Question:

  . . . exactly. And its nice not having to pick the pellets out. An obvious fin/feather combo, without all the noise.

Exactly! <g — Warren Findley Remove (nospamZZ) to respond via email http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt/

Response:

  . . . exactly. And its nice not having to pick the pellets out. An obvious fin/feather combo, without all the noise. Exactly! <g

And just like fish, you can use parts of one to catch another. Joe F.

Response:

Ken, Kevin, Warren… Howdy!! I am @ site #80 in the Mammoth Hot Springs campground….

Richard, Don’t know which you’ll see first but I left a note at your campsite and another at Clave Central letting them know where you are. Clave Central is located at the Eagle Creek Campground. It’s about two miles from Gardiner on the road to Jardine. Coming from Mammoth the road to Jardine is the first right after you cross the Yellowstone. Sorry to have missed you, … Have a GREAT Clave ! — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

got it ken…it is now fri evening…i will drop by clave central and look around…..then, its back down to the hot creek, for the evening hot bath…another great day of fishing today.. i took a lot of digital photos…will post later… richard / colorado

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ken, Kevin, Warren… Howdy!! I am @ site #80 in the Mammoth Hot Springs campground…. Richard, Don’t know which you’ll see first but I left a note at your campsite and another at Clave Central letting them know where you are. Clave Central is located at the Eagle Creek Campground. It’s about two miles from Gardiner on the road to Jardine. Coming from Mammoth the road to Jardine is the first right after you cross the Yellowstone. Sorry to have missed you, … Have a GREAT Clave ! — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Dammit! Something’s wrong with my computer – it keeps flashing to some Internet Flyfishing Soap channel… /daytripper (as the world turns) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – got it ken…it is now fri evening…i will drop by clave central and look around…..then, its back down to the hot creek, for the evening hot bath…another great day of fishing today.. i took a lot of digital photos…will post later… richard / colorado Ken, Kevin, Warren… Howdy!! I am @ site #80 in the Mammoth Hot Springs campground…. Richard, Don’t know which you’ll see first but I left a note at your campsite and another at Clave Central letting them know where you are. Clave Central is located at the Eagle Creek Campground. It’s about two miles from Gardiner on the road to Jardine. Coming from Mammoth the road to Jardine is the first right after you cross the Yellowstone. Sorry to have missed you, … Have a GREAT Clave ! — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Just ask Warren about the duck…. giggle…. snort… oh, I can’t hold it any longer! Hahh.hah..hahhh…Jeeez… you think he’ll make fun of the way I fish??… — Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana www.diamondnoutfitters.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dammit! Something’s wrong with my computer – it keeps flashing to some Internet Flyfishing Soap channel… /daytripper (as the world turns)

Response:

Just ask Warren about the duck…. giggle…. snort… oh, I can’t hold it any longer! Hahh.hah..hahhh…Jeeez… you think he’ll make fun of the way I fish??…

Why stop at fish?  Why are ducks so special that you can’t catch them? <g Warren

Response:

Just ask Warren about the duck…. giggle…. snort… oh, I can’t hold it any longer! Hahh.hah..hahhh…Jeeez… you think he’ll make fun of the way I fish??… Why stop at fish?  Why are ducks so special that you can’t catch them? <g Warren

. . . exactly. And its nice not having to pick the pellets out. An obvious fin/feather combo, without all the noise. Dave

Response:

Ken, Kevin, Warren… Howdy!! I am @ site #80 in the Mammoth Hot Springs campground….do drop by and let me know the registration desk told me Ken cancelled his frontier cabin reservations…she was not aware of the group staying in a set of cabins…..anyway…I had a great afternoon (thur) session on the Yellowstone River, just above Tower Falls… I am not checking e mail regularly…so, drop by the camp site!!…otherwise, maybe i will run into you guys out on the rivers!!.. hands….then, back up to the campsite.. Regards.. Richard / colorado

Response:

Question:

Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.  Took SWMBO out for breakfast at Russell Williams restaurant, then we went for a long ride.  Got gas for the truck – prices still too high. First day this year wearing shorts instead of jeans.  Got the house painted yesterday and SWMBO thinks the painters did a shitty job. Somebody feel free to jump in any time. Peter the bored

Response:

I just got in from painting the new garden shed. I’m about to make some lunch and take my son to his baseball game. After that I’m taking my canoe and hitting a local lake with my son to catch the evening midge hatch. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.  Took SWMBO out for breakfast at Russell Williams restaurant, then we went for a long ride.  Got gas for the truck – prices still too high. First day this year wearing shorts instead of jeans.  Got the house painted yesterday and SWMBO thinks the painters did a shitty job. Somebody feel free to jump in any time. Peter the bored

Response:

I just got in from painting the new garden shed. I’m about to make some lunch and take my son to his baseball game. After that I’m taking my canoe and hitting a local lake with my son to catch the evening midge hatch.

