About traps: This past season I only used 110s. I currently have less than 50 foothold traps, most of them #1s. The number of 110s is well into the hundreds, something like over 450. I have nothing larger anymore. In Pennsylvania we are not allowed to use a 220 either on land or water. We may only use a 330[10" X 10"] for beaver and underwater only. No bodygripping traps may be set outsidea watercourse and the Game Commission pretty much lets the interpetation of "watercourse" up to the individual WCOs. Thus far, I have had no problems with the bunny police.
I no longer trap coon, unless one happens to stumble into a foothold if I chose to set one for mink. Last year I had most of the footholds out and I caught about 15 or so coon, all accidentally. So sworry.
I used to be an all around trapper. I used to trap fox, coon, muskrats, mink, opossums and skunks. I even trapped beaver and otter when I was working in Washington DC and living in Virginia. I caught a lot of fur down in Tidewater country. Some of the Virginia counties had screwy trapping laws. Some of them you couldn't trap fox because the tally-ho boys wanted to keep them for themselves. I even got involved with the Virgina Department of Health's Rabies Control Program. While I never worked for them per se, I often accompanied trappers and even filled in for a few days when I took a little leave. I might add Charlie Dobbins worked there.
So I guess you could say I'm a purist today...although I do get sick and tired of all this mink stuff sometimes and yearn to maybe becoming an all around trapper again. LOL These fits come and go.
I'm in Pennsylvania's limestone country here. We have great trout waters. People come from all over to fish our storied waters such as the Letort Spring Run, the Yellow Breeches, Penn's Creek, etc. You can hardly pick up a flyfishing magazine without one of these creeks being mentioned. I can say that I might be setting right in the middle of the best trout fishing in America.
I would agree with your dad's selection except I would add a small black fly to the list. I might add I tie all my own flies as well as some for others.
The Susquhanna River flows right past this town and on it is some of the best small mouth bass fishing around. For you bass fishermen who know of Bob Clouser of Clouser Crayfish or Clouser Diving Minnow fame, he is my neighbor, living just a few hundred yards away.
