Mike G

It's Ash Wednesday and I am feeling guilty. I just posted up the Twelve Flies of Christmas but didn' give a clue how to tie them. Usually if I can see it I can tie it. But that doesn't work for everyone. So I thought I would ask what you readers think.

David, "The Lake" is said to have a phenominal and growing Smallmouth fishery. But fishing the Big Lake is a whole other ballgame quite distinct from the river and small lake fishing most of us do. For instance, your boat and engine are huge compared to the SOT kayaks a lot of guys use on rivers and ponds. Ironically it is small for the Lake especially with any kind of wind. Seasonally the Bass move around sometimes reachable by casting from shore and other times just somewhere else in a huge body of water. If I were serious about doing this, I would get a Lake guide who specializes in Smallmouths. After I day or two with him I would know what is needed to do the job. Hope this helps. I am all ears to hear what others say.

A picture of the Mardi Fly is now viewable in the original post.

Should I of called it the Thirteenth Fly of Xmas? Since Tom mentioned that the free fake fur spins, I tried it on a sample. The sample looked so good I tied on a tail and added a head in a contrasting color(not the recommended sequence). I wound up with something that looks like Tap's Bug. Being made of polyester it will sink; so I figure it will be a good pollywog imitator--a Poly Polly. The fake fur tail will have a lot more action than bucktail. This is a Pink Polly because I had a lot of pink fur to experiment with. Lesson learned: it takes a lot of fur to spin a small body, Be sure to have a good supply on hand. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Though I am already signed up to work the booth, I want to add that this is a great show to go to even if you cannot work the booth. Because it is run by community volunteers as a fund raiser, it gets away from the heavy handed commercialism of other OD shows. And besides, ISA, rich, and Bob all in one show...

John, The rod sounds awsome. If I won it I would not use it; I would put it in a bullet proof display case. For me the Ugly Stik 8 wt is a better fit for my stroke and fishing habits. http://www.troutlet.com/Shakespeare-Big-Water-Ugly-Stik-Fly-Rods-P786.aspx#reviews

From the title I thought I missed it Then I read the text (There's always a wise guy!) Keeping it wise, that rod sounds good. But $900 is low for a hand made boo. How long ago was it made?

Mikea The pattern is a radical new creation by me first tied early in 2013. Dana, Thanks. A dean Rojas endorsement really gives this some credibility. So I will try to catch the wave. The Vacuum Fly, Dying Panfish The Dying Panfish is the first in a series of Vacuum Flies (copywrighted 2013) inspired by the 1909 Heddon Vacuum bait. Dying Crappie, Dying Perch/Firetiger, and Dying Creek Chub models will soon be available. The Pro Model Vacuum Fly features the Riendeau Ringer (trademarked) interchangeable weight system and can be fished unweighted or easily weighted with your choice of dumbell eyes. For information on purchasing this cutting edge fly contact fliesthatwork@yahoo.com. Mention this post. The Vacuum Fly, fish suck it up!

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/honest-angler/2013/02/what-could-maines-rubber-lure-ban-mean-future-fishing?cmpid=enews020613&spPodID=020&spMailingID=5141004&spUserID=MTMxMDkzNTAzMzYS1&spJobID=310088157&spReportId=MzEwMDg4MTU3S0

I was going through the new Bass Pro catalog and came across the Pesky Perch which just may be the latest greatest thing this season. It's a panfish shaped soft plastic lure that you rig flat Texas style weighted or plain. It's a killer, figuratively I felt great because my dying panfish fly was right on target. The fly world will beat a path to my door. Maybe. For then I remember the South Bend Vacuum Lure-an old bait that dates back to the '30s. So that is why that funny looking flat lure worked. See it? Ambrose Bierce - "There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don't know."

Yep. I figure that the standard position of a hook is with shank horizontal, bend curving downward, barb and point below bend. All references to location are described as if the hook were in this position even if you have turned the hook 90 deg or inverted the hook 180 deg or tilted the shank to a vertical position. So the dumbell eyes of a clouser are tied on top of the shank. A TD eye is always a TD eye even if you invert the hook. Etc., etc., etc. It is easier to use pictures.

Tim, I am glad you see the application. What about a stone crab?

Tom, I used Pliobond and followed the instructions on the label. Coat both surfaces to be glued and allow to dry. Apply PB to both surfaces and wait till it is tacky. Press together. Since the fake hide does not stick oout behind the hook on the Dying Panfish, stiffness is not an issue. On the Crappie it does. The rear part is flexible not stiff.

Terry, We all want to know if Jude saw his shadow. I will send the Murray video to you in appreciation. Seriously, let me know how to help with the Ken Rock presentation.

That way I can't be late. When I started twelve flies of Christmas I did not suspect the troubles I would have. Finally I am adding the last two to my distinctive fabrics line. You will find them in the post with the other 10. Now I need to get the tree taken down before Mardi Gras and all will be well.

A thought, Yoda. Screwing you like not? Buy a set of cam jaws for your travler you can. $76 it costs. http://www.renzetti.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=61&category_id=29&keyword=cam+jaws&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=217 Honor you will have; money you will save. Beat the pants of of stinking Peaks and Danvises it will. Your Jedi Aprentice PS Travler bent shaft order you can. http://www.renzetti.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=226&category_id=52&keyword=rotary+shaft&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=217

PS Can't you put the meeting on Skype or Tiny Chat?

Terry, I have to bow out too. Snow got me. Once I get my 165' driveway cleared I still have to negotiate 15 miles of country roads and 15 0r more miles of highways. I was going to bring a prize-Harry Murray's 1 hour video Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Basss. Raffle it anyway and I will send it to the winner if you send me the address.

Nice memorial to Mr. Cloud, Tom. But, guys, those aren't old lures. They're like the ones in my tackle box. Most are still being made today.

I'll be they're. I was coming even before I heard about prizes.

Yoda, Like this you will. I am sure the Peak can handle all your needs, but there are other choices in the price range. Here's my Danvise holding a 5/0 Siwash hook. There's more. It is a transformer. Here it is in the Midge mode holding a #18 hook. For your Musky flies there is an extension arm. That's a 5 inch streamer. For your next trip to the dark side the Clouser mode looks like a Stormtrouper's sidearm. Comes with a C-clamp, bases are available.

Mike, you have done us all a great service by referencing that article. The only limitation it has is that it only covers vises that cost $150 or less. Most of us already have that limit anyway.

'Bout time. If the time you spent shopping a new vice had been a pregnancy, you would have had an elephant. But congrats on the new baby. Now that you have joined the brotherhood of "True Rotary" you can learn to do rotary tying. Check out Al and Gretchen Beatty's book-Rotary Tying Techniques. http://www.btsflyfishing.com/ Like you, I bought a rotary vice to upgrade to cam operated jaws; but then via this book I found out that a true rotary opened up a whole new bag of tricks for for things like wrapping materials, spinning deer hair, and whip finishing-just to name a few processes. It is not just for looking at the other side of the fly. (BTW the book has a chapter on the Peak that confirms your high opinion of it.) Good choice.

Ron, A friend asked me to pass this on.

Wow! Once it starts where does it stop. On Kentucky Derby day, our local pub spomsored a hat day for ladies, free drinks and a meal for two for the most exotic hat. Ladies flocked in wearing unbelieveable creations of fur, fake fur, plants, plastic, fabric, and metal. Just before the deadline a woman walked in with a huge green bullfrog on her head. The front feet almost covered her eyes and the rear legs reached past her shoulders. The bar tender said,"OMG! Where did you get that?" The frog said,"I don't know! It started out as a pimple on my butt." Once it starts where does it stop.