Question:

My friend just got back from Jasper and told me of some incredible dry fly Pike fishing near Edson. We are planning a trip next June but what I want to know is are there any good lakes in BC, a little closer to my home in Vancouver, BC.

Response:

I am pretty sure that pike in BC are restricted to the northeastern portion of the province. Tim Lysyk

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My friend just got back from Jasper and told me of some incredible dry fly Pike fishing near Edson. We are planning a trip next June but what I want to know is are there any good lakes in BC, a little closer to my home in Vancouver, BC.

Response:

Question:

They also caught a jurassic trout… here’s the web and mail address – http://www.carlsons.co.uk as i said, the flies are satisfactory, but not the quality ties that you can get from waldo. jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What’s their web-address, those flies catch Upper class fish! — Op "Look, strange women lying around in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.  Supreme executive power is derived from a mandate from the masses, not from some  farcical aquatic ceremony.  I mean, if I went around saying I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they’d put me away. -Dennis the (Bloody) peasant- All Companies will have an incident now and then with one product or another but it’s the way they handle it and the extent to which they are willing to go to make amends that set the class acts apart from the rest….and that goes for the guy at the local shop as well. Maybe I’m just being cynical, Hawkeye, but I wonder whether the fact that you discussed this problem on ROFF had anything to do with Orvis’s extreme generousity? some time ago, i posted about problems with some flies i bought from Carlson’s, a tackle shop in England.  the flies cost 45 cents, and were well worth the price…BUT, they were shipped by regular mail in an envelope.  In the crossing to my mailbox, the flies were damaged because of the packaging – or lack thereof.  i sent a copy of my post to Carlson’s.  soon afterward, the owner of Carlson’s sent me an e-mail apologizing for the problem. a few weeks later, i received replacements in a nice flybox – all in good condition, and with a nice note. heck…maybe you guys have some value after all. <G jeff

Response:

Maybe I’m just being cynical, Hawkeye, but I wonder whether the fact that you discussed this problem on ROFF had anything to do with Orvis’s extreme generousity?

Maybe I’m just being cynical, rw, but I wonder if you’re not overestimating the influence of ROFF? Related good service anecdote: I had one of Sci Anglers Mastery Series AST Lines that got worn out in a single season. I found this kind of frustrating since it was an expensive line… but in retrospect I probably could have taken better care of it (it wasn’t stored well and I used a bunch of DEET bug stuff while fishing the line on numerous occasions). I was looking in my local fly shop and the owner suggested rather than buy a new line, I might want to send the old one back to SA. I did. A couple of weeks later I got brand new one, no questions asked.  I’m loyal to both the Shop and SA now after such good support from both. And my line is still in good shape – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

All Companies will have an incident now and then with one product or another but it’s the way they handle it and the extent to which they are willing to go to make amends that set the class acts apart from the rest….

At work, if someone goofs and worries we might lose a customer, I remind them it’s actually a great opportunity.  You buy from company A and there’s nothing wrong with the product.  You buy from company B, but there’s something wrong with the product.  Company B falls all over themselves trying to make up for it, and goes "beyond the call of duty".  Which company do you buy from next time?  Not an easy one to answer, but lots of people would choose company B. Regards, Jeff

Response:

All Companies will have an incident now and then with one product or another but it’s the way they handle it and the extent to which they are willing to go to make amends that set the class acts apart from the rest….and that goes for the guy at the local shop as well.

Maybe I’m just being cynical, Hawkeye, but I wonder whether the fact that you discussed this problem on ROFF had anything to do with Orvis’s extreme generousity? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Based on the couple experiences with orvis customer service this would be typical. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – All Companies will have an incident now and then with one product or another but it’s the way they handle it and the extent to which they are willing to go to make amends that set the class acts apart from the rest….and that goes for the guy at the local shop as well. Maybe I’m just being cynical, Hawkeye, but I wonder whether the fact that you discussed this problem on ROFF had anything to do with Orvis’s extreme generousity? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Based on the couple experiences with orvis customer service this would be typical.

