Question:

Hey Folks, Does anyone have any advice on where to go in Southern Wisconsin for a short flyfishing trip. Don’t know much about the area and I’m traeling from Western Indiana. Thanks in advance. Elliott

Response:

"ilmbaba" wrote… Hey Folks, Does anyone have any advice on where to go in Southern Wisconsin for a short flyfishing trip. Don’t know much about the area and I’m traeling from Western Indiana. Thanks in advance. Elliott

What is your definition of Souther Wisconsin? What is your definition of a short flyfishing trip? Are you fishing for trout or other species? From Madison west to the Mississippi. From 30 miles south of Madison to over 100 miles north of Madison are 100 trout streams or more. Contact the Wisc. DNR. Contact the Madison Chapter of TU.   Get on the web and do a search.   You’ll find something I’m sure. Good luck. Joel Axelrad **DFD**

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "ilmbaba" wrote… Hey Folks, Does anyone have any advice on where to go in Southern Wisconsin for a short flyfishing trip. Don’t know much about the area and I’m traeling from Western Indiana. Thanks in advance. Elliott What is your definition of Souther Wisconsin? What is your definition of a short flyfishing trip? Are you fishing for trout or other species? From Madison west to the Mississippi. From 30 miles south of Madison to over 100 miles north of Madison are 100 trout streams or more. Contact the Wisc. DNR. Contact the Madison Chapter of TU.   Get on the web and do a search.   You’ll find something I’m sure. Good luck.

Or you could just contact Wolfgang since he thinks telling everybody about the streams he fishes is okay.  He doesn’t mind the impact and enjoys the company. Perhaps he can even recommend some good books or magazines too. — Warren change addy to yahoo for email Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt3/HFclave.html

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "ilmbaba" wrote… Hey Folks, Does anyone have any advice on where to go in Southern Wisconsin for a short flyfishing trip. Don’t know much about the area and I’m traeling from Western Indiana. Thanks in advance. Elliott What is your definition of Souther Wisconsin? What is your definition of a short flyfishing trip? Are you fishing for trout or other species? From Madison west to the Mississippi. From 30 miles south of Madison to over 100 miles north of Madison are 100 trout streams or more. Contact the Wisc. DNR. Contact the Madison Chapter of TU. Get on the web and do a search. You’ll find something I’m sure. Good luck. Joel Axelrad **DFD**

Sorry for being so vague. Southern Wisconsin would be from a little above Madison or so. I am aiming for trout (or getting laughed at by same said trout). Short would be two to 2 1/2 days including travel. I have done alot of research and there are, as you said, alot of streams. I guess what I’m looking for is info from folks that have fished some of them and if anyone has an idea of which ones to try first or avoid.

Response:

Question:

Darn it!!! Try this:

Nice TR snipped. Proof that persistence pays in fishing AND formatting Steve

Response:

I hope the formatting comes through correctly TR:  Putah Creek – above Winters, CA Just thought I should get a

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –         if* we’re* goin up the headwaters of wilson, *we* had better bring a couple native bearers and  a wagon.         it was all i could do to make the hike out from upper wilson when i was 35 and racin dirt bikes.  now that i’m 56 and a bad drunk, the brookies can relax.         wayno Wayne, how do you get a wagon into the headwaters of the Wilson?  Every trail I have ever used for the mainstem and tribs was a best suited for Sherpas, mountain goats and/or llamas to pack in the equipment — and still no easy task. Last time I fished the upper Wilson headwaters (late 1997) I started off near Edgemont Road/FR 192 and went down…the first time I have done that…and probaby the last — after a day of hard fishing I barely had enough energy left to climb back out.  Most of the time I go on down to Brown Mtn Beach and come up through the gorge to Edgemont/Mortimer and then take my pick of Lost Cove, Harpers/North Harpers, Rockhouse, or the main Wilson…at least it is fish upstream while I am fresh and then walk downhill/downstream back at the end of the day.

Wayno & Michael, I’m good for any stretch you guys feel like. Upper, middle, or lower stretches suit me just fine. I do agree with you Wayne…upper-upper is tough and challenging not to mention just plain dangerous in felt shoes. I did it from edgemont up to 221 about a month ago…talk about mountain climbing. It was a rewarding trip….brookies ;^) Just give me a call/e-mail if you guys want to get together and fish sometime… preferably during/after leaf season…. –Walt

Response:

I        come on, now, walter; surely you are numbered among the wealthy in watauga county!  hell, man, i have it on reliable information that you flush your own kaka!

