Windknots & Tangled Lines

A little disclaimer, fly tying and a new book

2012-02-12T16:54:00.001-07:00

I've been busy today. From tying flies to doing research, my day has been filled. I'll get to the flies and the book in a moment. First, I thought it necessary to clarify an important point.

This blog is called Windknots & Tangled Lines. It was named by me as kind of a tongue in cheek poke at myself and some of my fishing experiences...after all, everyone knows that wind knots and tangled lines are funny, exasperating mishaps that occasionally happen to fly fishers. But, in the interest of truth, justice and the American way, I have decided to post a disclaimer on the blog so no one feels misled *.

* Notice: 51.3% of the words and photos posted on Windknots & Tangled Lines are made up, stolen or otherwise unscrupulously obtained by me for the purpose of amusement. They in no way are meant to deceive, make you feel less of a person or provide you with any factual information in-which to base a fishing trip on.

Now let's down to business. I was at Rocky Mt. Anglers yesterday and watched Justin (Fishtales and Fishtails) tying with bunny strips. The creations I saw coming off his vise were amazing! Unfortunately, I went to the shop to pick up some tying supplies and didn't have my camera with me. I've never tied more than an occasional streamer because I've never fished with them before. Call it fishing jitters about trying new things. I went home and found that I had some white bunny strips, plenty of dumbbell eyes and lots of ~~unused~~ untried tying materials that have been lying around for years. What the heck, how hard can it be?

As much fun as I had experimenting, it was a lot harder than I imagined. Who knows, these early experiments may actually catch fish, but they'll never win an academy award. From left to right, they are #1 Max, named after a friend who supplies me with breakfast burritos every day, #2, the Easter Bunny and #3, Here Fishy.

I am working on a new fly tying book called Tying Flies for Fun Because...They Don't Catch Fish! These three flies along with several other famous creations will be featured in the book, including

Mickey Mysis and Cofisher's Cheezedoodle.

Well, that's it for today...have a great week!

I had an epiphany or Carpe Dormi

2012-02-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

It's strange how things happen. One day you're sane, the next you're a raving lunatic. One day you abhor fishing in temperatures under 70 degrees and the next you are wallowing in knee deep snow. It happens, I know; both happened to me in the space of 8 hours.

While walking through my local Walmart a few days ago I noticed they had those chemical hand warmers on sale...something like 3 for $5. An unwinter outdoors person like me usually walks past items like this, no matter how inexpensive they are. After all, about the best I can do is use them to warm my hands after Bubby rolls around outside in the snow then wants to come inside and play. But something kept drawing me back until at last I picked up a 3-pack and made my purchase.

I was embarrassed to bring them in the house for fear of ridicule from my family. They know I don't do winter outdoors. I went to bed that night trying to make sense out of the purchase. Sometime around 3 AM I came to the conclusion that my evil mind had hatched a plan without willful cooperation from the rest of me. In the morning, I went through my cedar chest (where I salt away pieces of clothing no longer needed) looking for long johns last worn over 10 years ago and my newfangled black (whatever the brand name is) undergarments that I optimistically purchased some years ago for fishing in ice cold water in the summer or fall.

As if controlled by a master puppeteer, I dressed in layers grabbed my gear, including the hand warmers and headed out. Stopping at the local coffee shop, I had a flash of lucidity. Where was I going? My mind told me to get back in the car and start driving...so I did.

Pointing west, I passed through Boulder and kept going. Images of free flowing water entered my mind and reminded me of somewhere I had fished many, many years ago BWA. (Before Winter Aversion) When I arrived at my destination, I found snow knee deep but the air was uncommonly comfortable. Scoping out the water, I wasn't optimistic.

Gearing up, I breathed in the crisp mountain air and felt good...alive. Not a soul stirred as I slowly made my way to the water. There were midges in the air and my heart pumped as I saw small but noticeable rises. I tied on a size 24 Zebra Midge and carefully cast to a waiting trout. He casually finned toward the fly and I saw his mouth open.

The picture to the left is what the trout would have looked like had I not woken up.

More good stuff from Rocky Mt. Anglers

2012-02-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

There's some good stuff coming down the road from our friends at Rocky Mt. Anglers.

If you've never been to Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, this has got to be put on your must do list. Sylvan Dale never disappoints.

If you're into fly tying, pick up some great tips, meet some of your favorite fly tying personalities and meet some local fly fishers at the RMA tying demonstrations. It's a great way to spend a Saturday. Notice that March 17 is Green Beer with AK Best.

Back by popular demand, Rocky Mountain Anglers is hosting a Spring fly fishing trip to Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch. Join us as we fish these awesome private waters exclusively for the entire day!

Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains just west of Loveland, Sylvan Dale Ranch offers anglers of all skill levels a wide variety of fishing waters. The ranch includes gorgeous sections of the lower Big Thompson River that flow through the heart of the ranch where Rainbows and Browns can reach up to 25 inches. With rising water temperatures in the spring-fed Trophy Trout Lakes, trip participants will have a fantastic opportunity to land large Steelhead and beautiful Rainbows. Novice anglers being introduced to the sport can try their hand at fishing the Big Valley Bass Lakes with spinning gear where Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass weigh up to 7 lbs. Our group trip is limited to 15 fly fishermen, so reserve your place today in this exciting fly fishing adventure!

Trip dates: Saturday, April 21, 2012

Price: $100 per person (Carpooling is available)

To reserve your spot on this amazing trip call us at (303) 447-2400

Fly Tying DemosBenefitfrom the personal attention of one of our fly tying instructors as you quicklypick up the basics of fly tying, discover new techniques, or resolvechallenging issues at the vise. Working side-by-side with our professionalstaff will give you the opportunity to learn from an experienced mentor as youwork at your own pace to achieve your goals. All the necessary materials andtools are provided for each one-on-one session, but we encourage you to bringyour own tools and vise so you can become familiar and comfortable with yourown equipment. To schedule your private fly tying lesson, contact RockyMountain Anglers today and let us handle all your fly tying needs!

2012Schedule

· February 18 Carl Pennington

· February 25 Tom Ziegler

· March 3 Rick Takahashi

· March 10 Rob Kolanda

· March 17 Green Beer with AK Best

· March 24 Mark McMillan

Free to the Public

Wright & Mcgill Wiltless Wing Flies

2012-02-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

One area of Wright & Mcgill fishing tackle that I haven't touched on is their Wiltless Wing Flies. The story behind the flies is interesting and of special interest to fly fishers and fly tiers alike.

Drew Mcgill, co-founder of Wright & Mcgill was fishing Clear Creek in the Georgetown area of Colorado one day in the 1920s. Like many of us, he suffered a fat skunk that aggravated him. When he decided to head for home, he reeled in and looked at his hand-tied fly. It was misshapen and beat up. With a resolve to solve the problem of poorly tied and easily sunk flies, he headed back to Denver. Mcgill, working for Whitney Sporting Goods at the time, created a process to waterproof his flies. Enlisting the fly tiers from Whitney, he trained and paid them in his newly discovered process. So successful was his side business that he sold his flies to Gart Brothers and Dave Cook Sporting Good, the two biggest sporting goods stores in Denver.

When Whitney heard about Mcgill's profitable side business, they promptly fired him. Mcgill, convinced that he had a winning proposition, approached his cousin, Stanley Wright, also a fly fisherman. Wright recognized that his cousin had a product worth financing. The rest as they say, is history.

From that auspicious beginning, the Wright & Mcgill Company became one of the largest and longest lasting sporting goods company in the United States if not the world. Following the Wiltless Fly came Eagle Claw hooks (another interesting story) rods, reels and every type of fishing tackle imaginable. Made for the every day fisherman, Wright & Mcgill and Eagle Claw are two of the most recognizable names in fishing.

Being stupid in congress is a time-honored tradition

2012-02-06T21:58:00.002-07:00

Strange and Funny . . .

53 Crazy Laws

**Many of these laws were established during the end of the 1800s and early 1900s, when the United States was rapidly changing from an agricultural to industrial nation. Some of the laws went out of date or were repealed. Many are still on the books but not enforced. Lord help us, stupidity had been rampant since the 1800s.

It is illegal for chickens to cross the road in Quitman, Georgia

In Quitman, Georgia, chickens may not cross the road. c
Before 1920, it was illegal for women in the United States to vote. When women’s rights advocate Susan B. Anthony tried to vote in the 1872 election, she was arrested and fined $100. c
It’s illegal to ride an ugly horse in Wilbur, Washington.^c
In Mohave County, Arizona, if anyone is caught stealing soap, he must wash himself with it until the soap is gone.^c
First cousins may marry in Utah, but only after they’re 65 years old.^a
In North Dakota, no one can be arrested on the Fourth of July, a holiday that is commonly known there as “Five Finger Discount Day.”a
In Tennessee, it is illegal for children to play games on Sunday without a license.^b
It is illegal in Tennessee for an atheist to hold office.^b
In Indiana, it is illegal for a man to be sexually aroused in public.^a
It is illegal in California to lick toads. Apparently, some people were licking toads to get high. Unfortunately, some people were being harmed by the toads’ poison.^d
It is against Michigan state law to tie a crocodile to a fire hydrant.^a
An old Colorado law states that a person mush have a doctor’s prescription before taking a bath.^c
Colorado law states that a man cannot marry his wife’s grandmother.^b
In Kansas, when two trains meet at a crossing, “both shall come to full stop and neither shall start up again until the other has gone.”^c
A woman in a housecoat is forbidden to drive a car in California.^b
According to Minneapolis law, a person who double parks a car will be put on a chain gang with only bread and water to eat.^b

In Michigan, husbands legally own their wives’ hair

In Michigan, a woman’s hair belongs to her husband.^b
In Morrisville, Pennsylvania, it is illegal for a woman to wear cosmetics without a permit.^b
A man is forbidden to kiss a woman while she’s asleep in Logan County, Colorado.^d
In Challis, Idaho, it is illegal to walk down the street with another man’s wife.^b
Flirting in Little Rock, Arkansas, can land someone in jail for 30 days.^c
In Truro, Mississippi, a man must prove himself worthy before getting married by hunting and killing either six blackbirds or three crows.^b
There are still laws in Pueblo, Colorado, stating that it is illegal to grow dandelions.^b
A woman in Memphis, Tennessee, is not allowed to drive a car unless a man is in front of the car waving a red flag to warn people and other cars.^b
It is illegal for children under the age of 12 to talk on the telephone unless accompanied by a parent in Blue Earth, Minnesota.^b
In Kalispell, Montana, children must have a doctor’s note if they want to buy a lollipop.^b
A representative from Oklahoma, Linda Larsen attempted to lower the divorce rate by proposing a law that would require the following before a marriage license would be issued: neither party should snore, at least one meal a week should be prepared by the non-primary cook, toothpaste should be squeezed from the bottom of the tube, pantyhose shouldn’t be left hanging in the shower, and the toilet seat should always be down when not being used.^b

Men with mustaches are forbidden to kiss women in Eureka, Nevada

In Eureka, Nevada, it is illegal for men who have mustaches to kiss women.^b
It is illegal in Waco, Texas, to throw a banana peel onto the street because a horse could slip.^d
In Texas, the Encyclopedia Britannica was banned because it contained a formula for making beer.^b
Pickles were outlawed in Los Angeles because the smell might offend people.^b
It’s illegal in St. Louis, Missouri, for a fireman to rescue a woman wearing a nightgown. If she wants to be rescued, she must be fully clothed.^b
Hartford, Connecticut, banned men from kissing their wives on Sundays.^d
Buying ice cream on Sundays was illegal in Ohio because it was thought to be frivolous and “luxurious.” Consequently, ice cream vendors would put fruit on top of the ice cream to make it more nutritious, creating the ice cream sundae.^b
A woman wearing shorts, a halter top, or a bathing suit to a political rally in Wheatfield, Indiana, could be charged with a misdemeanor.^d
In Lander, Wyoming, it is illegal for adults to take a bath more than once a month once the cold weather arrives. Children cannot take a bath at all during the winter.^b
According to Florida law, anyone who takes a bath must wear clothes.^b
Motorists in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, cannot park a car for more than two hours unless it is hitched to a horse.^b
Women in Whitesville, Delaware, could be charged with disorderly conduct if they propose marriage to a man.^b
In Kentucky, it is against the law to remarry the same man four times.^a
There is a law in South Carolina that allows a husband to beat his wife on the courthouse steps on a Sunday.^b
In Arizona, oral sex is considered sodomy.^b
In Arizona, a man may legally beat his wife once a month, but no more.^b

A girl may not ask a boy for a date over the phone in Dyersburg, Tennessee

In Dyersburg, Tennessee, it is against the law for a girl to telephone a boy to ask for a date.^b
In Kentucky, a woman is forbidden to wear a bathing suit on a highway unless she is armed with a club or is escorted by at least two officers. The amendment says that the provisions of this statue “shall not apply to a female weighing less than 90 pounds or exceeding 200 pounds.”^b
According to an Atlanta, Georgia, ordinance, “smelly people” are not allowed to ride public streetcars.^a
Massachusetts passed a law in 1648 that allowed a parent to put to death a stubborn or rebellious son. The law has been repealed by the legislature.^b
In Massachusetts, a person could be fined up to $200 for denying the existence of God.^d
In 1659, Massachusetts outlawed Christmas. According to state law, anybody observing Christmas would be fined five shillings.^b
In California, ostrich steaks are exempt from state sales tax.^b
In Lexington, Kentucky, it is against the law to carry an ice cream cone in a pocket.^c
Policemen are allowed to bite a dog if they think it will calm the dog down in Paulding, Ohio.^c
In Zeigler, Illinois, only the first four firemen to arrive at a fire will be paid.^c

References

^a Koon, Jeff and Andy Powell. 2002. You May Not Tie an Alligator to a Fire Hydrant: 101 Real Dumb Laws. New York, NY: The Free Press.

