I missed out on the first one, how about a second one in time to get something under the tree. I'd coordinate if anyone's interested.

I'm interested Mongo but not before Christmas. Too much to do and 30th wedding anniversary for me and wifey on Dec 3rd to boot. After the 1st of 2008 would be fine though by me. Anytime after then.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

Mongo: Count me in, but I'd prefer delivery after the holidays too. That would give me some down time to work things up. One might come up with a theme or type of fly (wet, dry, steelhead, streamer, nymph etc) ahead of time in case some of us are weak on materials. While I hate it, numbers should be limited in case response isn't. Things like this can get out of hand. 1Minute

I'm up for anything you folks would like to do. After the holidays is fine. As a "theme" I'd vote one for small stream trout patterns. Depending on where everyone lives, we should try put together something everyone could use. I live on Narragansett Bay and occasionally throw flys at Striped Bass and Bluefish. If I tie the local surf patterns on 1/0's, most inland folks will use them for hatpins. Everyone's got a small stream nearby, so how about it? Maybe we could limit this to a couple dozen. It would be really nice to see what other people are using though.

I am in and will get AKGrayling and his buddy Bow72 to look at it as well. I will be happy to do whatever works for whoever is doing the work.

Had an interesting little bit of fly-fishing the other day... for halibut. Caught a fair fish (for fly rodding for bottom feeders) of abotu 30# or so. Will post a picture when I get a chance. A 9' 12wt Penn International, two hander, Hardy HUsky with a very fast sinking rocket taper and a weighted flesh fly with barbell eyes to help get it down.
art

I'm in but yea, after the holidays. I've got elk season coming then Christmas and such. That will take my time.

Danggggggg Art ......I bet that was one heckofa ride.......you can send me those ole nasty cheeks .....(grin)

I also missed the first one. I "limbered" up the vise for the first time in awhile and was suprised to find that 30 years of tying wasn't lost. Please count me in...

bearhuntr

I saw how Houndgirl ran it last year. I would be willing to do the same, and PM anyone interested with my mailing address. I'd like to set a date (after the new year as requested) for Feb 1.

So far I've got:

1. A small stream theme.

Qtip
1Minute
Sitka deer
Hunterbug
Bearhuntr
Rob P

possibly

AKGrayling
Bow72

You can add troutfly to the list of tyers.

Rob,
Add me to the list.

Doug~RR

I will be in it.

How about opening the theme up. We may be cutting out guys who don't do small streams; like bass guys and those who do salt. Only trying to be fair and not limit some folks.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

OK, here's an update:

1. A small stream theme.

1. Qtip
2. 1Minute
3. Sitka deer
4. Hunterbug
5. Bearhuntr
6. Rob P
7. Troutfly
8. Red Rabbit
9. AK Grayling

A request to open up the small stream theme. I suggested it because most people have some small water near them. Since there's nine of us so far, I'm open for whatever you all would like to do. If the turnout is small, I'd be happy to do a couple.

If you have room for one more I'll play. Since AK Grayling is going to be both a world renowned fly tier and NBA star someday his flies will be worth some serious coin down the road......

I would like to sign up if you guys still have room.

Hi folks. I'm glad to see we have a couple more. I've been tying flys and filling boxes for Christmas gifts. Here's a box I just filled. Note the peanut butter and TP on the tying bench. I really need to get out more!



And no comments about the pink Hare's Ears. They work in these parts.

Nice looking fly box! They all look like stuff we can use up here! And I like the pink!
M

Dear Dad,

You are probably not aware that I have moved. Please send the Christmas Fly Box to: 12345w South ST
Paradise Ak 12345

thanks!
You long lost son

ps Have a great Christmas

Count Ned and I in!!!

I dig the theme....

What kinda deadline are we lookin' at???

HoundGirl

OK, here's an update:

1. A small stream theme.
2. A Feb. 1 deadline

Sign up so far:

1. Qtip
2. 1Minute
3. Sitka deer
4. Hunterbug
5. Bearhuntr
6. Rob P
7. Troutfly
8. Red Rabbit
9. AK Grayling
10. Castandblast
11. Elkchsr
12. HoundGirl
13. Ned

Qtip suggested opening up the theme. I'm thrilled to see folks signing on. I think it's a super thing to do.

