Rob G

Manny, I'm no expert in ice flies but I do know that ice fishermen use fly larvae or maggots for panfish and this fly imitates those. I cut up thin pieces of my latex gloves and use colored markers to make these. It's a simple fly but I have caught bluegill and crappie on them. Interested in seeing what more experts might suggest.

Tim, I think those dates should work out great. I made the adjustments to the schedule above. Thanks

Thought I would give this a shameless bump and include a few words from Reggie Alexander, our guest tyer. "Neither Cecil or Junior will be able make it so I have included a second fly. The flies I will be doing are Everett Drake’s Wounded Minnow & Pat’s Popper. Two simple deer hair flies which for many people is an oxymoron. The Wounded Minnow is a bullet head fly developed by local tyer Everett Drake, who pasted away shortly after winning the Buszek Award in 1979. The fist time I did the Wounded Minnow at a shown was at the 1997 FFF Conclave in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I use Tiemco 8089 size 10. My intent is to go through 3 hooks per person that is there, I’m bring finished flies for everyone there, and providing “blanks” for everyone. We will build a blank from scratch then while the glue dries, use the blank I provide to build the Wounded Minnow and with the blank they made build a second. If you’ll provide the hooks for building the blanks and replace the hooks for the finish fly and blank I provide, that will be even. For the Pat’s Popper I use Tiemco 101 sizes 8 & 10. For the class I prefer 8’s but they are harder to find if we have to we can use the turned down eye 100. Regarding deer hair I have ordered proper hair for the Minnow from Chris Helm and if they want to hang on the patches all that I ask is that my cost is covered. For Pat’s Popper I use dyed belly hair. I have plenty for tying the flies Sunday but it’s my stash and will go back with me.Thead: I use Gudebrod GX2 and have a supply for Sunday. For Pat’s Popper I like Roman Moser’s Power Silk but my supply is getting low. I plan on having at least 10 sets of bullet head tools to the class to use. If someone wants to buy a set, for Sunday I will sell a set of six for $6.00, which covers the material cost. The members need to bring a clamp to lock down a block of wood to the table. Their tying tools and vise. Super Glue and their head cement. I have hair, hackle, Rainy Foam, instructions, bullet head tools. Both of these flies are quick easy deer hair flies that cast easy." Reggie Please remember that you don't have to be an ISA member to be able to attend our fly tying sessions.

Thought I would give this a shameless bump and include a few words from Reggie Alexander, our guest tyer. "Neither Cecil or Junior will be able make it so I have included a second fly. The flies I will be doing are Everett Drake’s Wounded Minnow & Pat’s Popper. Two simple deer hair flies which for many people is an oxymoron. The Wounded Minnow is a bullet head fly developed by local tyer Everett Drake, who pasted away shortly after winning the Buszek Award in 1979. The fist time I did the Wounded Minnow at a shown was at the 1997 FFF Conclave in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I use Tiemco 8089 size 10. My intent is to go through 3 hooks per person that is there, I’m bring finished flies for everyone there, and providing “blanks” for everyone. We will build a blank from scratch then while the glue dries, use the blank I provide to build the Wounded Minnow and with the blank they made build a second. If you’ll provide the hooks for building the blanks and replace the hooks for the finish fly and blank I provide, that will be even. For the Pat’s Popper I use Tiemco 101 sizes 8 & 10. For the class I prefer 8’s but they are harder to find if we have to we can use the turned down eye 100. Regarding deer hair I have ordered proper hair for the Minnow from Chris Helm and if they want to hang on the patches all that I ask is that my cost is covered. For Pat’s Popper I use dyed belly hair. I have plenty for tying the flies Sunday but it’s my stash and will go back with me.Thead: I use Gudebrod GX2 and have a supply for Sunday. For Pat’s Popper I like Roman Moser’s Power Silk but my supply is getting low. I plan on having at least 10 sets of bullet head tools to the class to use. If someone wants to buy a set, for Sunday I will sell a set of six for $6.00, which covers the material cost. The members need to bring a clamp to lock down a block of wood to the table. Their tying tools and vise. Super Glue and their head cement. I have hair, hackle, Rainy Foam, instructions, bullet head tools. Both of these flies are quick easy deer hair flies that cast easy." Reggie Please remember that you don't have to be an ISA member to be able to attend our fly tying sessions.

