Question:

This isn’t much of a trip report.  No fancy destination, no flowery prose, just a working man’s day off fishing for bluegills. I have a few ’secret’ spots for coldwater fishing in Massachusetts, but there’s nothing secret on weekends.  I usually wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to go stream fishing, to give the fish a chance to recover from the weekend beating they take, and to avoid the crowds.  And if it’s raining, so much the better.  It’s like getting a tennis court back in the seventies during the tennis craze.  The only time you could get court time was when it was raining. So, I pass on the crowded streams, and go bluegill fishing.  That’s actually a misnomer: we have lots of panfish species, and it’s not possible to target one particular species, and there’s a lot of interbreeding, so it’s often hard to know what you’ve caught.  But the bluegills are the predominant species in most of the ponds I fish and so get the mention. Jimmy and I ‘found’ this pond about 5 years ago.  Note the Massachusetts use of the word found.  You don’t find anything around here that hasn’t been found by a couple hundred thousand people before you.  But this pond just happens to be about half way between our homes, and we decided at the last minute one evening several years ago, that all of our usual choices were too far for at least one of us, and we opted to meet in the middle to check out Ninemile.  Now we’re regulars. I have a long term fascination with developing the ultimate fly to use on Ninemile.  The pond has a small number of mayflies and caddis, but the predominant species are midges and the dragon and damselflies that feed on them.  We’ve done really well over the years using damselfly nymph imitations and the Ausable Wullf which I think looks like an emerging damselfly.  I did really well one night a few years ago with a floating damsel tied by Charlie Wilson for the 2000 Great Roff Flyswap http://gula.org/roffswaps/detail.php?page=FS2000&id=23 Since then I’ve been experimenting a lot with foam and this year I’ve been using variants of Gartside’s Gurgler.  Up until last Friday I had been experimenting with colors and tails and bodies trying to come up with something easy to tie, visible, durable (able to stand up to a couple hundred fish…), and successful.  Yesterday I made a breakthrough, and moved away from damsel imitations:  I made the Gurgle Frog.  If you’re in the DDFS 2002 swap, you’ll be getting one in the mail in a couple of weeks. The fly is extremely simple: a pair of grizzly hackles for a tail (tied splayed out to the sides – they pulse like legs when you pop the fly), chartreuse Estaz for the body, and green foam for the back and gurgler head. You can see the fly in use at http://gula.org/ninemile.html I caught 4 different species of fish last night, including a big white perch that jumped out of the lily pads as it grabbed my fly.  I got pictures of a couple of really beautiful fish: a bluegill and a pumpkinseed.  If you were ever confused by panfish identification, the pics should show the difference (at least in the males). http://gula.org/images/bluegill.jpg http://gula.org/images/pumpkin.jpg –Stan

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flowery prose, just a working man’s day off fishing for bluegills.

This is what we call brim fishing where I live in Texas. I am looking forward to receiving your fly and will copy it and let you know how it works around here. I hope you will give mine a try as well. I find that tails made of the fur cut off a zonker strip are more durable than any of the other tails that I have tried. Last week I had to order another thousand of the mustad 3366 size 8 hooks that I use for tying these foam bugs. It is kind of difficult to find a better hook…especialy at less than 26 bucks a thousand! I give a lot of these things away. Big Dale

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is what we call brim fishing where I live in Texas. I am looking forward to receiving your fly and will copy it and let you know how it works around here. I hope you will give mine a try as well. I find that tails made of the fur cut off a zonker strip are more durable than any of the other tails that I have tried. Last week I had to order another thousand of the mustad 3366 size 8 hooks that I use for tying these foam bugs. It is kind of difficult to find a better hook…especialy at less than 26 bucks a thousand! I give a lot of these things away. Big Dale

The generic name for all panfish here in the Connecticut Valley is ‘kivvers’.  ’Brim’ is the edge of your coffee mug<g. I can’t imagine buying a thousand hooks of one model.  Last summer I used a single Orange Woof (orange foam Ausable Wullf descendent) for almost two months… –Stan (taking ‘frugal yankee’ to the next level)

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Stan wrote :snipI can’t imagine buying a thousand hooks of one model.  Last summer I used a single Orange Woof (orange foam Ausable Wullf descendent) for almost two months…

I find that these flies are extremely durable and is I tie my knots well( a big if) and I don’t stick them in a tree, they will catch hundreds of fish, but I give most of them away and I also use that hook for tying skinny water clousers and Richard Hart’s Ghost Minnows as well. I also use all three patterns in salt water with those hooks and simply throw them away at the end of the day. Both the skinny water clousers and the ghost minnows are tied so sparsely that they don’t last long. I only tie simple guide type flies that catch lots of fish. Still most of the flies that I tie are given away to kids who watch me tie. It is a hell of a lot of fun. Big Dale Big Dale

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This isn’t much of a trip report.  No fancy destination, no flowery prose, just a working man’s day off fishing for bluegills.

