Jonn Graham

The eyes look like the eyes from Clear Cure Goo. They make some unbelievable colors. I have been using them for a couple of months now...............awesome

Nice fly. Baitfish Emulator flash is some really great stuff and very easy to use. I may have to tie a couple of these tonight................thanks for the idea.

I have a few of those. Don't let the price fool you..............they are solid reel.

Nice

I will have a booth at the Tinley Park show this weekend. I will be discussing my guide service and will have over 100 swim jigs for purchase. In addition, I will have a limited number of float n fly jigs and muskie and smallie flies for sale as well. I hope to see some familiar ISA faces this weekend. If you have never been to the Tinley show, you owe it to yourself to come. In my opinion, it is one of the best shows in the state.

You can't beat free parking and cheap admission prices

Hope to see ya there.

Rich:

I am tying Muskie flies with it. I have got the vise to hold up to a 4/0 hook.

After a few years of hard-core tying (flies and swim jigs), my old Griffin is just worn out. Plus, it was time to get a vise that was cam operated. Kinda getting tired of turning a knob to tighten the jaws. I will probably keep my Griffin and possibly use it with swim jigs. But, when it comes to tying flies, my new Peak vise is simply outstanding:

This vise is quite a value - true rotary and comes with a bobbin holder (not seen in the pics). Very heavy base and all the trimmings. Totally made in America for $150. I went ahead and bought the trash bin that neatly attaches to the stem of the vise. It is now time to train myself to stop lettting my trimmings fall onto the floor.

I purchased this vise from Brad Miller at www.flybass.com. Brad is registered on the site and is known for his blockhead popper bodies. Brad has an e-commerce site at www.flybass.biz. Check it out.

Tom's food is phenomenal

John:

Forgot to say, those are some fabulous fish you caught.................wow! The river you fish is a fantastic resource. I wish I knew your section of the river better.

Big Baits do catch bigger smallies. Now, of course, this is not always true, but most of the time it is. I cannot tell you the number of anglers who have come to me wanting to catch bigger smallies. I always tell them to throw bigger baits/flies. They give it a try and relate back to me that it worked Guys will tell me that their stream does not have any larger smallies than about 12 inches. Most of the time, that is not the case, but the angler only throws baits that attract mostly juvenile fish. A good case in point was a few years ago I guided a fly angler looking for his first Pike on the fly. I knew a few spots where pike like to hang out. Of course, I had him throwing flies that were perfect size for pike, but very large for smallies. As you probably would guess, he caught some very nice smallies on the big pike flies.

Another example of this is when I talk to muskie anglers who tell me the giant smallies they catch accidently while chucking huge plugs.

Here are a few pics from the day I guided Dustin for pike:

By the way, Dustin did get two pike that day. He is a marine and was leaving for duty overseas in just a few days after catching these fish.

Ron:

You are defintely right about a coiled line not shooting through the guides. That is why I never liked the Clouser line during the hot, summer months.

I just thought it was interesting that Airflo says not to stretch the line.

Let me rephrase what I said above...........................I don't stretch the line as I normally forget about doing it before the trip or during the trip. I am normally so mentally psyched just to be on the water that I am not thinking about stretching my line. Any one who has fished with me will understand what I am talking about.

I do clean my line before every trip using Rio's Wondercloth......................simple and easy. Get the cloth wet and run it over your line. Cleaning takes approximately 1-2 minutes.

Cannot say I agree or disagree that stretching line helps. I don't do it as I am too impatient to take the time to do it.

Here is what Airflo has to say about stretching fly line:

Rich:

It is polar flash giving off the blue color. The use of polar flash vs. other types of flash materials is why Pat Cohen calls the fly the polar minnow.

Tim A:

Bucktail is reverse - tied.

Rob G.

You know, you are probably right. Will have to work on scaled down version for smallies.

For some reason, I enjoy tying muskie flies most of all. The articulated ones take around 30-40 minutes per fly, but they sure are fun. In addition, they look great in the water.

The way I understand it from guides who fished Clouser line for years, it coils due to the warm air temps. The guides I speak of are the guys who helped Rio come up with the Smallmouth line. Reason being is that they were tired of the coldwater clouser line coiling or "wilting" in the heat I used Clouser quite a bit when I started and I noticed that during the summer it was tough to shoot line due to the coils in the running line.

Besides the issue during the heat of the summer, I loved clouser and still use it occassionally.

Here is what I have been tying lately.............................I really need to go fishing soon! Have not wet a line in 3 weeks. Another week without fishing and I am going to have to see a doctor.

Pat Cohen's Polar Minnow. If you have not checked out Pat's sight, you are truly missing out. He is incredible.

Articulated Muskie fly imitating the colors of a Gizzard Shad

Above pic is a threadfin shad.

Man, I need to catch a fish!!!

ha

Rio's Smallmouth fly line. Like the clouser line, but made with a stiffer coating which keeps the kinks out of the line during the heat of the summer. biggest problem with Clouser line is it has a tendency to tangle when the heat is on.

$15 per cycle seems high. I am almost sure it is less than that for canoes and kayaks. Canoes and kayaks pay the same amount. for renewal. You do renew for 3 years.

I would love to fish the Susky. Definitely on my list of places to fish someday before I perish. Only problem is my list is too long..............three lifetimes of places I want to go. I guess I should be happy to fish all the streams I already have fished.........close to 50

If the problem concerned trout or largemouth bass in a famous lake, something would have already been done. River smallmouth anglers do not spend enough money or have as much "weight" as trout fishermen (trout unlimited) or bass tourney guys. All about money....................not the resource. Same story, different river.

WOW!!!!!! Any Spotted Bass?

Brad is my inspiration for the type of Muskie flies I tie. He will be a dynamic speaker. His DVD, Zero to Hero, is what inspired me to start chasing Muskies on the fly. Boy, maybe I should hop in the car and try to make that tonite.

Greg:

As we talked about, my 2012 boat was sold back in August. The post you read was from way back in June. You will be receiving my 2013 boat. I have received both of your checks. I may give you a call in the next few days to talk with you about something.