Mike G

Tim Holschlag? John, can you compare it to Holschlag's book?

stealth18 by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr The #18 is great for big Smallmouths. Fish it on a 1 wt. to catch a bucket of 4-6" Creek Chubs. Usethe shubs on a medium spinning rod to cach the Smallmouths. On a serious note. A good pattern is a good pattern. It can be scaled up and down to suit the fish you are after. Consider that the old classic Flatfish is still being made in sizes fron F-2 (1.0") to T60 (6.0"). Still catching. Better pic? Stealth18c by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr

#18 Midge :-)

Here you go. Stealthinches by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr

Back to comment on how I did the foam. Originally I could find only two decent flank feathers in the whole bag of Mallard that I had. So I did not want to mess up. First I rewatched Woody's video on the Zoo Cougar a few times. Then I literally went to the drawing board to refine the template. Though Edmonds' template had served to make several squadrons of Stealths for me, I knew that it did not quite give me the diving collar to match the Cougar's. The sides of the triangle are set at too narrow of an angle. So I made a new template that set the sides at a 90 deg angle instead of the original 35 deg. That worked well on the White Stealth. I even had to trim the collar back since it extended too far down. You have the plans for the Atomic bug. Here is the template for the Stealth plane that goes with it. Stealth3-0greycw The tie of the foam is pretty much the same as Edmonds' original, though I practically eliminated the loop reducing it to a bump about the size of a 1/2 a pea right behind the tie down point for the head.

John, that fly is always worth tying. for a long time there was a You Tube video of Lefty and Bob as a tag team tying the 1/2 &1/2. Sadly I can no longer find it. Maybe you and Rob could do one.

Dang! Mark the date, 2/26/18, first test flight of the Stealth Cougar. Pilot considers it combat ready. Rob, please give me credit as a design consultant. Now are you going to break the news to Kelly? I will comment on tying the foam soon. I need to get a picture or two together.

Stealth Cougar StealthCougar by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr Real Cougar Cougar by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr I can't take credit for this one. It is from Slide Inn MT. I used it to gauge proportions. StealthCougar3 by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr

PS I noticed the old members list is missing just now. So I can look at a members profile or pmail him only if I can work from a post. Awkward. That would be the cherry on the frosting.

In the Bulletin Bart asked for feedback on the new website. So what better place to put it than here. First I like it a lot. The notifications we get via eMail are a lot better since we get a preview of the message instead of a notice. I have figured out how to do almost all the things I did before. So far the only thing I miss are the archives of old newsletter issues. I archived the PDFs up to 2015 myself, but I have a gap in recent issues. That would be frosting on the cake.

Welcome Jim. First Smallmouth 65 years ago, Lazy Ike. Your best is yet to come.

The idea of making poppers out of bottle corks could really catch on. LeftyBugOrig by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr I have a plopper in the design phase as you read this.

There is another contest. Biggest fish caught on equipment bought with Green Stamps. I won't enter so someone else can win.

Nice work John. I like the 13, the Oreno, and the Ike's. My goal when I was in my teens and 20s was to carve a Flatfish. I never got one that worked. Why, when I could buy a real one at the hardware store for $2-3.00? That seemed like a lot back then.

I win! proppopper by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr You did not say what kind of popper and did not say what kind of fish. Double or nothing?

Doing it the old fashioned way. I am glad you are keeping a vanishing art alive.

Thank you for hijacking this thread. If it was political, I would have to report it for crowing about how the Tweeter and Chief was delivering on his campaign promise to reduce regulations on businesses. In that context, fewer IL EPA reports to the States Attorney is a victory for the Tweeter, and our Gov gets an Attaboy.

Here's an update on the Godfather from a recent Midcurrent. Lefty Kreh Update: I spoke to Lefty for almost an hour this morning and he sounded great. Since there have been so many questions about his health, he asked that we publish this short note: “God and my doctor have given me an extension. Some weeks ago I was put in home hospice care with three medical problems and it was assumed I’d be here a short time. Word about it went on the Internet and my computer and iPhone were flooded with wonderful and humbling messages. I read every one but regretfully wasn’t able to reply to most. My granddaughter used Facebook to handle messages. My doctor and best friend experimented with medicines and said, ‘I going to try to keep you around.’ So far it’s working. I’m confined to my home, hooked to oxygen and have little stamina. My daughter and son are taking constant care of me and no father was more blessed. Several computer projects keep me busy. There have been been ups and downs with some additional surgery, which is slowly getting better. There is no guarantee on how long I’ll be here but am so humbled and grateful for all your wonderful messages. All The Best, Lefty” — Marshall Cutchin, MidCurrent

Impressive craws Rob. The wire is AFW #2 stainless Lefty style. He sed to put on two cuz if one breaks off you still have a functional guard left.

There is a saying that explains why the Japanese auto industry beat the tar out of the American Big Three in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. "The Japanese fix the problem; the Americans fix the blame."

Rob, The numbers are clear. It is getting worse. Blame Canada; who cares? Someone else's prior bad performance,can't become an excuse, can it?

Clouser Poppers EZ Frogs DSCF2771EZfrog2 by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr EZsaddle by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr Divers Diverskirt by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr Diversaddle by Michael Gerharz, on Flickr

Welcome Erich! I am glad you found the site.

For Musky hounds there is nothing more frustrating than having a Hammer Handle chew up an 10" sucker that was supposed to deliver the wall hanger. I'd use Bucktail for pike to avoid having a 1 fish per fly ratio.

It's called Bubblegum, Bubba. No real man would use a sissy color like pink or shrimp. Rob, from your scientific background, would you say that Bubblegum would fade to grey 2-3 ft under water? They say Cajun Red line is invisible under water.