Just recently so Wayne…. Back in December when the floods came through I managed to snag a renegade sparklin’ white 2.5 gallon American Standard on my 4 wt. It probably washed out of some floridiot’s, hmm, floron’s, hmm, Floridians vacation home. It did give me a bit of a tussle, what with the flood waters and all. But hell, I had #3 tippet on and managed to drag that thing on shore with a bit of wranglin. It was the first time my wife ever smiled when I brought my catch home, she didn’t mind cleanin’ that fish at all. Next day I installed it in the privvy and now have the extreme satisfaction of flushin my kaka directly downstream into Tennessee Ain’t ‘Merica wunnerful’ ?        later  ( when the temps drop below 90 in the piedmont, i think i’ll come up to wilson creek.

give me a holler…one of my favorite streams…. –Flushin’ Wataugan Walt

Response:

For anyone interested, the Watauga (my homewater) is having its regulations changed. The former delayed harvest section along 105 between Taylor’s store bridge and Hound’s Ear is becoming a private fishery for the wealthy along with the Boones Fork up to the parkway land. The new Delayed Harvest portion will be from Hound’s Ear down through the gorge and into Valle Crucis somewhere. See ya, Walt

Please, oh, please say it ain’t so Joe (oops, Walt)…. I just got my updated fishin’ regs from the NC WRC in the mail yesterday — they are kind of draggin for us lifetime license holders since they already have all the money they are going to get out of us customer service isn’t high on the list — and the Watauga and Boones Fork sections were still listed, respectively, Delayed Harvest and C&R, FF-only. What’s the deal on closing these fine fisheries — did somebody just get a burr up their butt? Nonetheless, if what you have shared is (has?) come to pass that is a real pisser for fishing in the Boone area and really makes me want to break down and have a good tear-fest. My uncle has a vacation home just above Taylor’s Store in Foscoe that our family uses quite frequently and my dad and I have enjoyed fishing these two sections of stream for years.  I guess we’ll just head down to Wilson’s Creek with you and Wayno — and all the other disgruntled poor folks …. These local jewels will be truly missed.             | /              |/    (         /|     —     / | C. Michael Bullard The Yellar Hammer

Response:

I – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Please, oh, please say it ain’t so Joe (oops, Walt)…. I just got my updated fishin’ regs from the NC WRC in the mail yesterday — they are kind of draggin for us lifetime license holders since they already have all the money they are going to get out of us customer service isn’t high on the list — and the Watauga and Boones Fork sections were still listed, respectively, Delayed Harvest and C&R, FF-only. What’s the deal on closing these fine fisheries — did somebody just get a burr up their butt? Nonetheless, if what you have shared is (has?) come to pass that is a real pisser for fishing in the Boone area and really makes me want to break down and have a good tear-fest. My uncle has a vacation home just above Taylor’s Store in Foscoe that our family uses quite frequently and my dad and I have enjoyed fishing these two sections of stream for years.  I guess we’ll just head down to Wilson’s Creek with you and Wayno — and all the other disgruntled poor folks …. These local jewels will be truly missed.

Hi Michael, I need to clarify it a little…. The section that is becoming private is from the old green metal rr bridge downstream to the south end of hounds ears. The section above the green bridge up to Taylor’s (including Keller’s sippin’ pool) will change from delayed harvest to wild trout water. so…. from somewhere in valle crucis (i heard broadstone) up to the church at hounds ear will be designated delayed harvest. from the church (actually a little upstream from the church) up to the green bridge will be private posted waters with rangers runnin’ us poach..ooops, po’ folk off. from the green bridge up to the headwaters will be wild trout water with no further stocking. hope that helps put you at ease a little… wilsons with you and wayno sounds like a winner to me….fantastic stream up on the spine of grandfather… –Walt

Response:

I don’t like to be out on a stream flyfishing during deer hunting season either.  There is a river I fish during  hunting season which is on a game preserve.  Deer hunters don’t even camp in the area. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m glad I’m not the only guy that considers the upper Wilson to be a challenge: I love that part of God’s earth, but MAN is it tough travelin’ On a serious note: does anyone ever feel uneasy about fishing those waters during deer hunting season?  I’d hate to wind up shot and mounted on some guys hunting cabin wall, just because they couldn’t resist the temptation to shoot at things moving in the woods. I’m more uneasy during "deliverance" season –Walt —    oink, oink.    wayno

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m glad I’m not the only guy that considers the upper Wilson to be a challenge: I love that part of God’s earth, but MAN is it tough travelin’ On a serious note: does anyone ever feel uneasy about fishing those waters during deer hunting season?  I’d hate to wind up shot and mounted on some guys hunting cabin wall, just because they couldn’t resist the temptation to shoot at things moving in the woods. I’m more uneasy during "deliverance" season –Walt —

        oink, oink.         wayno

Response:

I’m glad I’m not the only guy that considers the upper Wilson to be a challenge: I love that part of God’s earth, but MAN is it tough travelin’ in and out!  I have some good fly-fishing friends that I don’t invite to go there with me because they’re over weight and out of shape:  I can just imagine them hiking in with me, having a coronary 4 miles up stream, dying in the middle of a little pool filled with trout, and that’d screw up the remainder of a good day by having to somehow haul their dead butts out to the road.  

