You know I usually try to make people laugh somewhere in my newsletter, but now I guess I’m out of jokes. Besides, this is the day after Utah beat Alabama and I’m not happy about it. With no offence meant to Utah fans.

Let me try this. Do you have any special pride about any of the fish you’ve caught? I don’t necessarily mean the biggest or most unusual, just memorable for some reason? Something about a catch that makes you proud? I have a couple of fish that I’ll always remember. It was early spring of 2001 and I took off one early morning and drove out to a little lake for about a three hour trip. I thought I would catch a few crappie and come home. I did catch a few crappie on a little white beaded marabou streamer, but I also caught a couple of other fish. Two redear sunfish. In different parts of the country they call them shellcrackers, pumpkinseeds, etc. Don’t laugh at me, but I’m as proud of those two fish as any two fish I’ve ever caught. One of them measured 10 inches long and weighed ¾ pound, the other one was 8 inches and weighed a little over a half pound. The redear is usually 3 or 4 inches long. They’re used as catfish bait. I’ve told people about those fish ever since. I’ll bet I don’t see redears that big again.

Ok, finally on to fishing. As far as my fishing last year, believe me it was limited. The rain here was awful. I wish we could have sent some of it down south because I know a large area of the southeast needs the rain. It started to rain here in mid winter and never really stopped. We ended up with 58 inches here. Everytime I made plans it was pouring. Now I know you’re saying that rain shouldn’t stop anybody from fishing. True. But flood should! And that was our trouble. I wanted to fish right before Christmas, but couldn’t because of heavy rain and some flashflooding.

Out West, last winter’s snowpack wasn’t bad at all. So through the summer, water conditions weren’t bad and fire was limited. I talked to a few people who went out to Montana and came back happy. I didn’t hear anything about giant fish, but a couple of customers told me about some great days on the Yellowstone around Livingston. Plenty of rainbows and a few nice browns on some ordinary Wooly Buggers. Nothing to gripe about, especially considering that’s one of the most beautiful places in the US. Just my opinion.

I hope my customers down in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina have some water. I just can’t believe some of the stories I’ve heard the last couple of years. Town reservoirs down to bare ground in north Georgia are hard to believe. For many people outside the southeast, it’s surprising how drought occurs in that part of the US and then lingers. It does though. I do a little family history and learned that in the late 1840s and early 1850s there was a multi year drought around the eastern Tennessee River valley. You can still probably find some old timers down in north Georgia who can tell you about the drought in the 1920s. That’s supposed to be the Big Daddy of ‘em all. Well, all you folks down there, don’t hesitate to email or call about what’s going on. These days I have limited capacity to travel so I rely on the kindness of others for my info about different parts of the US. Thanks to all for the calls.

Just a reminder that LDF is only a fly seller these days. If you do have tackle needs and would like LDF to help out, give us a call and we’ll see what we can do. We can usually order most things.

Thanks to everyone who purchased from LDF during ’08! I know LDF is a much different business from the old days. I just want everyone to know that I plan to continue selling flies. Some of you know that in late ’07, I thought it was probably time just to close up. I couldn’t do it. This stuff is in my blood. So I decided as long as I can make a little money, I’ll keep going. That meant getting rid of what few tackle items were left and just generally cutting back. No more color in the catalog, shrink the catalog, etc. Those of you who’ve been buying from us for a long time, should notice that LDF flies are still distinctive, durable and fish catching. So I hope nobody quits us just because we’ve gotten smaller. LDF is one of a handful of companies (so they tell me) still producing USA made flies. I hope I can continue to deserve your support.

Say, a neighbor told me he heard that in India a child can be fed on $10 a month. The next day he put his kids on a plane to Calcutta. True.

Let me tell you about the lack of new patterns. Many great new patterns have come out in the last few years. However, most of them are so time consuming, there is no way I can tie and sell them. Nowadays, if you have an elaborate fly pattern, it’s very easy to commercialize. Just send it to a third world manufacturer where the tyers work for $15 per week. No problem. I wish I could do some of them. So I am still on the lookout for new patterns. I will be looking hard, and I hope testing hard, this coming year.

Hunting stories. Hey, we’re not just looking for fishing stories, but also hunting stories. Bear stories are great. Longtime customer Tom Liddy up in New Jersey hasn’t told me bear hunting stories, but he’s let me know about the bulging bear population in New Jersey. Yes, I said New Jersey. Years ago, I used to travel through the state on I-80. What eye opening trips those were. That portion of the state is rugged. It doesn’t surprise me one bit to read and hear about growing black bear populations in New Jersey.

Hey! LDF now offers Priority Mail service. It’s available on the internet site. We also have that option available on the written order form. The cost is $5.00. Priority is usually one day faster than First Class Mail.

Do you tie your own dry flies? If you do, do you buy the top quality necks? Have you seen the prices? Are they unbelievable or what? Wholesale cost has gone up by a bigger percentage than the retail prices—take my word for it. Well, there is an explanation. It consists of two words—corn ethanol. Those of you who follow commodities know that grains declined this year, but the high cost of chicken feed finally got passed along by the poultry growers. If you buy chicken I’m sure you have noticed higher prices. Whether it’s chicken for food or chicken for feathers, it’s all the same market. It’s incredible. I’m crossing my fingers that things moderate through the year.

You know, prices in this sport sure are funny. Fly prices have collapsed in the last several years. I’ve seen quite a few low priced rods in the last few years. All of them made in the third world regions. Tying material has not gone down. Of course, with the proliferation of tying factories, they’re bidding the material and hook prices up all the time. Plus, much of the material comes from hunters and many of those guys don’t want to keep skins and feathers. That’s the spot we’re in.

We do still have some leaders and tippet material left, but please go to the website (www.ldfflyfishingtackle.com) or call us on the toll free line 1 877 426 2934 for info on what’s left. Quantities are in ( ) parentheses. Here are some of our specials:

1)Black Gnat poly wing parachute—This one has an orange poly yarn post. 15 #12 and 2 #14 left as of January 2, 2009. These are only .80 each. I know what you’re saying. “I can get this pattern from the Fly Shack (or name your favorite third world internet retailer). Sorry folks. As I say, these are American made and I can’t go any lower.

2) Dai Riki Velvet Tippet Material (1) spool of 4x left.

3)Dai Riki Velvet Leaders 8 foot leader—(2)6x; (11)5x;(11) 7x. 10 foot leader—(11) 6x; (7) 7x.

4)Dai Riki Standard Leaders7 ½ foot—(7) 5x; (1) 7x. 9 foot—(1) 4x; (4) 6x; (6) 7x

5)Maxima Tippet Material (7) 6x; (8) 5x.

6)Maxima Leader Material 9 foot—(3) 4x; (2) 7x.

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As usual, good health and good fishing to all!