New Tying Desk

It has been cold here and I'm really getting tired of it.  The upside is that there is time to catch up on tying some flies and getting ready for the new season.  My problem tying flies is that I never felt like I had a good spot to tie flies.  I needed something I can plop in front of the television and something that I could easily put away.

I looked around the net for some ideas for a portable tying desk and came across some really neat ideas.  The best were these custom tying desks on a Web site called Creek Nuts.  I really got to studying these benches and thought I could make something similar.

I set down and drew up some plans and really got into this.  I'm fairly handy with tools.  The problem is, I don't have everything I need in terms of tools (mostly in terms of a saw).  I found out that this can be overcome, but it does take a little longer.

I made a trip to Home Depot, bought some wood, screws, and stain, and here it is.  Complete with a little fish bling.

First draft.

Added some shelves.  The notebook and tape measure make it look like I know what I'm doing.

Shelves finished.

Now its a cherry tying desk.

Finished and added some fish for a little bling.

Finished

It didn't stay clean long.

I left the right back shelf side empty for now.  I'm still trying to figure out what I want to put up there.

Gripes

I'm not usually one to gripe about a whole lot. At least I don't think I am anyway. But get ready, because I'm getting ready to complain about something that is really bothering me. The weather. Tomorrow's high here in the nation's Capital is forecast for 23 degrees. That's nine degrees below freezing. That is honking cold. What's worse, the forecast doesn't call for a day in the 30's until Saturday. That's just plain wrong.

Some of my friends and readers in the north are probably reading this and saying quit yer bitchin'. But this is a blog about saltwater flats fishing. So guess what fellas to the north, too bad. I'm entitled to complain about cold weather.

Here's a picture from the summer in the keys. Much warmer there, I'll tell you.

And I bet there a few people in Florida reading this laughing at me too. And to you, my good friends, I say, it ain't funny. People weren't made to live in 20 degree weather. If we were, God would have given us fur.

Tomorrow's high in Key West? 73 degrees. It just isn't fair.

 

 

Creek Nuts Fly Tying Bench

I've been looking around at some different portable fly tying benches in hopes that I could find a design I liked, copy it, and make my own.  By no means am I good at wood working, but it's fun to tinker and I thought it would be a good, low cost way to make a new tying bench.

I'm looking for something small, light weight, and extremely portable so that I can tie in front of the television and then put my stuff away easily.  So far I just raised a block on a small piece of plywood so I can stick my vise on it.

And then, I noticed a new site on twitter called Creek Nuts and I saw this.

Stick a bonefish on anything and I'm a sucker.  Throw a tarpon and a permit on it and its nearly a must have.  Take a look at some of the other offerings on Creek Nuts.  Everything is handmade and fully customizable.  Some of the tables allow you to add your name and your favorite game fish.  

This is really cool stuff.  Be sure to check out the site.