Terry Beeson

Other than the fact that I was "drooling" to get on the water and feel some tugging on the end of my line, I had a great time. I was pretty tired when I got home, but it was worth it. Good to put faces with names and good to get to know some neighbors. Good to meet all of you. Just hope next time I can join you on the water! The food was great! I'm posting another thread just for the recipes for the dishes. John - Tell Tami that's what you get when you let a bunch of guys cook... no veggies! Phil - thanks for the tarps. I almost froze to death before you nailed that first one up! That wind was "WICK-ED!!!" Yep - an annual event would be good. But also how about a get-together in the "warmer" months. Maybe a fly tying, fly fishing, casting clinic, pot luck, lie tellin', fishin' weekend.

I'll even it up...

Mr Ducky wants to drive down to Taney and fish tonight. Mrs Ducky would drive down to Taney in the morning. Do you think he should go fishing tonight or spend NYE with his family? His "choice" depends on your votes as his wife will only let him come down early if we vote YES to this question...

They weren't smilin'... they were laughin'... at they crazy human out in the rain... (Best time to fish, by the way...)

Yep... I want to see everyone safe and in good spirits in the morning. So be safe tonight. I'll be celebrating with my lovely bride at home since our 11 year old is coming home this afternoon... dang it....

I made my first whip finisher out of a coat hanger. Phil, fingers are faster because you don't have to spend five minutes figuring out where you put your fingers in the tying station...

MrDucky, What Dano and Steve said... As for substituting materials, I do a lot of that when tying. For instance, I'll have a recipe that calls for mallard flank and all I have is wood duck flank. I'll tie it and many times it is acceptable or even BETTER to my eyes. Fly tying, you'll find, has two schools of thought... the strictly by the book school and the very inovative and experimental school. I suppose I belong to the experimental group. Keep in mind that you are tying a fly to entice a fish first and to imitate a food source second. Chenille vs. Vernille is a matter of size and "plush"-ness. Chenille comes in several "sizes" and the use depends on the "fatness" of the fly you are tying. But the main thing is when it is tied, will it look like dinner to the fish? In my opinion, many flies hook many more fishermen than they do fish. I've been in fly shops with a multitude of flies on display for sale. One shop in particular the main tyer came up to me and pointed out a fly. I told him it looked like it would not catch anything. He told me he had trouble GIVING them away much less selling them, but that it was one of his most productive flies. He gave me one and I took it to the river that afternoon. Sure enough, I had a really good afternoon of fishing that fly. So, my advice (for what it's worth and that ain't much) is to experiment with different materials. Keep in mind that just because YOU think it looks good doesn't mean the fish will think so. As well, I've had flies that I tied and thought "that will scare the fish off" and then decided to try it with good results.

Dang... I bet if Harry Boyd were to be in the area, he'd do it. Well, I didn't get married in waders, but I did get married on the beach... in bare feet...

Mrs Ducky... to answer your questions.... "very carefully"... "sometimes".... "yes".... Now... more seriously, as Michael suggested, I would learn how to use a Whip Finisher, but for half hitches, you can use the end of an old empty pen to help you make good half hitches. Use the "click" type pen barrels, not the Bic type although they will work. Just wrap the thread around the pen to form a loop and slip the hook eye into the hole in the pen, then pull the thread loop over the pen and onto the hook/fly just behind the eye. Do this several times and cement the head. But.. still... get a whip finisher and you'll "throw rocks" at half hitching.

Dang, Michael... forced to go duck hunting.... life sucks, huh? Sounds like a good day... You know... you could start out in a duck blind, then do some pheasant hunting, then top it off with an evening of fishing Taney.... Blast and blast again and then cast.... I have a coffee percolator for a camp stove if we need it and anyone brings a stove.

What Bill and SIO3 said.... Hey guys... what about red in those Clousers? Does that do well up here? I've had luck with gray over red over white/yellow in Arkansas.

I pinch the barbs for the following reasons: 1. Easier to get the hook out of your finger, ear, back, shirt, waders, dog, Tanycomo Man-Eating Squid, truck seat, etc. 2. I have not noticed any difference in hook-ups barb vs. no barb. (Some will argue that point...) 3. I fish a lot of Catch and Release water where barbless hooks are required and I don't want to have an "uh-oh" about the time the game warden walks up. 4. Easier to release the fish. (C&R or keeping) 5. If you tie your own flies, it will probably be a habit you pick up from the instructor who introduced you to fly tying. And he would hunt me down and give me a thrashing if I forgot to pinch the barb before loading the hook into the vise... I just wish they would offer more barbless hooks in the sizes and styles I tie...

Welcome to the forum, WB... Yep... this is a great place to get information on all kinds of fishing. And welcome to the world of fly fishing... We'll be glad to confuse...I mean... help you all we can.