^b Lindsell-Roberts, Sheryl. 2004. Whacky Laws, Weird Decisions, and Strange Statutes. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company.

^c Linz, Kathi. 2002. Chickens May Not Cross The Road and Other Crazy (But True) Laws.New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

^d Smith, Rich. 2006. You Can Get Arrested for That: 2 Guys, 25 Dumb Laws, 1 Absurd American Crime Spree. New York, NY: Random House, Inc.

Man vs Mother Nature...who'll win?

2012-02-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

I've always considered the Arkansas River between Salida and Canon City to be my home waters. Even though I live about 3 1/2 hours away, it has so many memories for me. My first major river excursion (rafting and fishing), my first fishing float trip, fishing with my best buddy Dave and my wife Pam and the fiberglass flyrodders Clave that I organized there several years ago.

For all my memorable trips, there are scant few photographs to mark many of those occasions. That's okay with me because the beauty that abounds in the Arkansas River Valley is captured by better photographers than I.

If justice prevails, I'll be back visiting my old haunts next summer. If the privileged few get their way...well, my last trip may have been my last trip. So far, the power and the dollars have have sided with Christo, the pseudo-artist who thinks he can improve on Mother Nature by draping metallic green fabric over a large stretch of river I call home. Over the River is the harmless name of his fiasco. But in the making of this "art", Christo and his band of paid marauders will tear up the landscape, drive steel bolts into the ground, run cable to suspend the fabric. All the while, I would guess, hoping that a good gust of wind doesn't destroy it in a matter of minutes as has happened to other Christo projects.

Some people feel that the "work of art" will draw tourists to the area and be a boom to businesses hard hit by the recession. This is probably true...you know you can't drive by an accident without gawking at the blood and gore. Maybe we'll see a beautiful buck running hard right into the suspension cables.

If you have the opportunity to support ROAR (Rags Over the River) in their legal action against Christo and the Bureau of Land Management, please do.

The Things we do...

2012-02-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

I received an announcement that I was a finalist in a drawing the other day via email, the 21st century pony express. (sometimes the mail gets there, sometimes the rider gets shot off his ~~horse~~ computer. Anyway, this one came from a fishy sounding lodged called 3Fish. Apparently sometime in my contest addled mind I must have entered a drawing for a free, all expense paid trip for two to the beautiful, luxurious 3Fish Lodge.

Some fellow named Hardy Glockenspiel (or something like that) was hollering at me that I was a finalist for the grand prize. (note to self: go buy some lottery tickets today!) All I have to do is follow a few ~~stupid~~ simple steps and I would be jetting my way to 3Fish!

So, here I am, snowed in, in Colorado...32 degrees and 2 1/2 feet of snow on the ground...my bags are packed and I'm warming up the car. I'm heading somewhere warm with softly swaying palm trees, half naked women frolicking on the beach and a non-stop supply of strange colored alcoholic beverages.

But hang on a second. Before I board the plane, I need to read the simple steps to assure any naked frolicking and voluminous alcohol actually occurs. I read on:

1. Like us on Facebook. check, no problem there.
2. Follow us on Twitter. Okay check, I signed up on Twitter and may the bird of paradise fly up your nose.
3. Get 25 friends to follow us each in Facebook and Twitter. Okay, who owes me a favor?
4. Make a $25 cash donation to your favorite charity in our name. No problemo, as I slip the cash into my pocket.
5. Write a 5000 word essay on why you deserve to win the trip to ~~what's the name of this damn place?~~ 3Fish. I'm starting to get a little squeamish.
6. Take out an ad in your local newspaper declaring "I'm in the running for a trip to 3Fish!" WTF?
7. Call 5 totally unknown people on the telephone (numbers supplied by us in your area code.) announce that you are in the running for the trip to 3Fish and let us know how many congratulate you. (will be verified.)
8. Send us $5000 (USD) cash deposit to hold your luxurious ~~half-naked women~~ accommodations.

As I turned off the car and unpacked my bags, the sun peaked out from the clouds, the snow stopped falling and I thought, Spring isn't that far off after all.

Owl Jones rides again...and again...

2012-02-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

Owl, just do it! Bring back what we love.

10 ways to fight cabin fever

The dating video

Friday Fishsticks!

Let Owl know that when it comes to funny...nobody does it better.

An interview with Punxsutawney Phil

2012-02-02T09:56:00.002-07:00

By now you've probably all heard the news, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, forecasting 6 more weeks of Winter. This is exceptionally bad news for those of us who are fair weather fishermen.

Legend has it that the prognosticating rodent has, since 1886 seen his shadow 100 times compared to just 16 times that he didn't. Interesting stuff.

In preparation for this annual event, I thought I would contact one of my good friends in Pennsylvania to help set up an interview with the weatherman/movie star himself. I couldn't get a hold of a friend. so I contacted Troutrageous! himself to act as an intermediary.

WK: Good morning Phil.

PP: Good morning to you.

WK: Punxsutawney Phil of course has been legendary since 1886. How did you get in the weather forecasting business?

PP: It was really just an accident. I had a little too much to drink one freezing Pennsylvania night. When I woke up the next morning, I had a layer of ice on my coat. I stood up and yelled, " Six more weeks of this Sh!t? The locals thought I was some kind of soothsayer or something. I guess they'd never heard a talking groundhog.

WK: Interesting. Actually I don't know any talking groundhogs either.

PP: Oh Yeah. Ask anyone in PA, they all talk to groundhogs. (makes a drinking motion)

WK: So, how is it you can predict the weather?

PP: Well I don't really predict the weather as much as just whether Winter is going to be around awhile or not. I'll let you in on a little secret...those goofy guys in the top hats get together before hand and they actually decide and then let me know. Weather prediction has come a long ways in 100 years, what with Doppler radar and that cute weather chick on channel 12.

WK: Wow! that's a scoop. But listen, Bill Murray made a funny movie about you. Aren't you a little afraid that announcing to the world that you get your information from the TV weathergal will ruin your image?

PP: You know the movie was fun and Bill's a heck of a nice guy (making a drinking motion again). But let's get real, stories like that are a little like believing in Santa Claus. Eventually you've got to wake up and smell the Yuengling. (look it up)

WK: So what now Phil?

PP: My guys are coming to pick me up and take me home and I've got the rest of the year off. My manager is working on another movie deal and my biography called Don't stick your head out, someone's waiting to blow it off.

WK: Well Phil, thanks for your time and good luck with that.

PP: Sure no problem, have your guys get with my guys and we'll go have some drinks.

Another Rocky Mt. Anglers Event

2012-02-01T23:10:00.001-07:00

Fly Tying demo with Chris Schrantz: For over 22 years, Chris has been dedicating his time and energy to fly fishing and tying. Currently, Mr. Schrantz is a signature fly tyer for Umpqua Feather Merchants and has become an international fly fishing guide who is known for tying some of the most beautiful and realistic flies. Chris will demonstrate flies that will help us fish lakes and ponds effectively while the Spring runoff makes streams race like a herd of broncos. So take a break from shoveling snow and join us this Saturday, February 4th 2012 from 11am to 1pm to learn the intricacies of still water fly fishing and take advantage of special discounts on tying materials.

I guess you could say that I've gotten bitten by the bug (bad pun, but intended). I spent several hours tonight tying beetles and water boatmen. The only place I've seen boatmen is on the Eagle River, so I guess I'm going to the Eagle for the first time in several years.

The weather prognosticators are predicting (possibly) a pretty good storm on Thursday, but hopefully it will blow through by Saturday because I'm planning on being there to watch Chris tie. Well, it's past my bedtime and I'd don't have much else to say right now anyway.

Denver Trout Unlimited's "Spill or Kill" cards

2012-01-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

Denver Trout Unlimited's "Spill or Kill" cards hook into pollution reporting

By The Denver Post

At the suggestion of Trevor Tanner, the angler who first reported the black goo oozing from under the Suncor refinery into Sand Creek and the South Platte River in November, Denver Trout Unlimited has produced plastic wallet-size "Spill or Kill" reporting cards.

The card was developed with the help of Environmental Protection Agency emergency-response manager Curtis Kimbel — the first on the scene to verify the spill. Trout Unlimited handed out 150 cards Tuesday night and plans to distribute the cards to metro-Denver fly shops and other chapters. "This card has everything I needed," Tanner said in a news release. "One number, 800-424-8802, right on the front, a list of what to look for on the back and if I have a Twitter connection, the hashtag #SPspill, that will get the attention of other TU members @denvertu. "The Denver Post

PETA stands in the way of a good meal

2012-01-30T22:28:00.001-07:00

I was reading something tonight (believe me I won't do that again!) when I read an obscure little something having to do with PETA. You know the folks who love to hate meat unless it's still attached to a living animal. Anyway, I was pretty relaxed until I saw those four letters I love to hate unless they are hanging to dry from a tree.

As you've probably guessed, I'm not a big fan of PETA. I believe in treating animals with all the decency and respect they deserve, especially since they feed me, clothe me and entertain me. Oops, I probably shouldn't have said that so loud. I've had a slew of pets over the many years of my life. I tried training a stalk of celery to sit up once, but that didn't work out well. Not wanting to be labeled a failure, I ate the evidence with a little ranch dressing. Plastic shoes make me feel yucky and stink. So I guess I'm sticking with what I know best...meat and leather.

The interesting thing about PETA is they decry our ethics and principles, when I have to say, they're a little lacking in this arena also. I mean, have you seen some of their ads? Exploitative to the max. So here's a question for you; how does PETA talk beautiful, talented people into supporting a cause that makes them look, well...psycho? They must think that if they fill us with SEX, that we'll forget to eat. Well forget that!

I love animals and continue to respect them, wear them as shoes and eat them for dinner. Has nobody ever taught these misguided folks about the food chain? I've got nothing against vegetables...I voted for one for president last time around. but, I've got no plans on making that a habit.

Anyway, take a gander at some of the fine public relations work compliments of PETA. Clif eat your spinach!

The rocky roads of an old relationship

2012-01-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

As you may be able to tell from several of my recent previous posts, I've re-fallen in love with fly tying again. That's not to say we don't have lover's quarrels once in awhile...show me a relationship that doesn't periodically have it's rocky roads. (Umm, Rocky Road!)

Last night and this afternoon I felt like tying. I'm enamored with Juan Ramirez' Hopper Juan (so easy even a drop out from fly tying class could do it.) and an adult damsel of my own making. They're both fun for me to tie. Hopper patterns are so numerous you can't swing a dead cat without hitting one, but Juan's stands out for me. At the Fly Fishing Show, Juan was selling hopper kits for $5. The kits included 6 six 8 hooks, 2 sets of tan and brown foam bodies, 6 underwings, leg material for 6 flies and a hank of hi-vis material.

Rather than steal Juan's thunder and posting the recipe, go to his site, Hopper Juan, and check it out for yourself. Juan has the process on video which makes it so easy to follow. Oh and another nice thing is rather than rubber legs, you can use hopper legs if you want, change colors to match local hoppers or dip them in chocolate and have a snack...they look that good! (Juan's, not necessarily mine.)

The other bug I was tying was a damsel. My motivation for tying adult damsel's, which I've been told is not as productive as a damsel nymph, is learning (from Bugs of the Underworld) that you can tie a damsel that will sink and then rise to lay in the meniscus where fish expect to see them. I've got the perfect lake to try them out on.

This isn't what I played around with today though. Today I experimented with an adult damsel that will lay on the water in a dead drift just to see if any fish will eat it. Come on Spring!

