floss.jpeg Hi Ronr The top spool is Pearsalls, the others are Belding Corticelli. None of them are all that easy to separate without getting a bunch of fuzz. I would also be inclined to find some #50 or #60 thread. Just curious though, are you sure the commercial fly is silk? the body of the fly do...

Hi Barry - I don't pretend to be an expert on fishing skaters, but I was taught a long time ago by a guy that was pretty good with them. They don't work all the time, but when they do, it's fun fishing. My friend maintained that the best time to try them was on a Spring day that looked perfect for d...

Here's an earlier Heddon with a full Nickel Silver seat: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Heddon-14-Split-Bamboo-9-3-Piece-With-Spare-Tip-Fly-Rod-In-Tube/273620019246?hash=item3fb506282e:g:c7UAAOSwSn1cEuqf:rk:5:pf:0 Here's the identical seat taken off a busted up Abbie and Imbrie marked trade rod ma...

No need to pine away: https://www.pageneralstore.com/product/Leidys-Scrapple/BreakfastInPa?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI94H_37-23wIVlgOGCh1jVgvTEAQYAyABEgIA1fD_BwE Don't overlook the Lebanon Bologna if you like smoked meats. It is a very long, ...

Hi Tim - I started years ago with a Thompson model A. It served me well for many years, but I did have a couple of the pivot pins snap, apparently from metal fatigue. After the second failure, I replaced the pin with a piece of hardened drill rod cut from from the shank of worn out drill. It was hel...

John - I am waiting with worms on my tongue (baited breath) for that film to come out. I have seen a bit more than what is in the trailer, and it's really well done. It is not about the rod making process, but as you noted, is about some of well known people who make the cane rods and their connecti...

The film really shows the production method of producing a cane rod. Nothing wrong with it, but DD is right that the way they prepare the strips would not work for someone hand planing to finish sizes. What we need is not necessarily dead straight strips. we need straight grained strips, and the bes...

My preference for swinging flies is generally bamboo in the 8 foot range, 3, 4, and 5 weight, depending on the fly size. In general, I like the way bamboo, being a softer material, protects light tippets, particularly when the fish strikes. The 8 foot length keeps the weight within reason, but still...

Good video Bill. It well illustrates how the rod tip is used to essentially draw an ellipse in the sky with the line. Less apparent is the change of direction. The cast is started with the line "on the dangle" on the caster's right side. The ellipse is drawn with the rod pointing downstrea...

I agree with what was just said about the lines. As far as the cast, however, it seems to me there is a lot of extra motion and line splashing involved. Why not just use a snake roll? The fly will be back in the water with a lot less fuss. The only advantage I see to this cast is that you should be ...