Mike G

Ron, You are right. We need a level playing field. Though I will not be there, I am hoping for some reports. I do not want comparisons to be biased by the differences in the fly on the line. Bassbug is a good benchmark for starters. However, bassbugs vary a lot. Big ones are 2/0 or larger. On the other end, one could argue that a #10 caddis is a bass bug when the Smallmouths get dialed in on a hatch. What is your benchmark bass bug?

I am honored by the nomination and support I have received. I thank all my supporters. But, before anyone else wastes their vote, I have to say that I will not accept the title if I win. I admit that I take the inner beauty category hands down. Inner beauty is greatest where outer beauty is least. I also think I match up well in the wisdom category though proving that would require a standardized test. I fail in all the other categories. That is not a Smallmouth Bass. That is not a fly rod. I am not holding it in my mouth. There are others way more qualified than I to serve as poster child. This being said, I resign from the race and instruct my supporters to switch their votes to Jonn.

John, Too bad for me you started having these events right after I moved 110 miles from Hidden lake. It used to be walking distance for me. I still want to hear all the impressions that the rods make especially your experience with the Sage Bass series. Good wishes to all who are able to make it.

Like everyone else, I was stunned by this news. A half a day later, it is still hard to believe. I have to thank Rich for letting us know. The family and those, who knew Joe much better than I, have my sympathy. Though I met Joe only once, I know he was a great person from contacts on websites. He was a world class fly tier who was always ready to share his stuff with us. He was always positive, and his enthusiasm lit up any discussion. It is an understatement to say we will miss him, but it is the best I can do. Since Joes favorite fish, the Carp, is brown, I thought of the brown robed saint, St. Francis. He came through. I found a good thought on the Franciscan website. The sadness of death gives way to the bright promise of immortality. Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death, we gain an everlasting dwelling in heaven. Roman Missal

Jonn, Anyone can write a review for Cabelas including a competitor under an alias. The Guys at FlyFishOhio have a different view. I put my faith in them when I bought one. http://www.flyfishohio.com/Vise%20Review%201/Fly_Tying_Vise_Shoot-Out.htm You'll find the Peak there also. The $145 Peak scored top mark with 4.40 though the Danvise was not far behind at 4.10. It is a good site that everyone should bookmark.

Joe, I hope this is true. Name: Brownie Cutbow Age: 21 Occupation: Midwest Sales and Service Representative Employer: Renzetti, Inc.

Joe, Renzetti is the Mercedes. They should respond pronto. IMHO their rep should personally deliver the replacement jaws and maybe give you a massage Jonn, Take a long hard look at the Danvise before you pay 3-4 times more for the Eyetalian sport model. Al Beatty's book on rotary tying reviews a lot of the true rotaries out there while it also fills us in on what rotary tying really is. Well worth $15 to $20 especially if you are thinking about spending over $200 on a vise. My 2 cents.

Matt, I have used glue at times, though I can't say I noticed any difference. A good knot should hold. Though, if you want "belt and suspenders" security, glue makes sense. I do not think glue can strenthen a knot in terms of pound test; it keeps it from slipping. You don't want to loose a big one.

Mike, When I saw your question this Badger Magnum popped into mind though it is only 1/2 the size of the sucker that the hypothetical fish are dialed in on. But there's more. Though I could run off to Muskies are Us and get a 10" fly, there's no guarantee it would work. Buck sez,"Depth, speed, size, color, action." First my fly has to get to the proper depth and move at the right speed. Fulfilling the other requirements of the formula like size comes next. So I sling the biggest thing that fills the bill on depth and speed and gets close on color and action.

Anyone using these rods regularly? It is interesting that they come with a custom wf line and do not have the standard AFTMA wt designation. The Blue Gill gets a 230 grain line. That's an AFTMA 9 wt, Bubba. The Bass models are 290 and 330, 10 wt and 11 wt respectively. That's very interesting.