—– I have NEVER regretted buying anything from Orvis.  Hard to beat their customer service.  Now, if only the phone company was like Orvis… —- Padishar Creel "What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult to each other."  – George Eliot

Response:

I received a call today from an Orvis company representative for the northeast inquiring about the problems I had with their Clearwater breathable waders.  Apparently, the owner of the Orvis shop I frequent called them to voice his displeasure over the matter and he told them about my experience with two brand new pairs leaking.  The rep. informed me of a problem they had with a vendor they had contracted with to produce the waders and how they identified the cause and remedied the situation.  He was very apologetic and assured me the problems were behind them (incidentally, the problems were even more prevelant in their stockingfoot models) For my troubles he is sending me a new pair of waders at no cost which I think is very fair and frankly unexpected since I had received a credit for the ones I returned.  Now I’ve got waders aplenty having just received new Dan Bailey breathables (and love them). All Companies will have an incident now and then with one product or another but it’s the way they handle it and the extent to which they are willing to go to make amends that set the class acts apart from the rest….and that goes for the guy at the local shop as well. Natty (wishing he had given me a 9′ nine weight for salmon fishing instead  :-)  ) Before you buy.

Response:

What’s their web-address, those flies catch Upper class fish! — Op "Look, strange women lying around in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.  Supreme executive power is derived from a mandate from the masses, not from some  farcical aquatic ceremony.  I mean, if I went around saying I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they’d put me away. -Dennis the (Bloody) peasant-

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – All Companies will have an incident now and then with one product or another but it’s the way they handle it and the extent to which they are willing to go to make amends that set the class acts apart from the rest….and that goes for the guy at the local shop as well. Maybe I’m just being cynical, Hawkeye, but I wonder whether the fact that you discussed this problem on ROFF had anything to do with Orvis’s extreme generousity? some time ago, i posted about problems with some flies i bought from Carlson’s, a tackle shop in England.  the flies cost 45 cents, and were well worth the price…BUT, they were shipped by regular mail in an envelope.  In the crossing to my mailbox, the flies were damaged because of the packaging – or lack thereof.  i sent a copy of my post to Carlson’s.  soon afterward, the owner of Carlson’s sent me an e-mail apologizing for the problem. a few weeks later, i received replacements in a nice flybox – all in good condition, and with a nice note. heck…maybe you guys have some value after all. <G jeff

Response:

Maybe I’m just being cynical, Hawkeye, but I wonder whether the fact that you discussed this problem on ROFF had anything to do with Orvis’s extreme generousity?

I guess it’s possible RW…. the truth is I never gave that a thought. Given the fact that he called me at my home # AND left a message on my voice mail at the office I seriously doubt it was a ROFF induced action.  He told me that he got my #s from the owner of the Orvis shop who called him about the wader probs.  I wouldn’t for a second doubt the shop owner’s word and have no cause to doubt the reps either. Your point is well taken though…is ROFF really that well known in "the biz"? Maybe in the future I should not mention brand/company names?  I for one would like to know when someone else has had a problem with a product. Natty

Response:

All Companies will have an incident now and then with one product or another but it’s the way they handle it and the extent to which they are willing to go to make amends that set the class acts apart from the rest….and that goes for the guy at the local shop as well. Maybe I’m just being cynical, Hawkeye, but I wonder whether the fact that you discussed this problem on ROFF had anything to do with Orvis’s extreme generousity?

some time ago, i posted about problems with some flies i bought from Carlson’s, a tackle shop in England.  the flies cost 45 cents, and were well worth the price…BUT, they were shipped by regular mail in an envelope.  In the crossing to my mailbox, the flies were damaged because of the packaging – or lack thereof.  i sent a copy of my post to Carlson’s.  soon afterward, the owner of Carlson’s sent me an e-mail apologizing for the problem. a few weeks later, i received replacements in a nice flybox – all in good condition, and with a nice note. heck…maybe you guys have some value after all. <G jeff

Response:

Question:

Thanks Frank (Church), I just got the news service that you recommended up and running.  It posts messages with alacrity!  Unlike the new ISP I just subscribed to, which apparently only posts periodically.  I will use your suggested service I believe. Op

Response:

Cool Ope, and as a backup here’s one out of Canuckland that is even faster: (free-news.risq.qc.ca) with apologies to all our hoser roffians. Frank (pro-hoser) Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks Frank (Church), I just got the news service that you recommended up and running.  It posts messages with alacrity!  Unlike the new ISP I just subscribed to, which apparently only posts periodically.  I will use your suggested service I believe. Op

Response:

Thanks Frank (Church), I just got the news service that you recommended up and running.  It posts messages with alacrity!

That’s funny – my Alacrity Detector(tm) didn’t go off… /daytripper ("Back to the laboratory!")

Response:

Thanks Frank (Church), I just got the news service that you recommended up and running.  It posts messages with alacrity!

        *alacrity*?  a guy from boone who uses "alacrity"?  what the hell is the world coming to?         you go, opie! wayno

Response:

I just got the news service that you recommended up and running.  It posts messages with alacrity!