…and that’s as well written a beginning to a tall tale as ol sam clemens could ever hope to deliver as an introduction to his fine and special journeys. thanks for letting me tag along.  it’s interesting to see the different coloring of panfish, and the bream, bluegills and crappie. those i’ve managed to surprise down here in nc have been as much fun to catch and admire as the bass and trout… plus, i usually can enjoy refreshments *during* the adventure. jeff

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This isn’t much of a trip report.  No fancy destination, no flowery prose, just a working man’s day off fishing for bluegills. I

        maudlin.         your friend in the old north state wayno

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[flowery prose snipped] You can see the fly in use at http://gula.org/ninemile.html

Well, barely. Any chance you could take a snap of one and post it up? tia /daytripper (Chillin’ on the Merrimack)

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You can see the fly in use at http://gula.org/ninemile.html Well, barely. Any chance you could take a snap of one and post it up?

Not immediately – I only tied two and I hung mine in a tree and Jim lost his in the weeds.  I’ll tie up some fresh ones later today (I committed to tying 17 for the swap) and I’ll try to take a picture.  Unfortunately, the camera I use is a cheap autofocus (Canon A40 – pretty nice small 2Mpixel) and it has trouble focusing on small items in macro mode (but I’m getting better at it).  I’m using Dave Price’s suggestion of using a gallon milk jug as a diffuser and putting a few hundred watts of light around it.  All I have to figure out is how to give the autofocus a bigger target.  One of my sample fly photos is at: http://gula.org/roffswaps/detail.php?page=DD2001&id=9 –Stan

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Unfortunately, the camera I use is a cheap autofocus (Canon A40 – pretty nice small 2Mpixel) and it has trouble focusing on small items in macro mode

How is the A40 on ‘grinning doofus’ shots? I’m thinking about getting one to take to the Henry’s Fork (in addition to my CoolPix 880) primarily because Canon makes a waterproof case for the A40 so I could carry it safely on stream. Thanks. — Charlie…

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You can see the fly in use at http://gula.org/ninemile.html Well, barely. Any chance you could take a snap of one and post it up? Not immediately – I only tied two and I hung mine in a tree and Jim lost his in the weeds.  I’ll tie up some fresh ones later today (I committed to tying 17 for the swap) and I’ll try to take a picture.  Unfortunately, the camera I use is a cheap autofocus (Canon A40 – pretty nice small 2Mpixel) and it has trouble focusing on small items in macro mode (but I’m getting better at it).  I’m using Dave Price’s suggestion of using a gallon milk jug as a diffuser and putting a few hundred watts of light around it.  All I have to figure out is how to give the autofocus a bigger target.  One of my sample fly photos is at: http://gula.org/roffswaps/detail.php?page=DD2001&id=9 –Stan

Assuming you respect the focusing range of the camera, the rest is all a matter of contrast. But you can create contrast where there is little. Use a ruler and a black magic marker to draw a bunch of bold, parallel lines across a section of smooth white card stock. Space the lines by about a 1/4". With the fly in the vise and your camera on the tripod, hold the card on the vertical plane and parallel to the hook shank, anywhere in the camera frame. Half-press the shutter release and hold it there while you remove the card, then fully press the shutter release. Even better, use your camera’s remote release (if it has one)  to take the shot, to avoid the shakes. Note that some cameras use vertical features in the fov to autofocus, while others may use horizontal features. That’s an easy experiment to conduct (or you may rtfm, of course cheers /daytripper (more than one way to teach them electronics…)

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Use a ruler and a black magic marker to draw a bunch of bold, parallel lines across a section of smooth white card stock. Space the lines by about a 1/4". With the fly in the vise and your camera on the tripod, hold the card on the vertical plane and parallel to the hook shank, anywhere in the camera frame. Half-press the shutter release and hold it there while you remove the card, then fully press the shutter release. Even better, use your camera’s remote release (if it has one)  to take the shot, to avoid the shakes. Note that some cameras use vertical features in the fov to autofocus, while others may use horizontal features. That’s an easy experiment to conduct (or you may rtfm, of course