We’re in runoff here and my local warm water ponds aren’t warm enough yet, so I’ve been doing lots of Spring repairs, tying and watching hockey. Go Avs! Might try out a local pond tonight. Willi

Response:

Somebody feel free to jump in any time.

Just returned from the annual cleanup (removal of trash dumped over the banking by locals) at our Vermont camp. Fished Friday PM…..nothing. Got on the wrong side of the jet stream yesterday, rain and cold all PM, water high and discolored, didn’t fish. Back home now, ait temps in the mid 80’s. Might try a local stream this evening, but the fishing in this area has been slow. George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

Response:

As opposed to some, I’m finishing up projects the evil professors have given me.  So a 20 minute presentation encompassing all that is involved in Info Security is due tomorrow.  Need an auctioneer to present it.  Mowed the lawn, washed the dog (glad I didn’t mix those two up), watered (used the dog), did dishes (used the dog), took a nap, dreamt about getting hammered on Jim Beam, fly fishing and eating a burro (dog gone).                     Frank Reid

Response:

We’re in runoff here and my local warm water ponds aren’t warm enough yet, so I’ve been doing lots of Spring repairs, tying and watching hockey. Go Avs! Might try out a local pond tonight. Willi

Gorgeous weather out here in Vancouver, WA.  Unfortunately the streams aren’t open yet, and I’m getting stir-crazy.  There are some heavily stocked local 2500ft, is probably too high, cold, and maybe snowed in.  So I performed some minor honey-do’s, watched some NBA (Blazers smoked Utah), tied some zonkers and buggers, and practiced golf.  Beautiful and peaceful on the golf course.  After 6pm I had the course basically to myself. Spring is soon to be in full bloom and flyfishing should just get better.  Hang in there. Pat K

Response:

Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.  Took SWMBO out for breakfast at Russell Williams restaurant, then we went for a long ride.  Got gas for the truck – prices still too high. First day this year wearing shorts instead of jeans.  Got the house painted yesterday and SWMBO thinks the painters did a shitty job. Somebody feel free to jump in any time.

He He.   I just survived the busy weekend from hell.   Sat a.m., three hours in the morning heat for son’s baseball game (first ever base hit, 2 rbi’s.). Full speed transition to inlaws afternoon gathering, then even faster (90 mph) exit to drop off kids at parents, then to the make the evening curtain at the opera (now *that* was a culture shift.).   (First time, La Boheme, loved it BTW.)   Home at midnight. Sun a.m., cook breakfast for sister-in-law’s family, then off to Md. Sheep & Wool Festival.   Home at 6, try to cut grass, mover won’t run.   Aw shit. Start weed whacker; won’t run.   Double shit.   Make pizza, watch "Galaxy Quest" (great "Star Trek" spoof).   Go to sleep. Glad to be back at work so I can relax.   Clavin’ tomorrow. Just in time for my planned "express" drive to the Clave, I hear the state police in MD & VA have started a crackdown on aggressive drivers this week. I might need that bail money before I even get there. Joe F.

Response:

Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.  Took SWMBO out for breakfast at Russell Williams restaurant, then we went for a long ride.  Got gas for the truck – prices still too high. First day this year wearing shorts instead of jeans.  Got the house painted yesterday and SWMBO thinks the painters did a shitty job. Somebody feel free to jump in any time. Peter the bored

Went to my local triple secret, never fail, always hoppin’, mayfly factory section of river. Not a damn thing coming off. Caught a piddling handful of dinks. Got home and saw the grass has shot up 4 inches and the snow blower is still mounted on my lawn machine. Big thunderstorms today so it will get longer and probably clump like hell when I finally do mow it. Week of work looms ahead. Ahh! The only bright spot is we hammered the blue gills on Sat.- limits all around. <G Damn the clave! Jon (whining and not in NC (sniff))

Response:

As opposed to some, I’m finishing up projects the evil professors have given me.  So a 20 minute presentation encompassing all that is involved in Info Security is due tomorrow.  Need an auctioneer to present it.  Mowed the lawn, washed the dog (glad I didn’t mix those two up), watered (used the dog), did dishes (used the dog), took a nap, dreamt about getting hammered on Jim Beam, fly fishing and eating a burro (dog gone).                    Frank Reid

Frank, Ya should’ve been at Chatsworth this past weekend (and Zwolle, in Holland, the weekend before). All the old miscreants and n’er-do-wells …plus a few new ones. Saw some very good fly tying and some awesome casting. Watch out: Vikings and Swampy incoming! The latest things from Scandinavia are fly rods in sky blue and banana yellow, because (the man explained), ‘fly fishing is supposed to be fun’. I’ve spent two weekends in the company of an old friend and a most interesting man. In Japan, they would have had him stuffed and put in a museum as a ‘national treasure’. On Saturday evening I dined with the best blank maker and rod builder in Britain and that was but a fraction of the good fun and interest I’ve been having this past ten days. Dead air? Nix! Suddenly, it’s all become exciting again. Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

Response:

Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.