Damn Opie, now *I’ve* gotta go look something up in the dictionary…. Regards, Jeff

Response:

That’s funny – my Alacrity Detector(tm) didn’t go off…

That’s because it’s calibrated in nanoseconds. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

I just got the news service that you recommended up and running.  It posts messages with alacrity! Damn Opie, now *I’ve* gotta go look something up in the dictionary…. Regards, Jeff

Jeff, I got tired of hauling out my dictionary with the fine print just to read a fly fishing News Group so I bought a talking dictionary on a CD.  Now I look them up with alacrity.  I even know how to pronounce strange words that show up on ROFF. Ernie Harrison

Response:

Question:

0] : Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines?  One of the streams I : fish has a lot of fast pocket water and I need to make a lot of short : presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed : flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that : I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t : turn over the big flies. : I have been using a blunt Nymph taper to date but I don’t like the : bright orange colour. : Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies? : Cheers I have one and don’t much like it. With that fine tip, there is less mass to load the rod on short casts, which I find rather miserable for short range fishing. Likewise it has a tough time with big flies because that long front taper tends to inhibit the turnover. What it does do well and what it is designed for are presentations where you have got enough line out to load the rod and want a softer landing than a standard line would get. Mike — Michael McGuire                     Hewlett Packard Laboratories  (remove x’s from email if not      Palo Alto, CA 94303-0971   a spammer) Phone: (650)-857-5491              

Response:

Dylon – #34 or #35. Mix up a brew – dunk the line (or just the tip) for 10 seconds, remove it … check colour … repeat dunking if necessary. Steve

Response:

I thinking about getting an Orvis Quiet Taper to replace it. It’s a double taper (which I like- two lines for the price of one) with a similar long front tip. Anyone have an experience with this line?

I have been using the orvis sprink creek lines for several years, they do have a long front taper and i have found on my T&T rods that using the dt4 on my 3 wgt you get enuf wght out of the rod tip even on 10 to 20 foot casts to load the rod. but since the tip is so long and thin you dont mess up presentation like you would using a wf line on them theese lines seem to acctually weight out more like a 3 1/2 wght rather than a 4 wght with the spring creek dt i can throw size 12 mini clousers 40 to 50 feet with out any problems…. casts in the 50+ foot range the rod starts to feel overloaded however. Steve

Response:

That should have been Orvis Spring Creek line.

William I stopped by the local Orvis store and checked out the line.  The 15′ front taper sounds great for bigger water but I don’t think it would work as well in fast pocket water.  I would imagine it would roll and mend quite well but I can picture have trouble with 12’s and 14’s in the wind.  Also, that small tip would be easily sunk by turbulence. One stretch I fish, the stream has a long east-west orientation and it can get like a wind tunnel sometimes.   An upstream cast can get blown back at you if the line won’t carry it.  Even though the fish tend to be small, I’ve used a four or five weight just because of the conditions at the upper end of this particular stretch of water. I’m leaning toward a gray SA XPS DT.  Thanks for the input. Peter

Response:

Peter, I reckon any 3wt will be straining to turn bushy #10’s at close range – doesn’t SA make a buff coloured DTF line – maybe you should even consider a 4wt line – and getting your leader right is the other 50% of the answer. I have a Sage RPL+ 3wt 8′6" with a 3wt Teeny DTF (blue/green, blunt taper) – for stream fishing large dry flies I use a 5′ superbraid tapered butt leader with another 4′ of 10lb and 2′ of 6lb. The braid butt leader really helps to generate positive turnover and for the small streams, the short length of the mono part is not really a hindrance (as you said earlier). I don’t know if this type of butt leader is available in North America – mine is locally made. They are a real boon for light rod stream fishing as they turn over very well and can be soaked in liquid floatant to float high everafter without further treatment. Cheers JK

Response:

I use a Clear Creek on my 3 weight and like it for slow water and delicate presentation. Its long front fine tip is great for presentation but not as good for fishing bushy flies.  I also don’t feel that it wears too well. I’ve had more than average problems with cracking. I thinking about getting an Orvis Quiet Taper to replace it. It’s a double taper (which I like- two lines for the price of one) with a similar long front tip. Anyone have an experience with this line? Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines?  One of the streams I fish has a lot of fast pocket water and I need to make a lot of short presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t turn over the big flies. I have been using a blunt Nymph taper to date but I don’t like the bright orange colour. Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies? Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.cgocable.net/~pcharles/index.html

Response:

presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t turn over the big flies.

