Question:

Our family just exchanged a few gifts early. My daughter helps run a local zoo (great source for peacock feathers) and has to go in early Christmas morning to make sure all the animals are okay, so we won’t have our usual early AM gift swap. My youngest son gave me an organizer for my tying stuff that is *awesome* and wasn’t even on my list. It’s about 1/4 the size of Frank Reid’s box, so it is HUGE. Now I just have to go out and buy some more stuff to fill it. Looks like I’ll have to wrangle some more $$ by the time the fly fishing show comes to town. Back to bonding with the family and drinking a little toast to them – single malt, of course. I’ll tip my glass to you all as well. I’ve said it before, and at the risk of going maudlin I’ll say it again: I’ve gotten a great amount of information from this group over the past few years that has vastly improved my on-stream enjoyment and performance, and I appreciate every bit of it. I’ve also met some people I’d never have met without ROFF, and would have been a poorer man for not meeting them. — TL, Tim

Response:

. I’ll tip my glass to you all as well. I’ve said it before, and at the risk of going maudlin I’ll say it again: I’ve gotten a great amount of information from this group over the past few years that has vastly improved my on-stream enjoyment and performance, and I appreciate every bit of it. I’ve also met some people I’d never have met without ROFF, and would have been a poorer man for not meeting them. — TL, Tim

    well, maudlin is a word for people who can’t feel what you have just expressed.  of course, that is just an opinion from yfitons wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Question:

FWIW, several years ago I conducted an experiment to compare fluorocarbon tippet with "standard" tippet on a spring creek where the fish were somewhat leader-shy.  There really did not seem to be a significant difference between the two.  When fish approached my fly from the leader side, they tended to refuse my offering, but would take the fly if they approached from some other direction.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – been using orvis super strong 6x & 7x  tippet with good results. found out today they make a fluorocarbon tippet. told it is invisible in water! its slightly larger in dia. per equivalent test of mono though. its also pricey. $10.00/25 meters. any one tried it?

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: been using orvis super strong 6x & 7x  tippet with good results. found out : today they make a fluorocarbon tippet. told it is invisible in water! its : slightly larger in dia. per equivalent test of mono though. its also pricey. : $10.00/25 meters. : any one tried it? I haven’t tried the Orvis line … however I found the brand I used very useful for getting (dragging) small wet flies (18-20) through scummy surface films in backwaters and the like.  It certainly helps sink small wets that may otherwise tend to float in still water. steve

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says… Forget about it for dry flies. It’s too stiff, so it ruins the drag. My impression is that it’s best for streamers in large-tippet situations, like bonefishing. I’m planning to take a couple of spools of 10lb and 13lb fluorocarbon tippet to Xmas Island.

Berkley’s got a new line out called Vanish… It’s a Fluorocarbon Line but it’s much more supple than the other kinds I have tried. I have a spool of 12lb test I use for my salt water Fly Gear. I also use it for part of leaders as well in the butt section to make it stiffer… — Michael Era

Question:

0] : Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines?  One of the streams I : fish has a lot of fast pocket water and I need to make a lot of short : presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed : flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that : I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t : turn over the big flies. : I have been using a blunt Nymph taper to date but I don’t like the : bright orange colour. : Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies? : Cheers I have one and don’t much like it. With that fine tip, there is less mass to load the rod on short casts, which I find rather miserable for short range fishing. Likewise it has a tough time with big flies because that long front taper tends to inhibit the turnover. What it does do well and what it is designed for are presentations where you have got enough line out to load the rod and want a softer landing than a standard line would get. Mike — Michael McGuire                     Hewlett Packard Laboratories  (remove x’s from email if not      Palo Alto, CA 94303-0971   a spammer) Phone: (650)-857-5491              

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Dylon – #34 or #35. Mix up a brew – dunk the line (or just the tip) for 10 seconds, remove it … check colour … repeat dunking if necessary. Steve

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I thinking about getting an Orvis Quiet Taper to replace it. It’s a double taper (which I like- two lines for the price of one) with a similar long front tip. Anyone have an experience with this line?

