into BRAZIL. I guess he said "who knows!" You'd think that ALL fishermen would see the risk that comes with introducting flora and fauna to ecosystems... and would refuse to be a party such introductions, but "who knows"..... Oh well, I'll be down in New Orleans this weekend, so I think I'll take my nephew out fly fishing on some of the bayous. But we cann't go catch bluegills or other native sunfish. Why? Because we'll have to fish for cichlids, 'cuz some idiot pet store owner thought that it would be neat to have cichlids in the local waters down there... (i.e. "Texas Cichlids" became established in the drainage canals of suburban New Orleans where they have since nearly eradicated competing Centrarchid (Sunfish, or colloquially, "Perch" "- http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_bluec.php). Well, I think that I'll go back to "shaddows" and won't bother you guys again for a while, but who knows? Oh and good luck with those Black Salties, I hope ya' catch a bunch of fish.... Bowfin47

Well, Marc Pinsel and the rest of the crew from south Louisiana and S.E. Texas have been "drafted" again to cook the chicken for the party on the Thursday before Southern Conclave. I just hope that when the chickens is delivered this year that it is not frozen solid! Cuttin' up frozen chicken is tough work! Bowfin47

Dam! We an't got no morels in Louisiana! This is the only state in the continental US where morels are not found. Just another reason to head north for vacation.