Question:

What are your recommendations for the best magazines on fly fishing/tying available today? — John Rowley I It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. Jack Handy

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What are your recommendations for the best magazines on fly fishing/tying available today?

Warmwater Fly Fishing has a laid-back attitude that I like.  British mag Fly Fishing and Fly Tying typically has lots of utilitarian info.  Hard to say which is the best.  There’s usually only one or two items that I seem to be interested in in any given issue of magazines that I see. Mu

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Question:

I have fished with many Orvis endorsed guides and guides who weren’t Orvis endorsed and I will take the Orvis guides any day. Not only did I have a better time and was treated better but I also was well fed.  I don’t know about anyone else but I don’t like slob guides and ones with attitudes.  One comes to mind with an attitude and that was Charlie Weaver at gates Ausable Lodge.  I don’t like a guide or anyone else telling me I suck at fly fishing or anything else for that matter. Iv’e been at this for to many years and have caught more trout than I can even hope to remember.  I have fished with Crystal Creek Guides ,Johnson’s Guides,Grey drake lodge and on and on.  Stick with the Orvis Guides and at least if something is not up to snuff you can call someone and voice your opinion with other guides you might as well spit in the wind. ilkie my guides to be well groomed and not smell like an old goat.

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Good fly fishermen don’t need guides, aren’t too concerned about the food, and usually don’t smell so sweet. Ernie Harrison

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Ernie, I have to take exception to your post. I too have fished with guides and without them, and if you are going to new water and have limited vacation time, the cost of a good guide is well worth the money. And when you are paying good money, you have a right to good, professional treatment. Having said that, the challenge of learning your ‘home water’  is a lifelong occupation best shared with a friend or loved one, not a guide. Ray FlyFisherRay

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Good fly fishermen don’t need guides, aren’t too concerned about the food, and usually don’t smell so sweet. Ernie Harrison

Go out on the saltwater flats and pole your butt around all day and then say you don’t need a guide. It’s for sure you won’t smell too sweet<g. — Charlie…

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Ernie, I have to take exception to your post. I too have fished with guides and without them, and if you are going to new water and have limited vacation time, the cost of a good guide is well worth the money. FlyFisherRay

I did not say a guide is not worth the money or should not be professional.  I personally enjoy the challenge of finding out what works on new waters by myself.  Floating down a river with a guide who tells me what and where to cast is not my idea of fun.  I do not have to catch a lot of big to enjoy myself.   Ernie Harrison  

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Question:

I  have a friend that has an old fly rod and wants to know how much it is worth.  I’m not familiar with this particular sport, but thought maybe someone could point me to a book or internet site that would be helpful.   The information he gave me was that it is made by Wright and McGill, Eagle Claw, Trailmaster 6′9", Model VM8TM, Line size 7", mini serrules. You can either email me directly (as I am not a reader of this group), or just reply here in the group and I will come back each day for a few days. Thank you for your help. Richard Fitzgerald

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  Dick Spurr’s Classis Chronicle page is reachable from my homepage listed below.  Hope this helps . . . http://www.kings.edu/~lsgorney/index.htm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I  have a friend that has an old fly rod and wants to know how much it is worth.  I’m not familiar with this particular sport, but thought maybe someone could point me to a book or internet site that would be helpful.   The information he gave me was that it is made by Wright and McGill, Eagle Claw, Trailmaster 6′9", Model VM8TM, Line size 7", mini serrules. You can either email me directly (as I am not a reader of this group), or just reply here in the group and I will come back each day for a few days. Thank you for your help. Richard Fitzgerald

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I  have a friend that has an old fly rod and wants to know how much it is worth.  I’m not familiar with this particular sport, but thought maybe someone could point me to a book or internet site that would be helpful. The information he gave me was that it is made by Wright and McGill, Eagle Claw, Trailmaster 6′9", Model VM8TM, Line size 7", mini serrules. You can either email me directly (as I am not a reader of this group), or just reply here in the group and I will come back each day for a few days. Thank you for your help.

