Terry Beeson

What kind (brand) is it and how old is it? If it's a good brand of graphite, it may have a warranty. That's the easiest fix....

Hmmmmm.... Lying on the beach checking out scantly clad Hawaiian and tourist babes roaming the sands... VS. Riding a boat off the coast with an ugly boat captain and first mate, getting seasick, and all to feel the tug of a stinkin' nasty fish... Decisions, decisions... Geez... and all my MIL gets me for Christmas is a set of handkerchiefs from WalMart...

I have no doubts you didn't intend so, but your original post did seem to suggest a need to be more "professional-like" when participating in fly swaps. I felt a bit of "maybe I'm not good enough" when I first read it. I don't think you meant to discourage anyone, but I did get that tone. But we all know that writing and reading something on the internet can be an articulation nightmare... I have used swaps as an excuse to do more tying and like troutchaser, I have tied more than the requirement and sent only the best of those. Participating in swaps can be a learning experience for many amateurs like myself and a chance to see some top notch flies from guys like you, Jeremy, and otheres... (OK... I'll include Leonard in there too... ) Attending events like Sowbug and Conclave or going to watch Jeremy at Phil's and just hanging out with some pro tier working in the fly shop is a learning experience. However, maybe many of us would probably be better served to sit down and tie ourselves and have a pro tier to come by, critique, answer questions, and show us the tips and techniques that make for a better fly. As I said in my earlier post, yes I do think you should attempt to put your best foot forward with the flies you submit, but that best foot might include the wrong size thread or wraps around the eye. I was not offended by your post. I took what you said as far as tips for tying as a lesson learned. However I guess I just felt if I had asked for a critique of my flies, I would have felt better about such a posting...

I'm not so sure I agree with everything said about this. Maybe I'm missing the real idea behind the fly swap, but my take is that I get more of a thrill from just RECEIVING flies from some of the guys in the swap. I have several from swaps that came from Canada and states outside the Missouri/Arkansas area. Those may never see the end of a tippet simply because having the fly is more special than any fish it might catch. As for tying quality, not all of us spend that many hours at the vise during the week. Other duties seem to get in the way and find priority over tying a half dozen or dozen flies. I've received flies from tiers that were what I would consider "sub-standard" quality at best. But I enjoyed the idea of swapping with that person. This is all a learning experience for most of us. I consider myself still quite the novice at tying. I don't tie perfect flies and don't force that issue on myself. I must be able to tie very fishable flies, since I have caught fish on most every pattern I've ever tied. Even the first fly I ever tied - a wolly bugger - brought several nice 'Bows to hand. If the idea of the fly swap is to get the highest quality flies, then I need not join any fly swap and I tend to believe there would be but a few on this forum that would qualify. That said, I DO think there should be some effort by the individual to make the due date, have the correct number of flies, and do whatever reasonable job he is capable of doing in tying the flies. Then again, maybe this is why I have been reluctant to get in many of the fly swaps lately... Just my opinion for what it's worth... and that ain't much...

Sounds like I need to go smallie hunting this week... "Anonymous" stream name, huh? Think I could name that tune in 3 notes?

Happy Birthday (a day late) to all ya'll... I was attending the birthday party for my cousin's daughter who celebrated her 40th yesterday... April Fool's birthdays can be a lot of fun!...

Yes... worth posting for sure. KEWL pic!!! thanks for posting...

There are several things to consider when looking at boats like you are seeking. I prefer all welded boats vs. riveted. Every riveted boat I've had or been in has developed a leak in one of the rivets at some point. But there are a lot of riveted boats out there, so there must be some advantages... Thickness of aluminum is an issue many don't look at. Of course the thinner the metal, the lighter the boat. But you give up some durability along with the weight with each mil (0.001") thickness. Also, heavier boats are harder to "push" with a motor. For what you are going to do, there will be a "fine line" you'll have to work with as far as thickness. Flat bottom vs. V-bottom. V-bottom will give you a smoother ride in rough water. Flat bottoms are better for "light loads" and smooth water. Width and height have to be looked at also. The wider the boat, the more stable it is. But, again, you give up some "power" and add weight with every inch of width. More height will give you less water over the sides and will hold more weight inside, but they are harder to get in and out of plus the wind will blow a higher boat around more than a "shorter" one. As far as brands, there are a lot of GOOD brands out there. My feeling is that you get a "major" brand with the qualities you want, you can't go wrong. If you're buying a used boat, especially an older boat, the one thing I would want to do is take it out for at least an hour or so to find out what's "wrong" with it... Hope this helps...

