Mark K

I am having a hard time visualizing how one would hook a Fluke using that hook. It's difficult enough to hook a fluke perfectly straight so it swims right and does not twist line. I've experemented with the keeper hooks but I still think a regular 3/0 or 4/0 EWG works best. I used the Horny Toad Hook, made by Zoom this summer. It worked great! This summer I'm going to ditch the baitcaster and use my 8wt, and a Dave's swimming frog instead.

John, I have to politely disagaree. I don't think any lessons were learned. The reallity of the matter is those individuals got what they wanted. They became enough of enough of a pain in the ass, that they drove away a very valuable member, for no good reason at all. The real losers in this matter are the guys that were active and happy with the way things were going. While we all will remain customers and probably sit at the table again, a great partnership was destroyed. Together you guys put together some wonderful things. I rarely make outtings and that sort of thing, but between the casting clinics and tying events, my skills doubled. I was actually excited about attending. Rare for me. It's sad that it had to come to end. i'm sure it will eventually come out who those individuals were, speaking for myself, I have ZERO respect for them. There is no happy ending to this.

Someone pointed this site out to me on these message boards. It is truly awesome: http://www.flyfishohio.com/index.htm To that person I say Thank you! Under the Fly box Porn section there is an article by Bob Petti: http://www.flyfishohio.com/Fly_Box_Porn_Bob_Petti.htm It caught my eye, because two of the flies are favorites the Baby Deceivers. Most of the flies, to me don't look like the type of thing to attract a monster bass...But they look natural, cool and pretty easy to cast. This is my favorite line write up for a fly, the Matuka Brookie: . I tied this fly not because I think juvenile brook trout are bass food, but because I just thought it would look cool. And it might hook a fish. That dude makes fly tying and fishing sound fun.

Patagonia Double Haul. Used once or twice. It has a small clear stain on the mesh in front. Hardly noticable. Other tahn that it's darn near new. The rear compartment will hold a hydration bladder. They sell for 98 bucks. Looking to get $50. I'll pay shipping or we can meet in the Chicagoland Area. http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/product/pr...EL_GEAR.FISHING sold

Maybe on the boards. My tying and casting has improved vastly because of Joseph. I'll still be a loyal customer.

After following the instructions in B.C's book to the letter, I was pretty impressed with myself with the results, visually. I fished it for about 30 minutes up in Wisconsin did not catch squat. Tied on a Clouser Sculpin immediatley caught a a really nice smallie, actually a real nice smallie. I caught it in an eddy, a picture perfect one. I'm guessing the swimming nymph was just the wrong fly for the situation. I'm beginning to think the Clouser minnow or anything similar is really bread and butter for the smallmouth angler, kind of like a Rapala minnow and a jig in one. What really struck me about the swimming nymph is that it was so radicallly different from the other flies in his book, many of which were just variations of the minnow. Since I've taken flyfishing seriously everthing Bob Clouser has put his name on has been positive. So in my book if he designed it I'm giving it another go. Harry Murray has a good video about fishing flies like the swimming nymph. Bouncing them accross rifly bottoms. It's a very "home made" video, totally void of "big fish", which to me tells me it's not B.S. The scenery and structure totally remind me of he Kank and area 7. If you are interested in fishing that fly I think you should check it out. BTW. your fly looks kick ass. The fish you threw it to have no sense of taste.

Though if you caught fish after changing colors, it wouldn't really prove anything since you don't really know whether or not the fish would have hit the original bait, or if he was even there in the first place. Rarely is there anything scientific about fishing. Echoing MT's sentiments with regard to the fly being in the water. Changing flies every 15 minutes maybe fine for a guy that fishes all day, but I can't remember the last time that happened.

Happy Holidays all! In the water I fish, you would most likely be hung up as soon as the sinker hit bottom. Thats why most succesful catfisherman drift floats. If you are hell bent on doing it I would use a sandbag, or pencil sinker like they do for steelhead. You could also just do the split shot thing or better yet one of those mojo type sinkers That will really slide thru the rocks. I've done it but.... A. At least consider this. while it has little, if any impact, being flippant about leaving lead in the river is not cool in my book, considering all the changes industry and other sportsman, like hunters have made. Everyone should do their part. You're going to lose a jig every now and again, thats part of the deal, but I think we should do everything we can to prevent leaving rigs in the water. You will also not have direct contact with the bait, so in summer the probability of gut hooking would probably increase. B. It wasn't anymore productive then pitching out a big black grub on a heavy weighted keeperhook and cranking it in. C. Matt Straw gave a seminar where he was talking about using a float with plastic (personally I would ditch the plastic and find something crawling under a rock). You'll cover water faster, with less headaches. and never gut hook a fish. once you get over the stigma of fishing with a bobber, it a lot of fun.