Another fine day at RMA

2012-01-28T14:11:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning and stumbled around for a bit before I realized it was Saturday...back to bed. I woke up remembering that it was Saturday and I had to get up and make my weekly pilgrimage to Rocky Mountain Anglers to watch Mike Kruise from Laughing Grizzly Fly Shop (Longmont, Co.) demo some fly tying.

A good crowd was there to watch Mike tie some really nice flies...albeit small, for Rocky Mt. National Park. I've mentioned this a time or two. but for me, if I can't see the hook, I don't tie them let alone try to thread a tippet through one. Mike graciously admitted to having the same problem and suggested pre-threading them onto tippet material before finding yourself standing in the midst of a great hatch

Mike also tied a really nice (what do I know) carp
fly called the Carp Slider Too.

All in all, it was a fun, instructional two hours. I'm picking up some neat little tricks, learning about new products on the market to make tying a little easier and all the new tying materials that have come out since I started tying.

I would highly recommend if you're in Northern Colorado (it's a long drive from Scranton) a trip to both Rocky Mt. Anglers and the Laughing Grizzly to browse around, meet Jay and Randy at RMA and Larry and his staff at Laughing Grizzly.

By the way, for those of you not connected to Jay Zimmerman, check out this link to a new post at coloradoflyfishingreports, Jay's blog.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT TENKARA!

2012-01-27T15:45:00.001-07:00

Well, I guess it really is. But, for all I care, Daniel Galhardo from TenkaraUSA and Lefty Kreh, he of purist fly fishing fame, can go into a back alley somewhere and duke it out. I would remind Mr. Galhardo that most states have laws against abuse of the elderly. How about a fly rod versus Tenkara duel at 10 paces?

Another Rocky Mountain Anglers event

2012-01-26T21:03:00.001-07:00

I ask all the folks that read Windknots & Tangled Lines to forgive me. There are some pressing family matters going on in my (so-called) life right now that are pressing and need my attention. I'm not going on hiatus, I'm not retiring, I'm not going fishing and the good Lord willing, I will be back to posting tomorrow. In the meantime, I did want to let folks close to Boulder know that:

Another Rocky Mountain Anglers Even is right around the corner.

Rocky Mountain Anglers would like to invite you to attend a fly tying presentation, Saturday January 28th from 11am to 1pm, featuring Mike Kruise, owner of the Laughing Grizzly Fly Shop in Longmont. Mr. Kruise will share his vast knowledge of Colorado fly fishing and demonstrate how to tie some of the most effective flies for your next trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. Don't miss your chance to meet a local fly fishing guru and resupply your tying materials at discounted prices during our special event.

Mike Kruise: Growing up in Colorado, Mr. Kruise spent much of his youth fishing local waters like the St. Vrain, Big Thompson, and lakes and streams of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Mike's extensive knowledge of Colorado waters coupled with his enthusiasm for fly fishing and tying has made him a respected and valuable member of the fly fishing community.

If you're in the neighborhood, come on up and keep me company, throw hand fulls of midges at Jay and Randy and just have a great time!

And hey! If you want to read about a really good guy, check out The Fiberglass Manifesto's piece about my friend and Martin reel collector Kevin McGuire.

BOO!

2012-01-24T20:05:00.001-07:00

Let me start off saying (and those of you who are in the know will find no problem with this) that what I don't know about bamboo would fill the Rose Bowl. But I do have some experience, it's just that none of it is useful.

So why then would I waste my time and yours discussing something I have very little knowledge of or experience with? Perhaps I've been motivated to increase my knowledge of bamboo. Or, more succinctly Erin Block of Mysteries Internal has driven me to the edge of the cliff and I'm obligingly jumping over.

Two short asides; Erin is in the process of building her first bamboo fly rod and is detailing the project beautifully on her slice of internet heaven. The second and Erin forgive me...I'm green with envy.

That being said, I'm not a complete neophyte. My first bamboo rod was a post World War II Japanese "gem" I found lying in a corner of the basement of my first house in the mid 1970s. It laid there for several years before I realized what it was and opened the recognizable wood box. It was missing a guide, but I didn't care. It was bamboo! A friend located a matching guide and thread, attached the guide and I was good to go. Problem is, I didn't go. My friend gave me casting lessons and that's as far as I ran with it.

Fast forward to the mid 2000s. I started reading Classic Fly Rod Forum and got bit again...hard. I loved fiberglass because it had soul, but bamboo had soul and was from a living thing. I had to have one. I couldn't afford a "great" bamboo rod, so I searched eBay hoping to stumble into a seller that didn't know what he had. What I stumbled onto was a builder who took the mid section and tip from a 3-piece rod of unknown origin, threw away the butt section, refinished the rod, added a beautiful reel seat and hardware, wrapped it to my specifications and I had a "new" 6' 5wt bamboo rod with my name on it (with two tips). I think I paid $125 for the rod, sock and new tube. Real bamboo experts scoff, but I love this rod and wouldn't trade it for anything. I fish it and I fish it hard.

But I still wanted my dream rod so I kept my eyes open and searched second hand stores and pawn shops. One day I found it, a Wright & Mcgill Granger Special 9050. The tips were delaminated and one was
3 inches short. They wanted $275 for the rod. I convinced the seller that I was a collector and that the rod was next to worthless as it was. I picked it up for $75. I found a builder in New Jersey who promised he could not only bring the rod back to life, but refinish as good as new. I sent the rod to Jamie and got photos regularly as he progressed with the rod. Finally it was finished and sent back to me. I wasn't disappointed...it was gorgeous.

The rod smelled new, it had a new Granger uplocking reel seat to replace the old dinged up original. Fresh wraps and two complete matching tips! It was a work of art. So nice in fact that besides the fact that it was 9', all I could do was look at it...admire it's beauty. I sold it because it deserved to be fished. Do I regret selling it? I do, but it's in a good home doing what it was made for.

So, this is my motivation to bring a little more soul and spirit to my fishing.

A day with Al Ritt and friends

2012-01-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

If you had to spend a day indoors, especially on a semi-wonderful day like yesterday in Boulder, you couldn't do better than spend it where I did. If you remember a couple of days ago I mentioned upcoming fly tying demonstrations at Rocky Mountain Anglers. Today, the guest tyer was Al Ritt, fly tying instructor, guide and fly designer.

Before I talk about Al's flies, I thought I would introduce you to a few other Colorado fly fishing celebrities I ran across while at the shop.

The three guys pictured above may not look familiar but I'll bet you've heard of them.

From left to right, Jay Zimmerman, AK Best and Justin from Fishtales and Fishtails.

Now you may not recognize this guy but I'll bet more than a few of you read his blog, Mark

from Casa de Rhythm.

One of my personal heroes for his work with Project Healing Waters, Fly Fishing Crazy, Larry Snyder

I am sworn to secrecy, because what happens at Rocky Mountain Anglers, stays a Rocky Mt. Anglers. But trust me, we all had a great time before the fly tying even got started.

When the foolishness up front stopped, it was time for more foolishness starring Al. Al ties some really nice flies and the part I liked best is some of the flies he tied were variations of ones I was familiar with. Al has a great personality for instructing and guiding and suspect that spending a day on the water with him would leave you weak from laughing.

Humpulator
Harey Dun

Simple Stone
Midge Adult

Articulated Sculpin

I thoroughly enjoyed my day, learned a few tying tricks from Al and visited with some friends. What more could anyone ask for except burgers and beer and a nice day to fish?

Winner! Winner! Winner! Winner! Winner! Winner!

2012-01-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Windknots Fishing Timeline contest ended at 5 PM, January 20th and we have a runaway winner. I would like to thank everyone who participated. I enjoyed learning a little more about each of you. As you can see from the official web poll, Emily, the River Damsel has walked off with 1st place. Emily, I have your address, so let me know whether you want your gift certificate from Bass Pro or Cabelas, I'll get it in the mail to you. Congratulations!

SBecker, if you will email me your address I will send along a little consolation prize for 2nd place. I think you'll like it.

Fishing Timeline Contest

Pick your favorite story


Andrew Nevin
	8%

Bugflinger and Featherlasher
	24%

Frugalfisherman
	2%

Brookfield Angler
	8%

The River Damsel
	33%

Fly Fishing and Tying Obsessed
	10%

Owl Jones
	12%

Mystic Fish
	2%

Casa de Rhythm
	2%

vote count: 51 reliable web polls

Post up your fishing partners

2012-01-20T12:16:00.001-07:00

Although I am generally a solitary fisherman (less witnesses the better!) There are times when fishing with a partner can really be a lot of fun. I've mentioned several times during the past few years the folks I enjoy getting out with. It's a short list, but as shack nasties rears it's ugly head, looking at photos and remembering past trips helps in a small way.

My buddy Tim (The King of Boulder). I love fishing with Tim. We laugh a lot, argue a lot, eat a lot and don't catch many fish together. We don't see eye to eye on anything but he's a good friend and he's had many excellent adventures in his life that I enjoy hearing about. We fish Clear Creek, Boulder Creek and the ponds around Boulder.

Next, my buddy Mark. Mark is fairly new to fly fishing, but he's been to more great waters (think Montana) than I'll probably ever get to. Mark is funny, serious and easy to talk to. It doesn't hurt that he's also a great cook.

Mark and I have fished Clear Creek, Boulder Creek, the Blue and the Arkansas.

I met Justin (above left) at Rocky Mountain Anglers this year. I'm old enough to be his father, but he's got unbelievable skills as a fly fisherman and fly tyer and knows more about catching fish than I'll ever be able to soak in. Justin is one of those year 'round guys and no doubt will be a top notch guide some day. (We'll see what happens when this 14 year old discovers girls!)

The photo to the right is yours truly, Mrs. cofisher (definitely the better looking of the group) and my friend David. David, Pam and I mostly fished the Arkansas River around Salida, Colorado. David and I also used to fish the Eagle River until someone polished up the cobble in the river and it became a little to treacherous for old guys to wade. David moved back to Virginia a year ago and I miss his friendship and compassion for people. He was also a therapist...nothing more needs to be said there.

I don't know who this old Vietnamese guy is, I call him Won Ton. He just looks like he'd be someone that would be fun to fish with. Won Ton has the look of wisdom of the ages and I'll bet he's got some great fishing skills as well.

Attention Northern Colorado fly tyers.

2012-01-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

I always get excited whenever I can go watch well-known fly tyers do their thing. As you may remember, I've reported seeing AK Best, John Gierach, Juan Ramirez and the world famous Jay Zimmerman (a legend in everybody's mind!) do their tying magic.

Here is the upcoming schedule for Rocky Mountain Anglers, my home fly shop. So all you local fly tyers, get on your bicycles and pedal down to see some great demonstrations. I'll be there ~~pimping~~ repping some of your favorite people.

Rocky Mountain Anglers would like to give special thanks to Jason Goodale for providing an exciting and informative demonstration last Saturday. Continuing our winter event calendar, we are thrilled to present another fly tying event, this Saturday January 21st between 11am and 1pm, featuring Al Ritt Pro Staff member of Peak Fly Fishing in Loveland, manufacturer of Peak Vises. So Join us and watch Al demonstrate his variations on trout patterns firsthand as you take advantage of special discounts on tying materials!

Al Ritt: In the fateful year of 1983, Al took his first formal tying class and immediately fell in love with fly tying and fishing. Since then, Mr. Ritt has designed and tied flies intended to attract many different species of fish including trout, pike, catfish, carp, salmon, bonefish, and permit. As a professional fly designer for the Montana Fly Company and member of the Whiting Farms Pro Team, Mr. Ritt has become a sought-after and influential fly tyer and designer.

Event Calendar

January 21st 2012 - Al Ritt ties some of his favorite trout food.

January 28th 2012 - Bugs for Rocky Mtn. Nat. Park by Mike Kruise.

February 4th 2012 - Still water flies with Chris Schrantz.

February 18th 2012 - Signature patterns by Carl Pennington.

February 25th 2012 - Deer hair trout flies by Tom Ziegler

Sightseer or fisherman...no one loses in Colorado

2012-01-17T19:24:00.001-07:00

"Fly fishing has as much to do with ragged purple mountaintops, water cascading over rounded boulders in steep-walled canyons of pink granite and sunlight streaming through Douglas firs as it does with fish. In pursuit of trout, anglers find themselves in some of the world's loveliest places and perhaps, either knowingly or subconsciously, derive as much satisfaction from simply entering the trout's environment as they do from catching their quarry. Angling carries no guarantee of success and more often than not a cast to a stream or lake results in failure. Yet anglers continue to head for the water because the places trout live are as important to them as are the speckled fish."