I know what you mean…it’s tough enough hauling my own ass outta’ there. On a serious note: does anyone ever feel uneasy about fishing those waters during deer hunting season?  I’d hate to wind up shot and mounted on some guys hunting cabin wall, just because they couldn’t resist the temptation to shoot at things moving in the woods.

I’m more uneasy during "deliverance" season –Walt —

Response:

Hi Walt, I’m a little confused….I  seen the posted signs at the golf course, but, are you saying that up stream of it is going to be posted to ?

yes…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – from the church (actually a little upstream from the church) up to the green bridge will be private posted waters with rangers runnin’ us poach..ooops, po’ folk off.

Response:

I’m glad I’m not the only guy that considers the upper Wilson to be a challenge: I love that part of God’s earth, but MAN is it tough travelin’ in and out!  I have some good fly-fishing friends that I don’t invite to go there with me because they’re over weight and out of shape:  I can just imagine them hiking in with me, having a coronary 4 miles up stream, dying in the middle of a little pool filled with trout, and that’d screw up the remainder of a good day by having to somehow haul their dead butts out to the road.   On a serious note: does anyone ever feel uneasy about fishing those waters during deer hunting season?  I’d hate to wind up shot and mounted on some guys hunting cabin wall, just because they couldn’t resist the temptation to shoot at things moving in the woods.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Michael, I need to clarify it a little…. The section that is becoming private is from the old green metal rr bridge downstream to the south end of hounds ears. The section above the green bridge up to Taylor’s (including Keller’s sippin’ pool) will change from delayed harvest to wild trout water. so…. from somewhere in valle crucis (i heard broadstone) up to the church at hounds ear will be designated delayed harvest. from the church (actually a little upstream from the church) up to the green bridge will be private posted waters with rangers runnin’ us poach..ooops, po’ folk off. from the green bridge up to the headwaters will be wild trout water with no further stocking. hope that helps put you at ease a little… wilsons with you and wayno sounds like a winner to me….fantastic stream up on the spine of grandfather… –Walt

Walt, thanks for the clarification….not the best of news, but not quite as bad as I orginally thought.  Given the wild trout status on the upper,upper section and the amount of fishing pressure it is likely to receive combined with a lack of ‘migration’ up from the now closed section — it may not be able to sustain a large fishable population. It will probably decline until it gets so poor that the fishing pressure drops and a happy (unhappy?) equilibrium is reached at a low population of both trout and trout fishermen. Still not greatly excited over the delayed harvest section along Shulls Mill down into Valle Crucis from a habitat standpoint — but better this than wild trout — I don’t think this section would sustain a wild popolation from season-to-season from both a seasonal temperature and reproduction standpoint.  Not to mention the contributions from the ‘poop’ treatment plants.             | /              |/    (         /|     —     / | C. Michael Bullard The Yellar Hammer

Response:

For anyone interested, the Watauga (my homewater) is having its regulations changed. The former delayed harvest section along 105 between Taylor’s store bridge and Hound’s Ear is becoming a private fishery for the wealthy along with the Boones Fork up to the parkway land.

Oh! No!, Damn, Damn, and Damn!  How’d that happen without consulting the rest of us who fish that water!?  Reckon they’ll turn the "native" part above SR#1580 into catch and release or what?  I have caught many fish from the now "exclusive" waters but not a thing which had eyes on it below the 105 Bridge toward Valle Crucis.  Next thing they’ll do is to ban spitting Red Man in the water to chum the browns, while allowing the elite to continue to drop ashes from their Macanudos to draw rainbows . Mac McCaskill

Response:

Howdy All…. Creeks, streams, and rivers are still running warm and low, but not as bad as they were a few weeks ago. The streams on the higher mountains are ok temp wise, but are low. Managed to catch a nice brownie on a headwater this past weekend and missed a few others…japanese beetle pattern. For anyone interested, the Watauga (my homewater) is having its regulations changed. The former delayed harvest section along 105 between Taylor’s store bridge and Hound’s Ear is becoming a private fishery for the wealthy along with the Boones Fork up to the parkway land.

