…hmmmm a little food for thought… but did you know that Christianity..in particular Catholicism is deeply based in Judaism and its rites and practices ??? …and accepting that as being the case.. I know there is always a chance of conversion, under the correct circumstances of course… … whether it be religious or fishing… 
MacFly 
Macfly - I take a similar approach to lures and baitfishing. In a nutshell - knowing and understanding what’s happening both on top of -and- beneath the water is key. Just as water temperatures atmospheric presures, length of daylight hours and what ever random cosmic powers determine a specific species of fishes spawning table or feeding habits.. so is the same in the entomology department. Different insects emerge attracting bait The same factors of a specific insect hatch, available forage patterns relate directly on all levels.. its just a matter of how you interpret them into your prefered methods of fishing… just as a stonefly or Dragonfly larve/nymph hatch would effect a flyrodders presentation and selection of fly so could/would/should it effect other fishermen’s disciplines using lures and/or bait.. its just a different discipline/tactic to interpret the information into .. .. and throw your money at [;)]
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…hmmmm a little food for thought… but did you know that Christianity..in particular Catholicism is deeply based in Judaism and its rites and practices ??? …and accepting that as being the case.. I know there is always a chance of conversion, under the correct circumstances of course… … whether it be religious or fishing…
MacFly [/reply]
Very good Macfly!! This was the reason for me using the two.
Therefore as Catholicism relates to Judism while both are considered different disciplines… so relates fishing disciplines… one is similar to the other.. but different.
[;)]
Oh I agree wholeheartedly… especially with you last comment on “throwing money at”… my two points were simply I find fly fishing for anything that will bite so to speak more stimulating that bait or lure.. did not mean to imply one was better than the other…
second point.. and I am not into conversion.. but the Judaism/Pope conversion thing.. simply means there is always a possibility since the two started out the same and are for all practical purposes very similar…
..last point.. again not to convert but to show example.. my brother in law .. whom I choose to blame for my trying fly fishing.. used to be an avid bait/lure fisherman.. spent lots of money on equipment etc.. that equipment now sits in a corner of his basement and for the most part simply collects dust…as does mine out in my garage… he has now spent a small fortune on his fly fishiing equipment and tools.. I dont think I will ever get to his level.. but the fun is in trying to get there…:-)…
there are days where I have been very tempted, mainly out of frustration, to go and use my “other” rods.. but figure is best to simply stick to it.. one day I will figure things out and then it will be like it was.. catching fish.. except now on a fly… 
MacFly
Thanks for your input idahopanfish! .. I too would be silly to attempt a 3wt rod for the same reason.. I’ve had encounters with 3-5lbers taking a bumble bee pattern that kept me busy in the weeds for a good while.. I’ll be sticking to the larger stick because of the same possibilities. The 9’ length sounds good too.. all three of my old ones are 8’6" and I don’t forsee the longer length being a problem as far as handling and space is concerned.
I have a good amount of small panfish poppers but like you stated about the buggy looking flies I’ve had real good luck with a Bumble bee pattern here as well as a black and brown looking “thing” .. not too sure what they call the pattern but its a work horse too.
I’ll look into the sink tip also.. Thank you!
Nope I won’t blame a gal for tryin, FG [;)]
Cool beans about the Crappie though! Gotta love it when that happens!
side note: A couple years ago I had a sucker on a quick-strike rig hanging over the side of the boat (barely in the water maybe 2’ foot of line in the drink) to keep him alive while I moved another 50yds further down a weedline with the electric… Well, as I’m day dreaming in the silence around me.. the water erupts at the back of the boat. My rod that was just laid across the rear deck started bashing back and forth against the motor and transom. Holy cats! Scared the crap outta me!! Luckily I was able get back there and grab the rod before It went for a swim! after a few minutes I landed a 33-34" Pike was as bold as they come [crazy]
Anywho.. I can relate to the bail thing.. I’ve often caught myself looking for a drag adjustment on my fly reels that don’t have one LOL! … talk about a trip! All of a sudden the light turns on and I think to myself - oh yea, I need to palm this damned thing! [pirate]
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I had to chuckle though .. converting me over to flys only would be like a Jewish Rabi trying to convert the Pope over to Judism [;)]
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Funny that you should mention a Jewish Rabi [sly] FYI there is a web site called the The Fly Fishing Rabbi. Can’t provide a link for it is also a fishing forum.
one nagging thought that has nothing to do with the topic here but.. ya’ll know.. I never stay on topic anyway.. soooooo.. you mentioned that you had a few fly rigs.. all handed down to you.. specifically two from your grandfather?? .. have you checked into the value (other than the obvious sentimental value) of these rigs.. I am no expert on this topic but know several members here are.. including FG.. and if I remember right she just “retired” a favorite rod because it is no longer being offered for sale (hope that is right FG).. anyway.. not trying to stop ya from using those rigs.. but if they are valuable you may want to consider retiring them and getting a new rig like those FG showed us on Cabelas site. Just a thought…
MacFly
Birddogwi wrote:
The older graphite rod I have has such a small handle its uncomfortable to hold and the two I recieved from my grandfather a number of years ago (1ea glass/graphite) are either heavy or the same handle size situation..