BT, Quote me on this,"In a large book on trout fishing, there is a chapter on using bass flies for trout. In a large book on bass fishing, there is a chapter on using trout flies for bass." You heard it here first. Moral: Be prepared for all contingencies; but respect the odds. Translated into spinning terms for bass, lean towards the 5" hula grub; but have a #0 Mepps or 1/8 oz PM just in case. In fly terms for bass, I think this has been covered already.

Ron, "Several points:1) You say you don't need a 9wt for smb.Why than do you use it? 2)Craig got the slam because he's a very good flyfisherman which doesn't mean he's infallible in all his ffing beliefs.3)In referencing that In Fisherman statement you're making the same mistake Craig does by applying spin/baitcasting applications to ffing.The In Fisherman guy likely doesn't flyfish & I'm sure he wasn't speaking to flyfishing or suggesting that flyfishermen should be fishing 6" flies for lmb let alone smb.4)I was afraid you would take constructive criticism meant to make you a better flyfisherman as a personal attack." 1. You realy don't know me. So let's begin with my motto. "I do not want to catch a fish that feels like a whale; I want to catch a whale." This says I am done with the romance of light gear casting, spinning, or fly though I thought it was cool for many years. I realize that the 9 is perhaps the equivalent of a flipping stick; however, I think the flipping stick is a darn good tool. I give up some of the sport of playing smaller fish so I am ready for the toad. A guide once told us,"Keep reeling them in. You can play with the fish when we get them in the boat." That is a good tip. 50 years ago we wanted to play the fish on light gear. Now we know it is best to get them in, get them off the hook, and get them back in the water ASAP. Less stress, better survival with heavier gear. Bass are tough but not immortal. 2-4. Re-examine the assumptions you make in these statements. 2.Craig is wrong? 3.You are sure In-Fisherman information does not apply to fly fishing? (Tom McNally recommended his 4-8" Magnums for bass 20-30 years ago.) 4.You can't make me a "better" fly fisherman if I do not let you, can you? IMHO, one size does not fit all. There's gonna be a day when a #14 Adams is required to hook the toad. Winter fishing with float'n fly tells us there is a time for 1.5" jigs. However, our experienced guides and anglers are telling us that there are other times when we are missing something by not going really big.

Ron, Personally I do not need a 9 wt for those flies. But if I did, what is it to you? How did Craig earn that slam? Long time ago someone said,"Attack the problem, not the person." Back to the problem. The question is about bait size. In-Fisherman reports that a Large Mouth Basss prefer prey lengths 1/4 to 1/3 of its length. In that regard Samll Mouth Bass seem to be similar. So, if one really wants that 20+" Bass, a 5-7" lure or fly is in order assuming one can forego the fun of catching smaller fish.

9 wt for bass. Somehow Fate delivered a 9 wt rod to me around 1970. Here's how. An incentive program where my mother worked gave her a bunch of Plaid Stamps. She gave them to me to get the Fly Rod shown in the PS catalog. I got it which turned out to be a 9 wt Shakespeare. On trips to the Quetico thereafter, I came to love it. Why? Casting 3-4 inch streamer flies was easy. Taming 14-16 inch fish was no problem compared to my 6 wt. This brings to the crux of the problem. Should I use a 6 wt to have more "fun playing the fish?" Or should I use the 9 wt to be more efficient "attracting and landing the fish?" Well, I know my answer.

Today, Oct. 4, is the feast of St Francis. My wife remembers it. She attended a Franciscan College. In those good old days, the Franciscan staff celebrated the feast. Though she has long forgotten the droning lectures, she remembers the days off. The brown robes make Francis a natural patron of the brown bass. But there is more. With a little Googling, I found out that Francis has been the patron of animals for 800 years and more recently he has been recognized as the patron of ecology. His appeal transcends religious lines as you are as likely to find his statue in gardens of Franciscan Convents as in gardens of Budhist Monistaries. You do not have to go to a religious store to get a statue of Francis since it is a popular item at garden centers. Many Episcopal, Catholic, Lutheran, and Congregational churches have scheduled pet blessings today. Of course I do not recommend that you take a Smallmouth in for a blessing. (I think the saint is never shown holding a fish because he had the good sense to leave it in its proper element.) The Franciscans' "do it yourself" blessings are more appropriate. Next time you release one, try this instread of your standard juicy Jimmy Houston kiss. Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. On the fifth and sixth days of creation, you called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all animals his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this animal. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen. if you wan to read more: http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Francis target="_blank">http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Francis/</a> PS This is a rerun-worth it IMHO.

