Question:

Ahem New site here in good ol’ SA www.troutfishing.co.za Cheers Ari

Response:

Ahem New site here in good ol’ SA www.troutfishing.co.za

Rugby, braaivleis, sunny skies and Chevrolet…. Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

Response:

Question:

Thank GOD (and you, too, Steve) for an actual flyfishin’ post! Too good to snip – I’m leaving the whole thing intact! /daytripper (it’s gonna be one long GD winter!) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The holiday season is just about done here now and I can return to my local streams from the ‘holiday’ I take from fishing this time every year… Oh, I fished once or twice,  once at the behest of my brother-in-law and his son.  Having invested a little time teaching them to cast previously, I was interested to see how they’d progressed … and their camp was near some of my favourite nearby mountain stream. Anyhow, I arrived later than I’d hoped (around 7am) and found them still in bed … AND  they left their fly gear at home and were bent on using bait and lures.  I guess its hard to give up old ways that you’ve had success with, they won’t leave the fly gear at home again.   There are lots of snakes (mostly tigers) in the area we were to fish… snakes weird me out, but some  birds help locate them – some of the larger species attack snakes that get too close to their roosts – the racket the birds make is fair warning … I haven’t seen that for a year or so now,  though I still see lots of snakes.  It is a pity the birds don’t seem to squawk and swoop the swimming tigers – another good reason to fish upstream. So after warnings about snakes,  watching where you put appendages, we set off to some relatively difficult to get to water … me pointing out likely pools where they may try their luck when I left at lunch time. An average day’s highlight – getting it all right – almost.  As we approached a pool through the bush I was yammering on about being cautious approaching pools … and right on cue the sight of a good brown finishing a rise  and slinking back into the depths of the pool put a nice little exclamation mark on my commentary.  The rise was in the bubble line at the head of the pool.  We waited, the three of us, but it didn’t show again in 15 minutes.  The lad became restless, and headed off downstream to the main body and tailout of the pool … there were fish there, I’d scouted it earlier while wading but I suspect they see a lot of hardware.   We wait … still nothing … patience deserts me to.   As the fly is worked across the pool to the bubble line and beyond to a rock ledge where I’ve had fish before, a commentary on roll-casting and working the head of the pool is met with attentive grunts and yeps from my brother-in-law … at the ledge a slick graceful rise and an audible slurp added the final touch.  The fish took a couple of metres of line and hung me up under a log.  My brother-in-law saw all this and commented that: "It was just like on television".   I wish I’d let him roll-cast that fly over there.   We shared water and heckled each other till lunch – the fly worked – the lures didn’t.   That evening they went to the places I directed them to earlier, and witnessed their first major evening rise and had their first major skunking. From the excited phone call I received later in the week thanking me, they described  "fish leaping and splashing … insects everywhere … no hope with bait or lure…It was amazing … ", the river did her part and I guess I didn’t do to badly either.   All that was over a fortnight ago, and today was very different – I was alone. Checked and dismissed some access points – god some people are thoughtless, littering imbeciles.  I really wasn’t in the mood for new water today anyway, I didn’t want to think to much about what I was doing. So it was back to a lowland haunt, where I know the riffles that tend to hold fish during hot weather … cool and drizzly mornings like this morning are invigorating for fish and fisherman alike after a hot spell. Fishing the riffles and bubble lines produced fish all morning till a weather change came through rather more early and a lot stronger than expected – I really hate it when a  tree branch  crashes into the drink next to me … still its probably a better ticker test than any ECG. Wandering the banks, thoughts tend to meander a bit – back to the trip above, health, scenery, the creatures …..   The wind picked up a little, the hills became visible as the clouds lifted.  The wind blowing over the hills causes updrafts and eddies on the hillsides much like a pool, but on a grander scale.  The remaining wisps of fog and mist clinging to the trees are sucked up into the cloud bank above the hills … I’ve been here a hundred times and not seen that here before.   A high-flying flock of Ibis had me mistaking them for cormorants and cursing their existence. Recalling the ROFF thread about cormorants had me wondering about some of the imbalances foist on the river recently. What about the last fish – it had gashes down its back – parallel scars. Ibis? – marsh birds I think … I did see a Heron earlier the water is so low – even for this time of year – the secure lies are becoming thin on the ground – so to speak.   Someone, with all good intentions no doubt, has decided to clear steep sections of the bank of all vegetation, reinforce them with tonnes of rock, and replant with what looks like typical suburban rockery plants.  Those plants will not survive the next flood. In the meantime, these sections of river have been denuded of fish habitat.  In one section this has caused an increased flow around a now uniform bend, which has virtually destroyed the pool that formed below it and has shifted tonnes of gravel downstream to be deposited on a beach that wasn’t there a couple of years ago. Rivers change but I prefer nature to do it … For some unkown reason, the Bellbirds were particularly plentiful today, their calls certainly add ambience to the river.  I think I winged a Wren on a back cast by the racket that exploded behind me on one cast.   Still it wasn’t as bad as the Swallow that tangled in my leader and hit the drink – what a ruckus – Swallow and leader survived.  What  the hell was making that odd call – it sounded like what I imagine to be the laugh of some ROFFians after to many stogies.  Possibly  black parrots, its that time of year … Steve

