Mike G

I can't believe I am having trouble with this one. What colors go into this streamer-tail, body, wing, hackle...?

Real Economical Reels Cabelas has two. The new Wind River at $30 is very fascinating and has that 21st Century Space age look. The Cahill (reg $20) on sale for $10 looks more like a $20 reel. But how do you argue with $9.99. http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/fishing-fishing-reels-fly-fishing-reels/_/N-1104842/Ns-MIN_SALE_PRICE?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104760180&WTz_stype=GNU

The first key to fishing wisdom is defined, of course, as assiduous and frequent questioning. -- Sic et Non Peter Abelard

Thank's for the heads up, Scott! When did you start tying? Like i need more. But if I did, right on the first page (1 of 8) there are two assortments - Bucktail and general materials. Both are good ways to get a lot of colors and/or feathers without buying full tails etc. One of the reviews is a backhand endorsement which says that the stuff is too big for trout but might be good for bass. Other tyers shoul look at all eight pages.

Just Read It. http://midcurrent.com/books/how-to-tie-a-fly/?utm_source=MidCurrent+Fly+Fishing+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3913189a91-Newsletter_March14_2012&utm_medium=email

If fishing isn't everything, it's not worth a single hour of someone's trouble. Jean-Paul Sartre

Congrats on entering the AC period of life. The periods are: BC, Before Children, great play time and great for fishing. C, Children, very serious time with "bigger fish to raise." AC, After Children, great fishing but you will miss the kids. My best advice is last. Get a good pair of wrap-around polarizing sunglasses. They protect your eyes and provide great below surface vision.

Jim, Ron gave you two good sources. Problem is that there are so many good sources. Even the two Ron mentioned have different casting styles. Joan's is more classic while Lefty rewrites the book. Personally I am studying Lefty's Longer Fly Casting because it makes a lot of sense to me. Definitely ask questions; just limit whom you ask.

http://www.danblanton.com/blog/glazeners-spinster-materials-list/ Also called a Spinster

Rob, That wheel has been invented under the name Coyote.http://www.henrycowenflyfishing.com/flies_08.html

You know how one thought leads to another. I demonstrated the Flapdoodle concept during the Tiny Chat broadcast on Feb 25. It is an easy way to add a spinner to a fly or jig. In another variation, some casters even replace the back treble on a crank bait or surface plug with a spinner blade. Eric, I believe, brought up a problem of short striking fish. Were the fish short; or were the strikes short; or both? One easy solution to the problem is adding a stinger hook to the snap holding the blade. But that creates two more problems. First, you have anogther hook that can tangle with the fly or snag the bottom. Second, if you hook a fish on the stinger the swivel becomes a weight bearing part of your lure. You need a sturdy swivel. Still it is probably a good idea to carry some hooks so you can add a stinger if you run into short striking fish. The final stray thought is that the swivel-blade-hook combo alone becomes another lure. We are circling back to the Hildebrandt Flicker Spinner invented 100 years ago. The spinner at the bottom of the page is a Herter's Ghost Lure-a knock off on the Flicker. That closes the loop.

This nicely tied fly was in one of the Fly Pack s we gave away at the Woodstock show. The flexible stretchy material used for the tail is interesting. Does anyone know what it is?

Recheck you're figures Rich. I think we got five between new and renewals. The Woodstock OD Show was very impressive. Congrats to the organizers, Anyone who can get YODA to come has my eternal admiration, Lefty rules.

If a smallmouth jumps in the river, and there is no one around to hear it, does it make any sound? David Hume

Real fly fishermen have teeth marks on the rod butt. And whitner strips in their fly boxes. One more entry in an old discussion.

For a lot of $$$, you could probably find someone who could put a small splint inside that tip. and make it look like new. But the action will not be quite the same. So you have the best idea. You should be able to do it yourself especially if you can get along without perfectly matched thread wraps. Try this: 1. Remove the tip guide from the broken section. Heat from a candle or other source will usually break the bond. 2. Even off the broken end of your tip if it is jagged. A fine tooth saw or file should work. 3. See if the old tip fits. If not get one from a source like Netcraft. They start at a little over a dollar. Or take one of a beater rod you are not using anymore. 4. Glue the new tip on with 2 PT epoxy so you can get it off if it happens again. 5. If it bothers you, add thread wraps or paint the joint to match the wrappings. Coat with 2 Pt epoxy. Go fish.