I beleive I had owned one of these rods in the mid ’70’s. A great pack rod then. I also beleive that is a combonation spin/fly,swapping the handle around to accomadate your fishing needs. I used an HCH or an HDH double taper, this sounds sort of dated but that’s the facts. Caught many fish on both spin and fly. IMHO, it was a better spin rod than a fly rod. It was all the 7wt. line rating and maybe a little more, a real noodle comparied to todays graphites. Do I miss it? Yes, just the backcountry memories. If you look close on the lable it should say that it has a life time guarantee, too. Paid about $50 new ‘74. I heard that this rod was to go back into production for around $110-145 last year or this. Your friends rod worth about $50-70 Doug Knight Posting on the road this weekend I want NO SPAM in this box, You are for warned

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Question:

I have two $69.00 caddis tubes that I use for striped bass fly fishing here in CA.. My 8 year old daughter and 10 year old son have no problems at all using them as neither do I. I find the lighter and less expensive the better…One of the responses to you mentioned being "pee" friendly either way you still have wadders on. good luck.  

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One thing to consider is where you will be using the tube or pontoon boat.  I have used both and when conditions permit a pontoon boat is easier to fish from for the reasons others have listed, but I often enjoy backpacking into lakes, and my tube weighs far less than a pontoon boat, which would be too cumbersome for such a trip.  Good luck with your decision.

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There is a pontoon boat that addresses the needs of the backpacker and the river fisherman. Try the Supercat. —                    "One Fish is Worth a Thousand Lies"                             http://Flyfish.Com

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There is a pontoon boat that addresses the needs of the backpacker and the river fisherman. Try the Supercat.

I just tried out a Supercat yesterday and it was great. I’ll be ordering one soon. I guess I shouldn’t have bought that float tube a couple of weeks ago. Brad

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Hello, I am going to make a purchase of either a float tube, or a pontoon float. If you have had experience in any of the above, I sure would like to hear your opinion as the database of information is pretty scarce. If you have a pontoon float, how are they in the wind?  U shape verses V shape verses Round?  How about brand names, general price, etc, good or bad? Sure would appreciate your input. Thanks. Mike

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I just replaced my tube with a JW Outfitters Kingfisher 4 pontoon.  I like it alot better because 1) casting is much easier, 2) sight-fishing is much better, 3) it is faster and more manuverable, 4) ingress-egress MUCH nicer, 5) it is certainly more pee-friendly, and 6) it is lighter.  As to the wind, not a problem.  You can kick out real easily.

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Pontoon boat more comfortable, drier, covers more area. But nothying like fightinhg  a big fish from a float tube. if you gert a flaoat tube-go u or v -boat design only.

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Hello, I am going to make a purchase of either a float tube, or a pontoon float. If you have had experience in any of the above, I sure would like to hear your opinion as the database of information is pretty scarce. If you have a pontoon float, how are they in the wind?  U shape verses V shape verses Round?  How about brand names, general price, etc, good or bad? Sure would appreciate your input. Thanks.

Hi Mike I’ve had a lot of experience with float tubes and pontoon boats.  The float tube will cost you less than a pontoon boat (tube = $100 or so, pontoon = $400 – $1600 or so) Personally I would use a pontoon boat over a float tube no matter what the cost difference is.  After I reached the age of 45 whenever I got my crotch in cold water it was an immediate trip to the bank for a nature call.  Also as I got older staying warm in a tube became a problem.  Also I never felt comfortable floating a river in a tube although I’ve done quite a bit of it.   In the wind you can kick your heart out in a tube and progress on you way very slowly.  With a pontoon craft you can kick and row at the same time and really scoot.  My wife and I use our boats here in Montana on streams like the Big Horn.  When we float through a section that is particularly productive, we pull over to the soft side of the river and kick and row our way back up stream to the top end of the pool and float through it again.  I’ve had my craft in rapid up to grade #3 and did not feel in jeopardy (I have had a lot of experience in white water so that could be part of the reason).  By the way I’m in the fly fishing business but do not sell pontoon boats. For what it’s worth, that’s my belief.  I’m sure you will get other responces with different oppinions.  Which ever way you go, ENJOY! Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are very pleased to announce the all new, FISHINTERNET AUSTRALIA http://www.fishnet.com.au/ This internet service is dedicated to the Australian recreational fishing scene. Sections cover all aspects of fishing in Australia with excellent information resources, fishing reports from around the country, full directory of all tackle shops, marine dealers, charters, guides, resorts etc. Please let us know what you think of this new service. Regards, David Dryden         Fishinternet Australia         http://www.fishnet.com.au/ I checked your page. It looks good. Can you help me with advice on fly-fishing for Barramundi in the Cairns / Port Douglas area, or even further north into Cape York. I’ve heard this is something of a new frontier in salt water fly fishing and that the Barramunid is excellent quarry. I will be in the area for 2 weeks in September. I’d like to know about seasons, flies, techniques, guides, etc. Thanks. Christopher Payne. Can you assure me of the availability of that nectar of the gods known

