I just turned on television and the movie Groundhog Day was playing on the ABC network. Actor Bill Murray pokes fun at Punxstawney Phil. Oh no, I thought, this Woodchuck swap may not happen if I don't interest a few more snowbound, cabin fever, fishing starved fly tiers. Time is running out for you to sign up. Flies are not due until Groundhog Day. Sign up by Jan 2 to participate.
Ed
Woodchuck Swap
Flies Due on Groundhog Day (Candlemas Day), Feb. 2, 2002
Maximum number of Swap Participants - 12
Sign-up period ends Jan. 2
All flies must contain hair from woodchuck or a close relative from the Marmot family.
To sign up for the Woodchuck Swap go to VFS at:
http://www.flyshop.com/Bench/Index-frames.cfm?page=swap
According to legend:
On February 2 the groundhog (woodchuck, chuck, marmot etc) peers out of his burrow to check the climate. If he doesn't see his shadow then spring is reputed to be close at hand. However if he is frightened by his shadow, spring is at least six weeks away.
Read More About It
http://www.punxsutawneyphil.com/
http://www.hoghaven.com/
http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm
http://www.groundhog.org/
What better way to celebrate this occasion than with a fly swap.
I like to use materials that are readily accessible. I tie with shoe laces, dog hair, rubber bands, synthetic dusters, candy wrappers, craft beads and other foraged materials. The woodchuck makes it onto the list. Normally thought of as a pest, their underground burrows in agricultural fields can collapse when farm machinery travel over them. This can cause injury to the machinery operator and damage his tractor, hay-bine, bailer etc.
If you would like to participate and are looking for a source of woodchuck, it can be purchased on line at http://www.linesend.com/00/hair.shtml or I will swap a patch of woodchuck or rockchuck with you for another fly tying material.
The pattern I am offering has been productive on bass and panfish. It substitutes woodchuck for squirrel in a pattern originally called squirrelly. I have renamed it Route 206.
