Ralph

Wire items in the third pic are to support the rod as it is being wrapped. If you will notice, the thread tension device has grooves on the clap. The middle wire piece in the third pic can be placed on the tension device and you have to ""hooks/cups" to hold/rest the blank. The other two in the third pic look as though they can be clamped to the table or bench for added support farther away from the wrapper. I would guess your grandfather fabricated these items himself. Ralph

Grew up in Missouri but now live in Raleigh, NC so my home waters are....the Smith River below Philpott Lake in Bassett, VA, a tailwater fishery that's about 2 hours from the house. Having the time though, I head to the South Holston and the Watagua rivers in E. Tenn. Can't get enough of the South Holston and there are some buisers to be had on the river! Ralph

catman, I had purchased a couple of furled leaders on ebay and tried one out last fall. Rigged the second one up this past spring on another rod. I liked them so much I now have my own furling jig and make my own furled leaders. I have fished them for trout and smallmouth throwing tiny flies to poppers for smallmouth and don't have the first complaint. I can't believe I waited so long to try the first ones I had. The kool thing about making the leaders yourself, is that you can change the tapers or the size and type of material used to make the leaders to suit your prefernece. I have given a few to friends and they have asked for more leaders too. I am currently making mine out of 6/0 and 8/0 tying thread and .004 and .005 invisible sewing thread. Give em a try...nothing to loose and you might be surprised like I was. Ralph

Smokey Mountain Blackbird....fly delveloped and tied by Hugh Hartsell, guide in the Smokeys. Here's a link to his web site where you can purchase the fly...... http://www.smokymountainflyguide.com/ Ralph

Aquaseal works great for all these purposes. I use Aquaseal to attach braided loops to the end of fly lines as well as seal the end of the fly lines. Ralph

Howdy, I live in Apex, NC which is just outside of Raleigh. I grew up in St. Louis and fish Bennet Spring a bunch. Fished the White tthree different times when on vacation in Mountian Home when I was in highschool. I took my son to Bennet when he was 12 and that started 9 years of trips to Bennet from Tallahasse, Fl. I moved to NC in 2001 and have been enjoying the fly fishing in this fine state and in the state of Va. Home waters are the Smith River in Bassett, Va. fishing for wild browns and a few stocked bows. Visit this board and a few others to keep uo with what's going on in my old stomping grounds. Thanks, for letting me keep up with the goings on, Ralph