tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41636057246113532212024-02-07T08:56:53.251-08:00The World Of Tidewater Fly Fishing & Tying!Tidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-16533261079803795302013-09-21T13:29:00.001-07:002014-09-06T12:04:25.301-07:00This past week I took some vacation time & went down to Wachapreague, VA to visit a friend, Peter Jacobson & fish with him. Left Sunday morning for the 3 hour drive. I had never caught a Redfish on a fly, so had that goal in mind. Peter said they were there! I've caught them on bait & on jigs but never on flies. I've fished for them a few times, not really knowing what I was doing, and with very limited opportunities. So, my quest to add to the list of fish I had caught with a fly began.<br />
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I arrived a little after noon, and before the day ended, I had completed my quest & had landed a fine Redfish of about 17-18". Peter had been doing some scouting around, and had found them on a grass flat nearby. There were about a half dozen fish tailing in the shallow water when we arrived, and I got a chance to cast to one that moved within casting distance. My first opportunity ended with a fish that spit the fly. I guess I didn't get a good hook set. My second fish, the one I landed was hooked solid & took an unweighted Bendback I had tied for the trip. Not the biggest fish as far as Redfish go, but being the first I ever got on a fly it didn't matter! Amazingly, that first fish was taken just off the edge of the roadway that passes by the marsh!<br />
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We fished & explored that grass flat the rest of the week, watching the tide tables & getting there before the high tide. On Thursday there was a full moon, meaning the tide would be higher than it had been earlier in the week. We moved further into the flat, and waited for the tide. There was a ditch that crossed a section of the marsh, and we walked around the end of it & positioned ourselves to wait on the rising water. We had determined that the Reds were approaching that flat via the deeper water in the ditch, and once the surrounding area had flooded would work their way onto the flat to feed.<br />
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Where I was waiting, I saw about 6 fish. Got the chance to cast at 4 of them, and spooked 3 of the 4. The fourth fish simply faded into the grass. With the full moon the tide was up about 14", where earlier in the week it had been about 8 to 10" on most of the flat. A lesson was learned here! More water is not always a good thing! We ended the day with no fish hooked for me & one for Peter. The 4 fish I cast to were all within 35ft of my position, and at least 2 got within 20 ft of me. What a rush!<br />
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The last fish I cast to was about 40 ft away when I spotted it tailing behind me. I made several casts, but it was moving & I either could not get the fly in front of the fish, or it would hang on the tops of the grass & wouldn't get down to the level that the Red could spot it. Another lesson learned here! Even in shallow water, some weight may be needed! The entire week was beautiful weather with high sky & sunshine. This worked against us some I think as that last fish spooked, I believe from a reflection off my rod. Not sure, but that seemed the most likely reason!<br />
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On Friday morning, my last day, we both saw many fish & I finally got my second Red & a much bigger fish. I was standing again in the same general area I had fished on the previous day, and spotted a fish tailing back on the opposite side of the ditch. I knew I couldn't wade across that ditch & it would probably take too long to try & wade around the end of the ditch, so I moved closer to it's edge & waited to see if that fish would move close enough for a cast. It never did, although it moved around quite a bit, and finally faded away into the grass well beyond my sight. I was feeling like I was running out of time to hook up with at least one more fish.<br />
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But, sometimes we just get lucky! As I watched for signs of another fish, I glanced down at the far edge of the ditch. There was baitfish everywhere on this flat, and the wind was dead calm, so seeing movement & swirls was not unusual. But this time the swirl was larger, although very slight. The grass on the far side was also moving as the Red brushed against it with it's body. The far edge of the ditch was only about 15 ft from my position. I had about 3 ft of line out the end of the rod tip, and a leader & tippet that was about 9 1/2 ft long, so I simply swung the fly towards the far side as a bass angler might when flipping a jig. Nothing happened for several seconds, so I started to lift the fly for another try. The leader moved sideways & I set the hook! The ditch exploded & after a short battle I landed a beauty of about 24". The Reds we had seen this week were all not typical red copper colored I had seen in pictures, but were bright silver with white bellies & very prominent black spots on their tails.<br />
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Since Peter was quite a ways away from me & I didn't have a camera, I decided to carry that fish over to get him to take a picture. But, about halfway between us I spotted another Red tailing & had to make a decision between a picture or a chance at a third fish! I opted for the chance & released the Red. I stalked that third fish like a hunter stalking a deer, even crouching very low & approaching behind some taller grass. The tide had started to move again & was going out. The water had already receded about 2 inches. That last fish was moving towards my left & deeper water. I made several long casts, about 75 to 80 ft, and the fly landed behind the fish, but I couldn't seem to get any accuracy & never did get the fly in front of it. It also faded into the deeper water & was gone.<br />
