flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I wish I would have been a pilot, I would have more money now than I do now, but no, I fly fish. I was taught how to fly fish by a legend fly fisher, "Black Bill", at the age of about six. He taught me how to read the water and how to drop the fly in exactly the right spot so that it flows down the seam just right. Where the trout are going to be waiting for lunch and how to tie flies. Bill stayed with my Grandma & Grandpa during the Winter months because he couldn't get out of his place in the "Big Woods". He lived off of the land, I had never known him to work for anyone. He caught a 14# 7 oz. Brown Trout out of a stream that was maybe 35' wide. The biggest one ever to be caught around the area. He had been bitten three times while rattlesnake hunting. The first time he put his hand on one while he was climbing up a cliff to get to a den. The second time a rattler stuck his head out of a hole in the sack that he was carrying them in and bit him in the back. My dad, "Thirsty" and I were with him that time. Thirsty sucked the venom out, which was not the thing to do. Had dad had a cavity or a cut in his mouth, he would have also gotten some of the venom. The last time, while in his sixties and still hunting snakes, he got bit while trying to pick one up and put it in his sack. You see you want to keep the snakes alive until they have babies in last part of July or the first part of August and you will get $2.00 for the babies too. The females will usually have 15 - 25 young and they are just as poisonous when they are born as the mama. The bounty was taken off of them in 1998 and they are starting to make a come back due to the work of the DNR removing the red cedar trees which will provide to much shade for them and the monitoring of them. Many rattlers are caught and a chip will be put in them so that the DNR can track them. Also, the location process, which I'm involved in. If a person finds a rattler that maybe in danger like on a road or in town, they call the Sheriff's Dept and they will call me to relocate him. I will catch him and relocate him someplace where he will be safe and won't likely bother anyone, usually state land. The biggest problem is that people will build a house in the country and the house will sit in between the den and a stream. The snakes will come down from their den to get water when it's dry during the months of July and August. My number usually get put on their speed dial then. I would rather have them call me, than to kill them and throw them in the ditch. If you see one and he is not hurting anyone or anything, just leave him be, he will soon be on his way.

Graywulff Loc: Cortez,Co.

Well sir my hat's off to you. When I see or hear a rattlesnake I'm gone. I like Black Bill immediately. The kind of guy I grew up around in Montana. Since you tie your own flies have you mastered the art of weaving a body? There was a fly shop in Missoula that made woven hair-bodied flies. There was one pattern that was an absolute killer called a Cliff's Special. Black body with an orange underbelly and black deer hair hackle spun behind the eye. When I was a kid the Potts flies were legend. Only 4 patterns that I know of each a different color all the same style and all of them snelled. All of them on a size 10 short shank hook. I have never been able to master the weaving with chenille much less deer hair. Tight lines my friend. Graywulff

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

A long time ago, I was pretty serious about tying flies, now if it takes me over 15 minutes to tie it, I buy it. Most of my tied flies are bead heads and pretty simple. A few wooly buggers, BWO, & Adams. That is about all I use. My go to fly is the pink squirrel, it really hot here in the Driftless Area all year long. It doesn't really look like any insect that we have around here. Go figure! Tight Lines Buddy!

Graywulff Loc: Cortez,Co.

Aahhh the " Golden Years" me too....

JimRed Loc: Coastal New Jersey, Belmar area

Several of my favorite Irish tunes involve moonshine (Poteen, Mountain Dew), revenuers (Excise Men) and of course Moonshiners! The band at our Tuesday evening Irish Session get me up to sing a couple while they take a break and schmooze with the crowd. Stories like that one generate a grin on this old face! Maybe I can come up with some lyrics for it.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Flyguy. Thanks for the up date on your user name and as well for the insight on rattlesnakes. Un like you and Graywulff I am not a fly fisherman. YET. Still early into retirement and never to old to learn. And for stories it is such a pleasure to read about folks through out this country. My Air Force days were benefited with knowing many through out this land, but on this forum the stories are even more interesting. As for your mentioning about Black Bill at the age of 6, well now in your senior years you have reached me that at one time went by the name Blackie. Being a white guy and all this political Hash tag movements no one calls me that now. So plumbob it is.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

So glad you feel that way about us remodelers. I ran a remodeling company for 39 years before retiring 3 years ago. Some think we are all crooks, and I know some are, but I treated my customers like they were family.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Thank you very much for your service, Plumbob. Black Bill was not colored, he was from Bulgaria and a little darker than the rest of us German/Luxenburgers but no one respected anyone more than Black Bill. He gave me his fly rod and his Winchester model 97 before he died because he knew that the country would bury him and they would take everything that he had to cover the expenses. A truly a great man, and I still have his model 97 and the fly rod hangs in my party room.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

You summed it up perfectly Randy with the family reference. I enjoyed Christmas time for the obvious but for the month of December it gave me great joy to say no charge for those 1 hour or so service calls. From young to old a smile and a thank you came back with referrals and checks that never bounced. Just like fishing where I put back that 1" under size keeper instead of keeping it in hopes that 1" over legal will be my next catch.

plumbob

catfish catcher

there are several moonshiners here in Sweet Home, Texas . Every third week end in May the Fire department has a big BBQ cook off car and motorcycle show and a moonshine contest to see is the top moonshiner in the surrounding area. All ways a great time. My wife won second in moonshine two years a go. She is still making shine . I just drink it lol.

Dennisjj Loc: Kinston N.C.

Can't really blame him can you.