LOL, got trapped into going to the ‘big’ mall, an hour away. So down we go and the paintings she wanted were gone….oh well what the hell, got a bottle of Birchwood Casey TruOil finish anyway. Tied a bunch of dries, small black stones, some wullfs etc. Was my first experience with my Whiting Gold grizzley saddle, tied 6 #14 Wulffs with one damn feather, good bye Metz necks! Received my ‘new’ South Bend #346 9′ bamboo and case today, some of the varnish is alligatored so I’m putting about trying to figure out where to get a polish to clean that up without having to refinish it. Took it out to the back yard and put my Ocean City Sport King rod with the level D silk line on it and casted for a bit. Rose several cats but failed to get a conclusive hookup, I realize they are not a mainstream prey species, but they are good fighters when you can keep them on the line. Checking ebay for some other bamboo rods, getting quite a jones for these since getting my first H-I just a few weeks ago. Got silk thread inbound so I can re-wrap both my H-I’s. For the first time ever, I really wish I had planned to attend a clave, I guess the fall ball in Maine, so close to me, will become a "must attend" event. Supposed to rain the rest of this week here, sigh, so the rivers go back UP again….sigh….going to have to take the canoe to a pond someplace instead. Flyfish

Response:

Chattsworth!  Excuse me while I curl up in a corner and go catatonic.  Man I miss that.                 Frank Reid

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As opposed to some, I’m finishing up projects the evil professors have given me.  So a 20 minute presentation encompassing all that is involved in Info Security is due tomorrow.  Need an auctioneer to present it.  Mowed the lawn, washed the dog (glad I didn’t mix those two up), watered (used the dog), did dishes (used the dog), took a nap, dreamt about getting hammered on Jim Beam, fly fishing and eating a burro (dog gone).                    Frank Reid Frank, Ya should’ve been at Chatsworth this past weekend (and Zwolle, in Holland, the weekend before). All the old miscreants and n’er-do-wells …plus a few new ones. Saw some very good fly tying and some awesome casting. Watch out: Vikings and Swampy incoming! The latest things from Scandinavia are fly rods in sky blue and banana yellow, because (the man explained), ‘fly fishing is supposed to be fun’. I’ve spent two weekends in the company of an old friend and a most interesting man. In Japan, they would have had him stuffed and put in a museum as a ‘national treasure’. On Saturday evening I dined with the best blank maker and rod builder in Britain and that was but a fraction of the good fun and interest I’ve been having this past ten days. Dead air? Nix! Suddenly, it’s all become exciting again. Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

Response:

Question:

Anyone who has had experience with the Dagger Venture 17, Dagger Passage, or Grumman 17′ Falcon double ender canoes, I would be greatly interested in function, reliability, and overall strengths of each.

Response:

  I have owned a Venture 17 for about a year and a half and have been very satisfied with it.  We use it mainly for canoe camping, fishing and general relaxation rather than whitewater(we have other boats for that).   It paddles easily and can carries a large load.     I think I paddled a Passage while shopping for a canoe.  If it is the boat I am thinking of, (fairly long and made of some new light weight material) I didn’t like it.  The hull flexed enough that it seemed to absorb a lot of the power from each paddle stroke.  It also did not turn easily.  On the plus side it is light for its length, which makes getting it from the car to the water easier.         My first boat was a Grumman and I would not recommend an aluminum boat in this day and age with all of the other boats to choose from. I see that someone has posted a message about the drawbacks of aluminum.  You shoul look at it.    

Response:

Looking to buy a canoe. What do I need to keep in mind? Who are some manufacturers? How much? Thanks.

I’m shopping also. I think you will get better help if you say a bit more about who you are and how you expect you expect to use the canoe.  The people who post here seem to vary widely — there are lots of whitewater folks, but not all.  Just be yourself. Then go get a Bell.  The lighter the better.  

