RE: [VFB] Perpetual proposal, part 1 reply

[Ed Roden]

Title: Message

One of my first swaps was with John Ridderbos - who lives only a couple hours away.  We had met, and he urged me to get into the swap.  He was a bit suspicious of the bass fly I chose - a marabou leech pattern.  It was one I had seen tied once on TV, so I didn't have a pattern readily available.  I went through 5 or so tying and testing - the old clear bowl full of water (my wife thought I was nuts).  The first couple looked good dry, but were horrible when wet - looked like 3 different leeches.   I finally perfected the pattern that looked like a leech undulating in the water.  Tied up the x number of flies and sent them in.  I still remember talking to Ridderbos that summer, and his excitement at how the bluegills (his favorite fish) would nail the thing.   I'm still learning, but being encouraged by guys like Ridderbos, Haering, and others who aren't on the list, has gotten me to an office filled with material, and a wife who gets frustrated each time I visit a fly store or show!     Ed Roden flyfished at questquality dot com http://www.questquality.com Living would be easier if men showed as much patience at home as they do when they're fishing.