Good suggestion.  I was trying some similar things.  The A40 has an autofocus lock button so you can set the focus (maybe) and move things around a little.  Also has two auto timers for avoiding the shakes.  A very nice little camera.  Also has manual overrides for everything except the focus… Thanks. –Stan

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Unfortunately, the camera I use is a cheap autofocus (Canon A40 – pretty nice small 2Mpixel) and it has trouble focusing on small items in macro mode How is the A40 on ‘grinning doofus’ shots? I’m thinking about getting one to take to the Henry’s Fork (in addition to my CoolPix 880) primarily because Canon makes a waterproof case for the A40 so I could carry it safely on stream. Thanks. — Charlie…

I really like the A40.  About the only negative thing I’ve read about it (and have experienced) is problems focusing on small items in macro mode (like flies…).  The fully auto mode makes pretty good picks for quick and dirty snapshots.  And it lets you manually set lots of things when you have the time.  Very easy controls. The waterproof case looks pretty bulky – and pricy. I also liked the Canon Elph S330.  It’s pretty similar for features, is smaller (truly pocket size), just slightly more money and also has a waterproof case option.  The only thing that pushed me to get the A40 was use of standard AA batteries so I can use off-the-shelf NiMH batteries. –Stan

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The waterproof case looks pretty bulky – and pricy. I also liked the Canon Elph S330.  It’s pretty similar for features, is smaller (truly pocket size), just slightly more money and also has a waterproof case option.  

Yeah, the case is a little bulky and pricey, but I hate to be in my kayak or on the water without a camera – and I seem to have misplaced my old Nikon Action Touch 35mm. I was able to handle the A40 case when I was in Tokyo last year and it’s not as bad as it looks in pictures, but definitely not ‘pocket sized’. — Charlie…

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is what we call brim fishing where I live in Texas. I am looking forward to receiving your fly and will copy it and let you know how it works around here. I hope you will give mine a try as well. I find that tails made of the fur cut off a zonker strip are more durable than any of the other tails that I have tried. Last week I had to order another thousand of the mustad 3366 size 8 hooks that I use for tying these foam bugs. It is kind of difficult to find a better hook…especialy at less than 26 bucks a thousand! I give a lot of these things away. Big Dale The generic name for all panfish here in the Connecticut Valley is ‘kivvers’.  ’Brim’ is the edge of your coffee mug<g. I can’t imagine buying a thousand hooks of one model.  Last summer I used a single Orange Woof (orange foam Ausable Wullf descendent) for almost two months… –Stan (taking ‘frugal yankee’ to the next level)

Here in PA, they’re all Bluegills and Crappie – pronounced ‘Crap’ (like the stuff in your waders on the worst day of your fishing life), unless you don’t like fishing for, catching & possibly eating ‘Crap’ in which case it’s pronounced ‘Crawppie’ or ‘Croppie’. Down in NC, where I first heard the term ‘brim’ – actually, I believe that it’s spelled BREAM (pronounced ‘brim’) – it seems to apply to all panfish except Crappie (regardless of pronunciation). I’ll also second the "can’t imagine buying a thousand hooks of one model" sentiment.  DCWDFF, you must be one serious fly tyin’ maniac. Tom G never had that stuff in MY waders – yet

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one model" sentiment.  DCWDFF, you must be one serious fly tyin’ maniac.

Well, I do resemble that remark, but I must admit that it took me about three years to use the first thousand. All of those flies that I tied with them are very simple flies to tie, and all of the materials used in these patterns are very inexpensive. Big Dale

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<snipped post which was repeated 6 times Well if you tie flies like you post, you should go thru 1000 hooks a year easily.

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MY waders – yet obviously, you’ve not *yet* experienced a louie laplac breakfast…  it’s only a matter of time, so i’d recommend practicing speedy stream exits and wader drops… might wanna carry a roll of tp as well… the process of wetting and using your t-shirt puts some folks off… jeff

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MY waders – yet obviously, you’ve not *yet* experienced a louie laplac breakfast…  it’s only a matter of time, so i’d recommend practicing speedy stream exits and wader drops… might wanna carry a roll of tp as well… the process of wetting and using your t-shirt puts some folks off…

Some of us use socks……evidently this is not as off-putting.        :) Wolfgang who rests content in leaving some things behind.

