Fly Tying and Fly Fishing for Bass and Panfish by Tom Nixon is a great book. One that can help you see the progression of fly tying for warm water species. I became friends with some folks that knew Tom Nixon and were members of the same fly fishing club.

After Tom's death, I participated in a couple of memorial fly swaps. Just thought I would throw out a few links that show a few of Tom's patterns from a fly swaps.

http://chemprof.tripod.com/tnswap2.htm

http://cbfc0.tripod.com/tnix3.htm

http://cbfc0.tripod.com/2tnswap.htm

Hockey and Smallmouth Bass

Who knew the Arkansas Razorbacks had a hockey team? A team that is pretty darn good too. Brings back memories of street hockey and ice skating. Been watching hockey lately but I sure am looking forwards to warm weather.

I do have some goals for next year, stay under a certain weight, be more successful at fly fishing for bass and watch the Razorbacks play hockey. I wasn't good at ice hockey but I was good at skating. So, I played road hockey. It made me think of how I am a decent fisherman but not awesome all the way around.

I guess fly fishing will be something that will always challenge and frustrate me. Even though I want to go fishing, I am hung up on whether I am worthy of holding a fly rod. I really don't tie flies anymore. I have pushed the limit for tying up bluegill flies . . . moving more towards smallie flies only.

In a way, I am like the Razorbacks. People wonder how they can field a hockey team and they also wonder at how people can fly fish for something other than trout. At least the uneducated and newbies think that about me.

Just a little bored.