need help picking out a new fly rod

[tjm]

It's been decades since I looked at Pa./Md./Va. streams but in my mind they are big, slow and brown, kinda the way I remember the Osage and South Grand before Truman and I have no idea if either set of memories is accurate, if they are warped by time and distance. The fly would appear  a lot different in slow brown water than in clear fast Ozark water.  The small mouth are invasive in the east and as such may not react like Ozark fish either. 

I might try a couple Clouser style using a softer hair like coyote and bead chain. I do know that where on the hook shank the weight/eyes are located makes a difference in how they fish for me and that most that I see have the weight much closer to the hook eye than Bob Clouser shows in his videos.

[fishinwrench]

31 minutes ago, tjm said:

It's been decades since I looked at Pa./Md./Va. streams but in my mind they are big, slow and brown, kinda the way I remember the Osage and South Grand before Truman

The rivers out East are way more rocky and boulder strewn.   The Osage and Grand are muddy, silty gar-holes in comparison.  

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

to me it’s a saltwater fly🤷‍♂️

#1 for temperate bass.  Hands down.  

 

And this variation right here...

Is my #1 Crappie killer.

[Mitch f]

6 hours ago, tjm said:

I'm not following how those butt barbs bound down under the body could create a tail of any sort. But I'll mess around on the vise with that.

It looks to me like he did tie the herl in by the butts, but three twisted would certainly be an improvement over two laying flat.  I never have bought the two color back and belly theory a pertains to insects after experiments I did a long time ago, and  I know it's a popular belief in imitative tying, but to me the Crackleback isn't imitative so much as suggestive.  

Im trying to use Google Translate to translate this into English 🧐

[ness]

5 hours ago, tjm said:

But the instructions he gives there are at odds with what he taught you kids? 

Feels like we’re splitting herls here. 

[tjm]

7 minutes ago, ness said:

Feels like we’re splitting herls here. 

If you say so. Turns out the Story didn't know how to tie his own fly, I just didn't make that connection right off.

[fishinwrench]

5 minutes ago, ness said:

Feels like we’re splitting herls here. 

If you twist them they won't split when you wrap the hackle.   😉👍

 

2 hours ago, tjm said:

 

I might try a couple Clouser style using a softer hair like coyote and bead chain.

Hey if this catches them.....And we know it does...

Then why wouldn't a Clouser?   🤷‍♂️

[tjm]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

The rivers out East are way more rocky and boulder strewn.   The Osage and Grand are muddy, silty gar-holes in comparison.  

You have probably fished the coastal rivers more than I have.

[tjm]

6 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

If you twist them they won't split when you wrap the hackle.   😉👍

 

Hey if this catches them.....And we know it does...

Then why wouldn't a Clouser?   🤷‍♂️

I'll bite, why?

[snagged in outlet 3]

9 hours ago, ness said:

Feels like we’re splitting herls here. 

Good one😂