Peter: I have not tried the Cortland 444 Clear Creek line, but I modified a Wulff TT by cutting 5 feet off the tip and it does great for heavily weighted size 8 streamers for my beloved bluegill. You might try cutting back that level tip six inches at a time till it seems right. You will have a chance to try my modified Wulff 3/4 TT at the Double Naught Clave in May. I think the white color of the Wulff sucks too…I have been thinkiing of dyiing it olive. Big Dale

Response:

Peter, I dyed a white elcheapo Cabela’s 3 wt line this summer, haven’t used it that much, but here’s the procedure I used:  Rit Dye, closest color available to orange was yellow/orange (or something like that, can’t remember)  I boiled water in a glass cooking pot, dumping in the whole pack of dye.  Remove from stove and stir it well.  Then dumped in the line (loosely coiled) stirring it around for a couple of minutes.  Took the line out and laid it out on my back deck to dry.  Looks pretty good, not the brilliant orange I wanted, but close enough.  FWIW. Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Peter, what about dying your current line? Steve The bright orange is a 5wt. and I’m looking for a line to go with the new 3wt. I’ll be getting for the new season.  For the other applicatiojns, the orange isn’t a problem, just this one.  Just for future reference though, what sort of dye would you use? Peter

Response:

5-6′ off the end of a Wulff TT. The Wulff TT is ivory colored.

Go easy when you start cutting off the end of the line. I would start with 2 feet and try it and then cut off 6 inches at a time. I also have a WF3 line that was designed by Gary LaFontaine and made by Jim Teeney that is a beautiful dull olive color, but must have been designed for very small flies for use on spring creeks. It also has a very fine long taper on the front and I find it useful for size 18 and smaller dry flies, but it would be a poor choice for close in fishing in the pocket water of the small streams of western North Carolina. If someone makes a dull olive line in a double taper with only about 2 feet of level line on the front of the taper I think it would be perfect.   I have read of people using a permanent marker in olive on a few feet of their line, but this seems kind of half-assed to me so I have not tried that yet. I am hesitant to go thru the learning curve of dying lines as I think it would be easy to ruin a new line. I know that Craig Matthews of Blue Ribbon Flies used to dye some lines olive for guys that were going to N.Z. a few years ago. I don’t know if he still does that. This could be an area where it woulld be better to pay someone who knows what the hell they are doing. I know I intend to talk with him about this the next chance I get. Perhaps I will be able to catch him in his shop when I go to Montana for the Western Clave next summer. Speaking of the Western Clave for those who tie flies be sure to bring charge cards when you visit his shop as they have a great selection of materials which are simply not available most places. There is a great laundromat across the street from his shop and the last time I was there I dropped a hundred bucks on hen necks while the clothes were in the dryer. Big Dale

Response:

Hi Peter, what about dying your current line? Steve

The bright orange is a 5wt. and I’m looking for a line to go with the new 3wt. I’ll be getting for the new season.  For the other applicatiojns, the orange isn’t a problem, just this one.  Just for future reference though, what sort of dye would you use? Peter

Response:

When these wear out I’m going to try Big Dale’s suggestion. Cut 5-6′ off the end of a Wulff TT. The Wulff TT is ivory colored. — Ken Fortenberry

I know it’s supposed to work but hacking the front end of a fly line off just goes against the grain.  Last time I tried it, it turned a bad line into a worse one.  At least when the TT gets dirty, it’ll be the right colour. Peter

Response:

That should have been Orvis Spring Creek line. Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I use a Clear Creek on my 3 weight and like it for slow water and delicate presentation. Its long front fine tip is great for presentation but not as good for fishing bushy flies.  I also don’t feel that it wears too well. I’ve had more than average problems with cracking. I thinking about getting an Orvis Quiet Taper to replace it. It’s a double taper (which I like- two lines for the price of one) with a similar long front tip. Anyone have an experience with this line? Willi Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines?  One of the streams I fish has a lot of fast pocket water and I need to make a lot of short presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t turn over the big flies. I have been using a blunt Nymph taper to date but I don’t like the bright orange colour. Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies? Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.cgocable.net/~pcharles/index.html

Response:

I’ve got two of these, one in WF3 for a 7.5′ Winston 3wt and one in WF2 for a 7.5′ Orvis 1 wt (your eponymous ) and you are quite right. They don’t work very well with largish or bushy flies. You can lengthen the leader out to 9-12′ and turn over #12’s, but with only 6′ of leader even #14’s are something of a pain in the arse. I use 7.5′ leaders for most of the small stream NC fishing and don’t try to toss anything bigger than #12. — Ken Fortenberry

