How's your day been?

[Nature Man]

Those flies will work Garry. Just run a comb through the hair (almost looks like wool) and then trim it to shape with scissors. Try to achieve a bullet taper. How many times did you stick yourself on the stinger hook? I hate tying flies with stinger hooks almost as much as I hate fishing them - for just that reason, I hook myself more than I hook the fish with them.

What's the flashy green material for the main body on the fly on the right? That looks really good.

How was the Show overall? Has it grown bigger? When it first started it was called the Fly Tackle Dealer's Show and you had to be a shop owner, manufacturer, something in the fly fishing business, etc to get in - wasn't open to the general public. Then Ed Rice started up the International Fly Fishing Expos and ran one in Denver a few years. Now I think it's Bennett Mintz who runs these shows - same as the one in NJ and next week I think is in PLeasanton, CA.

Doug -
I have a friend from many years ago that is big into fishing, and is based out of La Pine. Below is his Web site. Wondering if you've run across him in your travels.
Chuck

Fish With Gary Attracting Dodgers and Matching Lures – Ultralight Kokanee Lures and Attracting Dodgers for Kokanee, Trout and Landlocked Salmon

Home of Kokanee University! Attracting Dodgers Matching Lures The very finest ultralight tackle for Kokanee, Trout & Landlocked Salmon Welcome to the Fish With Gary™ Tackle Company, located in La Pine Oregon | Serving You Since 2004 Welcome to the Fish With Gary™ Tackle Company...

fishwithgary.com

 

[DLJeffs]

Doug -
I have a friend from many years ago that is big into fishing, and is based out of La Pine. Below is his Web site. Wondering if you've run across him in your travels.
Chuck

Fish With Gary Attracting Dodgers and Matching Lures – Ultralight Kokanee Lures and Attracting Dodgers for Kokanee, Trout and Landlocked Salmon

Home of Kokanee University! Attracting Dodgers Matching Lures The very finest ultralight tackle for Kokanee, Trout & Landlocked Salmon Welcome to the Fish With Gary™ Tackle Company, located in La Pine Oregon | Serving You Since 2004 Welcome to the Fish With Gary™ Tackle Company...

fishwithgary.com

Sorry, I haven't met him, but since I only fly fish I haven't hung out around the hardware guys much. Kokanee are a big seasonal fish around here when they're running.

 

[Mike Hill]

Do any of you live in a town that has "roundabouts"? I took my mom to her eye doctor appointment and then to pick up a replacement for her nebulizer yesterday. I drove through 21 roundabouts during the afternoon. I suppose they're better than stop lights because for sure I'd have been sitting there waiting several times when there was no cross traffic. But there are sure a lot of drivers who have no clue how to manuever through a roundabout.

Yup, got some (we are a modern, bachelorette party town with lots of bike lanes too). A few don't work so well, some do. I'm kinda like...eh.....on them. Guess they give the tight jeans wearing crowd some tingles. I will say, I like them a whole lot better than the DDIs. (Diverging Diamond Intersections). They are supposedly safer and faster - they just look more expensive to me. And judging by the number of accidents I've seen on the one down 3 interchanges from here, I question that they are safer, or even faster. Have to wait on more than one light now instead of one light. I guess if they are timed correctly, they could be faster. There's a new one that just opened at the airport - I think I'm gonna have to employ google maps or some such to navigate.

 

[Mike Hill]

Those flies will work Garry. Just run a comb through the hair (almost looks like wool) and then trim it to shape with scissors. Try to achieve a bullet taper. How many times did you stick yourself on the stinger hook? I hate tying flies with stinger hooks almost as much as I hate fishing them - for just that reason, I hook myself more than I hook the fish with them.

What's the flashy green material for the main body on the fly on the right? That looks really good.

How was the Show overall? Has it grown bigger? When it first started it was called the Fly Tackle Dealer's Show and you had to be a shop owner, manufacturer, something in the fly fishing business, etc to get in - wasn't open to the general public. Then Ed Rice started up the International Fly Fishing Expos and ran one in Denver a few years. Now I think it's Bennett Mintz who runs these shows - same as the one in NJ and next week I think is in PLeasanton, CA.

Was planning to go to that show decades ago - at least I think it was that show - it was in Denver. A friend who ran the fly shop out of the Outdoors store here was gonna take me. He grew up flyfishing and skiing CO and we were gonna go to the show and maybe some skiing. Well, the week before, his wife (local news anchor) decided she wanted a divorce and we had to cancel.

