Question:

        more better:  absolut and tonic, no lime, at twilight.         wayno         sulphur creek

OK  Wayne, what’s this more better coming from you? Unless you’ve had a few. Try this; SOBE Lizard Fuel with that Absolute, but then again this could be a Lady’s drink.;-) Missed the hatch. Doug Knight Snake River

Response:

Drys at twilight. Doug Knight Snake River

        more better:  absolut and tonic, no lime, at twilight.         wayno         sulphur creek – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

[snippped] Last fall fishing on the Trinity required about  90% of the day roll casting a weighted fly with a sink tip. Weighted fly?!? Hey Doug: did George read that over your shoulder? Is he still alive?

Nope! I’m free, white and single aand I can speak for myself. George doesn’t know all my tricks. I keep my indicators out of sight when he’s around. George alive? The heat has worked him hard today. He wasn’t in the shop past noon. When the weather cools off he’ll  be in better spirits. Drys at twilight. Doug Knight Snake River

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[snippped] Last fall fishing on the Trinity required about  90% of the day roll casting a weighted fly with a sink tip.

Weighted fly?!? Hey Doug: did George read that over your shoulder? Is he still alive? /daytripper

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0] : I’m getting tired of pulling my flies out of the brush.. and never : getting enough distance on my cast (in spite of countless but : fruitless false casts) to get my fly where I want it to be. : Does anyone know of a local instructor they would recommend?  Yea, I : do know of some local shops to ask around at, but I’d rather have a : first hand recommendation if you’ve got one. : -Mark You might want to check out the Peninsula Fly Fishers Club. We do a casting clinic once a month. The next one will be on Aug 21 at Erckenbrack Park in Foster City. See our web site http://www.geocities.com/~mpff .  Another possibility is the San Jose Fly Fishers who have clinics on some Thursday evenings down at the casting ponds in Campbell, but I am not sure of the details. Mike — Michael McGuire                     Hewlett Packard Laboratories  (remove x’s from email if not      Palo Alto, CA 94303-0971   a spammer) Phone: (650)-857-5491              

Response:

I’m getting tired of pulling my flies out of the brush.. and never getting enough distance on my cast (in spite of countless but fruitless false casts) to get my fly where I want it to be. Does anyone know of a local instructor they would recommend?  Yea, I do know of some local shops to ask around at, but I’d rather have a first hand recommendation if you’ve got one. -Mark — Particle Salad/ Noom Room Studio http://home.earthlink.net/~psalad

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I’m getting tired of pulling my flies out of the brush.. and never getting enough distance on my cast (in spite of countless but fruitless false casts) to get my fly where I want it to be. Does anyone know of a local instructor they would recommend?  Yea, I do know of some local shops to ask around at, but I’d rather have a first hand recommendation if you’ve got one.

Mark, It’s goes back to this presentation thing. Back cast in the trees? It sounds like you need to master one valuable casting ability, the roll cast. Once you learn it, you won’t need the trees anymore. You’ll spend more time fishing instead of digging and tearing at the flora. You’ll need to be on the water or a casting pond to really learn this. Golden Gate Park or Maceran(sp) Park in the east bay are good locations with casting ponds. Last fall fishing on the Trinity required about  90% of the day roll casting a weighted fly with a sink tip. The only flies that I lost on that trip were on the bottom where I needed to be. Roll away. The roll cast is only the front end of the cast. Doug Knight Snake River

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Question:

