Rob G

Fred, if you can be at the February 28th session, please bring your materials so we can see your fly. (That just doesn't sound right)

Just noticed that the Central regions next fly tying session on February 28 1PM at the Firehouse is not shown on the calendar of events. Maybe we could get that placed on there if someone knows someone who is special enough to do that for us. Thanks

Yep, hopefully be there with my two mates. Ole Timothy T. (Mr. Split Bamboo himself) and Lefty, the ex big leaguer

John, it's just deer hair off the posterior surface of a buck tail. The foam gives you enough floatation that elk isn't necessarily needed but of course you could sure use it to create the wing.

Since it's so crummy outside, been playing with more terrestrials. Used this last year on several ponds with success on the big green brethren but think a smallie might enjoy it as well if fished in the shallows. Kind of a hopper or cicada or maybe a green dragonfly imitation. Bright olive Angel hair cut up and used as underbody dubbing for some flash and the rest basic materials I had around the house. I know, nothing special but might play around getting some big compound eyes on the thing.

It should cast well with the Brees behind you

John, it looks to me that the fibers are too long and sparse for polar chenille, but I could be wrong. The Estaz Grand has longer fibers like that but again they are much more dense and expensive.

John, I had the same thing happen to me many years ago on the Middlefork when a hatch occurred and I could see some real brutes coming up and roiling the water and yet they wouldn't hit any of my standards. I just happened to have one mayfly imitation in my box (for whatever reason I don't know) but they hammered that thing untill finally it was no more. Again I then tied on one of the more usual suspects but with no success. After that I almost always keep a few such flies with me. If nothing else, if the smallies aren't on, you can sometimes grab a few sunfish with them.

Mark, thanks for digging up the video as that really gets the juices flowing, especially on a day like today when we're getting pelted with snow. I'm hoping the smallies will test the fragility of the fly for me but in my tub test, splitting the wing definitely adds to its buoyancy and along with a little dry treatment or silicone, I'm hoping to keep it in the film longer.

Started tying some elk hair caddis and wondered if I tied these on a larger size 10 2x long and split the wings, then just maybe a smallie would be interested if I were to splat these things along the river's edge underneath a tree or bush. Kind of a moth imitation. As Timothy always says, "anybody can take a smallie on a woolly bugger or Clouser but if you want to prove yourself to me, then show me something else you can catch them on" ha ha, hopefully this one's for you T.

Now that would be a fine specimen.

Was there on Sunday and it was OK. Definitely fewer vendors than in the past and overall not as large as some other fly shows I've attended. Jim made a nice presentation in representing the ISA and river smallmouth fishing. Nice setting and plenty of room to expand if they decide to keep it there.

That material's been used for quite a while in making minnows that you can color to your choice. I've never tried them but they seemed to have a nice action in a test tank where I saw one on display

I'm just wondering what we can tie using Dalmatian hair. Mudpuppy imitations?

The Firehouse works for me but only if I can slide down that brass pole.

Mick Batson gave me the heads up on these close out Fly rod blank blems, in case you want to practice on building a rod before you jump in there and spend $400 on a Sage blank or if you just want an inexpensive project to pass the cold evenings. They probably fish very well and I know Jim Z will be all over these http://www.utmostenterprises.com/BLEMBLANKSSEPT09.htm

Sundays generally work better for myself and the other Danville guy(s) as well. If ever interested in future use of the Urbana library, I need a 5 weeks notice in order to reserve either the smaller or larger room. Thanks

Let's see, several types of buggers, those on steroids similar to Holschlag's and other more standard variations. It was nice to see the Bohemian chenille being tied in a several different styles by John, Jim and Fred. Thanks again Rich for the samples and instructions you sent down. Of course Tim was tying some incredibly realistic large mayfly patterns that would catch any fish any where (too beautiful to actually use imo). Steve was spinning deer hair and cutting up a rabbit pelt in order to produce a nice olive fishgetter. Ben was recycling road kill squirrel in the best possible way with his craws. Overall the three hours went by very quickly.

Just wanted to thank everyone that came out for the first downstate central Illinois fly tying gathering. We had 11 people show up and had a great time displaying some new patterns and techniques and were able to donate a few flies to the cause. Afterwards many of the group headed to a nearby watering hole that served a great sandwich and countless types of lager. Look forward to doing it again possibly in February at a likely location of Normal, Heyworth, or Urbana. The format will be decided later on. Hope to see everyone there.

John, I've got the same model and it does a great job with everything but the only problem I have with it, is when I take pics of the smallmouth I catch, it always makes them look so much smaller than they really were. No Seriously, my 18" fish look like say a common 10 incher, it must be in the optics

I say, sure, bring him along. No secret knock or hand shake needed to get you in. BTW, I've got a bag full of materials that people can work with if they so desire to experiment, donated by a very gracious fly shop.

Fredmo, I've tried not to focus on any one type of fly or topic and have tried to leave this first tying session pretty much open. I think you should bring whatever materials you would like in order to tie what you feel you can enlighten the group with. The other goal might be to bring materials in which we could tie flies for donation to the Blowout and/or new member packs. I'm hoping this works OK for most.

Ben and Brian, sounds great. I'm sure hoping the weather is better than it is today. Ben, any photos of your crayfish ? as I'm always on the search for a more simple and effective crawdaddy.

Rich has been so kind as to send down some significant amount of large Bohemian chenille and instructions for tying the ISA Bug and worms. He also sent a few samples of others "flies" that can be created with this material. Looking forward to playing with it.

Not if you want to cover much water IMHO.