Response:

Steve,   Wow!!! Who cares if it was long….you just made winter go away for a minute or two, at least. Thanks!                            Tom Littleton

Response:

The holiday season is just about done here now and I can return to my local streams from the ‘holiday’ I take from fishing this time every year… Oh, I fished once or twice,  once at the behest of my brother-in-law and his son.  Having invested a little time teaching them to cast previously, I was interested to see how they’d progressed … and their camp was near some of my favourite nearby mountain stream. Anyhow, I arrived later than I’d hoped (around 7am) and found them still in bed … AND  they left their fly gear at home and were bent on using bait and lures.  I guess its hard to give up old ways that you’ve had success with, they won’t leave the fly gear at home again.   There are lots of snakes (mostly tigers) in the area we were to fish… snakes weird me out, but some  birds help locate them – some of the larger species attack snakes that get too close to their roosts – the racket the birds make is fair warning … I haven’t seen that for a year or so now,  though I still see lots of snakes.  It is a pity the birds don’t seem to squawk and swoop the swimming tigers – another good reason to fish upstream. So after warnings about snakes,  watching where you put appendages, we set off to some relatively difficult to get to water … me pointing out likely pools where they may try their luck when I left at lunch time. An average day’s highlight – getting it all right – almost.  As we approached a pool through the bush I was yammering on about being cautious approaching pools … and right on cue the sight of a good brown finishing a rise  and slinking back into the depths of the pool put a nice little exclamation mark on my commentary.  The rise was in the bubble line at the head of the pool.  We waited, the three of us, but it didn’t show again in 15 minutes.  The lad became restless, and headed off downstream to the main body and tailout of the pool … there were fish there, I’d scouted it earlier while wading but I suspect they see a lot of hardware.   We wait … still nothing … patience deserts me to.   As the fly is worked across the pool to the bubble line and beyond to a rock ledge where I’ve had fish before, a commentary on roll-casting and working the head of the pool is met with attentive grunts and yeps from my brother-in-law … at the ledge a slick graceful rise and an audible slurp added the final touch.  The fish took a couple of metres of line and hung me up under a log.  My brother-in-law saw all this and commented that: "It was just like on television".   I wish I’d let him roll-cast that fly over there.   We shared water and heckled each other till lunch – the fly worked – the lures didn’t.   That evening they went to the places I directed them to earlier, and witnessed their first major evening rise and had their first major skunking. From the excited phone call I received later in the week thanking me, they described  "fish leaping and splashing … insects everywhere … no hope with bait or lure…It was amazing … ", the river did her part and I guess I didn’t do to badly either.   All that was over a fortnight ago, and today was very different – I was alone. Checked and dismissed some access points – god some people are thoughtless, littering imbeciles.  I really wasn’t in the mood for new water today anyway, I didn’t want to think to much about what I was doing. So it was back to a lowland haunt, where I know the riffles that tend to hold fish during hot weather … cool and drizzly mornings like this morning are invigorating for fish and fisherman alike after a hot spell. Fishing the riffles and bubble lines produced fish all morning till a weather change came through rather more early and a lot stronger than expected – I really hate it when a  tree branch  crashes into the drink next to me … still its probably a better ticker test than any ECG. Wandering the banks, thoughts tend to meander a bit – back to the trip above, health, scenery, the creatures …..   The wind picked up a little, the hills became visible as the clouds lifted.  The wind blowing over the hills causes updrafts and eddies on the hillsides much like a pool, but on a grander scale.  The remaining wisps of fog and mist clinging to the trees are sucked up into the cloud bank above the hills … I’ve been here a hundred times and not seen that here before.   A high-flying flock of Ibis had me mistaking them for cormorants and cursing their existence. Recalling the ROFF thread about cormorants had me wondering about some of the imbalances foist on the river recently. What about the last fish – it had gashes down its back – parallel scars. Ibis? – marsh birds I think … I did see a Heron earlier the water is so low – even for this time of year – the secure lies are becoming thin on the ground – so to speak.   Someone, with all good intentions no doubt, has decided to clear steep sections of the bank of all vegetation, reinforce them with tonnes of rock, and replant with what looks like typical suburban rockery plants.  Those plants will not survive the next flood. In the meantime, these sections of river have been denuded of fish habitat.  In one section this has caused an increased flow around a now uniform bend, which has virtually destroyed the pool that formed below it and has shifted tonnes of gravel downstream to be deposited on a beach that wasn’t there a couple of years ago. Rivers change but I prefer nature to do it … For some unkown reason, the Bellbirds were particularly plentiful today, their calls certainly add ambience to the river.  I think I winged a Wren on a back cast by the racket that exploded behind me on one cast.   Still it wasn’t as bad as the Swallow that tangled in my leader and hit the drink – what a ruckus – Swallow and leader survived.  What  the hell was making that odd call – it sounded like what I imagine to be the laugh of some ROFFians after to many stogies.  Possibly  black parrots, its that time of year … Steve

