Greg C

Hmm...don't know. Not much different than the popper. You spinning guys are just jealous 'cause you can't cast flies with your spinning gear! BTW, that coffey grinder weighs less than a 1/64 oz jig. Not to worry, though, Joz. I can direct you to Rainbow plastics. You can get some casting bubbles, and cast flies with your spinning rod. C'mon...admit to being a closet fly fisherman!

How about the Coffey Grinder?

While that might be better for everyone to be able to attend, AND be able to try every rod...Saturday is the one day that most of us have for chasing smallies. Either way, let's just get something set in stone.

Craig just let slip that he's a closet spin fisherman!! Craig, you have a chub? Oh, I mean, a Creek Chub?

If you can make it to the Bronzeback Blowout, you can find all kinds of info. There are lots of people there who can help. And, you should be flies of the ISA there for raffle, as well.

I think that it would work just fine, where I use it. Though, I think that an Angel Hair tail would get ripped up rather quickly. And, might foul around the hook shank rather easily. I use bucktail for the reason that it doesn't foul as bad as softer materials.

Jonn, I used Stix-On Contact many years ago. It seems they thinned it down from what I used to use. I think it's still the same stuff, but it is a little thinner than it used to be. Thing is, when I used to use Flex-a-ment (available at most fly shops), the eyes would get knocked off pretty easily. Also, if you opened, and used it, it would dry out after just a couple months. That was common enough that they also sold Flex-a-ment thinner, to rejouvenate the Flexament. I never have to worry about that with the Stix-On Contact. And, at a $1.79/tube, it's a the cheaper AND stronger alternative. I have not used Goop BUT...Flexament IS thinned down Goop!!! Got that info from Tom Yocum (fly shop owner) about 10 years ago.

I didn't know there was a question of attendees. I'm going to be out the door in 30 minutes. See ya there.

Well...sorta. They are new, and not yet avaiable. I did manage to get pricing, but, not the retail price. I was hoping to get one of each style to bring to the Central ISA meeting, and people could get their hands one them, and look them over. I should be able to get some for people, after I get a chance to play with them. I want to make sure they are up to the job. A few of us might have made a purchase that we later regret. I want to make sure they don't have a problem, or two, first. Though, they shouldn't have a problem. They are made by two names, you already know...LOOP, and ORVIS. NOTE: I will be donating one, or two to the BBB. One of these reels is a fully ported frame, and the other is a full frame. Only two sizes available 3/4 wt, or 5/6 wt. So, it will be 5/6 wt, only. Also, I will look into a price break for ISA members. i.e.- wholesale cost. I will say this for pricing, the fully ported reel is half the cost of the full frame reel.

I just found out that Montana Fly is starting to carry reels, now. I know, I know...another reel. Who doesn't make one? Well, these are really interesting to look at. I'm going to try to get a couple to bring to the Central ISA meeting, for December. If they are not available by then, then the January meeting. They are only carrying them in the 4/5 wt, and 5/6 wt sizes, however. Still, many of us use a 6 wt for smallies. Here's a link... MFC Yellowstone/ Madison I kinda like the "river rock" pattern.

Jonn, it might be a smallmouth rod, but I don't think the striper would notice!!

If you shipped it UPS, you can call before it is delivered and have it redirected to your place of employment. If it's too late for that....God help you!!

Sorry, since the poster is a fly fisherman, I thought it had to do with slyfishing. That that and the name "whirly BEE". My bad. Guess I should have known better seeing the name Brewer attached.

Or, you can make a whip-loop in the end of your flyline, and loop an Airflo poly leader on. They come in various sink weights, but the fastest sink weight is the most effective. You can use one line, save money, and the change over is faster. I use this method on striper, and it has worked fine. On my smallie waters, there is no need to use sinking line.

Can you post a pic, or a link to one? Generally, I don't use spinner flies, as they tend to twist the tippet. And, without wanting to open a can of worms (no pun intended), I find that for most of them to be effective, they are too heavy to cast. Or, the blade makes them unwieldy to cast. There are, of course, exceptions. BUT, that does seem to be about 90% of them. If you are talking about the kind that has a tiiiiny little blade, or prop, they can be cast easily enough, but then the blades are generally too small to be of much value.