Matt, This isn’t a "trip report" – this is a "day in the life report" and I hate you for it! Stop posting cruel things like this. -Greg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  I moved into a new house last month that has a trout stream running thruogh the backyard. Seeing as how work is slow (like I just said there’s a trout stream in the backyard) and my truck’s broken down (really too bad), I’ve had lots of time to get familiar with my new home waters. Today proved to be one of the finest days yet. I’ve been working on fishing the entire thing and today I managed to fish one of the branches all the way to its source. The crest of the blue ridge mtns. (that’s the only clue you’ll get).Today, I found brookie heaven. The weather was perfect, the water is finally back to normal and the fish wouldn’t leave my fly alone. I watched more than one fish strike at the fly three times before gitting a hold on it. One after another we hauled em. I was using a big fly (sz. 12 wooly bugger) so the little guys were having a hard time getting a grip on it. This was fine though, the fun is in the strike. I managed to land about 5 or 6 before pangs of hunger drove me home. I’ve gotta start remembering to bring along a snack.Tomorrow I’m fishing a different branch too see if it might be a "second heaven". I’ll keep you posted…P.S. Sorry to hear you didn’t catch any fish walt. Better luck next time

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believer in stocked trout breakfasts with eggs over easy, sourdough toast, French Market Coffee, and buttermilk pancakes, WITH maple syrup.

Yikes! I guess that explains your "Frequent Cardiac Surgery Card", George! ;^) /daytripper

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believer in stocked trout breakfasts with eggs over easy, sourdough toast, French Market Coffee, and buttermilk pancakes, WITH maple syrup.

George, I thought you told me you were diebetic.  (?) All those carbs AND sugar! Dave

Response:

I moved into a new house last month that has a trout stream running thruogh the backyard. Seeing as how work is slow (like I just said there’s a trout stream in the backyard) and my truck’s broken down (really too bad), I’ve had lots of time to get familiar with my new home waters. Today proved to be one of the finest days yet. I’ve been working on fishing the entire thing and today I managed to fish one of the branches all the way to its source. The crest of the blue ridge mtns. (that’s the only clue you’ll get). Today, I found brookie heaven. The weather was perfect, the water is finally back to normal and the fish wouldn’t leave my fly alone. I watched more than one fish strike at the fly three times before gitting a hold on it. One after another we hauled em. I was using a big fly (sz. 12 wooly bugger) so the little guys were having a hard time getting a grip on it. This was fine though, the fun is in the strike. I managed to land about 5 or 6 before pangs of hunger drove me home. I’ve gotta start remembering to bring along a snack. Tomorrow I’m fishing a different branch too see if it might be a "second heaven". I’ll keep you posted… P.S. Sorry to hear you didn’t catch any fish walt. Better luck next time

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Wonderful little stream near Boone.  Fish it often and enjoy the Brookies as well as some of the local company.  Glad you like it too.  See you there! Wayne To fish is human…to release divine.     I moved into a new house last month that has a trout stream running thruogh the backyard. Seeing as how work is slow (like I just said there’s a trout stream in the backyard) and my truck’s broken down (really too bad), I’ve had lots of time to get familiar with my new home waters. Today proved to be one of the finest days yet. I’ve been working on fishing the entire thing and today I managed to fish one of the branches all the way to its source. The crest of the blue ridge mtns. (that’s the only clue you’ll get).     Today, I found brookie heaven. The weather was perfect, the water is finally back to normal and the fish wouldn’t leave my fly alone. I watched more than one fish strike at the fly three times before gitting a hold on it. One after another we hauled em. I was using a big fly (sz. 12 wooly bugger) so the little guys were having a hard time getting a grip on it. This was fine though, the fun is in the strike. I managed to land about 5 or 6 before pangs of hunger drove me home. I’ve gotta start remembering to bring along a snack.     Tomorrow I’m fishing a different branch too see if it might be a "second heaven". I’ll keep you posted…     P.S. Sorry to hear you didn’t catch any fish walt. Better luck next time

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P.S. Sorry to hear you didn’t catch any fish walt. Better luck next time

your condolences are most welcome, guess they couldn’t see my size 20 dry in all that big moving water. that’s ok….. i probably should have tied on an "ollie" like you did. for gods sake, it’s january, too early for dries. waldo