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Some of us use socks……evidently this is not as off-putting.        :)

…i knew that damn thing i shook outta those socks was a corn kernel… Wolfgang who rests content in leaving some things behind.

having changed diapers of infants with serious "leaving behind" problems, squishy socks ain’t a problem… <g jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Question:

Oh my heart is won, there is no doubt, but I would be a most unworthy lout, were I to dally, with a gentle lady gay, quite apart from what my wife would say! So be it then, friendship

Question:

snip Garry, how’s this????

snip I knew it was Spam, I just wanted Walt to have real chance at using his magic decoder ring.  Besides ER was kind of slow yesterday and I felt like playing. Cheers, Garry

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Vision genesis Inc. runs an online article syndication service and is looking to add articles on the Fishing. If you’re an author and would like to submit articles for syndication please send samples to:

Oh Walt, go out to your yard and hook up the Meatloaf’s trailer to the truck and point her bow into the wind. Climb on board, and take a deep sniff and you will smellath Spamath. Here’s your first real change to use your magic anti-Spam tools. Garry

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Vision genesis Inc. runs an online article syndication service and is looking to add articles on the Fishing. If you’re an author and would like to submit articles for syndication please send samples to: Oh Walt, go out to your yard and hook up the Meatloaf’s trailer to the truck and point her bow into the wind. Climb on board, and take a deep sniff and you will smellath Spamath. Here’s your first real change to use your magic anti-Spam tools. Garry

Garry, how’s this???? Path: rQdQ!sn-xit-03!supernews.com!hermes.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!feed1.news.r cn.net!rcn!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.fishing.catfish,alt.fishing.minnesota,alt.fishing.walleye,rec.outdoors. fishing,rec.outdoors.fishing.bass,rec.outdoors.fishing.fly,rec.outdoors.fis hing.fly.tying,rec.outdoors.fishing.saltwater Lines: 44 X-Trace: 2fnoBQBBEvqdDOwQBQnzwY9+ljYYIRzFizA0S2oVh+c= X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2615.200 X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2615.200 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Priority: 3 Xref: rQdQ alt.fishing.catfish:6695 alt.fishing.minnesota:3273 rec.outdoors.fishing:82746 rec.outdoors.fishing.bass:68286 rec.outdoors.fishing.fly:203039 rec.outdoors.fishing.fly.tying:23727 rec.outdoors.fishing.saltwater:58847 — All fishermen are liars ‘cept you n me, and I’m starting to have doubts about you! www.fishticker.com

Response:

Vision genesis Inc. runs an online article syndication service and is looking to add articles on the Fishing. If you’re an author and would like to submit articles for syndication please send samples to: Benefits This is a great way to drive traffic to your website, or increase subscriptions to your newsletters. With each article we include your author bylines and any links to your website, email addresses or newsletter links. Webmasters are adding our articles to their sites…your article could be syndicated to hundreds of websites. This is true viral marketing. This service is absolutely free. If you would like to see a few samples, visit: http://www.shoppinghagerstown.com/html/biz_art12.asp http://www.shoppinghagerstown.com/html/biz_art13.asp http://www.shoppinghagerstown.com/html/biz_art11.asp http://www.shoppinghagerstown.com/html/biz_art15.asp http://www.shoppinghagerstown.com/html/biz_art14.asp http://www.shoppinghagerstown.com/html/Dating.asp http://www.shoppinghagerstown.com/poetry/default.asp PLEASE NOTE that the banner advertising seen on these sample pages are not part of the uploaded articles – all that is uploaded is the article and bylines. Webmasters place the articles on in their page and format advertising around the articles. If you have articles consider contributing them now. Enjoy the benefits of having your articles seen all over the internet on fishing websites. Webmasters are eagerly waiting for new article categories to come online. Being auto-syndicated means that webmasters only have to embed a small snippet of code in their pages and the articles automatically update when we change them – usually on a weekly basis. This appeals to site owners because it’s cuts their maintenance time. You retain all rights to your articles, we only need permission to syndicate them. If you own a site check out our service – it’s absolutely free. We are adding new categories weekly. See: http://www.shoppinghagerstown.com/eContent/VisGenSynTerms.asp Thanks and regards Vision Genesis Inc. Syndication Services

