What do you want to LEARN this winter?

Ladies and Gents,

Since the board has been dead the last few days, I wanted to stir the pot a bit with the following question: What new skill do you plan to learn this winter in preparation for the spring/summer 2009 season?

Personally, I am going to learn to tie several different styles of nymphs (I keep a picture file of ones I run across that I like on my hard drive), as I plan on making a focused effort to increase my limited skills at subsurface fly fishing in 2009.

I am interested to see what others have in mind.

Jeff

I would like to learn how to fly fish the Cumberland River or any river for trout, rock bass or smallmouth. 99% of my fly fishing has been on lakes and ponds.

I want to learn to fly cast without creating a tsunami. I'm tired of Jet Skiers following me everywhere so they can 'jump the wake' when I cast.

Seriously, I plan on becomming a Certified Fly Fishing Instructor, and maybe a Fly Tying Instructor next year. Fly fishing in my area needs a boost.

How to heat my side garage so I can finish building my canoes. Right now it's full of siding materials we await the break of this run of minus zero days. I'm also trying to get a grip on a new style of line guide wrapping for my rods. In this case, and in all cases, I'm really learning the art of patience. JGW

I am DETERMINED to learn to tie a klinkhamer, along with some other patterns I haven't yet tied. In the past, I have purchased them & I need to tie them to follow the lead of good buddy Grubb. Tim was told once that to improve his fly tying, he should attempt to fish ONLY with flies that he personally ties. As poorly as I currently tie, I followed his advice (with only a couple exceptions) all of 2008 & had what has been probably my most successful year of fly fishing.
Thanks Tim!!!...I'm workin' on it.
Mike

I need to try again or find a class or teacher that can help me with spinning deer hair so I can make some bugs and RF McDougals!! I try and get frustrated and just give up. It is my tying nemisis

Fatman

My goal is to fish as many days as possible this winter, and to kept my fly boxes full in between.

I have also asked Santa for for 2 books from Al Beatty's "Rotary fly tying techniqes" and "Innovative Flies and and Techniques"

I have been fly tying since I was 12,and have owned a rotary vise for a few years and I am looking to expand my use of all of the benefits of a rotary vise.

Well it is to cold to work on my fly casting here in Northwest Indiana. I do hope to work on my fly tying including spinning deer hair for bass bugs. I also am going to build my first fly rod and if it works out ok I will build one for my wife. Hey maybe I should build hers first as the second one should come out better LOL

To learn how to let go of the anger I feel over my own stupidity. In December of 2006 I paid a college student/fishing guide $200 up front for a 2007 springtime trip -- a trip I still haven't received. It was the Christmas present I gave myself that year. He's disappeared; I'm still here.


Joe

"Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe." (says my river trip buddy, Sam; a quote that pops to mind from time to time)

Well this has nothing to do with warm water, but I would like to learn how to tie hair wing dry flies. i.e. Gray Wulff. There are a couple of guys in our club who are really good at it.

I'd also like to learn how to con Joe Hyde out of $200.00. :D

anglerdave

Al Beatty has a book "Tying Hair Wing Flies" in case your interested

As a devoted warmwater and/or big fish guy, I've always struggled tying the little (18-22) dry flies for spring creek trout. I know how to, I've just never done it enough to get good. This is the winter I do that.

Also, each year I try to add a new species to my "on the fly" life list. In 2008 it was gizzard shad. 2009's target species is TBA, but when I figure it out, my winter goal will be researching its habits and tying the necessary flies to catch it.

Oh yeah, and I want to talk to anglerdave after he figures out how to con Joe out of $200.

You gotta tell me what you used to get shad to actually "hit" a fly. I've caught 'em on spinning lures, usually accidentally snagged, but sometimes they are hooked in the mouth...so, they seem to actually chase and hit lures at times?

I too want to add new species to my fly rod list. Last year was carp (and peacock bass, oscar, tilapia, mayan cichlid). I accomplished that, and discovered that carp are a real HOOT on fly tackle, and sometimes very frustrating! In 2009...I'd like to tangle with grass carp and gar. I've already tied the flies...

I also want to learn more about fly-fishing from my kayak, but that will probably have to wait for next Spring's "on-the-water" classroom.

Winter is when I build my song set list. My goal learn the guitar part of at least 6 new songs this winter (lead and rhythm parts).

In the summer, I fish and play guitar for fun, in the winter, I read about fishing for fun and get more serious about the guitar.

Jeff

Hi All,

Like Gigmaster, I want to improve the sorry state of my fly casting.

Regards,

Gandolf

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Originally Posted by Bluegill222

Oh yeah, and I want to talk to anglerdave after he figures out how to con Joe out of $200.

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Well, you FIRST have to be a nice, honest lookin' college age kid.....You two OL' GOATS can forget it!!!!! :p
Mikey

a quick way to get over my shoulder rehab so I can get my butt back out on the water again!!

I want to learn how to tie smaller flies and learn how to take advantage of my rotary vise to it's fullest.

Wayneb

This winter I am trying to 'master' tying classic looking steelhead and salmon type patterns. I may not get the chance to fish them for Steelheads any time soon, but have thought about maybe throwing some of the early turners into one of my bass boxes, to see if they will turn on some smallies in a place I know of. Will post a pic or two later, open for criticism/discussion.

Since I have become truly proficient at casting "wind knots" into my leader, I would like to expand my casting horizons to include more complex knots such as bowlines, timber hitches, and maybe even a tautline hitch. I need to advance beyond simple overhand loops. 8T :)

Please forgive the O.T. here by me, but can't resist this. One of the things we actually teach in casting classes is exactly how to tie a wind knot in your leader on purpose. It is part of the loop-control section. We teach how to pitch a big circular front loop and gradually tighten it to a wedge and then into a tailing-loop knot. This control, once learned, will help the student in all future casting situations.

I want to fill the empty places in my fly boxes.
I want to get into more small flies.
that is why I have 600 hooks from size 22 to 30 now.

I want to learn to tie something that does not look like dog poop with deer hair.

I don't want to ruin JC's reputation as a fly casting teacher, so I will not be at any Fish ins.:)


Rick

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Originally Posted by Rick Z

I want to learn to tie something that does not look like dog poop with deer hair.

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What an image that conjures...Hilarious! :p

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Originally Posted by J Castwell

Please forgive the O.T. here by me, but can't resist this. One of the things we actually teach in casting classes is exactly how to tie a wind knot in your leader on purpose. It is part of the loop-control section. We teach how to pitch a big circular front loop and gradually tighten it to a wedge and then into a tailing-loop knot. This control, once learned, will help the student in all future casting situations.

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Hi JC,

I've got the second part of the lesson down pat. It's the first part, not knotting the leader, that I'm a little shaky on. 8T :)

watching my daughter-in-law grow with our sixteenth grandchild. We learned yesterday she is 6 weeks along. :)
Also teaching a couple of grandsons to tie flies (more like learning along with them).
Rebuilding the carport awning since it collasped from this week's snow.
Getting on the treadmill 20 minutes a day so I'll be ready for March.
Dang! This thread is turning into a New Years Resolution list. Jimsnarocks

Would you please add another 20 minutes on the treadmill,,, for me? Seems I'm busy lately and just can't find the time to get on mine. :)

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Originally Posted by J Castwell

Would you please add another 20 minutes on the treadmill,,, for me? Seems I'm busy lately and just can't find the time to get on mine. :)

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Gotcha covered JC. My Christmas present to you.

My daughter and son-in-law got a new puppy for my grandkids for Christmas and are leaving it here 'til tomorrow nite. Whiney little critter. Now I can learn patience and tolerance too. OH GOODY. Jim :roll: