My first hoppers

[Slartybardfast]

Hey people. Bought a vise recently and that was the beginning of the end. Several hours wasted on ebay and several trips to indy and my supplies have taken over the kitchen table. Here are my first hoppers.


Any sage advice or photoshopping is appreciated.

[trent]

John:

I hope you realize this is the beginning of the end. I know you acknowledged it in your post, but have you really come to grips with it? It appears that you have a loving wife, but this may be the test of how strong that love actually is.

Luckily for you, the local availability of fly tying materials makes it more difficult for you to acquire them. That should impede the outlay of cash somewhat spreading it over a greater period of time. No need to plunge yourself into immediate poverty. You might as well make it slow and painful.

I basically started tying last fall. Unlike you, I was unwilling to post pictures of my early results. I think your poppers look outstanding, especially given that these are first attempts. It looks like you've supported the evil Krebco empire and purchased the Popper Head Jigs. No doubt the Krebsie endowment to the TFF will be forthcoming soon.

I think that the closing of Sportsman's Warehouse was a direct result of the amount of prayer for said event offered up by my wife and mother-in-law. They were unwilling to stand idly by and watch our respective families be plunged into financial ruin at the hands of the fly tying materials purchases from that establishment.

Great job! Welcome to the world of tying. As a relative newbie myself, I'd be happy to share materials/lessons learned/tips and tricks from the short time I've been at it. You will be amazed how quickly you start to perfect some of your skills and how you will find yourself enjoying tying certain types of flies more than others, etc.

[flyfishingpastor]

John;

There's little hope for you now!

I probably spend a little (to a lot of) time every day tying something. My wife and I sit in my tying room of an evening and she talks while I tie and say, "uh-huh" every once in a while. She thinks its the best conversations we've had in years.

And, with the internet, you can purchase all the fly tying materials you could ever want - you just have to delay the gratification.

Anyway, your poppers look great. Happy fishing.

Pat

[reelteacher]

Nice Work John... Very impressive. What has taken me years to perfect, looks like you've accomplished in a day. LUCKY!!

See you on the water!

[krebsie]

John
Your flies are very impressive! Are these your first attempts at tying poppers? I guarantee they will catch fish for you!! Although my guarantee is virtually worthless. Ha Ha
Krebsie

[Slartybardfast]

Trent,

I do know this will be a life long addiction. I think I'm safe because my wife and I have separate accounts! I told her I was thinking of buying a motorized boat and she said "After we have a nice house and furniture." I'll take that as a yes.

Pat,

I can relate to the uh-huh part. She's probably happy that I am not watching TV.

Dustin,

You give me far to much credit. I stole your design. I took one of your poppers and tried to figure out how you made it. Kind of tricky keeping the legs from twisting when you wrap them to the hook.

Kresbie,

They did catch fish and I finally caught a black crappie. To little to keep but good to know they are in Fairfield lakes. The largemouth bass loved these poppers. I made a surprising discovery while fishing today. When I cast the popper to the shore line of these gravel pits I was surprised at how many large bass I caught that were in inches of water waiting to ambush anything that fell into the water. Great day of fishing. The epoxy on the poppers held up really well too. 14 bass in all and a bunch of bluegill.

[rstaight]

Nice job on the poppers. Now that you caught fish on them the addiction is now in need of a 12 step program.

I remember when I started tying. All I would ever need I could keep materials in was a Tackle Logic tackle box and I could use a TV tray as a tying bench.

Lets just say that the tackle box as turned into furniture and the TV tray is now a roll top desk. I still keep running out of room!

[Slartybardfast]

Hey is that panfish a crappie or a pumkinseed?

[reelteacher]

That little guy there is a green sunfish. Huge mouth, small body. They are fat and stalky, kind of the midgets of the panfish world. Good eating, but you need a bunch of them for a meal.
Black Crappie are more black and silver. Check this picture out.
www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=12

[trent]

So how long were you fishing? I'm just trying to get an idea over what period of time you hooked up with your 14 bass. Were those all on the poppers?

[barryl]

Another one cecum's to the dark side master Krebs. Nice job, and poppers have been one of the best things on my pond lately caught 7 small LM in about 45min. last night.
Also my wife's come back for any sort of compromise is always "Your so spoiled you have a whole room!" (never mention the word addiction in certain company)
And if you think we're having some fun now wait till fall, and your scrambling like crazy to tie as many streamers as your kitchen table will hold.
Welcome to the madness .................... tight lines. barryl
P.S. I have come to the conclusion that I should have bought one of those mini rod and reels the Sportsmen couldn't sell just for taking comparison pictures.

[Slartybardfast]

Trent,

All the bass were caught on poppers. I started in the big north east pond at 10am? Couple hours there then moved to the small south pond. I would say noon til 7pm in the small pond, so basically all day.

barryl,

I need my own room. I may have to reorganize the wood shop/garage and find a spot out there. I have to admit poppers are my favorite method of fly fishing. The day of the tournament I was on the water standing in my canoe casting a popper at any ripple on the water. Fun fishing.