I wish I could take credit for that statement, but I can't. It is the introduction to the book Fly Fishing Southern Colorado by Craig Martin, Tom Knopick and John Flick (Pruett Publishing, Boulder, Co.) Whether you believe it or not, that statement precisely defines how many feel about fly fishing in the Rockies or other places of great beauty.

They say a picture (even someone else's) is worth a thousand words.

(pictures 3 and 11 by author. Remaining were found on the internet)

Watching the river roll...

2012-01-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'm lucky living where I do. I can drive North, South or West and be in the water fishing within the hour. Large water takes a bit longer and those trips are saved for long weekends or vacations. Those waters close to home are those where waders are not necessary and small colorful trout rule.

Some of these small waters are pretty well known; Clear Creek (in the canyon) and Boulder Creek to name two. There is another creek I don't talk about because, although not unknown, it is protected like a cub by its mother. Talking about this creek in a public forum is frowned upon by concerned fly anglers and rightly so. But, I've been thinking about it lately.

My first experience fishing this small stream was several years ago when my wife had a training in a nearby town. Since she had a cabin paid for by her employer, I took a few days off to ~~mooch~~ tag along. A relative who works in this town keyed me in on likely places to fish and a nice guy from town gave me the go to fly, a Buckskin Nymph. (A must-have fly for me on small Colorado streams.)

This was the inaugural outing for my 7' homemade bamboo 4wt and it was matched with a vintage Orvis Featherweight reel. I was psyched. As you can see, waders are best left at home. My fashionable attire consisted of shorts and wading sandals.

Two days were spent walking up and down the creek, standing away from the water to observe and then duck-walking close enough to get a cast to the eagerly waiting trout without spooking them. Evenings were spent grilling in front of the cabin and "watching the river roll."

I think I'm heading back up there soon.

The morning after...

2012-01-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to the realization that the world hadn't suddenly ended at 9 PM last night. Not to say I didn't care that the Bronco got drubbed by the Patriots, but I do try to keep football in perspective...to say, life in general.

For future reference, I will point out to the powers that be, that I prefer my eggs scrambled, thank you very much.

I'm not much a rah rah kind of guy, but I would like to point out that my good friend Cameron Mortenson over at The Fiberglass Manifesto posted a terrific TFM Spotting photo taken by fly tier extraordinaire, Juan Ramirez from The Hopper Juan. Check out both of these stellar sites. And, I'm tying hoppers today.

Those of you who haven't voted yet, you've got 5 days to pick your favorite Fishing Timeline entry. I can honestly say that I love them all and would have a hard time picking the best. Let's reward these writers for their efforts...Vote! Anyone reading this post is eligible, so all you folks out there flying through the internet, let us hear from you.

In this day and age, it's become out of the ordinary for people to agree on much of anything. One thing that bloggers from all over agree on is that my buddy Erin Block of Mysteries Internal is an entertaining, gifted writer. If you've read Erin's work, it's a challenge to find new adjectives to describe her ability to evoke emotion from her readers. Good work Erin!

And, as usual, I would like to thank all of our Windknots readers, commentors, lurkers and fellow bloggers for your support.

Feel free to join right in...

2012-01-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

One of the many tidbits of wisdom I was taught as a youngster (and I suspect most of us have heard this one) was never to get into discussions regarding religion or politics, particularly with family and friends. Many of us, I suspect, have learned first-hand the prudence of this advice. I would like to add one more topic that is sure to raise the ire of folks...SPORTS.

Of course it's just a game isn't it? What harm can come from a game? Here's the answer to that question; Civic pride. Unless you were shanghaied from Oakland to Oshkosh, you are probably a Raiders fan. Part of our personal identities are often tied up in where we live or call home.

It's a little easier for someone like me. I've only lived in two states that have football teams, Chicago and Denver. I'm a die-hard Cutlerless Bears fan and an unapologetic Tebowing Broncos fan. That's not to say that I don't have other preferences on certain game days. New England has been easy to root for over the years, except when they play the Broncos.

This evening, the Broncos play the Patriots. Tomorrow I'll either be deliriously happy or sorely disappointed. For those of you who don't have hometown football teams or your team didn't make the playoffs, feel free to Tebow and join right in.

I wish that I had known him...

2012-01-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

While browsing through the Fiberglass Flyrodders Forum a few days ago, I ran across the following post. The author of this wonderful piece is unknown, but there is a lesson here for everyone of us.

I received a phone call from a relative of an old man that had recently passed away and wondered if I could come over and give him some idea of the worth of some fly fishing items. I'm not an expert on such things but I told him that I would be willing to take a look and give him some idea about the value of the various items. I made arrangements to meet with him and he gave me directions to the residence where the old man had resided before his death.
A couple days later I drove to the old man's residence. The house was on a tree-lined street in a modest neighborhood consisting of older homes. The lawn was neatly manicured, and flower beds lined the sidewalk and driveway leading up to the house. I was greeted at the door by relative that had called me; a nephew and he was the old man's only living relative. He led me through the house to a large room at the rear of the house. There were large windows looking out over a well landscaped backyard. On one wall was a large floor to ceiling book case filled with books, on another wall was a fly tying bench and cabinets that I presumed held fly tying material, and then there was a glass fronted case that contained several rod tubes. The nephew informed me that there was more equipment; waders, vests and miscellaneous items in a small room adjacent to the one in which we were standing. I explained that it would take me several days to go through this collection before I could give him a reasonable idea the value of these items. He nodded and left me to my task.
The collection of books contained some rare volumes; first editions and signed copies, many of which contained personal notes to the old angler. The collection was quite extensive containing volumes that covered all aspects of fly fishing from fresh to salt water, panfish to salmon.
Like the library the fly tying equipment and material was extensive. One cabinet contained several drawers lined with aromatic cedar that was used for the storage of hackles, furs and hairs. All the material was enclosed in plastic bags closed at the top with twist ties to keep out moths and other feather eating vermin. There were boxes and boxes of hooks, tinsels, wires, and all manner of items related to fly tying. Clearly it was a collection that spanned a lifetime.
Finally there was he rod collection. All the rods were bamboo from famous rod makers; Payne, Leonard, Garrison and Orvis. That is all of them but one; a rod that I found in a small cabinet with some other personal items. The rod was in a dented metal case and a rough cloth sack. Inside the rod case was a hand written letter that explained the importance of this particular rod.

"This old fly rod isn't worth much in monetary value. I got it from my dad back before the big war. It had belonged to my dad and he gave it to me before he shipped out for Germany. I never saw my dad again. He died on Omaha Beach during the D-day invasion.
I cherish this rod more than all of the other rods that I own, not because of its monetary value, because it has none, but because this rod embodies everything that means anything in this world.
You can see where the one tip was broken and repaired. I broke this tip on the first really big fish that I ever caught – a 5 pound brown trout that lived in a small tree-lined stream. The tip broke when I put the pressure on him to keep him from running back under the bank. I had to grab the line and land him after the tip broke. I was just 15 years old and it was the biggest fish that I had ever seen and I never imagined that I would ever catch anything that big. Although I have caught larger trout and salmon the memory of that brown trout is the one that is still most vivid in my mind.
The cork grip is stained with the slime of many fish that I caught during those early years. I would strap the rod case to the handle bars of my bike, sling my wicker creel over my shoulder and head out to the nearest body of water. With this old rod I investigated every piece of water within bike riding distance during those days. This rod and I did battle with feisty pumpkin seeds and bass in our local ponds, we poked our way back into small brooks overgrown with brush and I learned to snake a cast though the openings in the trees and place a fly on a piece of water the size of a tea cup. Together we explored a world that now only exists in memories that only I can remember.
Over the years there have been many other rods and many more fish, but this old rod is the most treasured of them all. It was a magic wand that started me on a journey into a world that I could not even imagine. When I hold it in my hands, as I am doing as I write this, I am transported to a place and time that none of my far more expensive rods can invoke. That's why this old rod is more valuable than all the other rods that I have owned. In the end, it's not the cost of the things we own but the memories that we have made with them.

When I finished the inventory of all the items in the collection I gave my estimate to the old man's nephew. I took the old rod out of the rod case and showed it to him. I handed him the note and sat as I watched him read it.
"Your uncle had some very valuable rods, but this is the most valuable one of all. It has no monetary value and certainly no collector would want to add it to his collection. It was an inexpensive rod when it was new but your uncle valued it more than all the other rods in his collection. He understood the true value of this old rod, and I suspect that he understood the real meaning of life. I'm sorry that I never knew him."
Several days later the postman delivered package – a long cylindrical package that contained a dented rod case. Inside were the old bamboo rod and the handwritten letter. A note was taped to the outside of the case.
"I think my uncle would have wanted you to have this rod. Thank you for showing me the side of a man that I never really knew. Like you, I wish that I had known him."

Pick the Winner...

2012-01-11T18:21:00.001-07:00

Okay folks. The contest deadline has come and gone and what we have left are nine stories to read. I've posted the links to all the stories on the top right tab. Please take the time to read them...they're all pretty darn good. Rather than me picking the top 5, I've decided to let the readers pick the winner. The poll will be up until 5 PM on 1/20/2012. Thanks to all the participants and thanks to those of you who read and vote.

Would you keep that once in a lifetime fish?

2012-01-10T18:49:00.002-07:00

Here is your scenario. You're out fishing your favorite river when you feel a tug. This one feels different than many previous tugs over the years. You're a good sportsman and believe in catch and release, having practiced it for most of your life. You are a highly recognized fly shop owner, a world class fly fisherman, fly caster and fly tier. You're President of the Rocky Mountain Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) and a member of the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. After a dramatic fight (caught on video) you bring to hand the largest trout you have ever caught; 10 pounds and 32 inches long. Do you release the fish or keep it to mount as a memento of the occasion and certainly a once in a lifetime experience for most of us.

This was the situation faced by Bob Jacklin, owner of Jacklin's Fly Shop in West Yellowstone, Montana in 2007 while fishing the Madison River. I refuse to judge Mr. Jacklin due to his sterling history within the fly fishing world. The question is, what would you do?

Loose ends and post season victories...

2012-01-09T09:31:00.001-07:00

I couldn't help but notice a lack of coverage of yesterdays GAME between the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm sure it was an oversight on the part of my friends in the Steel City. For those of you who didn't catch the game, I'm posting the final 11 seconds...that's all that really matters anyway.

Let the Pittsburgher's whinning begin...

The next order of business is the Windknots Fly Fishing Timeline contest. You've got until January 11th to get your entries in for a chance at the $50 gift certificate. Post your comment here and don't forget a link from your blog post. Those of you who want to start reading the great entries, check them out here.

I'll be back with another post soon. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy this video another dozen or so times and BRING ON THE PATRIOTS!!

Denver Fly Fishing Show edition

2012-01-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

If you've been to one Fly Fishing Show, you've seen them all. That being said, who's to say that you can't enjoy yourself even if you've gone every year for more years than you care to count? I can honestly say that I never get tired of the Denver Fly Fishing Show. Seeing old friends, making new friends and looking at all the latest and greatest fly fishing gear available is a great way to spend a cold, snowy day. I have to be honest right up front, I'm not going to review new products or critique anything much. This is who and what I saw that I enjoyed.

This year I met up with Justin from Fish Tales and Fish Tails and we made the rounds together. My plan is that if I hang out with Justin enough some of his incredible fly fishing skills will rub off on me. Don't bet on it...I'm not!

Well, if you've been to a Fly Fishing Show, many of the usual suspects were there. That's not a bad thing because what would fly tying be like without Dave Whitlock and AK Best?

When it comes to fly fishing, there aren't many people I enjoy talking to more than John Gierach. John is one of my heroes not only for his fishing skills, but certainly for his writing skills. Don't let the word get out, but he is also one of the nicest "personalities" you'll ever run across.

John G. talking Simms...good enough for me!

Another photo op for Justin

Okay, I finally sneaked in myself

Okay, so you probably won't know the next "personality", but it's my buddy and sometime fishing partner Dennis, AKA Wacokid. It was great to see him because every story needs a storyteller and Dennis is the best.

There were a lot more fly tiers this year than I've seen in years past. They were all pretty amazing, but I wanted to mention two in particular. The first gentlemen is the best showman since PT Barnum. I don't know much about Don Ordes, but he not only ties flies, but puts on an entertaining show. Here are a few of his ties.

I want to close out the report with a special thank you to fellow blogger and fly tier extraordinaire, Juan "Hopper Juan" Ramirez. Juan was friendly, helpful and even withstood my trying to knock his tying table over. Juan is the first tier to actually make me feel like I can tie hoppers...he's made it easy with his Hopper Juan material kit.

Well, that's it for this year. I had a great time, we're one day closer to spring and Go Broncos!

Can we agree to disagree?