Ken I suppose a good alternative would be to find a relatively blunt tapered line (7′ and under front taper) in a dull colour.  SA used to have a sand coloured line that I thought was a great natural colour as it resembled straw, yet it was visible.  So they stopped making it. In that fast pocket water, I often have to make pile casts that can put the end of the fly line in the fish’s window.  I’m sure the bright orange is costing me some strikes. Now it’s just a matter of finding one. Peter

Response:

Hi Peter, what about dying your current line? Steve

Response:

I suppose a good alternative would be to find a relatively blunt tapered line (7′ and under front taper) in a dull colour.   …

When these wear out I’m going to try Big Dale’s suggestion. Cut 5-6′ off the end of a Wulff TT. The Wulff TT is ivory colored. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines? … Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies?

I’ve got two of these, one in WF3 for a 7.5′ Winston 3wt and one in WF2 for a 7.5′ Orvis 1 wt (your eponymous ) and you are quite right. They don’t work very well with largish or bushy flies. You can lengthen the leader out to 9-12′ and turn over #12’s, but with only 6′ of leader even #14’s are something of a pain in the arse. I use 7.5′ leaders for most of the small stream NC fishing and don’t try to toss anything bigger than #12. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Anyone used one of Cortland’s Clear Creek lines?  One of the streams I fish has a lot of fast pocket water and I need to make a lot of short presentations with short leaders (under 6′) and large, heavily dressed flies (#14 to #10).  The line sounds ideal for this water except that I’m concernerd that the level tip (about 3′ of running line) won’t turn over the big flies. I have been using a blunt Nymph taper to date but I don’t like the bright orange colour. Anybody ever tried these lines with big flies? Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.cgocable.net/~pcharles/index.html

Response:

Question:

.. the problem is with the fonts in netscape … it seems to pick up a wierd font when setting it up.. especially the earlier netscapes. go into the fonts list and find the offending font and get rid of it, netscape then picks another … – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – keyboarded:

Question:

Can anyone tell me how good fly fishing is around Pennsylvania or Michigan is?  Any Brown Trout?? E-mail would be appreciated. Thanks Dave

Response:

: Can anyone tell me how good fly fishing is around Pennsylvania or Michigan : is?  Any Brown Trout?? : E-mail would be appreciated. : Thanks : Dave I can shed some light on fishing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula around the Keweenaw Peninsula. The streams are generally small, about twenty feet across or less.  There are a couple of exceptions. From my experience, Rainbow Trout are the most prevalent followed by Brook Trout.  There are a few browns to be had. I have found the fishing to be wonderful.  Lots of fish but don’t expect much past twelve inches and most are around eight.  Every summer I seem to catch one or two in the fifteen inch class but you can’t count on this.   There are many streams in the region and most hold trout.  The key is to get off the beaten path and you will likely have the place to yourself. Now, this year’s snowfall was quite high.  We totalled out at 327 inches and lots of that is still on the ground tring to melt.  Consequently, right now the rivers across much of the U.P. are quite high and will be that way for some time.  I don’t expect the fishing to get any good for another month or so. *sigh*   I have two pictures of typical rivers in this area at the end of my web page.  I also give some information on what flies I have found to be most effective. Regards, Steve Kernosky http://www.me.mtu.edu/~skkernos/

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Question:

I’m planning a FF trip to Montana and Idaho in August. What flies should I start buying for the Bozeman and Henry’s Fork areas? — Regards, Robert Webmaster of "Author Author!," "The Defoe Page," and Sayville Middle School’s web site Author Author! is a  recipient of the Point Survey top 5% of the Internet award Visit Author Author! http://www.li.net/~scharf/author.html Visit The Defoe Page http://www.li.net/~scharf/defoe.html Visit Sayville Middle School http://www.li.net/~scharf/sayville.html

Response:

Hi, August in Montana is usually hopper time.  Depending on weather and water conditions, the hopper fishing on the Yellowstone, Madison, and Gallatin can be awsome!  Other good flies are any of the Bead Head nymphs, Royal Wulffs, Humpies, Trudes, Wooly Buggers.  For the spring creeks you’ll need midges, batis, pmd and of course hoppers. For the rivers in North Idaho, you’ll need the flies mentioned above but be sure to add Renegades and H&L Variants. For the Henry’s Fork I’ll defer to someone else on the newsgroup.  I only get over there two or three times a year which is not enough to give advise on what flies to bring on a trip.  There are several fly shops in the Island Park Area you could call for local conditions.  Also the shops in West Yellowstone are up to date on the Henry’s Fork. Good Luck. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (catalog avail)

Response:

Question:

I’ve often seen the advice posted to ask a local fly shop about what flies are currently on a stream where I intend to fish and what a good stretch of water is.  If the fly shop is not near my home and therefore I don’t usually take my business there, what is the fair way to compensate them for their advice?  Should I buy a fly or two?  Some fur or feathers?