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But, there must have been a higher power watching over me! As I moved towards Peter's position, I again spotted the flicker of a tail near the edge of some deeper water. That fish disappeared into the deeper water, but I saw some movement & made a cast and as the fly landed a quick strip! The line shot sideways again, but this time as the Red went into the higher grass the tippet popped & was gone! Another blown opportunity!<br />
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I simply smiled. I was using 15 lb test tippet, but had not checked it after landing that other Red. Might have been nicked, so my fault I'm positive. Fishing for bass & Stripers, I knew better but in the excitement of the moment I forgot a basic lesson I had learned many years prior. Always check your tippet & leader for possible damage after landing a fish!<br />
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Here's the flies I tied for the trip. These are some Bendbacks with brass barbell eyes & some with no weight. The first fish I caught took one of the chartreuse with pink body, un-weighted flies. The second fish landed took a different fly, one with a red Estaz body & tan rabbit strip tail. I took a lot of flies, not knowing what to expect, but only ended up using 4 the entire week. I was as prepared as I could have been, over prepared actually, but that's better than running out of flies if the fishing gets hot & heavy!<br />
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<br />Tidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-25942808841678538622013-08-03T17:25:00.003-07:002014-09-06T15:08:51.572-07:00<b>Flies & Fly Boxes!</b><br />
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I'm as addicted as a collector of flies & boxes as I am a tier. I've got far more flies than I'll likely ever use, but it's always nice to have a wide selection from which to choose, particularly since I like chasing multiple species.<br />
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Here's some pic's of various fly boxes I've put together & some of my collection of flies. Not all the flies were tied by me, but a good number of them.<br />
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The first one is something I tied one weekend with various scraps I had left over from tying other flies. Turned out quite well. I've fished it once with no success, but I really liked the action it had.<br />
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You can click on any of the images to enlarge them & get a better view!<br />
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<b>Can't have enough Clousers!</b></div>
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<b>Spinner Flies!</b></div>
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<b>Variety!</b></div>
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<b>My boat boxes!</b></div>
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<b>Buggers!</b></div>
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<b>Deer Hair Dry Flies!</b></div>
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<b>Rabbit Strip & Marabou Leeches!</b></div>
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<b>Bass & Panfish!</b></div>
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<b>Flies I use for White Perch, Yellow Perch, Shad & Crappies!</b></div>
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<b>Saltwater!</b></div>
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<b>Muddlers!</b></div>
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<b>Dahlbergs!</b></div>
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<b>More Bass Flies!</b></div>
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<b>Carp Flies!</b></div>
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These are what I have pictures of. I need to take more pics!</div>
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Tight lines!</div>
Tidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-17123596462994707142013-08-03T15:34:00.000-07:002013-08-03T15:34:25.479-07:00Blue Collar Fly Tying!Trout are what many fly anglers dream of, but I'm not a trout angler. When I was young, and just starting to get interested in fly fishing, I read everything I could about fly fishing, but particularly about trout! I spent many hours dreaming about catching them. But, as I grew older, and gained some experience with fly tying and fly fishing, I spent most of my fishing time, due to greater availability, chasing panfish & bass, and eventually Striper's & Bluefish. I'm more than happy to fish for trout when I get the opportunity, which these days is rare.<br />
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So, I became what I call a "Blue Collar" fly angler! I've had no reservations about fishing for any species with a fly, and even some that folks, those many years ago, considered "trash" fish! My list of desirable fly rod targets, and certainly because of attitude changes, many other folks as well, have included such species as Carp, Suckers, and various types of Catfish, all in addition to the many panfish species & bass found in my local waters.<br />