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Question:

   Ok folks, tommorow will be a one day snapshot of flyfishing accross the globe, all to be posted here for the world to enjoy.  I will not be anywhere near a computer until Monday morning, so let’s decide what the header will be for our results so they’re all in one thread.  I know some participants may post over the weekend, so for simplicity’s sake, let’s call it Fishing Day Results.  Yes?  No?    I’ll be heading up to some high desert lakes myself, feeling pretty good about the prospects.  We’ll see on Monday! JE

And for those who can’t fish tomorrow, Sunday the 18th will automatically be deleted and the 17th will carry over for another 24 hours. Big Al

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   Ok folks, tommorow will be a one day snapshot of flyfishing accross the globe, all to be posted here for the world to enjoy.  I will not be anywhere near a computer until Monday morning, so let’s decide what the header will be for our results so they’re all in one thread.  I know some participants may post over the weekend, so for simplicity’s sake, let’s call it Fishing Day Results.  Yes?  No?    I’ll be heading up to some high desert lakes myself, feeling pretty good about the prospects.  We’ll see on Monday! JE

Lucky b—-r, I’ll  be stuck battling a fibreglas hatch on the Credit. Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.cgocable.net/~pcharles/index.html

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    Ok folks, tommorow will be a one day snapshot of flyfishing accross the globe, all to be posted here for the world to enjoy.  I will not be anywhere near a computer until Monday morning, so let’s decide what the header will be for our results so they’re all in one thread.  I know some participants may post over the weekend, so for simplicity’s sake, let’s call it Fishing Day Results.  Yes?  No?     I’ll be heading up to some high desert lakes myself, feeling pretty good about the prospects.  We’ll see on Monday! JE

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Question:

Your drift boat awaits you!

It is images of that which help me to ecsape these walls every day George…I thank you. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Groups …snip —   Tim Walker, if I get close to your home (my travel plans are real loose and unscheduled) I’ll call a couple of days in advance — would love to meet you, maybe even fish. You all take care & …   — snip — Damned right you look me up Al.  Maybe some of it will rub off on me… — TimW Halfordian Golfer        Your drift boat awaits you! GeorgeG Halfordian Caster

Ha!  and *now* we know that George G. is actually Tim Walker! (or else it’s the other way around…) Tim

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Hi Groups I’ll be off line for the next week or ten days field testing products and researching articles in MT, ID, NV, UT, CO, WY, NM, & AZ. Tim Walker if I get close to your home (my travel plans are real loose and unscheduled) I’ll call a couple of days in advance — would love to meet you, maybe even fish. You all take care & … Tight Lines ….. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Catalog,Tips & Tricks, Fishing Reports, & NeverSink at: http://www.btsflyfishing.com

just testing, sorry

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Tim Walker if I get close to your home (my travel plans are real loose and unscheduled) I’ll call a couple of days in advance — would love to meet you, maybe even fish. Damned right you look me up Al.

Al, When you get back, tell us what he’s like, what he’s really, really like! — Phil Jones

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Groups I’ll be off line for the next week or ten days field testing products and researching articles in MT, ID, NV, UT, CO, WY, NM, & AZ. Tim Walker if I get close to your home (my travel plans are real loose and unscheduled) I’ll call a couple of days in advance — would love to meet you, maybe even fish. You all take care & … Is this guy the ORIGINAL or what ?  I’ve been developing mission critical software in a goddamned 6 x 6 windowless cubicle all spring and Al’s out field testing products and researching flyfishing articles… What a guy !!! Damned right you look me up Al.  Maybe some of it will rub off on me… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

        Your drift boat awaits you! GeorgeG Halfordian Caster

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Hi Groups I’ll be off line for the next week or ten days field testing products and researching articles in MT, ID, NV, UT, CO, WY, NM, & AZ. Tim Walker if I get close to your home (my travel plans are real loose and unscheduled) I’ll call a couple of days in advance — would love to meet you, maybe even fish. You all take care & …

Is this guy the ORIGINAL or what ?  I’ve been developing mission critical software in a goddamned 6 x 6 windowless cubicle all spring and Al’s out field testing products and researching flyfishing articles… What a guy !!! Damned right you look me up Al.  Maybe some of it will rub off on me… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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Hi Groups I’ll be off line for the next week or ten days field testing products and researching articles in MT, ID, NV, UT, CO, WY, NM, & AZ. Tim Walker if I get close to your home (my travel plans are real loose and unscheduled) I’ll call a couple of days in advance — would love to meet you, maybe even fish. You all take care & … Tight Lines ….. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Catalog,Tips & Tricks, Fishing Reports, & NeverSink at: http://www.btsflyfishing.com

