Question:

You want skeeters?  Try Western Montana.  Mosquitos are their state bird!  After they drained me, they even offered me a glass of orange juice! Gus Weber

If the Red Cross could train them, they wouldn’t need volunteers.

Response:

I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing.

Hahahaha!  Those flies are deadly…… nothing compared to the skeeters in Bismark, ND though. Did you go to the Vietnam Memorial? Hunter

Response:

Thanks again Bob. On my recent trip to CO this past August we were going to stay at The Spa because they now have a small RV park with hookups for about 6 or so RVs, but alas only for fully self contained units and they don’t allow pets.  The massages across the street are excellent BTW. We ended up right outside town at a RV park right on the San Juan River (I think it’s called Riverview, it’s on the left as you are leaving town on Hwy 160 going toward Wolf Creek Pass) with a nice little pond of their own. Very friendly and helpful people.  I’ve been there before. The other thing I might mention is that just before you get to Wolf Creek Pass there is a turnout on the right that lets you take a nice hike up to the headwaters of the San Juan River.  It’s a nice (uphill) hike and the falls at the top are beautiful. — Peace, Love and Serenity, Madeleine

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A few notes of passing interest…. Chama, New Mexico I stayed in the Rio Chama RV Park, a nice piece of cottonwood bottom right along the river, next to a trestle bridge for the Cumbres and Toltec steam excursion train.  The Station is about a half mile west. While watching the horrible news on TV that evening, I heard a couple of loud spaced reports, like shotguns going off nearby.  I thought, "It’s black powder season – but in town?" I went down to the tracks and met one the guys who ride around in golf carts helping people park their houses.  He was walking back from the woods along the track. "Somebody shooting down here?" "Nah.  That was me.  Firecrackers.  Them bears are tryin’ to climb the fence again." It turns out that a sow and 2 cubs had been getting into the garbage cans, and apparently tore up a screen door the day before.  One of the weapons used by the Forest Service to control them is rubber bullets, which are packed with a light powder charge into a 12 gauge shotgun shell.  On request, they pass them out in small numbers to residents. I heard one fellow laughing about his "doofus" neighbor who picked up a few and then realized he only had a 20 gauge to shoot them with. Pagosa Springs, Colorado I have been coming to Pagosa to ski for 20 years.  I always stayed at the Spa Motel, to make use of the hot spring baths, the swimming pool, and the occasional massage.  One of my favorite memories of this place is the year it snowed so much the ticket office at Wolf Creek was buried, and the whole enterprise was shut down for days.  I eventually escaped to Purgatory, pointing my Bronco carefully down the middle of the white space between the humps of the fencing along the buried highway, hoping to stay on the road.  But the night before I left, I spent an interesting hour in the warm swimming pool, watching those big heavy flakes crowd down out of the black sky, plopping into the pool around me.  I’m sure they didn’t really hiss as they hit the water, but that’s the way I remember it. The swimming pool is still ok, but I am sorry to report the indoor soaking pool is not being maintained properly.  This may be just one bad day, so check it out if you come through.  They give out flannel sheets to wrap up in when you are steaming, and you can lay back on benches and drift off till you cool down and go back in.  The water is still 108 degrees, or maybe more, but when I went it hadn’t been cleaned in a while.  There was stuff floating on the surface, and it had an oily feel, and the whole room smelled like some sort of nasty soup or old dish water. The good news is that the place across the street (The Springs) is greatly improved from my last visit.  These are a series of outdoor pools (bathing suit required) in tiers down to the river, going from 110 degrees down to tepid.  If I were just a little bit younger, I’d have to say the babes in string bikinis ain’t so hard to look at, either.  $12 for the day.   I’m talking about the pools. Creede, Colorado I was wandering desolately down the main street, beseeching complete strangers for access to a phone line so I could e-mail you guys, when I saw a large orange tabby limping across the street.  She was collared, tagged, and belled.  Her left rear foot was held up high, and it looked like something red stained the paw. I ducked into the Kentucky Belle, which is a grocery store, and told the clerk it looked like someone’s cat was hurt. "Big orange cat?" "Yeah." "That’s the town cat.  She don’t belong to anyone special.  She got froze to a bridge." The girl was checking out groceries and talking over her shoulder. She was obviously busy, so I didn’t press her, though now I wish I had.  This was a healthy animal, with an imperious air only slightly spoiled by the her legged gait.  On closer inspection, the red stuff on her paw looked like some kind of medicine. The Town Cat.  I guess if you’re going to get stuck to a bridge, this is the place to do it. Between Mora and Angelfire, New Mexico I’ve noticed the black flies here are bigger and slower than the ones I’m used to in Texas.  And louder.  If you happen to leave your door open during your nap, they’ll make you dream in black and white, of old war movies.  Spitfires and B-29s.  Since I never know when a nap is coming at me, I am apt to do this. I bought a fly swatter at the Wal-Mart in Las Vegas, N.M.  Actually they came packaged in pairs, which I took as an omen.  Never know when you might need back-up. In all fairness, though, I have to say they are a tough, tenacious bunch.  I was particularly impressed with a certain Sampson of their lot.  I decided to skip Taos on the way up.  It’s a good town for walking, but finding a place to park the Behemoth I’m living in just didn’t seem attractive to me this time round.  The traffic is crazy there around the square, and you can’t avoid it. So I took a winding narrow road out of Mora, past Coyote Creek State Park.  When the road opened up a bit approaching Angelfire, I stopped in a turnout, arranged a nice view of the Sangre de Cristos, and made a sandwich.  A few flies got in, so I lay about with the swatter till they granted me a funereal peace. After I got back in the truck and started off down the hill, I noticed through the windshield that one of these smug odious vermin had made himself a perch exactly where the hood ornament would be, if I had one.  I sped up to 30 mph.  He was unconcerned.  40 mph.  He couldn’t care less.  50 mph.  If a fly could yawn, he would.  As I approached 60 mph, I saw him hunker down a little on the slick surface of the paint.  Got you now, sucker. But as luck would have it, a car slowed down in front of me, approaching a curve, and I had to let up.  I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing.  As I slowed down to 30 mph, the devil flew away.  But I cannot say blew away.  He left calmly, at a time and place of his own choosing. And that’s it for now. Bob