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Back when I was a kid, my first tying attempts were of flies I saw in magazines, and were mainly trout flies. Again, as I grew up, and my interest in other fish peaked, I started to tie flies more suited to these other species. The problem with this was I had very limited financial resources, and the only available sources for tying materials, was mail order supply houses. So, I improvised!<br />
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I've been improvising even since! Much of the materials & even hooks sold for tying, are still geared towards trout. Fortunately, over time many other folks became interested in fly fishing for bass, and saltwater species, but this was not always the case. Today, there are specialty hooks & materials well suited for the larger flies used. There are also many new fly designs that can be used for multiple species, as such, even some of the bigger trout, Salmon & Steelhead flies work well for bass!<br />
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I make few differentiations between the various fly types as species specific, except when discussing them with others. This is because not everyone fishes for multiple species or the fishes I'll seek, and flies are generally identified by a species they may have been designed to entice.<br />
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It really doesn't matter what the fly was intended to be used for, it only matters that the target species at the time will eat it!<br />
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Tight lines!</div>
Tidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-30067995304994269962013-08-03T15:26:00.001-07:002014-09-06T15:15:33.933-07:00My List of Favored Striped Bass Flies!Many times on various forums I frequent, this question comes up. What is your favorite flies, for (whatever species)! Since Striped Bass are my favorite tidal water species, here is a list of flies I've had success with in the tidal tributaries & main body of the Chesapeake Bay. These are listed in no particular order of preference as they all work well in a variety of situations.<br />
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Lefty's Deceiver: By far one of the most used flies in saltwater, and widely used in freshwater as well. <br />
Favored colors: gray /white, chartreuse/white, olive/white, all white, all black, black/purple<br />
I've used Deceivers in all kinds of color's & combinations. Way too many to list. The ones I've listed work well and are good basic baitfish imitators. My most used hook sizes for these are a 1/0 & 2/0, but I tie them in a range of sizes.<br />
Generally, a 5 or 6 inch long fly is a great size range to have, but again, not a bad idea to have a variety of sizes.<br />
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Clouser Deep Minnow: Between this fly & the Deceiver, you really could fish nothing else & be successful. Colors are the same as I listed for the Deceiver, but would add a pink/white combination. Many, many colors can be good at times. Sizes I use would be the same as well. However, most saltwater versions you'll see in catalogs & on websites will usually have heavy barbell eyes on them. Nothing wrong with tying some heavy, but a good idea to tie some with smaller eyes too, for use in shallow water. I use the various barbells too, lead, brass & tungsten. I'll also use bead chain for eyes, which can be very effective in shallow water situations. This will allow for an almost endless number of sink rates & jigging actions.<br />
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Clouser Half & Half: The best of both the Lefty's Deceiver & Clouser Deep Minnow. Not much else needs to be said.<br />
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Seaducers: Also called a Homer Rhodes Streamer or Hackle Streamer. I tie them with both saddle hackle & neck hackle. This gives different actions when retrieved. I'll also add barbell eyes, or other weight, even cones or beadheads. But, be sure to tie some unweighted.<br />
Favored Colors: red/white, chartreuse/white, orange/white, pink/white, all chartreuse, all black, purple/black,<br />
hot pink/chartreuse, red/chartreuse, orange/brown (First color listed is the front collar, the second color listed is the rest of the fly.) Can be tied in most any size desired, and is also an extremely good fly for Redfish or Seatrout (Weakfish or Gray Trout).<br />
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Murdich Minnow: This pattern can be tied in a number of ways, but I like it primarily tied with all synthetics. I first discovered this fly when I read an article written by Joe Cornwall on the Fly Fish Ohio website. (<a href="http://www.flyfishohio.com/Murdich_Minnow.htm">http://www.flyfishohio.com/Murdich_Minnow.htm</a>)<br />
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I really liked the look of it & even though it's touted as a Smallmouth fly, Striped Bass & Largemouth Bass love it equally as well! I would expect any predatory fish species to attack it with vigor in the right situation!<br />
My versions:<br />
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Tight Lines!</div>
<br />Tidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-27805682236774912722013-08-03T15:12:00.003-07:002014-09-06T15:35:07.650-07:00Hooks!Life has been getting in the way of my recreational activities & in keeping this blog going. seems the older I get the less time I seem to have for important things like fishing, fly tying & tackle making!<br />
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In some recent discussions on several websites I frequent, there have been questions & discussions about hooks used for tying flies. I've never been one to get caught up in labels, and since I primarily tie larger size flies, I've found that there are hooks available that fit the tying I do, that are not sold as "fly" hooks.<br />
