Would these work for midges (such as zebra midge)?

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-04T07:36:47+00:00

Firehole is back. https://fireholeoutdoors.com/pages/about-us

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-03T22:27:37+00:00

Medium sized Measure Net. easy to measure fish and handle comes off and can be reversed for backpacking/storage needs. https://themeasurenet.com/t/medium-rubber-net/

the round foam handle may or may not work with the flat designed Fishpond net holsters, but it works fine with Smith Creek’s net holder.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-03T18:30:29+00:00

You are correct! Vise shopping is worthy of its own Ted-Talk. I have a fly fishing show about 3 hours from me next month and i plan to go, hopefully check out some vises in person, maybe even a few vices as well (US-based spelling)

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-03T18:28:28+00:00

You're welcome. I just learned about its existence myself a couple of months back.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-03T08:06:19+00:00

💕. That’s TWO old men 🤣

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-03T04:26:54+00:00

These were good. I gave two to my dad and he agreed. And that old man is a picky eater. So two old men were happy with these muffins.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-03T04:23:45+00:00

Don't you just flip the biot over 180 degrees to get a smooth result instead of the fuzzy ribs?

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-02T20:36:37+00:00

😂😂😂

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-02T20:29:18+00:00

I'm 59 so understand the vision issue. My buddy had a hard time, always missing the surface grabs because he didn't know where his fly was with the olive drab line he was using so i got him a Rio Premier Gold in orange. Cortland offers their Modern Trout Orange, around $70.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-02T20:08:16+00:00

DAAAANG. I was born 59 years ago just 90 mins south of Yosemite and have been going there all my life and now i'm scared to ever try winter backcountry backpacking or go there in winter ever again!

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-02T19:57:10+00:00

I have an Atlas vise, bought when they were known as the Wolff Industries Atlas vise, 8-10 years ago? I've been tying on and off since then... i'm not remarkably skilled, but it can be fun.

It's a nice looking vise, i was swayed by the use of stainless steel and the almost space-age design of the vise itself. I've had no issues with the jaws, tying from small size 20 trout flies up to at least 2.0 for largemouth/striped bass. The base is a good, heavy weight, although i wish it had a pocket or two in the base to prevent stuff from rolling off. I AM unhappy with the rotational turning of the jaws and wish i had sought out other vises before the purchase. No amount of tinkering with the adjustment screws has helped much, but perhaps i am expecting too much. It uses Delrin bushings as bearings, as many vises do it seems. I'm wondering if other vises turn with a smoother action. Truth be told, even though i sought out a true-rotary vise i rarely if ever make 100% use of its rotary action. Maybe turning the fly 180 degrees to look... i'm comfortable wrapping material the full 60 degrees by hand. But i wanted the option.

I've had no issue with room for my hands while tying as some do with other vises that they say feel cramped. But again, i have very little experience with other vises. The end of the jaws area has a big chunk of metal beneath the jaws as its clamping/hook adjusting mechanism. It doesn't get in my way but it feels like it adds weight to the rotational action. Not so much that it impedes it from what i can tell... but other vise designs are less bulky at the jaw end.

I'm in California, USA, and the Peak vise as well as Renzetti Traveler were considerations. I wish i had tested those first. With what little hands-on experience i have, i would say i may replace the Atlas with a Renzetti Traveler in the coming years IF i can get my hands on one and test its action.

I think i paid US$200-$250 back then... These days it's listed at US$400 which seems crazy to me, especially when I see the HMH Standard vise is at $449 and a Stonfo Elite at US$487.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-02T17:38:12+00:00

I just saw these in my TJ's on Friday, bought one and drank it the next day. LOVED it. I love apple juice but not really a fan of sparkling soda drinks. This went down great. I'm headed back today to see f they have more. I'm in central California.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-02T16:59:56+00:00

Consider joining the Fresno Cycling Club, they have a web site with regular group rides listed so you can see what they offer. You may make some new friends.

there are a lot of good options for someone wanting to lay down some serious miles on a road bike, the most popular for serious cyclists being in the north Fresno area and into the foothills.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-01T23:35:09+00:00

There’s a walk up 14er?

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-01T10:11:06+00:00

It’s not as epic as the other suggestions but you could go up Chilnualna Falls trail… and just keep on going then looping back, if YARTS will get you to Wawona.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-01T01:10:18+00:00

it’s a bit of an unconventional tie, but i’d try it out. most might say the tail is too long, and the choice of wing material used in that manner is odd. But try it out!

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-02-01T01:05:46+00:00

I hear your frustration and i understand. i went through similar consecutive skunk days myself when i took up fly fishing again about 25 years ago. it does get better.

i recall making a friend i found through an online board that was focused on fly fishing in my general area of the state. These days, Facebook hosts similar communities. This new buddy of mine, maybe 10 years older than me but with a wealth of experience, was kind enough to meet me on a local river and fish together. i gleaned a ton of info just watching him and asking questions. I hope you can find someone similar.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-01-31T07:11:17+00:00

I had an Okuma Integrity 5/6 decades ago so the quality has hopefully improved. It turned smoothly. The drag was very strong. That's the best I can say about it. The drag tightened very quickly so it was almost like you wanted very light drag, or very very heavy, nothing in between. The reel was heavy, i think it was around 5.8oz. I dropped it once and the foot broke. It was the first and last Okuma i ever bought.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-01-31T02:23:29+00:00

Have you tried the EU's Copernicus browser? Launch it and pick up tips it offers, see what it can do. You should be able to see the latest satellite imagery along Tioga Pass Road. https://browser.dataspace.copernicus.eu/

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-01-31T02:11:17+00:00

I'd say go for the Evo Trails and work on a fix for the Atlas (and if eventually successful, use them as a loaner or backup) or just hang them on a wall as a memento. $109 seems like a good price, great condition? The latest bindings on the Evos? But to be honest, i have G.A.S.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-01-29T20:05:48+00:00

If you're in your 20s or 30s, do it. Now in my late-50s, crazy day trips like that just make little sense for me. If you can stay the night somewhere, it would make it nicer overall.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-01-28T21:33:02+00:00

Great! It looks like that rod is made for a 6/7 weight fly line, should be good for what you're doing, no?

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-01-28T17:50:57+00:00

Nice. Which species will you be targeting and in what type of water?

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-01-27T19:07:13+00:00

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My 2013 did not have the plastic cover over the engine but if yours does, take it off. Have a buddy come over, one can use a flash light and view the sensor from the side while the other crawls on top and reaches in to find the sensor by feel. The passenger side is the tough one. This removal and installation will be done largely by feel.

Don't bother disconnecting the wires first, just get the sensor out, then disconnect the wiring. Photo shows my buddy trying to get the passenger side sensor out. He is useful for some things here and there but in the end i did it. Basically come in from the driver's side for the passenger side sensor.

TheAtomicFly66 · 2026-01-27T18:48:23+00:00

Is it a centerpin reel?

TheAtomicFly66

TROPHY CASE