Mike G

Thanks for the replies. Here is the rest of the story. It is over 60 years ago now that my father gave me a kit from Tackle-Tyers, Evanston IL. It got me started and served me well. I am still using the bobin. Despite the negativity on kits I went with one.

 https://smile.amazon.com/WETFLY-Deluxe-Tying-Book-Popular/dp/B000IAW2IK/ref=pd_rhf_cr_s_pd_crcbs_0_4/131-4850670-0057535?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000IAW2IK&pd_rd_r=9a4db73c-e05f-4032-a726-27dae660a45e&pd_rd_w=Zr3Uh&pd_rd_wg=BKyzB&pf_rd_p=6ba03529-44b7-4c95-95bf-2762b37f6529&pf_rd_r=TX15Z7QD8DYHZSVHKPQ9&psc=1&refRID=TX15Z7QD8DYHZSVHKPQ9

I chose it because the vise was better than others in the price range. It had a materials clip. It was also had a hair stacker. To suppliment the limited materials I added a shoe box full ofstuff. Grandaughter loves it.

Based on Andy's comment my thoughts also went toward walnuts. This is the time of year when walnuts start to fall off the trees a nd messing up yards. I remember collecting them and smashing the husks with a hammer, and I remember the brown stains or our hands from the juice. Rubbing that juice on your fly might be the answer. Wear rubber gloves.  Or make a pesto of leaves and walnut meat to smear on your bug.  Walnut bark tea might work.  Walnut oil is easy to buy. Amazon has a 6 oz spray bottle at about $6. Tuck one in your vest so you can respray the bug when it looses its aroma. If the fish get really fussy you can also get first press extra virgin walnut oil or kosher walnut oil. Both are $20-25 for 16 oz. 

Finally, only on the ISA site will you find cutting edge discussions like this. It keeps me coming bask. 

When we think of Mepps, we probably have the old Aglia in mind. But Mepps uses other blade designs. So really we are praising the in-line spinner in its many forms. I remember that Heddon honored Mepps with its knockoff Hepp spinner.  And I still have some Daredevle spinners that featured the French blade. The Roostertail is agood one too.

It's ironic that Antigo USA is the French Spinner Capitol of the World. It was one of those magic lures. Just put one on and fish will come. On the downside it was a weed and rock magnet. My basic gear kit for the Boundary Waters was a Mepps #4 bucktail, a U20 Flatfish, a Daredevle, a Rapala, and a Muddler pattern jig-all I needed back then. 

This is a work in progress for me. HMH came out with a nice foldable stripping basket last year solving the problem of wearing a dorky plastic dish tub on my waiste. One came for my birthday recently. Birthday also delivered some 20# green amnesia line. So my mono rig has been upgraded. Here it is. 

30' 20# generic mono reserve or backing

30' 20# Amnesia hivis green working line

tippet ring to 2' Amnesia hivis red sighter

Tippet ring to 7' (4" 20#, 3' 12#)  leader

2' tippet

All this was reeled in on top of an old fly line I had on a spare reel. Now I will try it with the basket on the water.

PS Gunnar approved. 

https://www.primeflycompany.com/products/hmh-line-tender-shooting-basket 

Grass Carp are said to be good eating fish. Have you tried any?

Katie Tying by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr

Katie is still at it.  I need some recommendations on a good beginner's fly tying kit. I would appreciate hearing your recommendations and experiences, Lots out there from $30 to $200.  Your answer will do double duty, helping me and helping all the other readers thinking about taking the plunge into tying.

rich,

Sorry to hear about orvis.

Two ideas:

Gilt Eyelash in copper is a perfect match for the color. Palmered it would make a shaggy body which might not be a bad thing. Or, to reduce the bulk it could be trimmed or furled into a sparkly yarn.

Cactus Chenille, Estaz, Pear Chenille, and Ice Chenille all have a Root Beer color. Though the color varies from brand to brand, any one would probably be ideal for this pattern. Check the usual stores and online sources.

PS Just took a look at Feather Craft who has a lot of these brands. The color is also sometimes called rust or rusty brown. Tobacco Estaz looks real interesting

https://www.feather-craft.com/mas_assets/cache/image/1/6/1/6/90478.Jpg

Rich,

I think the Tequeely is one of those classic patterns that only  comes in one color combination like the Royal Coachman or Mickey Finn of yore. The pattern includes specific materials and colors. But thanks for reminding us of this killer of Smallmouths. You know I have to tie up some in red and white.

I Jury rigged a long leader setup sort of like his using 20# mono (generic). Since the big Brammer bucktails I tied last winter can weigh up to 1/3 oz when wet, it works. But it requires a different casting stroke just like a full sink line is not like a floater. Since the cheap mono I used has a few tangling issues, I am going to revisit this using 20# Amnesia and add a stripping basket.

Of course I could probably just use spinning gear, but what fun is that?

Thanks John. So far this year I am happy with the the Amnesia and Hi Vis Flouro lines of which i sent you samples. I get them to straighten out by really hauling on them before the first cast as I try to do with all my fly lines any way. I do not have 2-3 wts in my arsenal; so I am not sure where I would get an old line.  But I will take donations.  

Now the message went through without a hitch. It must have been temporary.

John Gillio,

I tried to send you a message, and it says you cannot receive messages now. Is your mailbox to full?

done

high, yes. Muddy, no. It is crystal clear. Someone said it has not been this clear ever. This year there is a big problem with dark green gunky algae clumps floating and suspended in the water. On the windward side it can form mats extending 10+ ft from shore. It fouls lures and line quickly. Does Shab have that problem? Residents are going to want to spray it if it keeps up.

I will be interested to hear how you do. My experience is that the flies fish shallower so that when the fish are surface or shallow minded you are on. I use bead heads, jig flies, and if course tubes when they won't come up. 

BTW what kind of line are you using?

Yesterday I had a good time with Crappie o n that "cork" handle custom tenkara I wrote about. I used a 1" Chart Tube 3-4 ft under a ice fishing float ti detect the light bites. Tenkara purists might not like this.

Good idea, John. Tenkara does not have to break the bank. Here's a link to a post I made way beck.

Sort of. My 12' Tenkara pole has 12' line mono or flouro about 20# attached to the tip; then a 5-6' leader on the end of that. That gives me a 30' range similar to your author. Lines that gauge are pretty much tangle free. I could see this long leader working on a conventional outfit if I double the 12 ft to 24 ft to compensate for the distance from the reel to the tip. Your author seems to be pushing this as a close quarters, 30' or so proposition.

Now you know.

"The things we do for love...."

No better way to spend a day MHO

Shanks have been around longer than you think. Here's a tandem shown in Herter's Manual 1955 maybe before you were born. The front section of the fly on the left looks like a shank to me.

Tandem2c by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr

Gary LaFontaine used them a lot in the 90s too. Maybe we never heard of them till later.

I have found that those free swatches we got from the Farbric House long ago work just as well, maybe better because they are bushier.  Wapsi works but not as well.  It is hard to imagine using those ropes without the tear mender.

This is a two in one.

Building an articulated 10 inch fly.

Making 3-4 inch eyelash.

Take a look at the process Bill Sherer uses to make a huge eyelash from ES craft fur. It is as easy as it looks.

In another thread I mentioned this. I first saw it in one of Gunnar Brammers videos. He references the source Bill Sherer. Here it is right from the horse's hands.

Tasty.