Response:

Question:

Ps is everyone here from America.

rec.outdorrs.fishing.fly gets, like nearly all international newsgroups, mostly postings from Americans. There are people from other countries reading this group and writing articles but they are a minority. You might consider subscribing to the European Flyfishers mailing list. If you are interested, just mail me, I’ll give you information, about how to subscribe. regard Wolfgang  

Response:

[snip] Ps is everyone here from America. Clea.

No, there are also quite a few Canadians, but I know it’s hard to tell the difference as a lot of us wear Dallas Cowboys or Miami Dolphins jackets, plus we own half of Florida, and we can all speak fluent American. Peter

Response:

Peter Charles wrote [snip] Ps is everyone here from America. No, there are also quite a few Canadians, but I know it’s hard to tell the difference as a lot of us wear Dallas Cowboys or Miami Dolphins jackets, plus we own half of Florida, and we can all speak fluent American.

Rumor has it that to do so, you have to practice for years to keep from automatically ending every sentence with "eh".  8-) Is this true?–                                                       -dnc-

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Peter Charles wrote [snip] Ps is everyone here from America. No, there are also quite a few Canadians, but I know it’s hard to tell the difference as a lot of us wear Dallas Cowboys or Miami Dolphins jackets, plus we own half of Florida, and we can all speak fluent American. Rumor has it that to do so, you have to practice for years to keep from automatically ending every sentence with "eh".  8-) Is this true?–                                                      -dnc-

Very true.  Most of us can handle ‘eh’ in moderation.  But for the poor addicted abusers, well they can always turn to EhEh for help. Peter

Response:

