How do you guys feel about tying with lynx?

[jdubya]

In the new Fly Tyer is an article on lynx patterns. When I read that I was kinda stumped for why 1) we need lynx patterns and 2) who would want to harvest a lynx for flies anyway?

Maybe lynx in Canada are like black flies (are they?) but in the lower 48 they are scarce enuf that wild life biologists in colorado carry lynx poop in their pants pockets so they can drop them off in "biologically relevant" spots to justify continued importation.

But basically lynx are extinct down here. I think if I saw lynx skins in western Rivers or Fish tech I would howl to Steve or Mickey.
(and yes I would probably feel the same way about jaguars, polar bear skin, etc).

What do you think? Am I off base (again?!?) Is there something I am missing?? Should I just stop fighting the impulse and join PETA?

[Mike]

You've never really tied until you've used Condor hackle!

[MOKE]

Is this a troll?

That disturbs me fairly deeply. I'm not sure why, I'm not the biggest cat lover in the world. I truly feel that some critters are off limits to us.
What possible isolated qualities are they refering to, that something like bunny can't achieve? Or a muskrat? Rodents are more acceptable in my way of thinking.
Once again, as I become more aware, I find new uses for man made fibers for as much as I can in this hobby.

And lastly....please don't go to PITA...I need someone to help me out of some political quagmires I launch myself into ;)
(selfish begging, sorry)

peace
MOKE

[jdubya]

Is this a troll??

Go to :http://www.flyfishingmagazines.com/magazine_ft.shtml

and look at the bottom of the page, to the right in the departments section.

i'm telling ya, this is a moral dilemma' stopping me from gettng a good nights sleep, which Mike is just making fun of.....

[jim m.]

I know in Canada they have an official lynx hunting season and you can hunt and tree them w/ dogs. I really don’t understand the fascination of that type of hunting. They are hunted basically for hide and mounts from what I understand. Generally speaking, cats don’t taste that great even w/ sweet and sour sauce. I also know that Fly Tyer has a rather international audience so that could be the reason.

I’ve seen one in little cottonwood canyon. It blazed under a chair at Alta actually. We argued for along time as to whether or not it was a bobcat and then we hooked up w/ a patroller and who saw it as well and confirmed that it was one of several on the mountain that winter. If I was tying up north I guess it might be a logical option. I’m not a huge fan of synthetics, but I would imagine that whatever they are using it for (I haven’t gotten my copy yet) couldn’t be substituted w/ something else.

Don’t go off the deep end now and PETA-out on us. Try to focus your concerns on how we can use magpies for something! ; )

[jdubya]

by the way, the magpie will be the most sensitive abundant bird in utah to west nile virus. so when you see them flapping their wings in a death spiral next year, let someone else do the road kill special.

[MOKE]

Sorry...No trolling.
OK so I'm disturbed now, officially.

Many years ago I had a halloween cotume where I dressed up as a Northern Canadian Baby Seal Hunter, ay?
I had several fake baby seals, (that I sewed!), that I had on a stringer around my neck, and a large club that I carried....Oh yeah, plenty of deevine!
Anyways, I got into quite a few hassles with PITA types over this costume.
Is this going off topic?

MOKE

[Mike]

I just poke fun because I think it's a ridiculous situation! There is so much commonly available fly tying material (never mind all the synthetics) that it seems ridiculous to use a rare or endangered species. I've always joked with people about patterns calling for ridiculously specific materials like "platypus testicular fuzz" -- I'm sure rabbit will do.

[jdubya]

Mike, I've never tied with testicles!! Do they float or sink??

[Mike]

I'm not sure that we should even go there... =)

I'm actually short on both platypus testicular fuzz and condor hackle at the moment. I'll tell you what does float though -- Tasmanian Tiger hair. That's the good stuff.

[jim m.]

jdubya,
There goes my magpie-softhackle pattern. I figured I was a shoe in w/ Umpqua on that one.

Seriously, where did that West Nile info come from? Is it due to the sheer population of magpies or are they genetically disposed? That stuff is pretty interseting.

[Rng Spec]

Lynx in Joe's Valley.

Don't know if everyone else saw the report, on evidence of one being found in the Joes Valley area.

Kind of cool to know they are making a come back, my question is what kind of fine does a trapper receive if he catches one? It's not like traps differentiate between coyotes, bears, lions, people, dogs, or lynx.

[Phlyfisher]

I had the same reaction when I saw the article yesterday. I'm relatively new to fly tying and thought that it must be a common material. I've found that if one is looking for a certain look or texture on a fly, there are several different materials that can be used.

[fish-hunter]

You know you can buy Lynx and Bobcat kittens from certain fur breeders. If you really feel bad about the shortage of these critters you could raise them up and follow them around until they choke you up a good fur-ball and market your little gems. That or when your petting your new buddy you could just reach around and pluck you off some dubbing know what I mean.

Moke: I would have paid money to see that costume. That's funny as hell!