        come on, now, walter; surely you are numbered among the wealthy in watauga county!  hell, man, i have it on reliable information that you flush your own kaka!         later  ( when the temps drop below 90 in the piedmont, i think i’ll come up to wilson creek.         a. wayne harrison

Response:

        if* we’re* goin up the headwaters of wilson, *we* had better bring a couple native bearers and  a wagon.         it was all i could do to make the hike out from upper wilson when i was 35 and racin dirt bikes.  now that i’m 56 and a bad drunk, the brookies can relax.         wayno

Wayne, how do you get a wagon into the headwaters of the Wilson?  Every trail I have ever used for the mainstem and tribs was a best suited for Sherpas, mountain goats and/or llamas to pack in the equipment — and still no easy task. Last time I fished the upper Wilson headwaters (late 1997) I started off near Edgemont Road/FR 192 and went down…the first time I have done that…and probaby the last — after a day of hard fishing I barely had enough energy left to climb back out.  Most of the time I go on down to Brown Mtn Beach and come up through the gorge to Edgemont/Mortimer and then take my pick of Lost Cove, Harpers/North Harpers, Rockhouse, or the main Wilson…at least it is fish upstream while I am fresh and then walk downhill/downstream back at the end of the day.             | /              |/    (         /|     —     / | C. Michael Bullard The Yellar Hammer

Response:

 (big spip) wilsons with you and wayno sounds like a winner to me….fantastic stream up on the spine of grandfather… –Walt

        if* we’re* goin up the headwaters of wilson, *we* had better bring a couple native bearers and  a wagon.         it was all i could do to make the hike out from upper wilson when i was 35 and racin dirt bikes.  now that i’m 56 and a bad drunk, the brookies can relax.         wayno

Response:

Hi Walt, I’m a little confused….I  seen the posted signs at the golf course, but, are – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Michael, I need to clarify it a little…. The section that is becoming private is from the old green metal rr bridge downstream to the south end of hounds ears. The section above the green bridge up to Taylor’s (including Keller’s sippin’ pool) will change from delayed harvest to wild trout water. so…. from somewhere in valle crucis (i heard broadstone) up to the church at hounds ear will be designated delayed harvest. from the church (actually a little upstream from the church) up to the green bridge will be private posted waters with rangers runnin’ us poach..ooops, po’ folk off. from the green bridge up to the headwaters will be wild trout water with no further stocking. hope that helps put you at ease a little… wilsons with you and wayno sounds like a winner to me….fantastic stream up on the spine of grandfather… –Walt

Response:

Howdy All…. Creeks, streams, and rivers are still running warm and low, but not as bad as they were a few weeks ago. The streams on the higher mountains are ok temp wise, but are low. Managed to catch a nice brownie on a headwater this past weekend and missed a few others…japanese beetle pattern. For anyone interested, the Watauga (my homewater) is having its regulations changed. The former delayed harvest section along 105 between Taylor’s store bridge and Hound’s Ear is becoming a private fishery for the wealthy along with the Boones Fork up to the parkway land. The new Delayed Harvest portion will be from Hound’s Ear down through the gorge and into Valle Crucis somewhere. See ya, Walt

Response:

Question:

Maurice writes: <Anyone know of a good book or guide service to begin exploring

flyfishing in Washington state? Maurice, there is a book out called something like "Flyfishing Washingtons Lakes" and is in most fly shops.  The book is well written and appears to be a source of accurate information.  It covers both West side and East side lakes. I don’t seem to recall any information about rivers but I am sure many of the West side anglers can give you a rundown here in this newsgroup. If you need information regarding East side lakes such as Lenice, Lenore, Dry Falls, Potholes, Amber etc or information on the North Central Lakes such as Chopaka or Blue, let me know and I will email you some information. Mike Wilson Spokane, WA

Response:

Anyone know of a good book or guide service to begin exploring flyfishing in Washington state?

Since flyfish4770 has the eastside covered, I can offer advice and places on the west side (west of seattle, olympic peninsula).  Lots of good lakes and some good rivers in the area.  There’s a couple of books that describe most of the body of waters in Washington.  They aren’t neccessarily flyfish specific, but they’ll give you an idea of whats available and how to access them.   Unfortunately all my guide books are in my car and I can’t recall the names… matthew           Matthew W Kaphan    http://home.sprintmail.com/~mwk            Silverdale, WA

Response:

Anyone know of a good book or guide service to begin exploring flyfishing in Washington state?

Response:

I just moved out not too long ago.  I picked up Washington Fishing from www.amazon.com.  It covers more than 1000 spots on streams, rivers, lakes, and the coast.  It covers fishing in general (not just fly fishing), but was a good place to start.  I also got a lot of help from people on this newsgroup on places to go. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone know of a good book or guide service to begin exploring flyfishing in Washington state?