 

[Gdurfey]

So who makes that Northern Flash Sunfish stuff?

Fly Tyers Dungeon. They have a lot of products that are similar to the big brands but come in larger quantities. They came recommended to me and now seeing their products used by more folks.

 

[Nature Man]

Fly Tying Materials | Fly Tying Recipes | Fly Tying Supplies | Fly Tyers Dungeon | Fly Tying Supplies

Fly Tying Materials, fly tying supplies and many fly tying material tips and tricks, fly tying recipes. Fly tying closeout materials all at Fly Tyers Dungeon!

www.flytyersdungeon.com

 

[Mike Hill]

I stuck myself enough tying it I thought I was going to have red gills. The green underbody is chartreuse buck tail tied in 2 places along with that crazy Northern Flash Sunfish color. The very front top and bottom is similar to wool but a long hair dubbing from American Tied Flies; magnum dubbing. Long strands we tied on in the middle then folded back.

The show was great. I heard several folks say this is the largest on the circuit of 8 or so. And a lot of big names there doing presentations and such, especially of the Colorado community but others as well. I was also helping in our Trout Unlimited booth with our annual raffle fund raiser. Good vendor support, destinations, rod manufacturers, and others such as art and such.

I'll trade you 3 bacherlorette pink tutus, 3 white cowgirl hats, and 3 pairs of women's white fringed cowgirl boots for ONE visit to a good fly show. Most are at least a 12 hr drive from here, with one in Mountain Home Arkansas, being just over 6 hours - probably not be able to make it this year, but maybe next after retirement! We also have a bamboo rod gathering just over 3 hours away that I am determined to go to this year. Last few years, something has come up with my parents healthwise and had to cancel my reservations and such.

 

[DLJeffs]

The FFF Southern Conclave in Mtn Home, Arkansas was always a good time. The boys from Louisiana always brought ice chests full of crawdads and shrimp and cooked a huge Cajun meal for anyone who wanted to attend on Friday night. The auctioneer, Johnny Chamless I think his name was, was worth teh price of admission all by himself. The tying area was very friendly without all the egos and people pushing and shoving to get a free fly etc. The Saturday evening dinner was one of the best large group meals I've ever had. Used to held in the Holiday Inn there but it's been over 20 years since I last attended.

 

[Mike Hill]

I think FFF is now FFI and don't think they have the conclaves anymore. They have a FlyFest which is being held in California. Way too far. The Mountain Home event is now the SowBug Roundup and put on by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers. Mountain Home is also home to the Southern Rod Gathering in October. Wish they were together in dates. oh well!

 

[Gdurfey]

I think FFF is now FFI and don't think they have the conclaves anymore. They have a FlyFest which is being held in California. Way too far. The Mountain Home event is now the SowBug Roundup and put on by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers. Mountain Home is also home to the Southern Rod Gathering in October. Wish they were together in dates. oh well!

The SowBug is a very big deal and the folks I am stalking all go to it. They say the hillbillies come out of the woodwork for that event. Guess it is now becoming a greater memorial to Dave Whitlock.

There is another one this spring, The Gulf Coast Classic. Will find a link. Much more a tying and fishing event than a full show if I have it figured out. Here it is: https://ffigulfcoastclassic.com/

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Do any of you live in a town that has "roundabouts"? I took my mom to her eye doctor appointment and then to pick up a replacement for her nebulizer yesterday. I drove through 21 roundabouts during the afternoon. I suppose they're better than stop lights because for sure I'd have been sitting there waiting several times when there was no cross traffic. But there are sure a lot of drivers who have no clue how to manuever through a roundabout.

One recently installed locally. Hateful things.

 

[DLJeffs]

The SowBug is a very big deal and the folks I am stalking all go to it. They say the hillbillies come out of the woodwork for that event. Guess it is now becoming a greater memorial to Dave Whitlock.

There is another one this spring, The Gulf Coast Classic. Will find a link. Much more a tying and fishing event than a full show if I have it figured out. Here it is: https://ffigulfcoastclassic.com/

The Sowbug used to be a sort of secondary group, less formal get together a few weeks after the Conclave. Glad to hear it's still around and thriving.

