I agree with everyone’s sentiments. I miss so many people that used to participate in the list. I was so lucky to see Allan Fish a couple years ago when I was speaking at a conference in Indianapolis. I still have the CD that Mark from Louisiana did - music for Fly Tying and Feather Plucking, I believe. I enjoy watching tying videos made by Tony and Don and reading the books Jimmy wrote. I too still have a bunch of the feathers from the hackle swaps. I also have a mouse tied by Don that I won in his first rope dub contest. I live within a couple of hours of Rick but somehow we have still never seen each other outside of Sowbug many years ago. Time marches on but I have many fond memories of the Virtual FlyBox list and am glad Byard started that family. Best regards to all! I look forward to seeing Rene again in a few weeks! (And anyone else who happens to be in Mountain Home at the time)
Sincerely, Bruce > On Mar 9, 2025, at 5:26 PM, Michael Bliss <[email protected]> wrote: > > I miss all those folks and with fondness. Tony and Alan Fish were (are) the > best of the best. Nice to see Byard lurking. I was just reviewing my hackle > the other day and still have hackle from the hackle swaps we used to do. I > wish I could come this year but we have so much going on this year that it > will have to wait. I miss the early time with this group and as Byard > mentioned with the old flyfish@ group. Hope all of you stay healthy and > well. > > Mike Bliss > > On Sun, Mar 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM Gary L Webb <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> My wife and I would love to get back again. On our only trip there Tony tied >> us one of his Froggies. But she is in a wheelchair these days. So we don't >> do many long trips. >> >> On Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 8:31:07 PM UTC-6 Byard Miller wrote: >>> I see my name has been mentioned. The memories of VFB and Fkyfish@ are >>> fondly and often in my mind. Sadly a scenario not to be repeated. By those >>> of us involved I presume. We’ve lost many so close to our hearts. I hope we >>> meet up with them all again when our time comes. >>> >>> On a personal update I’ve recently left behind snow shoveling and grass >>> mowing for the south east climes of Arizona. Sadly no nearby trout or any >>> fishing opportunities. But other interests fill in those voids and I can >>> always venture into other near or far waters. I would like to seek out an >>> Apache Trout sometime soon. >>> >>> It’s nice to see there are some still monitoring the ancient VFB list. >>> >>> Regards to all my special friends! >>> >>> Keep tyin’ … Byard >>> >>> Sent from Byard's iPhone >>> >>>> On Mar 8, 2025, at 2:31 PM, 'Rick Zieger' via VFB Mail >>>> <[email protected] <>> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>> >>>> I will not make SowBug this year. >>>> Rick >>>> >>>> On Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 01:31:59 PM CST, Neville Gosling >>>> <[email protected] <>> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> I agree, Rick Ziger has done an exemplary job of keeping the facebook >>>> group alive but it is not doing particularly well. Why? I think that there >>>> are so many other groups and diversions online and new people coming >>>> online will never have what we had when VFB was very popular when Byard >>>> Miller started it. >>>> >>>> Thank you Rick……… >>>> >>>> Neville (Nev) Gosling >>>> >>>> > On Mar 8, 2025, at 10:54, Rene Zillmann <[email protected] <>> wrote: >>>> > >>>> > Hi Nev, >>>> > >>>> > you are right, we lost a lot of members from the list and even the >>>> > Facebook group is rather quite, even if Rick tries to keep it alive. >>>> > >>>> > I'm really looking forward to the trip. Everything is setup, flights, >>>> > car, lodging. Hopefully we will not get ill in advance of the travel. >>>> > >>>> > Best wishes >>>> > >>>> > Rene´ >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > On 3/8/25 18:33, Neville Gosling wrote: >>>> >> Have a good time at the Sowbug Rene and enjoy fishing in Arkansas! I >>>> >> was there in 2011 and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately the original VFB >>>> >> members like Tony Spezio, Alan Fish and others have passed away, but >>>> >> the sowbug itself should still be very good and enjoyable. >>>> >> >>>> >> Unfortunately, with Trump in power and his plan to annex Canada, I >>>> >> likely will never visit USA again and I will move back to England if >>>> >> Trump is successful. >>>> >> >>>> >> Best wishes…….Neville Gosling, Greater Vancouver, BC Canada. >>>> >> >>>> >>> On Mar 8, 2025, at 09:21, Rene Zillmann <[email protected] <>> >>>> >>> wrote: >>>> >>> >>>> >>> Gang, >>>> >>> >>>> >>> not sure who is still reading the list, but anyway. >>>> >>> >>>> >>> This plan became reality, we will enter the airplane in less than 2 >>>> >>> weeks, stay 2 days in Mempohis and than drive to Mnt.home to do some >>>> >>> serious fishing and than be at the sowbug. >>>> >>> >>>> >>> Who else will be there? I know from Peggy, Bruce Whittle. and Jeff >>>> >>> Hines. Anyone else? >>>> >>> >>>> >>> Best >>>> >>> >>>> >>> Rene´ Zillmann >>>> >>> >>>> >>> >>>> >>> On 2/20/24 15:51, Rene Zillmann wrote: >>>> >>>> Folks, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> maybe I do it again. Son is just talking me into going to the sowbug >>>> >>>> 2025 with him, and spend also some time for serious fishing. It is a >>>> >>>> father and son trip, not so much father and child. And my 4th visit >>>> >>>> at the event. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> We are in an very early phase of investigation, so the outcome is not >>>> >>>> clear, and we also might do something very different. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Anyway: Current plan is to fly in one week before the Sowbug, fish a >>>> >>>> very nice area for trout or warmwater, go the Sowbug. We need to >>>> >>>> return on Saturday, so we could only spend 2 days at the sowbug. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Currently we are looking for an area for this initial fishery, as it >>>> >>>> is early in the year we are looking somehow South. One Idea is: Fly >>>> >>>> to Memphis, drive to Great Smokey Mountains (Near Knoxville) Do some >>>> >>>> Fishing, drive to the Sowbug, Attend Sowbug and return to Germany via >>>> >>>> Memphis. A bit of driving, though. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Any other ideas or suggestions? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks a lot >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Rene from Germany >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> -- >>>> >>> -- >>>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VFB Mail" >>>> >>> group. >>>> >>> >>>> >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] <> >>>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> >>> [email protected] <> >>>> >>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> >>> http://groups.google.com/group/vfb-mail?hl=en >>>> >>> >>>> >>> VFB Mail is sponsored by Line's End Inc at http://www.linesend.com >>>> >>> <http://www.linesend.com/> >>>> >>> --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> >>> Groups "VFB Mail" group. >>>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> >>> an email to [email protected] <>. >>>> >>> To view this discussion visit >>>> >>> 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>> <mailto:[email protected]> >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/vfb-mail?hl=en >> >> VFB Mail is sponsored by Line's End Inc at http://www.linesend.com >> <http://www.linesend.com/> >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VFB Mail" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vfb-mail/f4f5eca9-1df6-4ee6-aa53-141fcf87d50bn%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vfb-mail/f4f5eca9-1df6-4ee6-aa53-141fcf87d50bn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. > > > > -- > Mike Bliss > > > -- > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VFB Mail" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] > For 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