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Walt, you might want to go smaller next time. The sulphurs won’t be hatching for months;) Try a 28 midge, they were nailing them last week. You were fishing the stocked section, right? <grin I heard those fish were easy to    -**** Posted from remarQ, Discussions Start Here(tm) ****- http://www.remarq.com/ – Host to the the World’s Discussions & Usenet

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Walt, you might want to go smaller next time. The sulphurs won’t be hatching for months;) Try a 28 midge, they were nailing them last week. You were fishing the stocked section, right? <grin I heard those fish were easy to    -**** Posted from remarQ, Discussions Start Here(tm) ****- http://www.remarq.com/ – Host to the the World’s Discussions & Usenet

believer in stocked trout breakfasts with eggs over easy, sourdough toast, French Market Coffee, and buttermilk pancakes, WITH maple syrup.

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Matt, That post just shows what a low down bum you really are!  Here’s the rest of the world, slaving away at the daily grind and YOU are fishing – in the backyard no less!!! Have you NO shame?! Tom — Tom Brown The Signal Group Wake Forest, NC "If you’re not the lead dog, the view never changes."

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Question:

The main thing is, beef up your terminal gear. 0X fluorocarbon is a greatchoice. Nine foot is a goo length, tapered. Intermediate shooting head seems to be better than a floater – cuts wind and waves better. Charlies and gotchas are usually good, but when in doubt and in the usual 3-4 ft of water, I tie on a lightly weighted size 2 ultrashrimp. Nice chunk of meat substitute for big bones. Probably too big if the water is shallow. The Battenkill is a tough call. I caught bones on a Battenkill 8/9, but took care to clean out the salt afterward. If you hook a 9-10 lb bone, you might get spooled. I caught a 29 inch bone in Aruba (9.5lbs?) that almost spooled me with an Abel 3 reel (8wt head, 100 ft running line, 200 yds 30lb dacron backing). Think about it. One other thing: Before you make cast number one, just stand still and watch the ebb and flow of the water around you for 10 – 15 minutes (if you can stand it). Bones are like trout – find their feeding lanes and cruising lanes, and cast where they live. Be prepared for the time of your life. Salt water can ALMOST spoil you for anything else. FlyFisherRay

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I have never been bonefishing before and I’m wondering if any of you have any advice for me. I have an 8wt Sage and regular floating line on a Orvis Battenkill reel. I don’t own any bonefish flies. I am wondering what I will need to make my trip this C-mas to the Bay islands of Honduras a successfull one. Will a regular floating line work? What type of leader size and length is typical? Can I wade in TEVAs or tennis shoes? Should I bring a 6wt rod as well? Has anyone been to or heard anything about the Bay islands? We will be at the largest one called Roatan or something like that. Any advice I could get that would help me get my first Bone would be appreciated. What about barracuda? I know some of you out there have experience in the salt, won’t you help a poor landlocked chump out? Brady

Hi Brady, Your outfit will be fine. I would get the stiffest 9′ 0x knot less tapered leaders with matching 0x tippet material. Use a bead eyed Charlie type bonefish fly for sand bottoms and a snapping shrimp type pattern for turtle grass flats. good colors are brown, tan, olive and pink. Take some small crab imitations in tan or olive for permit. Get a long needle fish imitation with a wire leader for cudas. I always take some light colored small/medium salt water poppers and some small/medium salt water streamers. A hat, Polarized glasses and sun screen are important.  Casting skill is very important in salt water fly fishing, so be sure to work on that a bit. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