2012-01-06T11:47:00.000-07:00

All fishermen have opinions. Of course that's just my opinion...you may or may not agree. One thing that fishermen, wherever they may gather, have in common is our ability to agree to disagree. One thing we agree to disagree about is the type of materials we like our fly rods to be made from. Are you following me?

I'm taking the along way around to make a point that I think you'll agree with, but then again maybe not. Oh hell, let's just ask...what type of fly rods do you fish with and are you just a fisherman or are you a collector as well. I know that most of you reading this will have an opinion because that's what fishermen do. They examine and re-examine, weigh their prejudices, chuck a few rocks at the opposition and then state in no uncertain terms their point of view.

But I'm seriously curious as to whether you just fish or you collect as well. I'm also curious as to what type of rod you fish and whether you've got a burning desire to try bamboo or fiberglass. Or whether you maybe fish bamboo and want to try something else.

I actually started fly fishing with graphite, went to bamboo and then to fiberglass. Now I fish a combination of bamboo and glass. So, if I haven't totally confused you, what's your poison?

Snazzy Albright graphite rod

Classic looking bamboo'

My favorite, a TL Johnson fiberglass

Christmas isn't over til the fat Santa sings...

2012-01-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

One of the things I like the most...and dislike the most about this time of the year came home to roost. No, I don't raise chickens. You see, I have a confession to make. I don't like the "holidays." At least not these holidays. I really enjoy Thanksgiving because it reminds me of my childhood, with family dinners (mom was a terrific cook) that seemed to say, all is well in the world. I like Independence Day because it reminds me of how wonderful it is to live in a free society and of course family picnics and fireworks.

Christmas always seemed to be too pressure producing to really be much fun. We've lost the meaning of Christmas anyway. No Homer, it's not a celebration of Santa's birthday! New Years seems to be a time to look forward optimistically, but it's also a time for some people (me included) to look back at and grade our failures as well as successes. Depressing if you've had a lot of failures.

But something occurred today that has me thinking. It's wasn't a huge epiphany that changed me from Scrooge to Tom Terrific. Instead it was a USPS Priority envelope I received in the mail today at work. I wasn't expecting anything and there was no return address. I had a pile of mail, so it sat while I took care of other more important matters. When I reached the envelope, I picked it up and slowly pulled the tab to open it. What I saw inside left me speechless. I looked for a note or some way to identify the sender. Nothing.

Some unknown caring soul did what 62 years of living had failed to do...make me believe in Santa Claus. To my mystery benefactor, I would like to say that you've restored my faith in people and put a large smile on my face today. The photo to the left is a mouse pad someone had made for me. Me! Someone went through the trouble of copying my really poor artwork and found someone to make me a personalized mouse pad. Thank you!

Are you sure it's a new year? It feels like the old one...

2012-01-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. It's only a few days past the new year (not capitalized) and i'm ready to throw in the towel. It started Monday, my first day back to work in a week. Jumped into the car...battery dead. I work Monday in a small shared office in Broomfield, but I had left my laptop in my office in Thornton. I drive to Thornton, load up my laptop and other things I will need and drive back to Broomfield. Get to Broomfield and the office is closed until Tuesday. Drive back to Thornton.

I fought a nasty cold for the week I was off. I sit down at my desk and start sneezing and sneezing and sneezing. I feel like crap. I go to bed early Monday night hoping the extra sleep will revive me for work. Two o' clock in the morning i'm woken up by banging noises and the smell of bacon frying. Must mean either a hungry burglar or the other two (reputed) adults that are currently back home are in fact home. I was hoping for the burglar.

I finally get back to sleep around 3:00. When it's time to get up and ready for work, I remember that I have to drive to Boulder for a monthly meeting I dislike more as each week passes. On the way to work I stop at Mickey's Place for my usual order of a diet Dr. Pepper, a sausage egg biscuit and potato cake. When I open the bag I've got 2 sausage egg McMuffins. Too late, I'm already on the highway. And so on and so on.

I still feel like crap. The good news is when I got home I found a package from Mike over at Dub the Thorax. Flies! I won Mike's flies a few weeks ago but Mike and his wife had to go have a new baby, so the flies were a little late getting here. No problem Mike! I love the flies and they made my week. Congrats to you guys on a new fine looking fishing partner.

In an act of desperation, trying to make it a few more days to the Fly Fishing Show I decided I need to see some fish porn. I threw a load of photos to my wife and said pick one out. Here you go...it's a rainbow!

Oh and while I'm thinking about it, I need more to read. Get your entries into the Windknots fishing timeline contest!

U.S. park ranger killed

2012-01-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

As much as it pains me to write about something as horrific as this, it must be done. Not only because it is outdoor related, but because the piece of me that still identifies with law enforcement won't let it go.

Everyone who partakes of the great outdoors needs a gentle reminder once in awhile about the brave men and women who make it possible for us to enjoy our activities safely.

This isn't going to be a political rant, a gun rights piece or a diatribe against a former soldier with PTSD. I won't go there.

What we have is a 34 year old Ranger, wife and mother of two little girls who simply loved the outdoors and found a way to manage all of the above. New Years day she went to work, today she is gone. It doesn't matter why, she is gone. Left are her children, husband, co-workers and the many people she undoubtedly helped during a four year career. To her family, extended family and friends I send my deepest condolences. To Margaret Anderson I say, God Bless and rest in peace.

Earlier today it was reported that the suspect was found dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound.

U.S. park ranger killed, police search for man with rifle | CTV News

Anticipation...

2012-01-01T08:58:00.001-07:00

It seems to me that it's time to get back to fishing. For those of you who having been fishing all along...carry on. For the rest of us, it's time for the anticipation to begin. The Fly Fishing Show will be here soon as it makes it's yearly trek across the country. Hopefully your favorite fly shop is holding fly tying classes so you can brush up on your skills or develop new ones. Perhaps a fly tying celebrity is coming to that shop as well. Anticipation.

In the meantime here is a dandy video for the biggest anticipation of all...dry fly season. Enjoy!

Dry fly heaven

Oh and don't forget to get your contest entry in...

Windknots 2011 and thoughts for 2012

2011-12-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Well, 2011 is almost over. It's been a heck of a year hasn't it? A few ups and a few downs but I'm not complaining. There definitely wasn't enough fishing time, but what I had was good because I was with my #1 fishing partner and several great friends. (Thanks Tim, Mark and Justin) David I missed our annual trips to the Arkansas. We had the Rocky Mountain Frenzy here and I missed it! The good part? I got to meet some of the finest folks you'd ever want to meet when I got out of the hospital; Emily Blankenship (River Damsel), Erin Block (Mysteries Internal), Kyle Perkins (Compleat Thought) and of course Jay Zimmerman (The Colorado Fly Fishing Report) and Crazy Larry Snyder (Flyfishingcrazy.com). Because of last winter's snows, we had a long extended runoff which made early to mid season fishing a tad difficult but it did eventually get pretty good...or so I heard. I'm not complaining because I still live in a beautiful state and you all know I lie about not caring if I catch fish with good scenery to look at.

I'm certainly looking forward to a better 2012. The Fly Fishing Show will be here in a little over a week to help me make it through another Winter. There is a good chance we will have another Rocky Mt. Frenzy this year. I've decided that I will focus a little more on getting out to fish and a little less on hospital visits. Mark and I have talked about trying some new locations with new attitude this year as well. With a little luck, Pam and I will get up to Idaho to fish with our friend Scott and hopefully Mel as well.

I've put together a little movie about a the few highlights of my year and I would like to thank all the readers of Windknots & Tangled Lines for following along and your funny, thoughtful comments. To you, I wish a healthy and prosperous 2012.

Contest update

2011-12-28T16:58:00.002-07:00

Okay, I'm ready for the avalanche. One important update. Those entries that don't have a blog, please send entries to me at windknots1949@gmail.com. I will post those under the tab called Contest Entries. Those of you who have blogs, the rules are the same, post them under the original post.

Windknots fishing timeline contest!

2011-12-26T18:08:00.002-07:00

I haven't talked a lot about this, but I thought in the spirit of the holidays that I would share. There was a time when fly fishing was about as far from my mind as spiking what's left of my hair today.

My fishing experience started when I was 12 or so. It entailed chucking cheese to trout on the Big Thompson River outside of Estes Park. To properly set the stage, I must tell you that this was in the early 1960s, using fiberglass spinning rods, Velveeta cheese and just a bit of chokecherries.

I spent many enjoyable summer days fishing from the deck overlooking the Big T, carefully rolling cheese balls, slipping them onto an Eagle Claw hook and flinging the lot into the river. I don't remember the fish caught, but there were a few. What I remember most is when the fishing slowed down or got boring, climbing off the deck in search of chokecherries for homemade jelly!

When I was in my later teens, my friend Jim had his drivers license. Being worldly sportsmen, my fishing foray led us to Granby Reservoir outside of Grand Lake early one morning...on his motorcycle. I was still using a fiberglass spin rod, but it was my own first fishing purchase. After freezing for the first part of the morning and not catching a fish, I tossed the new rod and reel into the water and walked away from fishing for several years.

In the late 60s, girls took the place of fishing. I was only moderately successful. I was going to college at Western State College in Gunnison. Gunnison is home to some of Colorado's finest trout waters and beautiful scenery. After a particularly difficult breakup, I discovered fishing again. This time it was fiberglass spin and lures. My roommate and I fished Taylor River and reservoir often and I thought I had finally mastered this fishing business. Then I re-discovered girls again. Still only moderately successful.

The 1970s was a time of renaissance for me. Graphite spinning rods, bait and lures! I was married, had a steady job and while still enjoyable, fishing felt rushed and more an end than a means. I fished in exotic waters (Wyoming) and more local waters, Barker Reservoir, Gross Reservoir, Clear Creek Reservoir and many small nameless ponds. I had graduated to a float tube and was enjoying fishing again. Then I got divorced and I re-re-discovered girls. (Are you seeing a common thread here?)

The old saying, "with age comes wisdom" must be true. While running the dating gauntlet, I made sure that any prospects were experienced fisherman as well, or at least wanted to learn. Pam enjoyed fishing and was interested in learning to fly fish; I was interested in teaching. The rest as they say, is history.

I relate my fishing history for a reason. The next (and long overdue) contest is going to ask you to relate your fishing timeline.

So, here are the rules: Write a synopsis of your fishing timeline. If you are a blogger, post it up on your site and link to Windknots and leave a comment with a link to your site. As usual, you must follow Windknots to participate. (It's FREE!) If you don't have a blog and would like to participate, write it up, send it to windknots1949@gmail.com. I will post it for you and again, you must be a follower. The winning entry should relate unique, funny and engaging experiences.

I will pick my top 5 favorites and you will decide the winner via a posted poll. The contest will start tomorrow at 5pm Rockytime and end 5pm on Jan 11, 2012. Once the top 5 are posted, the poll will go up and stay until January 20, 2011 at 5pm.

The winner will get a $50 gift certificate to your choice of BassPro or Cabelas. So, get your motor running...

Happy New Year resolutions 2012!

2011-12-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Well, Christmas 2011 is here and will soon be gone. Another week and we'll be ringing in a new year...2012! Time flies when you're caught in a space-time continuum. If you are here reading this, congratulations on making it another year. If you're not here reading this...rest in peace, we'll miss you.

I've been reminded that it's time for me to ~~lie about my New Year's wish list~~ dream of upcoming better days and those things I can do to improve my life. I have a lot to be thankful for. (fingers crossed)

So, dutifully I put fingers to keyboard and try my best to optimistically write out my New Year's Resolutions. Bear with me, this may take awhile.

1. I resolve in 2012 to never complain about rain, snow, temperatures below 70 degrees, lack of fish, water too low, water too high or rude bastards on the water.

2. I resolve to not make snarky remarks about President Obama...I'll let my vote talk for me.

3. I resolve to wear pants under my waders next year.

4. I resolve to keep my mouth shut before my wife has to tell me.

5. I resolve to be more tolerant and understanding of others with differing views.

There you go and if you don't like my list...go suck eggs!

I wish everyone a prosperous and healthy new year and those of you in cold, snow covered states, remember your president is in Hawaii.

I thought a fitting ending to this post would be a video from another time with a real message of importance today. To our service men and women...the war is over, welcome home.

From my house to yours...Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

Despite what I think about the weather (12" to 18" of snow last night) and the lack of fishing for some of us, there is always an excitement in the air around Christmas time. I guess what they say is true, you can take the kid out of Christmas but you can't take Christmas out of the kid.

Although my family celebrates Hanukkah rather than Christmas, I can still remember as a child how excited I became when this time of year rolled around. To me, it didn't matter what you celebrated or why, it was all about the festive mood, of family, great food, tradition and yes...presents.