I have been using the orvis sprink creek lines for several years, they do have a long front taper and i have found on my T&T rods that using the dt4 on my 3 wgt you get enuf wght out of the rod tip even on 10 to 20 foot casts to load the rod. but since the tip is so long and thin you dont mess up presentation like you would using a wf line on them theese lines seem to acctually weight out more like a 3 1/2 wght rather than a 4 wght with the spring creek dt i can throw size 12 mini clousers 40 to 50 feet with out any problems…. casts in the 50+ foot range the rod starts to feel overloaded however. Steve

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That should have been Orvis Spring Creek line.

William I stopped by the local Orvis store and checked out the line.  The 15′ front taper sounds great for bigger water but I don’t think it would work as well in fast pocket water.  I would imagine it would roll and mend quite well but I can picture have trouble with 12’s and 14’s in the wind.  Also, that small tip would be easily sunk by turbulence. One stretch I fish, the stream has a long east-west orientation and it can get like a wind tunnel sometimes.   An upstream cast can get blown back at you if the line won’t carry it.  Even though the fish tend to be small, I’ve used a four or five weight just because of the conditions at the upper end of this particular stretch of water. I’m leaning toward a gray SA XPS DT.  Thanks for the input. Peter

Response:

Peter, I reckon any 3wt will be straining to turn bushy #10’s at close range – doesn’t SA make a buff coloured DTF line – maybe you should even consider a 4wt line – and getting your leader right is the other 50% of the answer. I have a Sage RPL+ 3wt 8′6" with a 3wt Teeny DTF (blue/green, blunt taper) – for stream fishing large dry flies I use a 5′ superbraid tapered butt leader with another 4′ of 10lb and 2′ of 6lb. The braid butt leader really helps to generate positive turnover and for the small streams, the short length of the mono part is not really a hindrance (as you said earlier). I don’t know if this type of butt leader is available in North America – mine is locally made. They are a real boon for light rod stream fishing as they turn over very well and can be soaked in liquid floatant to float high everafter without further treatment. Cheers JK

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I use a Clear Creek on my 3 weight and like it for slow water and delicate presentation. Its long front fine tip is great for presentation but not as good for fishing bushy flies.  I also don’t feel that it wears too well. I’ve had more than average problems with cracking. I thinking about getting an Orvis Quiet Taper to replace it. It’s a double taper (which I like- two lines for the price of one) with a similar long front tip. Anyone have an experience with this line? Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines?  One of the streams I fish has a lot of fast pocket water and I need to make a lot of short presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t turn over the big flies. I have been using a blunt Nymph taper to date but I don’t like the bright orange colour. Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies? Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.cgocable.net/~pcharles/index.html

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presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t turn over the big flies.

Peter: I have not tried the Cortland 444 Clear Creek line, but I modified a Wulff TT by cutting 5 feet off the tip and it does great for heavily weighted size 8 streamers for my beloved bluegill. You might try cutting back that level tip six inches at a time till it seems right. You will have a chance to try my modified Wulff 3/4 TT at the Double Naught Clave in May. I think the white color of the Wulff sucks too…I have been thinkiing of dyiing it olive. Big Dale

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Peter, I dyed a white elcheapo Cabela’s 3 wt line this summer, haven’t used it that much, but here’s the procedure I used:  Rit Dye, closest color available to orange was yellow/orange (or something like that, can’t remember)  I boiled water in a glass cooking pot, dumping in the whole pack of dye.  Remove from stove and stir it well.  Then dumped in the line (loosely coiled) stirring it around for a couple of minutes.  Took the line out and laid it out on my back deck to dry.  Looks pretty good, not the brilliant orange I wanted, but close enough.  FWIW. Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Peter, what about dying your current line? Steve The bright orange is a 5wt. and I’m looking for a line to go with the new 3wt. I’ll be getting for the new season.  For the other applicatiojns, the orange isn’t a problem, just this one.  Just for future reference though, what sort of dye would you use? Peter

Response:

5-6′ off the end of a Wulff TT. The Wulff TT is ivory colored.