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I’ve been to Belize a few times but not Honduras. The 8wt should be fine but the Battenkill reel probably won’t hold up. Get a disk drag saltwater reel (SA System 2 or equivalent at least). The line should be OK too but there are some special lines made for salt water that you should look at. They tend to be more of a shooting taper and a little stiffer so they don’t sag as much in hot weather. I have had the best luck with Crazy Charlies and Permit Puffs as flies. For barracuda try a needlefish imitation and strip _real_ fast with both hands. As far as wading, it depends on the bottom. Some flats are very soft and can’t be waded very well. I fished primarily from a boat in Belize. Have a great time and try to see some ruins as well. I have never been bonefishing before and I’m wondering if any of you have any advice for me. I have an 8wt Sage and regular floating line on a Orvis Battenkill reel. I don’t own any bonefish flies. I am wondering what I will need to make my trip this C-mas to the Bay islands of Honduras a successfull one. Will a regular floating line work? What type of leader size and length is typical? Can I wade in TEVAs or tennis shoes? Should I bring a 6wt rod as well? Has anyone been to or heard anything about the Bay islands? We will be at the largest one called Roatan or something like that. Any advice I could get that would help me get my first Bone would be appreciated. What about barracuda? I know some of you out there have experience in the salt, won’t you help a poor landlocked chump out? Brady

– Charlie…

Response:

I have never been bonefishing before and I’m wondering if any of you have any advice for me. I have an 8wt Sage and regular floating line on a Orvis Battenkill reel. I don’t own any bonefish flies. I am wondering what I will need to make my trip this C-mas to the Bay islands of Honduras a successfull one. Will a regular floating line work? What type of leader size and length is typical? Can I wade in TEVAs or tennis shoes? Should I bring a 6wt rod as well? Has anyone been to or heard anything about the Bay islands? We will be at the largest one called Roatan or something like that. Any advice I could get that would help me get my first Bone would be appreciated. What about barracuda? I know some of you out there have experience in the salt, won’t you help a poor landlocked chump out?  Brady

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Question:

Anyone from New Brunswick that could tell me where on the Miramachi is a good place for fly fishing?   Have wheels, will travel, FAR  :-) — TRAIL BLAZER Webpage – http://www.trailblazerproducts.com

Response:

Anyone from New Brunswick that could tell me where on the Miramachi is a good place for fly fishing?  

The Miramichi system comprises more than 1,000 miles of salmon water therefore under special controls.  So FF is good almost anywhere but access is the main problem for visitors.  In NB you must also employ a licensed guide on salmon rivers. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Question:

Big river, or small creek, with just enough fish to be challenging and *no* other people around is quality.  The rest is fluff.

Interesting concept.  I would partially agree with you in that the number of fish doesnt’ control the quality of the experience.  Where I would disagree with you is when you use a small number of fish present as a positive measure of quality.  You want to be challenged, avoid the easy pocket water where you know you can pick up twenty a day.  Control your behavior (no not you personaly, you as in all of us), protect the environment (insert your definition here), and the rest will take care of itself. phil

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snip

 If we hook and play a number that causes the memory to blur, the appreciation to faden then WE HAVE EXCEEDED THE ETHICAL LIMIT. My opinion" snip

I agree with the premiss that the excitement of fishing is the reuslt of not knowing whether you will catch fish on a given stretch of river on a given day.  It is those days when I struggle to catch fish that make my succesful days exciting and rewarding.  Those struggling days provide a definition of successful ones.  A good example of this was last spring when I was still working very hard to catch any fish on a dry fly.  I would fish all day and catch one or two small trout.  One day I hit a Hendrickson hatch that was unbelievable.  I stood in the rain on six foot wide stream throwing without a fisherman in sight and caught more 13-15" trout (that is a nice fish here in Minnesota) than I could count.  I know because at first I was counting.  I rememeber getting to 25.  At some point after twenty five I just stopped fishing.  It wasn’t dark yet and the fish were still biting but I stopped.  I was bored.  It was too easy. I fished that stream around 50 times last year.  I never had another day like that.  Still, the memory of that day and a possible repeat is what got me out of bed at 3:00am to drive 80 miles to that same stream.  I don’t think I would fish that stream if I caught fish like that every time.  I also don’t think I would fish that stream if it were packed with fishermen (I saw a total of two fishermen all year).  I think I would go somewhere more challenging and rationalize it by saying it had bigger fish or more exciting fish to fight or less people. Mike H