Whether you are celebrating Hanukkah; the Festival of Lights, Christmas; the birth of Christ or Kwanzaa; the African-American celebration of heritage and culture, my family and I would like to wish everyone of you the very merriest of holidays and a sincere wish for a happy and prosperous New Year.

More on...bears

2011-12-20T18:47:00.001-07:00

Writing about fishing is getting somewhat difficult since there is no fishing going on right at this particular moment in Colorado...at least for me. So, if you want pictures of people with frozen hands and iced up guides...this isn't the place today. If you are looking for fishing videos of people walking through the lukewarm weather of the Southern states. Not here, not today.

A friend sent me a video that was pretty amazing to watch. It's a humorous look (seriously) at bear tagging in Canada. Enjoy...

Things to do in Denver when it's too cold to fish

2011-12-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, The River Damsel did a guest post on Windknots & Tangled Lines. Let's be clear...I asked her to do it. And a good one it was. Thank you again Emily! Let's also be clear...she did not ask me to return the favor. Hmmm...

So, if you're reading this on Windknots it might be because The Damsel knows it's not a fair trade-off because I don't know all that much about Denver, cold weather fishing, warm weather fishing, fly tying, skiing or tiddlywinks.

If you're reading this at Damsel's place, it's there because she feels sorry for me because I don't know all that much about Denver, cold weather fishing, warm weather fishing, fly tying, skiing or tiddlywinks!

So, without further ado-do is my list of things to do in Denver when it's too cold to fish.

10. Go visit the Satan horse that greets travelers at Denver International Airport...
9. Find a Denver police officer and ask him if you can bum a smoke...
8. Go to the state capitol building and pick up real gold flakes chipping from the dome...
7. Go to the Denver Rescue Mission and see how many hands you can shake in a day...before you get mugged...
6. Take a drink out of the fountain in Civic Park...
5. After you do number 6, quickly make funeral arrangements...
4. Go visit ~~Mile High Stadium~~ ~~Invesco Field at Mile High~~ Sports Authority Field at Mile High...
3. Stand on a busy street corner and yell, "I love the Oakland Raiders."
2. After you do number 3, ask the arresting officer for a smoke...
1. Stop at a house of ill repute and see how many politicians you recognize...

Well, now that I've alienated every Denverite...my work is done.

Canoe for two...

2011-12-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

Do any of you have friends that mean the world to you, yet it's sometimes years between visits? I do and I'm sure more than a few of you do as well. A few days ago while standing in line at my pharmacy, I heard a strange barely audible voice say, "Howard." This isn't unusual as I often hear voices. I turned around and saw two of my oldest and dearest friends, Gary and Susie Powell.

I've known Gary and Susie and their two girls Renee and Krissy for around 36 years. They've been friends through thick and thin. They are my angels.

Gary and I have had some adventures over the years and running into them was what Santa ordered. I mention them today because besides the fact that Gary and Susie fly fish (believe it or not Gary and I have only fished together once or twice and not fly fishing), Gary builds canoes.

I remember watching Gary build his first canoe and how amazed I was with his skill with tools and his passion for everything outdoors. Those of you who are capable of turning out pieces of art like this know the painstaking work it is. I'm still amazed.

I'm hoping that after I have the chance to catch up with my old friends that I can persuade Gary to talk a little about canoes for those that are interested.

Ten reasons I love Clear Creek

2011-12-16T12:10:00.001-07:00

My new friend Bill Trussell at fishingthroughlife inspired me with his post of top 10 things about his special place to fish. I don't like to copy other bloggers ideas for a post, but this one made me feel like of all the things I am thankful for, I don't thank those special places enough.

I've talked many times about my love of small stream fishing but honestly, Clear Creek really isn't a small stream except in my mind. I guess if you compare it to some of the other waters I fish, it is...but it really isn't. Anyway, I present here my top 10 things I love about Clear Creek.

10. If the fishing isn't good, I can drive a few miles up stream and be at Black Hawk or Central City...two out of the three gambling meccas in Colorado.

9. After many tanker trucks rolling into the Creek over the years, she still seems to be producing fish.

8. It's the only water I have fished that produces a ladies undergarment hatch fairly regularly.

7. Proof positive that despite the fact that Clear Creek is used for making Coors beer, the choice of Clear Creek recreational users is Bud Lite judging by the cans lying in and around the water.

6. I've devoted hundreds of hours and dollars in decorating the trees that line Clear Creek.

5. It's the only water I know where you can be wading one minute and be hit by a drunk driver the next...without ever leaving the water.

4. There generally aren't a lot of people fishing, so less chance of embarrassing yourself and having your picture appear in the newspaper or on the 5PM news...unless you get run over while wading.

3. There is absolutely no chance of being mauled by a polar bear.

2. Striking gold is always a distinct possibility.

1. You never have to worry about catching a large fish.

Have a great weekend!

It's Tebow Time...

2011-12-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

I wasn't going to write this. But, like my pledge to quit watching the news because it was so depressing, I've gone back on my word. Forgive me, it needs to be said, if even only for my sanity.

A lot has been said pro and con regarding a young man named Tim Tebow. As everyone knows, Tebow is the quarterback for the Denver Broncos. The sin that Tebow has committed and the cause of the ruckus all over the country? He is deeply committed to his faith and is not bashful about telling everyone. And, surprise of all surprises he has lifted the Broncos from a mediocre football team to one that is in first place in the AFC West and in contention for a playoff spot...this from a team that started the season 1-4! Surely, this is a miracle divined by the "gods" because Tebow is a believer and follower of his God.

Every sports junkie and broadcaster is psychoanalyzing Tebow to determine why this seemingly good guy-a football player-has people so mesmerized and polarized.

For what it's worth, here is my take on Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow seems to be a nice guy, a likable guy that has the ability to inspire others to perform beyond their skill level. There have been other men in history who have inspired this much loyalty-some for good, some for evil.

This country of ours is going through a difficult time and has been polarized, right vs. left for some time. Bad news spews forth from newspapers, radio and TV daily and people are tired. We are tired of politicians who can't keep their pants zipped, can't keep their hands out of our pockets for their own gain. We are tired of people with whom we entrust our children, enticing them with drugs and then sexually assaulting them. We are tired of seeing homeless people cast aside like yesterday's garbage and we are tired of hard working people screwed out of their life savings and pensions.

What does this have to do with Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow is not a God, he is a breath of fresh air; of hope for the future, of good beating the crap out of evil. Tim Tebow and folks like him are our hope that we are leaving a better world for our children, free from wars, drugs, child molesters, tyrants and crooked politicians. Tim Tebow is a football player, but he is also a man who stands up to ridicule and for his principles. God Bless Tim Tebow, I hope the disbelievers are listening. ~cofisher

Tebowing...

2011-12-12T22:29:00.001-07:00

I know, I know, this is supposed to be a fly fishing blog. But how's that for an opener? If you don't know who Tim Tebow is, my guess would be you've been living under a rock buried under 2 feet of snow. Tebow is the amazing quarterback of MY Denver Broncos. This is the most excited I've been about football since John Elway was knee high to the Super Bowl trophy. Whether you love him or hate him, isn't it nice to hear about something good rather than crooked politicians, pedophile football coaches and deviant sheriffs? (check out former Sheriff Pat Sullivan of Arapahoe County, Co.)

Okay, next on my agenda is to once again thank The River Damsel for the great guest post. I enjoyed the post and the one day break it gave me. Come back any time Em, I'll leave a light on.

I also want to thank Fontinalis Rising for the Morell fly box. I already have one small one so this one will hold some streamers really nicely.

We talked a little while back about how much fun it is to get packages in the mail. Yesterday was one of those days. Besides the fly box from FR, I received an unexpected package also. If you look closely at the photo at left you'll see Fly Fishing Santa holding an autographed picture of my favorite OBN administrator, Rebecca Garlock, the Outdooress. Sorry Joe; you're my second favorite.

Also enclosed in the package was a book, The Grizzlies of Glacer that I will happily add to my bear book collection. Rebecca, thank you and FF Santa has assured me that he's seen your Christmas wish list and he's working on it. If you ever make it to Colorado to fish, dinner is on me.

Finally, I've mentioned Fiberglass Flyrodders forum a time or two. I wanted to mention that we have a new home that's pretty spiffy. You'll see a Fiberglass Flyrodders badge on the left side of my blog. If you're interested in fiberglass, this is the place. There is also a classic reel forum and just a lot of good folks talking fly fishing. Stop by and take a look...you might run across some guy named cofisher or even Cameron Mortenson of The Fiberglass Manifesto fame. Later...

Sunday Tippets (on Monday!) by The River Damsel!

2011-12-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

There's an old saying out West that if you have a good partner, who watches your back and pulls their weight, you've got a friend "to ride the river with." Emily Blankenship (or The River Damsel for those of you who don't yet know her) is such a person. Although we've only met once, we've had a lot of conversations on Skype, Facebook and through emails, not to mention our blogs. I love Emily for her heart and her sincerity (Ok and her fishing ability). She really truly cares about people, especially those that call themselves her friend. I am extremely pleased to have our Damsel here with her Sunday Tippets. My hope is your overwhelming response will hasten her return to her Adventures in Every Riffle.

Well, here we are!! I seem to have gotten lost...and Howard found me! And he asked me to write a little diddy over here during my "hiatus". (We will get back to The River Damsel soon...promise!) I would do just about anything for Cofisher...even give him my last ~~bun~~ hand warmer. Which leads me to my topic today... Are you ready for the winter??? Do you have the desire to get out there one last time to do a little fishing before the real cold sets in? Or maybe you are a hardcore fisher like myself that has a year round passion for our finned friends. No, Howard...I'm not settling for an aquarium to look at in the winter.

One of my first fly fishing lessons taught me a very important principle in dressing for cold weather fishing. You don't have to be COLD!!! It's all about layering up and having the right material against your skin. And if you keep your head and feet warm, the rest of your body should keep warm too. Didn't your mother ever tell you that?

Now, we don't have to be all decked out like an Eskimo...(Although I do like their traditional fur lined coats and boots!) Here are a few suggestions from my winter experiences and although they are tried and true for me, it might still not be your cup of cocoa. It's not for everyone. But, hey...you never know until you have tried. Right? And then if you don't like winter fishing...just cozy on up to the fireplace like Howard and tie flies or plan out your spring river trip.

Those are fun things to do too!

The Damsel's Winter Fishing Tippets:

1. Your Noggin ~ It needs to stay warm... I recommend the Under Armour Artic Fleece Beanie. Even in the bitter cold, it works overtime to regulate your core temperature—keeping you outside longer. I started using this beanie under my ski helmet and now it is my winter fishing buddy. I don't leave home without it. You can add another wool cap over it for extra warmth.

2. Your Body ~ Thermal underwear and base layers...There are many brands out there, but I prefer anti-wick and a material that releases moisture. There is also the option of Polertec fleece which keeps me the toastiest. You can wear the fleece against the skin or over the top of your base thermal like I do. And another option is over at T!'s place, where Mike did a review on Merino thermals. And the debate over whether T! is the model for this fine thermal wear is currently going on... And keep layering until you reach your sweatshirt or winter coat.

3. Your Hands ~ I thought that I had the corner on fleece...I wear it from head to foot. I originally wore fleece fingerless gloves which were warm, but after handling fish and such, I got wet and then got cold! I then moved on to wool fingerless mittens...kept me warm, but they were too bulky for me and flies would get stuck in them (others have better success, I'm sure) Finally, two weeks ago, I found my solution. Patagonia neoprene gloves!! I cut off the top of the first two fingers so that I don't have to remove them. And I must admit...at 18 degrees, my hands stayed warm. The best glove that I have
tried. And I can move in them and dry them off. And they don't slip on the rod handle!

4. Your Feet ~ This is the most important part, especially if you are in the water. If your feet are cold...well, you are miserable! My first fly fishing teacher taught me one thing that has stuck all this time. Fleece socks. I have a longer pair and a shorter bootie pair. Put these on first by themselves, or with a Merino wool or a thicker wool sock over them...and you are set for the day. My feet are NEVER cold. Nothing like happy feet...

So, there you have it...my few little tricks in staying warm on the water during the winter...there is a peace and serenity during this time of the year. Nothing like standing in the middle of the river with the slow, soft snowflakes coming down on your face. Or take a sunny day if you prefer! This is the time that the tungsten nymphs come out along with the midges. The BIG Browns start stacking in the pools and behind the rocks...These are some of my most favorite days of the year!! See you in the spring, Howard...