Go easy when you start cutting off the end of the line. I would start with 2 feet and try it and then cut off 6 inches at a time. I also have a WF3 line that was designed by Gary LaFontaine and made by Jim Teeney that is a beautiful dull olive color, but must have been designed for very small flies for use on spring creeks. It also has a very fine long taper on the front and I find it useful for size 18 and smaller dry flies, but it would be a poor choice for close in fishing in the pocket water of the small streams of western North Carolina. If someone makes a dull olive line in a double taper with only about 2 feet of level line on the front of the taper I think it would be perfect.   I have read of people using a permanent marker in olive on a few feet of their line, but this seems kind of half-assed to me so I have not tried that yet. I am hesitant to go thru the learning curve of dying lines as I think it would be easy to ruin a new line. I know that Craig Matthews of Blue Ribbon Flies used to dye some lines olive for guys that were going to N.Z. a few years ago. I don’t know if he still does that. This could be an area where it woulld be better to pay someone who knows what the hell they are doing. I know I intend to talk with him about this the next chance I get. Perhaps I will be able to catch him in his shop when I go to Montana for the Western Clave next summer. Speaking of the Western Clave for those who tie flies be sure to bring charge cards when you visit his shop as they have a great selection of materials which are simply not available most places. There is a great laundromat across the street from his shop and the last time I was there I dropped a hundred bucks on hen necks while the clothes were in the dryer. Big Dale

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Hi Peter, what about dying your current line? Steve

The bright orange is a 5wt. and I’m looking for a line to go with the new 3wt. I’ll be getting for the new season.  For the other applicatiojns, the orange isn’t a problem, just this one.  Just for future reference though, what sort of dye would you use? Peter

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When these wear out I’m going to try Big Dale’s suggestion. Cut 5-6′ off the end of a Wulff TT. The Wulff TT is ivory colored. — Ken Fortenberry

I know it’s supposed to work but hacking the front end of a fly line off just goes against the grain.  Last time I tried it, it turned a bad line into a worse one.  At least when the TT gets dirty, it’ll be the right colour. Peter

Response:

That should have been Orvis Spring Creek line. Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I use a Clear Creek on my 3 weight and like it for slow water and delicate presentation. Its long front fine tip is great for presentation but not as good for fishing bushy flies.  I also don’t feel that it wears too well. I’ve had more than average problems with cracking. I thinking about getting an Orvis Quiet Taper to replace it. It’s a double taper (which I like- two lines for the price of one) with a similar long front tip. Anyone have an experience with this line? Willi Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines?  One of the streams I fish has a lot of fast pocket water and I need to make a lot of short presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t turn over the big flies. I have been using a blunt Nymph taper to date but I don’t like the bright orange colour. Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies? Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.cgocable.net/~pcharles/index.html

Response:

I’ve got two of these, one in WF3 for a 7.5′ Winston 3wt and one in WF2 for a 7.5′ Orvis 1 wt (your eponymous ) and you are quite right. They don’t work very well with largish or bushy flies. You can lengthen the leader out to 9-12′ and turn over #12’s, but with only 6′ of leader even #14’s are something of a pain in the arse. I use 7.5′ leaders for most of the small stream NC fishing and don’t try to toss anything bigger than #12. — Ken Fortenberry

Ken I suppose a good alternative would be to find a relatively blunt tapered line (7′ and under front taper) in a dull colour.  SA used to have a sand coloured line that I thought was a great natural colour as it resembled straw, yet it was visible.  So they stopped making it. In that fast pocket water, I often have to make pile casts that can put the end of the fly line in the fish’s window.  I’m sure the bright orange is costing me some strikes. Now it’s just a matter of finding one. Peter

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Hi Peter, what about dying your current line? Steve

Response:

I suppose a good alternative would be to find a relatively blunt tapered line (7′ and under front taper) in a dull colour.   …

When these wear out I’m going to try Big Dale’s suggestion. Cut 5-6′ off the end of a Wulff TT. The Wulff TT is ivory colored. — Ken Fortenberry

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Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines? … Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies?