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How much is enough? What is reasonable gratification? I feel strongly that each of these splendid wild creatures deserves to be individually remembered and appreciated. If we hook and play a number that causes the memory to blur, the                                                     ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ appreciation to fade then WE HAVE EXCEEDED THE ETHICAL LIMIT. My opinion" I concur in this!  As I have said before, this is how I make my decision to stop fishing. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley 2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, ORSorry boys, BUT I WANT TO CATCH SO MANY FISH THAT I CAN’T REMEMBER ANY

OF THE "NORMAL" FISH, JUST ALL OF THE GIANTS. (I release most anyway!)

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I believe there is one thing Tim and Myself may be able to agree on and I hope so can most other readers of this group. Quality; angling should be about quality. I came across this in "Wild Steelhead and Salmon" V3 No 2 Winter 1997 from Bob linsenman’s 10 ways to Seduce Michigan Steelhead "Under the right conditions it is more than possible , it is probable, that a reasonably skilled fly angler will hook up in excess of 10 times over the course of a day. And that same skilled angler will bring to hand a high percentage of hooked fish. How much is enough? What is reasonable gratification? I feel strongly that each of these splendid wild creatures deserve s to be individually remembered and appreciated. If we hook and play a number that causes the memory to blur, the appreciation to faden then WE HAVE EXCEEDED THE ETHICAL LIMIT. My opinion" All emphasis is mine

You’re going to get mad at me…in advance 8^)… My serious contention with C&R is just that.  It reduces the quality of the experience 10 fold.  What happiness is there in catching a fish in an area with a fish behind every stick ? or an angler around every bend ?   Big river, or small creek, with just enough fish to be challenging and *no* other people around is quality.  The rest is fluff. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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How much is enough? What is reasonable gratification? I feel strongly that each of these splendid wild creatures deserve s to be individually remembered and appreciated. If we hook and play a number that causes the memory to blur, the appreciation to faden then WE HAVE EXCEEDED THE ETHICAL LIMIT. My opinion" All emphasis is mine Ralph H

I agree. One steelhead is a great day.  Ten or twenty days of fishing between hookups makes that one fish even more rewarding. Even trout get boring if you don’t have the occasional day where nothing works, to help bring some mystery and questioning back to it. Mark Vinsel — http://www.lanminds.com/local/vinnie/gallery.html

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How much is enough? What is reasonable gratification? I feel strongly that each of these splendid wild creatures deserves to be individually remembered and appreciated. If we hook and play a number that causes the memory to blur, the                                                          ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ appreciation to fade then WE HAVE EXCEEDED THE ETHICAL LIMIT. My opinion"

I concur in this!  As I have said before, this is how I make my decision to stop fishing. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley       2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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   Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly    Organization: Internet Direct SNIP    I came across this in "Wild Steelhead and Salmon" V3 No 2 Winter 1997    from Bob linsenman’s 10 ways to Seduce Michigan Steelhead    "Under the right conditions it is more than possible , it is     probable, that a d reasonably skilled fly angler will hook up in     excess of 10 times over the course of a day. And that same skilled     angler will bring to hand a high percentage of hooked fish.    How much is enough? What is reasonable gratification? I feel    strongly that each of these splendid wild creatures deserve s to be    individually remembered and appreciated. SNIP    Ralph H Not to disagree with you in any way (I too worship steelhead), but it struck me as odd to see an article about Michigan Steelhead in a magazine called "Wild Steelhead and Atlantic Salmon".  They should start a magazine called "Introduced and Hatchery Steelhead and Atlantic Salmon" for this topic.  Though, I should say that I’ve never really understood the scope of this magazine anyway. cheers,         -tgades

Response:

