Beginners

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Hi Gang,

Just a reminder to all participants listed below that the deadline to have the flies in is only 8 days away (June 15th).

I have flies in from Vickie Eagle Elk (imagine that), the bonus flies are tied and toe tagged so all I need now are flies from:

Ski Bum, Just Learning, Leaky Tiki, Jaws, dheike, Flip, Griswald, Bar Fly, Bill Bert, Stokes, and last but not least, Mulligan (who has lucked into one of the best trout bum jobs I've ever heard of).

Looking forward to seeing those flies rolling in.

REE

[LeakyTiki]

Ron,
Mine are all boxed up and toe tagged with a couple extra for you. I will get them in the mail tomorrow at the latest with as coupla bucks for handling and postage.
Thanks Ron,
LT:smokin

[Jim Wallace]

Ron,
In the spirit of "expanding my horizons," I have been trying to tie up various dry patterns in #14. My fingers are like clubs...my attempts at a parachute adams was comical at best, as winding two hackles on a post is tricky and a bit tedious (eventually I'll get it). I want to submit something that is worthy of a swap, so I am doing something a bit easier.
I have been able to do a half-way decent comparadun style, which is probably what I'm going with.
Don't worry, I'll have 'em in to you by the 15th.:thumb

Jimbo

[Dylan D]

REE -
Thanks for the reminder. Mine are complete and I'll send in the next couple of days.

bar fly

[Ron Eagle Elk]

About ten minutes after I posted this flies arrived in the afternoon mail from Mulligan and Stokes. Excellent ties from both tyers. You guys are sandbaggin, right.
You are sooooo gonna like the flies in so far.

REE

[Chris Stokesbary]

No sandbaggin here...I went through about 5 different patterns that I hadn't tied before in this effort before ending up the one I sent in.

I was up in the San Juans a few weeks ago, and pulled a fly from my box that came from who knows where...and it started catching fish left and right.

Two of them got hammered pretty quick, and I ended up tying a few that night for the next day by just copying the pattern I had (or what was left of it).
It worked for me so well (and looked halfway decent) I figured it a good match for this swap.

I had to search the patterns o' the net to find out that it was a "tied-back caddis"...shellback nymph with a dry hackle. I used it on a sinking line with
flotant applied, as it would float for 20 seconds or so, then slowly sink. I got a few hits that day dry, but mostly deep.

[Mulligan]

I dropped mine in the mail on the weekend. Should be there tomorrow or the next day I would guess. I tied up some size 14 BH pheasant tails. I have only been tying for 2 months or so now, so go easy on me kiddos ;-)

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Just kicking this up so we don't wind up in the archieves.

Also,as stated in the very first post, I'm mailing the flies out on the afternoon of the 16th, so if you want your share of the swap flies make sure yours are in by the 15th.

The flies in so far are very nicely done (as in I'm jealous) and should fish well.

REE

[Griswald]

Ron,
Just dropped 13 size 14 Olive Marabou Damsels in the mail to you in Yelm. Look forward to seeing everyone's flies.
Hope mine are ok (been tying for 4 months)
Griswald

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Griswald,

I'm sure your flies are more than okay. That's why it's called a beginners swap, you get to see what others are doing, add to your fly box, and improve your skills. Nothing helps you improve like tying a dozen or so of the same fly.

Looking forward to them.

REE

[Mulligan]

>>The flies in so far are very nicely done (as in I'm jealous) and should fish well.<<

I believe I included 14 flies. One for you and one for Flydreamin.

Cheers

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Leaky Tiki's flies arrived in the afternoon mail, some very nicely tied damsels. Your gonna be getting a nice variation of flies in the swap. Nymphs, dries, emergers so far. looking forward to the rest.

Mulligan, I haven't counted flies in the packages yet, but my thanks for the extras.

REE

[Bill Douglas]

Mine are going into the mail today. Some of them look better than others :-( I wanted to tie up some more to replace the more mediocre ones, but I have been working 60+ hour weeks for the last month and a half. I think they are trying to kill me.:dunno

I field tested one of them down here on the lower Lil' D on Sunday, and caught three cutthroat. So, if nothing else, they are fishable.

[Jim Wallace]

Ron, Looks like I get to tie today. Was just headed out to manicure a few lawns and the weather went from overcast to a nasty rain squall, so I chickened out, tucked tail and headed for the barn. Of course, now that I'm back inside, the rain is letting up. But that's it! Work is canceled for the day. This gusty squally stuff (here on the coast) is fly tying weather!:beer2

Jimbo

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Bill Bert, Nothing like field testing those flies. At least it's a good excuse to hit the river. Drop me an e-mail, we should hook up and fish one of these days.

Jaws, If your weather patterns have been anything like mine, you've had a lot of tying days. Of course those overcast days with no wind make great BWO hatches happen.

REE

[Greg Gilliland]

Dropping my in the mail on Friday morning, I do not believe they will go out till Saturday because of the Memorial Service and the post offices being closed tomorrow. Just wanted to let you all know they are in the mail. Ron the extras are for you and Flydreamin.