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I maintain a good assortment of typical fly hooks, because some patterns are best tied on "fly" hooks, but I also will look for & use those that strike my fancy, that are not fly hooks.<br />
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I'll attempt to list here some non-fly hooks that I've found to be practical & effective for various types of flies.<br />
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The first is straight shank worm hooks, intended to be used with plastic baits. There are various brands, and they all will work for tying flies. Some, because they have barbs on the shank, can be used as either popper hooks, or as subsurface fly hooks. The barbs aid in mounting popper bodies, but are of little consequence once they're covered with tying thread & materials used with subsurface flies. This type of hook is both sharp & strong. The only down side to them is that they may rust, particularly if used in salt waters, and the sizes available are somewhat limited. Most brands are made in the 1/0 to 5/0 size range, while others may be as small as a size 2. There may also be larger sizes, but I've really had little use for them. When I need a larger hook, there are plenty available in other styles.<br />
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Owner, Daiichi, Gamakatsu, Eagle Claw, VMC, Mustad & Trokar all make straight shank worm hooks.<br />
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Here are some flies I've tied on straight shank worm hooks. These are all tied on Daiichi size 1 hooks.<br />
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<a href="http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/tidewaterfly/Clousers/100_4521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/tidewaterfly/Clousers/100_4521.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
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This fly is tied on a Gamakatsu size 2/0 hook. It's BIG!<br />
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The next type of hook I've found very useful are sold as spinnerbait hooks. Spinnerbait hooks are as the name implies, intended to be used in making spinnerbaits. They're of the same design as straight shank worm hooks, but lack the barbs on the hook shank and may be slightly heavier wire in similar sizes. Most are available in nickle, black nickle or red finishes. These are again both strong & sharp. The draw backs are again available sizes & they may rust.<br />
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All of the major hook makers produce such a hook.<br />
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Here's some flies I've tied on 2/0 size spinnerbait hooks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McNally Magnum</td></tr>
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Large Clouser Minnow style flies tied for Peacock Bass or Striped Bass. These flies are approximately 7" in length, tied on a 5/0 Mustad 32608 hook.</div>
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Flies for Bluefish. Spinnerbait hooks are not expensive, so are great for Bluefish.<br />
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<a href="http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/tidewaterfly/Flies%20Tied%20with%20Synthetics/100_4193A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/tidewaterfly/Flies%20Tied%20with%20Synthetics/100_4193A.jpg" height="112" width="320" /></a></div>
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The last type of hook I'll mention now are offset, wide gap worm hooks. There are many available, but not all are well suited for tying. One of the best I've found is made by VMC. The model number is 6319. This hook has a longer front section than most so it makes tying on it much easier. It's available in either black nickle finish, or red finish. Sizes range from 2/0 to 5/0. I've found 2/0 & 3/0 to be the most useful for tying flies.</div>
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Here's some flies tied with the VMC 6319 hook.</div>
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Well, that's about all I have time for this time. I have more hooks I like to use that are not fly hooks, but will have to get some photo's taken. So, until my next post, keep tying & tie as often as you can. Life's way too short!</div>
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Tight Lines!</div>
Tidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-74005394709736120562012-08-21T17:09:00.001-07:002013-08-04T06:19:03.444-07:00Tying!I've not had a lot of time to post over the past year. Have 2 grandson's & between them, work and some other family events, I've not done much fishing or tying. However, here are some items I have managed to tie. No particular reason for most of them, other than being in a mood to tie <i>something</i>!<br />