Sporting goods stores carry a stretch wrap material for wrapping handles of rackets. I wrapped some on the cork handle of my fly rod and it worked well for making the rod feel better in my hand. However, I am always setting my rod handle in the water while stream fishing. The tape that comes with the wrap is not water proof tape so it comes off after a while. Since you are going for blue gil you probably are not going to be laying the rod down in the water so it should not be a problem.
But if you have the 150 bucks to spend and you don’t have all the other misc stuff that comes with the rod and reel I think the Cabela’s deal would be the ticket. You will enjoy that rod better than the old fiberglass and graphites you already have. Especially an old fiberglass.
Now if you have an old bamboo. That may be another matter. It may be worth some money. An old boo rod could get you that $150. Some of the famous old boo rods sell for thousands of dollars.
Old fiberglass rods are worth sentimental value only. I don’t think that old graphite rods have appreciated any but they might one of these days. Not old enough yet.
If all that equipment is collecting dust, then the conversion was for the wrong reason.
I never converted to fly only, I just added to my arsenal. I use fly fishing, spinning and baitcasting equipment in fresh and salt water. In or out of the tube.
I also added my ice fishing equipment to my float tube arsenal when fishing in lakes for blue gills.
Since I ended up with so many rods, I have different kits set aside depending on where I am planning on going. I have different sets of Rods depending on which Island I am going to fish. Different sets for different Piers in California. Different sets for different beaches.
Different sets for different lakes, streams or rivers.
I just have to rotate my fishing areas so that none of the gear has a chance to collect dust. I am able to squeeze a fly rod into any of the different packages.
…I never said I did not give into that temptation… nor did I say how thick the layer of dust was.. [;)].. I take my grandson with me when I can and he does not use a fly rod.. but.. on occassion I do rig him with a bubble/fly rig. same for me on occassion.. especially if I want to get more distance on cast than I currently can with a fly rod..
as you know.. I dont tube or toon yet… when I get into that arena I know I will see what come with me and what doesnt..
so to say I converted to fly fishing for the wrong reasons is a bit off base.. I simply try to stay with the style of fishing I have chosen to persue is all…
MacFly
Now if you have an old bamboo. That may be another matter. It may be worth some money. An old boo rod could get you that $150. Some of the famous old boo rods sell for thousands of dollars.
Old fiberglass rods are worth sentimental value only. I don’t think that old graphite rods have appreciated any but they might one of these days. Not old enough yet.
The older Bamboos like the Montegue’s or th H.I. really aren’t worth a whole lot (about $20. new). They were really a poor excuse for a bamboo, but they were cheap, although very heavy and one of the choices you had back then. A lot of people buy them and try to convert them to Banty’s (a small bamboo) but they are really a lousy rod for that. Elkhorn has a bamboo out for a good price but, I find it a poor excuse for a bamboo also.
As far as glass, there is some glass like Russ Peak’s, Curt Goudy, early San Fransico’s, Scott’s and Winston that are worth a lot of money. Glass is becoming very popular again.
It’s all good bro. Some chose to fish one way only and others chose to diversify.
I like to hold my options open and I fully respect the decisions of others.
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I had to chuckle though .. converting me over to flys only would be like a Jewish Rabi trying to convert the Pope over to Judism [;)] [/reply]
Funny that you should mention a Jewish Rabi [sly] FYI there is a web site called the The Fly Fishing Rabbi. Can’t provide a link for it is also a fishing forum. [/reply]
LOL , that there is funny! … but its good to see that the Rabi is fishin’!
Scruffy_Fly - well besides the diameter of the things the length is uncomfortable in my hand also.. so I’m a bit set off by it.. just not the right design for the size of my meat hooks I guess. Have you seen the product called Rodwrap ? it might serve you a bit better than the raquet tape.?? I’ve contemplated buying some in the past for a few of my baitcasters and spinning rods but never pulled the trigger.
The $150 does seem to be a fair price for the package.. the rod and reel case along with that chest pack caught my eye.. the other items not so much, but I f I like what I see I’ll probably pull the trigger on the works if the quality is there with the accessories and the rod/reel feel comfortable. We’ll see when I get down there and do an inspection run.
There is also a type of Shrink Tubing that you can put on the existing grips. It is made out of Hypalon (if I spelled it right).
I use it on many of my Ocean rods. It fits over the guides (of bait cast rods) and then shrinks down to the perfect size.
Yea .. in my third post I mentioned the word *‘usable’ *in a describing two of the rods. I’ve got 6 of them that he gave me .. One is a telescoping steel rod (hexagon) that falls into itself. An A&F bamboo thats a little rough from use but looks great still and another older unmarked glass rod thats been beat like a rented mule. none of this stuff gets sold .. it stays in the family [;)]
interesting stuff tN2
In most places, that stuff is @10 buck a foot. But it only takes about 3 feet or less for the average rod. $30 is cheaper than the price of putting a new rod seat which requires removing and replacing the guides including a re-wrap of the rod.
$30.00 is cheap.
if I sounded snippy I do aplolgize.. just meant I really like the challenge of fly fishing.. its stimulating to me in many ways.. I know there are many aspects I have not explored yet.. such as salt.. but I am trying to work a step at a time… I find I tend to jump into things and t\hen get frustrated and lose interest.. with this.. and taking a step at a time I keep my interest going.. I do .. uhmmmmmm “stray” but even with that by using the bubble fly set up I keep in the same realm of fly fishing..
plus.. why do you think I want to hook up with you in the future. … I gots to learn from the best… no matter what type of rod we use…
MacFly