MissTreated likes the pink bugs. I was at the Wood River one day, and a guy in fly fishing outfit complete with shoulder patches snagged a pink beadhead hare's ear in a bush that I canoed over and plucked. I used it, caught a fish, and now I've got to have them in my box. It's the lucky fly for when nothings working. I caught the biggest Brown of the season on one in a rainstorm tied under a blown down pine. It was an honest 3 pound fish which is good for holdovers here.

Uncas,in. #14,(?) Bill

That's because they match her rod, reel, line, vest, hat, etc., etc., ..........

Hey, my vest is not pink. But my bug shirt is!

That's right! I had to go back and look at the pics. I dis-remembered it after seeing so much pink!

I just can't let her out in public, can I?!?

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.......... I make the world rosier!
M

Indeed! And in a pinch we could use you as a channel marker on a foggy day. (Big grin!!!)

Yes, you really do need to accompany her next time!

I just need an anchor for my float tube!

M

Red Right Returning...

In my case, it's "pink pest patroling..."

Speed bump ahead... More throttle!

It would be tough NOT to see. Pink graphite seems to have an almost fiber-optic light-gathering quality about it!

And contrary to popular belief, it does catch fish!

Well, I can only take your word on that, though it was not any fault of your attire or gear.

Have you guys tried to dye pheasant tail pink yet?

Last time we tried to dye pheasant tail, it was without success.
M

OK,Update Time:

1. A small stream theme.
2. A Feb. 1 deadline

Sign up so far:

1. Qtip
2. 1Minute
3. Sitka deer
4. Hunterbug
5. Bearhuntr
6. Rob P
7. Troutfly
8. Red Rabbit
9. AK Grayling
10. Castandblast
11. Elkchsr
12. HoundGirl
13. Ned
14. Uncas

I wonder, do you think we could get 10 more?

Hi folks, I PM'd everyone on the list today about fly swap.

Hello from Rob P. It's finally January and approaching fly swap time. We've got 14 participants. I am going to ask everyone to send me a fly for each with a return address. If you feel like making a couple (I will) all the more interesting. One each will get you in. I will sort, collate, repack and send. I'll take care of that end. Hopefully everything will come in by Feb 1 and I can turn them around. My personals are: (PM me if you need them again).



Thanks everyone: I hope this was worth the wait.

Hopefully they all went through. It's first PM stuff for me.


PS. Include the name(s) of your flys so I can include them with packaging in case I don't know the names.

rob
As it is still early here, can Bow92 still get in? He is here, ready to start tying...
art

I sent out another PM today because another would like to participate.

"Hi, I should have known this would happen, we have more interest. Therefore the list is at 15. Maybe you could send a couple extra if more would like to join up. I'll keep you posted. Thank you."

It's a good thing.

Due to popular request, how about a cut-off so people can get on it. Probably a good idea.

Shipped out 17 elk hair caddis today. Unless someone is aware that Rob P pulls in a 7 figure income, remember to send either a prepaid return label or a few dollars so he doesn't have to eat a bunch of postage when dispersing the flies. 1Minute

1minute
That would be a decent thing to do, as a minimum...
art

I sent out a box of Pass Creeks today. They are a version of the Pass Lake fly I use for brookies/cutthroats in Alberta. Of course return postage goes without saying. We'er all fly fishin folks.

1Minute, Rob pulls in a four figure income! Had to laugh. I got a box from Oregon Saturday, I'm waiting on everybody else. The longer it takes, the more flys I'm going to tie for you all. I wish I could take pics of them as they come in. They get really fuzzy. You'll all have to be surprised. I got 15 signed up but 6 did not reply to my messages so I don't know what to expect.

I'm working on mine. I've got 6 done so far but I've been a slacker.