Response:

Although Marathon boats are indeed well made, reasonably priced and are durable, they are not well-suited for moving water with rocks; aluminum has a rather pronounced ‘rock grabbing’ property in that it does not glance off of obstructions, but instead tends to form around them and hold on. Hence, I figure Aluminum boats are ’specialty boats’, better suited for lake use. Grummans are not specialty canoes.  They are low cost, durable, general purpose canoes that used to be the workhorses of Canada’s north. They are noisy, always too cold or hot, ugly, tough, not affected by weather or UV, practical.

Well, in the sense that they are not highly-engineered, high tech material, computer designed to be the best at a narrow range of useages specialty boats, I agree. But they are definately not competitive as ‘all purpose’ boats for the reason you gave: they aren’t that good for running rivers. They were Canada’s workhorses because Aircraft aluminum was the first best option to wood strips or canvas: both of which were too fragile for the everyday user. When Grumman opened the door to general purpose canoeing, they offered durability, low maintenance and low cost. But now, all those things are in ABS boats, with less hull memory, less noise, and better hull shape. I would offer that ‘flatwater tripping canoes’ and your kevlar Clipper are specialty boats also; highly designed for a special purpose. I think an OT Kennebec or Discovery, MR Explorer (OK, its pricey), BH OCA or a host of other ABS boats are better suited for general purpose than a Grumman. Don’t get me wrong: if I had a camp in the boonies with a lake at the door, I’d probably want a Grumman with a motormount tied up at the dock, for the ambiance if nothing else. But to keep in my backyard, in town, to toss on the car for weekend river trips, to take on various lakes, for the occasional ocean paddle, to have as my all-purpose haul around boat…I don’t think its best suited for that. But YMMV, especially as I know your own tripping experience qualifies your opinions as being ‘well informed’. riverman

Response:

I’ve been to the Swift  factory store, and saw their full line of canoes, swift canoes are truly beautiful. Give them a first look. their great to deal with. Looking to buy a canoe. What do I need to keep in mind? Who are some manufacturers? How much? Thanks. — Val Girolamo Design Engineer ASMAT Precision Mold Builders A Foster Group Company P: (716) 247-3556 xt. 217 F: (716) 247-7892

– Perry Chamberlain Liv’n on de Edge n de Desert Everyone has someone in their family who is crazy, if you don’t know who it is, its you!

Response:

on the keyboard and ended up with: I think you will get better help if you say a bit more about who you are and how you expect you expect to use the canoe.  The people who post here seem to vary widely — there are lots of whitewater folks, but not all.  Just be yourself.

Well Harry, for the touring folks, there also is "Rec.Boats.Paddle.Touring", although a bunch of the touring people have hung around ever since the original RBP received its two subgroups (RBP.WhiteWater is the second one). Then go get a Bell.  The lighter the better.  

<puzzled look Wilko — Eindhoven            The Netherlands            Europe             "Look Mum: No Sense!"      

Question:

Heading for RMNP area for 1 1/2-2 weeks this summer, probably mid to late July. Will be camping for part of the time maybe in or north of the park and then spending 4 days in Estes Park. Looking for advice on places to fish and places to avoid. Mostly interested in smaller streams or shallow lakes. Will be wading-no float tube-with a 7′9" 3/4 wt. Once the family is safely in the confines of a cabin or lodge I may take a solo overnight hike to a more remote lake/stream. Any advice on places and patterns will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mark

Response:

Fished there last summer around July.  I had a great time on the Thompson and on the headwaters of the Colorado.   Usually we could fish till around 4pm before the thunder and lightning rainstorms drove us for cover.  The further you wandered away from the road, the better the fishing got. Although most fish ran 7-10", there were a few larger and some we saw, but could not get to rise in the gin-clear water, that probably went 21/2 to 3lbs.  A 3/4 short rod is a good choice.  On the west side of the park, the Colorado runs into an area that is filthy with beaver dams.  A stealthy approach to the dams brought non-stop action on brookies and cutthroats. The Estes Park Angler in Estes Park is a good source for fly fishing information.  The fish were not that picky.  However, a lime trude sizes 14-16, worked best.  We also picked up fish on elkhair caddis, yellow humpies, hoppers, and stimulators. Randall S. Davis

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Heading for RMNP area for 1 1/2-2 weeks this summer, probably mid to late July. Will be camping for part of the time maybe in or north of the park and then spending 4 days in Estes Park. Looking for advice on places to fish and places to avoid. Mostly interested in smaller streams or shallow lakes. Will be wading-no float tube-with a 7′9" 3/4 wt. Once the family is safely in the confines of a cabin or lodge I may take a solo overnight hike to a more remote lake/stream. Any advice on places and patterns will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mark

Response:

Question:

Why the bimini twist?

