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flyfishvt

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Everything posted by flyfishvt

  1. flyfishvt

    Eyes

    Hmm..the flies I use that catch fish all have eyes, but then, I put eyes on all my flies. To me, flies with eyes just look better...so it's just my preference...I like my flies to appeal to me. I've heard that you can catch fish with just a cigarette butt on a hook, but I don't tie any butt flies...just wouldn't be appealing to look at or fun to catch fish with.
  2. Thanks Herb. Googling brings to many site that give predictions for a week or month out.....I use the NOAA tide prediction website and can get the predictions for most Cape areas months in advance. Not so for the outer beaches. Just curious why the outer beaches aren't included.
  3. I've been looking online for tide predictions for the Cape's outer beaches, specifically Coast Guard and Nauset beaches, with little success. For most spots we fish on the Cape I can find tide predictions months/years in advance, but not the outer beaches. Can anyone explain why? Is there a site that has this information? Thanks in advance!
  4. I tried the Dragon Tails as well..look great in the water, but just can't cast 'em when they're wet.
  5. Have had a 9' 9 wt BVK for ~9 years and have found it to be a great rod for striped bass fishing. Have several other 9 wts as well..an older Redington, a TFO TiCrX and an Orvis Recon..none are top of the line but all are pretty good rods for my shore-bound striper fishing. Of the lot, I find myself going to the BVK most often. Just love the action. Read that the BVK is prone to breakage but I've never had a problem.....but then, I'm not lifting huge fish from a boat. my 2 cents...
  6. In the summer when the water temp is warm enough for wet wading, I use a pair of calf height thick hiking socks under my wading socks…I fold the socks down over the top of the wading socks. Rarely get sand or silt inside the wading socks
  7. Not a problem getting the old bearing assembly out...just pry off with a small slot head screw driver. If gentle, you can open up the bearing assembly, regrease the bearings and reinstall. Did this a couple times before finding new bearing assembly. Now I just toss the old bearing assembly out as a new one is less than $8. After cleaning the area where the old bearing assembly sat, the new bearing assembly just pops in very easily. Hardest part for me was initially getting the reel apart. First step is to take off the large slot headed screw on the drag knob, Under this is a very small phillips screw that has to be removed to get the drag knob off. This screw is reverse threaded...you have to turn this little screw clockwise to get it out. Took a while, and few stripped screws, to figure this out! Getting the reel apart after this is pretty straight-forward.
  8. When I started fishing in the salt 20 some odd years ago, I couldn't afford an expensive reel with a sealed drag. Ended up buying a used Battenkill Mid-Arbor IV. Worked well as long as I rinsed it will fresh water every couple of days. Since then, I've purchased several more along with several extra spools and have been happy with them. Every couple of years, the bearings would freeze up on one of them and I would send it back to Orvis for an overhaul and a new set of bearings. This spring, one of my older reels seized and required a new bearing set. Called Orvis and found they don't have the bearing sets in stock anymore (and don't plan to) because of the age of the reel. Understandable. But I didn't want to have to purchase a new stable of reels....I took out and measured the bearing set and purchased what I hoped would be a match. Fit perfectly. Got several from Bearings Direct, part # 6803-2RS, less than $8 apiece Same bearings fit all versions of the Battenkill Mid-Arbor....Hope this helps any out there with Mid-Arbors!
  9. Have always had the telescoping trekking poles that I attach paracord to...I buy the cheap ones for ~$30/pair. Have never had one collapse and I put a lot of pressure on them..I'm 6'1", ~240, and have used them for the past 15 yrs. More likely problem with these is that they get stuck because of all the stream grit and won't retract. If that happens or I lose one...no great loss. Have a tough time laying out the long $ for Simms or Orvis when something from STP or any bargain store will work as well at 15% of the cost.
  10. A friend of mine bought a tropical 9 wt intermediate on sale last year...brought it to the Cape last June and tried to fish it on his 9 wt. Couldn't cast it for beans. Several of us tried casting it....just wouldn't uncoil in the colder water. Switched to a cold water intermediate (same brand) and problem was solved.
  11. After seeing Fergals's post on Strong Arm Merkins, I've decided to tie up some crab flies over the winter for next spring/summer on the Cape. I have some Mustad #32824 1/0 jig hooks that I plan to start with but would like to hear what folks say about other jig hooks. I usually tie with Gami S11-3H hooks for my salty flies. Have used others and had them open up on me...this hook is very strong...looking for something similar for my jiggy crabs. Thanks!
  12. Beware! A trip the the Cape is the first step to true addiction! Especially in May or October when the crowds are absent. We’ve been going to the Cape for the last 15 yrs for stripers from the shore with fly rods. Eight guys…all getting pretty long in the tooth. We go for a week and have gone from mid May through mid June…always stay on the south side or in Buzzards. The last few years we’ve gone early to mid June. Fishing hasn’t been as good as our trips in mid to late May. The crowds start to increase and the parking gets more challenging as June rolls in as well. This year we’re going in mid May. The weather is always unpredictable. Hot days, freezing days, nor’easters…always a crap shoot. We always rent a place from either AirBnB, VRBO, WeNeedaVacation, etc on the water. Lots of reasonably priced places in May. I usually go back in October with my wife and pup. We’ve done the hotel thing but it just pales in comparison to staying on the water. When you figure out where and when you’re going, feel free to PM me and I’ll pass on some of our spots near to where you’re staying.. Bruce
  13. Thanks HT...looks interesting. Just trying to find tying applications for the barrels of stuff that I already own!
  14. I'm always on the lookout for cheap or free materials that I can incorporate into my fly patterns. I just finished replacing the screen on one of my windows and thought that the old screen might be useful for some terrestrial patterns. Fashioned a couple hoppers with thin strips of screening for legs. Looks very buggy. Has anyone else used fiberglass screening for tying?
  15. A pal of mine bought this pattern at Bear's Den last year, sent me this lousy pic and asked me to tie some up for next year. All looks pretty straight-forward except for the silver braid..looks heavier than lateral scale and appears to have small feather attached to the end. Any idea what material this silver braid might be?
  16. West Branch of the Delaware is ~1 hr south of Cooperstown..prime sulphur season!
  17. My stumpy old arthritic fingers work as well as any knot tying tool I’ve found
  18. Fish from shore..mostly at night. Always a pain tying on new flies using a headlight with old eyes and fingers. No need during the day but thought might be useful at night. I've seen a few different brands of quick clips (Mustad, Norman, Tactical Anglers, Rio) that would appear to make it much easier to switch flies at night... Has anyone ever used these? If so..what brand and how well did they work?
  19. My glue sticks are opaque, glue gun is a cheapo..AW's come out fine. Took a couple to get the hang of it but pretty easy tie. Use them solely for stripers, don't usually make it down to the cape for the albies in the fall
  20. Good luck finding a substitute for SF Blend, I’ve tried many materials and none compare. Stuff is expensive but looks great in the water…
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