Response:

Question:

I need some advice about a second flyrod.  I have used four rods for the past 22 years and all have been for 8 wt. line.  The majority of my fishing is for Largemouth.  I think I would like a 4 piece 8.5 to 9 foot in size 4, 5 or 6.  I would use it for small pond bass, bluegill, carp and small river smallmouth.  I would be tossing smaller (size 4 and down) muddlers, clousers and topwaters.  I want something fun that can cast a decent distance and with enough backbone to get a decent size fish in.  Since I have been in an 8 wt. rut all my life and don’t have any experience with these other weights I really appreciate your help.  One additional thing. I will likely purchase an Orvis (no flaming please) Silver Label and need to decide on tip, mid, or full flex also. Jay Kidwell

Response:

I need some advice about a second flyrod.  I have used four rods for the past 22 years and all have been for 8 wt. line.  The majority of my fishing is for Largemouth.  I think I would like a 4 piece 8.5 to 9 foot in size 4, 5 or 6.  I would use it for small pond bass, bluegill, carp and small river smallmouth.  I would be tossing smaller (size 4 and down) muddlers, clousers and topwaters.  I want something fun that can cast a decent distance and with enough backbone to get a decent size fish in.  Since I have been in an 8 wt. rut all my life and don’t have any experience with these other weights I really appreciate your help.  One additional thing. I will likely purchase an Orvis (no flaming please) Silver Label and need to decide on tip, mid, or full flex also. Jay Kidwell

Hi Jay, You will notice a large difference with a #6 outfit as it will be 2 sizes smaller than you have been using. You can go to a #5 if you think it would be better, but a #4 sounds a bit light. Three or four piece rods are really catching on in northern California. The 9 foot length would be nice for deep wading or float tubing. I would hope that you could cast some rods before purchasing one, if possible. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

Response:

I need some advice about a second flyrod.  I have used four rods for the past 22 years and all have been for 8 wt. line.  The majority of my fishing is for Largemouth.  I think I would like a 4 piece 8.5 to 9 foot in size 4, 5 or 6.  I would use it for small pond bass, bluegill, carp and small river smallmouth.  I would be tossing smaller (size 4 and down) muddlers, clousers and topwaters.  I want something fun that can cast a decent distance and with enough backbone to get a decent size fish in.  Since I have been in an 8 wt. rut all my life and don’t have any experience with these other weights I really appreciate your help.  One additional thing. I will likely purchase an Orvis (no flaming please) Silver Label and need to decide on tip, mid, or full flex also.

Hi Jay, I’d recommend a 6 wt. for the type of fishing you’ll be doing.  This will be much lighter than the 8 wt. you’ve been using, yet will still have the necessary power to cast the flies needed for smallmouth and still have a good time when you get them on the line.  The 4 and 5 weight lines are better trout rods & more typically used for size 10 flies and smaller.  The 5 wt. works fine for tossing the occasional larger streamer (size 8 or 6),but is not the best choice for a steady diet of them.  The 4 wt. doesn’t throw them well at all. Whether to buy a tip-flex, mid-flex, or full-flex rod depends a lot on your casting style and the type of fishing you’ll be doing.   The tip flex rods throw tighter loops more easily (most accurate and they cast well into the wind), but you really need to use a "fore-arm" casting style to use them easily and effectively.  If you use your fore-arm as the primary lever in your casting stroke you will cast this type of rod easily and you will get the most performance for the least effort.  Keep in mind this action is the least forgiving when playing the fish. If you use mostly wrist in your casting stroke, you’ll probably prefer a mid-flex or full-flex rod that loads more easily using your wrist as the primary lever.  Wrist casters have a very tough time even getting the tip-flex rods to bend because they are using a very short lever (the wrist), and the forearm muscles used to move the lever are not nearly as strong as the biceps and triceps which are used when making a fore-arm stroke.  Wrist casters typically prefer the full-flex rods because they load so easily with such little effort.  Many casters, regardless of casting style, like this type of rod for fishing light lines (4 wt. and lighter) in close conditions where short casts and roll casts are the norm and range of arm motion is restricted.  Full flex rods are the most forgiving of mistakes when fighting fish. Mid-flex rods tend to throw loops that are not as consistently tight as tip-flex rods and are often preferred by those who use more wrist in their cast, but still use the forearm to initiate the stroke.  Wider loops (within reason) are often preferred when casting larger, heavier flies, or nymph and indicator rigs.  They don’t tangle as often from rapidly dropping flies. Mid-flex rods still load fairly easily even with a fair amount of wrist in the casting stroke.  This type of rod is also more forgiving of mistakes than the tip-flex while playing fish. What it all comes down to is what feels good to you.  You need to cast these different rods to see which you like.  If you were new to fly fishing, I’d recommend you learn to use the forearm stroke in your casting and get the tip-flex rod for the best effort/preformance ratio afforded by them.  However, if a person has been fishing for years, they are not likely to change their casting stroke and the best choice is to get a rod that works well with your casting style. I’d recommend you look at the Orvis Silver Label PM-10 906 ($250, 9 ft. 6 wt.) for a tip flex rod, the Silver Label HLS Cutthroat ($250, 9ft. 6wt.) for a mid-flex rod, and the Silver Label Limestone special ($235, 8 1/2 ft. 6wt.) for a full flex rod.  All of these Silver Label rods offer the same performance as their more expensive premium versions but use less expensive cosmetics.   The PM-10 Silver and HLS Silver rods will also cast a 7 wt. line if you need it for larger flies and windier conditions.  The Limestone Special will wallow around if you try to overline it. ;^)                                            Hope this helps,                                                       Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools

