brownonbow

What about an Islander IR3? Comments on that one, anyone? Now your headed in the right direction... check out abel reels too, they sure look nice.

That certainly is quite something.

Maybe the advise you are receiving about purchasing or at least considering other reels is worth heeding. I have an old bauer lm2 and the thing is great. Also got a very nice Islander from a fellow ffc member at 1/2 the list price because it was used (no not hot) that I really like. Anyhoo... go with quality cause at the end of the day that is what will last. And eventually, if you decide to sell, it will hold it's value a little better than the latest flashy offshore reel. And yes I have owned offshore reels too... My .02c

Wow, all the way from Omaha. Up here we know very little of the bluegill but it looks like you had fun fishing and that's something we all can relate to. Welcome to the forum, btw what brought you here?

If he keeps this up the problem should take care of itself.

Several good brands have been mentioned above with the exception of Dai-rikki which are too brittle and nowhere's near the quality of Mustad (signature series), Daiichi or Tiemco hooks. I could not agree more with this statement. I bought a bunch of dai-rikki that I wasn't happy with. I don't want to drag their name through the mud but I only use what is remaining from that purchase to tie experimental patterns now. I won't be buying more dai-rikki anytime soon.

I would finish that one at the same time as the full scale model and send the cat down in front of you!

Mustad because they are reliable and do not break.

I find everything looks better through rose colored glasses

Give me a shout, I have some piled up in the garage that I need to get rid of. Really good stuff. $$$ I'm sure we can work something out...

Its looking like the price of fuel is only rising so maybe a motorcycle is the way to go. I never had so much fun getting from one place to another as when I had a bike.

4wt 6 wt is a great combo. 3/5 even better.

X2 the bow is COLD right now. Be a gent and net her fish for her.

Is it just me or do the fish never touch your middle fly??? I'd go for the 5wt myself unless your targeting the huge Bulls.

Try Blackforest.

Welcome back!!! Good to see you on the flipside.

I go here when I wanna keep up with the kids. Edit: Link broken... go to Urban Dictionary for all things hip.

Thanks for all the responses and pm's. I'm going to start off easy with a wallet and then move onto a rod/reel case if all goes well. Maybe even post some pictures if it all turns out o.k.

I have settled on building a leather flyrod case with reel this winter and I am wondering if anyone here has tried this. I'm looking for a pattern but haven't found anything using 'the google' I'm quite new to leather working so if you've got any ideas or advice I'm open to them.

Start with a $20 vise, tie yourself a whole bunch of wire san juans (because they are easy and nymphs are lost readily). After that graduate to the wholly bugger (because it's big & teaches the steps involved to tie it as well as a nymph but on a bigger scale) . Then if you are doing alright pick your favorite nymph and materials to tie that one. Tie a pack of them till you are happy with them and their proportions. Purchase more materials to tie other nymphs that you like and master them. Finally, move onto dries after that if you are doing well and find that you are enjoying the craft. That is how I would go about it if I did it all over again. P.S. Tying will while away many cold winter nights but if you get into it it's going to be a $ pit. Trust me.

A bead will help it to sink but that's about it imho because the fly is actively being pulled past the fish & it acts upon instinct and STRIKES!

Your heading "hype or no hype" invited us to express our views toward "the one" so... what'd ya expect??? Graphite rods do not hold their value and these rods are over priced to begin with. My advise for what it's worth (not a whole lot) is to buy an outdated Z because "the one" simply cannot be that much better and the Z is a great rod that is now selling for half of what it was worth a short while ago. Thus saith the man who purchased his old, outdated, p.o.s. 'Z' just a little too early. P.S. My next rod is gonna be bamboo.

Pm sent. Anyone else looking to rent my pontoon just send a P.M. as I need to justify the purchase of this thing and can only seem to get out a couple times a year.

Hype.

I have had similar problems with Dai-Riki hooks. I found they fail more often then not on bow river fish and was considering the switch to Tiemco as a result. I was especially disappointed because I bought $70 bucks worth of hooks and tied a pile this winter without the knowledge that these hooks just don't cut the mustard.