When they get delivered, would someone take pics of them and put them up? AKGrayling did it and they looked really nice.

rob p,

I'll take a pic of one of mine when I'm done and put it up. I hope to have them to you by the deadline; but may be just a few days late. Arthritis in the neck giving me problems sometimes.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

Wow, I haven't seen anything new here in a few days. Qtip, you posted just as I was about to share my desktop photo. What the heck, 3 more months of cabin fever until fishing season.

Along with the "Small Stream" theme flys I'm tying, I thought I'd send everyone a hat pin. These are what I throw at Stripers in Narragansett Bay.

Neat! Never done any stripers. Still on the to do list are striper, tarpon, and redfish. Going to have to do serious travel for all three. 1Minute

I wonder if the "whiper" hybrid bass in a nearby lake would eat one of those?

Anything with a mouth big enough will eat that fly. You need an eight weight to throw it though. You can troll them and jerk the rod to make it dart. I tie them on a #1 stainless. I also tie Clouser minnows, ditto with barbell eyes and epoxy head surf candy. A chartreuse and white Closuser with a peacock hurl over the top is the fly here for schoolie stripers.

An interesting note: we have ponds along the coast with herring runs, and the State intentionally breaches the ones along the shore to let the herring in to breed and out once grown. Well, the stripers follow them in. They do just fine in the ponds, and can live their lives out there or follow the herring out in the Fall. It's neat. I had a Summer on one where I was bass fishing with 10" black jelly worms and picking up 4-5 pound largemouths and I hooked a big Striper that towed my canoe around until he straightened my 6/0 worm hook. I got a couple more rides, got a 3 footer to the canoe, and it added a whole new dimension to the fishing knowing they were there.

Now that sounds like fun!

Been having lots of troubles with the eyes and have been beating my head against the wall... The floor... The Ceiling... Just about anything... So Miss T tires of my ranting and proceeds to buy me some specs... Jumps a few grades from the 1.5s I have been using and all of a sudden the World has details up close again!

So I am tying some #18 early stone drys... A neat flat-hackle, pulled-back wing that Grayling calls "evil" because it looks so deadly... the set-backs have caused me to spend WAY more time than I should have, but I did not want to tie an ordinary fly...

I remain amazed at what modern hackles have become. I have many State-of-the-Art circa 1975 capes and saddles to compare today's feathers to ad it flat amazes me. The silver badger I am using for my stone has size 18 hackles that are making about 3 flies each! And that is two hackles per fly ala the Renegade! Some of the hackles will easily do flies smaller than 26 and they are over 2" long!
art

I am seeing my eyes slip lately too. Had to shed my glasses to focus when tying for this swap. Doc says it's time for bifocals. Used to laugh at the old guys on the range moving their heads up and down to find the part of their trifocals that would give them a clear front sight but it's becoming less funny these days!

You bunch of young'uns! Quit the bemoanin' of it and go get the real deal glasses! he he he

Couple more years you'll not be able to tie on a fly smaller than a 2/0!

best,
"Experienced at that" bearhuntr

ps. guess thats why I used a #10 hook...

Well just TRY to tie my 18 on tippet small enough to get through the eye then!!!

7X and I parted company many moons ago...

Hi folks, of the 15 people who signed up, Ive got four boxes of flys. I imagine I should wait past the Feb 1. deadline. I know Qtips are in the mail.

1Minute, Castandblast, Troutfly and Bearhunter and Qtip on the way, so far are the only ones who seem to want to play. I've PM'd everyone on the list twice, and posted a couple times here. If you know any of the fine folks left, or are such maybe a little gentle persuasion might be in order. The flys I have are beautiful, as in exhibition grade. Just awesome.

That'll change soon upon reciept of mine!

I would be willing to bet that you get a bunch more in the next week, especially from AK.

Three sets here were intended for the mail... Will get them out in the next day or two. I apologize for the delay, but I was trying to find a hook large enough to tie beerhuntr's fly on!