as Crown Lager Beer, its to die for. CL – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are very pleased to announce the all new, FISHINTERNET AUSTRALIA http://www.fishnet.com.au/ This internet service is dedicated to the Australian recreational fishing scene. Sections cover all aspects of fishing in Australia with excellent information resources, fishing reports from around the country, full directory of all tackle shops, marine dealers, charters, guides, resorts etc. Please let us know what you think of this new service. Regards, David Dryden         Fishinternet Australia         http://www.fishnet.com.au/

I checked your page. It looks good. Can you help me with advice on fly-fishing for Barramundi in the Cairns / Port Douglas area, or even further north into Cape York. I’ve heard this is something of a new frontier in salt water fly fishing and that the Barramunid is excellent quarry. I will be in the area for 2 weeks in September. I’d like to know about seasons, flies, techniques, guides, etc. Thanks. Christopher Payne.

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We are very pleased to announce the all new, FISHINTERNET AUSTRALIA http://www.fishnet.com.au/ This internet service is dedicated to the Australian recreational fishing scene. Sections cover all aspects of fishing in Australia with excellent information resources, fishing reports from around the country, full directory of all tackle shops, marine dealers, charters, guides, resorts etc. Please let us know what you think of this new service. Regards, David Dryden          Fishinternet Australia          http://www.fishnet.com.au/

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Question:

…looks like it has great potential as a fly fishing stream.  Do you know where it is? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Assistant professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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Nice cuts and one can actually walk away from the roads. Moose, Elk, Deer and an occasional bear (grizzly) pask

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Question:

writes: If Dave Whitlock isn’t the alltime Master of flyfishing then I don’t

know who is. For all around knowledge and no frills fishing ideas I prefer Lefty Kreh.

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For all around knowledge and no frills fishing ideas I prefer Lefty Kreh.

all around knowledge ? Red Green gets my vote. Tim Walker

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How could you forget Lee Wulff, my favorite?

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writes: If Dave Whitlock isn’t the alltime Master of flyfishing then I don’t know who is. For all around knowledge and no frills fishing ideas I prefer Lefty Kreh.

Lefty Kreh is one of the masters, but please, for "no frills" saltwater flies and fishing, my man is Lou Tabory!   —- "Just say no to bait"

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I just finished reviewing Jack Samson’s new biography of Lee Wullf. Super book. The review should be posted in the magazine early next week. — ** Louis Bignami, Publisher         http://www.finefishing.com Fine Fishing Internet Magazine                "largest fishing mag on the Net" **

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Check out the Fly & Field Website!  They have Dave Whitlock!  He is writing articles and fly recipes, and answering questions!  I am PSYCHED!!  If DW isn’t the alltime Master of flyfishing then I don’t know who is. I’ve been collecting his books and drawings for several years and I even got to meet him once at a fishing show in San Francisco.  He is the nicest person and his knowledge is so vast on so many topics of flyfishing it’s incredible.  I’m sorry if I sound like a blithering idiot, but this is too much.   The site is at http://www.flyfield.com/ but you can go straight to Dave at http://www.flyfield.com/dw2.htm.  They are also highlighting Davy Wotton. Does anybody know about him?  Apparently he is like the Dave Whitlock of Europe.  