2011 Central Illinois Fly Tyers Schedule of Events January 9....(1-4 PM)....Bloomington Fire station, located just off Towanda Barnes rd. at 4040 E. Oakland drive, Bloomington IL February 20....(1-4 PM)....POPPER MANIA, we'll be tying Poppers, Crease flies, Gurglers, and other assorted top water flies on this day Urbana Public Free Library, 210 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801-5326 March 13....FLIES, PIES, and SPIN GUYS (1-4 PM)....We'll be tying a few flies, eating pizza pies and asking all the non-flyfishermen to come on out so we can have our central IL regional meeting in order to firm up our fishing and event dates for 2011. Bloomington Fire station, located just off Towanda Barnes rd. at 4040 E. Oakland drive, on the east side of the airport. Some GPS and Google Maps show it incorrectly on the west side of the airport, Bloomington IL April 9 Saturday....(1-4 PM) Bloomington Fire station, located just off Towanda Barnes rd. at 4040 E. Oakland drive, on the east side of the airport. Some GPS and Google Maps show it incorrectly on the west side of the airport. Contact "Kirbaer" on these forums for more information May 7....(9 AM - 2 PM) FISH & TIE....Godley Park District Rec hall building. Go to godleyparkdistrict.com for directions and more information. John is figuring tie for 2 – 2 ½ hours, lunch, tie for another 1 ½ & then fishing although this schedule might be revised. Fishing by canoe, kayak or trailerable boat in Mazonia & Braidwood. Wading in Kank or Mazon river if water is low. Jonn Graham has agreed to demo, we should get a couple more with patterns for promoting. Contact John Loebach for more information as it becomes available. September 18....Sunday 8 AM, the Middlefork and Saltfork Rivers fishing event. Meet at the Oakwood, IL truck stop on the southwest side of I-74. Bring your fly rods and/or your spinning gear. Hopefully we can make this a cast and compare as well. See the event calendar or contact Rob G for further information. BTW, you do not have to be a member of the ISA to attend these gatherings and beginners are welcome. 9/19/11 I realize it's a little early to be thinking about our upcoming season of fly tying gatherings and events but I wanted to get your opinions. The past couple of years, we have held our fly tying meetings on one afternoon a month and I would like to continue that format for sure in January, February, and March. We have also alternated between having them in Bloomington and Champaign and I would like to continue that as well so as to keep driving distances reasonable and fair. My question is: Is there enough interest to have a 4th tie, in April and/or would you rather like to see one this November/December? I realize working around the Thanksgiving Day/Christmas season is tough but just want your ideas on the subject. We will be having a big fish fry at one of the tie-ins because my freezer is full of northern Wisconsin crappie fillets. Also we plan on having a swap meet of materials for another day and I'm looking for a "celebrity tier" for another event. If you've got other ideas but would rather not share them publically, please feel free to PM me. Also, mark your calendar for January 7, Saturday; we will again be taking a group over to the Indianapolis one day fly fishing show where Tim Holschlag will be presenting again. His seminar last year on smallies was excellent and the show overall was quite nice, especially considering Chicago's show may or may not make. As like last year, we will be hitting 2 or 3 very nice fly shops within 20 minutes of one another and have dinner before heading back so as to make a nice day of it. Please consider joinging us for the day. http://www.freewebs....fishingshow.htm

Don, you're not the only one I've seen that happen to. My friends and I do a lot of bicycle touring and their Frog Toggs didn't even last a couple short tours. Much too fragile.

Sorry Mike but that's the RIO Common Carp fly line, it is nothing like the new Asian Carp line taper which will be coming out soon. Yada yada yada

Excellent Jim! I only wish I had been so witty.