Response:

You want skeeters?  Try Western Montana.  Mosquitos are their state bird!  After they drained me, they even offered me a glass of orange juice! Gus Weber – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing. Hahahaha!  Those flies are deadly…… nothing compared to the skeeters in Bismark, ND though. Did you go to the Vietnam Memorial? Hunter

Response:

No, I’ve been before, and this week I just didn’t need the depression it brought on.

full of Harleys. Their owners were mostly pretty scary looking…. ……there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. I had to leave I was a mess, I can’t take it when other people cry….. it was heartbreaking to be there…. Hunter

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks again Bob. On my recent trip to CO this past August we were going to stay at The Spa because they now have a small RV park with hookups for about 6 or so RVs, but alas only for fully self contained units and they don’t allow pets.  The massages across the street are excellent BTW. We ended up right outside town at a RV park right on the San Juan River (I think it’s called Riverview, it’s on the left as you are leaving town on Hwy 160 going toward Wolf Creek Pass) with a nice little pond of their own. Very friendly and helpful people.  I’ve been there before. The other thing I might mention is that just before you get to Wolf Creek Pass there is a turnout on the right that lets you take a nice hike up to the headwaters of the San Juan River.  It’s a nice (uphill) hike and the falls at the top are beautiful.

Thanks yourself.  I am going back through Pagosa this weekend.  They are having a big festival and balloon ascension, and besides it’s on the way to the fleshpots of Durango.  I give Riverview a look.  I went to the falls years ago, and I think I’ll revisit. Now I’ve got to go unload my wallet and get some flyfishing lessons for tomorrow.  Hectic pace out here.  :) Bob

Response:

I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing. Hahahaha!  Those flies are deadly…… nothing compared to the skeeters in Bismark, ND though. Did you go to the Vietnam Memorial? Hunter

No, I’ve been before, and this week I just didn’t need the depression it brought on. It’s a good display, though.  There’s another in California with a lot of good sculpture.  It’s off IH5, but right now I can’t look it up, I’m stuck in a phone booth.  Later. Bob

Response:

