#530 -

[David Lee]

Things I DON'T like -

High , cold water .
Jetskis .
Gut-hooked , undersized fish .
High (over 15 M.P.H.) right to left winds .
Small dry flies .
Snakes (California Kings , the exception)
Young punk Game Wardens .
Flies that aren't "tyed" (gummy-minnows , hot-glue eggs ...)
Falling down at the Pit river .
Sinking a hook into the hide of myself , my friends , my dogs .....
Sunburned lips/eyelids/cheeks/nose .....
Large dry flies .
Hypothermia .
Self-indulgent posts that don't have s%$# to do with anything .
Folks that litter .
Ticks ( ) .
TMC hooks .
Leaky waders .
Socks that grow mold .
Tight long underwear .
Dirty floating lines .
Things that bite .
Large Animals (Horses , Cows , Lions , Bears , Squirrels .....)
Big swells on the Ocean .
Small swells on the Ocean .
Blackberry brambles .
Yellowjackets .
Meat-Bees .
Mosquitos .
BATS - I HATE BATS
New Hats .
Medium dry flies .
East winds .
Bad Breath .
Bad Gas .
Bad casts .
Bad Knots .
Fish spines/teeth/gill-covers penetrating my flesh .
Dull hooks .
Line burns .

Did I say Bats , yet ???

Before any of you write smarty-pants retorts to this (sort of ...) funny post , let me enlighten you - it's a joke . Don't beat me up , please ....

David PS - Eugene , Bill ... feel free to delete this one .

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

David,

I don't know why but this made me think of the main reason I started fly fishing in the American River.

In the '60s there we so many little 6" Stripers that you could not drift a night crawler through them.

I would catch one after another out there drifting worms for fall halfpounders.

I gut hooked most of them so I would bring them in an bite the tippet off right at their lips leaving the little #6 Eagle Claw 181 bait holder hook in them.

I got very tired of hurting the little buggers so I started using more artificial lures and then finally flies.

[BigWilly]

David Lee
Man you really need to go fishing. It looks like it's building up and you are going to explode. I know how you feel I need to get out to.

[Darian]

David, David, Daaviiiiiiid,..... there isn't any such thing as "bad gas" (....of the fart variety that is.... :P :P :P :P :P :P ) Maybe you're eating the wrong food or eliminating it incorrectly.

[Rick J]

Squirrels are large animals????

I would agree with all the items on your list except the dry fly ones - in particular the small dry flies since if I had one place to fish it would likely be Silver Creek. Give me another few years with my eye sight going to hell and that will likely make it to my list!!

[Hairstacker]

David, you don't like TMC hooks? Just curious, how come?

[David Lee]

Bill - hard to like yourself when you have one of those poor little guys hooked like that .

Big Willy - Yes ..... I DO need to get out . Soon enough , though .

Darian - Remember the Garlic flies and Red Horse Ale ??? My cats have finally stopped twitching from the fumes ....

Rick J. - Squirrels are indeed , large , bloodthirsty animals .... Especially when they RUSH you while you're sitting on a fallen log and run-over your legs (what did Bill Kiene say to me once ??"I am afraid of all large animals , and most small ones , too" ...) .

Mike - Brittle steel . I've broken more of them than all the rest put together .

[Hairstacker]

Yep, got to watch out for them squirrels. I was on a sidewalk yesterday and walked within two feet of one that I didn't notice. He screamed at me and I almost fell over dead from a heart attack. Ruthless little buggers.

David, I know you probably prefer different brands for different applications, but do you have an overall favorite hook brand?

[Jgoding]

I've seen a lot of complaints about TMC hooks lately especially the 200r.... but lots of complaints about brittle hooks that will break or straighten out very easily..... I bought mostly TMC hooks last year and haven't had any problems yet but it get's me to think to switch brands... still, in my own opinion, the quality or qualities of the hooks has gone down the crapper in the last 10 years... perhaps the quality is better but the qualities I used to like seem to be lacking......

Jeff

[Hairstacker]

I bought mostly TMCs last year too and wasn't aware of the complaints. Definitely a concern given the price of hooks and the role they play. . . . Be interesting to hear if folks have been experiencing problems with other brands as well.