The heavy Saltwater hook (long shank version) is good, because it has more weight to allow it to ride on an even keel when tied in this fashion. If you use a light/lighter wire hook, you could have problems with it twisting in faster current. I sometimes go so far as to add (wrap) three, or four turns of .025 lead-free wire weight to the bottom of the bend to keep it on keel. You will need to bend the front 1/4" (approx.) to use as the tie in point. P.S.- To get our terminologies right, "riding keel", or "keel style" means riding top side up, bottom side down...as tied. It does not necessarily mean hook point down. Certainly, not in the case of this pattern. In either case, you don't get much luck with a pattern that rides on it's side.

A med/light spinning outfit with a casting bubble should work fine.

Given this, and last years' weather, I guess I'll have to find another hobby. Every time the creeks get close to being wadeable (and not the color of chocolate milk), we get another 2 inches of rain!! K, pity party's over.

The one time I can go, and I get an offer I can't refuse from a friend. At least it's still fishing... I have got to make one on the Vermillion, though. Sorry, Jonn.

There are smallies in Clinton Lake, but they are scattered. And, they are outnumbered by the largemouth. They have been stocking them around the Muscutin Bay area. If you go to the ramp there, you can be sure to catch a few. However, all of the ones I have caught have been 6-10". A friend of mine said his dad caught a 22"er there a few years ago. Other guys have mentioned that there have been smallies caught, and weighed in at tournaments. So, while they are there, you really are going to have a tough time catching them with any consistency.

I've had the same Renzetti Traveler for 12 years. If I bought a new one it would be the Renzetti Master vise. Might have to wait a while though. I think this one will last me for two lifetimes!

It comes up" File does not exist".

I had a place that I used to fish for bluegill, all the time. I came to find that the three main lifeccle representations for the caddis were best, overall. I have come to find that I HATE carrying 200 different fly patterns when 6-8 will do! What's more, a caddis larva is so easy to do, a 3 year old could do it! It is one of my best early season patterns, and cheap too! Occationally, they might want the soft hackle version....(usually after I have caught most of them twice!!)...and, it's not tough totie either. Then, later, they can be very aggressive towards the elk hair caddis dry. Now, I'll be the first to admit, they can hit many different patterns. HOWEVER....I'm ALSO looking toward durability. I caught them quite well using a Royal Wulff dry. But, their tiny teeth will shred them in short order. I caught them on a Yellow Humpy. But, again, floss...they shred it in no time. The three caddis patterns I noted above are more durable than most, cheap, easy to make, and double for trout too. Stick with sz 12 hooks. Size 14 hooks tend to get swallowed a lot, and larger sizes often result in missed strikes, because they can't get them all the way in their mouths. I have also had great luck with scud patterns. I've used both tan (hare's ear dubbing), and orange (dead scud). Another good pattern that I have used is a yellow wooly worm, sz 6. Admittedly, though, the yellow wooly might be something for just the water that I fished, and it's palmered hackle can be broken after just a few fish. But, I think it's still worth having as by-catches, I also caught an 18" crappie & 6 lb largemouth!

I recently noticed that Wal-Mart has done away with 90% of their lead sinkers, and are replacing them with something that I can only guess is aluminum (I don't think it's tin. It's too light, AND cheap)? They are nearly half the weight of lead for their size. Also, regarding the substitution of tungsten for lead....it's EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE! If Gander Mountain hasn't done the same as Wal-Mart, I'm going to stock up this Friday!! BTW, what do you suppose would happen if this passes? Will BPS, and Cabela's catalogs stop coming in the mail? Would they not ship anything containing lead to Illinois? What would stop people from driving to neighboring states and buying is there? Would people be treated the same as someone transporting illegal drugs?

Amended...Working Hands. Available at Ace Hardware. It comes in a tub like you might expect to see chewing tobacco in. BETTER than the item I mentioned earlier. I bought some to try, and it is the BEST!!