A few notes of passing interest…. Chama, New Mexico I stayed in the Rio Chama RV Park, a nice piece of cottonwood bottom right along the river, next to a trestle bridge for the Cumbres and Toltec steam excursion train.  The Station is about a half mile west. While watching the horrible news on TV that evening, I heard a couple of loud spaced reports, like shotguns going off nearby.  I thought, "It’s black powder season – but in town?" I went down to the tracks and met one the guys who ride around in golf carts helping people park their houses.  He was walking back from the woods along the track. "Somebody shooting down here?" "Nah.  That was me.  Firecrackers.  Them bears are tryin’ to climb the fence again." It turns out that a sow and 2 cubs had been getting into the garbage cans, and apparently tore up a screen door the day before.  One of the weapons used by the Forest Service to control them is rubber bullets, which are packed with a light powder charge into a 12 gauge shotgun shell.  On request, they pass them out in small numbers to residents. I heard one fellow laughing about his "doofus" neighbor who picked up a few and then realized he only had a 20 gauge to shoot them with. Pagosa Springs, Colorado I have been coming to Pagosa to ski for 20 years.  I always stayed at the Spa Motel, to make use of the hot spring baths, the swimming pool, and the occasional massage.  One of my favorite memories of this place is the year it snowed so much the ticket office at Wolf Creek was buried, and the whole enterprise was shut down for days.  I eventually escaped to Purgatory, pointing my Bronco carefully down the middle of the white space between the humps of the fencing along the buried highway, hoping to stay on the road.  But the night before I left, I spent an interesting hour in the warm swimming pool, watching those big heavy flakes crowd down out of the black sky, plopping into the pool around me.  I’m sure they didn’t really hiss as they hit the water, but that’s the way I remember it. The swimming pool is still ok, but I am sorry to report the indoor soaking pool is not being maintained properly.  This may be just one bad day, so check it out if you come through.  They give out flannel sheets to wrap up in when you are steaming, and you can lay back on benches and drift off till you cool down and go back in.  The water is still 108 degrees, or maybe more, but when I went it hadn’t been cleaned in a while.  There was stuff floating on the surface, and it had an oily feel, and the whole room smelled like some sort of nasty soup or old dish water. The good news is that the place across the street (The Springs) is greatly improved from my last visit.  These are a series of outdoor pools (bathing suit required) in tiers down to the river, going from 110 degrees down to tepid.  If I were just a little bit younger, I’d have to say the babes in string bikinis ain’t so hard to look at, either.  $12 for the day.   I’m talking about the pools. Creede, Colorado I was wandering desolately down the main street, beseeching complete strangers for access to a phone line so I could e-mail you guys, when I saw a large orange tabby limping across the street.  She was collared, tagged, and belled.  Her left rear foot was held up high, and it looked like something red stained the paw.   I ducked into the Kentucky Belle, which is a grocery store, and told the clerk it looked like someone’s cat was hurt. "Big orange cat?" "Yeah." "That’s the town cat.  She don’t belong to anyone special.  She got froze to a bridge." The girl was checking out groceries and talking over her shoulder. She was obviously busy, so I didn’t press her, though now I wish I had.  This was a healthy animal, with an imperious air only slightly spoiled by the her legged gait.  On closer inspection, the red stuff on her paw looked like some kind of medicine. The Town Cat.  I guess if you’re going to get stuck to a bridge, this is the place to do it. Between Mora and Angelfire, New Mexico I’ve noticed the black flies here are bigger and slower than the ones I’m used to in Texas.  And louder.  If you happen to leave your door open during your nap, they’ll make you dream in black and white, of old war movies.  Spitfires and B-29s.  Since I never know when a nap is coming at me, I am apt to do this. I bought a fly swatter at the Wal-Mart in Las Vegas, N.M.  Actually they came packaged in pairs, which I took as an omen.  Never know when you might need back-up. In all fairness, though, I have to say they are a tough, tenacious bunch.  I was particularly impressed with a certain Sampson of their lot.  I decided to skip Taos on the way up.  It’s a good town for walking, but finding a place to park the Behemoth I’m living in just didn’t seem attractive to me this time round.  The traffic is crazy there around the square, and you can’t avoid it. So I took a winding narrow road out of Mora, past Coyote Creek State Park.  When the road opened up a bit approaching Angelfire, I stopped in a turnout, arranged a nice view of the Sangre de Cristos, and made a sandwich.  A few flies got in, so I lay about with the swatter till they granted me a funereal peace. After I got back in the truck and started off down the hill, I noticed through the windshield that one of these smug odious vermin had made himself a perch exactly where the hood ornament would be, if I had one.  I sped up to 30 mph.  He was unconcerned.  40 mph.  He couldn’t care less.  50 mph.  If a fly could yawn, he would.  As I approached 60 mph, I saw him hunker down a little on the slick surface of the paint.  Got you now, sucker. But as luck would have it, a car slowed down in front of me, approaching a curve, and I had to let up.  I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing.  As I slowed down to 30 mph, the devil flew away.  But I cannot say blew away.  He left calmly, at a time and place of his own choosing. And that’s it for now. Bob

Response:

Question:

 Other tests I’ve seen have given similar numbers. While there may  be some variation  of actual knot strength – and perhaps knots change relative positions,  there relative strength of the knots is consistent in all tests I’ve  seen; a double or triple surgeon tests stronger than a blood knot. A trilene  knot is stronger than clinch knot. A George Harvey knot is stronger than  a turl knot. etc etc.

Agreed.  The general conclusion they state about terminal knots is that the knots that pass twice through the eye are stronger than those that pass only once. I personally use a 6 barrel blood knot because it is straight and easy to tie, and a trilene knot because it is easy to tie and strong. cheers,         -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html NOTICE: DO NOT ADD MY NAME TO _ANY_ MAILING LISTS.  

Response:

Ralph Cutter published some similar results in this ng some months back. Other tests I’ve seen have given similar numbers. While there may be some variation of actual knot strength – and perhaps knots change relative positions, there relative strength of the knots is consistent in all tests I’ve seen; a double or triple surgeon tests stronger than a blood knot. A trilene knot is stronger than clinch knot. A George Harvey knot is stronger than a turl knot. etc etc. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – EXPLANATION:  Column "AA" was done with a high tensile strength leader material that is,  less stretch (Fenwick Extra Strong Formula).  Column "BB" was done with a  high energy to break that is, more stretch (Climax Freshwater Tippet/Trout)  Each knot tied 15 times with each material (wet) using 6X but are valid up  to 15#.  Strengths determined by a laboratory instrument, and were done  according to the "American Standard Testing Methods". RESULTS:                               AA         BB                              —-       —- TERMINAL KNOTS:    George Harvey’s Knot      93.7%      96.4%    Improved Clinch Knot      90.9%      86.2%    Orvis Knot                93.6%      92.9%    Palomar Knot             100.0%     100.0%    Trilene Knot             100.0%     100.0%    Turle Knot                72.7%      85.7%    Uni Knot                  75.8%      92.9% LINE-TO-LINE:    Blood Knot (4 barrels)    69.7%      79.3%    Blood Knot (6 barrels)    78.1%      91.2%    Triple Surgeon’s Knot     96.9%      98.3%    Surgeons’s Loop           87.9%      96.9% OTHER:    Overhand Knot             72.7%      89.7% SOURCE:  Bernie Taylor, "Testing Knots".  Fly Fisherman, Dec 1995 pp 52-55, 82-83. — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html email: replace the "this_address_is_wrong" with "tgades"

Ralph H note spurious hyperbole, insults and ‘personal attacks’ made by the author are meant to honour "the Soul of Cicero" and are not intended as personal slights. Please don’t take offense as none is intended. remove "(take_this_out)" for email reply.

