Roadkill wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 8:52 pm The good old days!

The enjoyment / cost ratio was significantly higher back then too!

Dale

That is a cool fly box. Keep a band aid or two for the common puncture occurrence. I first used an Altoid box when I first started out. I was so proud to have purchased my first dozen flies about 30 years ago. Then as I got more advanced, I used an old Macanudo Ascot tin. This easily held several do...

I like it too! I have a English Hen skin from Steve. Nice stems, decent amount of small feathers.

I should ask Steve, but does anyone see, practically, any big difference between cocks and hens in size and structure? I know there's a difference in coloration...

Dale

I still need to learn the meaning of sparse.

Dale

Your bottle brush looks really cool! I think it would require a size 0 bead head streamer (or a lead anchor) to sink it!

Dale

Mine often look like they belong in Fred Flintstone's yard.

Dale

Norm, your tie is beautiful. But you pointed to a source that looks pretty cool too! One that I haven't seen before. Thank you.

http://softhacklepatternbook.blogspot.com

It's not being updated any longer, but it still has some really nice patterns, and it's another handy resource!

Dale

Just an FYI. I got this email from YLI this morning: "A lot has changed at Y.L.I. Threads, and we’d love for you to see what’s new! Jim Miller, who bought the company about 30 years ago and moved it from Utah to South Carolina, decided it was time to retire. I had the honor of buying Y.L.I. in ...

That's really cool, Bob! But don't stop at #60. There's two more after that.

Dale

I learned to fish when I was about 8. My uncle taught me to use spin gear, with worms usually, but also Daredevils and Mepps spinners, to catch stocked rainbows in the Sierras (especially Yosemite, when they still stocked fish in the Merced). Life happened and I didn't fish until after my first daug...