I’ve got two of these, one in WF3 for a 7.5′ Winston 3wt and one in WF2 for a 7.5′ Orvis 1 wt (your eponymous ) and you are quite right. They don’t work very well with largish or bushy flies. You can lengthen the leader out to 9-12′ and turn over #12’s, but with only 6′ of leader even #14’s are something of a pain in the arse. I use 7.5′ leaders for most of the small stream NC fishing and don’t try to toss anything bigger than #12. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines?  One of the streams I fish has a lot of fast pocket water and I need to make a lot of short presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t turn over the big flies. I have been using a blunt Nymph taper to date but I don’t like the bright orange colour. Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies? Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.cgocable.net/~pcharles/index.html

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Question:

It is still early for the steelhead season, but we finally had a week with no rain.  I am wondering if anyone has had a chance to get out to one of the Oregon coastal streams yet and if so, how is the water looking? — Terry Http://flyfishonline.web.com/

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Slid away from the Silicon Forest and went to the Wilson Tuesday afternoon. Conditions were marginal, still recovering from heavy rains of last week. Water lower in the lower basin was still off color. A few hardware fishermen were about and doing no better than the Spey Rod. Been cool and dry since then, should be very fishable now. Best of Y2K to all, — Jeff www.teleport.com/~salmo/jp.htm

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It is still early for the steelhead season, but we finally had a week with no rain.  I am wondering if anyone has had a chance to get out to one of the Oregon coastal streams yet and if so, how is the water looking? — Terry Http://flyfishonline.web.com/

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Question:

under different conditions and different geographical locations, with us reporting back every week/month. (George, you have 2 volunteers right now). Waddaya think? Big Al…….

I will volunteer to cover the North Texas area. I can count on about a dozen members of The Roadkill Roundtable to help with the project. Big Dale

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I would be more than will to test rod breaking strength, warranty compliance and retrieval from forgotten locations, aspects often overlooked about – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – under different conditions and different geographical locations, with us reporting back every week/month. (George, you have 2 volunteers right now). Waddaya think? Big Al……. I will volunteer to cover the North Texas area. I can count on about a dozen members of The Roadkill Roundtable to help with the project. Big Dale

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Nahh, man, you’re missing the obvious gold mine. According to Matt, all we need to do is certify each other as guides and we’ll get 60% off everything! Heck, you guided me and others on the RF. Come on down and I’ll guide you in the Gila. The NC boys are about to guide a whole clave! We’ll all join the Sage Tackle Team. Jon "I was CPR-certified 15 years ago if that counts" Cook.

    always good to hear from a colleague!  how’s business, fellow guide?     for the firm ol 60% himself, wayno

Response:

I would be more than happy to write articles "from the beginner’s perspective", i.e., chronicling the abuses beginning anglers put on equipment, through humorous anecdotes.  I would also apply to be one of the Washington (the one with Steelheads, not softheads, I’ve lived there too) corespondents but there may be some competition, I hear there may be one or two other anglers in the state :0) Hatch – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Howdy All. If any of you are in the flyfishing tackle manufacturing or retail business, I just wanted to let you all know that I provide excellent and comprehensive field testing and critical review of any/all products. Simply mail me the equipment you need tested and I promise I will. Of course, the equipment can not be returned. Always glad to help out where I can. Your pal, — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

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<<Your pal, — TimW, Halfordian Golfer

T-Bone, I think you may be on to something there. We need to start a new business, (costing us nothing of course). At least 10 ROFFIANS from each state should be field testing equipment, including the Bastard and the Grand Am. This would give a companies a wide variety of hands on usage under different conditions and different geographical locations, with us reporting back every week/month. (George, you have 2 volunteers right now). Waddaya think? Big Al……. Man, you guys are gonna get in trouble.  I can hear the black helocopters hovering and the Usenet Gestapos waiting to getcha!  

