SilverDoctor

Oh yummies, that is a real beauty. Nice shovels.

Hi Skwala, yes can't wait to get out in the spring and chase those "risers" with you again. The man cave just has a whole bunch of old vintage Bamboo rods, Hardy reels and other old fishing stuff and collectibles. If anyone is interested I'll post a couple of pix.

That is really cool.

I agree Trailhead, when I had my boat (I sold it last spring) I was checked several times. Very thorough and friendly service, I was quite impressed. It was nice having the dog to sniff for evasive. But as you said its not a 24 hour thing. So if someone doesn’t want to get checked or is traveling late they slip through. I think there needs to be more public attention to this problem. There has been the knee jerk banning and then un-banning of felt boots as if they where the only solution to the disease. We need to have info in our fishing regulations on cleaning all equipment, bootlaces, waders and cloth nets, it all needs to be washed and dried between bodies if water. But what about others like rafters who just deflate their devices, Atv users running streams and lakes picking up mud (we’ve all seen them driving around proudly coated) and a host of other users that will transfer mud and other materials between streams and lakes and cross border. We have a great many water users besides those who fish.

Then there's us old buggers that just change flies and let the soggy one dry on a patch.

I wear my vest most of the time as its waxed and repells drizzel. I repack my waterproof sling for obvious rainly days, one or the other. Although I usually take it with me on trips as a backup in case the weather turns. Nice to have the option. Also if you carry a standard camera its great for protection it.

I sure hope so. I guess I'm getting syndical in my old age.

In this country we never close the barn door till the horses are long gone.

I've always fond it to be an excellent lake pattern for Rainbows. The fly is an old classic and comes in a variety of body colors. red and green are also excellent. I usually fish it deep with a hand twist retreve.

Nice find!!

Actually another thing I liked about the Thunderhead Sling was the integrated net holder. You can carry a nice long handled wading net with you. I was torn between the El Nino guide Pack as that looked nice also and waterproof.

Playing with a new Golden Stonefly pattern. Something I thought of after watching a hatch. Not quite there yet but I think its close. Need to add a bit of Elk Hair on the next test.

That is one thing that really surprised me, you can very quickly swivel it forward from the sling position to the front and make a front pack to get at stuff. And yes its like a pfd in a pinch.

With the waterproof zipper you do have to use a Silicon Lub yearly to prevent binding.

Starting to clean up years worth of stuff in the Mancave. Boxes of stuff I havn't looked at for years. Here's a #4 wt rod on a Matrix Blank I put together and virtually forgot about. Went a bit nuts on the handle and feather inlay detail but it was a fun project. will have to get it out this spring.

Black Doc Spratley

A shame his writing will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends.

Not the the Simms or Patagonia which I am sure are both excellent, I have the Fishpond Thunderhead Sling. Like it when the weather is bad, most of the time I'm a vest guy. Very roomy and comfy to wear with lots of tie in points outside.

That is always my problem, stuff under stuff. But I've taken to putting tools in specific places like this and it helps. If you saw pictures of my man cave you'ed probubly run away screaming.

Thanks Nick, the hackle is white saddle dyed with Cool Aid. these wher#10's if I remember correctly. They were for a guy back east chasing Atlantic's on the Miramichi. For the Bow I would go with #6es.

I like found items for stuff. Have owned several waste bags for under the vice. Most hadn't cut it for me as they are floppy and hard to empty. I have liked this one for quite a few years, it's a low biscuit tin, and with Xmas almost here you can find these easy. Catches messy stuff like deer hair, and doesn't hold static. On the right I have hot glued a plastic tube to hold tying stuff. In the middle front is glued a cheap pet comb. Useful for combing out Deer hair, much better and faster than picking up a comb. Just in case someone can use the idea.

Yep, that's what I have been doing also for years now. "Waste not want not". Although my wife calls me a cheap &^^%#

I've also used them on the Bow with fair sucess. Know a fellow I tie them for that swears by em for Big Brook Trout.

Slip wing Iron Blue Dunn. Have a certain affection for fishing the Quill wings.

Condolences to family and friends. This time of year the cold would be the real killer sending you into shock quickly making swimming difficult. If winter wading you should invest in an inflatable pfd (I use a Mustang make) and use a solid wading staff. I have lost footing on big rivers and been swept away several times, but in summer luckly. A wading belt is the key, as you can float on your back with the trapped air for quite a while. Please keep safe out there