Jonn Graham

One thing about furled leaders, while they may be expensive, they last much longer than a standard mono leader. I have tried furled leaders and regular mono leaders..............I like them both. Furled leaders do not pick up any algae/weeds. I like feather crafts streamer furled leaders as they have a very small swivel at the end. The swivel is nice for two reasons: 1. Easy attachment of tippet with a basic clinch knot 2. The swivel prevents leader twist...........and I do mean prevents. I have had one of their streamer leaders for two years and have never had any leader twist while using it.

Travis is right. Buy a crappy first baitcasting reel and you won't be happy and will become frustrated. Couple more things to consider when first beginning to learn to baitcast: 1. Don't pair your reel with a pool cue for a rod. Start with a medium action 2. don't overfill your spool when you are first starting out.............you will be asking for problems. Fill it about 3/4 full

I had a chance to cast the Clouser 8 weight rod by TFO on Saturday. It was paired with the new Smallmouth line by Rio. While the Clouser rod is considered a "fast" action rod, it is a little shorter than my CPX, and it just casted like a dream. I was throwing a heavy clouser and it handled it like I was throwing an unweighted Murdich. I kinda fell in love with it. I like the shorter length fly rods for some reason.

Yah, I have had my eyes on those flies for quite some time............very nice.

I am looking to sell my two piece, 8 weight, Redington CPX. It is a fast action rod that has performed fine for me, but I have my eye on another 8 weight. It retails for $279. I would be willing to let it go for $110 plus whatever it costs to ship it. I also added a smallmouth decal to the reel seat (looks pretty cool). It comes with a sleeve and an aluminnum rod tube. If interested, reply here or email me at grahamj@district87.org

Ever since I started tying and fly fishing, I have always been intriged by some of Kelly Galloup's patterns. First and foremost, I like the fact that most of his patterns are BIG! Especially large when you consider that most of his patterns were developed to catch trout out west. In addition, most of his stuff is unique and involves materials that I have yet to play with. Since his streamers are rather large, I have always felt that some of his patterns have to be alluring to my local smallies. The past few months I have messed with his circus peanut pattern, his sex dungeon pattern, and his Butt Monkey pattern. While they all came out ok, I think the Butt Monkey pattern is my best work. Two out of the three above flies are weighted with medium dumbbells and the other is weighted internally with wire. I know these flys won't be thrown with the five weight. I am sure my 7 weight VT2 and my Sage Smallmouth rod will throw them without a problem. I am planning on working these deep right along the river floor. Imitating a sculpin, madtom, minnow, or whatever else the river smallie might think it is. Should be a decent fly for stained water, as the wool head should "push" some water. I will keep you posted.

Terry: Is your water running clear? If you have dirty water, I don't suggest the fnf. Fish have to see the little fly (jig), in order for it to be effective. If your rivers are like ours right now, I would not be sligin' the fnf. Don't give up yet. I have never heard of the fnf not being effective on any river.

What night this week?

Actually, she has shown an interest in tying jigs and flies. She normally wants me to help her tie a fly when i am right in the middle of trying to get a jig order out the door. She shows very little interest in the fishing part......though she does want her very own kayak so she can paddle with dad and brother.

Yah, I think you are right about that, Ron. She is in third grade and already talks about boys...............I wear ear plugs.

Fred: When those pictures were taken, I was in a hurry to get some photos before darkness set in. I did not have any fly rods put together, so I just grabbed some "beginner's rods"

The dog leash is going to be my anchor line. I am going to try it! Drew Gregory (the guy who designed the boat) uses the dog leash set-up for his anchor. The Coosa comes with eye bolts installed to run your anchor line through.

Actually, Jim, I am almost can. About 200 yards from where those pictures were taken is a small creek.

http://heartlandoutdoors.com/index.php/streamstalker/story/the_coosa_era_begins

Well, Greg, you might be right about having multiple boats. I now have three. A tandem canoe for guiding, a super light solo canoe, and now the Coosa. I think I have all my bases covered. I think you might be surprised how fast the Coosa actually is. I bought the Coosa primarily for the opportunity to stand. Fly fishing from a canoe is really not fun. With the coosa, fly fishing should be much easier.

Here is a proud owner of the coosa.

I just finished putting my Coosa up on the truck for the first time. I got the camo color and she is going home with me tonite. Yahoooo

Rob: Call me at 309-399-7055 and I can set you up with what you need. I have done all the leg work on anchors and have the best system for a canoe. call

Don: That is a jig hook. It is a 90 degree owner hook with the eye bent slightly back. You could never bend a straight shank hook that far.

Keep in mind one more thing...............depending on how your strip a blockhead, you can make it dive under the surface. I do it that way all the time. If it dives under the surface, the fish can definitely make out different details. Attaching eyes, while it probably makes little or no difference, only takes about 30 seconds. Get yourself some Loc-tite Ultra Gel glue and you are good to go.

The Galena River runs through Galena, not the apple. don't think a bass boat will cut it.

I am going to try to remember to bring blowout prizes with me to the Tinley show. Who can I give them to? I plan to bring: one TALS Pack One 3rd grip pole holster swim jigs fnf jigs blockhead poppers Graham's ghost flys That is if I remember. I have alot of stuff to remember for my own booth.

I too have been tying blockheads right and left. I will be selling these at the Tinley show: Here are a couple of close ups of my favorites: Stop by my booth at the Tinley show. I will have, in addition to the blockheads, my Ghost Fly, bass swim jigs, my new Muskie swim jigs, and float n fly jigs for sale. Also, anyone interested in booking a guide trip for 2011, can do it at the show as well.

Terry: That is when I wear them as well. Of course my marbles don't get much use nowadays.

When my dad introduced me to river smallie fishing, we wet waded in the summer. We still do. When it is a nice, hot summer day, nothing feels better than wet wading. Now, I understand that some guys fish rivers that may or may not be as clean as others. All I can say is that I have been wet wading for about 25 years and have never had a problem with infections or any other pathogens. Could it happen in the future? Sure it could, but I might get hit by a bus tomorrow. I am going to live life dangerously. We all gotta go sometime If you like to wear waders during the summer......then do it. But don't think if you wet wade that you are surely going to contact some funky infection. Keep in mind that our bodies do have defense systems.