Response:

Howdy All. If any of you are in the flyfishing tackle manufacturing or retail business, I just wanted to let you all know that I provide excellent and comprehensive field testing and critical review of any/all products. Simply mail me the equipment you need tested and I promise I will. Of course, the equipment can not be returned. Always glad to help out where I can. Your pal, — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Howdy All. If any of you are in the flyfishing tackle manufacturing or retail business, I just wanted to let you all know that I provide excellent and comprehensive field testing and critical review of any/all products. Simply mail me the equipment you need tested and I promise I will. Of course, the equipment can not be returned. Always glad to help out where I can. Your pal, — TimW, Halfordian Golfer

T-Bone, I think you may be on to something there. We need to start a new business, (costing us nothing of course). At least 10 ROFFIANS from each state should be field testing equipment, including the Bastard and the Grand Am. This would give a companies a wide variety of hands on usage under different conditions and different geographical locations, with us reporting back every week/month. (George, you have 2 volunteers right now). Waddaya think? Big Al…….

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Question:

Hi my name is Sean and I’m looking for a fly tying instructor with 1/2 hours drive of Exeter, New Hampshire. I’ve been fly fishing for several years and just got my first kit and would like to take some tying lessons. Thanks for any help, Sean

Response:

Hi my name is Sean and I’m looking for a fly tying instructor with 1/2 hours drive of Exeter, New Hampshire. I’ve been fly fishing for several years and just got my first kit and would like to take some tying lessons. Thanks for any help, Sean

I believe the shop in Kittery, the Kittery trading post offer lesson. If you can drive a little farther, American Angling in Salem NH and the Hunters in New Boston also offers classes. Wayne

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Question:

  Going in week , anyone know what’s happening on the Madison?   TIA   Harry

buncha people, to be sure. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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  Going in week , anyone know what’s happening on the Madison?   TIA   Harry buncha people, to be sure. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

  Hi Tim   No doubt , but I’m stuck.   Harry

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Going in week , anyone know what’s happening on the Madison?   TIA   Harry buncha people, to be sure. — TimW Halfordian Golfer   Hi Tim   No doubt , but I’m stuck.   Harry

What are the tibs of the madison ?  I bet some of the small ones are incredible… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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  Going in week , anyone know what’s happening on the Madison?   TIA   Harry

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  Going in week , anyone know what’s happening on the Madison?   TIA   Harry

A friend down in West tells me there are some salmonflies on the Madison now, and some good fishing in the park as well….It is getting hot…around 90 degrees today…perhaps a caddis in the evening?

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  Going in week , anyone know what’s happening on the Madison?   TIA   Harry

Hi Harry As of last night it’s fishing great. A few golden stones and caddis are what I was using. Hoppers should be happing soon. Enjoy your trip. — Tight Lines ….. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Catalog,Tips & Tricks, Fishing Reports, & NeverSink at: http://www.btsflyfishing.com

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Question:

Will be traveling to Glacier National Park, Montana on the long weekend in September with my wife.  I am wanting to know of any streams or creeks that might provide some flyfishing recreational pleasure.  (Time is limited considering that my wife will be with me on this trip – any advice would be greatly appreciated – I am sure that there are a few flyfisherman whose flyfishing time is limited due to their spouse being on vacation with them)  Are there any sports shops or fly fishing outlets in the Glacier National Park area that might provide some good advice regarding streams, creeks, hatches, flies, etc.  Any information would be helpful since my flyfishing experience has mainly been in Alberta, Canada. Thanks in advance! Jon H.

