I like and use angler a lot, so whatever riff raff it includes must be OK with me. But please don't tell me you're going to fish those flies with split shot under a Thingamabobber.

Anyway, that's some nice work there, young man. Quite inspiring. I had some free time last night and almost sat down at the vise, but decided instead to watch Olympic skiers go crazy fast down an icy and slushy mountain instead. And besides, I have all that fresh bait you sent me, so I'm good to go when next the rivers drop back into shape.

Man you guys. You're all inspiring me to sit down at my messy bench and start tying. I been working on cutthroat patterns for the spring, trying to perfect a rolled muddler.

Sg, I wonder how a ski slope can be icy and slushy at the same time? I agree they're crazy fast. I was on a GS run with Billy Kid some years back. Going out of the starting gate onto a hard slab of ice almost messed my pants. Never again. They're nuts! Fishing is more my cup o tea. I haven't been on a pair of boards in years.

SRoffe,

2,500' elevation difference from top to bottom. Cold and icy at the top, warmer and slushy at the bottom. It's 60*F in the daytime in Sochi.

Yeah, these guys got some mad fly tying skilz. My flies tend to be about a half step up from a nightcrawler, which I figure ain't all that bad since fish are partial to nightcrawlers anyway.

Sg

Tied these two up last night. Working on a softer, gentler more natural color selection for lower water conditions.

Lovely. Nothing wrong with those.

Figger out that new camera yet? Laying at home in bed shoulda provided the perfect opportunity for getting it dialed in and reading the manual.

I didn't think about that temperature / altitude change.

My moto in tying flies, is they don't have to be pretty, they just have to catch fish. I figure the fuzzier, uglier they are, the more effective they are.

Went out this morning a braved the wind/rain this morning and it was a total fail... got to see my line go from shooting straight out to landing over 45* upstream. EPIC....

Got to see this one swim tho after tying it up on monday for this weekends higher flows...

Macro. You don't need no stinkin macro BU. I got a PP photography award with my piece o chit tablet. I wonder if I try to back the camera away if I could get an unblurred photo?

Bantam, just curious how well that little beast swam? Looks like something a big pissed of nate would want to kill.

It flew, it swam and it didnt get lost. Its about to embark another session this morning.

Look forward to a positive report. Still debating if I am gonna hop on the boat and go to the show today.

Cranked this out last night.


Worked pretty good today considering it is a popper John....


Sorry for the fish pic Coley
SF

Righteous! Looks like a lovely PNW day with lots of liquid sunshine. Awesome photo.

Nice! Healthy SRC.

That's a plumper for this early.

Stonefish,

That's f'n nuts! Not surprised you had the place to yourself. My wife's fair weather nature must be getting to me. I happily decided to forego actually fishing and opted to visit the fly fishing show in Lynnwood.

Picked up some tidbits like buffs for the next tropical trip in April and some sample flies to copy, like sculpins and saltwater baitfish. Oh and talked with the rep from Sweetgrass and got to play with the rod I took a likin' to when we visited the shop on our last Montana trip. And since I'll only live once, I took the plunge and ordered it. I better get that Spey blank built up that I started a few weeks ago before I get the call that the new grass stick is ready, or Mrs. Salmo will think I've gone off the deep end fer sure. I'm not sure how to merge this with the decision to replace my old fishin' buggy this week. I think I'll try the "0% interest more than offsets the cost of the new cane, right?"

After Bantam dried off from his morning sojourn on the river he dropped by the show, and we drooled all over the Stream Tech raft that was set up in the display. That's a seriously nice ride for water with an ultra huge pucker factor.

Sg

SF,

I'll take 6 of them poppers! LOL

I've got the foam heads, now I know what to do with it. Thanks for the idea.

Salmo does that stream tech appear to be a rig worthy of fishing all the time. I am getting closer to pulling the trigger on a raft. I have been looking at the Outcast pac 1300, they come with the new nrs frame, but that st looks like the sh!t. I think the only way I could get the ole ladies permission for an 8k raft is to give up my db also. Bantam was drooling over it as we were talking last night. Sorrry for the hijack Coley.

All good my man. I claim no ownership over what this thread has become so you won't my feelings one bit and I quite enjoy the conversation.

I had a look at those Stream Tech rafts on the web this morning as I hadn't heard of them before. Pretty slick rigs. Looks like a custom tube design by Maravia to go with the stream tech frame. I am sure it would make a great all around ride for the coastal streams though I would wonder about the weight. That frame and components look heavy.

The high rocker on the tubes wouldn't be quite as friendly as the lower profile rafts like the Aire super puma and Super duper puma or Maravia spider which are the best fishing white water rigs out there. With a light load my super duper rows better than some drift boats out there.

I'd be curious to give one I these ST boats a go in some rough stuff and see the width and weight specs on them.

I've been thinking about small floating baitfish patterns for searuns.
Here is the first effort.
I used 1/8" parachute foam and reamed a hole in it with a bodkin then inserted the tube.


Here is the first one off the vise.


I used polar chenille for the tail, but I'm not sure I like it.
The red sharpie used from the gills soaked into the foam and seeped under the uv cure I used to keep the eyes on the head.
If anyone has any suggestions or a good floating baitfish pattern let me know.
SF