…cuz the foxtrot looks dorky? -wf

Response:

If you aren’t worried about records, forget the bimini and fish a good tapered leader.  The bimini is a way to fish for big fish, like tarpon with a light tippit. If you are willing to fish a little heavier leader forget the bimini.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve only fished in the salt a few times but finally broke down and bought Lefty Kreh’s book on the subject.  My question is what use is the Bimini Twist?  I understand that if you are trying for a world record then you need great 100 per cent strength knots to tie in your 1 foot of "tippet class". I’m not really interested in that and I suspect the vast majority of salt water fisherman arent either…why not just tie your bite tippet on  with a surgeons knot or something? Sorry for this off topic question……now back to the Gink Wars. jorge — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.

Response:

Good choice in books … My S/W Flyfishing Bible, I call it. As I understand it ( and have somewhat tested) the Bimini is the strongest knot to use "if tied properly!  I personally am a strong proponent of the "spider hitch" It is easier, smaller, and faster to tie, and I now can tee it in a few seconds…even in the dark.   I almost always use it to loop on tippet to leader on all sizes I use (5x to 20#) even in freshwater.  It supposedly is just as strong as a bimini except for shock load.  Since most of the time the rod / line absorbs the shocks it works great for me.  I have even done some testing and it usually takes a better bimini than I can tie to exceed the breaking strength of one of my spiders.  I have also performed this test with a couple of professional S/W guides biminis (in up to 20# test) and usually their bimini fails first. (or of course the unknotted line in the middle. If you want to give it a try I think the knot is listed in Lefty’s book. Usually they show this knot being tied using a finger or thumb as the "guide" to wrap around. I have had better luck using a small object like a toothpick or hemostats.  After some practice it can easily be tied with no tools by looping the line "between" the thumb and forefinger with no tools. Like the bimini this knot’s real purpose it to double the line and use the loop lines to tie another knot to something… or to make a doubled loop.  I use a lot of loops and normally just make the spiders loop, combine the lines, and tie a surgeons loop close to the spider.  This can result in a small loop of double line. (or as large as you need)  For your shock leader or bite tippet this give you a doubled line of class tippet to tie the knot with. The knot tied with the doubled line is almost always stronger than the spider, bimini, or the single class tippet.  I find the issue of attaching wire, 40# or 100# mono to any doubled 12-16 lb connection more prone to failure and problems than the class termination knot. So far I Never lost a fish due to a spider breaking. (Although I have lost lots of fish due to the line breaking between the knots (where it’s supposed to) just poor dumb bad luck….  I have lost a number of fish due to bimini knot failure. If you go with the bimini in the 20# & under size I highly recommend using pliobond or something on the final hitches.  I have seen way too many bimini’s start coming apart while fishing if they are not glued.  I even saw this once on a friends backing to flyline connection where he had used a bimini.  The really sad part is that a number of us were taught to tie our best binini’s by Stu Apte … So I guess we can’t blame the teacher!  I recall reading somewhere that it only took a few years to "perfect" a bimini and ony a couple more to perfect it on a rocking boat out in the middle of the ocean.  Maybe they were right. The real test is to always break a lot of line and knots until you are confident they as strong as the line. (or at least as strong a YOU can tie them)  I make leaders from clear Ande and use Ande tournament class line. This stuff comes in 1/4 lb spools, so I have a lot to waste. I just tie up the knots on each end to end up about 3′ outside the loops and then use a couple of chunks of cut off broom handles to hold on to and break the knots. I stand on the stick with the loop over it on one end and pull with my hands at the other until it breaks.  Just make sure you have safety glasses  on and don’t touch the line itself.  16# and up is quite violent when it breaks and can give you a nasty cut if it gets near you hands. (ah the voice of experience)  This isn’t real scientific but really help you determine the best knots that you can tie. Good luck in the salt!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve only fished in the salt a few times but finally broke down and bought Lefty Kreh’s book on the subject.  My question is what use is the Bimini Twist?  I understand that if you are trying for a world record then you need great 100 per cent strength knots to tie in your 1 foot of "tippet class". I’m not really interested in that and I suspect the vast majority of salt water fisherman arent either…why not just tie your bite tippet on  with a surgeons knot or something? Sorry for this off topic question……now back to the Gink Wars. jorge — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.