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I fished the Middle Fork of the Flathead River back in September of 1995 (my honeymoon trip).  I had a great time being guided by one of the guys at Montana Raft company; the guy lives, breathes, and eats flyfishing. Mostly cutthroats. ENJOY!!!

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Question:

  If you would like a fact sheet on our knot and monofilament tests, e’ mail me your postal address and I’ll be happy to fire one off to you (open offer to anyone).   -Tight lines, Ralph

Hi Ralph, I would like to get your fact sheet regarding knot and monofilament tests. I also have a knot I use I would like to have tested. If you are interested I’ll make a short video on how to tie it so you can test it. I sure it will be great information. Thanks in advance for the information and all the advise/info you share on the group. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products 3020 Secor Ave Bozeman, MT 59715-6150 405-585-0745 (phone & fax)

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Actually, it’s not your casting.  The removable split shot slip badly, the "nonremovable" non-toxic shot are better, and actually not that difficult to remove with hemostats.  What I do, though, is tie an 18 inch or so tippet onto the regular tippet, and place the shot above the knot.  Of course, you have to keep replacing the tippet section as you go, but you’d have to replace the tippet anyway.

Response:

When tying your tippet leave about a 4-5 inch tag end put your split shot on here and crimp well. Your weight won’t be directly on your line and when snagged you can usally pull it off with out losing your whole tippet . This will also keep your line off the abraisive bottom. I like to use Water-Gremlin BB size and smaller. If you have a problem with them sliding off, tie a knot at the bottom of the tag.

Response:

Ralph Cutter writes:  A wind knot is stronger than a blood knot. -Ralph

–Maybe your blood knots are weaker then a wind knot Ralph, but I wouldn’t want to admit it, if I were you. Have you ever tried wetting the blood knots before setting them?         Grant.

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Ralph Cutter writes:  A wind knot is stronger than a blood knot. -Ralph –Maybe your blood knots are weaker then a wind knot Ralph, but I wouldn’t want to admit it, if I were you. Have you ever tried wetting the blood knots before setting them?        Grant.

Hi Grant-    We have an extremely accurate (annually certified to 1/100 of a lb) strain gauge device built strictly for testing monofilament and knots. We’ve run at least 500 blood knots through the machine in the past six weeks alone. It doesn’t mind "admitting" anything.    "Wind knots" are actually pretty strong. . . consistantly stronger than double surgeon’s, blood knots, or any other popular tippet joining knot.    Yes, we’ve been known to wet the line before setting the knot. In fact, we soak all of our lines for at least 1 hour in 70f water before testing them.    If you would like a fact sheet on our knot and monofilament tests, e’ mail me your postal address and I’ll be happy to fire one off to you (open offer to anyone).    -Tight lines, Ralph —

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Ralph Cutter writes:  A wind knot is stronger than a blood knot. -Ralph –Maybe your blood knots are weaker then a wind knot Ralph, but I wouldn’t want to admit it, if I were you. Have you ever tried wetting the blood knots before setting them?    Grant.

Hello Grant, The overhand knot is about 10-percent stronger than a blood knot. This, of course, is from independent research with a knot testing machine.  I also have heard it more than once from some very fine fishermen.  I also found it hard to believe.  A little independant research goes a long way. Paul J.

Response:

Has anyone figured out an easy way to prevent a split shot from slipping down the tippet/leader to the fly?

I don’t have much trouble with them slipping as much as them sticking!  I think you just have to bite them on there tighter  My problems is that they really don’t come off and when they do, I’m afraid my tippet is damaged (which it probably is) so I end up replacing the whole section.  I never put shot on the leader.  I guess this is just one of those things that doesn’t have a decent answer. Big Hatches, Brad

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 It may seem like a silly question, but what the hey… Has anyone figured out an easy way to prevent a split shot from slipping down the tippet/leader to the fly? (Granted it probably is due to lousy casting technique…) Thanks in advance..