Just for interest, I

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Given a limited budget (~$1000 max) and no roof rack or trailer, what type of inflatable craft would you recommend for fly fishing  on lakes and rivers in in the Western U.S.? I’ve looked at float tubes and other fly fishing-specific boats, but they’re too specialized and carry only one passenger.  I’m wondering about peoples’ experiences with inflatable canoes/kayaks (see the SOAR ad in this NG!) or rafts, which can carry maybe 2 people and used on Class 3 water. How easy is it to cast from a kayak or raft? Thanks Steve Whittaker

Hi Steve, I think I would look for a used 10′-14′ raft with a rowing frame. A friend just got a used 14′Avon with a steel rowing frame for $500. I have fished in one of these rafts with a guide, Herb Burton, out of Lewiston, California. I really liked it. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

Response:

How easy is it to cast from a kayak or raft?

Very difficult, i.e. any energy transmitted from the rod arm through your feet or seat will move any keelless boat, and hardly anyone is so skilful as to transmit no such energy. The same thing happens in a float tube (I suppose) but your finned feet are available to keep station.  Alone in any boat, you need your hands both to keep station and to fish, and it’s hard to do both at once.  This is why I abandoned rubber boats for keeled canoes (even though these are more vulnerable to wind.) — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

Get a Bucks Bag "Bronco"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Given a limited budget (~$1000 max) and no roof rack or trailer, what type of inflatable craft would you recommend for fly fishing  on lakes and rivers in in the Western U.S.? I’ve looked at float tubes and other fly fishing-specific boats, but they’re too specialized and carry only one passenger.  I’m wondering about peoples’ experiences with inflatable canoes/kayaks (see the SOAR ad in this NG!) or rafts, which can carry maybe 2 people and used on Class 3 water. How easy is it to cast from a kayak or raft? Thanks Steve Whittaker Hi Steve, I think I would look for a used 10′-14′ raft with a rowing frame. A friend just got a used 14′Avon with a steel rowing frame for $500. I have fished in one of these rafts with a guide, Herb Burton, out of Lewiston, California. I really liked it. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

Response:

Given a limited budget (~$1000 max) and no roof rack or trailer, what type of inflatable craft would you recommend for fly fishing  on lakes and rivers in in the Western U.S.? I’ve looked at float tubes and other fly fishing-specific boats, but they’re too specialized and carry only one passenger.  I’m wondering about peoples’ experiences with inflatable canoes/kayaks (see the SOAR ad in this NG!) or rafts, which can carry maybe 2 people and used on Class 3 water. How easy is it to cast from a kayak or raft? Thanks Steve Whittaker

Response:

Question:

I’d like to know which leader to use when fishing on lakes-reservoirs with dry and wet fly.

Response:

I’d like to know which leader to use when fishing on lakes-reservoirs with dry and wet fly.

I would use longer leaders on lakes, ranging from 9 to 15 foot on floating lines. Tippets size will depend on conditions and fly size. For dries tippet from 5x to 7x should fit most situations. Wet flies are usually fished on 3x to 5x tippets. This is general info that should help someone that is getting started, not you experts. On sinking lines in still water I would try 7 1/2 to 9 foot leaders. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

Response:

I’d like to know which leader to use when fishing on lakes-reservoirs with dry and wet fly. It depends entirely on the body of water and who lives there.  If it’s large, stocked Res and you intend to use large streamers or buggers on sinking line, I tend to use shorter, heavier leaders.  I’ve used 3 foot leaders tapered to, oh, 10 and 12 lb test and have been very successful in such situations.         On still water rich with natural trout food and wild fish, especially the small stuff, your success will improve greatly with a longer, much lighter leader.  10 – 12  feet to 5X is pretty standard fishing wet. For dries this would be a minimum, and an additional length of 6X will

Response:

Question:

I have a business meeting in Pullman, Washington June 28 – 21.  Are there any trout streams in the area (3 – 4 hour radius) which won’t be flooded out during that time with reasonable access to wading. Thanks for any advice. Brent Buckley