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Question:

Piragis, the Boundary Waters Catalog people, offer a fishing rod holder that clamps to the gunwale.  I’ve used it for spinning and baitcasting rigs and I think it’ll hold a flyrod.  You can call them at 1-800-223-6565.  They also have a web site: http://www.piragis.com/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone have any ideas on where to get or how to make fly rod holders for a canoe? — Paul Bunchuk Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

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Anyone have any ideas on where to get or how to make fly rod holders for a canoe? — Paul Bunchuk Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

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Question:

I am planning couple of days ffishing in Texas (anywhere between Matagorda and Brownsville) in middle February.  Any suggestions on guides specializing in flyfishing and wading as well as locations greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marek

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I am planning couple of days ffishing in Texas (anywhere between Matagorda and Brownsville) in middle February.  Any suggestions on guides specializing in flyfishing and wading as well as locations greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marek

 Hello Marek, I spent a considerable amount of time in Laguna Madre.  I sea-kayaked from Corpu Christi down to Mexico.  I found the area around Port Mansfield to be fairly productive.  It is the off-season there so the guides will be looking for people to take out.  There is nothing in the town except one restaurant.  It is also a hotel.  On the way into town though, you will pass a hotel that is large.  I am not sure of the name.  The gentleman that runs this hotel is also a guide.  Very nice accomadations and very nice people.  I am sorry that I am so vague but if you happen upon this place, you will realize how small it is.  About 200 winter residents and about 6000 in the summer. I fished wherever I saw tailing reds. This was often.  Throughout the whole trip. Enjoy, Paul Johnson,

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Eric Glass, Gibb Little and Skipper Ray all will take you fishing in the South Padre, Port Isabel area.  I’ve fished with Eric.  Keep in mind that the the weather is still a a little touchy in Feb.  We probably will still be getting the occasional norther. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am planning couple of days ffishing in Texas (anywhere between Matagorda and Brownsville) in middle February.  Any suggestions on guides specializing in flyfishing and wading as well as locations greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marek

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Walt Kittleburger guides out of Port Mansfield.  Nobody is hard to find in Mansfield. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am planning couple of days ffishing in Texas (anywhere between Matagorda and Brownsville) in middle February.  Any suggestions on guides specializing in flyfishing and wading as well as locations greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marek  Hello Marek, I spent a considerable amount of time in Laguna Madre.  I sea-kayaked from Corpu Christi down to Mexico.  I found the area around Port Mansfield to be fairly productive.  It is the off-season there so the guides will be looking for people to take out.  There is nothing in the town except one restaurant.  It is also a hotel.  On the way into town though, you will pass a hotel that is large.  I am not sure of the name.  The gentleman that runs this hotel is also a guide.  Very nice accomadations and very nice people.  I am sorry that I am so vague but if you happen upon this place, you will realize how small it is.  About 200 winter residents and about 6000 in the summer. I fished wherever I saw tailing reds. This was often.  Throughout the whole trip. Enjoy, Paul Johnson,

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Question:

Hi Sandy, I have a bunch of EVA ZOTE closed cell foam I bought from a dealer at the Fly Tackle Dealer Show a couple of years ago. I don’t avertize it in my catalog but I’ve got it if you need some. Give me a holler at 585-0745. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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I have found some good foam for bugs by searching the boxes we regularly receive here at work.  Alot of the computer companies use good quality closed cell foam for shipping.  Soft and floats well. I’ve accumulated more than I’ll use in a very long time. It’s kind of like finding road kill foam. Seek and ye shall find. You can also find adhesivfoam in Hardware Stores (used to stop drafts)-

Fishfinder

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I want some advice on different glues to use on foam body bugs.  I have tried head cement and it seems to work somewhat, but doesn’t bond the hook to the foam.

