SilverDoctor

Good one Don. We need more stand up old gals like her.

I've been using Ridge Line by Airflo. It's a great running line for shooting heads. Very slick and doesn't tangle easily.I like the feel of it, it's nice and slick.

Hi Gordon, I would humbly like to take the advanced class on the Sunday. It sounds great. Your first class was fantastic and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

Have the best of days Max. And a record fishing year.

I try not to take a fish out of water for more than a few seconds at a time when it's below 0. colder than say -8 I would into take a fish out at all (personal choice). Ice can be rough and drop thier body temperature really fast. These are delicate creatures. Use common sense. Better to hold them in the water or a net then slide em out for a quick shot. Their eyes can freeze quick in cold weather.

Well that's a great question. I often see folks who expect fish to hook themselves and sometimes they do. But not that often. Remember a trout has no hands. Taste is the key to knowing and finding food. Bugs I'm sure have thier own taste and texture. Bait fish have the exterior coating that triggers the trout into saying (this is definitely food). You only have a split second on the swing to set the hook before the fish realizes it's not food. If you try to set the hook by lifting your rod tip here's what happens. the rod tip lifts (this takes a couple of seconds), the line tightens out slack in the rod itself (another couple of seconds), the line itself tightens out it's slack (another couple of seconds). The transmitted line tightens up through the leader to the fly another second or two is gone. The key to any fishing whether it be dry fly nymphing or stream fishing. is keeping a SOLID TIGHT LINE, even on the swing. When swinging wet flies or streamers I use my left hand to hold the line and "feel" the fly swim through the water. At the slightest tap I pull straight back a quick 6 inches. At the same time a split second later (if it fees like a fish) followed by a rod sweep towards shore. Sounds simple but it does take practice. Fish are FAST. I think most people most likely have large numbers of trout that touch their flies while fishing but never know it. I often impart action on my flies using my line hand in different retrieve styles. We'll get together some weekend and I'll show you.

I wax very lightly and use electrical tape When I fish Skagit style for winter and spring, short belly lines and shorter lighter rods. I have a theory, mostly unsupported except for a bit of personal experience and conversations with others owho fish the big rods. that rod size/line weight and possibly belly length have quite a bit of bearing on this issue in regard to torque. Torque is where the danger lies. For example, on a Deer Creek 5/6 with 5/6 Windcutter ( admittedly a very light spey setup) I fished all summer with only wax on the ferrules and had no twisting or loosening. There just isn't that much torque there. In comparison, using a Loop 9140 with a Delta Long 9/10 and super fast sink leader and mostly Snake Rolling to keep the leader up, the ferrules will definitely start to twist when only waxed and taping as well is necessary. Using a sustained load cast like the Skagit Double and the Perry Poke. These casts and lines do not seem to create the torque and stresses that the long belly snake-rolls do, therefore, I am certain that a tape job is not as necessary. However, I still tape - as I get apprehensive when I do not and worry about the ferrules rather than fishing. Gordon showed us a great way to spiral tape the rod during the Spey casting clinic last year that I adopted as it is quick and easy. The way I look at it after buying a rod for 300 ++, a roll of tape for $1 is cheap insurance.

Thanks for posting Gordon. Spectacular casting.

Great idea on the arrow fletching Don. Funney thing is I bow hunted at one time and after diggin through my old kit I found some bags of great old fletching. Never clued into that one. Thanks

I've used Don's method for a while now and it works great. It's much faster now on my Nore-Vice. Spins it up in a second. Another nice variation is to spin it with some fine copper wire. bulletproof and ads a bit of weight and sparkle.

The Rio 3 disk set is a really great place to start. Welcome to the club.

This is the last one I worked on.

Merry Christmas Gordon. Dùranchdan Nollaige Nuairr a thig oirbh an Nollaig Guma sona a bhitheas sibh Agus ré na Bliadhn' Ùire Móran sunnd is toil-inntinn When Christmas comes upon you May happiness be yours, And in the New Year Much good cheer and peace of mind. Deórsa Mac Iain Deórsa George Campbell Hay See you at the fly fishing show in the new year.

Politically Correct Holiday Greeting Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my/our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, respecting, of course, the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others -- or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I/We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make North America great (not to imply that North America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee. By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher. Thanks to the Royal Canadian Air Farce

Eloquence Ea? No more farting at the kitchen table for me, no siree!!!

Lightfoot Twas a fav of mine my by for years. My focus shifted after hearing the haunting Sara Mclachlan version of Wintersong. Gordons version reminds me of nature's course and missing the one you love. Sara's is more like unrequited love. Loving the unreachable. Funny how two artists can say different things with the same words.

Well the season is upon us again, time for good will to all. Time for thoughts of family and friends. In all the buying of presents and eating and opulence do a little something for others. Through this holiday season • Drop some spare change in the Salvation Army Kettle. • Call a friend you haven't heard from in a while. • Donate a few old clothes or furniture to charity. • Give a compliment to a fellow worker. • Speak to a seniors hearts content. • Pay attention to a child. • Give up your place in line. • Let another driver into traffic. • Kind works go far....... Be happy in knowing that no thank you should be needed for a good deed. Merry Christmas to all the great members on this site. Keep well and safe during this busily season. See you on the water in the new year. Here's something for you great people, an old favorite of mine. http://badaboo.free.fr/merryxmas.swf

I've tried Pam cooking spray on the Eye guides, or teflon gun oil, chap stick. They all work for a brief time. Now I either dip the guides in water or use my hand warmer which works the best.

Sad news indeed at the loss of one so talented. My deepest condolences to the family and those who knew him and his talent.

for under 200 check out the Peak. Over 200 The Renzetti Traveler is a great vice. The Nore-Vice is also a tremendous product. Use the try before you buy rule. There area a lot of really great vices out there. A lot breaks down to personal preferences and tying style. Do you like the look and feel. There have been a number of previous posts asking the same question. check em out.

Wonderful. Have to pick up some mallard primaries for various wets after Christmas. Seem to be a bit had to find good ones now a days.

A vote of thanks form me Brent. Thanks for taking the time to do the tutorial. Nice job.

In the end a vice just holds a hook. Someare better than others. I have a number of vices. Love the Renzetti Traveler. Tie a lot on the Nore Vice. Go to a good fly shop and try out a couple of different ones, it's a great way to decide. Personal preference plays a big part, just like models of cars.

Shanks are great and I tie on them and on tubes. Cotter pins work really well if you wan somthin with a bit more weight.

When Jim was at the Hook and Hackle Club a wee bit ago, I chatted at length about his book. Sounds like a goodie.