Response:

: I have a business meeting in Pullman, Washington June 28 – 21.  Are : there : any trout streams in the area (3 – 4 hour radius) which won’t be flooded : out during that time with reasonable access to wading. Sure, take a look through the entire N. Idaho region.  St. Joe, Lochsa, Selway, St. Maries, Marble Creek, Clearwater (all forks), …etc. All will be very high water.  I would guess the St. Joe might be the best option by end of June. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

   Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly    : I have a business meeting in Pullman, Washington June 28 – 21.  Are    : there    : any trout streams in the area (3 – 4 hour radius) which won’t be flooded    : out during that time with reasonable access to wading.    Sure, take a look through the entire N. Idaho region.  St. Joe, Lochsa,    Selway, St. Maries, Marble Creek, Clearwater (all forks), …etc. But don’t neglect the Washington side of the Clearwater and lakes such as Lenore, Lenice, Amber to the west.  There are some pleasant small lakes around Lewiston, too.   — Laboratory for Applied Logic    Dept. of Computer Science University of Idaho             http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster pgp key available at: ftp://ftp.cs.uidaho.edu/pub/foster/pgp-key.asc

Response:

Question:

<snip : I’d like to toss another wrinkle into your condsideration. I use a small : kayak called an Aquatera Caspia. It cost $440, weighs 30lbs, is 10 ft long : and will hold an adult with waders on comfortably. The seat folds and will : also hold a cooler and tackle bags. It floats in 6 " of water and is it : extremly stable. The downside is storing and hauling. This boat is not a <snip They are also on the web at http://www.kayaker.com/ complete with dealer search ability. I’ve never tried a Caspia, but we have fished from our Keowee II at times. P.S. I’m not an employee of Aquaterra, however, i do own 2 of thier boats.      (and am very happy with them. — Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page:  http://www.ripco.com/~jwn/

Response:

What is the best pontoon boat out there?  What are some nice features. I’m thinking about buying and would appreciate some input.  If you thanx!

Response:

I would look at the 75 Hobie Float Cat. Pricey but a fine piece of equipment. Regards. Jack

Response:

What is the best pontoon boat out there?  What are some nice features. I’m thinking about buying and would appreciate some input.  If you

Hi Jason According to the shop owners I talk with the Buck Bronco is the best buy for the money. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

Response:

What is the best pontoon boat out there?  What are some nice features. I’m thinking about buying and would appreciate some input.  If you thanx!

I’d like to toss another wrinkle into your condsideration. I use a small kayak called an Aquatera Caspia. It cost $440, weighs 30lbs, is 10 ft long and will hold an adult with waders on comfortably. The seat folds and will also hold a cooler and tackle bags. It floats in 6 " of water and is it extremly stable. The downside is storing and hauling. This boat is not a good white water craft as it is too wide. In class 2 plus water it would be a bitch. Best of all its a real boat and is darn near impossible to sink. You can use it on rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and creeks. I love this boat and it is about half the price of a pontoon boat. With the money you save in buying the boat you can buy a very nice Yakima car rack for $125. There is also a two person Kiwi model. It has a 5 year warranty and is made of recycled poly material. Fantastic fishin’ boat! If you like a can get the snail mail address fro you and maybe they have a dealer in your area. Company’s HQ is in North Carolina. A good paddling and Canoe store stocks these and will let you try it out.  A guide from Arkansas clued me in on this. Bags sink, get holes in them and imagine shooting a low-head dam with a rowing frame…No thanks, I’d like to see 80 some day.Mike

Response:

Question:

Hello, I am new to this newsgroup and fly fishing.  Please provide me with any information on fly fishing in south central Pennsylvania.  Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Tight Lines, Wendel

Response:

Head for the Yellow Breeches near Carlisle, PA.  It’s beautiful and it’s convenient…in fact too convenient on weekends wwhen way too many folks show up.  My suggestion, take a day off from work and check it out.  Also, be sure and swing by Yellow Breeches Outfitters. Some really nice helpful folks who can tell you where to fish, etc.  Cold Spring Anglers also helpful. Good luck, and have fun! Kevin

Response:

Don’t neglect the top-notch smallmouth fishing in the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers.  I drive past the potomac (which I love) several times a year to tangle with those porkchops. Dave

Response:

There are several streams in the area, some are stocked andd several have fly fishing only sections. A great reference is Penn. Trout Streams by Meck, available at most fly shops.E-mail me for more info.

