cuzza

Why not use a small regular strike indicator and attack it with a drab coloured sharpie leaving just a spot of colour or do the same to one of those small styrofoam balls used for packaging or bean bags and thread it on the line if you need something really small? I've used Biostrike and never managed to get to it to stay on for very long even around a knot.

While i can't claim to be the voice of HAFFT, I am a member and we don't have anything on that weekend (unless it's being kept very quiet! ) Last year the Izaak Walton Fly Forum was at the Hamilton Convention Centre, this year, it was combined with the Sportsman's Show in Toronto. The New Fly Fisher Symposium was supposed to be next weekend but that has been moved to November and it's in Mississauga http://www.thenewflyfisher.com/fly-fishing-symposium.php

Some info on "readiness" here http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/category/drive_clean/STDPROD_102721.html Seems like you don't need the diagnostic to get your sticker, just wait a couple of days, go back and if you gte the same result you can get your stickers anyway! http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/category/drive_clean/STDPROD_103062.html

Flymart.ca is a great resource - Scott, the owner, is a top guy. I buy from him, local shops and across the border when there on business. For starting out, Superfly do material only kits which might be of interest and Sail stock them so you can see what materials they contain and the flies you can make.

I have an Ion - the largest size (10/12). In hindsight i should have gone with the smaller one (8/10) as the biggie isn't full with 250m of GSB, running line and a 540 Compact Skagit head, it does balance nicely though. It seems decent enough, sorry to say i haven't really tested on anything big yet Have you bought the Greys rod yet? If not, and you're on a budget, look at used gear somewhere like Speypages - lots of good stuff crops up regularly- the Echo rods are supposedly pretty good and show up quite a bit on there. For lines, go with a Skagit setup, easier to learn with - most of the manufacturers have recommended lines for a given rod (this is the Airflo one for example http://www.rajeffsports.com/spey_chart.pdf) - just go with what's in the table

The Konic is great in the cold (and the heat!) - with the sealed drag I've never had a problem with it. The higher end Lamsons are nice reels but you're paying for the materials they use - the Konic is just painted cast aluminium. Another good on is the Loomis Eastfork - they don't make them any more but i picked one up last year secondhand and the drag is excellent on there too, thecarp in my avatar << was taken with the Eastfork.

Most fly lines are 90-100ft long - taking half an inch off once a year isn't going to hurt. I guess if you're swapping a lot, it's not practical but as a seasonal exercise it works for me.

I'd go Lamson from that list - I have the cheaper Konic and it's great, the drags are the same on all models, I believe and mine is very smooth. I was going to buy spools too, one for my steelhead line and one for the bass/carp/pike one - it takes about 10-15mins to swap them over, including cleaning the line and re-tying the needle knot so that's what I do instead.

Nice ties Chris! Top right would be first out of the box for me Was making a list of materials yesterday to get some pike flies tied up myself, much more satisfying than making a size 16 soft hackle!

Hi John, I'm going to have to drop out - my wife has her company Christmas do on Friday and has now decided she's going which means I am too. Hope you get plenty of people - I'll keep an eye out for the next one. Cheers, Richard

Wasn't calling your ability into question Skip, I started my reply before you wrote yours. That's a very kind of you to offer your time to a fellow OFC'r I love working on cars - almost as relaxing as fishing

Do you need rotors? If your pads are worn out then just replace them - any half decent local mechanic should be able to tell you what needs doing. If you do need rotors, don't go for bargain basement ones as you'll be buying another set again soon (voice of experience ) Price depends on the parts you use but $400 DIY and $600 done by an independent mechanic with non OE parts is probably a reasonable ballpark figure.

For fly fishing theres The Hamilton Fly Fishers, Isaac Walton in Missisauga and KW Fly Fishers that I know of

Where's your fly rod? Just kidding I break out the float rod around this time of year too - nice going on the fish!

The Firehall is almost my local so assuming I'm around, I should be up for this - Saturday night is "Oakville Idol" - always good for a laugh

Very nice Dave - can't beat a bit of bling

I did think of TJ when I was typing the title The one second left is white with a splash of pink (looks more pink in the pic TBH) - was planning on doing some more so flashy blue and pure white seem to be the order of the day. Thanks for the feedback guys

FWIW, I wouldn't think there'll be many fish that high up yet, it's early and we haven't had much rain. I fished that area this same weekend last year (when conditions were more favourable) and didn't see any signs of fish let alone catch any. That said, it's probably worth a go - check the regs before you do though, Paris to upstream of Brantford Conservation Area is artificials only.

I've made the move to non-toxic this year which seems to be designed to be moved, just push a thumb nail into the slot and they open as long as you don't clamp them on with pliers. I get mine on trips to the UK where the only shot you can buy is non-toxic apart from size 10 and down - not as cheap as lead but being easier to re-use makes up most of the difference.

Morning all, Finally got round to making some steelhead jigs last night - have seen them in the shops and thought "I can do that" .... From what I can find out, they are best fished under a float/indicator a few feet off bottom. Can anyone give any more tips for rigging them up? Are there conditions when they'll outfish other baits or is it just a case of changing things up til something works? Thanks!

Go with the Rio Pike or a Coldwater Clouser (eBay is your friend here) - some of the bass lines have a warmwater coating that will stiffen up a bit in very cold conditions - it never gets tropical warm up here anyway so the coldwater stiff will be fine. BFW has a good point on the action (hence I have 2 8wts one very fast and one softer) but i recon that blank will be fine, easier to roll cast with something a little too stiff than cast chickens with a noodle.

Coffees are on me (despite how my post reads) all I need to know is why my float's not going down

I use these http://www.rioproducts.com/fly-lines/freshwater/specialty/mainstream-bass-pike-panfish/ at $40ish it doesn't matter if I stand on it or get it caught round a tree limb. I also overline by one weight so use a 9wt on my 8wt - makes casting a bit easier. These look good too http://www.rioproducts.com/fly-lines/freshwater/specialty/power-fly/ but to be honest any bass/pike line will do as they're meant for casting big flies, carp flies don't tend to be big like a massive pike fly or a popper so whatever will work for those two will cover carping as well.

I seem to remember you like pike fishing? If you want to cast half a chicken, try a Rio Pike (same as the old Clouser taper), Mainstream Bass or even the Outbound Short which would probably cast a whole chicken My 8wt does double duty for steelhead in winter/fall and bass, pike and carp in summer and I use two lines as well, a Steelhead taper for nymphing and a Mainstream Bass for everything else, as the two seasons don't overlap I swap them - my job for tonight as it happens! Nice rod BTW

I did do the intro thing when I joined but here goes... I'm Richard, moved to Canada (Oakville) from the UK 3 years ago - fished a lot over there but things are somewhat different here! I'm into fly fishing mainly and have caught most of the common species on fly gear (carp being a highlight thanks to some pointers from a member on here) but have picked up a float setup for steelhead this season - if any seasoned pinner want to learn about fly fishing (for steelies or otherwise) in exchange for some pinning tips and coffee let me know