Njardar

Any thoughts on the Orvis TLS Power Matrix 4 wt 2 piece rod? I'm looking to purchase a 4 wt for use in CO this summer and for my trips to Montauk. Orvis has a sale going on this week where you get the reel free when you purchase a rod. This would be a savings of $198 if I ordered the rod with the Batenkill large arbor real. Seem like quite a savings... $325 for a rod and reel, does anyone know of comparable deals or if this rod is worth it? - Charlie

The river did fish really well, came back with some beautiful fish. However, I could not figure out the fly fishing area... it just schooled me. That said, just being there really beat a day at work! - Charlie

The rain Sunday did make the water a bit cloudy, but not too bad. The water on the fly area was clear Monday, however, the flow was pretty good. Whatever I tried just drifted past them, I could not get anything to work. Better luck nect time.

I would think that Kirk could answer any questions you may have. He took me out last year on the Big Thompson and I had a great time. That said I'm using a different guide this year because I got an excellent recommendation from somone who has used him many times. We have emailed several times and he has provided a lot of goof information. - Charlie

Hudson's Corner is labled on Map2 Montauk Map - Charlie

Thanks! Now if I can just make it through one more workday.

I'm heading to Montauk this weekend and this will be my second fly fishing trip. So I would certainly appreciate any recomendations on what flies/nymphs are working as well a what size tippet to use. Any other advise is welcomed. - Charlie

You sir are an artist... very nicely done! If you sell them send me a PM with the price, I would love to purchase one. - Charlie

I would like to start making my own leaders and have what may be a basic question (at least I hope it is). For diameters greater than a 0X tippet what material should I use? Monofilament comes in sizes such as .020" for the butt through 0.014" for the midsection. Is there anything special that separates tippet material from monofilament and is it OK to use a quality monofilament in a leader, or do I need to buy a leader kit? Thanks in advance! - Charlie

Anyone use a dropper rig at Montauk or the Current River? If so what are you using? I've seen a bunch of posts with list of flies that are working but I don't recall any with a dry and emerger, two nymphs, streamer and nymph, etc. Is this technique not commonly used in this area? Regards, - Charlie

You may want to give Old Town a call, I'm sure the've delt with this before. http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/contact_us.html - Charlie

Thanks to all for the great suggestions. I found the hooks at Feathercraft and have and ordered the powder coat from BPS. Already had the Sally Hansens, I use it as a flexible cement for feather wing cases.. it's a very versatile product. - Charlie

Actually I plan to use both. My buddy likes to use ultralite and I like fly fishing. So if I understand correctly, if I go by weight only I will get the correct sized hook? I think I'm still confused... but my wife might say that is common.

I'd like to tie some Marabou Jigs for an up coming trip and I'd like some advice on which hooks to purchase? I understand fly hook sizes, but when I looked at jig head hooks they were sized by weight instead of hook size. So I'm looking for recommendations on a brand of hook and weight/size suitable for Montauk and the Current River. Thanks in advance! - Charlie

Most GPS units have the ability to switch the format on how coordinates are displayed. In your case you want to change from a decimal format to degree minute second format. If your Hummingbird does not have this option you can find several convertors online. Here is one from the FCC: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html - Charlie

Kirk took me on the Big Thompson below Estes Park, he guaranteed fish and he delivered. We hit five or six spots in four hours, if there was no action we moved on. The last place was a little known public piece of river between private land. That place was incredible... if only I remembered where it was. - Charlie

I second Kirk's Fly Shop. Kirk took me out last year for my very first time and I caught 15 fish in 4-hours. There were many more bites, but I just could not set the hook in time. Kirk is a great guy and I'm probably going to hire him again this year to learn what's effective before striking out on my own. - Charlie

I believe the older Minolta lenses will fit the Sony, but you may have to use the camera in manual, shutter priority or aperature priority modes. As you look at new cameras take an older lens with you and see what features work and what ones do not. I personally have a case with two 35mm Minolta backs and lenses that I do not use with my Minolta digital (same model that Sony makes now). You will also find that newer lenses are much lighter that the older ones, and while I use to carry three lenses I now carry two because of advances in variable focal length design. If you have an older flash it will not fit the newer alphas. - Charlie

Thanks for the eagle report, we are going try and go there this weekend. - Charlie

Received mine today, and excellent value, especially at this price. Tim is very good to deal with and sent the order out right away. - Charlie

I'm curious as to how many members are located in central Illinois and whether there is any interest in getting together for a fly tying event? I have access to a clubhouse on Lake Springfield (IL) as a possible meeting place and I'm thinking that this might be a good opportunity to meet other local fly tyers and share techniques. If you are interested send me a PM. All the best, - Charlie

Springfield, IL checking in.

Wrapping with wire sounds like a good idea, I'll try it. I'm using Jeremy Hunt's recipe from this website with cream antron yarn for the body simply because that's what was handy. At this point I'm working on technique... if a trout went for one of mine right now they should be wearing glasses.

I have a basic question on how to position the peacock herl for a crackleback; do you stack the herl so that the herl is facing a certain direction in the finished fly? If so what direction is that? I'm new to fly tying and steadily improving. I've made some decent looking cracklebacks so far, but I'm just not seeing enough of the herl green in the finished fly. Any comments/suggestions are appreciated. - Charlie

Thanks to all, looks like I have a lot to choose from and get me through the winter. - Charlie