Response:

There has been much discussion about knot strength.  The following is a summary of the results of a knot strength test published in Fly Fisherman magazine, Dec 1995. I’d welcome the results of other published tests. -tgades EXPLANATION:   Column "AA" was done with a high tensile strength leader material that is,   less stretch (Fenwick Extra Strong Formula).  Column "BB" was done with a   high energy to break that is, more stretch (Climax Freshwater Tippet/Trout)   Each knot tied 15 times with each material (wet) using 6X but are valid up   to 15#.  Strengths determined by a laboratory instrument, and were done   according to the "American Standard Testing Methods". RESULTS:                                AA         BB                               —-       —-  TERMINAL KNOTS:     George Harvey’s Knot      93.7%      96.4%     Improved Clinch Knot      90.9%      86.2%     Orvis Knot                93.6%      92.9%     Palomar Knot             100.0%     100.0%     Trilene Knot             100.0%     100.0%     Turle Knot                72.7%      85.7%     Uni Knot                  75.8%      92.9%  LINE-TO-LINE:     Blood Knot (4 barrels)    69.7%      79.3%     Blood Knot (6 barrels)    78.1%      91.2%     Triple Surgeon’s Knot     96.9%      98.3%     Surgeons’s Loop           87.9%      96.9%  OTHER:     Overhand Knot             72.7%      89.7% SOURCE:   Bernie Taylor, "Testing Knots".  Fly Fisherman, Dec 1995 pp 52-55, 82-83. — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html email: replace the "this_address_is_wrong" with "tgades"

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Pleats Dockers Faggots Gierach Orvis Ralph, Dave, Ken, John K, lil ol me Catch & Release TU Money People who don’t contribute enuff to ROFF ROFF Flyfishing I gotta wonder what you do like, and why you spend so much time here? I also gotta wonder if the reason for your break from here was because that pleated pants east coast faggot asshole John K wouldn’t let you play on company time?

Normally I would not respond to this sort of taunting,  but I like you because you are from Kansas. I have been gone becaue my mother died very suddenly and I am crushed. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

Pleats Dockers Faggots Gierach Orvis Ralph, Dave, Ken, John K, lil ol me Catch & Release TU Money People who don’t contribute enuff to ROFF ROFF Flyfishing I gotta wonder what you do like, and why you spend so much time here? I also gotta wonder if the reason for your break from here was because that  pleated pants east coast faggot asshole John K wouldn’t let you play on  company time? Back to work.. . John Nesselrode Shawnee, KS

Response:

Pleats Dockers Faggots Gierach Orvis Ralph, Dave, Ken, John K, lil ol me Catch & Release TU Money People who don’t contribute enuff to ROFF

People who do contribute, but have the gall to disagree with him. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ROFF Flyfishing I gotta wonder what you do like, and why you spend so much time here? I also gotta wonder if the reason for your break from here was because that  pleated pants east coast faggot asshole John K wouldn’t let you play on  company time? Back to work.. . John Nesselrode Shawnee, KS

Response:

Question:

I’m curious about how other fly fishermen use a one-person canoe to catch trout on moderate-sized rivers. Stop and wade most of the time? Or fish from a moving canoe? Does your strategy change when two persons are aboard? (I think we would all agree that canoes are quite different from drift boats with a guide at the oars.) Bob

I have a 12′ Katahdin – not exactly svelte with its 50-something beam – but it sure works well as a one-person flyfishing platform. For the most part I use it to get to a good spot, then either toss out the anchor and start casting, or get out onto dry land and cast from there. Depends on the river, obviously… On the other hand, I also have a old but trusty 16′ Lincoln canoe that is used when there are two sets of shoulders to wrestle it on/off my truck. Depending on the situation, we might have the stern man paddle along while the bow man casts, else we anchor or beach it and both cast… And if truth be told, on ponds or small lakes, we might even troll (there – I said it! ;^) but I’ve never done that on a river… Cheers! /dave <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < Digital Equipment Corp.               Alpha Server Engineering < < Parker Street Campus                      Maynard, Massachusetts < < !!NOTE: Please replace "xxx" with "dec" to respond by email!!  < <<<<<<<<<<<<<< AMA 548313 <<<<<<<<<<<<<< Disclaimer: Opinion and content is mine alone, and unlikely to be                     shared by my employer, etc…

Response:

I’m curious about how other fly fishermen use a one-person canoe to catch trout on moderate-sized rivers. Stop and wade most of the time? Or fish from a moving canoe? Does your strategy change when two persons are aboard? (I think we would all agree that canoes are quite different from drift boats with a guide at the oars.) Bob

Response:

I’m curious about how other fly fishermen use a one-person canoe to catch trout on moderate-sized rivers. Stop and wade most of the time? Or fish from a moving canoe? Does your strategy change when two persons are aboard? (I think we would all agree that canoes are quite different from drift boats with a guide at the oars.) Bob

