NEKvt

really good work as usual Marty.

Good looking stuff Marty.

Good stuff. Hadn't seen that before.

The bucktail and marabou are great suggestions, add to that a grizzly cape with good long feathers (not the dry fly type) and you can tie flies that will catch fish anywhere. Just like anything involved with fishing it gets to be addicting, you wind up with way more materials than you need. Try some arctic fox or finnish racoon for some jigs and flies with great action, they both build up a little bigger than marabou. As for flies the suggestions have been good so far, I would add bendbacks to your list, great fish imitator and one of the more weedless flies you can tie. As for the senko, ez body probably wouldn't work. Check out the gulley worm, essentially woven chenile. Might work for you.

Agreeing with stringjam seems like a safe thing to do with cranks, those bottom two look awesome.

I have used A on a few rods over 6wt including an 8/9 spey and had no problems. Like flechero said, it is plenty strong for the amount of work you are going to ask of it.

You just gotta get out and practice in it. So many guys fly fish the Florida coast. Stop the rod quick and make tight loops, you will be casting in the wind in no time. Much easier to practice on the lawn, that way you are focused on casting not catching. Fly fishing for bass is great, once you get stuck on catching them tying your own just adds another element.

I have mixed feelings about Dicks. I have gotten a few reels really cheap from them that I like. It seems they purchase enough fishing stuff to stock the store in March and then never make any attempt to restock. At this point in the year the shelves are barren.

I like those a lot Marty. Great work as usual.

PM on the way. And thanks Walz. I hadn't thought of the keeper thing, kind of like that. I am in no way worried about people trying to cheat. There won't be anything worth winning. I just want a fair way to designate a winner. That way we can all rib him all year long for cheating.

Planning on setting one of these up with some friends. No chance of bringing fish in. How to keep a score? I was thinking one fish per angler (2 anglers per team) measured on the honor system. No money involved, just some silly trophy and maybe a 12er. Anyone done anything like this? How did you decide who won? What were some rules that worked? Thanks

That perch is awesome, as are the rest of them. How do you like that bait? I bought a couple to practice painting on, haven't fished them yet.

Looking good as usual Marty.

That tiger wrap looks killer. Lucky guy.

Those things look like they will fish just fine.

Really like that brown over yellow. Nice work.

The RC is well over twice the money. I have been getting the baby -1 for $3 at my local Dicks. Doing well with them too.

What they said.

I have the 7' 1/4-3/4 and really like it. I can't compare it to anything as it is the first casting rod I have owned. Seems well made, I haven't broken it yet which says quite a bit (just broke fly rod # 8 today). Payed $50 on ebay for it last season.

Good Stuff Marty

That ought to work. Good idea with the q-tip.

A perch colored dt4 was my most productive crank last year. I realized I did not have many perch patterns in the fly box. These are a few I came up with. The first is a hollow tie that will wake on the surface, should push a lot of water. The second is a clouser variation tied on a skip hook. The last is a smaller clouser.

Just got mine in the mail today. They look good. Excited about getting some paint on them. I got the jerkbait, and the LC knockoff as well, both seem like they will fish.

Bought a couple of these to paint also. If they suck they will be my practice baits for new paint patterns. If they catch fish that is even better.

That will definitely get the job done.