John, yea, in my opinion, of course it's just marketing in order to sell more lines. The line doesn't know which fish you're after. How can this be THE smallmouth line when we all fish for smallies using so many various techniques and so many different styled flies. I mean, is this line best for fishing for smallies on a lake, or is it best for shorter casts on smaller streams like the Middlefork, or is it best on larger rivers like the Kank when you're trying let out more line? Is it best for larger air resistant flies or heavy wet socks. No one line can be ideal for all smallmouth flies and all casting distances and so therefore it's a compromise just like any other Bass Bug Taper, Clouser line, etc. And we haven't even touched upon the fact as would this line match your rod and casting style? Before someone just starting out feels they need to spend $75 just on their flyline, I would suggest as was offered to me by some pike gurus that they look at Scientific Anglers Headstart line that can be found for about half that amount. It's advertised and priced for the beginner to be easier to cast but it's the same exact line as their other much more expensive Mastery lines with the same shorter heavier head like their Bass Bug and Pike tapers and turns over a typical smallie fly with ease. Sorry for the rant but I think 20 or more specialty tapers is just silly and confusing. Now pardon me while I take this anger and go vote.

$75 for a fly line that will only catch smallmouth???? Just what RIO needs, another specialty taper. I know I'm being cynical but I just think it's become silly. Btw, so what's my Clouser line now good for?

J Stockard is a great place to order from, since I find they have excellent service and reasonable shipping. Jann's Net craft seems to be $1 cheaper though for 100 hooks. http://www.jsflyfishing.com/cgi-bin/item/HK-049903-0000/search/Mustad-Classic-33903-Hook.html http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/mustad-fly-tying-hooks/810334.aspx

BTW, these look kind of neat, anyone tried these? Instant frog

John, using the standard Mustad 33903 Kink Shanked Popper Hooks. Size 4. It's what I had around and I'm pretty sure that's what Brad was using as well. Inexpensive hooks, 100 for about $7 and Joe C. uses them as well for his clousers and mixed media fly.

John, they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so here I am cheating off you again. Had to use chartreuse bucktail though. Thanks Mike for the photo, since I'm sure Lefty has caught more fish on that Ugly popper than I ever will, it just goes to show how we often over think these things and how flies/lures are designed more for our eye than than the fish.

Well here we go, Brad was nice enough to get the popper bodies out very quickly. I ran down behind the house to the river this evening and got a few casts in. Yea, they move some water, much like a snow shovel would. Look forward to using them next year. John, thanks again for the heads up.

MIke, you're correct, that top photo is an ugly duckling. What is that black post-like thing on the front, a photo artifact or something of intention?

So how do you fine fellows like to dress the posterior portion of your poppers?

Mike, I know Tim promotes them a lot but not sure he is the originator since there's a couple of older fellows over in the Fly Tying Forum from KY that claim "they had tied blockheads for years....very simple, and very old popper design...they were very popular in the south, OK, TX in the 40's and 50's. Most were wittled from balsa or basswood....today's advances in materials make them quick, cheap, and easy.....most of all...they catch a lot of fish!"

I tied up some of these this past summer with very luke warm results vs. my old standbys. I was hoping they would be mesmerized into hitting the darn things. No such luck but then again I did have a couple of bass stop by for a shave and a haircut when throwing the red/white one.

OK, I bit and bought a dozen. I'm such an easy sell. When quoting P.T. Barnum, he had me in mind when it comes to tying materials.

John, what size and type of hook do you prefer with these bodies? And do you really feel that fish and smallmouth in specific react to these poppers more than say the more traditional conical hollowed out body? Just curious because supposedly they're Tim Holschlag's favorite as well.

Ben, I personally use a 2X 10 lb. test tapered leader and tie on a piece of 6 or 8 lb. test fluorocarbon tippet via double surgeon's knot. It works for me. I have a friend who ties his own leaders and uses a tool that aids in tying his blood knots. I just don't like all those knots collecting moss and debri and of course then there are more weak links to break. And for another view on the subject, I met a smallie guide up north in WI who simply ties on a 9 to 12 ft. piece of 6 or 8 lb. test flourocarbon monofilament (like Berkley Vanish) directly to the flyline loop and then to his fly.

Scott, is there anywhere else that predominantly displays our "stuff" other than this link under Activities on the home site? : http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=smallmouth

Sorry Scott, I didn't see them listed on the Cafe Merchandise page so I didn't realize they were already available. Rob