That's what I thought it was... KEWL... I found a roll of that magnetic tape (1" wide magnet with adhesive on the back) and put a strip on my tying base and put a few inside my hook box to keep the hooks from falling out if the box is turned upside down.

JoRoB... what's the horseshoe shaped object on the small station? That small one is perfect for travelling... (I gotta get a place with a shop... My saws and sanders are NOT gathering enough sawdust...)

Hmmmm... you sure you're not on the witness protection program and your real name is Vinny "The Grim Reaper" Giovanni? Hey... I just found out May 19th is Sucker Dayz here in Nixa... Hope I can make 'em both!

Things to do before I die: 1. See the Grand Canyon - Check 2. Spend time on a Caribbean island - Check 3. Make love to a Playboy bunny - Ch... uh... not verified. 4. Join a rock 'n' roll band - Check 5. Prove the JFK conspiracy - 6. Find cure for cancer - 7. Prove I'm Bill Gates' illegitimate son. 8. Balance my checkbook - 9. Achieve world peace - 10. Fish in Alaska - Dang... I better get with the program! Can I fit in your suitcase, Phil?

Welcome to the forum... I think you'll enjoy... (Just watch for that Army fishing type guy... he drives a Ford!)

Ah, yes... Poke greens... Mother Nature's sprang tonic!!! But they don't even serve it at Poke Salad Mary's in Silver Dollar City... Of course, most extension agents will tell you NOT to eat it. It DOES contain toxins... My experience has been the young shoots boiled a few times over will get rid of the toxins. Then, put them in some butter in a frying pan, mix in some beaten eggs and a little sugar, stir until the eggs are done... MMMmmmMMM MMM MMMMMmmmmmm!!!!! It'll put lead in your pencil for sure!! Poke greens, saute'd morrells, and wild turkey stew!... With a wedge of fresh hot cornbread... honey and butter... Better'n hamhocks and grits!!!

That's good news... Now for the follow through...

Make him an offer he can't refuse... Geez... I hope we don't gather 'round the pavillion and a guy delivers a package with a dead fish in it indicating "John sleeps wid da fishes..." And I wouldn't accept an offer from one of his guys to go for a drive out in the country either...

You got THAT right!!! Yep... that's the hole. Always seems to be several bigguns there. I just hope no AGFC enforcement officers see that pic of Dano fightin' that fish...

Hey Don... He may tell you it's "none of your beeswax" where he got it... :lol: Couldn't resist... Gordon McKenzie from the UK uses a dubbing loop with squirrel tail to make hackle. There was a guy at Sowbug last year demonstrating his technique for dubbing that was a bit different from anything we're use to seeing. I think he was from Montana or Wyoming... Anyone remember him? Then there is the Marc Petitjean method... Lots of dubbing techniques and methods out there.

Who, me? Thanks, ya'll...

John, Back home I went to elementary school with some kids who were part of a local Italian community. Later, I worked with one of those guys and every year he would take orders for homemade Italian sausage and wine. He got me started on Dago Red and I started buying a gallon or two from him every so often. One year he hired my band to play the New Years Eve bash they were having at church. Of course there was plenty of Dago Red flowing that night and it was one of the very few nights the band got sloshed during our set. (Our rule was no drinking until the last set and then in moderation.) The party ended with buiscuts, sausage, and eggs at 2am... MAN what a night!!! My sister gave us a quart jar of Italian sausages for Christmas and she did have a bit of Dago Red to sample Christmas Day... You are absolutely right... a little goes a LONG way...

Click here to read my latest offering - A Bad Day Fishing Pure fiction, but could happen for sure...

Before sitting down to a big plate of saute'd morels, read the section from the morel expert website about "false morels"... Interesting reading. (True morels are hollow...)

Last time I went, I was just going to hang out with Dano. Dang if he didn't talk me into buying a couple pair of wading pants! Yep... I'll never... (OK... NEVER say never)... I will USUALLY go into the outlet store before going to the big store...

"Uh... well... my dog died and my grandmother ate my homework..." Hey... he might be like the guy I was fishing beside the other day. He and I were the only ones there and he was fishing about 30 yards or so downstream from me. While we were fishing, this funeral procession went by on the road by the river... Well, the guy takes off his hat, puts it over his heart, and stops fishing for a moment while the procession passed. Out of slight embarrassment, I did the same. After it went by, the guy started casting again. I called out to him, "Hey that was a nice gesture on your part - stopping your fishing and removing your hat for that funeral procession. I'm impressed!" He just kept casting and yelled back, "Yeah, it's the least I could do. I mean, heck, I was married to her for 35 years!"

Web... depends on the material, length of said material, and how you wrap it on the hook. But, yes... for the most part it hides the thread well.