John Gillio

I like a wooden cane with a hooked handle. The hooked handle comes in handy when I have to pull myself up a steep bank, or to steady myself going down one. It slides easily under a belt or loop to be out of the way when not on use.

Dan, that is what always strikes me when I see many of the fishing photos of that era. All the old photos I have of people standing on and around Bailey Falls, which was on the left just down stream from this photo, were always dressed to the hilt.

This first fly was created to immitate a hellgrammite. I have had some luck with other hellgramite patterns for channel cats. My hope is this one will be an improvement over the old patterns. This next fly was created for trout. My plan was to use it in the South Branch Raritan in Jersey this summer, but I expect our annual trip there will be cancelled this yr. The guys at Shannon's fly shop tell me that large black nymphs work well there when the water is discolored. I would guess both patterns would work well on carp. Has anyone out there come up with their own creations this winter or during this time of sheltering in place.

All my consistent flathead spots are off limits now too, sadly. If you find that photo of your father with the fish, I would love to see it. I like old photos like that.

I'll bet that was quite a fight on a cane pole. Those catfish were treated right, being fed chicken legs and thighs and such. I can't say I've ever eaten a huge flathead. I've been told they taste good even on the larger side unlike a channel cat. I do like a young channel cat on the dish on occasion, and I like a young flathead even better. My lovely wife says any fried fish stinks up the house for too long, but when she married me she knew she would have to deal with that smell on occasion. Funny you should mention catfishing as she wanted me to take her fishing for them this weekend. Looks like we are going to be out of luck as they are calling for a large spike in the river level and possible flooding due to the rains. Too bad, because the river was beautiful.

Pole vaulting to get across the river may be possible in spots when the river is low. I grew up using a cane pole. We also used them to do the limbo 😁. This one below belonged to my wife's gandfather. It is 11-12 ft long.

This photo is from the early 1900s. These folks are fishing just below the wildcats on the Vermilion River. I have no idea who they are. I just thought it was a cool photo.

Nice looking hair jigs!

The streams I fish locally are very rocky or have sand and gravel. I really don't have probs with vegetation any more. I guess that's due to the streams being cleaner than they were yrs ago when they would get algae choked. At any rate, I sometimes go to cranks that dig into or bounce off of the sand and gravel when soft plastics on jigheads aren't doing the trick. They often save the day. The things I don't like about them are the trebles which on occasion can do a number on a fishes mouth , etc. When I use them, I go with the colors I have the most confidence in, based on water color and what few I have with me. I'll usually have a chartreuse, a more subdued color, and a white with a bit of orange in it. Like you I use them when the current is slower. That's my 2 cents worth.

A very unique setup, Rich.

Hmmmm!

Rob, I am at a total loss. Don't tell me right away. Maybe someone else knows. Is that a sheet of foam sitting on it?

Looks good Rob. A nice comfy organized place to tie. My table always had to be cluttered or the cat would be on it. The cat hated clutter more than I. May I ask what the mechanism is on the right side of the table?

I'm curious, as many may be, about how people have their fly tying areas set up. Or, is your main setup portable? I'll start his off with my setup and would love to see others jump in with their own, or just add comments as to how tables and stations can be better organized, improved, etc. I am set up under the stairwell to the basement. My desk is in the center with supplies stored to the right, left, and above me. The desk was picked up from an old neighbor who was junking it. Fur, synthetics, and stuff🙄 are stored in plastic on a bookshelf to the left (covered with a screen to keep the cat out). Feathers are in plastic in an old stereo system cabinet to the right. Small items like beads, dumbbell heads, hooks, dubbing, etc are above hung from nails.

I have an old one which I have tried to mark also. Thanks Mark, I'll check it out.

That's nice to hear. I've seen a few along the Vermilion over the yrs, but never more than one in an outing. The last one I spotted was a couple yrs back.

Cool story. Not many osprey around. Finding new areas close to home are unexpected and exciting.

Thanks for sharing.

Very cool!

I give a thumbs up for the Charlie Brewer sliders. I would guess I have some sort of plastic on a slider head more than 50% of the time while chasing smallies with spin gear. A friend of mine who was just getting into smallmouth fishing was surprised and delighted when I handed him a Charlie Brewer Slider to rig up with. Turns out he has an uncle named Charlie Brewer.

Thanks for sharing.

Hope your wife sees continued improvement with her health issues. She is surely in good hands.

Thanks for posting this guys. Gunner does some nice videos.👍

Looks like I'll be buying a brush.

That is a fine looking fly Tom. A fantastic looking crayfish pattern. I'm guessing it will be a winner.