Response:

Thanks so much for the advice over the bimini twist. (George and RJ). I will indeed practice a bit with the spider hitch and see if I can master that. I was fishing in the backcountry on my last trip to Latin America for snook and baby tarpon…..the fish were completely non leader tippet shy so I thought well in order not to lose’em in the mangroves and make sure I can horse’em, I’ll tie like 20 pound test on for a tippet.  I was having a ball catching 10 pound baby tarpon and small snook (and replacing the tippet every 3 or 4 fish cause the tarpon were sawing it up pretty good). However I hooked a big snook….the boat driver said "Its a big snook, Jorge….don’t let him get in the mangrove"…..the rod was an 8 weight Scott…..it was bent double and then broke a foot above the handle.   What did I do wrong there?  Is an 8 weight too lite for the backcountry?  Should I only use 10 pound tippets and depend on breaking off rather than stressing the rod too much?   It was a big snook….the boat was being pulled sideways into the mangrove and I’ll did was just hold on (in panic!). I appreciate the help you guys are giving to this beginner in the salt. Jorge — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.

Response:

Most likely you dinged the rod at some time and it was weak there.  If it is a top of the line rod you can probably get it replaced.  You can also have a problem if you grab the rod above the handle cause you can change where the rod is stressed.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks so much for the advice over the bimini twist. (George and RJ). I will indeed practice a bit with the spider hitch and see if I can master that. I was fishing in the backcountry on my last trip to Latin America for snook and baby tarpon…..the fish were completely non leader tippet shy so I thought well in order not to lose’em in the mangroves and make sure I can horse’em, I’ll tie like 20 pound test on for a tippet.  I was having a ball catching 10 pound baby tarpon and small snook (and replacing the tippet every 3 or 4 fish cause the tarpon were sawing it up pretty good). However I hooked a big snook….the boat driver said "Its a big snook, Jorge….don’t let him get in the mangrove"…..the rod was an 8 weight Scott…..it was bent double and then broke a foot above the handle. What did I do wrong there?  Is an 8 weight too lite for the backcountry?  Should I only use 10 pound tippets and depend on breaking off rather than stressing the rod too much?   It was a big snook….the boat was being pulled sideways into the mangrove and I’ll did was just hold on (in panic!). I appreciate the help you guys are giving to this beginner in the salt. Jorge — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.

Response:

Sounds like you were using the same guide I used…. Except when he tried to tell my buddy repeatedly in excited broken  English (the fish) GO IN MANGROVE! GO IN MANGROVE!  My buddy stepped out of the boat and sank to his shoulders in the silt….. But that’s a whole different story. We were in Cancun earlier this year and used 8 & 9 wt rods on the baby (4′ ) tarpon we found there & didn’t have any rod strength problems. I was using Sage Rplx’s and my buddy was using the Orvis and Fenwick HMG’s…  The tarpon action was hot and we ended up using straight 40# leaders when the all the premade tippets ran out….and still managed to break off a fair number of fish! (the folks at Sage are probably cringing if they read this! Sorry to have to tell you but your story sounds like operator error.  Strong saltwater fish need to fought with the butt of the rod not the tip.  You are risking it if you bend the rod beyond 90

Question:

The Angler’s Lie is at 3510 Lee Highway in Arlington, VA. They claim to be only 7 minutes from the White House!  Since I don’t live in the White House it really never mattered too much to me.  Call and someone will give you directions, from the White House or wherever. Phone (703) 527-2524 Have fun, John

Response:

Call Scotty Wolf at Wolf’s Fly Shop in Ellicott City, right up Rt. 29.  He is one of the best around. Ralph Curd

Response:

Try the Anglers Lie, 3510 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA. 703 527 2524. Great selection of fly tying materials etc. They only deal in fly fishing.

Response:

I am looking for a good fly shp in Alexandria VA Can anyone give a few recommendations ? Thanks   Richard Lewis

Response:

Richard, You are in luck.  One of the best flyshops in the area is in Alexandria. The Angler’s Lie is on Lee highway 10 minutes from the White House.  They are in the phonebook.  Huge selection on tying materials.  Enjoy!

Response:

Question:

Fly fishing is an art.

Response:

Fly fishing is an art.

Most definitely true!!!!! After all, anyone who can hook a fly has to be artful!!!! heh Paul

Response:

Fly fishing is an art.

 It is what you make it, Not all anglers would I call artistic, when it comes to fly fishing, I have seen a few beginners who actually get me to laugh so hard, I am powerless to do anything but stand there, with tears in my eyes,,,,But when perfected, I couldent agree with you more,  just aint no feeling in the world like it..

Response:

Question:

Whats the best model/brand fly line? (wf5-floating)

Response:

Whats the best model/brand fly line? (wf5-floating)

My vote is for the Ultra 3 by Scientific Anglers. Take Care,

Response:

Whats the best model/brand fly line? (wf5-floating) My vote is for the Ultra 3 by Scientific Anglers.