I shot a Mountain Goat here in Utah a few years ago and was carrying the hide around my neck on my way back to camp. I'm glad I was still carrying my rifle when I ran into a few tree-huggers. They didn't care too much for that. Any one ever tie with Mountain Goat hair?

[Trout4x]

I will use what ever will catch fish!

[fish-hunter]

You know you have got it bad when you start looking at your pets as a tying resource.

[flyfshr8]

especially testicular whatever it was.........

[Larry S.]

Some materials are best gathered and used quietly and secretly(ie, condor quills). I don't advocate killing endangered species but there are ways of gathering the stuff (kinda like when I used to retrieve golf balls at night). Have you seen the size of them biots ! ;^)

[jdubya]

You have probably heard how one of the first signs in the east of west nile infection was the number of dead crows piling up. Crows, ravens, jays and magpies are all members of the corvid family of birds. members of this family are for some reason most sensitive to west nile, and will be the birds we will see dying probably next summer (the season is over this year annd it is hard to imagine how we won't see the virus in most of utah next year).

We have some jays around us but mostly magpies, which really have to rate as one of the most obnoxious birds around.

So if you see any of these guys flapping around next year on the ground like they've been drinking Cary's wiskey, leave em be. While you probably wouldn't catch the virus from them, why tempt fate.....

[jim m.]

...for the west nile info...it will be interesting to watch this.

As far as this issue of Fly Tyer is concerned, when I got home it was in my mailbox and it's a great issue...the articles on soft hackles and emergers/spinners/cripples is excellent.
Even if you don't subscribe, this is a great one to pick up. I must admit that the lynx dubbed klinkhammer is a good looking fly though ; )

[Conehead]

Have you ever tried using the fur from the scrotum of a Wasatch Mtn. Goat. Damn!!! It's pretty hard to get one of those buggers to hold still while you trim their nuts.

[Cary]

Circa - 1991.

Now, there's a story, and it won't be told here.

[fish-hunter]

I have got one mounted on my wall. The nut sack seem's to be pretty full. Maybe I'll trim a few hairs. Have any suggested patterns I could implement these fine scrotum hairs in.

[Fred]

In case you're thinking of tying with one, they're hard to find. (And I don't know how well they can hold the bobbin).

http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/news/02-09/lynx.jsp

[Jason]

There's no point in using fur from an endangered/threatened specie when there are so many other substitutes. Rabbit fur being one of them. I also saw that article and still question why in the h*ll they would even try and justify lynx fur as a great fly tying material.

Mike, how's that Condor Soft Hackle coming along? ; )

[fish-hunter]

Guys with all due respect, Lynx are not endangered in Canada at all. They are trapped and hunted quite a bit actually. I do agree that there are other substitutes out there that would be more practical. But let's face it if you live in Canada or visit there and harvest a Lynx or buy a legally harvested pelt and want to use it for an exotic fly why the hell not!

[fish-hunter]

Check this out:

http://wwwkettleriverguides.com/enlarged-photos.htm

This is one of MANY guides offering Lynx hunting in Canada.

[Larry S.]

I think we are at the same point with grizzlies in the Yellowstone area. The time is coming and not too far off where it won't be safe to fish the back country and many places near populated areas.

[fish-hunter]

What you mean actually go back to like our Great-Grandfathers had it. I applaude the fact that Grizzlies are expanding their range. Have you ever been to Grizzly country and fished or hunted not knowing how close the nearest Grizzly is. Great feeling if you ask me. Pepper spray in the park or a .44mag shorty in your fishing vest in public lands. Big deal.

[ticketP1]

Larry S-
Fished Yellowstone this summer w/ bears on my mind. Never saw one but apparently was w/i a quarter mile of one but he split by the time I got to the part of the trail where he was sighted (minutes before). Previous reply was correct... Pepper spray, knowledge, noise, bells, etc. are all you need. Someone once said on this site that "Bear-a-noia kills bears". Very truthful indeed. Perhaps you're anticipating an ill-fated arrival of the much maligned wolf your way. They'l probably be coming down by way of the Bear River Range in the next couple of years or so. Bet that goes over real well up in Cache country...
In Yellowstone I saw wolves on 2 occasions. Heard them as well. The sound of wolves howling out into the wind is one of the greatest things that you can ever hear. I'm rambling here but that day where its unsafe to fish the backcountry will never come based on our societies ignorance... In other words we'll no doubt find a way to continue screwing their worlds over I'm sure... we'll keep em down. Don't you worry.
Brings to mind a story that made the news a few weeks ago. Seems as though county commissioners up in Freemont Co, WY have taken a vote and officially "banned the grizzly"...
...Jesus H Christ man...we humanoids will never quit...

[fish-hunter]

Hey man, email me if you get time I used to spend a ton of time on Dugway. Just wondering if things are still the same.

Hey the wolf thing is great too. I need to go back up and fish for some more cutts.