[dheike]

Started tying literaly a week before you posted this in the first place so getting more than a base wrap was expanding my horizons. Anyways. They'll be there by the deadline and I have tried a couple and they actually work. So I guess that is all that matters.

Darrin

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Greg and Darin. Kewl, more flies in the mail. I'm looking forward to Saturday, should be a bumper crop of packages in my mail box. Darrin, doesn't matter how long you've been tying, if the flies actually work, they gotta be good.

I'm one of those guys who like simple flies (those in the last beginners swap know that from the bonus fly). Easy to tie, few materials, and sure fire fish catchers. Those flies are out there, as you'll see from the bonus flies from this swap. Experimentation with materials and patterns is the key.

REE

[Jim Wallace]

What!!! Post offices closed today! (Haven't been watching the news lately. Just been spinning old rock 'n roll vinyl 33 rpms to read and tie by). My local P.O. isn't staffed on the customer service desk (clerk just files the mail in the P. O. boxes) on Saturdays. I'm just finishing up, and I guess I'll need to buy postage stamps out of the machine and put mine in the outside drop box for a afternoon pickup either today or Sat. Otherwise they go in the mail Monday morning.
Usually get overnite delivery between here and Puget Sound, but I don't want to take the chance, so if anyone can give me a ballpark figure for postage for a 4" X 7" padded envelope with a mint tin full of #14 March Brown Comparaduns (at least that is what they were supposed to resemble), I'll just plaster some stamps on them and put them in the drop box today.
Ha Ha, and I just got thru congratulating myself for getting them done in time not to sweat the deadline. :beathead Jimbo

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Jaws, the ones I've gotten so far have had anywhere from 80 cents to $1.11 on them.

REE

[Jim Wallace]

Thanks, Ron. Usually everthing goes directly from here to the bulk mail center in Oly. Both our zips start out 985, I'll bet it would make it to your mailbox tuesday the 15th if I mailed it monday, but dropping it in the box tomorrow will get it picked up and on the way by 2:45pm.
I didn't get up to the P.O. yet, as one of my elderly customers called me for some un-planned for short-notice work. Talk about getting "little old ladied to death" LOL! (I live smack dab in the middle of my work territory and stop in for a break when I drive past my house). Now back out the door to make some more music with my weedwhacker! One more lawn job to knock off and it'll be beer-thirty. Couple more days of this and I can take off and go fishing again!

Update:
Stopped by the P.O. and the parcel post rates posted in the lobby are $.37 for the 1st oz. and $.23 for each additional oz. My package weighs in at under 2 oz. so two $.37 stamps will be more than enough.

Jimbo:thumb

[Greg Gilliland]

Mine are in the mail today.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Hi Guys,

Not the bumper crop I was hoping for today, but Griswald's flies arrived. Some nicely done damsels.

We're cutting it close, aren't we?

REE

[C Van]

Tagging them now and overnighting them, I had to try them out b4 sending, and I found a few willing takers, so excuse teh poor quality, only two months of tying experiance, I think you will get mine (just) in time.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Nice crop opf flies in the mail box this morning. Got offerings from Just Learnning, Jaws and Barfly.

Flies are enroute from Ski Bum, dheike, and Bill Bert. I haven't heard anything from Flip at all.

I'll wait until the late afternoon mail run (5:00 PM) so there is a full day for your flies to arrive.

Everyone is going to have a nice selection from this swap. good tying everyone.

REE

[Flip]

i know ron, im really sorry. ive been really busy with shool and the likes. im mailing them today, ill give some extras for everyone for my damn tardyness. have some family issues in portland so i was out of town, finals, graduation, all that sh!t.:bawling

[Bill Douglas]

I've run into a problem, too.
The wife was supposed to go to the post office last week and mail off our baby shower thank you notes. She was going to mail my flies while she was there. I went out to her car this morning and found both the thank you notes and the flies in her trunk. I guess I shouldn't rely on a 8 1/2 months pregnant woman. My fault, I should have followed up and made sure she did in fact go to the post office.

I could either overnight mail them today, hand deliver them, or bag it if it is too late. I'm really sorry. I feel like a flakey, irresponsible teenager.

[Bill Douglas]

Dropped them off overnight express, today. I don't know if I could have made it out to Yelm and back in time for work.

I cannot apologize enough for the screw up. Hopefully I'm not too late. I deserve a floggin' with ten weight lead core line.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Bill Bert, I wish I had checked the board earlier. This would have given me a perfect excuse to hit the Little D after you got off work. We could have met up at Pioneer park. No problem though, I've had my wife forget to mail things for me (and Vice Versa) several times and neither of us is pregnant. Things happen. We'll save the flogging for serious offense (like using worms or power bait).