 

[trc65]

Do any of you live in a town that has "roundabouts"? I took my mom to her eye doctor appointment and then to pick up a replacement for her nebulizer yesterday. I drove through 21 roundabouts during the afternoon. I suppose they're better than stop lights because for sure I'd have been sitting there waiting several times when there was no cross traffic. But there are sure a lot of drivers who have no clue how to manuever through a roundabout.

We have two nearby. One large one in Galesburg at the town square that has been there forever. Works well as everyone is used to it. Don't even really think about it.

The other in Monmouth at the courthouse intersection is new. Much smaller in size and people are still figuring it out. It doesn't flow as well as the one in Galesburg due to smaller size and the unfamiliarity.

They are also putting one (or more) up in the quad cities at some intersections with high accident rates. People up there have been complaining about them.

If you've never used one, I can see how they can be a little bit confusing at first, but around here they've worked well. Would mention though that these are both small towns. Galesburg is around 34,000 and Monmouth is 8,900. Both are county seats, for adjoining counties, so that gives you an idea of our rural population.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Ours is on a medium to low traffic road. You can wait several minutes for the fellow in front of you to go because he treats it like a 4way, then gets baffled when the other folks don't..

 

[trc65]

Here are satellite views of the two I mentioned. Galesburg's is much larger with three lanes. One inner to travel around, and two outer if you are going through.



The one in Monmouth is much smaller, and not as easy to navigate. Look at the size of the cars between the two images.

 

[SENC]

One recently installed locally. Hateful things.

Funny, I really like them - so much more efficient than stoplight or the crazy u-turn only intersections popping u around here. I think its just a matter of getting enough of them for folks to figure them out - they are one of my favorite things about driving overseas.

 

[JD1137]

Do any of you live in a town that has "roundabouts"? I took my mom to her eye doctor appointment and then to pick up a replacement for her nebulizer yesterday. I drove through 21 roundabouts during the afternoon. I suppose they're better than stop lights because for sure I'd have been sitting there waiting several times when there was no cross traffic. But there are sure a lot of drivers who have no clue how to manuever through a roundabout.

Like @trc65 mentioned they are catching on pretty quickly in IL.

I happen to like them too. I think they are so much better than 4-way stops and almost no waiting (ever) on busy roads. Folks seem to catch-on pretty quickly, but every once in a while..........crash.

My first real experience with them was in Ireland about 10 years ago. Yes, we rented a car and drove across the island, and countryside, for about 10 days. The first few times was a little intimidating......driving on the wrong side of the road, sitting on the wrong side of the car and had a stick shift to boot (90% of the rental cars are stick). Ireland, and I assume most of Europe, has had them for years.

Had a blast after figuring it all out.

 

[Mike Hill]

All but one here I like.

The first one I remember encountering was around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Its like 12 lanes wide and an absolute madhouse. To visit the Arc from the Champs-Élysées, there is an underground pedestrian tunnel. But Lil Mikey, being who he is (correction - was), beat on his chest and said he was gonna cross the lanes - AIN'T never gonna do that again!

 

[DLJeffs]

Here are satellite views of the two I mentioned. Galesburg's is much larger with three lanes. One inner to travel around, and two outer if you are going through.

View attachment 284586

The one in Monmouth is much smaller, and not as easy to navigate. Look at the size of the cars between the two images.

View attachment 284587

Those are huge roundabouts. Most the ones around here are half that diameter. These also have medians at the entrance and exit points. Ours don't. It is weird yours have those exits into parking lots in addition to the streets.

I like roundabouts more than traffic lights most places because of the time saving not waiting for the light to change. The most frequent problem I encounter with roundabouts is in the two lane versions. People pull into the inside lane of the roundabout and suddenly decide they need to exit the roundabout and veer right in front of people in the outside lane. That and I don't think they sell a car or truck in Oregon with functioning turn signals because no one uses them. There is one roundabout in Bend on a very busy street and during rush hour if you're not on the busy street, you can sit at the roundabout for 20 mins waiting for an opening to get in. That one needs a traffic light.

 

[Gdurfey]

Amazing enough, I remember my first roundabout as a kid in west Texas It’s in @Bean_counter hometown of Lubbock. Asked dad, who was driving, what this thing was. You found a few scattered across Texas, Mexia had one. So when I encountered them as an adult I at least had a little idea of what to do. There are a couple large ones in Massachusetts that I hated because each had a predominant traffic flow.

Now in Colorado they are everywhere especially in neighborhoods or shopping centers. And yes, we now have the dreaded crossover thingies for big intersections.