You need Ginger Rogers to make Fred Astaire stand up
I use old Wheatley compartment boxes with the glass lids; also the much less expensive, but perfectly adequate Okuma which has foam on one side and lots of covered compartment on the other.

I acquired a new (old) rod about a month ago that has become my new favorite. It is a pre-1922 Leonard 9'6" 3/1. It casts a 4wt like a dream. When you start the forward cast you really only need to push with the thumb and tighten your grip -- no arm movement necessary. The snakes are diminutive...

Hans, Nice knot! Johnp, I also lost the sensitivity in my fingers; however, the greater problem is tying on the first fly of the day. My hands shake so much in eagerness to be fishing, or anticipation, or buck fever, that I can't thread the tippet through the eye of the hook. :) I've had this proble...

The Davy knot is much the same as the Cleave, or Figure Eight, knot. In fact, many fishermen do a rotation of the fly before the final insertion of the tag end. This is a more secure knot, but it is now the Cleave Knot.



Regards,
Reed

I use the Turle knot, at the top of column three for most up-eye and down-eye flies. It is fast, easy, and doesn't allow the fly to pivot out of line. I also use the Figure-Eight Knot (it also has an older name, which I can't recall) for straight-eye hooks and large flies. All the tying of this know...

Concerning Catskill dries, if you went to Mary Dette and asked for a dozen Royal Wulffs, she might show you the door. Or, she might say, "I'll tie some Quacks." Here is the history, as I compiled it many years ago: The Curious History of the Quack Coachman A Compilation of Writings "H...

I want to go fishing, too. We've had some much-needed rain and the rivers are coming to a nice level. I think I will tie some Partridge and Orange as well as some Mock Snipe and Purple this weekend (I have no snipe, despite endless hunting). Yes, that sounds very, very good. Have a good weekend, Reed

Summary of previous post: I don't blame anyone who finds the technical details of my previous post burdensome and boring. Not all scientists can do standup, and those two aren't among the few. However, in summary, what the scientists - specifically trout vision specialists - are telling us is that r...

Otter, I assume by now you have at least searched for a means to read my book. Don't tell me how, I don't wish to appear complicit; I'll watch the newspaper headlines for mysterious nocturnal events. :D Had you done so, you would have noted the following cites: [44]“Interestingly, ambient light at d...

Jim, A huge project indeed. Apparently, no-one had taken UV photos of mayflies and caddis before the folks at UNH kindly let me into their collection of ents. Birds have received lots of UV attention because of the UV honesty markings. Butterflies and moths are UV poster children. Even Tenerif lizar...