Go for it. Ages ago I used Rit Dye to get some orange feathers and bucktail. But Kool Aid sounds...cool. As the author suggests, test with small pieces to make sure you have the hang of it. Who wants to have several lifetime supplies of a color resembling primal ooz? BTW, I once had an oversupply of Magenta neck hackles. Using ordinary bleach, I turned them into white hackles. This would probably work if you Kool Aid colors don't come out right. Let us know how it works.

It just occured to me that vintage bamboo and glass rods may have smaller guides than rods that came off the bench recently. For their weight the old silk lines, that these rods were built for, generally had smaller diameters than todays synthetic lines. So ,again, pick the taper that suits your fishing, but you may have to consider the new "Sylk" lines designed to work with smaller guides. Or consider replacing small guides with larger guides. Or you can get a silk line which as a line would be obsolete, but still available, but still in use, but still popular with a good number of fly fishermen.

I do. WF lines came out about the same time FG rods did which was when I started using FG rods with WF lines with outstanding results. Whether the rod is boo, tubular steel, glass, or graphite the line profile has the same results. Romantics may want to match DTs with boo since there was a time when that was all there was. So the choices are Level. DT, WF. Pick the one that does the job. Then pick the rod that handles the line regardless of the material.. PS: In my stash there is a 8.5 ft Heddon Bamboo marked for HDH or D that needs some work. It is just a matter of timing that the WF6F ( HDF) is not there. If I ever get it back to life I will be comfortable with a 6 level, a DT6, or a WF6.

Terry Dodge welcomes meeting speaker , Charles E. Corley from the IEPA Rocckford office. Earth, Wind, Water-no Fire Mr Corley gave a great talk about the work of the IEPA which has been on the job for over 40 years. Its three divisions take care of land, air and water issues in the state. Major activities are issuing of permits, inspections, and investigation of incidents that affect environmental quality. Violations are turned over to to the Attourney General for prosecution. Like the DNR the IEPA is going through a rough period for funding. With limited ability to perform inspections, they depend on citizens reports to uncover problems. The number to call for emergency situations is 800 782-7860. The number for the Rockford office is 815 987-7760.

Craig, The site is the tip of the iceberg with the bulletin, fishing outings, fly tying, meeting speakers, conservation activities, and educational events forming the rest of what you don't see here. So, as suggested, take time to explore. Eventually, you will want to sign up for a membership to enjoy all the benefits, eventually.

Excellent idea. It would make a great post here or an article in the bulletin.

Thanks Ryan. I was just beginning to struggle with weed wacker line. Wire ties sound a whole lot easier. And they work.

Dare ye call the Kraken? Seriously, if you read the other ISA forum thread, you can see that the topic generated a monster discussion. Lefty Kreh is a strong supporter of the concept, and that is enough for me. The beer vendor or washmaid look seems to be unavoidable. The rigid models like the Orvis tub have the advantage of those bumps in the bottom to keep the line from tangling. The folding mesh ones lack this though being able to fold up is a nice touch. I am going with the beer vendor look. I just bought my designer stripping basket from Target for $5.00. I will install mono loops made from weed wacker line to keep the line from shifting around in the basket and use a bunge cord for a belt.

I often say that when you can measure the fish that you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot express it in numbers, your fish is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of fishing, but you have scarcely, in your thoughts, advanced to the stage of science, whatever the fish may be. Lord Kelvin Comment: I am not sure I like this one. Though Lord Kelvin's insight on quantification has helped advance science, it seems to have had an unwanted effect. It turned the joy of discovery into the work of science. In The River Why, Gus points out men like his father who are skeptical of a fish's existence unless it has been precisely measured, weighed, and photographed. Is life just one big lab? Oops! I forgot to number this quotation. Henning Hale Orviston might question its existence..