Response:

Question:

The "mandrel" is made of steel with multiple tapers on it.  The tapers on the mandrels are used to arrive at the ID.  The ID in combination with the graphite thickness drives the OD which, in combination with the graphite modulus, give the black its action.  Many amndrels today have upwards of six taper changes on the tip. Dwight Talon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info –

Response:

In answer to your question, yes mandrels are tapered steel rods which do to some degree determine the charistics of the rod by determining the degree of taper.  After a particular mandrel is chosen,dependant on the type of rod, a piece of resin impregnated graphite cloth is cut according to a pattern ( either compound or progressive taper ) and wraped very tightly around the mandrel under extreme pressure to cause the resin to bond and hold the cloth together and then the rod and mandrel are suspended tip down in an oven where they are subjected to extreme heat and pressure. Then the rods are removed and seperated from the mandrels and sanded, painted, and /or clear coated.  

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info – Stainless steel, I guess. It’s not left in the rod blank (as implied by your wording above). Think of a mandrel as an internal mold (form). The graphite material is wrapped around the mandrel and then they are both put into an oven for a heat cured. The mandrel is then withdrawn from the blank and reused, over and over. Unless you want to become a manufacturer of rod blanks, knowledge of mandrel shape is of little importance to an average custom rod builder (rod wrapper), except providing one of many needed bits of knowledge about a blank’s expected action. I’d expect the mandrel’s shape would be a closely-held trade secret of the mfg. company. Don Burns

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Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?  

Hi Mark, Graphite comes as a cloth which is layed out on a table and cut to a pattern.  This is simply done placing a pattern over the cloth and then cutting the graphite cloth with a box knife (razor).  How the pattern is shaped will determine the wall thickness of the blank.  Graphite cut into a pattern is called a flag. The flags are then taken to the rolling machine.   Inside the rolling machine has been placed the correct mandrel for the section of the rod being manufactured.  Seperate mandrels are used for each piece of the rod.  The mandrel is a tapered steel rod that determines the inside diameter of the blank and the shape of the blank.  The combination of the cut of the pattern of the flag and the tapered shape of the mandrel determines the "taper" of the blank. A small heat iron is rubbed along the edge of the flag which makes it tacky and the tacky edge is slipped into the machine next to the mandrel. The tacky part of the flag adheres to the mandrel and th machine then rolls the graphite flag around the mandrel.  Heat shrink tape is then wrapped around the outside of the graphite and the mandrel with the shrink wrapped is removed from the rolling machine and hung up inside a walk-in oven.  The blank is then baked.  The heat activates the epoxies and resins in the graphite flag and the heat shrink tape compresses squeezing the graphite onto the  mandrel. When the gaphite is done cooking, it is removed from the oven and the blank is pulled off of the mandrel and the mandrel is used to make another rod.  The heat shrink tape leaves the ridges in the graphite that you see in many rods and the blank is finished at this point.  If the rod uses an external or internal ferrule (as opposed to the integral ferrule which is actually designed into the mandrel), it is attached at this point. Another step may ensue for cosmetic reasons and that is sanding off the ridges (scars from the heat shrink tape) and then coating the blank with an epoxy or varnish.  This last step is what allows rods to be made in different colors and have a smooth shiny surface instead of the dark gray color of the graphite itself. After the blank is constructed the rod is sypically splined and finished with guides, handle, reel seat, etc. This process commonly called rolling a rod.                          Hope this helps,                                Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