Will poke a couple more right now by PM that will put us pretty close, no?
art

Thank you sir, I appreciate it.

rob,

I'llbe sendin' ya some green in the next day or two to help off set your costs. Sometimes these things don't gel just at deadline time. Give it a little while.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

Houndgirl and Ned's "Griffin's Gnat and Elk Hair Caddis are here today. See if I tie you any size 20's! I can't even tie 18's

I need to do 3 more and I'll get mine out Monday. I even have a couple just for Houndgirl and Miss Treated.

Baby Huey on the Wood River. I make this trout look small.

....and is that a 16 foot Smokercraft you are sitting in?

24' Freighter...

Nice pic Mongo!
That creek looks like perfect Woodduck cover.

Did my flies get there?


Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

13" "Ocean Kayak" Prowler.

In my life I've pulled three people out of the water. I took lifesaving at the YMCA because a hot girl I knew was in the class , never worked as a lifeguard, never hooked up with her, but it did do me some good. During Hurricane Bob, people were down the beach surfing, and someone got cramped up and was hanging on to a mooring buoy 100 yards out. I heard "help" and thought I was dreaming until I saw the buoy had a head. None of the surfers wanted to go out, they were all tired, so I got my life jacket out of the truck (I get invited fishing and no one ever has jackets when I show up) and swam out and threw it in the guys face. Nervous drowning people often try to grab onto rescuers and drown them and he was a big sucker. Throwing them something that floats immediately calms them down. I got him to put an arm in it, I grabbed the other arm hole and towed the big dude in. He was cut from his crotch to his neck trying to hold on to the barnacle covered buoy.

A kid fell through the ice at a skating pond, and I walked out to get him, got close and fell in too. I threw him up on the ice and busted ice trying to haul myself out too. I'd get my elbows up, it'd break and back in I'd go. A few minutes of this and I could stand on the bottom and jump up on. Stupid thing to do though. A kid fell through trying to rescue his dog, then his Dad fell through trying to get him. The Dad died, just two towns over.

Here's the good one, the life lesson. I was fishing on a bridge over a river and the current was running. Two people in ocean kayaks were going under the bridge. Both of them went sideways and splash. One guy was out and swimming. The other was in his kayak sideways slapping the water with his paddle looking much like he was about to drown. People drown in that stretch of river every year, the currents bad. I ran down the shore, waded out and grabbed him and towed him in. Neither knew how to roll a kayak.

I always wanted one, but that episode convinced me they (traditional kayaks with spray skirts ) were a good way to drown. A few years ago, sit on top kayaks started appearing as sit down surfboards down the shore, and I thought that might be a possibility. Then I saw these big ocean models and thought they'd actually stay a float with me on them.

I put this one in the water, got in and in five seconds of paddling, water was slapping me in the twins. There are like a dozen drain holes in this thing (self bailing) and apparently when you approach the weight limit water comes up, through, and in. Being $15 a pair, they get another C - note out of you plugging the holes. I'll tell you one thing, as well, the things are not as stable as people say. A chop or a boat wake will roll you side to side and if you can't get a paddle in the water to brace yourself, dump you. There's definitely more to stability than a low center of gravity. You've got to consider the beam and the shape of the bottom.

Qtip, if you sent them US mail, "express" in a "large envelope" they're waiting at the post office for me to pick up Monday morning. They tried to deliver them Friday and Saturday while I was working but wouldn't leave them because I had to sign for them. I left a note after the first attempt to leave them in the screen porch, but they didn't. I've got to go fetch now.

Oh yeah, wood duck cover. Excellent wood duck habitat, deer habitat, mink and otter habitat... Problem is there's houses on the shore, and a ton of recreational paddlers. I had an entire senior class at a RI high school paddle by one day in rental canoes. Fishing goes south. You've got to get there early.

My mother was a YMCA guard and instructor and taught the lifesaving classes. She would use me as a "test" and sit me on the diving board, acting nonchalant. After appearing to be fiddling around with the diving board and when the time was right I would "fall in" and pretend to drown. It was a test to see what the students would do. Reactions would either pass or fail them. Most would pass, but a few would not. I felt terrible aobut it, but I guess it was better than having someone who really didn't get it out there trying to save people and being ineffective.