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Clouser style baitfish tied on size 2/0 plated Mustad saltwater jig hooks. These are tied with bucktail & natural Fox Squirrel tail and some various flash.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVNvDSa_DiIvg15l6stnuaSPpJC9ailKPZy-vGRKW4TsZFCAe72hyphenhyphenXB073neOYruK_QfHVsyUo2IUh8gLtBbveyrfTy7VrS9jaeQ3i1HYevWMdgXLHNs8zIlwy8j7M8ooU46UEgFyEn8/s1600/100_4470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVNvDSa_DiIvg15l6stnuaSPpJC9ailKPZy-vGRKW4TsZFCAe72hyphenhyphenXB073neOYruK_QfHVsyUo2IUh8gLtBbveyrfTy7VrS9jaeQ3i1HYevWMdgXLHNs8zIlwy8j7M8ooU46UEgFyEn8/s320/100_4470.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Some feather wing streamers, tied on size 6 Gamakatsu B10S stinger style hooks. Basic patterns I like to use for White & Yellow Perch, and Crappies. The fly in the upper right is a Seaducer, one on my all time favorite type flies. All of these will work well for other species too, including bass. The hackle I used here was some 3-4 inch long strung saddles I purchased very cheap. Some folks will tell you that this type of hackle is not a good value. That really depends on what you intend to do with it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb7kBjHPofFs3zawkPGe8ZnTDlhRJL86RVpc1n_wGo6GQzPo41RRNMt4nvWBNMVyQz1bhYC9_BRCTp_0LVvERvpr_0_8igH3GK2OJNFgqE3VVO08spfvfjUU7vbtz4bKS_78vUEK4eTM/s1600/100_4519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb7kBjHPofFs3zawkPGe8ZnTDlhRJL86RVpc1n_wGo6GQzPo41RRNMt4nvWBNMVyQz1bhYC9_BRCTp_0LVvERvpr_0_8igH3GK2OJNFgqE3VVO08spfvfjUU7vbtz4bKS_78vUEK4eTM/s320/100_4519.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Simple bucktails. Tied on 6/0 size Eagle Claw 254 Stainless steel hooks. These can be used as flies, or as teasers with lures.<br />
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This next group are more simple "bucktails" on various size stainless hooks. As you can see there is some other materials included too. The black hair in these is bear, and the tan & black hair is Fox Squirrel tail.<br />
Third fly pictured is tied on some old, discontinued Eagle Claw stainless Keel Fly hooks. Hard to find these days, but when they can be found they're worth adding to the hook inventory if you tie saltwater or bass flies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAhzBlH8029YnLnTc-_IXK6Xau2WAIRdDnEj0PQKrmFVZ9sEbKx39CftZEIg84EpNvA7vFRsT4nZFTOXPkQNImNg7XHA8R6Po2bGxaueWU-yS3DZEcySZd0w2YRBwCSsk_vEFwi6JabQ/s1600/100_4491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAhzBlH8029YnLnTc-_IXK6Xau2WAIRdDnEj0PQKrmFVZ9sEbKx39CftZEIg84EpNvA7vFRsT4nZFTOXPkQNImNg7XHA8R6Po2bGxaueWU-yS3DZEcySZd0w2YRBwCSsk_vEFwi6JabQ/s320/100_4491.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are some trebles I tied to add to some spoons & lures I use. ( Yes, I do use other tackle!) Tied with strung saddles & some flash.<br />
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Not flies, but it's still tying!<br />
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Tight Lines!<br />
JimTidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-74603883142938951672011-10-28T10:55:00.000-07:002011-10-28T10:55:17.123-07:00First Bass Tournament!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">On Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, I fished in the first bass fishing tournament of my life! A friend of mine, Andy Kent, had invited me several times to fish with him in some small tournaments with bass clubs he was a member of, but fishing such events on Wednesday's were tough for me, as I have to work very early the next day. Since I've not done a lot of fishing this year, I decided, what the heck , and went along. This was not a fly fishing tournament, but rather one with conventional tackle and lures.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">This was on the Chicamacomico River here in MD, a place I had fished many times before, and one of my favorite rivers, but had not been on in a few years. There were 6 boats total. The day started out fine, but it soon became very windy. Water temp at the 8AM start was about 58 degrees. It only got up to 61 degrees.</span><br />
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We had planned to flip & pitch, but the wind made that difficult. We did however, find some spots that we could flip. This river is shallow & tidal, with the deep spots only being about 4 ft. The channel in some places is 6-7 ft, but I've never caught a fish in the channel. All the fish holding features of this river are along it's edges, and at the two bridges that cross it. The fishing is pretty much limited to about a 2 mile stretch between the bridges because they're so low to the water. The one bridge, the one next to the launch ramp, does have enough clearance to allow the smallest boats, canoes, or kayaks to get under, but of the 6 boats this day, only one was small enough. The second bridge is so low, not even a canoe can get under it!<br />
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Andy caught our first 2 fish, both less than 2 lbs, one on a senko, the other on a spinnerbait. I managed only one fish of about 2 lbs the whole day, caught on a shad colored Karu VibraShock with a chartreuse curltail grub trailer. All 3 fish were caught within the first two hours of fishing and on a single stretch of shore where we found about 4 ft of water. Then we went for a few hours without a bite!<br />
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We moved around to several spots we both knew we had caught fish on before, but the tide had changed some & the wind was still blowing, making it hard to control the boat & our baits. We passed a few of the others and all reported catching some fish, but with the same difficulty & results.<br />
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Finally, at about 3PM, an hour before weigh-in, the wind died down some, and they seemed to turn on & Andy caught 3 more fish, all on a senko, which allowed him to cull one fish, and give us a 5 fish total.<br />
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At the weigh-in, the others reported that they had started to catch some fish just as we did. One other boat had 5 fish, the small boat that went above the bridge. I don't remember the exact totals, but that fellow got first with over 13 lbs, and we placed second at over 8 lbs. Andy's biggest fish was 3 1/2 lbs, and the lunker pot was split with two anglers both weighing fish at 3lbs 12 oz. One fellow had said he lost a nice fish that may have been over 4 lbs when he had a problem with a new reel.<br />