Bob, As a guide with a driftboat I found your post amusing….I sometimes when fishing on my own most certainly use the canoe when I do not feel like trailering and launching the boat (too much like work).  So I carry a small anchor that  I use to anchor in slow water alongside the riffs. Obviously under no circumstances do you want to anchor in fast water and never permanently attach your anchor line to the canoe…I use a slip knot.  Better to lose an anchor than yourself and all your gear.  A coffee can mold with concrete and an eye bolt set in it works great.  I have never had to ditch an anchor but safety first.  This is a great way to fish the big deep slow moving pools that you cannot usually reach.  Have fun and good fishing. James Ehlers Underhill, Vermont Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

Response:

Question:

<snip If you guys would have me believing that, I could also walk on water.  Not so.

Hold on George, you are destroying perceptions I had here.  I thought that if I rubbed gink on the felt of my wading boots, I could walk on water 8^) Bruce….

Response:

<snip If you guys would have me believing that, I could also walk on water.  Not so. Hold on George, you are destroying perceptions I had here.  I thought that if I rubbed gink on the felt of my wading boots, I could walk on water 8^) Bruce….

thinking clearly. I used to have two fishing hats.  The guys bought the one that said, ‘Gink Keeps It Up’ . . . while the gals bought the T-Shirts that said; "Xink Keeps it Down!" Take care Bruce. George

Response:

I tying a bunch of dries right now and use Gink at the stream with good results. After the discussion about sprays and such I was wondering if it was a good idea to treat my flies with Gink now so they will be ready out of the box on the stream. How about treating the materials before tying?

Response:

I tying a bunch of dries right now and use Gink at the stream with good results. After the discussion about sprays and such I was wondering if it was a good idea to treat my flies with Gink now so they will be ready out of the box on the stream. How about treating the materials before tying?

I prefer to treat my dries immediately after tying. Some writers have described using gink and simialr dressings as a ‘dubbing wax’ but I’m unaware of anyone  applying floatants to materials before tying the fly. Ralph H

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I tying a bunch of dries right now and use Gink at the stream with good results. After the discussion about sprays and such I was wondering if it was a good idea to treat my flies with Gink now so they will be ready out of the box on the stream. How about treating the materials before tying? I prefer to treat my dries immediately after tying. Some writers have described using gink and simialr dressings as a ‘dubbing wax’ but I’m unaware of anyone  applying floatants to materials before tying the fly. Ralph H

DEAR RALPH:  YOUR QUESTIONS are good ones.   First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream. HOWEVER!  (Let us use a ‘Light Cahill’ Dry Fly as an example).  You pick one up astream and you note it and its color.  You might even take a picture of it.  Now its time to tie the fly . . . to match the hatch. If you pick a yellow that matches the fly with ‘a dry’ material, it will be lighter than when it gets wet.  As a test, you want to take a little GINK and see how much darker that dry yellow will become IF and WHEN it becomes WET.  You, more likely than not will choose a lighter shade of yellow that will darken to the correct shade AFTER you get to your fishing hole. Understand? This is one of the neater features of using GINK AT the Fly Tying Table.  Just use it as a test for each shade of fly you’re going to tie and use it without exception for every fly pattern you’ll tie in your fishing life.  It is THAT important. Hope this hint increases your ‘Matching the Hatch’ stategies. Sincerely, George Gehrke (Gink Keeps It Up!)

Response:

I use Nufly coat on my newly tied flies, and it works great. I think it must be like scotch guard, which I intend to try also. You must apply it to newly tied or purchased flies which have not been Gink’d yet, or else it doesn’t work as good. I also buy Albolene at the drug store ( it is used as a make-up remover cream) for about 5 bucks a quart to refill my floatant bottles. Learned that from Art Lee’s book "Fly fishing for trout on rivers and streams". It works as good as any floatant. Best is probably Orvis "Superfloat", it dries the flies and treats them with one application.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I tying a bunch of dries right now and use Gink at the stream with good results. After the discussion about sprays and such I was wondering if it was a good idea to treat my flies with Gink now so they will be ready out of the box on the stream. How about treating the materials before tying? I prefer to treat my dries immediately after tying. Some writers have described using gink and simialr dressings as a ‘dubbing wax’ but I’m unaware of anyone  applying floatants to materials before tying the fly. Ralph H DEAR RALPH:  YOUR QUESTIONS are good ones.   First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream. HOWEVER!  (Let us use a ‘Light Cahill’ Dry Fly as an example).  You pick one up astream and you note it and its color.  You might even take a picture of it.  Now its time to tie the fly . . . to match the hatch. If you pick a yellow that matches the fly with ‘a dry’ material, it will be lighter than when it gets wet.  As a test, you want to take a little GINK and see how much darker that dry yellow will become IF and WHEN it becomes WET.  You, more likely than not will choose a lighter shade of yellow that will darken to the correct shade AFTER you get to your fishing hole. Understand? This is one of the neater features of using GINK AT the Fly Tying Table.  Just use it as a test for each shade of fly you’re going to tie and use it without exception for every fly pattern you’ll tie in your fishing life.  It is THAT important. Hope this hint increases your ‘Matching the Hatch’ stategies. Sincerely, George Gehrke (Gink Keeps It Up!)