Sure that’d be good.  But lets say your headed there maybe next month.  In the mean time, give them a call and get their address.  Send them $20 or so, and ask them to gather up a few flies that should be working when you arrive and mail them to you.  Also ask them for a tip on locations, etc. Typically, you’ll get good stuff, probably more than what you actually paid for (lets say the $ covers 10 flies, most times you’ll get a dz anyway), plus you’ll have models for your own tying bench. When you get there, stop in.  You will be warmly greeted by the guy or gal who filled your order, and they’ll remember you as a friend.  Trust me on this- it always has been effective! — Mike Tucker- The Virtual Flyshop, The Complete Resource              Web Page:  http://rmii.com/~flyshop/flyshop.html              Tel. 970-498-8779   FAX 970-491-2585 If you try 970 and it doesn’t work use 303.  Leave it to US WEST to change our area code and not tell the rest of the world……

Response:

I’ve often seen the advice posted to ask a local fly shop about what flies are currently on a stream where I intend to fish and what a good stretch of water is.  If the fly shop is not near my home and therefore I don’t usually take my business there, what is the fair way to compensate them for their advice?  Should I buy a fly or two?  Some fur or feathers?  (I tie my own flies.)  Or do they really not mind some guy coming in, asking about flies and good spots, then walking out? Thanks for the advice/opinions, Dave

Response:

Braunegg) writes: I’ve often seen the advice posted to ask a local fly shop about what flies are currently on a stream where I intend to fish and what a good stretch of water is.  If the fly shop is not near my home and therefore I don’t usually take my business there, what is the fair way to compensate them for their advice?  Should I buy a fly or two?  Some fur or feathers?  (I tie my own flies.)  Or do they really not mind some guy coming in, asking about flies and good spots, then walking out? Thanks for the advice/opinions, Dave

Buy only what you need and try to give them some feedback on your experience so your not the only one getting something out of this. They aren’t running a community service, they are in business! Sharing good locations and tips keeps *customers* comming back so it makes good business sense, but, after a while, they may find that they take a bit longer to get to you…

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I’ve often seen the advice posted to ask a local fly shop about what flies are currently on a stream where I intend to fish and what a good stretch of water is.  If the fly shop is not near my home and therefore I don’t usually take my business there, what is the fair way to compensate them for their advice?  Should I buy a fly or two?  Some fur or feathers?  (I tie my own flies.)  Or do they really not mind some guy coming in, asking about flies and good spots, then walking out?

This is really a nice question to see.  Without deteriorating into a rant, if you go into a fly shop and someone won’t give you the time of day until you flash your AMEX, leave and go elsewhere.  There are too many people who run shops who simply don’t deal with anyone but their perceived "good customers."  Let ‘em starve.  In our shop, everyone I’ve hired remains employed primarily on a customer service basis.  The sales people are not commissioned.  In my mind and the vision of our store, we treat a purchase of a tippet and the purchase of an outfit are equally important.  If I catch someone short-answering any customer, I point out proper behavior. (and most of those guys got jobs with other fly shops . . . strange how that works.) Of course, store-folk are human.  We deal with the 20 questions about this knot, that fly, or those fisheries, many asked in the most unbelievably rude and offensive manner, and every once in a while, our heads start to whirl a bit.   So, as  a previous poster noted, it is nice to call back and return information.  Luckily, this business is still one in which relationships can develop between customers and shop owners.  As a customer, if you feel someone treated you well, return the favor.  If they were unhelpful and rude spend your money elsewhere.   Many times my eventual "best customers" came from a 15 minute phone conversation in which I didn’t make any money at all. Well, got to go open the shop — hope this helps –jim *                                                     *

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If I catch someone short-answering any customer, I point out proper behavior. (and most of those guys got jobs with other fly shops . . . strange how that works.) Luckily, this business is still one in which relationships can develop between customers and shop owners.  As a customer, if you feel someone treated you well, return the favor.  If they were unhelpful and rude spend your money elsewhere.  