Response:

Question:

        I have a few questions regarding fly tying materials, and fly tying for profit.  First, I was wondering if anyone out there might have any suggestions about where I can find large mylar tubing (say, 3/8” diam.) for making saltwater zonkers.  I want to make these flies with a deeper body than my trout flies, but cannot find tubing that will fit the size body I want.         I also would be interested in any suggestions anyone has on selling flies directly to the fishermen, and how I would go about setting up my own fly tying business.  I am especially interested in (cheap) ways to advertize that will be successful.  I tied for local shops over the summer, and have come to the realization that it just isn’t worth it since they only pay me 1/2 the retail price of the flies.  In selling directly to the fishermen, I could undercut the shops’ pirces, but still make more money for myself.  I’m just not sure how to go about setting this up and where I would get extra tyers if the demand proves to be more than I can handle on my own.         In the case that this proves impractical, I’d aslo be interested in any information or comments you might have about companies like "Mc Kensie Fly Co." that buy new fly patterns from tyers and give them a percentage of the profits generated by their sales.  Has anyone out there heard of and/or tried this?         Thank you for taking the time to read through this posting to anyone who had the patience to get to this point, and for any information you might have for me.                                         -Michael Frank

Response:

   I have a few questions regarding fly tying materials, and fly tying for profit.  First, I was wondering if anyone out there might have any suggestions about where I can find large mylar tubing (say, 3/8” diam.) for making saltwater zonkers.  I want to make these flies with a deeper body than my trout flies, but cannot find tubing that will fit the size body I want.

I found some of this size (and several others) in gold, silver, and pearl in my local sewing and crafts shop.    I also would be interested in any suggestions anyone has on selling flies directly to the fishermen, and how I would go about setting up my own fly tying business.  I am especially interested in (cheap) ways to advertize that will be successful.  I tied for local shops over the summer, and have come to the realization that it just isn’t worth it since they only pay me 1/2 the retail price of the flies.  In selling directly to the fishermen, I could undercut the shops’ pirces, but still make more money for myself.  I’m just not sure how to go about setting this up and where I would get extra tyers if the demand proves to be more than I can handle on my own.

Be careful you don’t cut your own throat on this.  As a professional fly tyer, you won’t want to work too hard at driving down the price of flies. Nothing wrong with offering us a bargain, but you’ll make more money in the long run by selling quality than bargain basement.                                    -Michael Frank

Good luck. . Lenny Bloksberg . .

Response:

   I have a few questions regarding fly tying materials, and fly tying for profit.      I also would be interested in any suggestions anyone has on selling flies directly to the fishermen, and how I would go about