M

rob
Took a poster from here out in one of those and dropped him off in the Gulf of AK, many miles from shore and drove away. He insisted on fishing that way... And he survived it! Was a beautiful flat day but it did get lumpy...
art

Backed up a few days here, was in ANC last week for my wife'e Ordination (Lutheran Minister) My New job, (Exam for same Monday), closed on a house Thursday, moven into the new house Friday. Today, just the Installation of the New Reverend by the Bishop, and unpacking all the boxes of junk..cannot find my head, much less my head cement...overall Same 'Ol Stuff. Reguards, Bill, BTW no pm recieved as to where to send the flies(?)...Bill

PMs recieved, I was in error, many thanks, Bill

Hello, update time, it's Wednesday, and I've got flys from:

1Minute
Q - Tip
Houndgirl
Ned
Bearhuntr
CastandBlast
Troutfly

I went to a couple of places with big fly shops - Bass Pro Shops and Kittery Trading post to pick up a nice little surprise. I was trying to pick up a couple brown half saddles too, and both stores were out of them. I actually got a manager to tell me that Asian Bird Flu was behind it. They're not importing. I told her Whiting Farms is in the US, Arkansas I think and she said that was true but they don't have any because they aren't exporting. If Asian bird flu makes you stupid, I can think of one person who already has it.

rob,

You may be better off getting them by catalog/internet. Some of these "store" folks come off the street. I get most of my necks from a pro tyer that goes to all the big shows across the US and has made a few DVD's. He's a great guy and a fantastic tyer and fly-fisher. (He instructs also) Any way he seems to get great deals and is usually willing to pass some on to me. Most of the necks are Keoughs and they are really nice and much better priced. I've used a few Collins necks too. He used to sell the neck and saddle as one package and he is located in NY. I think a Goggle may turn him up.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

I got some little black ants from Red Rabbit today.

sooo

1Minute
Q - Tip
Houndgirl
Ned
Bearhuntr
CastandBlast
Troutfly
Red Rabbit

Humm, sent off a box to you, Priority, last Monday or thereabouts, they are overdue...Bill

Got your flys today. Four more contestants and it'll be post office time.

I got three more today from Anchorage. One more and I can get these back out to you all.

Yeah! They made it! I just said to AkGrayling not 15 minutes ago, I wonder if they got there today...

M

It's the 25th. I've got one more coming. You all comfortable waiting, or would you like to pick a day to turn these around. I've got some nice flys here.

Don't forget to test-drive each fly as 'quality control'.

Won't have open water within 100 miles for another month. I can stand to wait a bit. 1Minute

My water's frozen over so to do a "test drive" will have to involve a drive to the pet aquarium.

I'm in one of those moods. I drove a sliver of wood under my thumbnail 3/4 of the way in. I had to have my Aunt yank it out while I bit down on a carrot. Hurt! Bleed! Disinfect- Hurt Some More! Now I'm a ball of adrenaline.

I thought you were exaggerating until I saw guys walking on Chick today!

Ow!

If the walking didn't hurt, the cutting holes with chainsaws to make wet spots surely did.

We will have solid water for at least a couple months and many spots we fish will not open until June...

I think June is realistic for the spot I took M and AK to last year with all the snow in the high country. May have to borrow a snowmobile and throw a float tube on the back.

If a bunch of big trout are splashing around in a feeding frenzy but nobody is there to hear it, does it really make a sound?

Cast,

"Sounds" like the water there is pretty deep...

best,
bhtr

Kinda reminds me of the great question "What is the sound of one tippet popping?"

As Riley said when I told him of my penchent for Maxima "tippet" style hooksets when we were fishing..."Pop, don't you remember how many flies you ALWAYS leave in fish?" And then the clincher for him "Remember the Gulkana?"

I seem to have a history with him, too...

Ha!

What does it mean on the back of the tippet dispenser "best if used by 2002"?

Hooray, the last flys are here and I'm writing out labels! They'll go out in the morning. Thanks all.


Whoops, I'm still one short - Working on it.

The package I got yesterday, little bead head stones was from Helena Montana. Let me know who sent them so I can stop trying to figure it out.