Understand! Ralph H

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George, Thanks for the match the hatch info.  This sounds like excellent advice, and I can’t wait to try it this spring. Vince

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First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream.

Why not? What is the reasoning behind this? Thanks, Jack – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream. Why not? What is the reasoning behind this?

Perhaps because George would rather you bought his World Famous/Can’t Be Beat/Patent Pending Miracle Dubbing Wax instead? ;^)

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First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream. Why not? What is the reasoning behind this? Perhaps because George would rather you bought his World Famous/Can’t Be Beat/Patent Pending Miracle Dubbing Wax instead? ;^)

Its hard being great and humble at the same time.  Yah, sure.  If you guys would have me believing that, I could also walk on water.  Not so. Seriously, GINK is not a dubbing wax.  It is not thick enough to grab dubbing and  help spin it around a fine thread.  And, since Fly-Maker’s Wax IS designed to do just that with the same, wonderful, put a smile on your face, finger sticking good, a little dab will do you . . . efficency, why not go for the whole Enchalata? Sincerely, George Gehrke Mr. Dubbs?

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Question:

Just  learning and can use a saltwater pond that has lots of mullet to practice.  Any suggestion as to  flys?

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You’re talking target practice here.  Mullet are vegetarians.  Sometimes they can be induced to take a fly with chumming.  (bread or crumbs.)  Try small patterns. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just  learning and can use a saltwater pond that has lots of mullet to practice.  Any suggestion as to  flys?

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Just  learning and can use a saltwater pond that has lots of mullet to practice.  Any suggestion as to  flys?

In the U.K. during the summer and autumn most harbours and estuaries are invaded by the grey mullet. They love green weed which they don’t eat but suck out the small crustaceans etc that live in the weed. They can therefore be lured by a fly that is composed of only green peacock herl. The dressing is simple and easy to tie. Hook size is 10-12. First tie in 3-4 green peacock herls to form a tail. Next tie in 3 herls and wrap round the hook to form a body.Then tie 6-8 herls in to form a hackle. The effect is to look like a small piece of green weed. Hope this is of some use. John — John Buchanan

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Yeah-   Get a #0 fly– the pattern is immaterial– and retrieve it as fast as you can. If the mullet are thick enough, you can snag them.      Those beasts eat no fish or bugs, just plant matter.

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Just  learning and can use a saltwater pond that has lots of mullet to practice.  Any suggestion as to  flys?

Never fished for mullet with hook and line, always cast netted. I have seen folks with cane poles fishing for them(as I recall). I think you could chum them with some kind of dough and then use a fly resembling that. I am not sure how this will relate to other species you will fish for. It would be more exciting to reel a fish in but unlike the accuracy needed for bone fish for instance. This is just my opinion based on my limited knowledge of the facts you presented. Good Luck, Joe Webb Atlanta Mac User Group (AMUG)

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Question:

Which do you prefer, monofilament or braided leaders, and under what conditions?  What do you like about it? The reason I’m asking this question is that I’ve been going back and forth for years on it and I can’t seem to make up my mind. I’m new to this group and I apologize if this has already been beat to death…

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: Which do you prefer, monofilament or braided leaders, and under : what conditions?  What do you like about it? Braided leaders are great for a lot of situations in fishing. The only problems with them are that there is a little of bit of built in stretch. The other is that the flyfisher can’t easily design and build a leader out of that stuff like he can with mono. I do use braided sinking leaders a lot, but I prefer mono for all my floating leaders because I like to tie my own the way I like them. Jon Porter

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I’m a dry fly  nut. I dont like the way a braided leader snakes on the water. It turns a fly over very nicely, but I feel you dont get  near as long of a drag free float as you do with a knotted leader of george Harvey’s or similar design.         If you nymph alot, I think they’re fine. It sure is easy to use, but for the most part, I don’t care much for braided leaders. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Which do you prefer, monofilament or braided leaders, and under what conditions?  What do you like about it? The reason I’m asking this question is that I’ve been going back and forth for years on it and I can’t seem to make up my mind. I’m new to this group and I apologize if this has already been beat to death…

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I meant to say, I do not like the way that a braided leader does NOT snake on the water,   oops : – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m a dry fly  nut. I dont like the way a braided leader snakes on the water. It turns a fly over very nicely, but I feel you dont get  near as long of a drag free float as you do with a knotted leader of george Harvey’s or similar design.    If you nymph alot, I think they’re fine. It sure is easy to use, but for the most part, I don’t care much for braided leaders. Which do you prefer, monofilament or braided leaders, and under what conditions?  What do you like about it? The reason I’m asking this question is that I’ve been going back and forth for years on it and I can’t seem to make up my mind. I’m new to this group and I apologize if this has already been beat to death…

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Which do you prefer, monofilament or braided leaders, and under what conditions?  What do you like about it? The reason I’m asking this question is that I’ve been going back and forth for years on it and I can’t seem to make up my mind. I’m new to this group and I apologize if this has already been beat to death…

Braided leaders died in Nor Cal about 5 years ago. Fly fisherman here buy knotless mono tapered leaders. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