The strongest glue for anything will always be epoxy. Model airplane shops sell *thin* 5 minute epoxy that works well for fly tying. 20-minute epoxy will be more flexible and stronger yet, however. Super glue is handy, also sold at model airplane shops, along with ‘instant’ hardening catalyst. I make a lot of foam flies. I use cheap, open-cell polyurethane foam for soft-bodied nymphs and streamers, and EVA (ethyl-vinyl-acetate) closed-cell foam for grass hopper bodies, etc. Big, soft foam streamers are interesting because fish don’t spit them out. They bite down and say ‘yes, this is what I thought.’ Where do you get closed-cell EVA foam? I dunno, for sure. John Betts used to sell under an ‘Evazote’ trade name, but he never had colors. I get it from a wholesaler. But most folks can’t do that. I don’t use foam strips, I cut out a hopper body, wrap it lightly with thread to segment it, and then tie it on *loosely* with thread, and then use super glue. One last note: Not all closed-cell foam is worth anything. Some is so dense it hardly floats. You need to find *lightweight* foam to make unsinkable dry flies. Most fly shops sell strands of ’round-in-cross-section’ closed-cell foam (made by ??) that looks really handy. But the damn stuff is so heavy it’s more like rubber, and hardly floats.

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Question:

   The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:    1.  Should it be more abrasion resistant than this?  Should I seek an exchange (Cabelas or Fenwick)?    2.  Is it salvageable?  I wouldn’t think one would want to splice it together.    3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being twenty-one feet shorter?    Thanks for any information anyone can provide!    Larry Larry Dawson                                      Lincoln, NE   USA    "The concept of the "work week" is one of the more deadening    aspects of our civilization, robbing us of, among other    things, allthe great ideas that could be hatched by people    who’d do their best thinking at two in the morning if they    weren’t too tired of working allday …"          The View From Rat Lake,  John Gierach

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Most fly line manufacturers (Sci Ang and Cortland)  will replace free of charge a defective line.  Just send the remaining old line back with your message of what happened.

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  The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:   1.  Should it be more abrasion resistant than this?  Should I seek an exchange (Cabelas or Fenwick)?

Well, being as you don’t even have a clue as to how you broke it, it’s a bit presumptuous for anyone to pass judgement in this regard. You could certainly give the exchange route a try, but don’t bet the fishfarm on it…   2.  Is it salvageable?  I wouldn’t think one would want to splice it together.

Frankly, I wouldn’t. I suppose one could use something like acetone to dissolve a few inches or so of the coating at both ends, come up with some way to join the cores together (anyone think of a good knot for that?) and then build up the splice with Goo or something similar to match the diameter of the line. But this seems like going to heroic measures for possibly dissappointing results.   3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being twenty-one feet shorter?

You cannot reverse a "Weight Forward" line and have anything even remotely similar to the original casting qualities. You were able to reverse the Cortland line because it was undoubtably a DT – "Double Taper" – line. If you check out the stuff that came with your current line there should be a description of the various tapers on the different lines, and you’ll see that there are significant differences in the front and back tapers of a typical WF line… In summary I suspect you just learned a valuable – if costly – lesson… /dave <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < Digital Equipment Corp.    Alpha Server Engineering  < <           "Read this and nobody gets hurt"           < <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

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   The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:    3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being twenty-one feet shorter?

hi, You definitely DON"T want to reverse this line ! A WF line has the first 30 feet or so for casting and the rest is a "shooting" or travelling line. If you reversed one in the past, it was probably a double taper line, and that is the big advantage, being able to reverse. I would certainly ask about compensation, they are supposed to be tougher than that.(on the other hand, rocks do cause problems!) Good Luck. Tight Lines Tackle Shop and Guide Service Lockeport, Nova Scotia, Canada

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –    The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t
know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I
bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly
line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:
   1.  Should it be more abrasion resistant than this?  Should I seek an
exchange (Cabelas or Fenwick)?
   2.  Is it salvageable?  I wouldn’t think one would want to splice it
together.
   3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the
opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being
able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being
twenty-one feet shorter?
   Thanks for any information anyone can provide!
   Larry
Larry Dawson                                      Lincoln, NE   USA
   "The concept of the "work week" is one of the more deadening
   aspects of our civilization, robbing us of, among other
   things, allthe great ideas that could be hatched by people
   who’d do their best thinking at two in the morning if they
   weren’t too tired of working allday …"
         The View From Rat Lake,  John Gierach