Considering price as well, Cortland 333 (2nd choice 444) — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

I don’t know what the best line is but I can tell you to stay away from Courtlands Lazer Line.  I’ve got a DT5F that casts great….unfortunately it floats like a brick.  If I wanted a sinking line I would have bought one.  

Response:

: Whats the best model/brand fly line? (wf5-floating) I am about to try out a WF6-F Mastery XPS.  Several fishing buddies and acquaintances think it is "the best". Cortland 444 lines last forever.  Cortland 444 SL lines tend to get sticky.  The Masterline series from Great Britain is not bad. — Burnaby, BC

Response:

Whats the best model/brand fly line? (wf5-floating)

Hello William,         There are many good fly lines available to the angler today.  All of them have attributes that may or may not be what you are looking for. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the cortland lines.  The SL lines float well and sag very little in the eyes of your rod.  The Lazer lines have small dimples in the texture,(much like a golfball) to give you the maximum distance.  My favorite line is by Scientific Anglers.  It is the Mastery XPS.  It  is a supple line allowing great control.  Not a distance line, but I am not a distance guy.  You should go into your local shop and have them explain these subtleties. They may even haave these lines available for you to cast.  Good Luck. Paul J.

Response:

Question:

Sorry to raise this issue again! I would like to know people’s perceptions on whether the microfibre Simms or the codura Simms where tougher. I do a lot of rough walking/wading where I go fishing and I’d heard the codura was tougher but not as comfortable. Is this correct? Regards, Jamie Sharp

Response:

Sorry to raise this issue again! I would like to know people’s perceptions on whether the microfibre Simms or the codura Simms where tougher. I do a lot of rough walking/wading where I go fishing and I’d heard the codura was tougher but not as comfortable. Is this correct? Regards, Jamie Sharp

Jamie, The microfiber is both tougher and more comfortable. If you fish in areas that include star thistles and brambles in the streamside vegetation, I would strongly recommend the microfiber. Here in Northern California we have alot of star thistles and have seen a few problems with the barbs making their way through the relatively coarse fibers of the cordura model. Simms has assured us that this weakness has been remedied with the new microfiber material. I hope this helps,   Alan.   Alan Barnard   Kiene’s Fly Shop   Sacramento, Ca.

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (Montgomery, Noel D.) writes: Hammond) writes… | | I have had no luck with SSS as an insect repellant.  If | it works for you great.  If you haven’t tried it before, | I’d bring muskol or cutters or whatever your favorite | brand containing 95-100% deet. | | I was curious to see how SSS and Muskol compared because I would rather use a non-deet repellant.  So during one trip I did in the middle of Algonquin Park (it was very hot and there were tons of nice, big mosquitoes) I did a test.  I put SSS on the bare skin of one arm and Muskol on the other. They worked equally well for about a half an hour and then the SSS lost its effectiveness.  The Muskol lasted for hours.  I usually bring both and use the Muskol  on my clothes and hat .  The SSS is too labour intensive having to put it on too often to be effective when the bugs are really bad. – Lori (ps sorry to whoever(I think it was Steve Hammond) I accidently e-mailed this  post to … Hit the wrong button!)

Saw something sometime recently (how’s that for a solid start?) that SSS isn’t really a repellent at all.  It’s oily, so it coats the skin and the mosquitoes can’t get to the skin … or because of it’s scent, the mosquitoes can’t smell the blood. It might work at first, but once perspiration dilutes it and/or washes it away, you would be without protection.

Response:

I have had no luck with SSS as an insect repellant.  If it works for you great.  If you haven’t tried it before, I’d bring muskol or cutters or whatever your favorite brand containing 95-100% deet. I go to the army surplus store and buy a little plastic squeeze bottle of army issue incent repellant.  I believe it’s 90% deet. I’ve been using the same bottle for three seasons.  It cost me about $2.  It works. —

I used that stuff when I was in the USAF…dissolved the vinyl steering wheel in my jeep too.  Left neato fingerprints on anything plastic. Anyway, it did work.  I also read an article once that said the most affective concentration of DEET was about 30%.  This was an Army study, so maybe the latest Army-issue stuff only has about 30% DEET in it.  I buy any brand with about that much in it and they seem to work fine.  I like the stinky ones…reminds me of when I was a kid and going camping, kinda like when you smell sun tan lotion and you remember when you were a kid going to the beach.. Brian — Brian Dixon, Machine Vision Engineer, Hewlett Packard (Corvallis, Oregon)

Response:

After 14 mosquito-free years in Southern California, I get to move to Massachusetts for grad school…  Any mosquitoes there?