Geez... what a waste of beer!.... Just kiddin'... I've got one of the el cheapo racks from WallyWorld to hold the chicken and beer and it works great! Wayne is right... you have to have it at baking temp, not smoking temp. Tell ya what... Now that you've done the "beer" thing, try Coke, Sprite/Sierra Mist, Mt Dew, Orange Juice, and Dr Pepper. Each one gives a unique twist to the chicken. Also, use an onion or an apple instead of a potato in the neck. The onion is good, but the apple gives it an "apple wood" smoked flavor. Amazing the twists you can come up with on this type of cooking.

Holding the ends of the leader and giving it a bit of "stretch" will get rid of a lot of the kinks and bends. And, yes, you should be using tippet on the end of the leader - especially if you change flies as often as I sometimes do....

MrD, I also started with the WalMart rig you have. It was good enough for me to decide I really liked fly fishing, but you'll soon want to graduate up to a better rig. The reel on those combos are good for holding line, but you get a couple of nice fish on the end and the "drag" is toast. The typical fly rig starts with backing on the shaft of the spool - basically most people use enough to allow the fly line itself to be on the spool at the largest diameter. I may have some extra backing if you will be at Taney on NYD. The fly line (the green line) is tied to the backing. If I remember right, that line is probably DT or "double tapered" and can go on either end first. If it is WF (weight forward), then you will have to be sure you put it on the reel the correct direction - with the large diameter toward the rod tip. To the end of the fly line, the leader is tied. Different types of leaders and configurations can boggle the mind at times, but you have a tapered leader on that rig. It is tied with the larger diameter to the fly line and the smaller diameter is tied to a tippet, which is a single diameter line. You probably didn't get any tippet with the outfit. You will tie from 18-24 inches (some guys use more) of tippet material to the leader. Finally, you tie the fly to the end of the tippet. Now you're ready to fish... Well, unless you want to talk dropper flies, indicators, and countless other configurations... I won't even try to start talking about knot preferences for each of these connections. As for tippet, when you drop by Phil's, have him set you up with a couple of spools of tippet - say... 5, 6, or 7X... or all three. By the way.... Leonard usually fishes at night with just 12 lb or so mono for a leader/tippet.... no taper, no tippet.

I needed a good laugh... Now you have to repeat that New Year's Day at the pavillion, Phil...

Jaybird... Her name is Lynette.

John, I've certainly been in your shoes. My move to Springfield/Nixa was the result of two years of bad employment. I'm thankful every day for what God did for me moving me here. "Networking" is a good way to increase your chances and that's what you are doing here. Good call! It's according to your background and "expertise" but there are jobs out there and "continued employment" means a lot to many perspective employers. I worked at Dillard's for a while and my boss now made the comment that when I explained that I just wanted to keep working even at a much lower wage, it impressed him on my work ethic. How about going back to school to learn a "new trade" or something similar? Best of luck to you.

You bet, Dano...prayers going up as we speak...

Dang, Growler... only three more posts and it would have been... I've told my wife that the doc has ordered me to soak my knee at least once a week in the cold waters of Taney... I think she's buying it... (Honestly, I think she'll be GLAD when I feel well enough to go to Taney and fish...)

Yep.... you musta been a good boy this year.

Before the surgery, the anethestis told me that they would insert a breathing tube down my throat and that I might have some memory of inserting that and pulling it out at the end of the surgery. Saturday, another one came in and asked if I had any problems with the anesthesia and I told him no and that I did not remember putting in or taking out the tube. He told me that they put a little bit of "stuff" in the IV to induce a bit of amnesia so that you don't remember certain things like that.... hmmmmmmmmmmm..... :ph34r: Now I wonder what OTHER things they did to me in there.... Uh... hold on... the mother ship is calling... I'll be back after the imperial chancellor gives me my orders...

I've quit drinking... these pain pills are much better and quicker!!!!! Unless something drastic happens... As Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp said in Tombstone.... "YOU TELL 'IM I'LL BE THERE!!... I'LL BE THERE!!!!!"

OK... I feel better today.... so... The surgery went really well. They did a partial replacement which means they only did "one side" of my right knee and said everything else looked good. I was positive I would never walk again Friday night, but today I'm much better and walking almost as good as before the surgery... well... almost. Still on a walker, but getting around pretty good. Physical therapy is a pain...but... no pain... no gain.. you know... I'm pretty sore but know I've got to keep at it to get back in the swing quickly. I spent an "extra" night in the hospital due to my nerve block still working and was afraid to try to go home. But I sure was ready to come home yesterday afternoon. Two things.... If you have to go to St John's in Springfield, don't worry... It is a very good hospital and the staff was really great. I had no bad experiences and everyone was great! Second... if you have to have knee or any other orthopedic surgery I can recommend Dr Bradley Walz at St John's. So far it looks like he did a great job on me! OH... there is a third thing..... DAYTIME TV SUCKS A BIG ONE!!!! GAWD I'M BORED! Ready to get back on the river now.... Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, guys... I'll see you on Taney soon! Looks good for the NYD gathering! Now to go get a couple of those pain pills and get some good sleep.... (Just kiddin'.... well... kind of...)