Al Troth is the only commercial fly tyer I know of who makes a good living tying flies (and guiding, and other things). The main reason is that he sells all his flies at retail. His total production has been spoken for for years. For every fly he ties, there are 10 people who want to buy it. Trouble is, not every fly tyer is as famous as Al (the inventor of the Elk Hair Caddis, for one). I wonder if free-lance tiers couldn’t form a cooperative of sorts, which would peel off a minimum percentage for advertizing, thus leaving more profit for the tiers. Seems like the net might be a good way to get this going. Although others might complain that advertizing has no place on the net. Royalies? Yeah, that’s the way to go….the only way to make good money with flies. Umpqua Feather Merchants (Glide Or) started the royalties business. Fly designs are not easily patented, and patents are not easily enforced. Umpqua does it for marketing reasons. They like to say that their flies are designed by nationally known fishing personalities. And that’s the catch. It’s not enough to have a good new fly design. You also have to be able to write about it, and get your stuff published. So if you are an author as well as a fly designer, you can make money. They usually pay 10% of the wholesale price…just like a salesman’s commission. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -setting up my own fly tying business.  I am especially interested in (cheap) ways to advertize that will be successful.  I tied for local shops over the summer, and have come to the realization that it just isn’t worth it since they only pay me 1/2 the retail price of the flies.  In selling directly to the fishermen, I could undercut the shops’ pirces, but still make more money for myself.  I’m just not sure how to go about setting this up and where I would get extra tyers if the demand proves to be more than I can handle on my own.    In the case that this proves impractical, I’d aslo be interested in any information or comments you might have about companies like "Mc Kensie Fly Co." that buy new fly patterns from tyers and give them a percentage of the profits generated by their sales.  Has anyone out there heard of and/or tried this?    Thank you for taking the time to read through this posting to anyone who had the patience to get to this point, and for any information you might have for me.                                    -Michael Frank

–

Response:

       I have a few questions regarding fly tying materials, and fly tying for profit.          I also would be interested in any suggestions anyone has on selling flies directly to the fishermen, and how I would go about Al Troth is the only commercial fly tyer I know of who makes a good living tying flies (and guiding, and other things). The main reason is that he sells all his flies at retail. His total production has been spoken for for years. For every fly he ties, there are 10 people who want to buy it. Trouble is, not every fly tyer is as famous as Al (the inventor of the Elk Hair Caddis, for one). I wonder if free-lance tiers couldn’t form a cooperative of sorts,

This is a very good idea, it merits more discussion. which would peel off a minimum percentage for advertizing, thus leaving more profit for the tiers. Seems like the net might be a good way to get this going. Although others might complain that advertizing has no place on the net.

A number of years back I had good success tying through the net. I charged $1.00 per fly, and could barely keep up with the demand. The feedback was positive, the ‘advertising’ wasn’t hard-sell or in-your-face, more like ‘hey, I tie, anybody that’s interested, let me know.’ Royalies? Yeah, that’s the way to go….the only way to make good money with flies. Umpqua Feather Merchants (Glide Or) started the royalties business. Fly designs are not easily patented..

[deleted for brevity]                                        -Michael Frank

Absolutely. I know a guy who has done this, and I believe he does quite well. He’s locally well-known, but certainly not a published or "big name" in the the flyfishing world, like Troth. — Dave Ridge Storage Technology Corp

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I made a nice find on a low-cost fly-tying storage box.  I bought a Flambeau 22060 toolbox that has six sliding drawers each about 12 by 8 inches.  Two are 3 inches deep and the others 2 inches deep.  The box opens on one side with a fold down panel.  The box is marketed for hand tools so the cost is resonable at $45.  For people with lots of hackes you will need a separate cedar box for storage of those large items.  Compared to nice wooden boxes and cordura/plastic fly tying boxes($100 to 300) this is a cost-effective solution I wanted to share. Question: does anyone have a mail-order source for Lamson reels that have good prices. Kent

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I made a nice find on a low-cost fly-tying storage box.  I bought a Flambeau 22060 toolbox that has six sliding drawers each about 12 by 8 inches.  Two are 3 inches deep and the others 2 inches deep.  The box opens on one side with a fold down panel.  The box is marketed for hand tools so the cost is resonable at $45.  For people with lots of hackes you will need a separate cedar box for storage of those large items.  Compared to nice wooden boxes and cordura/plastic fly tying boxes($100 to 300) this is a cost-effective solution I wanted to share.