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Dan Garcia pretty much hit the nail on the head with braided leaders. I’m not a leader fiddler beyond the tippet size and length. I use braided leaders in two lengths for all of my dry fly fishing. It has worked from the Deschutes to Silver Creek for me. Braided leaders aren’t that great for deep nymphing, the line is much bigger in diameter than comparible mono. The one situation I use the braided leader is chironomid fishing on lakes. I hate the way strike indicators get in the way when landing a fish. So I tie on a beadhead chironomid on a 14+ foot leader and put a liberal amount of floatant on the first two feet of the braided butt section. The floating section is my strike indicator. For nymphing, I like to use hinged leaders, and I like to roll my own for that. –DBLHAUL–

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(Eric Mintz) writes: Which do you prefer, monofilament or braided leaders, and under what conditions?  What do you like about it? The reason I’m asking this question is that I’ve been going back and forth for years on it and I can’t seem to make up my mind.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of leaders. Braided leaders cast much better and more accurately than mono leaders due to the suppleness of the braid.  When using "normal leaders" as the loop gets to the  leader the loop opens up (sometimes a lot) because the leader is stiffer than the fly line.  Braided butt leaders don’t open up because they transfer the energy of the cast much more effectively due to their suppleness, and they allow better precision on "one shot" casts (such as those from a drift boat as you’re drifting downriver).  Because of their improved transfer of energy they allow you to cast longer leaders more easily.  12 foot leaders are a snap to cast with this type of leader. They also allow better drifts on the water because of this suppleness.  If you are fishing 6X & 7X tippets with a braided butt leader you will land more fish because the braid stretches quite a bit more than regular monofilament and is more forgiving of mistakes and sudden shock.  The braided section will last for years and all you have to do is replace the tips as you wear them out.  You can tie up your own tips to save money if you like.  The tip sections on the Orvis braided leaders taper within the first foot to the final tippet size.  You can add a straight 4 ft. section of 3X or 4X, but need to step it down to go to 5X or smaller if you tie up your own tip sections.  The loop to loop connections in the braid are clean and easy to use connections. But all is not rosy in paradise, and as is typical with flyfishing, you get something, you give something up.  All leaders will absorb enough water to sink into the surface film within about 10 minutes if not treated with fly floatant.  When they do, it not only makes mending the leader impossible, it causes leaders to spray water on the cast. The braided leaders do this is spades because all the little spaces between the braid will capture and hold water if not treated.  If you rub some paste floatant into it before you start fishing, no problem.  If you don’t, big problems.  Orvis now has some "floating" braided leaders that are impregnated with a substance that cures this problem but it is only available in 9 ft. lengths.  The braided section of the leader (the Orvis braided butt leaders have 4 ft. of tip section and the rest is a tapered braided butt) is not clear as mono is and may not be as subtle.  I believe the added suppleness and the improved drifts I get more than compensate for this myself, but there is a definite difference and you must be more careful about "lining" fish.  The biggest disadvantage with braided leaders is that you have fewer adjustment options on the stream.  They come in 7 1/2ft., 9ft., 12ft., and now 16 ft. lengths which will satisfy the requirements of most people, but if you like to fiddle with your leader design by changing the butt and the tippet design, you are out of luck.  You can easily make the tip section an additional foot longer or so, but that’s about it.  You can’t adjust the length of the butt section because you’d have to cut and splice the braid to do so. I would say that the braided leader offers a lot of advantages for most people, but if you like to tailor your leader to a specific purpose at a specific time, use the mono and become very good at tying knots.  I personally used the braided leaders for a number of years but have become one of those "leader fiddlers" and have gone back to mono because of the ability to cut off and/or add material at a moments notice which I probably do entirely too often, but I enjoy it so I do.                                 Hope this helps,                                       Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

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Question:

Hey Cliff, make sure you tell him to stop by Chessman on his way to RMNP so he gets a good dose of WD on his waders to take with him. Mike Miller

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I will be in Rocky Mountain National Park the 3rd week of july. Does anybody have any suggestions about what water should be good and which flies usually work best? Thanks, Larry.

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writes: I will be in Rocky Mountain National Park the 3rd week of july. Does anybody have any suggestions about what water should be good and which flies usually work best? Thanks, Larry.

Larry, Estes Park, Colorado is located just outside the Park gates. They also have a flyshop complete with guide services, ect… I’m not sure of the name though, but their the only flyshop in Estes, Co. Needless to say, don’t miss Estes. Nice place to visit.

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writes: I will be in Rocky Mountain National Park the 3rd week of july. Does anybody have any suggestions about what water should be good and which flies usually work best? Thanks, Larry.

Larry, I would try "Anglers All" Flyshop in Littleton, Colorado. The guy that runs it is a friend of "Jack Dennis." His wife is probably the best flyshop assistant available. Anyway, they are a first class flyshop and will have everything you need. Ph: (303) 794-1104.                             Best of luck, Cliff

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Larry, Estes has several excellent fly shops including the estes angler and colo. wilderness shop. The river will be at normal levels and fishing well by that time. The lakes such as sprague and lily will be typical for brookies. That is small flies and brassies will get you a load of 10" to 12" fish in a short time. For larger browns and rainbows try the thompson below the town. Stop by and ask Dave at Colo. wilderness for specifics. good luck B. griggers

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Question:

Any info on possibilities of small lake or stream fishing here. I have heard there’s some bass possibilities here.

