Effective Blogging... Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

Cardboard Howard... Those were the days...

Alright now, here is a great title for someone that knows nothing about an effective blog!  So, let me start by saying that this past year has been a difficult one.   I have been blogging for a few years now and last year I let it slide.  If you look at my sidebar, you will see that I didn't post near as much in 2014 as 2013.  No, it isn't the fact that I lack fishing outings.  Nah, I still got out over 100 times last year.  It isn't the fact that I lack social media outlets.  Nope, I have a page with Google +, Twitter, and Facebook.  What I lack is motivation.  There you have it.  And right when I was having thoughts about hanging it up in 2015... Well, here comes Owl Jones back to the blogging circuit.   I remember him...  Yeah, my fishing buddy on a trip to GA, NC, & TN!  What fun we had looking for fishable water amid the worst storm of the century... Ha!

 Now, what am I supposed to do... Abandon ship when he finally returns?  He was one of the first ones to support my fly fishing blog back when it was in its infancy.   He was one of those that got the word out and gave me added readers.  So, here I am wondering what to do.

The only excuse that I have for the lack of motivation is my health.  Because of some health problems that started a couple of years ago... my writing has slowed down.   So, you hear from me once, twice, or maybe three times a month.  But, that is the best I can do.  Just know that I appreciate all of you that do come over and tune in.  The interaction between bloggers is a unique and fun way to talk about the fishing passion that we share... 

The secret, but not so secret river of that Fishlicker fella...

~Sunday Tippets~

If I really want to take the bull by the horns and be an effective blogger, then I need to get back into regular posts (Like Howard), entertaining interviews (Like Howard),  amazing fishing stories whether you are fishing or not (Like Howard), and an occasional interactive quiz or better yet... a giveaway! (oh no... Like Howard)  Everyone likes those.  I had some good ones in the past. Yes, it has been awhile that any of that has happened around here, and I apologize.   What happened to that Sunday Tippet Lady?  Yeah, I think that she got lost with the rest of her tippet in the nearest tree.  Or got railroaded by some turkeys!!

The secret to an effective blogger?  It's simple.  You have to enjoy it.  You have to love the subject that you are blogging about.  And you have to love the people that you are interacting with.  Read a list of great fishing blogs and comment on them (over there to the right side bar)  Good grief!  Easy peasy, right?!   So, here's to getting this place back into ship shape.  No more laying in bed the day after a fishing day because my aches and pains make it tough to move around.  No more whining.  I just need to buck it up and put on that smile every morning when I roll out of bed.  Make the best of the situation at hand.  Remember that there are those that have it worse.  Much worse.  All we need to do is look around us.  We need to count our blessings. We need to appreciate what we do have.  Not what we don't have.  Ok.  I'm back!  That was a little therapeutic.  Thanks for letting me get that off my back.  It's been kind of a heavy load...  So, without further adieu...  Here is a recap of 2014... Yeah, I always felt much better on the water.  Haha.  Well, I sure have had some great friends and family that stood by me throughout the year.  And to you, my blogging family... Thank you for stopping by as always...  = )  It wouldn't be the same without you giving me a friendly hello...  

A year of photos
and in less than 3 min...
YES!!

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot?

So, here we are... 2015!  The past week has come and gone.  And I have to admit, I'm glad to be back at work.  Family gatherings, parties, and dinners are fun, but they are a lot of work too.  So, it was nice to get out the dusty vise this past week and get back into fly tying.   Kind of like the words go in "Auld Lang Syne", I cannot forget my old friend, the vise.   I've neglected it badly, I must admit.  Every time I think that I have a few minutes to sit down and tie up a few bugs for the next outing, I get sidetracked... and then I end up at Sportsmen's Warehouse to buy them at a dollar each!  Haha.   

Well, all it took was a little competition on Facebook to get me motivated with those size 18's and 20's for the winter.  I had to post up a fly each day.  So, I embellished upon a few old patterns and tried a few new ones.  So, here is what I came up with in a hurry.  The picture above is my disco midge.  Made with black tinsel, peacock herl and a clear plastic bead.  Simple.

Then, I got a little crazy and put on a pink bead.  That was going the extra mile.  Haha.

Next, we have the pink hot head sow.  A little different than my other sows and scuds that I have made.  I was pretty happy with it.  Can't wait to see if it will catch fish.  Easy peasy too.

And the last one that I will share with you, so not to bore you to tears... (Because I know that all of you are way better fly tiers than me!)  Here is my Crystal Dip... the hot fly of the Madison River in Montana...

Well... I just can't help myself... I did tie up a favorite of mine.  Let's say it is the "encore" presentation...  The one fly that catches on any tailwater and especially those rivers around the West...

Mr. Rainbow Sow

Ha!  The Christmas card envelope makes a bad background... but, I like red!  

So there you have it... the vise has come out of the rafters.  It won't be forgotten.   And next time you see it, you might notice a bit of....well, should we say, "facelift"???  =)