Old flies and old fly tying books

2011-12-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

My wife tells me I should open a fishing thrift store. If you walk into my cave the first thing you notice is a musty thrift store smell. It's not bad, but does make your nose wrinkle a bit. The next thing you notice is lots of stuff...old stuff. Old rods, old reels, magazines, books and the old guy behind the desk. It's no wonder it's my favorite room in the house!

I have so much old stuff that sometimes I forget what I've got. So today I was going through "stuff" and remembered that I had some old fly tying books and even an old fly tying kit. Well, one thing led to another and I ended up spending way too much time looking through those books.

I don't suppose it would surprise anyone if I said I really like those old fly tying books and some of the old classic flies from another era. (Yes, even before my time.) So for you young whippersnappers out there I thought I would show you a little of what fly tying used to be like.

I don't know if they are still in business, but the H.J. Noll Company used to make nice fly tying kits. You can still go on eBay and find them. I purchased one at a flea market a few years ago for $15, still sealed. The materials if somewhat outdated were still very usable. The book to the left is dated 1965 and has some old classic flies.

The next little book is full of hand-drawn tying illustrations. This a Noll fly tying book from the 1950s. The book is enjoyable if for nothing else than folks not only wrote, but talked differently in those days. The book is in black and white and very simple and unadorned.

The last book I'm going to highlight today was originally published in 1941. This edition is from 1971, but still has the charm of of the original. George L. Herter is a household name to older fly tiers and fisherman. Herter was one of the first, if not the first to sell outdoor goods via mail order catalog.

Fly Tying, Spinning and Tackle Making Manual and Manufacturing Guide is a comprehensive guide to all things fishing in small print and filled with black and white photos, drawings and color fly plates.

Although I don't use this guide to tie flies, preferring to use more modern tomes, I love just picking a chapter and looking at the pictures and reading the narrative. If you're into the old stuff and enjoy fly tying, this is a book to keep your eyes open for. Till next time...

The two-bit hooker that won't go away

2011-12-09T21:06:00.002-07:00

While surfing the net (do they still use that term?) looking for nothing in particular, I ran across this blog called Adventures with Fish. Nothing unusual there, I check out new fishing blogs all the time. But imagine my surprise when I saw the current post was titled,

"The Two Bit Hooker and other flies not for kids"!!

The author of Adventures with Fish is Mark La Roi and I'll let Mark introduce himself in his own words. "I’m a Christian, and there are a number of flies I won’t even name because their names are crude and simply a juvenile cry for attention. I know fishers who aren't Christians but still find difficulty in naming these flies much less touting their worth. You cannot find any logical reason to name a fly “Sex Dungeon” other than to get attention. It is my hope that Mr. Galloup, Fly Fisherman, and others of the same mindset will remember that there are people who appreciate their work, but won’t play that game."

Yes, Mr. La Roi is a Christian and I guess a fisherman. I'm not going to criticize him for his strong faith, in fact, I applaud him for it. But I will take exception to his opinions about the Two-bit Hooker as I did with Mr. Harper in his original comment to Fly Fisherman Magazine. Gentlemen, you missed the whole point. Charlie Craven and Kelly Galloup (creator of the Sex Dungeon fly) are honorable men and don't need me to defend them. But until you prove to me that either of these men are responsible for being role models for your children, (although both could) I call foul.

It is my belief that Mr. Harper exaggerated the facts from the beginning. Unless Mr. Harper sits and reads Fly Fisherman Magazine to his 10 year old daughter, I doubt that she would, on her own do anything more than sit and look at the pictures. Here's the rub...on the off chance that she either reads the magazine or her father reads it to her, he's got the obligation and responsibility to self-censor...not Charlie Craven or Kelly Galloup. I would like someone to please tell me what responsible parent would actually explain to a 10 year old child what a sex dungeon or a two-bit hooker is? Even if that child is smart enough to see the words and ask.

So Mr. Harper and Mr. La Roi, settle down, take a deep breath and use your heads. If you're so offended by it, quit talking about it because heathens like me are going to keep saying, don't push your moral values on the rest of us, man up and be responsible for your own children and for God's sake, go fishing!

In honor of Mr. Harper and Mr. La Roi I will be inventing a new fly called "Tend to your own damn business."

Bears, bears and more bears

2011-12-09T07:30:00.004-07:00

I've never encountered a grizzly bear. In fact other than a brown bear (or maybe it was a black bear) that I saw around the Salida area a few years ago, the only other live bear I've ever seen was one in the Denver Zoo when I was a kid. But for some reason I've always had this fascination with bears.

Maybe it's sparked by reports of ferocious attacks in places I plan to visit someday, fueled by the lookie-lou mentality that we humans possess to the point of obnoxious and dangerous behavior.

I certainly live in a part of the country that has it's share of bears, but attacks are rare. It's really the stories of the grizzlies of Yellowstone and Glacier National Park and Alaska that keep me spellbound. I watch every nature show on bears and have a small collection of books I've collected over the years on bear attacks. I can't even explain why I've been semi-driven to post on the subject, but here it is.

I decided to post some of the titles I have in case there are other bear nuts out there ( I said bear nuts not beer nuts!). You might also want to check out this link to look at some cool bear pictures.

These particular books detail bear attacks and how they happened, were investigated and the disposition of the bears. Some of the books go into a little gory detail about the attacks and they mostly all point out the what people do and don't do when they were attacked. All the books are filled with true stories and worth a read.

Sleep well...

Merry Bugmas and a Happy Fishfighter...

2011-12-08T08:30:00.004-07:00

I had a couple of nice surprises when I got home from work today. I love it when the postman leaves something other than bills.

My One Bug is Fake t-shirt arrived and it's really nice quality as is Brandon. I won the t-shirt for rooting for Brandon to fish 30 days straight. From the various blogs Brandon had guest posted on, he just seemed hardcore enough to actually accomplish his goal. My thanks go the Fontinalis Rising and One Bug is Fake for giving me the opportunity to win the shirt and the fly box (which is on it's way).

The next package was from The Freshwater Fly. In the package was a Fish Fighter USA fly patch hat clip and a world famous Fish Fighter sticker. To the guys at Freshwater Fly, thank you so much. I will use both I promise you. The fly patch is a brilliant idea and I can kick myself for not thinking of it first. Simple in design, it will save your hat and your flies while you're on the water.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here. Tomorrow after our next snow, it will look a lot like Christmas as well.

Thanks again everyone! Oh, by the way...watch for an upcoming guest post from someone special.

Best Wild Places: The Wind River Range in Wyoming.

2011-12-07T10:06:00.001-07:00

The Outdoor Blogger Network has teamed with Field and Stream and Trout Unlimited to promote the Best Wild Places in America. I thought of the many wild places I have been in my life; my daughter's home, the roadside restroom on I-70 on the way to Glenwood Springs to name two. But, without a doubt, the most beautiful is the Wind River mountain range in Wyoming. Here is my contribution to the Best Wild Places in America and here is part two.

A fishing post...What?

2011-12-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Luckily I can fish in my mind or my cave...my choice when the temperatures are 20 degrees below reason.

I recently went shopping on eBay after almost a year layoff. I saw a Eagle Claw catalog I'd never seen before for a pretty good price. I got so excited I didn't check the ad. Well, you get what you ask for. Instead of a full size catalog I got what amounts to 8 pages of Eagle Claw PR. When it showed up today in the mail, my first instinct was to tell the seller that she cheated me. As I prepared the pages for scanning, I thought, oh well it still pretty cool.

This is a 1964 "catalog" that talks about Eagle Claws superior quality hooks, fiberglass rods and reels. I used to fish with Eagle Claw snelled hooks exclusively, but I've never talked about them here. So, here are some things that about Eagle Claw hooks you might never have known about. Enjoy!

My mama didn't raise no fools...

2011-12-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

I'm rather proud of the fact that my mama didn't raise fools, bigots or "over-indulgers". As a matter of fact, I'm so proud that I'm not even going to mention what this post could possibly be about. I'm going to let it mean whatever you want it to mean.

In my not so sheltered world, the "cut of a man's jib" determines what type of person that man is. And of course the term man is totally metro-sexual, ie; being free to use as either sex. I'm fairly certain that there are as many foolish women in this world as there are men. The men just have better publicists and play the role better.

I think I have to say that I really admire a woman who picks up the gauntlet and rather than throwing it back, hangs it from a chain around her neck to show the world that foolishness is an equal opportunity employer. Before I get too far into this piece, I need to mention that this is not a cut at women or even any particular woman. I trust that we can all fill in the blanks with the person of our choice.

It's 8 degrees in the Denver area right now which probably means it's below freezing in parts west of here. If you're going out to get your fishing fix, dress warm and be safe.

Superstitious: Who Me?

2011-12-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

I was having breakfast a few days ago with a bunch of fly fishers. Guys that I've been meeting and fishing with for a number of years. Our gang meets once a month at a local restaurant to cuss and discuss all the latest in our sport. Of course some fun bantering between us and the waitresses is all part of the attraction.

Our gang consists of four middle-aged men in various states of disrepair who are well past their prime as far as looks and attractablilty to the fairer sex and more importantly, their fly fishing abilities. Mo is the oldest and so named because according to Mo, if you haven't fished the Mighty Missouri, you've never really fished. Max is the gourmet cook and in charge of meals on our trips. Max was an army cook and doesn't prepare anything without adding 200 pounds of flour, water and then deep frying. La-La is originally from Los Angeles and signs autographed photos of himself holding a very large fish of some type that he once caught off the coast. La's one claim to fame is that he once met the hairdresser of Clark Gable's stand-in for Gone with the Wind. Then there's your's truly. You know me as cofisher, they called me Broyhill-decorator of trees and shrubs from sea to shining sea. There is a fifth member that we haven't seen for awhile who we will call Rubio. Rubio's probation officer refuses to let him meet the gang any more until his probation is up in two years.

Anyway, the gang was sipping coffee and having breakfast at the local Village Inn and talking about superstitions. We came to an immediate consensus that Roxie, our buxom waitress would in fact look better with a girdle under her frock. After that it was every man for himself. My cohorts are convinced that the only reason I wear my Tilley is that I caught a few fish while wearing it. I say hogwash! I'm not superstitious. The best reason to wear a Tilley is it catches more errant flies than the trees around me and they're easier to reach.

Max is convinced that his bad fishing luck is due to lack of companionship...he's been trying to get Roxie in his sleeping bag for a year. Coincidentally the same amount of time it has been since he broke up with his last girlfriend or caught a fish.

Mo is different. He's caught fish. I personally have never caught a sucker on a fly before and I don't know how he does it. Mo says if we were fishing the Mighty Missouri that we'd be catching huge trout by the buckets. The discussion then centers around whether Mo is baiting his fly with pork rinds, accounting for his fish count.

La-La is another story. He's convinced that the only problem with going fishing is that we do it on the wrong phase of the moon. Pushed for more information, La is hard pressed to explain except to say something like, when the moon is in it's second quarter and the moonbeams reflect off Ted Danson's bald head, it's time to go fishing!

I don't see any signs of superstition here...just good practical fishing stuff old guys learn after years of fumbling around at night when the moon is in the second quarter and you step on a bag of pork rinds.

My favorite holiday

2011-12-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

My favorite holiday is coming up and I don't think I'll be able to sleep until it gets here. Going to the Fly Fishing Show has been a tradition with me for more years than I can remember. This is your chance to rub elbows with the likes of A.K. Best, Steve Rajeff, John Gierach, Ed Engle, Dave Whitlock, et al. plus another 1000 or so folks you'll never see again.

I know that this is also the beginning of the roadshow and that many of you will also be partaking sometime down the line. This really is my favorite winter activity and I always try to go along with someone who doesn't walk too fast or get bored easily because I really like to browse and visit with folks and watch the fly tying until it's time for some sleazy tasting, over-priced lunch. After catching my breath I'm ready for round 2, making sure I didn't miss any free stuff.

Some of the highlights this year include a one day International Fly Fishing Film Festival on January 6th at 6:30 p.m. John Shaner from Hardy will be there to clean and lube your Hardy reel and give you a free bottle of Hardy Lubricant. I've got several Hardy reels I'll be dragging around.

The fly tiers always get a lot of attention from me. The usual suspects that are here yearly will be showing their skills, including; Charlie Craven, Rick Takahashi, Dave Whitlock, A.K Best, Dave Hughes, Rick Hafele and more.

If any of you Colorado folks would like to meet up, let me know so we can start working on arranging a meet.

Windknots 2011 Christmas wish list

2011-11-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

Oh hi! Come on in to Windknots Headquarters. Happy Holidays, you caught me in the middle of decorating around here. It kind of gets me into the spirit.

Make yourself comfortable. I was about to write out my wish list for Santa. I always have a hard time getting started, so maybe you can help me.

