flyangler

dryfly- I DO like Lindt 70. It's my regular fix. We get Lindt locally in many flavors. It just makes me very happy that my honey was thinking about me when he was gone. One thing I found interesting about the bars he brought from Switzerland was that the labels didn't trumpet the cocoa percentage. I wonder if it's a North American fascination. Probly should start a chocolate thread!

It may take me a while to get around to all of it. I like to savor my chocolate as much as the giver of the chocolate. So far, we've tried the one with Kirsch in it, and while it's not as dark as I like, the boozy cherry flavor is on the wonderful side. Probably not something you boyz in the He Man Woman Hater's Club would like, but we're looking forward to the next taste test.

I think some people are confusing trucker name with porn name! My mom had a CB in the car, she was "Momma Doe". We were drivin me back to college one January in crappy weather. I started fishtailing on the way up a huge hill with deep ravines on either side and a voice crackeled out of the CB "hang on there little 4 wheeler!" The trucker behind us probably knew that if I spun out in front of him we might all go over the side. I still think of it as the voice of an angel looking out for me, encouraging me to be strong. Fortunately, our exit was not too far away, because the Highway Patrol closed the interstate right behind us. So you can call me "Little 4".

Well here's my update. Not that it rivals Toolman's or Lynn's in good humor, nor even the best in self pity. I did some good work in the needle chucking field yesterday. Lectured a friend that even though I fully agree that Valentine's day is over commercialized, he should not pass up an excellent excuse to tell his wife he loves her in any way he thinks will make them both happy. Tied up a bunch of flies for donation to Reeling and Healing. Made myself a dinner of garlic smashed potatos and peas (that's the self pity part). Read my emails from my beloved. He did not get my Valentine's e-card. He trotted out some of the brand new French that he learned on his business trip to Switzerland to sweet talk me and claimed he did not know that the Swiss make chocolate. He gets home tonight. I think I'll bake a cake. I think he's yankin my chain. On the chocolate part, that is.

My sweetie is in Switzerland until the weekend. It's already tomorrow there, so I sent him an e-card. With any luck, he's scouting out some good dark chocolate to bring home. I don't think the Swiss are famous for their tying materials.

Tango- "Peacock herl from the wrong side of the sword feather, red 12/0 thread for the body tag, micro Zelon for the wing and get down into the neck on the cape for the hackle. This is on a #28 TMC100." Well alrighty then. I should have said Intruder!

Royal Coachman. Go 'head, I dare you.

Thanks LS- the short answer is lots and lots of super glue and a really whacked sense of humor. The muhammad bear was timely and wicked, too.

Oh those are funny, fishietales!

Every last one of those would catch a fish. My entry would have been the Zebra Killer:

I absolutely agree on Damian, however, it's a six hour drive from Waukesha to Superior. There' s a lot of great fishing in Wisconsin that is closer to that end of the state, particularly in the Driftless region in west central and south west WI. But Minnesotans have been known to drive all night to fish for steelhead and salmon in the Lake Michigan tribs of eastern Wisconsin, and you'll be less than an hour away. Easter is March 23 this year. Privately owned businesses that sell fishing licenses may or may not be open on Good Friday, Easter or Easter Monday, so you may wish to purchase your fishing license, inland trout stamp and or Great Lakes Salmon/trout license online: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/nonrestypes.asp

Opposite end of 'sconny from here, but I'll be seeing some TU folks from there this weekend. I'll ask around. You might want to travel east from Waukesha to Milwaukee to fish the Milwaukee and Menomonee rivers for trout or steelhead. Lakes around Waukesha are very possibly still frozen in late March, though not stable enough for ice fishing anymore. here's a start, though I have no experience with this one: http://www.wibigfish.com/

Birds in our osprey reintroduction program were banded for id purposes. They are migratory and one goal was to track their routes and to be able to identify which ones returned to our study area after finding mates.

My favorite osprey shots in this series are the "stooping" shots. That's when they make their bodies into the shape of a lightning bolt and streak out of the sky. Gives me chills. I got to participate in an osprey reintroduction program through our local DNR and the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center. Ospreys had been nearly extirpated by humans in this area. It was a fascinating summer observing them through a spotting scope as they learned how to fly and how to fish. It might be instinctual behavior, but the learning curve is brutal. I had to rescue one that got waterlogged on a flight attempt and stranded in some reeds. Even the youngsters have fearsome beaks and talons. I will never forget the sight of this bird, nearly dry, laying on her back on the exam table reaching for me with those talons. I WAS afraid. What also put me on edge was the vet telling me, as he sprayed her with de-louser that "they all have lice." After spending an hour in close contact with her this was "nice" to know. Ospreys are a favorite of mine even so.

Three times in 30 years of fishing the US, all in the last 10 years of flyfishing in the upper midwest. Three times in 6 years of vacationing in Canada, all in one week in BC. Wait a sec, one of those was just a student doing a survey. That one time in Minnesnowtah was kinda funny. There was a mixup at the store that sold my husband and me our licenses and trout stamps which resulted in my not having the proper trout stamp for MN, despite our making two trips and spending an hour at the counter. The armed CO became very agitated when I questioned him about carding me at a lake in an unused corner of a county park fitfully stocked with retired broodstock. "I'm just trying to determine whether a crime has been committed here!" he said. Contrast that with a visit to South Dakota's black hills: I asked why my husband got the only copy of the license sold to both of us and was told "Don't worry, nobody ever checks them anyway." One time in Wisconsin, my husband was checked by a CO standing on the other side of the river. He used binoculars to read the license so my hubby wouldn't have to cross the stream and disturb the pool.

I have no idea where these "grip and grin" shots were taken, but they are breathtaking. http://www.miguellasa.com/photos/sspopup.mg?AlbumID=1001578

It's beyond crappy that some loon stole Graham's photos and tried to claim the bugs were a)real and b)evidence supporting creationism. Boggles the mind.

Graham has been ripped off! Some creationist buffoon swiped web photos to put in his "book" to bolster his argument that since insects in amber are the same as living insects that evolution is a myth. A couple of the so-called living insects are Graham's flies, photographed hook and all. Fish don't see the hooks and I guess buffoons don't either. Here's a blog that discusses the whole debacle: http://www.scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/200...s_a_science.php

One of you should try that beaded minnow I invented for the bead fly swap. Color it in baitfish colors that are suitable for your lake.

I really like that combo of orange floss and peacock, LS.

If you haven't bookmarked this place yet, you should. The last few days' drawings have been splendid. I especially like the brookie fin, even if the artist isn't happy with it.

First let me say that Birchy is the victim that I sympathize most with in this scenario. I'll repeat that later, too. However, if the thieves are hurt very badly and taxpayers end up footing the bill for their care, a lot of people are victimized by the bad guy's foolishness. So let's hope they recover in time to see justice and make some kind of restitution. Birchy, I hope this comes out well for you and quickly. I'm in your corner.

Mother nature has a way of keeping us humble. Big beautiful fish, then everybody's dumped in the drink. Hopefully by now you're rightfully dry and proud!

I'm really sorry that happened to you and Tarah, birchy. It sucks big time. I've only had my car broken into. When the thief tried to steal the radio, the only questionably valuable item in there, he cut his hand and bled all over the interior. It was a really crappy car, but it was my only transpo. Cops totally ignored it as a dime-a-dozen kind of violation. It cost me a half day of work and a new window, but the sense of security returned eventually. In the hospital, are they? Sounds like they got more punishment than most thieves.