[VFB] No NEC but...

[DMurphy832]

Just came back from nomail land and a comfortable fishing trip.  Planned to go to NEC in PA but a good friend called and we had our own tiny clave.  Met up with Byard at my cabin in south central PA on Thursday about 6 p.m.  We fished the Breeches Friday and Sunday.  During the rain Saturday we found the elusive perfect handmade  pretzels and other Bavarian influenced foods followed by a tying marathon well into the night.

We tied the illegal OBO, CDC & Elk, #22 Stimulators, Copper Johns, Sulphurs and who knows what else.  Looking at Byard's materials got me salivating so its off to LinesEnd after a bit to overflow my bench even more.  How can a guy have 100 bags of dubbing and not the right sulphur yellow?  Or why do I NEED those other colors of awesome hair and Ice Dub?  Byard had a cool tool but neither of us nor my 80 year old dad who stopped by for an hour one night have a clue what it's for.

Byard's free tips on tying between thumb and finger, spinning the thread bobbin to get a more controlled loop over my materials and reminders about using too much materials kept me improving the flys as we tied.  BTW Byard, I had a dubbing twister in my tool caddy I found when unpacking.  Not as fancy or used as much as yours but it will be used.

I really missed NEC but not the wet sleeping bag, high water and hangover this year.  I suppose you guys really picked on the Rainmaker but I think this pattern is even too much for his water magnet.

Back to tying and buying...yes Byard...I'm STILL tyin',

Murf