MRB Blog

Blog Start

Newer (move up)

2021-08-09-1927

SockeyeShiner

In late summer when the fishing is slow many resort to beetles and tiny hoppers. I like big hoppers, even in late summer. For streamers on the other hand, at least when it's bright and hot I like small. This one is tied on a #14 wet fly hook.

2021-08-07-1839

Hoppers

Keep it simple stupid? I used to put a wing cover and fancy kicker legs on my foam hoppers. But any overlay wing cover makes the fly harder to cast without any benefit, other than appearance to human eyes. So too for the kicker legs. These guys float forever and last for several seasons--if you don't snag them on a branch. And they catch all species of fish in hopper season. I've even caught channel catfish on these guys. I want to try them for bonefish someday.

More simpler is more better.
Gray or tan on bottom for the fish. Bright yellow on top for sight deprived geezers.

2021-07-28-0533

Homemade Scarfer

Cut a piece of particle board 24" inches by 16" inches. Glue a 2x4 to one 24" inch edge. Now angle the edge so a 7-1/4" inch saw bolted onto that angled edge almost but not quite cuts all the way through 1/2" plywood. For an 8-1/4" saw you can set to cut all the way through.

Here's the not obvious part: You have to be super careful and precise when mounting the saw. You want the saw absolutely dead parallel or you might even want to mount the saw ever so slightly not parallel so the front, leading edge of the blade is dead flush to the particle board edge while the rear tailing edge of the blade perhaps 1/5th the width of the blade away from the particle board.

If the saw ends up mounted not parallel to the particle board, so the leading edge of the blade is not dead flush the saw will gradually migrate downward as you cut, and eventually it will bind.

To scarf two four foot plywood edges together--to make a longer panel--put the plywood down on a firm flat surface a few feet up from the floor. Clamp a straight edge approximately 16" inches back (trial and error will give the exact measurment, which you can then remember) from the edge you want to cut. Now run the saw with the particle board foot pressed tightly against the straight edge. The massive weight of all that particle board keeps the saw from shaking. With a freshly sharpened blade you'll get a baby smooth cut.

This is a 7-1/4" inch saw, which are the most common. An 8-1/4" saw is a bit better suited. I recently hacked an old 8-1/4" inch saw so it takes a 10" blade. The longer the blade the longer the scarf. And the longer the scarf the stronger the scarf.

2021-07-17-1530

Belt Sander

Belt sander finally got useful. I need to rebuild the frame so I can sand curved parts with the front end of the sander. Today was a tool building day. Scarfer comes next. Older
(move down) Blog Start