When I was growing up, my Dad had a room with bookshelves filled with 1-gallon glass jars (from commercial kitchen quantities of mayonaise, mustard, ketchup, relish…) filled with cured necks, elk and deer body fur, dyed deer tails, polar bear fur, calves tails, squirrel tails, peacock eyes, yarns, etc.  He had friends who hunted and fished and he would trade flies he tied for furs and feathers they got hunting.  Also, it used to get us kids upset because we could never pass a roadkill without Dad wanting to get out and cut the tail or something.  His collection has dwindled over the years but the idea of using glass bottles to see everything on the shelves is very appealing.  The closed jars keep out bugs and seal in the smell of all the cured flesh, fur and feathers. Dad kept his threads in wooden cigar boxes labeled by color.  He had a boxes for white, black, brown, and misc. colored threads. Each spool had its own bobbin that he hand made from old coat hangers (back when they were of sufficient guage to be worth anything).  He bought head cement in quart tins and poured it, a small amount at a time, to a baby food jar and applied it with a needle stuck eye-end-in to a small piece of wood.   His hackle pliers were made from a coat hanger as well.  He decided on the length of wire needed, flattened out the ends and bent it appropriately.  He then glued two small, thin pieces of rubber (from an old gasket he found) inside the gripping faces for the dual purpose of a better grip on large hackles and to be gentle on delicate hackles.  They worked like a charm. Except for his Universal vice, most of his tools were hand made. Flytying doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition.  A little imagination and craftsmanship is all that is needed.   These days he’s sometimes too slow to react to a rise but he’s still the best fly tier I know of.  I’d rather fish his flies than anyone else’s.   If you don’t lose them in the bushes or in the mouth of that big one you tried to force out of some fast water, you can fish the same fly all day.  Too many times I’ve had to switch flies because one I bought in a shop became unraveled in the mouth of the first trout to hit it. — Steve Hammond                            * ^ // * /     Scientific Computing Division             /* /  _][     National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO     ______

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[Original orticle deleted] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -When I was growing up, my Dad had a room with bookshelves filled with 1-gallon glass jars (from commercial kitchen quantities of mayonaise, mustard, ketchup, relish…) filled with cured necks, elk and deer body fur, dyed deer tails, polar bear fur, calves tails, squirrel tails, peacock eyes, yarns, etc.  He had friends who hunted and fished and he would trade flies he tied for furs and feathers they got hunting.  Also, it used to get us kids upset because we could never pass a roadkill without Dad wanting to get out and cut the tail or something.  His collection has dwindled over the years but the idea of using glass bottles to see everything on the shelves is very appealing.  The closed jars keep out bugs and seal in the smell of all the cured flesh, fur and feathers. Dad kept his threads in wooden cigar boxes labeled by color.  He had a boxes for white, black, brown, and misc. colored threads. Each spool had its own bobbin that he hand made from old coat hangers (back when they were of sufficient guage to be worth anything).  He bought head cement in quart tins and poured it, a small amount at a time, to a baby food jar and applied it with a needle stuck eye-end-in to a small piece of wood.   His hackle pliers were made from a coat hanger as well.  He decided on the length of wire needed, flattened out the ends and bent it appropriately.  He then glued two small, thin pieces of rubber (from an old gasket he found) inside the gripping faces for the dual purpose of a better grip on large hackles and to be gentle on delicate hackles.  They worked like a charm. Except for his Universal vice, most of his tools were hand made. Flytying doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition.  A little imagination and craftsmanship is all that is needed.   These days he’s sometimes too slow to react to a rise but he’s still the best fly tier I know of.  I’d rather fish his flies than anyone else’s.   If you don’t lose them in the bushes or in the mouth of that big one you tried to force out of some fast water, you can fish the same fly all day.  Too many times I’ve had to switch flies because one I bought in a shop became unraveled in the mouth of the first trout to hit it.

Wonderful and wonderfully written rememberance of a classic fly tier! No fishing father could hope for better than this kind of education for and memory from his son.  Well said Steve! — Steve Hammond                            * ^ // * /     Scientific Computing Division                 /* /  _][     National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO     ______

Dr. James B. Comly (Jim)        Physicist, Artificial Intelligence 1 River Road                    Phone: (518)387-5920 Schenectady, NY 12301           Fax:   (518)387-6845

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