Flip's tubes arrived today. For those of you who have never used tube flies, I'm gonna let you bug Flip on how to rig them. That being said, they work very well for steelhead and salmon, are fairly simple to tie and having a sliding tube really keeps the toothy critters from tearing up the material in the fly.

I'm not mailing the flies out until 4:30 tommorow evening, just before closing, so those flies not yet here stand the best chance of arriving.

Still out are dheike, Bill Bert and Ski Bum.

REE

[C Van]

I asked a guy at work to overnight my flies yesterday and they arrived at MY doorstep today, so if you want something done do it your self and i guess you won't get my flies. sorry:bawling at least i have some all ready for another swap if i am ever aloud in another one

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Hi Guys,

I went down to the post office to get the envelopes to mail out the flies and everything was dark. We are getting no mail delivery today because of a power problem at the Post Office. I won't be able to get the flies out until tommorow (the 17th) morning. My apologies.

SkiBum, If you can overnite them again, to me this time. they will probably make it.

Again, my apologies for getting the fllies out late, but this is something I have no control over. Thanks for your understanding (I hope).

REE

[Dylan D]

REE -
How DARE you!! :P
Just kidding. Thanks for your efforts and I'm looking forward to the new stash. When's the next one? I'm in.

[Bill Douglas]

Miscommunication again with Kelly!
I didn't realize pregnant women got so
absentminded.
Mine didn't go out until this morning.
Hopefully, they'll make it.........

Ron, I typically work evenings (1600-0200 lately) so I fish in the morning when I have the energy. Although I have a sneaking suspicion my fishing time is going to be seriously curtailed in the next week or two.

[dheike]

Ron,
I am very very sorry about missing out. I was just taken into the ER recently for a freak headache. They ruled out anurism and that is pretty cool though I still have headaches for whatever reason. I am laying of most things right now and if I get a few short moments I will try to focus on the vise and finish what I promised, even without the swap I will still mail them to you. Maybe we could just swap for the bonus ties you were putting out.
Thanks again,
Darrin

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Man! Look what happens when you taje the other half out for dinner and a movie. You get bumped all the way to page 2.

The flies are in the capable (?) hands of the US Postal System. Unfortunately SkiBum and dheike's flies didn't make the deadline, even with the extra day because of the poweer probelm. The flies that were to go to them were divded up among those who got their flies in, so you got some extras.

Skibum, when your flies arrive do you want me to hold them for the next swap?

Yes, boys and girls, there will be one more swap before I quit for the summer. Be watching for the announcement on the BB on Monday.

I was thinking that this fall, after the fishing slows down and the weather gets nasty, maybe we could do a monthly beginners swap. one month do streamers, then terrestrials, nymphs, that sort of thing. Drop me an e-mail and let me know what you think. I think it would be a great way to fill your boxes for next season.

Thanks to all the swappers for participating. The flies were very well done, and the generosity for FlyDreamin was terrific. Thanks again.

REE

[Jim Wallace]

Received my flies in the mail Saturday and I'm stoked! Nice work, guys and Vickie. Thanks again Ron. That bonus fly you tied, a #20 Rocky Ford Creek Blue Plate Special, sure has a long name for such a small fly! Looks cool and not too hard to tie.
One word on my comparadun. Apply dressing only to the wing so that the body sits low in the film, per directions in Skip Morris' Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple.

Jimbo

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Jaws, Out of 20 fish caught at RFC, 18 were on the RFCBPS. Fish it dry or let it drown, the fish will eat it any way it's served. I did use it yesterday on the Little D in Tumwater and brought 4 nice cutts to hand with it before one of those tree fish broke me off. We stopped fishing shortly after that because the bikini/beer hatch had started.

Glad you liked the flies. It looked like everyone put a real effort into tying those up.

REE

[Bill Douglas]

I've been so busy with work and then my Grandma's birthday party on Saturday that I hadn't checked the ol' snail mailbox. I got mine, and I am very excited to try them. I'm not too sure what to do with the tube flies, though. It looks like I need to work on my tying skills some more, as mine looked the most "beginnerish" of the bunch.

I bought my father a TFO Professional series 5wt, Okuma reel, line, leader, and tippet for Father's day. So hopefully, we can put some of the flies to good use together.

Thanks to everyone!
I sure wish I was heading out to test some of the flies instead of to the very hot factory :-( .
I feel like I'm back at Fort Benning with this hot, muggy weather and lightning.

[LeakyTiki]

Just recieved mine in the mail and they are SWEEET!

Thanks to everyone for their efforts and especially Ron for putting it all together:thumb

Tight Lines,
LT:beer2

Edit: LadyBug has been eyeballing all my new bugs " Oh, that one looks fishy" she says. Then "Wow, I really like that one!" and I said, "You shoulda joined up because these are MINE" }(

Swaps are cool, LT:smokin

[Greg Gilliland]

WOW They are all awesome, thanks for everyones tying. I am looking forward to going and fishing them hopefully yhis weekend. Anyone help me with the tube fly? Thanks Ron for the swap as usual it was great.