Well, I don’t believe the mosquitos are that bad, but up north you have an evil creature called the black fly.  Never encountered one, but from what I hear they’re worse than any mosquito bite. Mosquitos are bad, but I’ll walk into a cloud of mosquitos any day over a cloud of no-see-ums!         Mark — <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mark Crafts                                                   Melbourne FL

Response:

After 14 mosquito-free years in Southern California, I get to move to Massachusetts for grad school…  Any mosquitoes there? Well, I don’t believe the mosquitos are that bad, but up north you have an evil creature called the black fly.  Never encountered one, but from what I hear they’re worse than any mosquito bite. Mosquitos are bad, but I’ll walk into a cloud of mosquitos any day over a cloud of no-see-ums!

A few years back, I went Pike fishing in the Adirondacks.  When I went back to the house, there were about 20 one inch trails of dry blood on my face. I was told that "black flies" were the culprits.  Are these the same critters that we’re talking about here?        Mark — <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mark Crafts                                                   Melbourne FL

Response:

Saw something sometime recently (how’s that for a solid start?) that SSS isn’t really a repellent at all.  It’s oily, so it coats the skin and the mosquitoes can’t get to the skin … or because of it’s scent, the mosquitoes can’t smell the blood. Just so you win future trivial pursuit games, I think the current consensus is that mosquitos home in on the CO .                                             2

I think they follow CO2 trails, but home in on heat for the kill. How else can you explain the mosquito bite on my ankle? After 14 mosquito-free years in Southern California, I get to move to Massachusetts for grad school…  Any mosquitoes there?

Response:

I have had no luck with SSS as an insect repellant.  If it works for you great.  If you haven’t tried it before, I’d bring muskol or cutters or whatever your favorite brand containing 95-100% deet.

I go to the army surplus store and buy a little plastic squeeze bottle of army issue incent repellant.  I believe it’s 90% deet. I’ve been using the same bottle for three seasons.  It cost me about $2.  It works. — John Fereira Viacom Cable Pleasanton, CA

Response:

Saw something sometime recently (how’s that for a solid start?) that SSS isn’t really a repellent at all.  It’s oily, so it coats the skin and the mosquitoes can’t get to the skin … or because of it’s scent, the mosquitoes can’t smell the blood.

Just so you win future trivial pursuit games, I think the current consensus is that mosquitos home in on the CO .                                              2         Mark — <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mark Crafts                                                   Melbourne FL

Response:

| Saw something sometime recently (how’s that for a solid start?) that SSS | isn’t really a repellent at all.  It’s oily, so it coats the skin and the | mosquitoes can’t get to the skin … or because of it’s scent, the mosquitoes | can’t smell the blood. | | It might work at first, but once perspiration dilutes it and/or washes it away, | you would be without protection. | Actually, I put very little on so that is absorbs into the skin and your skin isn’t oily at all.  I thought I heard that it had citronella  (the stuff they make bug candles with) in it but I’m not sure.

Response:

I have had no luck with SSS as an insect repellant.  If it works for you great.  If you haven’t tried it before, I’d bring muskol or cutters or whatever your favorite brand containing 95-100% deet.   Steve —  Scientific Computing Division            /* /  _][     National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO     ____

Response:

I have had no luck with SSS as an insect repellant.  If it works for you great.  If you haven't tried it before, I'd bring muskol or cutters or whatever your favorite brand containing 95-100% deet.

Yes, my ex-neighbor the entomologist (bug-man) said that SSS does nothing for mosquitos.  DEET is the way to go.  He did say that it works for very small biting insects like black flies because it drowns them.  Steve -- Scientific Computing Division            /* /  _][     National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO     ____

Noel Montgomery

Response:

| | I have had no luck with SSS as an insect repellant.  If | it works for you great.  If you haven’t tried it before, | I’d bring muskol or cutters or whatever your favorite | brand containing 95-100% deet. | | I was curious to see how SSS and Muskol compared because I would rather use a non-deet repellant.  So during one trip I did in the middle of Algonquin Park (it was very hot and there were tons of nice, big mosquitoes) I did a test.  I put SSS on the bare skin of one arm and Muskol on the other. They worked equally well for about a half an hour and then the SSS lost its effectiveness.  The Muskol lasted for hours.  I usually bring both and use the Muskol  on my clothes and hat .  The SSS is too labour intensive having to put it on too often to be effective when the bugs are really bad. – Lori (ps sorry to whoever(I think it was Steve Hammond) I accidently e-mailed this   post to … Hit the wrong button!)

Response: