One thing about those aluminum bars and similar traction devices including chains:

Never, ever step on your fly line.

Ask me how I know!

Longest cast I ever made. I bet the head of that weight forward line went about 200 feet with no running line behind it.

Those are real popular on 4-wheelers for winter use back home in Alaska. I haven't heard of anyone getting less than a year out of them even in years with little ice, so you ought to be good for quite a while on boots. I'd try them on boots too, but the Simms are already in place. Sounds like I won'...

Check the top of the page for current flows on the upper Kern. My wife and I were up briefly on Wednesday and it was 156 at the time. As of this writing it's 264. Not enough to get rid of all the sediment up there, but every bit helps. According to the weatherweenie on TV Bakersfield is in a rain sh...

Jimbo Roberts wrote:One is right in your neighborhood "The Fly Shop" in Redding California.

Outstanding service and honest as can be. They're really responsive to email and phone calls too. I know of several that are comparable, but none that are better.

midger wrote:... huge piece of Fluorescent orange yarn....

On closer look it's a big Thingamabobber.

My first reaction was similar but different- I immediately thought it was an Alaska salmon fly, but wondered why his leader was so short!

Been eyeballing that pack for the last year, but a little reluctant to pull the trigger and potentially add another failed model to the dusty stack in the garage. Your feedback pretty well tears it for me. Thanks!

I've had the same experience multiple times from Cabelas. Makes me nuts. No choice but to cancel orders at the first sight of the word "backorder" when in fact the display page continues to say they're in stock. No sense for it and no call. Good to know about these guys, and I'll add them ...

The Alaska state railway makes whistle stops in remote locations, but its' more for remote residents and other folks accessing back country. It's not intended for day trippers, cuzz at a minimum it will be a day before you see the next train.

WadeK wrote:Like my Pig, those Gophers have the teeth to back-up that PO'd attitude. So what did your creative mind come up with?

Same as with PO'd bats that grab midair dry flies: Deep swimming lessons on a short leader. A bucket of water rather than the river, in the case of the gophers.

In my youth I spent most of a summer pretty well laid up with a broken ankle, sitting in the shade in the back yard and wishing for fishing. Had an infestation of gophers, and was overcome with youthful creativity. Scraped away the dirt pile from the nearest hole, then strung monofilament from a spi...

Hey Kno Kwe,

I'm new here too (and from Alaska), and have found this to be a great place with great folks. Welcome! I think you'll be happy you joined.

Thanks everyone. This place sure feels right.

Just returned from a sojourn to Kernville for deep pit barbecue at Whiskey Flats Days.

Well worth the trip, even without any rods in the truck!

If you like tying, be sure to check out our Today's flies from the bench thread.

Ooooooohhhh....

I've been eyeballing that thread, but afraid to punch the button! Until I have a lot of time on my hands that is!

Good steer, and I thank you!

Welcome! Since you are already spending a lot of time at the vice, I could use some #20 parachute BWO. ;) ;) briansII Whew! At least you weren't asking for #24's! Speaking of which, I've become an addict of Klinkenhamers. They pick up smart fish that avoid regular ties, even parachutes. Might have ...

Showing my ignorance, I didn't know this place existed. A member pointed me here yesterday, and I'm glad he did. My wife and I are Alaska snowbirds, with home in Kodiak and winters in SoCal. I have over 50 years of fly fishing behind me and pushing that long at a fly vise. My wife is a relative newc...