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Question:

The shad run here in the Annapolis River of Nova Scotia is now at or near its peak peak.  The annual Shad Fishing tournament was just completed and for the second year in a row, the prize for the flyfishing catagory was determined by lot – i.e no shad were caught on the fly. Does anyone have any general advice re catching those darned things on a fly?  Sure would appreciate any help re patterns, method etc. Les

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The shad run here in the Annapolis River of Nova Scotia is now at or near its peak peak.  The annual Shad Fishing tournament was just completed and for the second year in a row, the prize for the flyfishing catagory was determined by lot – i.e no shad were caught on the fly. Does anyone have any general advice re catching those darned things on a fly?  Sure would appreciate any help re patterns, method etc. Les

These shad drove me nuts on the Merrimac for years. I always fished them quartering down, expecting a hit on the drift, like most salmonid type fish. Finally started hooking them by using a Hi-D head with a weighted fly on the bottom with very slow strips. Lose a lot of flies that way, but it’s the only way I could get them to hit. They fight great, but it’s almost like bait fishing :-

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It’s possible that our western experiences in flyfishing for Shad might be of some assistance.  We usually fish them in heavy water (8,000 cfs or better), and the key is finding their depth in the particular channel you are casting to.  I usually start with a Hi-D, extra fast sink shooting head, then work up.  Shad seem to travel at very specific depths on their upstream movements, and I have found they will not move very much to look at a fly.  The casting we use is a quarter upstream, then mend to give the fly a dead drift. ANY drag on the fly, and you might as well shoot again. Some strikes are very soft, so keep your index finger lightly under the shooting line to detect.  Other strikes (usually near the end of the drift) are like freight trains.  To summarize: look for proper depth, and MEND. If you’ll E-Mail me, I’ll send you by regular mail, two patterns that work very well out here.  They are bright (flourescent yellow is good) and beady-eyed.  The common crappie fly, available anywhere, works very well.

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Question:

How about some interesting new discussion topics, or maybe some fish stories? I can’t go fishing ’cause it’s exam time, but surely someone else has something entertaining to say. Montana Bob, stuck in the computer lab again.

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How about some interesting new discussion topics, or maybe some fish stories? I can’t go fishing ’cause it’s exam time, but surely someone else has something entertaining to say.

OK, I’m hoping to go out South of Buena Vista, Colorado (Brown’s Canyon, a summertime whitewater rafting haven, but full of trout) to flyfish on the Arkansas this coming Christmas week, since I’ve got most of the week off, but I’m wondering if I’ll run into problems with hard water (water so hard you can’t get your fly through it). It’s been pretty chilly (more than normal at least) lately, hopefully things will warm up a little soon. Anyone fished the Arkansas in cold weather with any luck? Lots of bead-head princes, I presume, what other flies/nymphs/sizes would you recommend? — Cray Computer Corporation    http://www.craycos.com/~ferguson/ferguson.html Colorado Springs, CO                                     Solely my opinions

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Question:

Can anyone provide information of good fly fishing spots in and around Ithaca New York?   Thanks GDO

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Can anyone provide information of good fly fishing spots in and around Ithaca New York?   Thanks GDO

I have made the three – plus hour trip out to Ithaca from Albany a few times to fish for landlocked salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout in the spring and fall.  Mostly I have stuck to Fall Creek, but I have also fished Salmon Creek which is a short drive from Ithaca.  Fall Creek flows right through Ithaca, and some of the best fishing can be in the large pool at the base of the magnificent waterfall about 1.5 miles upstream from where the creek pours into Cayuga Lake.  For info on what when where why etc. I suggest the book "Good Fishing in Western New York"…I think it is available from Countryman Press. Right now it may be a little early for the rainbows, but browns and salmon may be in.  It’s been a dry fall around here, though, and I haven’t heard anything great about the fishing in the Finger Lakes tribs.  Of course, if you live in the area it’s no big deal to check it out…if you hear anything about the salmon run, please post it.  I am desperate to catch a landlock on my flyrod!!! Paul DiConza     NY Capital District Angler

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