Oooooo...it's a "secret"

[Flextime]

Dang it Leonard. Here I was, sitting up North with one of your PMS's you gave me and feeling smug.

Now I might as well just throw it in the lake.

(You didn't reveal the secret "secret" part did you)

The first fibber don't stand a chance....

[loo10]

I think my PMS-V would beat a PMS in a contest.

(Pine (Squirrel) Marabou Tail Sculpin w/ VELVETTA)

[Greg]

Regarding my post even though I am from Spfld - I was not targeting Leonard or anyone in particular. I just don't happen to care for fishing reports where some part of it is kept "secret" on this board or others. Why bother with the report if you do that?

If Leonard ties some of his PMS for Lilly's I would certainly buy some too.

Greg

[brownieman]

I've been watching this thread for awhile, glad it has turned out friendly.

We're all just tryin to catch a fish...I know none or have met any of you I just know we all are fisherMEN.

If it's your business who wouldn't really promote that a little.

I feel Leonard has earned his nitch...just hope he doesn't burn out and not enjoy fishing as the result, have seen that happen.

The fear of that has kept me away from it for years.

From my observations this man is quite generous with info when ask, likes to play a little...who don't.

Theirs little out there that has not been tried...just a little signurature twist put on it.

I find it humerous to see the 'secret weapon'...a little mystik thrown in there...often lightens things up a little.

Jest amoung fisherman...sure not worth ill feelings, ya know. jmo

bm

[patfish]

Brownieman, you nailed it! Leonard has to make a living like the rest of us. Fortunately, he gets to make some of it fishing. Yes, Leonard, we are all jealous. Me more than others, then again, we could fight about that too! This forum is quite possibly the only thing that even remotely keeps me sane, aside from fishing. I know that I will be using the services of Leonard in the very near future as he seems to be an genuine, friendly fisherman. Don't fret, Leonard, Taneycomonights is book marked. Everyone on this forum is way more intelligent, helpful, friendly, funny and just down right good natured more than any other I have read. Tight lines and if I see ya, I'll be sure and swap some lies with every last one of ya!

[FliTrap4]

Yep.... now everyone can get a few flies like that! The more it is fished, the sooner them Trout will spread the word that they bite back! Then I'll come on down with a new secret, never fished on Taney Fly (NSNFoTF) which will no doubt fool all them Trout!

It will be so much fun!

FliTrap

[MrDucky]

WOW !!! I do have to say that Leonard certinaly earned every bit of respect he has . He has always been very willing to help my wife and I during fly fishing or spin fishing , and even our son .

I am glad to see this thread has also turned out happy . Hey Leonard send some of the PMS to Phils shop and Tim's fly shop , I need to spend my unemployment checks somehow

[Don]

Who's Leonard?

Don

[Thom]

I fished Thursday about 6PM at outlet #1. I met a Student from Springfield named Russel. Real nice kid. We were comparing notes and flies. He then pulled out two boxes of flies loaded with winners. Neatly tied and probally at least 50 to 100 dollar amount if purchased from a catalog. He said he met a real nice guy named Leonard who really gave him lots of tips that really worked. He said that Leonard later sent him the flies he showed me. I don't think this is typical of a guy that has many secrets.

Maybe one for now

[Fishhand]

I am not an opinionated person, however, I have formulated an opinion on this topic based on my fishing experiences on Taney in addition to reading some of the posts that Leonard has presented on this forum.

I do not think Leonard's fly is that much of a secret. Sure he's tying his own stuff with his own personal style which is great, but, bunny leeches, zonkers, buggers, whatever...streamers / sculpins in general have been fished by everyone on a regular basis in Lake Taneycomo and have produced some good fish. I do not doubt that Leonard is catching big fish. I've seen him catch a 10-12 lber. in chute 1 last year on a bait casting rod and a clouser that looked like it was run over in the parking lot...

There is no "secret" fly. What is a "secret" is his technique in presenting the fly to the fish. I've met Leonard three times, but he does not know me, nor I him, on a personal basis. This is probably going to sound like a personal attack and I don't mean it in that manner.

Based on watching Leonard's technique during the day (which is a total of three times), it appears his main technique is to fish the head of whichever chute he's fishing with his streamer. The times I've seen him fish, he'll have about 6'-10' of line out the end of his flyrod, spot the fish and stick his fly right in front of their face. While this is not immoral or illegal (if you don't foul hook a fish on purpose), it's my opinion, it is a misleading fishing report when he states he's caught a bunch of big fish and then does not provide the technique he's used, especially, when it does not involve casting the fly in a manner typical of a flyfisherman. Fishing the chute in this manner does not require much talent as a flyfisherman. While it may produce big fish, I think, it is not a sporting way to fish.

I enjoy reading reports on this forum which provide accurate information about catching fish on Taney (and other places) and not those that self promote. It seems to me, a predominant number of Leonard's reports are about self promoting himself and in turn his guide business...secret this and secret that... It seems, the other guides who post reports on OA do not keep secrets (or if they do keep secrets it's understandable). Their reports provide the average Joe good information if they were to fish that particular stretch of water, Table Rock, Taney, etc. The secretness of some of Leonard's posts kind of smacks me like he's trying to hide something and / or he's wanting to promote himself. Self promoters bother me, especially those whose practices may be viewed as suspect (at least by me... I don't know what you guys think).