About a year ago there was an article in Fly Angler Mag on how to splice fly lines together. The author used a short length of 20 to 35 pound test monofilament (depending on diameter of fly line), and using sandpaper sort of sharpened the ends of the mono. Then he used a small drop of 5 minute epoxy on the ends of the mono and slipped the ends of the mono up the core of the fly line on both ends of the cut. If you have the right length of mono you can butt the ends of the fly line next to each other, and the excess epoxy sealed the ends together. You can only get the mono about a quarter inch inside the fly line, so the entire splice is only about a half an inch long. This is the way I attach a length of mono to the end of my fly line and then tie a loop in the end of the mono for a loop to loop connection with my leader, so I can attest to the strength of the connection. I may be able to find the article, so if you are interested send me your snail mail address and I’ll send you a xerox copy of it. Darryl Hayashida

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There is another method for repairing this line, that Lefty Kreh talks about in the tackle Symposium, of his Little Library series.  Use some braided monofilament(50#) like a "chinese handcuff" and then whip the ends of the braided mono and apply some pliobond.  Should hold up just fine, if you can’t get a new line from Cortland. Crashjibe

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Hi. Im Murray and I run a fly fishing school in the Toronto area.  I have quite a number of lines that are used every weekend by novices who really beat up the lines and equipment.   I have quite a number of lines that have been used like this for many years and I have never had a line break ever.  I think that you should take it back, its obviously defective.  If they wont take it back there are knots that you can use to splice it together.  I have never dont this so I dont know of any off the top of my head but you should be able to find them in a good fly fishing book.   Your question about turning the line around is valid, but this can only be done if it is a double tapered line.  if it is a weight forward line it cant be turned around.  (Well it could but it wouldnt cast very well.) I probably shouldn’t say this but I have not found a Fenwick line that I have ever liked.  I don’t think that they compare to a good courtland or sientific anglers line. hope that this helps.   Murray.  Murray’s Fly Fishing School. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t  know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I  bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly   line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:   1.  Should it be more abrasion resistant than this?   Should I seek an  exchange (Cabelas or Fenwick)?   2.  Is it salvageable?  I wouldn’t think one would want to splice it  together.   3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the  opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being  able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being  twenty-one feet shorter?   Thanks for any information anyone can provide!   Larry    /     AOL:  LarryD39   "The concept of the "work week" is one of the more deadening   aspects of our civilization, robbing us of, among other   things, allthe great ideas that could be hatched by people   who’d do their best thinking at two in the morning if they   weren’t too tired of working allday …"         The View From Rat Lake,  John Gierach  

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LARRY: I WOULD SUGGEST THE RETURN TO THE STORE METHOD.  YOU CAN TRY A BLIND SPLICE AS SUGGESTED, BUT IF YOUR NOT FAMLIAR WITH IT, I WOULDN’T UNDERTAKE IT RIGHT NOW FOR A LINE YOU WILL FISH REGULARLY.  ON THE RETURN TO THE STORE THOUGH, THE SHOP OWNER SHOULD’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.  FENWICK HAS A VERY GOOD GUARANTEE ON THE BACK OF THIER PACKAGING.  MOST OF THESE MANUFACTURERS WANT TO KEEP YOU USING THIER PRODUCT AND THEY DO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AS TO " IT JUST BROKE", IT’S CALLED KEEP THE PRODUCT IN THE CUSTOMERS HANDS.  HOWVEVER, THEY DO APPRECIATE A LITTLE EFFORT ON THE PART OF CONSUMER AS TO HOW YOU THINK IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED, POSSIBLY COMBINED WITH COMMENTS ON PROIR HAPPINESS.  I’D GO THE REPLACEMENT ROUTE WITH THE STORE FIRST AND IF THAT DIDN’T WORK, THEN MAIL IT BACK TO FENWICK – I’D BE VERY SURPISED IF THEY DIDN’T HELP.  I’D LIKE TO HEAR HOW YOU MAKE OUT. GOOD LUCK, BOB/FL.

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Question:

I was in Indonesia and Thailand two years ago but didn’t bring my rod. Going back for my honeymoon…any advice?   I did lots of snorkeling but looking for recommendations…flies, places. Will trade for good fishing stories and east coast goodies. Dan Foster Dan Foster

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I was in Indonesia and Thailand two years ago but didn’t bring my rod. Going back for my honeymoon…any advice?  

Yeah, don’t forget your rod…. — | PO Box 1510      | MCI:   mnewman (333-1196) | Hell is   | | Saipan MP 96950  | Phone: +(670)234-7726     | Saipan?   | | Mariana Islands  | FAX:   +(670)234-3022     |           |

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