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Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info –

Stainless steel, I guess. It’s not left in the rod blank (as implied by your wording above). Think of a mandrel as an internal mold (form). The graphite material is wrapped around the mandrel and then they are both put into an oven for a heat cured. The mandrel is then withdrawn from the blank and reused, over and over. Unless you want to become a manufacturer of rod blanks, knowledge of mandrel shape is of little importance to an average custom rod builder (rod wrapper), except providing one of many needed bits of knowledge about a blank’s expected action. I’d expect the mandrel’s shape would be a closely-held trade secret of the mfg. company. Don Burns

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of? Thanks for the info – Stainless steel, I guess. It’s not left in the rod blank (as implied by your wording above). Think of a mandrel as an internal mold (form).

Barbless Mandrel ?   ;0 TimW

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info –

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Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?

Stainless Steel Phil Koenig Manhattan Custom Tackle Ltd. http://fishdoc.com./ "I’m the boss, so WHATEVER I say is OK"

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Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info –

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I would appreciate any response.

Hi there. Stan

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I thought I had seen an article about a fly fishing screensaver.  I would appreciate any response.

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Question:

M. Gades) writes: I’ve been kicking this idea around for a while and I think it could

be SOME TEXT DELETED So, where can we find your www home page? -tgades

RESPONSE: I understand your doubts howerer, I do not have a home page.  While I admit that I am a business, I am also a fisherman.  My educational background is in communication and I’d like to do some things for the NET. When the time comes for me to create a page, my page would still have to bear up to the scrutiny of the members of the Newsgroups.  I intend to make sure that voting is carried out by a third party like other CFV’s in the groups.  This is not motivated by greed!!!  

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I’ve been kicking this idea around for a while and I think it could be interesting.  What I propose is a series of awards voted on by the fishing newsgroup community to both recognize and influence the WWW and FTP developers to create more and better information for us – The Fishermen.

Good idea – go for it! You talk as if there is some seperate group of people we are dependent on to create WWW sites, but all the fishing sites I know of are fisherpersons’s personal work. That is the beauty (and nuisance) of WWW – it doesn’t take a multimillion$ corporation to create and broadcast work. Because what you’re seeing doesn’t go through any committee approval process, there’s quite a bit of variance in peoples’ works.  If you have funding to give some awards you can perhaps inspire people to create works more to your liking – tell us what you’d like to give us a little time before the voting starts. The Virtual Fly Shop that Mike Tucker has put together has a good directory to other fishing sites. It lists all the sites that Mike has read about here and on the listserver.  I don’t have the URL handy but it is posted here on rec.outdoors.fishing.fly often. If you have an idea, put a few hours into learning HTML and get started. I was able to learn enough and make my site in a weekend with the NCSA Simple HTML editor for Hypercard/Mac. If you don’t use Macintosh your timing couldn’t be better; I hear that windows PCs can now do graphics and there are free HTML editors available for them too.  ;) If you need someone to host it and cannot find an affordable site, let me know and I can put you in contact.   Mark Vinsel Visit my gallery: http://www.lanminds.com/local/vinnie/gallery.HTML Also while your there, check out the ProArts Eastbay Open Studios web site: http://www.lanminds.com/local/proarts.html (I didn’t make this but it was my idea and I’m damn proud of it)

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AMI News has created a centralized source of outdoor information that includes links to various fishing pages. As a news organization we are trying to find fishing conditions from around the world along with other interesting fishing information that appeals to a wide range of readers.   We invite you to submit any and all web sites for consideration. There is NO CHARGE to link. We also invite any fishing site to link with the AMI Rec Network. Take a look: http.//www.aminews.com/ami Thanks, Rob Brown Webmaster – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Take a look: http.//www.aminews.com/ami

My netscape reports no DNS entry to be found for www.aminews.com.    

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I’d like to submit my homepage.  It is relatively new, but I will be doing lots of work on it over the next few weeks.  I focus on flyfishing and I live and fish mostly in Oregon, but fish often in Idaho, and take trips to Washington, California, Montana, just got back from the Green River in Utah, and a Red fish excursion to New Orleans.   http://www.teleport.com/~anthonyn thanks, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – AMI News has created a centralized source of outdoor information that includes links to various fishing pages. As a news organization we are trying to find fishing conditions from around the world along with other interesting fishing information that appeals to a wide range of readers.   We invite you to submit any and all web sites for consideration. There is NO CHARGE to link. We also invite any fishing site to link with the AMI Rec Network. Take a look: http.//www.aminews.com/ami Thanks, Rob Brown Webmaster

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I’ve been kicking this idea around for a while and I think it could be interesting.  What I propose is a series of awards voted on by the fishing newsgroup community to both recognize and influence the WWW and FTP developers to create more and better information for us – The Fishermen. It seems like everyday, there is a posting on where to find good WWW information.  This process will serve to organize and rate the various offerings out there and help make the info available to all.  Later, we could possibly create a home page as an index to the best stuff out there. Please confine comment to the newsgroups as I think I would get swamped with E-Mail at this point.  I will be sharing more details of my Idea in a few days but I just want to get discussion going.