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Has anyone figured out an easy way to prevent a split shot from slipping down the tippet/leader to the fly?

If you put your split just above a blood or "wind" knot, this tends to hold them in place. Altough blood knots are more difficult to tie, are much stronger than those accidental wind knots which actually quite "sharp" for lack of a better term. Good Luck, Jojoe, New York City (Yeah, we FF here)

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Here’s what I do. Tie your fly well up the leader, leaving as much extra material as the water levels dictate. I usually leave anywhere from 6" to 10". Now you can do one of two things; 1.) You can tie a couple overhand knots one atop the other at the end of           the leader. Apply your shot and it will slide down to the knots and     give you great nearly snag proof drifts. 2.) You can tie a piece of tippett to the excess leader below the fly and     repeat the steps described above. Some anglers prefer this method     because it’s less destructive to the leader. Hope this helps, Tom.

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: Has anyone figured out an easy way to prevent a split shot from : slipping down the tippet/leader to the fly? : Tie a simple overhand knot around the split shot before crimping;  I haven’t had any failures on tippet larger than 5x. Bob Capistrant

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crimp the living crap out of it and don’t mess around with the little cutsie flyshop splits…get the removable ones from the drugs and guns store.

Response:

Instead of a blood knot or "wind" knot, use a surgeons knot for tippet to leader connection, and put your shot immediately above this knot. Mike Fair

Response:

Has anyone figured out an easy way to prevent a split shot from slipping down the tippet/leader to the fly? If you put your split just above a blood or "wind" knot, this tends to hold them in place. Altough blood knots are more difficult to tie, are much stronger than those accidental wind knots which actually quite "sharp" for lack of a better term.

   A wind knot is stronger than a blood knot. -Ralph —

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Question:

Hi Sandy, I have a bunch of EVA ZOTE closed cell foam I bought from a dealer at the Fly Tackle Dealer Show a couple of years ago. I don’t avertize it in my catalog but I’ve got it if you need some. Give me a holler at 585-0745. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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I have found some good foam for bugs by searching the boxes we regularly receive here at work.  Alot of the computer companies use good quality closed cell foam for shipping.  Soft and floats well. I’ve accumulated more than I’ll use in a very long time. It’s kind of like finding road kill foam. Seek and ye shall find. You can also find adhesivfoam in Hardware Stores (used to stop drafts)-

Fishfinder

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I want some advice on different glues to use on foam body bugs.  I have tried head cement and it seems to work somewhat, but doesn’t bond the hook to the foam.

The strongest glue for anything will always be epoxy. Model airplane shops sell *thin* 5 minute epoxy that works well for fly tying. 20-minute epoxy will be more flexible and stronger yet, however. Super glue is handy, also sold at model airplane shops, along with ‘instant’ hardening catalyst. I make a lot of foam flies. I use cheap, open-cell polyurethane foam for soft-bodied nymphs and streamers, and EVA (ethyl-vinyl-acetate) closed-cell foam for grass hopper bodies, etc. Big, soft foam streamers are interesting because fish don’t spit them out. They bite down and say ‘yes, this is what I thought.’ Where do you get closed-cell EVA foam? I dunno, for sure. John Betts used to sell under an ‘Evazote’ trade name, but he never had colors. I get it from a wholesaler. But most folks can’t do that. I don’t use foam strips, I cut out a hopper body, wrap it lightly with thread to segment it, and then tie it on *loosely* with thread, and then use super glue. One last note: Not all closed-cell foam is worth anything. Some is so dense it hardly floats. You need to find *lightweight* foam to make unsinkable dry flies. Most fly shops sell strands of ’round-in-cross-section’ closed-cell foam (made by ??) that looks really handy. But the damn stuff is so heavy it’s more like rubber, and hardly floats.

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