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There are lots of ponds with LM and Peacock bass in them.  I’ve personally only caught them on a spinning rod, but there’s no reason they wouldn’t take flies.  There may be some bass or other interesting creatures in the larger streams.  There sure are a lot of them on Kauai, and there are some nice flats areas that ought to be fishable for Ulua (Trevally) and their younger brothers, Papio.–Crashjibe

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Only stream fishing when i was there ran through Kokee State Park.  Purely "put & take" trout.  Definite for Peacock.  Don’t expect to find ANY gear there, though.

I fished some of the freshwater reservoirs in cane fields (get a permit…they’re free from the sugar co.). Largemouth and peacock a’plenty *:) I thought I remember reading where Kokee has a very short fishing season….did I remember right?

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Question:

Hi Again Again, check out REI Elements.  After two years of research I went with their Elements shell because it’s 10% more water proof than Goretex, 10% less breathable, but well designed with zips under arms, etc. for about 1/2 the price of Goretex and generally less weight than all but the most expensive GT.  I got mine for $115, vs Marmot’s $260.  Hope to get the pants this year.  Great windbreaker as well.  No teflon!.

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: Frank- :     Tough it out.  Last year, I bought a Gore-Tex wannabe, pants and parka. :     I had no problems other than the fact that the coating on the jacket was :     teflon, and I couldn’t stop after falling while showboarding(!).   Actually I believe goretex is actually just specially treated teflon. I met some chemistry guys who showed me how it’s done. It’s just got really small specially punched holes in it. "When you play the synthesizer keyboard as though it were a piano or organ, funny things happen" – Dick Hyman in the liner notes of his 196? album "MOOG"

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 ("I’d rather be Flyfishing!") writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello everyone, Don’t know if I should talk about specific products in the forum. Oh well, here goes: just got an EMS Expedition Parka and I love it!  Wish I could afford the matching EMS Expedition Pants, but the funds ain’t there and winter’s a comin’. Having Gore Tex pants is important to me.  I can live with them being insulated or uninsulated, but I do want quality stuff. <<stuff gone My gut says, go with the L.L. Bean product. I think it will compliment my EMS Expedition Parka just fine. My other gut says, tough it out with a cheapo pants and save up for the EMS Expedition Pants for next year. Thanks in advance for any advise you can share. Frank: flyfisher, icefisher, skier, snowshoveler et al.

Frank-     Tough it out.  Last year, I bought a Gore-Tex wannabe, pants and parka.     I had no problems other than the fact that the coating on the jacket was     teflon, and I couldn’t stop after falling while showboarding(!).  I was     willing to cope with that, since Gore-Tex would have cost twice as much.     This summer, I went hiking on a 90 degree day, and when I pulled my jacket     out that night, It had partially melted and stuck to itself!:(     Fortunately, I was able to return it and get the real thing.  It was worth     the extra $200 for the top of the line stuff |      Box 631             (610) 758-0461                | |      Lehigh University                                 | |      29 Trembley Dr.                                   |

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Having Gore Tex pants is important to me.  I can live with them being insulated or uninsulated, but I do want quality stuff.

snip snip Thanks in advance for any advise you can share.

Well, since you asked for it, and bearing in mind that advice is worth what you pay for it, here’s some for free |:-) Both coated and Gore-Tex pants are going to block wind and water.  Both will get clammy on the inside when it’s humid.  Both will get torn up by the briars if you do much walking in the woods.  The main difference, in my personal experience (I’ve used both), is in the price. What I have settled on for now is a pair of urethane-coated nylon trousers, uninsulated, with drawstrings at waist and cuffs, calf zippers, and sealed seams.  I paid about $25 for them (LL Bean, I think).  I can use whatever insulation I want beneath them and won’t break down in despair when they are ruined in a laurel hell some day. Regards, Stephen Anderson

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Hello everyone, Don’t know if I should talk about specific products in the forum. Oh well, here goes: just got an EMS Expedition Parka and I love it!  Wish I could afford the matching EMS Expedition Pants, but the funds ain’t there and winter’s a comin’. Having Gore Tex pants is important to me.  I can live with them being insulated or uninsulated, but I do want quality stuff. EMS sells this Gore-Tex-like System 3 getup.  The pants seem pretty nice for being water-resistant and wind-resistant, full leg zips, seams are sealed, back pockets that zip and an elastic waistband that has side snaps. $85.00. L.L.Bean sells their Gore-Tex North Col Pants, either insulated or uninsulated, full leg zips (2 way), velcro closures at waist and cuffs, and a storm flap over the leg zips. $139 ($129 uninsulated) Columbia has several models of pants, all do not have Gore-Tex, most are uninsulated, most have only zips at the cuffs and elastic waist bands with snaps for adjustment. $29-$89 My gut says, go with the L.L. Bean product. I think it will compliment my EMS Expedition Parka just fine. My other gut says, tough it out with a cheapo pants and save up for the EMS Expedition Pants for next year. Thanks in advance for any advise you can share. Frank: flyfisher, icefisher, skier, snowshoveler et al.

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