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I had a great time just being out there fishing, but the point of my post here is about another subject. Time on the water. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This event took place on a river that I thought I knew pretty well, and many of the features I recalled, were just as I had remembered them. However, since I had not been there in a few years, there were also many changes. Last time I was on this river, there was much more vegetation, mostly Spatterdock pads, this time there was very little. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">River systems will always change, but the longer we are away, the more those changes will likely affect our fishing. Won't matter if were fishing with flies or other tackle.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Get out there as much as you can. Spend the time learning about the waters that you fish, even when the conditions are not the best. This particular day, with the windy conditions, I could have fished with a fly rod, although not in this tournament, but it would have been real tough to do. It was difficult enough with the much heavier lures. But, often when we only fish our favorite waters under the best conditions, we get complacent, so when the conditions & fishing get difficult, we tend to not be prepared! Learning about our fishing should be a complete process, which means we spend as much time on the water as we can, in all types of conditions. Of all things we can learn or do to improve our angling success, this one thing will make us better anglers! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for reading my post!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Tight Lines!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jim</span></span>Tidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-29102473646825271032011-09-21T10:14:00.000-07:002011-09-21T10:14:03.019-07:00My Fly Tying & Fishing Theory for Bass Fishing!Theories are just that, they cannot be proven to the point that make them fact. Theories also may not be valid 100% of the time. Over the past 45 years that I've been a fly angler & specifically a fly tier, I've developed my own ideas & theories about what works & what doesn't for the type of fishing that I do. Actually, this applies to most any fishing that I attempt, not just with flies.<br />
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I've been able to conclude only two things about what flies work & what doesn't. One, all flies will catch some fish, regardless of the design! Two, no fly works all the time! And although this is not a conclusion, there are fly patterns that will work the majority of the time, on specific waters.<br />
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When I sit down & tie flies, I usually have an idea what I want the fly to do. I attempt to use materials that impart action & movement to the fly. These would be various hairs, furs, feathers & some types of synthetics. I've always felt that a fly should have "breathing" qualities, and the materials used should be what adds this feature. I also want my flies to have a general shape & silhouette. For example, if I'm tying a baitfish pattern, intended to mimic a shad, then the fly should be generally the same shape as a shad. However, I also keep in mind that since this is a basic criteria, my flies may also represent other forms of prey.<br />
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Many years ago, I was fishing in a artificial only section of a small trout stream here in Maryland, and was having a great day fishing my Black Stone Nymph in a size 6. (See my other post about this fly pattern). I had caught & released a Brown Trout, a Rainbow, a Smallmouth & a Largemouth in this stream that day, on just that one fly. I'm fairly sure there are no large Stoneflies in that stream that my fly might be matching, but I had noticed that the grasses along the bank where full of crickets. It's possible, although I cannot verify it, that there may also be Hellgrammites in that stream, and certainly crayfish. It's not outside of possibility that this fly could be eaten by these fish as all of these prey types, since it generally has a size & shape, and even color that might be mistaken for any of them. Really doesn't matter what we think it looks like, as long as they eat it!<br />
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Many of the flies I tie, especially for bass or saltwater use, are tied in three basic colors. I use a lot of black, white & chartreuse. I also select these colors a lot when making & buying lures. They are my base selection. If I'm going somewhere to fish, I'll often start with one of these colors or a combination. They all go well together & can both compliment & contrast with one another. Plus, they represent the range of color from white at one end, to chartreuse at the mid point, to black at the other end.<br />
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I also use a wide range of colors, particularly when tying a specific pattern type, but these three have always worked well for me, under a wide range of conditions. I often combine other colors with my three base colors. For example, most any baitfish pattern will include a white belly. Then, I'll add various green, grey or sometimes brown backs. I may also add other colors, such as a black lateral line or tones of blue, purple or pink, which many baitfish exhibit. I'm not convinced that these embellishments are absolutely necessary to catch fish, but when tying it's hard to resist the temptation to be artistic!<br />