I believe there is one thing Tim and Myself may be able to agree on and I hope so can most other readers of this group. Quality; angling should be about quality. I came across this in "Wild Steelhead and Salmon" V3 No 2 Winter 1997 from Bob linsenman’s 10 ways to Seduce Michigan Steelhead "Under the right conditions it is more than possible , it is probable, that a reasonably skilled fly angler will hook up in excess of 10 times over the course of a day. And that same skilled angler will bring to hand a high percentage of hooked fish. How much is enough? What is reasonable gratification? I feel strongly that each of these splendid wild creatures deserve s to be individually remembered and appreciated. If we hook and play a number that causes the memory to blur, the appreciation to faden then WE HAVE EXCEEDED THE ETHICAL LIMIT. My opinion" All emphasis is mine Ralph H

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Question:

I believe the Vermont season opens in April

Response:

I am planning a family trip to Killington Vermont the 24th of January for a skiing vacation. Unfortunately I am pre- paid and am experiencing back problems so I am uncertain as to how uncomfortable skiing will be. If it is too painful I may hang up the skis for the flyrod. Anyone have any suggestions for some unfrozen and productive streams in the Killington vicinity that would be worth checking out? Fly patterns and other pertinent information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Response:

The Massachusetts season is open all year.  You should be able to get to the Deerfield river or the Swift river within about an hour to an hour and a half from Killington.  Both are tailwater rivers with catch-and- release areas.  Fish small, slow and deep.   Tight Lines, Gerry Crow

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Question:

I know an awesome salt water fly guide who fishes Long Island sound. He is reasonable and thinks like a fish. He is a good freind, but an even better guide. Let me know if you are interested.

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I WILL BE IN THE LONG ISLAND AREA IN THE EARLY SUMMER.  ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR SALT WATER FLY OPPORTUNITIES?

Sorry – I should have said try    rec.outdoors.fishing.saltwater

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If you’re gonna be on the east End of Long Island, there are three shops in east hampton. Paul Dixon, who used to manage Orvis in NYC, has a shop in EH called Dixon’s sporting life and he runs flats boats on Gardiners Bay for Strippers and blues. There’s another fellow between EH and Amagagansett who has a french name which I do not recall right now. His shop is Lure and Feather and its worth checking out. Finally, there’s Harvey Bennett and the Amagansett tackle shop where Fly fishing is not the only show, but he’s worth checking out. For flats fishing check out gardiners bay. On a map this is the area north of the south Fork where it gets wide just east of EH. There are some beaches that provide access to the water, but you may have to talk to the town offices to find out where you could park without a required permit. It is NY afterall. Gerard Drive, which seperates Gardiners bay from Accabonac Harbort is Beautiful. Have a good time.

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I WILL BE IN THE LONG ISLAND AREA IN THE EARLY SUMMER.  ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR SALT WATER FLY OPPORTUNITIES?

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I’d like to doing some salt action in the chessequake state park area this spring from the beach area, any suggestions as to time(apr,may, june?), and specific locations?

Response:

GBloom, Bay Head Outfitters, in Bay Head N.J. should be able to answer all you questions. Regards, Ed

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I WILL BE IN THE LONG ISLAND AREA IN THE EARLY SUMMER.  ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR SALT WATER FLY OPPORTUNITIES?

Try   rec.outdoors.fishing.fly   You have e better chance for good info there.

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Question:

I am interested in learning more about flyfishing for stripers in fresh water.  I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like any information that pertains to fishing the SF bay delta area as well.   I would like to know of good books to read and local quides to contact Thanks Stu Booth

Response:

Good places for stripers in the SF area are Franks Tract in the Delta; you will need a boat, and the O’Neill Forebay of San Luis Reservoir which is accessible by canoe, float tube or boat.  The O’Neill is right at the intersection of Rte. 152 and I-5 near Los Banos jsut as you come down out of the Pacheco Pass into the Central Valley.  Although I haven’t caught one yet, there are reported to be a nice population of big stripers in this small lake. There are also stripers to be found in the main reservoir too, but it is a much more formidable piece of water. Pick up a copy of California Fly Fisher.  There are always ads for guides for striper fishing the bay and Franks tract in the back. Good luck–Crashjibe

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Question:

Greenstone lake, the first that you get to, seems to have a small brook trout population but there are so many others that it’s hardly worth fishing.

