hydropsyche

Those look pretty good. Nothing to shake a stick at (pun intended). That second one looks like it was designed for the x-mas contest. It's not until you try it for yourself, do you realize its pretty hard to get those golden pheasant crests to line up tip to tip, eh?

Dan Craft. I don't have a whole lot of experience with a ton of different rods, like some of you do, but the guys over at Rodbuilding.org seem to and they highly recommend them. According to them, world champion fly casters are using them. Before I started building Dan Crafts, I had a Dragonfly. Thats a bit of a step up.

Has anyone ever heard of doing this to strengthen herl (besides you, Don. Did you come up with that yourself?)? CFF Read the part about how Don uses a loop with the herl and twists both with hackle pliers. When I first read this, I though "that can't be much different then the old trick of wrapping your thread around the 3 herls". Well, Don just sent me some macramé and I thought I'd tie up some CFF's as per his instruction. When I started twisting the herl with the loop, I quickly saw the difference. The thread grips and tightens the herl shafts so tightly, you can't tell the "rope" is actually made up of three herls. It looks like one rope. I don't know for sure if it will be any stronger but it sure looks like it would be. 100 wraps of thread about .5inches of herl has got to be more tooth resistant then 10. And it looks as good, if not better, then the simple wrap-with-thread method. The shafts are compressed while the barbules still stick out. I probably haven't described what I saw correctly, but the next time you are putting herl on any fly, give this method a try and you will see what I'm talking about. Like me, you might not ever use the wrap method anymore.

Looks like a fun pattern to tie. Brent will have to let me know if its worth it!!!

7 foot, 2 piece. Its hard to get a good distance cast (of course) but for the smaller fish (under 14in) it is absolutely fantastic. You don't catapult the poor little tiddlers like you would with an 8wt.

Fishtales is great. I broke the top section on my 1wt Dan Craft (because I wrapped the guides too tightly - not hard to do on a 1wt) and they shipped one in for me on a "warranty", even though they didn't sell me the original blank. I don't think they sell ferrules. Thats where Don would come in handy (once again).

They look like they will work. I've never heard of that pattern. Are you planning on going for some bass?

You're going to have to point it out to me. Is it the Virgin Mary?

Although its not over yet, I think you won the last one, Cape. I'm kind of surprised at your ranking on this one. I thought you would run away with it. You got my vote. Since Lone hasn't won one yet, I'm secretly (but now publicly) routing for him.

Thanks, guys. While I was tying these up, and in the mode, I knocked off a couple damsel fly patterns using the weave. This pattern, with the eyes, reminded me too much of damsels. Gawd, I love tying. Too many flies in my box and not enough time to fish them all.

Don't jump the gun there big boy. Just because you are *currently* in the lead, doesn't mean its over yet! I don't remember seeing an end date. I think people can still vote and being X-mas and all, its probably a good idea to keep it open for a bit longer.

Don't know. I haven't tried it yet. I'll let you all know in the spring. Looks yummy.

Darren's Backswimmer Originator: Darren Soice Hook: Scud, 12-16 (this is a 14) Thread: 8/0 UNI-Thread, black Bead: Black Tail: A few strands of pearlescent Krustal Flash Abdomen: Peacock herl Rib: Fine Copper Ultra wire (I left that off) Shellback: Brown Flash Back, tied in loosely over abdomen Legs: Brown/Black Centipede Legs or Flexi Floss, one per side, slightly longer then the body, slanting backwards Thorax: Peacock Ice Dub And here is the inspiration:

Since I tied these up for the the 2008 Expo display, and that's been canceled, I'll show it off here instead. Green Drake Special Originated by Russ Webb Hook: 1x fine dry, 10 - 16 (this is a 12) Thread: 8/0 Uni-thread, Olive Tail: Three pheasant tail fibers Abdomen: Woven olive floss over tan floss Thorax: Rust dubbing Wing/Wing Case: Laquered partridge feather Legs: Pheasant tail fibers, laquered and bent to shape (I used a heated bobkin to bend) Head: Mono eyes This is the pattern as tied by Russ

You are right, Brent. Its not about the fish...... Its where (and when) the fishing takes you....(like camping, so you can take cool pictures like this).

That is the model I have and what I use to take my fly pics. The marco setting is great. Like any point-and-shoot, some pics will be so-so and some will be awesome. In general, I've been very happy with it but I've seen other cheaper models take better pictures. However, they aren't water proof. For those of us who prowl the streamside's, its priceless when you take that unexpected 2 second dip, and have to throw away a camera worth $100's.

Glad to see you made it home in time, Glen. Merry Christmas to everyone who graces these HTML's (and even to those few who don't). May the Lord's spirit, born out of this "Holiday Season", find you well.

I'll have to second that. Its tough and it looks like you got that wing on there successfully.

LF, you snuck a real beauty in there at the last minute, eh? Very nice, but you can't avoid having to tackle wings for too long.....

Mine are worth far more then that...........to me.

Whips ain't got nothing on Divorce Courts. "Have you heard about the new board game called Divorce Court. Amazingly, boys never win."

Agreed. Fish has never been my favorite food. Prepared right, and fresh, it can be awesome and a treat, but its just that. A treat. Brownstone, I never noticed how similar your sig is similar to mine.

Interesting tidbit I heard (but haven't confirmed). Canadian beer is rated in volume, American by weight (or visa versa). Both beers contain the same amount of alcohol as they all come out of the same vat. Source of claim was a friend who shared a plane ride with a Molson's bigwig.

I'll admit, this is a previous tied fly but I've never revealed it on this (or the old) site before (if memory serves me). Sadie's Special Tag: Oval Silver, black floss, GP crest. The red feather is also from a golden pheasant. I believe its from the base of the tail. Body: Red Ostrich herl, Oval Silver, black floss Throat: Burnted Red Spey Hackle, Wood Duck Wing: White Lady Amherst, GP tippet, GP crest and a strip of that same base-of-tail feather Head: Black Ostrich Herl, twisted gut eye I think thats the material list. Not as technically difficult as CapeB's, but visually appealing. The picture sucks because it was taken with a old film camera and scanned.

You too???? I knew I couldn't be the only one. Seriously, if I'm having trouble falling asleep, going over the fly I tied that day or thinking how I could change it/do something different, helps me sleep. (Whatever you do, do *not* think about work) Your point about the camera is bang on. Macro settings are brutally honest. I think taking a good picture is extremely important when entering these contests, so take a picture, take a look, groom the fly, take another. It makes a world of difference. ps. I think you would be able to tie wicked nymphs