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One of my favorite baitfish patterns is a simple streamer tied with hair, either bucktail or fox fur, and is nothing more than a white belly, a thin black lateral line and an olive back. I usually add some flash too! I like flash added to most of my baitfish flies. This fly can imitate a variety of baitfish, and is often called a Baby Largemouth Bass pattern. Substitute a bronze brown color for the olive & it would be a Baby Smallmouth. Substitute grey for the back, and it becomes many other baitfish or fry imitations. Again, substitute chartreuse, and you have one of the most popular & productive attractor patterns you'll find. The use of all of these color combinations generally mimic baitfish, and the colors both compliment & contrast. In some water conditions, especially where you may encounter stained or slightly muddy conditions, these combinations allow for the fly to be more visible to the fish. Often the light or dark color will prevail, and anytime you can use a fly that is more visible for conditions, your chances for success should be improved.<br />
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Generally, I'm an advocate of big flies for bigger fish. This is not an absolute, as there will always be exceptions, but the majority of the time, I've found this to work. If you compare other forms of fishing & the size of the lures used to flies, it only makes sense to use a bigger fly. For example, when other anglers are having success catching bass on lures that are 4 inches long, why would a fly angler choose a fly that is half that size. I tie many of my bass flies on big straight shank worm hooks sold for use with plastic baits. They're a much larger hook than most hooks sold for tying bass flies, and in my opinion, stronger, often sharper & I like the wider gaps which allow a better hook up ratio. The only con to using such hooks is the price & the sizes readily available. I've quit worrying about the price, even if I'm paying 60 or 70 cents a piece for these hooks, as the overall cost of the finished fly is still well under what a fly would cost if purchased from a shop. I tie many of my flies in sizes 1/0 & 2/0, which are not always the easiest to find, since 3/0, 4/0 or 5/0 are much more popular for plastics. I browse Ebay quite a bit & also the clearance listings for many of the popular bass shops, and purchase these hooks whenever I can get a good deal.<br />
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When I first started fly fishing, my father purchased an 8 wt Cortland fiberglass outfit for me. It was a very slow action rod, and much more than was needed for the panfish I caught. But, as a bass rod is was fine. An 8 wt is a good general purpose size rod for bass fishing and I still have an 8 wt in my current arsenal of rods. However, because of the large flies I like to use, and because I often fish in some backwaters of the many tidal creeks along the Chesapeake Bay, I use even heavier rods for bass than most others might use. I have a 9 wt & a 10 wt, both well suited for tossing big flies, and even more so when fishing around the many fallen tree's or spadderdock patches found in the tidal rivers. I have no qualms about casting into the thickest of the thick, and into places others may cast weedless jigs. These are the places you'll often find the bigger fish, and the only way to get to them is go in after them. I lose some flies, but I catch some decent size fish too!<br />
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So there it is! My basic theory for fly fishing.<br />
1) Tie with materials that provide movement.<br />
2) Utilize the base colors of black, white & chartreuse.<br />
3) Use big flies, tied on big, strong & sharp hooks!<br />
4) Use heavy enough tackle for both the flies & conditions!<br />
5) Go into the thick stuff to find the bigger fish!<br />
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If you're happy fishing small flies for bass & catching the occasional larger fish, then stick with what you're doing. I've certainly caught plenty of bass on my 6 wt, and at times that's plenty of fun to do! You won't catch as many bass doing what I do. But, if you want to catch more quality fish, then give this a try!<br />
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Tight Lines!Tidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-31617403628181941142011-06-07T15:34:00.000-07:002011-06-07T15:34:33.234-07:00Stonefly/Hellgrammite Fly PatternAlthough this is not a tidal water fly, it could very well be used in brackish water for bass or panfish. I suspect in appropriate colors, it could also work as a Bonefish or Redfish fly.<br />
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I originally tied it about 18 years ago, for both trout & bass. It was tied on a streamer hook, Mustad 9672, or 79580 in sizes from 10 to 2 to imitate large Stonefly nymphs and Hellgrammites, but I got away from tying it in any size but 2. The hook in the picture is a size 2 that I purchased from Togen's Fly Shop <a href="http://www.togenenterprises.com/home.html">http://www.togenenterprises.com/home.html</a> in Canada. It's a black nickel finished hook, and works well for bass flies. I like it particularly for this fly, which I primarily use in streams for Smallmouth bass. Togen's originally sold it as a Salmon/Steelhead fly hook, but now they call it a Black Nickel Curved Shank Hook. It's only available in size 2.<br />