One of the funnier things I’ve seen while fishing happened here.  A couple of spin fisherman were fishing Greenstone and one hooked about a 6" brookie.  His buddy got the net, which had a handle about three feet long and a rim about 2 feet in diameter.  It was big enough to net salmon for god’s sake. Well, as he went to lift the trout out of the water, it fell through the webbing on the net.  I got a good chuckle to say the least.

Response:

A friend was in at Saddlebag two weeks ago and said the ground was still fairly soggy…..alot of the High Country won’t be opened up this year at all, as fall/winter is beginning to happen already (last week it got down to 35 deg 3 nights straight at 6870 ft. elevation. As far as fishing, it’s been suprising how few trout are actually surface feeding this year in the Sierra (Ralph Cutter- can you shed some light on this and/or confirm/deny ??).   All I’m able to attribute it to is the lower than customary temperature of the water. There *are* hatches, although they are much later than usual, but the fish seeem to be ignoring them. The few that I’ve kept have been **PACKED** with nymphs, hoppers, ants and beetles, but not alot of "surface bugs". I indicator nymphed and worked a pair of ants (one flying, one hardshell) and picked up a few fish….but certainly nothing to boast about. Tried soft-hackele wets for hours with no takers..upstream, down and across and downstream…..started to curse Dave Huges and Sylvester Nemes below my breath, but decided that I’d save that for my third and likely final attempt at this "old New Style" of flyfishing. Don’t know if it would be worth the effort of canoeing and then trekking farther; I’ve heard Mammoth has been pretty good this year, you may want to give it a go instead!!

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At the end of September I’m thinking of heading up to Saddlebage Lake, canoeing accross and hiking around the Conness Lakes/Glacier are to fish for Goldens.  Has anyone been up there lately or at this time of year.  I know it’ll probabaly be a bit cold since its above 10,000 feet. What flies should I bring?  Nymphs, Caddis, Terresterals?  Any advice would be appreciated.  

I haven’t been up there in a few years but this is one of my favorite areas.  I also used a canoe to get across the lake and  then carried it up on the shore a bit and stashed my oars up by a tree a bit up the trail. Greenstone lake, the first that you get to, seems to have a small brook trout population but there are so many others that it’s hardly worth fishing.  The next lake (Wasco) is a little better and I’ve caught fish of a decent size.  Steelhead lake (the biggest in the basin) has been hit and miss for me.  Cascade lake, and the small lake in between it and Steelhead are both real good.  The shallows at the south end of the lake are teeming with brookies in the evening.  There is another small lake (Towser) that is supposed to be a Golden trout only lake and I’ve caught a couple real small ones in it.  Shamrock lake has been one of the best producers for brookies for me and it’s probably the prettiest in the basin.  To the South of Shamrock as you head up the hill there are a couple of other small lakes that are supposed to be Golden trout lakes but I’ve never found them.  At the top of the hill in the center of the basin is Z-lake.  I have caught more brookies in that lake then any of the other lakes.  Helen Lake and Odell have produced much for me and I believe that Odell is supposed to be a golden trout only lake as well. I haven’t fished Hummingbird but I hear it has a large brookie population, so much so that the fish are stunted. There are three lakes up above the waterfall below the glacier that are worth the hike only because they are so pretty.  The first one is almost a tourquiose color.  Unfortunately I was told that these lakes froze solid a few years ago and have not been restocked.  That was about five years ago so it may have changed. If the fish are hitting the surface I have had the best luck with grey hackle peacocks, grey hackle yellows, Sierra brite dots, and coachmens. If they are not,  various nymphs like GR hares ears, prince nymphs, Birds nests, pheasant tails, and a few emerger patterns all seem to work.   I fished all of these patterns with an ultralight spinning rod and a casting bubble.  For the grey hackles, etc, I filled the bubble half full of water and fished them wet just below the surface with a *very* slow retrieve.   For the nymphs I fill the bubble up all the way and then cast and count down several seconds before begining the retrieve. As is the case with any of the areas in the Sierra you should be prepared for any kind of weather.  I’ve been there twice in September when it has snowed.  One time a friend of mine and I drove up and camped at Tioga lake campground because we arrived too late in the day.  He got up the next morning and went out in my canoe on Tioga lake.  He paddled out about 100′ and decided it was too cold.  He knocked on my camper shell window and said that he had to come in and warm up.  We ended up driving around a bit because the heater wasn’t warming fast enough.  It was probably a good three hours before he felt normal again.  Hypothermia is a very real possibility this time of year and it’s nothing to fool around with.  If we had camped out the night before in the basin like we had planned it could have been *real* serious. — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems – Ithaca, NY

