hydropsyche

Woo Hoooo. Now you will understand what cute really is. If life is a journey, you just shifted gears. Enjoy the ride.

GAW is my apprentice. This fish was bigger then any fish I ever caught. Believe me, if I could have "talked it down", I would have. On second thought, maybe it wasn't 12lb's. More like 10. Maybe even 6. Are you reading this, GAW??

Man. We would of loved to get a photo (next time, ) but since only its head would fit in my net (I had it by the tail) and since I was the one with the camera, I tried to give the tail to GAW and splish-splash, it was gone. Just having fun here: From my elbow to my outstretched fingers, its 19ins. I'm assuming GOK's is about the same. Going by that, it looks like that fish could easily be 26in's. Interesting note: If you hold your arms out to the sides with fingers stretched, that is how tall you are. I'm 6'. That may not correlate to elbow-to-fingertip length, but its probably not that far off.

I'll second that nomination. I'm not a fly line geek, so don't take my word for it, but it serves my purposes. I got 3yrs out of my last one (I never clean my line - for shame) before I had to replace it. No memory to complain of. Actually, probably less memory of any line I've used.

Great looking Fly (and fish), Kungfool. I like the lightning idea. I gotta try that. Can you share how you fish this fly? There are a few different ways. I like slow sink line with 1in strips as fast as you can go.

On a somewhat related note, maybe we should tag some of the fish in there so Dean/Tim can get an idea of growth rates.

A fat 26in's would be around 8lb. I've caught and weighed (quick lift with fish in net on a digital scale, subtract weight of net) 26in fish that weighted 7lb's out of the Bow. GAW caught what I believe to be a 12lb out of Elliott's. We didn't get a chance to measure, weigh or even take a picture of it (partial picture of him in the water in the Stillwater's thread). I really don't want to handle a prize like that anymore then is necessary to release it, so guesstimate is all we have.

This time of year, try small leeches/buggers (size 10 and down) under an indie. Give it a slight pull every 20-30 seconds or a slow hand twist retrieve. Vary the depth. Also try waterboatmen either on the surface or below. Really small 1in strips almost as fast as you can (if subsurface, less aggressive if on top). If those don't work, then mix it up. If one thing/fly isn't working, don't be lazy. Change it. Good luck. Let us know how you did.

On the top photo, with a polarizer too. Right? You're a great photographer. Magazine quality. I gotta get me a Digital SLR. I've got some wicked Nikon lens for my "analog" that just don't get used much these day.

Its a private lake. Not many fish that size in there. The last time they stocked it, they put two brood fish in. An 8lb'er and a 12lb'er. They are the "Brass Rings" of the lake (so far).

Wow! Thats the 8lb'er? I'm heading out tomorrow morning. Knowing there's one or two fish like that in there makes it exciting. Good job, Gok!

Thats the impression I got too. It epitomizes this site better then a fish or caddis fly would.

Superb. Looks like you got yourself a great lens. 28mm is my guess.

I've always used by vise (Traveler). I don't think it will wreck them. After all, the amount of pressure I use to hold the hook is far greater then what I use to bend that little bitty barb down. I've never heard of anyone being concerned about it before this. Maybe I should be?

That is an excellent pic. A siloette of that would make a great FFC logo.

Perfect Golf shot, eh? That means he'll be coming back. Sounds like you found a jewel.

I guess you had to be there.........

Good luck, man. errrr... Break a leg.....errr break a rod.

Thats a great idea. Thats how all contests should be done.

Exactly. If the company is that dependant on you, they're not in a good position. What would happen if you got hit by the Lottery?

Cool. I'm not much of a fish fan but those mud puppies are delicious. I wish we had somewhere around here we could go after them. I'd be very interested in seeing some flies and hearing about fishing methods.

Those look really good, Brent. You should try tying a few up with the legs facing *forward* ala Jenings Ultimate Boatman. Its give it more action when stripping.

True story. I was doing the annual flyfishing backcountry trip with a friend (Kevin) when he tells me a story: "Kelsy asks my wife what for dinner." "She says 'Pig Poop and Onions!'" "Aaaaaah. I don't liiiiike Onions........." I coughed up a lung laughing so hard and the beer passing through my nose really hurt. When we got home we were unloading my stuff and my daughter asks me "What for dinner?". Well, I couldn't pass up the chance. Kevin was there. "Pig Poop and Onions". What was Rebecka's response?.......you guessed it. "Aaaaaah. I don't liiiiike Onions........." Try it on your little ones. I bet you get the same response.

By cats, do you mean catfish?

Considering that's circa 1920, I'll assume its not you. Really tough choice guys. Love the way you rib, sjw. You get the points for technical difficulties, but overall ascetics may have to go to Darren. ----- ps. Ah shoot. I got the flies (and comments) reversed. The bottom fly gets my vote. Sorry about that, Dave.