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I now prefer this hook because it tends to ride inverted with the point up, making it snag much less than with other hooks.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DHycfId-gsyCxtEEZodHHPoZfJmaFsP0VtFRpnrFNrwCACg8qKL3mPCMyWdWJBUFX5-6IhNmpyu15BnPOQdUDubsgOWCaMCXK11EpeZK5ckZi8qaESD9_Ecjj_khRqpetbp0BrydUlo/s1600/100_4109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DHycfId-gsyCxtEEZodHHPoZfJmaFsP0VtFRpnrFNrwCACg8qKL3mPCMyWdWJBUFX5-6IhNmpyu15BnPOQdUDubsgOWCaMCXK11EpeZK5ckZi8qaESD9_Ecjj_khRqpetbp0BrydUlo/s320/100_4109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Pattern Recipe:<br />
Hook: Togen's Black Nickel Curved Shank, size 2<br />
Thread: Black ( I use Danville Flat Waxed Nylon)<br />
Bead: Tungsten, or Brass<br />
Tail & Legs: Silicone or rubber<br />
Under Body: Rabbit Dubbing ( black, olive/black, olive) Hareline makes some great dubbings, such as Haretron that can be used.<br />
Ribbing: Transparent black vinyl, something with a rounded surface. ( originally Swannandaze)<br />
Thorax: 2 wraps of Estaz. Opalesccent black, or olive<br />
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Wrap the dubbing by whatever method you prefer, and pick it out between the ribbing wraps with a bodkin to give it a buggy appearance.<br />
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This is a fairly simple & durable pattern, that could be tied in other colors as well. I originally tied it in black, olive, amber, & rootbeer.<br />
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Dead drift it with an up & across current cast, or impart some added motion with short strips. Vary your retrieve until you find what they want.<br />
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Tight Lines!Tidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-8857396938976536572011-05-27T11:34:00.000-07:002011-05-27T11:34:44.888-07:00Seaducer Fly Variation For Striped Bass & Tidal Largemouth Bass.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8obebQ78TPArXiQkTEJFICyq3AQm54RNzdExaGNbT78CC9EeRSrU74lYf8OKX2MCqtdFga6Rc6Ja14K7Ef5CKLzEnEy5zOA7gA_W3Jgv4iWrJ1Hb9O3xj7FwN78Ny53XGGT8CjlCKxyw/s1600/seaducers+002a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8obebQ78TPArXiQkTEJFICyq3AQm54RNzdExaGNbT78CC9EeRSrU74lYf8OKX2MCqtdFga6Rc6Ja14K7Ef5CKLzEnEy5zOA7gA_W3Jgv4iWrJ1Hb9O3xj7FwN78Ny53XGGT8CjlCKxyw/s320/seaducers+002a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This fly is a Seaducer variation with lead barbell eyes that is one of my most productive patterns. I use it extensively for Striped Bass, and Largemouth Bass in the tidal rivers I often fish. Chartreuse has always been a good color for me, but it can certainly be tied in many colors or combinations of colors. Depending on what I intend to fish for, and sometimes where, I'll tie it on either straight shank worm hooks or saltwater style hooks. The hook is really not a major issue, as long as it's sufficiently strong & sharp. There are many that will work just fine. Although I tend to use the saltwater hooks more for places that may have a high salt content, just to minimize rusting. This particular fly was tied on a Matzuo Sickle hook.<br />
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The pattern recipe is as follows:<br />
Hook: Any you wish to try as indicated above. Some I use are, Eagle Claw 254's, VMC 9255's, Mustad 3407 & 34007, Mustad Ultra Point, Owner or Gamakatsu straight shank worm hooks. Matzuo Sickle Bait Holder hooks.<br />
Size: #4 to 5/0, (usually 1/0 or 2/0)<br />
Thread: Danville Depth ray Nylon, Chartreuse<br />
Weight: Barbell lead eyes, or other barbell eyes (brass, or tungsten)<br />
Tail: 6 long, wide rooster saddle hackles, and a few strands of holographic Flashabou on each side.<br />
Body: Palmered saddle hackleTidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163605724611353221.post-27880517526222780912011-05-25T10:17:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:17:10.411-07:00First? Why A Blog!I've been contemplating this for awhile. I've been an avid angler, fly angler & fly tier for most of my life, and feel a need to share some of what I've learned. Hopefully, it will help someone else along their road to learning about this wonderful sport & hobby.<br />
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I'm also still learning, and perhaps through this blog will be able to add a few ideas from others who share this passion.<br />
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Besides fly fishing, and tying, I'm also an avid lure maker. I enjoy making all types of tackle, and as such feel it has aided me in my endeavors as a fly angler, and visa versa. Learning is never a one way street. I believe I am a better angler because I've learned things in many aspects of angling.<br />
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As this blog progresses, I hope it to include as much as possible about my experiences in the sport of fishing, and how it relates to fly fishing, fly tying and more specifically to fishing in tidal waters.<br />
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I am first & foremost a warmwater & tidalwater angler. A blue collar angler for the most part. My primary experience has been with waters in the mid Atlantic states, and it is there I will try to focus most of my discussion.<br />
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I occasionally visit coldwater environments, but not as much as I would like. I'll include some information for some of the local waters I've fished and where I've had success.<br />
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I sincerely hope you'll join me & share some time with me in the World of Tidewater Fly Fishing & Tying!<br />
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Tight Lines!<br />
JimTidewaterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08350857570158704197noreply@blogger.com0