Kansas Fly Fisher

You don't understand we have 1 Lab already; the american breed, 1 Brittany, 1 German Shepard and these are the outside dogs. On the inside we have 1 Minpin and 1 Chahuahua. A small zoo to say the least.

Took a buddy over to Bennett today. It was his first trip there and his first attempt at trout fishing and using a fly rod. We had a great day. It was overcast with some wind and the water felt cool on the legs. We fished from about 8:30a.m. until 2:30p.m. I'm not sure exactly how many fish we caught, but we both brought home a limit for a cookout tomorrow. UMMMM UMM, can't beat fresh smoked trout! Anyway, back to the report. White was the color of choice. It really didn't matter what it was as long as it was white. We site fished mainly, since this was the easiest method to start a newbie on. A white marabou mini-jig was the ticket. Most of our fish came with the mini-jig. I also experimented with a chartreuse egg fly. They keyed in on it quickly and charged hard but would either turn at the last second or spit it back out as fast as they took it. A couple fell to a red egg fly but for the most part they ignored it. I tried a #12 crackleback and caught one on the drift and missed one strike while stripping it back. Also, I would include the "bedspread" in the popular fly catagory today. It was almost as productive as the white mini-jig. The water was clear to slightly stained with very little debris floating down. All in all I would give today an "A". John

My wife would KILL me if I brought another dog home. But a good lab might be worth it. Better not thought I'm pretty fond of this world. I'll pass the word to my hunting buddies in case anyone is looking. Maybe they'll buy and I can hunt with them.

Welcome! I bet you've got some great stories from the Blue Ridge. Maybe you can share them. There's a thread on here somewhere where you can share your stories. Sorry, but I can't remember right of the top what the title was. John

Sorry Bill the swap is filled and almost complete. Hopefully if everyone likes the way this one goes, someone will start another. Also, got Duane's Bunny Strip Leech in today. Only three more and we can start fishing with these. John

I also like the mosquito. It's a pretty effective fly at just about any location. I've used it in Colorado as well. John

Sorry, I also don't know anything about the Orvis School, but Jim Rogers has a school at Bennett Spring that's not too bad. I sent the wife there, cause as we all know, you can't teach your wife. Or at least not and keep any peace in the home. It wasn't a bad school. She was able to pick up on the basic's that I had been trying to teach her. Now she understands what she's doing wrong when I try to explain it to her. You can do a search on the web for Jim Rogers and should be able to find it. Or call the park office at Bennett Spring. Hope this helps. John

107 at 6:45p in Erie! Too HOT to be outside mowing the grass! John

Sorry, I forgot to add Matt's Olive Soft hackle to the previous list. It also came in today. John

Got Eric's crayfish and Matt's Prince Nymph in the mail today. We only need five more to come in and I can send them out. I must admit we have some great looking fly's to try out. I know I can't wait to hit the water with them. That crayfish looks like it has Bass written all over it! John

Ham - you can't find a better place than the Ozarks. Hope you're able to make the move soon. John

Very interesting poll. I agree with most of the outcomes, but I must be honest; I didn't expect those results. I hope this poll and it's outcomes will go somewhere (to someone) that can now take it to the next level. John

Phil, sorry I forgot you earlier. I also got your fly's today. John

jOrOb - got your disco buggers today. John

Dano, I'm not Bill, but I'll tell you how I do it for my Granddaughter. It seems to work, but Bill may have some other suggestions that I'd be happy to read about myself. Anyway I use two pound test with a bubble attached, then 5x or 6x tippet from the bubble to the fly. Add weight as you would with your fly rod to get the nymph to the right depth.

SQUIRREL ZONKER Submitted by John Jackson Originated by: unknown Material List Hook: #6 Aberdeen or a 2XL Streamer Head: Small Brass Cone Thread: Black or Red Body: Pine Squirrel Zonker strip 1. Place the cone on the hook and start your tread and advance it to the bend in the hook. 2. Tie in your squirrel zonker at the bend. The tail should be approximately the length of the hook. I dampen my fingers and separate the hairs to tie it on the hook. This keeps the hair apart and makes the tying in easier. 3. Wrap your thread back to the head of the hook. Wrap your squirrel zonker strip forward to just behind the cone. Make two or three extra wraps at the cone to build up a color. It helps to use your free hand and brush the hair fibers back toward the bend after making each wrap. This keeps the hair in place and makes a neater wrap. 4. Tie off the remainder of the zonker strip. Cut it close the cone and make a couple of tight turns, whip finish and cut the thread. Fishing Tips: I like to fish this a couple of ways. You can fish it like any other streamer in just about any part of the water column. My prefered method is site fishing. I'll cast it out and let it sink to the bottom. Work it slowly back towards you twitching it across the bottom. If you see that you've caught the eye of a trout stop moving it for a couple of seconds then gently twitch it. This usually works and the fish will take it. I hope you have as much fun with this fly as I do. Good luck and tight lines. John

Steve, got your fly's today. John

Tim, got your fly's today. They look great! Superfly, we are developing a set of rules as we speak. John

Michael, I got your box today. I'll keep you guy's posted as the packages arrive. John

I agree with Phil, I spent several summers working with the KDWP and we spent most of our time in the bushes watching with spotting scopes. We knew who was fishing, with what, and how many they had caught before we ever approached them. We even spent some time in civilian clothes fishing in a boat. One would fish, the other was watching over the other's shoulder with scopes. It works, and it works very well.

The big book of everything as been edited. I've changed rule #5 to reflect these changes and added a rule #6. I think it's starting to take shape. John

I like option 3. That would keep the "swap" recipes all together so we could find them easier when we need them. The Thread could be title after the swap so that future swaps could follow suit with their own thread on the recipe page.

I've updated (edited) the rules to show the suggestion to post the tying instructions on a final post after the swap. John

Posting the tying instructions on the forum sounds okay to me. Each tyer could add a final post after the swap is completed with the instructions to their particular fly. That would save on the size of the tag. Especially if it's a complicated fly. How does this sound to everyone else?

Dano - Got your fly's in today. They look good. Okay, here's a list of the "Fly Swap Rules" mentioned in an early post. I think I've gotten everything that was mentioned in earlier posts. Take a look over them and see if everyone agrees, or if some changes need made. Once we get them ironed out, Phil can keep them for future swaps. FLY SWAP RULES 1. Tie the appropriate number of fly's plus one extra. The extra is in case a fly is damage in shipment. If it's not needed; it's an extra bonus fly for the swap meister. 2. Adhere to the deadline as agreed upon in the swap. 3. Mail your completed fly's to the swap meister in a padded envelope. It is prefered that you enclose them in some type of crush proof box so no damage occurs. Also include a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope for return of your assortment to you. 4. Attach each fly to a "tag" that includes; the name of the fly, and your name. 5. The swap meister will start a new thread under the fly recipe page at the completion of the swap. It is recommended that the new thread be titled after the name of the swap. The intent is for the members of the swap to post their tying instructions here. See rule #6. 6. Once the swap has been completed it is requested that you make one last post, in the fly recipe page as noted in rule #5, giving the materials used in the fly, tying instructions, and any fishing tips/techniques you may want to share. I think that just about sums it up. What do you guys think? John