Donnie W

I use either an Owner mosquito, (my prefferance) or a Gamakatsu drop shot. size 2.

After completing a "mini swap" with richmc and his interest in a pattern of leech that I designed it was decided that I'd like to donate 6 of the leeches for the blowout. I have used this pattern a lot here in Wisconsin and Iowa for smallmouth and walleyes. It truly is my "money" fly and has taken walleyes to 9 pounds and several outsized smallmouth here in the wisconsin river. I appologize for the picture quality, it truly doesn't do these guys justice. Rich, if it's acceptable to you I'll get these flies in the mail to your address and you can see that they get to the place they need to be. Regards, Donnie

Hi Dustin I'm the lurking cheesehead of the site. The choice of flies you might use has a lot to do with your flyrod as well as the locations you fish. Not to mention your line, casting ability etc. A good selection of flies to carry might be clouser minnows, wooly buggers, a few poppers in various colors, a crayfish imitation or two, and perhaps a few streamers. To be honest smallies can be pretty darn agrressive at times and will take anything they can swallow including mice, frogs, crayfish (very important on their menu!) leeches, ducklings, and all manner of smaller fishes. At other times they can be "keyed in" to specific insects. Hellgramites, dragon fly nymphs, stone fly nymphs hexagenia limbata mayflies (the great big ones to about 2.5 inches) There are not many limitations to what they will take at any given time. Look around the site here, there are several really great looking patterns that have been put together by these guys. I know that richmc does some incredible things with a bohemian yarn that just scream big fish! Welcome to the maddening addiction of flyfishing smallmouth bass but be warned once you start catching smallies on a long rod there is no turning back. Good luck, Don

If you can get ahold of the Stanleys, it is by far the best oproduct I've used. In a pinch, one can apply non-stick cooking spray to your line. You'd be surrised at how much this actually helps!

I ordered a pair of these on the 1st I just rec ieved a UPS e-mail telling me they should be at my doorstep on the 7th. We'll see how they are.

LOL! Oh yes there are some open spring creeks and I fish them for trout, However they are 3.5 hours away and I won't fish trout unless the air temps are above freezing. It only takes seconds to freeze the gills of a fish once exposed to air. So in efect any trout removed from a 40 degree creek has been handed a death sentence. There are also a few steelhead in the tribs but lots of them are iced up right now as well. I'm not crazy about ice fishing so I guess I'll just keep crankin out flies...

I really like that hairy fodder. It looks like a fairly easy tie too. I did something similar with a product called silly yarn or party yarn or some such thing. Good looking fly that looks like a great crayfish imitation. I'll try it out! I'm tying baitfish imitations at the moment and trying to find a good dragon fly nymph imitation. I've got some ideas using pheasant rump ala Carey special that I'm playing with. One of the waters I frequent has a tremendous population of dragons that seem to hatch right during the post spawn period. I find their exoskelotons attached to everything. ONLY 3 1/2 MONTHS TO SUFFER!!!!

Thought I'd share a couple pics. I hope ya don't mind...

Steve, I meant this particular site. Jim, We don't have many fish up here, the winters are too long and too cold. We do have a few bronzebacks that we keep in circulation. I agree you seem like a good bunch. Rich, sounds like a fair Idea. Thanks for the welcome guys! Don

Hello folks, I just found this site today. I was looking on the net for some new smallie patterns to tie. I am in central Wisconsin and though I see that this is kinda an Illinois site I thought I might pick up some tips/ new ideas. I fish everything with the long rod from trout to walleyes,bass, pike etc. I have most of my trout patterns tied for the upcomming season and now I'm getting around to the big stuff. I have two very nice rivers within minutes of my home and get to fish them pretty often when I'm not fishing trout or guiding trout anglers. The smallmouth are a real treat to me because I generally fish them alone or perhaps with another person that I choose to spend time with, a nice break from the trout. Though please don't get me wrong I dearly love them too. I am pleased to see the conservation minded posts that I have been fortunate to read since looking around the place. It is always nice to see like minded sportsmen whether they fish with traditional bass gear or like myself enjoy the fly rod. This is a nice place you've got here I hope ya don't mind a cheesehead pokin around just a bit. regards, Don