Okay, so here is what I've got so far.

10. I wish for all my blogger friends to have a happy, healthy holiday season. Santa, I realize that you can't do much about this, but maybe if you lost a little weight and took better care of yourself everyone would get the message!

9. I didn't get much time fishing this year due to the long runoff. I realize that you probably can't do a lot about that either Santa, but you know anyone, can you please see what you can do for next year?

8. Flies! I need more flies and frankly I'm a little tired of tying. If you could bring me a couple of dozen pheasant tails, stimulators, some nice BWOs, a few hoppers, you know the everyday stuff you use. I would really appreciate it.

7. I would really like a Recycled Waders Messenger bag this year. My Nook Sack works well, but it's really a little small for me. I'm an over the shoulder kind of guy Santa and I bring everything with me. Sort of like you!

6. By the way Santa, I'm thinning out my fly rods this year. So if you know any kids that could use a starter rod, leave me a list and see they get them.

5. I think I asked for some new wading boots last year, but I guess you forgot. No problemo! But, I'm starting to get desperate. I'm thinking of some Korkers, size 10. Oh and if you stop by the Ugg Store, I've put a new pair aside for you! As like last year I sent the bill to Owl Jones so you might want to stop by and say Hi!

4. I don't know if the economy has affected you in any way, but I've heard the elves aren't faring any better than the rest of us. I would really appreciate if you could meet with the labor bosses and work something out. We've had enough lockouts with the NFL, NBA and NHL. We really don't want to see the Elves walk out.

3. Last year's major trip was fun and relaxing, but didn't have much to do with successful fishing. I would like to plan a trip to Idaho this year. Pam and I need it really bad. I'll pay for the gas if you can fix us up with some epic fishing.

2. Last year I left you some Pepto for your upset stomach. I hope that worked well for you. I've leave a little something for you in the frig this year and will also put a little hay outside for Rudolph and the gang. Please ask them to "use" the neighbor's yard this year.

1. I've never asked for anything like this before Santa. My non-fishing dog bubby is slowing down and I'm worried. His get up and go seems to be getting up and leaving. He's not that old, so I hope you can give him a few more years of puppy attitude. It would be good for both of us.

As usual Santa, I hope you are feeling well and that Mrs. Claus is as well. I understand that the two of you are going on a cruise after Christmas, so take a lot of pictures. I'd love to post a few. OH, and have a Happy New Year.

Never be caught without your camera

2011-11-29T22:13:00.000-07:00

I'm working on catching up on my blog reading and other less important endeavors (like work). So here to undoubtedly amaze and amuse you are some photos a friend sent today. I promise I will never do this again!

Well, at least it's fish related!

And outdoor life...

Okay, what more can I say?

Riddle me this Batman...

2011-11-27T11:33:00.001-07:00

I saw this video last week and I'm really surprised I didn't see it showing up on blogs. So, okay you pros out there, riddle me this...why did the salmon cross the road?

I think I've been a little lax on recognizing some of the great blogs I've recently picked up on.

G Lech does a really nice job with wildfly 365. A nice combination of fly tying, fishing and some nice photography.

Former Coloradoan, Normand is now in Connecticut. That's ok as long as he continues to showcase his great fly tying skills in fly tying new and old.

Paul over at mottled flyfisher does a nice job on gear reviews and fish porn. If you want to know why the blog is called mottledflyfisher, you'll have to look to find out.

These are a few of my newest favorites and 3 thumbs up!

Free 2011 Windknots Holiday Gift Guide

2011-11-26T08:40:00.002-07:00

Windknots & Tangled Lines

2011

Thanksgiving has fled the scene and we all know what that means...Christmas is just around the corner. In an effort to save you the stress of battling the malls, we bring you the 2011 holiday gift guide.

2012 is the year to make a fashion statement in the water or out. This lovely aquarium purse is gender neutral and is guaranteed to make other fishermen green with envy.

For those of you who have played the market wisely and actually have too much money to spend, may I suggest your own yacht. Don't let looks deceive you. This baby is equipped like the Queen Mary at a fraction of the cost.

This wine bottle holder is bound to be a topic of conversation at your next party. The fisherman is made of aircraft T-1 aluminum and our new double cork drag will make sure the bottle never slips out and breaks.

This wicker creel come fully stocked with goodies and gummy (worms) and sure to keep even the most finicky angler happy on the water. Your choice of snacks and accompanying book.

This rod rack will make you the envy of...well someone. Your choice of what type of fish adorns your rack, trout or bass.

Okay, your fisherman is picky and doesn't usually like what you get him. A gift certificate to the favorite fly shop will take care of that. He'll thank you for not sticking him with an unwanted gift this year!

Yes, this is what you think it is. Help your favorite fisherman get cozy while he reads the latest edition of Fly Fisherman magazine. Comes in a choice of fish species. My favorite is the Northern Pike. Trust me, he won't get too comfortable sitting on that.

This adorable fly fishing Santa needs to hang from your Christmas tree this year. Let the neighbors know,"To hell with tradition, I like it!"

Browse our catalog of "unique" flies to give to your favorite angler. They may not catch a fish, but they are guaranteed to snag your heart.

If all else fails, don't forget the fish tie. This multi-colored baby goes with everything he owns, so don't take no for an answer when he says, nothing he owns will match.

Well, there you have it. Our gift choices for 2012. If you have an questions, call us at 1-800-MRCLAUS.

Happy I'm glad Thanksgiving is over Day

2011-11-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

I trust that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I don't know about you but I'm still stuffed. Now that the festivities are over, I need to figure out what I'm going to do to occupy my three additional days off.

One thing I will begin working on is an end of the year video wrap-up. I'm going to take my time and try to do it right. Stand by for that.

Today while I was waiting for my wife to come home I put together a mock Wordpress blog. I have to say that for the most part, it's easy and attractive looking. I took a break before hitting the export button and started thinking about the hassle of doing a new blogroll and making sure everyone found me and decided against switching. Maybe some day, but not now. I settled for a new look here on Blogger and will be looking for new features and gizmos to entertain me everyone.

I've still got the tying bug, so I'll be doing a little more of that and I'm working on some prizes for my long overdue contest. I hope to have that lined up by next week. I've been checking out some great outdoor items to review for an upcoming Christmas gift edition...stay tuned for that as well. AND if the weather holds, I'll be sneaking out to check some local water. I might even do a fishing post with photographs!

Well, that's about it...nothing earth shattering. I just wanted to check in see if everyone survived the turkey and football orgy. Cheers...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...

2011-11-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

In the Autumn of 1621 the pilgrims weren't having fun

they settled in a brand new land, starving til they met a native band.

The natives showed them how to sow

and eat the crops that did grow.

The pilgrims thrived, they did not starve

they fixed some food, shot a turkey to carve.

They invited their new friends to feast that day

and give thanks for come what may.

Every year from then on out we celebrate that thankful day

and thank the Lord for come what may.

Tell me friends what you're thankful for

have we the right to ask for more?

Think back on that Autumn day

and have a happy Thanksgiving day.

Winter fishing: Who's to say who's right or who's wrong?

2011-11-22T07:00:00.003-07:00

Some of you may have noticed that I was running a poll on whether readers fish during the winter no matter how bad the weather is, if it's a nice day despite snow on the ground or not at all once the mercury falls out of the thermometer.

If you read my previous post, you know that something happened to the poll and numbers disappeared. For the record, I did call the Blogger Police Department and reported the theft. They tell me that the chance of a safe recovery are slim to none. This means I have to rely on my 62 year old memory. Thank goodness no one's life is hanging in the balance.

The last I checked, there were about 20 responses. Ten said they fish come hell or high water, 6 said they fish in the winter if the weather is decent and 4 felt that winter is best left to Santa and his reindeer. Interestingly enough, there were more comments than votes. Be that as it may, the overwhelming, staggering fact is 16 of you ~~out there are crazier than hell~~ represented yourselves well and spoke loud and clear; winter and snow are not a deciding factor for you.

My first conclusion is that the 4 who voted to stay home (myself included) are wienies and should stick to fishing with worms. When it snows, go out and play with Wiener man, you sissies.

My second conclusion is the 10 who fish come hell or high water need to get something meaningful going in their lives. I've made an appointment for all of you with Dr. Phil.

My last conclusion is the 6 who fish when the weather is nice are probably the most well adjusted among all of us. Henry Winkler, the man who never met an idiot on the river should be your hero.

Thanks to all who commented and participated in the poll.

It's a crime I tell you, a crime...

2011-11-21T11:36:00.001-07:00

Late one night, a burglar broke into a house he thought
was empty.

He tiptoed through the living room but suddenly he froze
in his tracks when he heard a loud voice say, "Jesus is
watching you!"

Silence returned to the house, so the burglar
crept forward again.

"Jesus is watching you," the voice boomed
again.

The burglar stopped dead again. He was
frightened. Frantically, he looked all around.
In a dark corner, he spotted a bird cage
and in the cage was a parrot.

He asked the parrot, "Was that you who
said Jesus is watching me?"

"Yes," said the parrot.

The burglar breathed a sigh of relief, and asked the parrot, "What's your name?"

"Clarence," said the bird.

"That's a stupid name for a parrot," sneered the burglar. "What idiot would name
a parrot Clarence?"

The parrot said, "The same idiot who named the Rottweiler Jesus."

Well, unfortunately there was no rottweiler here. Sometime in the past 10 hours or so, someone broke into Windknots Headquarters and stole the stats from my winter fishing poll! Yes, you heard me right. So, to whoever it was that committed this dastardly deed, I say HA! I've got the information I needed anyway and I will be posting on that subject tonight.

Focus on winter hobbies

2011-11-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

I think I've mentioned a time or two about my infatuation with vintage gear. Particularly Wright & Mcgill fiberglass and Orvis reels. I've been neglecting this obsession for quite a while and decided to give some them some TLC this weekend.

While going through piles of newspaper clippings and magazine pages saved for future reference, I came across this copy of a 1969 Orvis spring catalog. I thought it might be rather fun to browse a few pages, look at some vintage reels and remember when you didn't have to spend two or three weeks pay to buy the best fishing equipment around.

In picture to the right, we have two really classic reels. The top reel is an Orvis Battenkill. In 1969 the Battenkill was made by J.W. Young, a highly respected reel maker in England. These are really well made reels that easily convert from right to left hand. For those that don't know, most reels at one time were right hand wind only. I think I paid $125 for mine, but as you can see, they sold for $26.50 in 1969!

The second reel should look familiar to everyone. This Orvis Madison is actually a re-branded Pflueger Medalist, one of the most popular fly reels ever sold. Mint or near mint models are still readily found. In 1969 they sold for $19.7. Today you would pay between $40 and $70 plus depending on whether it has the original box and a bag.

The next page down has another of my personal favorites. The top reel is the Battenkill Ultra-Light, better known as the Flyweight, the Featherweight and the Lightweight. Earlier in the 1960s, the Ultra-Lights were made by the Hardy Bros. of England. After a business disagreement, Hardy quit making the "Lights" and Orvis had them made by J.W. Young. These are beautiful, truly classic reels that look especially nice on bamboo. I paid $125 for a mint Lightweight and the spiffy square case pictured in the previous page. In 1969 they sold for $36.50.

The bottom photo is an Orvis Multiplying Fly Reel. I've got several different Orvis Multipliers. This is my favorite to play with, but would be my least favorite if I had to fish it. Another sturdy reel by J.W. Young, in my mind it is clumsy to use and right had retrieve. But it is unusual looking enough to hold my interest. I paid about $70 for mine. They sold for $37.50 in 1969. The reel is 2 1/2 to 1 retrieve ratio and made for 9 wt. line and 200 yards of backing.

I hope everyone enjoyed looking at some of these reels. the Orvis catalog pages and a glimpse at what I do during those long snowy nights. As usual, if anyone has any questions about Orvis reels, please feel free to drop me an email or in the comment section.

I've been fired!!

2011-11-17T20:34:00.001-07:00

Okay, before everyone starts up a collection for me, I haven't really been fired...at least not from my job. Rather I stood up under the withering fire of the OBN Quick fire interview by the lovely Rebecca Garlock. Rebecca was tough and didn't ask the cream puff questions, but I think I handled it pretty well. If you haven't checked it out or if you aren't a member of the Outdoor Blogger Network, click the link.

I've been in a training for the past two days and I've got one more to go. There hasn't been time to respond to comments or interact with anyone and I apologize for that. I haven't even had time to plan any posts. It's been a long two days of sitting and my butt is sore. I found the solution to the sore butt, but haven't been able to find any volunteers to help. Any takers?

I didn't think so. My wife wouldn't even touch this one. Anyway, if you stick around, I promise I will have a reel fishing post soon.