As a fisherman I believe that black works as well as anything else, 99% of the time clear or dirty. As a flytier thats a boring attitude. Those are some nice looking buggers. Weighted in addition to the beadhead?

Rick, i looked this site over in more detail. It is indeed fine. Thanks for the heads up. Mark

Pamela Anderson has been violated by too many creepy rock stars like Tommy Lee. That spinner might put the fish off.

Very Cool. Thanks.

Let's see some more patterns!

I saw this in the July August '07 issue of Fly Fish America, PG 58. The originator is Al and Gretchen Beatty. I'm not sure why, I'm attracted to this fly. Probablly the same reason I thought Lucille Ball was hot, at least when she was young. Ever see her in an episode of the Three Stooges, when she was probably in her 20's? Is that a wading stick in your pocket Ricky...or are you just happy to see me? Ohh ahhh where was I...The fly Oh yeah..Here goes>>> I don't want to plagerize the guys work, just find a copy of the magazine. Basically it's red thread, white and brown bucktail, gold crystal flash and peacock herl. when you bind them on leave the butt ends long so you can taper the head later. Wrap the head with thread and paint it with red nail polish. I used a #4 3366. Then hit it with Sally Hansens. He tied it much more sparse, which usually make for better fishing. I've got both going, this one is tied with more bucktail. in the bathtub both look good. This one has some nice glide to it, even though it's too bushy. He has you staking the the bucktail, I dont think I will do tha anymore. I like the tapered Clouser look. I'm not sure but I think I have seen saltawter flies tied this way. Maybe Tarpon flies.

I nominate the Calcutta as hands down the best reel baitcaster ever made. It's a work of art inside and out. I have 2. The only bad part of owning one is that they are such a thing of beauty, it is heart breaking to get even a single scratch much less mangled like mine are. My gold one took a major beating on a float trip. I damn near cried when I saw it. Shimano's been making the Calcutta for how long now? The design stands. Like The Abu Garcia reels. The venerable old Cardinals. Daiwa SS. It calls to mind the the old Nikon workhorse cameras. The FM series. The design hasn't changed in several decades. In Desert Storm I, the photgraphers relied on the old FMs to withstand the harsh Desert conditions when the $1800 F4s puked out. In this day few designs stand. You might consider putting it on E-bay with a reserve or additionally listing it it on Craig's List.

Wow. That is a seriously depressing thought. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Pardon the pun.

HA! Happy Thanksgiving. Everyone go eat a whole pumpkin pie. i say it's okay.

We drove out to Jasper Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area in Indiana yesterday to view the Sandhill Crane Migration. It is quite a spectacle to see some many. There were thousands and the just kept comming. Here is a lame little video I took and put on You Tube. There is probably some better ones already on there. The video doesn't do the sight justice. The cranes have a huge with a 7 foot wingspan and seeing so many in place is just incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOfBLO68KoU Here is an article from Chicago Wilderness Magazine: http://chicagowildernessmag.org/issues/fal...perpulaski.html The Indiana DNR's page on Jasper Pulaski: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/publications/jasper.htm

I fished 10 inch worms in a local FP quarrie. Yep caught plenty of 10 inch fish. Also caught some nice ones. The advantage of the 10 inch worm is that you can use it with a very heavy weight in very, very heavy cover, with a huge 4/0 hook. To me the bulky package worked better. And I don't think bass are mistaking it for a snake. I think they are just tuned into some movement and it imitatting something alive. Ever catch a water snake and have him take a crap on you? It is some foul smelling stuff and I would hate to get a mouth full if I was a predator. It has to be a defense mechanism. I moved a big Fox Snake that was sunning itself right in the middle of the bike trail that I ride. Man it was pissed off and unloaded on my bike gloves, I had to toss them. S.O.B ingrate. That quarrie is loaded with water snakes. I've never seen one get eaten and the never seem to be in a hurry even when they are going thru lily pads in very bassy water. I have my doubts about all these odd ball baits. They do seem like the the type of thing that lure collectors will covet and pay crazy amounts of money for on E-bay.

Scott, That is a great shot and story.

Tis one helluva fly. Don't forget profile. A spinnerbait probably resembles a small school of fish rather than an individual. Size wise, with the blade turnig I'll bet it's 5" wide.

Is the defintion of a "fly" different for trout, bass or saltwater species?

I have two words for that guy: Ooogah Boogah!

Does the leaf look like a herring-bone? I don't know. We're out of herring!