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At the end of September I’m thinking of heading up to Saddlebage Lake, canoeing accross and hiking around the Conness Lakes/Glacier are to fish for Goldens.  Has anyone been up there lately or at this time of year.  I know it’ll probabaly be a bit cold since its above 10,000 feet. What flies should I bring?  Nymphs, Caddis, Terresterals?  Any advice would be appreciated.   "Never get suckered into defending the cost of your fishing habit on a cost per pound basis.  It’ll only embarrass or depress you.  The only measurement that makes sense at all is the cost per cast…So, if you are long on effort and short on results, remember that the more you cast, the cheaper it gets."                                             -Tully Stroud Chris Anderson San Fransicko

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Flamebait Alert! I guess I will have to confess.  I sound like that yuppie.  I have been lurking on this group for about a month, listening to opinions about this and that and soaking up alot of info.  I have read a couple of books and took a flyfishing course that was offered at the local university. I haven’t bought a rod yet.  I think that it will be a St. Crois or a Sage.  I am leaning for the Sage.  As a Yuppie it might be status, or it might be that it seems to be a better rod and I liked the feel.  Oh, by the way the people who taught the fly fishing course brought TU info with them.  I sent in my dues.  I will try not to try your patience on the water. GRF

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OK OK OK I will admit it I like using nice equipment, having fitted waders, sized wading boots, and my Kangol hat as much as I like putting on a crisp white shirt and tie.  I enjoy the better things of fly fishing but….. even if I were wearing a Tux in the stream I would not hesitate to dive in after a well tied adams.  A lot of this has to do with having respect for the trout and the stream.  They put on their best for me so I put on my best for them.  Sure I could tie trash bags around my legs,  haul in a case of beer and catch fish with a cane pole but then it wouldn’t be the same for me.  And if I only fished for food I would use chum and a cast net.  If a guy wants to spend a grand on a fly rod I say let him do it.  The important thing is to not look down on those who cannot afford such equipment, to show respect for the other guy in the stream, and to understand that to a trout there is little difference between Simms waders and Hefty bags.   Thank you. Tom

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Flamebait Alert! I guess I will have to confess.  I sound like that yuppie.  I have been lurking on this group for about a month, listening to opinions about this and that and soaking up alot of info.  I have read a couple of books and took a flyfishing course that was offered at the local university. I haven’t bought a rod yet.  I think that it will be a St. Crois or a Sage.  I am leaning for the Sage.  As a Yuppie it might be status, or it might be that it seems to be a better rod and I liked the feel.  Oh, by the way the people who taught the fly fishing course brought TU info with them.  I sent in my dues.  I will try not to try your patience on the water. GRF

By all means, try their patience – it’s how you learn. And if someone tells you that they didn’t need to try other people’s patience while they were learning, ask them to introduce you to their father, God. — There is no such thing as a dumb question, but there IS such a thing as a dumb answer – I’ve given some.

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