Good to see this response from a fly shop owner. Where I live we have three fly shops.  I frequent two of them, and these tow are as happy to see a customer when he’s buying a sppol of tippet (or nothing at all) as when he’s buying a new rod.  The other shop just doesn’t have a friendly atmosphere.  I think the main thing that makes anyone a repeat customer in a fly shop is that they are comfortable there, even if they don’t spend their money.   As consumers, it’s only fair that we support the shops we like.  Don’t go cast a rod at your local shop, and the buy it through mail order because you can save a few bucks.  It’s low class, and it may result in the fly shop not being there the next time you really need something.  Want to wait three weeks for mail order when you need something for the weekend. Just my $0.02

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: I’ve often seen the advice posted to ask a local fly shop about what : flies are currently on a stream where I intend to fish and what a good : stretch of water is.  If the fly shop is not near my home and : therefore I don’t usually take my business there, what is the fair way : to compensate them for their advice?  Should I buy a fly or two?  Some : fur or feathers?  (I tie my own flies.)  Or do they really not mind : some guy coming in, asking about flies and good spots, then walking : out? : Thanks for the advice/opinions, : Dave         The easiest thing to do is to buy some of the flies that they recommend whether you tie or not there has to be something that you don’t have.         Rick

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Braunegg) writes: I’ve often seen the advice posted to ask a local fly shop about what flies are currently on a stream where I intend to fish and what a good stretch of water is.  If the fly shop is not near my home and therefore I don’t usually take my business there, what is the fair way to compensate them for their advice?  Should I buy a fly or two?  Some fur or feathers?  (I tie my own flies.)  Or do they really not mind some guy coming in, asking about flies and good spots, then walking out? Thanks for the advice/opinions, Dave Buy only what you need and try to give them some feedback on your experience so your not the only one getting something out of this. They aren’t running a community service, they are in business! Sharing good locations and tips keeps *customers* comming back so it makes good business sense, but, after a while, they may find that they take a bit longer to get to you…

Hi, I hate quoting quotes, but to follow this up… We welcome people just dropping in and chatting about NS and where to flyfish. I even went so far as to put in a map and a bl;ackboard and some markers for the map, and we made a "community fishing bulletin board- the old style not electronic!). Why I don’t mind, even if you don’t buy then, is that someday you will weant to buy, and hopefully you’ll remember us – In the meantime…. Tight Lines Bill Curry Tight Lines Tackle Shop and Guide Service Lockeport, Nova Scotia Canada   B0T 1L0 902-656-3329 (ph and fax)

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Question:

Would you be so kind as to tell an old boy from Florida what a "spey rod" is and what it’s used for.

Spey rods were developped and still used for freshwater salmon fishing in rivers.  The rods are double handed and are 12+’ up to 16′.  The rods allow you to make long (40yds+) casts in gorges ravines where there is no room ‘behind’ for a back cast.  The length of the rod also allows you to control the water ie control the swing of the fly to get the right speed releative to the current.  Old hands on the river Ness in Scotland were able to throw approx 50yds to the far bank and catch fish in places where no one else could reach.  I believe that they are increasingly being used by Steelheaders over your side of the pond.  You might want to try one for bonefish you could sure lay a long line in a stiff breeze! Chris Enstone

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rivers.  The rods are double handed and are 12+’ up to 16′.  The rods allow you to make long (40yds+) casts in gorges ravines where there is no room ‘behind’ for a back cast.  The length of the rod also allows you to control the water ie control the swing of the fly to get the right speed releative to the current.  Old hands on the river Ness in Scotland were able to throw approx 50yds to the far bank and catch fish in places where no one else could reach.

You really mean yards (120-150 ft cast). I can hardly cast my fly 70ft+ now. Is spey casting easy to learn? How far could an average caster cast with a spey rod, in an ideal condition? Thi Nguyen

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Bruce and Walker in England make spey rods for spey casting.  I have a 14′ for 10-11 weight designed by Hugh Falkus that I enjoy very much. I have also used the Bruce and Walker Merlin, which is a 15′ for an 11 wt. that is also quite nice. Both are much slower than the Sage rods. If you contact either the Sparrow’s Nest, or Kaufman’s Fly shop, both in Seattle, they can put you in touch with Joe Rissano, who imports these rods into the U.S.

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writes: Bruce and Walker in England make spey rods for spey casting.  I have a 14′ for 10-11 weight designed by Hugh Falkus that I enjoy very much.