Jonn, It sounds like your sports have a lot of trout fishing habits to overcome since they are working small flies, in the wrong (for bass) places, spending a lot of time trying to get the perfect drift. The trout model that prevails among fly fishermen is not for Bass. Terry, Bob Long Jr's presentation on Fly Fishing SM Bass is the best antidote for "trout" fishing habits that I have seen. Jonn does not have habits to unlearn though I wonder how he would do on trout fishing in the wrong places with flies that are too big.

Great reply, Jonn. Buck sez,"The fish are on the top, the bottom, or somewhere in between." That is why Craig uses the ringer. No sense being a one depth wonder.

So are you asking about the Phish Stik? The baits are similar soft plastics whose action is determined by the angler. The difference is in the shape especially the tail. Like the Sluggo the Stik has no tail. This allows the bait to wander more side to side like an arrow without fletching. That is walking the dog. This is basic sluggo theory. The fluke action is straighter because of the tail's drag. The Stik has a more generic shape like a tube bait-could be a fish, could be a craw. The fluke says fish. Any day one could be better than the other. Depends. Here's food for thought. A while back Berkley did some research on Bass in a tank. They used a soft plastic craw bait in the test removing apendages as they went along. Bass hit the full craw, but preferred ones with the claws removed. They preferred one with the claws and legs removed even more. Do we wonder why the Stik and tube baits work? Here's the corker. The craw head without claws, legs, and tail got the most hits. Moral? Fish want an easy meal?

"The ancients wrote of the three ages of man, I propose to write of the three ages of the fisherman. When he wants to catch all the fish he can. When he strives to catch the largest fish. When he studies to catch the most difficult fish he can find, requiring the greatest skill and most refined tackle, caring more for the sport than the fish." Edward R. Hewitt "A Trout And Salmon Fisherman For Seventy-Five Years" Lotta fish, big fish, challenging fish-pick one.

Thanks Mike, I have been waiting for these. Though they are hard to view in this format, a little patience allowed me to see the process. Rich could add the actual tying sequence for clarity sake. Good photos. Rich should consider "hand modeling."

She's got a nice tan and her clothes are brown. That's all. BTW I agree on Jonn for reasons already stated.

BTW. Is there any way we can turn this into a fund raiser? Also there is room for one more contestant if anyone is game for it.

Time to pick the 2009 ISA Bass Bugger’s Poster Child The last picture on the fly photo thread says pictures won’t get better though they might get dirtier. So I say it is time to pick the ISA Bass Bugger’s poster child for 2009. Indicate your selection in the poll. Though I don’t want to sway the results, I am hoping ISA members have the sense to choose inner beauty over the fleeting beauty of the obviously professional models. Though Eric’s peaceful Mona Lisa smile is intriguing, Jonn’s wisdom outshines it in that he seems to have had the sense to remove his plates before biting the rod. But, you pick.` 1 Pike Guy 2 Cobia Guy 3 Brookie Guy 4 Brownie Gal 6 Skoal Gal 7 Jonn 8 Storm Guy 9 Tooter 10 Mike G

No cigar for that cigar. The Money Hound is also in the Bass Pro Fall Angler. It is a floater more like the real Spook. And, at $7 for 4, a real rip-off IMHO. I can get 10 of the others for $6.

Jeff, It is a lot of work sorting out your 5 reasons to fish. 4 and 5 have no place in the discussion. There is stuff in tubes for 4, and machines you can buy for 5. Since 3 is a means to the end, that leaves 1 or 2. I pick #2. If one wants a sport where counting is critical, one should take up golf-the four-letter sport.