Would you be so kind as to tell an old boy from Florida what a "spey rod" is and what it’s used for. Thank you.

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Question:

Does anyone know?

(if the fishing is good) D.P.  

I have not been to Bright Angel campground in about 10 years, and when I was there, did not fish, but… There were tremendous numbers of large trout to be seen!  Anyone with a rod down there did very well.  One co-worker said it was kind of a pain, you caught a trout on every cast, no matter what you did! Ron

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I have fished Bright Angel Creek, working my way up from the campground a mile or so. I caught a 14" brookie and a 17" rainbow in about a half hour. One was on a Gold-ribbed Hare’s Ear and the other was on a  weighted "Ted Fay" Yellow jacket pattern. Look for places where the current sweeps under the rocks.  Cast well upstream so the fly can sink and be swept down under. Few people flyfish – most use lures or Salmon egges.  You will out fish them I guarantee. Big fish can be seen jumping in the main river but every time I’ve been there the clarity was so limited I stayed in the clear creek. Good luck! May the wild fish live to spawn, and may the brood of their progeny break the tippets of our grandchildren!

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   Hey, go and take your gear. Different times of the year will bring different conditions. During Aug and Sept when the canyon gets it’s heaviest rain fall, it might not be too great but any other time you might get a wonderful surprise!    We fished from the put in at Lee’s Ferry for about five days downstream before the river got too murky, from storms, to do any good. The main river will produce two to ten pound trout which I have seen! We ate a few.    Very few of the rafters fish, or even carry the gear to fish. This is due to limited space, especially for something as long and fragile as a flyrod. Or fear of loss due to flipping.      I have not hear that bio-degradeable soaps had any effect on the fishery of anystream any kind of usage such as the Colorado. The fish are voracious and will hit just about anything you put   good luck! and great hike!!                 -t                                     =8^)

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Hey, go and take your gear. Different times of the year will bring different conditions. During Aug and Sept when the canyon gets it’s heaviest rain fall, it might not be too great but any other time you might get a wonderful surprise!

Thanks, for the tip, hopefully I’ll have some fish stories to tell when I return. D.P.

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You might as well enjoy the trip, because the AZ dept of Game and Fish is being pressured to remove all bag limits on trout in the Canyon, possibly starting next year.  There and elsewhere in the state, trout (except Apache and Gila) are being treated by the federal courts as the enemy of native species, even though most of the ecosystems in which trout have taken home — the Canyon is an obvious example — have been permanently transformed from what they were when squawfish and humpbacks ruled the waves.  For the next few years, the trout fishery at Lees Ferry will be unaffected by the squawfish regulations, and AzGF thinks it might even improve if the releases through Glen Canyon Dam are a couple degress warmer.  On the other hand, the Bureau of Reclamation is talking about blasting a 50,000 (yeah, 5 K) cfs release through Glen Canyon Dam in March or April 1995, just to see what it will do for beaches, etc in the Grand Canyon.  Whatever it does to those beaches, it will blast the hell out of the barely restored fishery at the Ferry. -bruce pencek

: Hey, go and take your gear. Different times of the year will : bring different conditions. During Aug and Sept when the canyon : gets it’s heaviest rain fall, it might not be too great but : any other time you might get a wonderful surprise! : Thanks, for the tip, hopefully I’ll have some fish stories to tell when I : return. — Political Science, Box 455029    ~  as eternal salvation — come by grace and University of Nevada, Las Vegas  ~   grace comes by art and art does not come Las Vegas, NV  89154-5029        ~   easy."                 — Norman Maclean

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Pencek) writes: On the other hand, the Bureau of Reclamation is talking about blasting a 50,000 (yeah, 5 K) cfs release through Glen Canyon Dam in March or April 1995, just to see what it will do for beaches, etc in the Grand Canyon.  Whatever it does to those beaches, it will blast the hell out of the barely restored fishery at the Ferry.

Ah, the glory of government, it certainly is dumbfounding how these thought processes come about, and we pay for them. D.P.

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Does anyone know? I’m planning a hiking/camping  tripfor a two night stay at the bottom of the Grand Canyon in October and was wondering if it would be worth while to carry the weight of the fly fishing gear.  I would be at Bright Angel Creek and the Colorado River.  Is the fishing there any good, or have all the fish been killed or spooked by all the rafters.  I’ve also heard that the high concentration of bio-degradable soap from all the campers has done a number on the fish, is this true? If the fishing is worthwhile what sort of line/leader/flies should I bring?   And advice would be appreciated. Thank You D.P.  

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