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I’ve been kicking this idea around for a while and I think it could be interesting.  What I propose is a series of awards voted on by the fishing newsgroup community to both recognize and influence the WWW and FTP developers to create more and better information for us – The Fishermen. SOME TEXT DELETED

So, where can we find your www home page? -tgades

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Will be in Utah this month or next (June). Seeking advice on best places near Orem. Also pointers to good guide books. Thanks!

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Will be in Utah this month or next (June). Seeking advice on best places near Orem. Also pointers to good guide books. Thanks!

A couple of hours (maybe 3) south on I-15 is the town of Beaver.  Abt 10 miles (paved) west of town is Minersville Resovoir. It’s catch & release, last weekend we caught fis in the 18-21 inch range.  BTW, a busy day on the lake is maybe 15 people. Regards, KBC

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You will be 5 miles from the Provo River and if you are a serious Fly Fisherman you will be there.  Ask any fishing store, or sports store in orem for more info of the Provo. The other guy mentioned driving 3 hours to some lake down south??? If your willing to drive 3 Hours you can get to the Green River, and ask anybody online, the Green is simply the Best! Good Luck!

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I would opt for the Provo. Although be prepared for crowded conditions on the weekends. I would second the previous post, if your going to drive south 3 hours, play golf, if you want fish hit the Green River, I can almost guarentee you won’t be sorry.

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This group is so full of guys with boats and sonar. Has anybody thought of creating a new group rec.outdoors.guy.boat.sonar? Seriously, aren’t there any flyfishers out there?  Has the world gone completely to sonar … -john

Just a few weeks ago the complaint was ‘are there only flyfishers here?’ or did you know that Its starting to warm up here- may hit 70F soon. flyfishers are starting to crawlout of hibernation (read tying den)– stoneflies are hatching– ITS TIME! BTW, I always use a fishfinder when I go flyfishing— polaroids + hares’ ear nymph in case the water is a little turbid or the pool is too deep to see in. mike

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I don’t know how everybody else felt about the two a day fillet knife postings, but I really don’t like reading ads, so after I asked the guy to stop twice, and he didn’t, I complained to Berkeley and they inactivated his account. I hope he didn’t have any important projects due 8-). Usenet is not for commercial posting. University equipment is generally not for commercial posting. Now, back to your regularly scheduled fishing news. This group is so full of guys with boats and sonar. Has anybody thought of creating a new group rec.outdoors.guy.boat.sonar? Seriously, aren’t there any flyfishers out there?  Has the world gone completely to sonar driving thick thumbed baitcasting bass and tuna fishers? Well, I guess the guys with boats and sonar pretty much don’t have anything to do all winter until iceout. We flyfishers just tie and post and tie and post. The weather sucks here too. -john — John Danskin                    | (609) 258-5386                  | Gradual student (609) 258-1771 fax              | Graphics systems

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I don’t know how everybody else felt about the two a day fillet knife postings, but I really don’t like reading ads, so after I asked the guy to stop twice, and he didn’t, I complained to Berkeley and they inactivated his account. I hope he didn’t have any important projects due 8-). Usenet is not for commercial posting. University equipment is generally not for commercial posting. Now, back to your regularly scheduled fishing news. This group is so full of guys with boats and sonar. Has anybody thought of creating a new group rec.outdoors.guy.boat.sonar? Seriously, aren’t there any flyfishers out there?  Has the world gone completely to sonar driving thick thumbed baitcasting bass and tuna fishers? Well, I guess the guys with boats and sonar pretty much don’t have anything to do all winter until iceout. We flyfishers just tie and post and tie and post.

        John,         Are you quite done giving your self-righteous decree of what should be posted in this group? My belief is that this group is for any subject-matter related to fishing. Fillet knives are definitely a part of fishing! How was this any different from the posts you see where some person either has a trolling motor for sale or is looking to buy one?! Who died and made you God?!         Larry

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  I am planning to go up to Norfolk(?) lake in N. Arkansas (east of Bull Shoals lake) on the last week of April. Any hints on what to expect up there? The lady told me everything will be biting, crappie, bass, striper, sandies, everything. Are there `bows up there? I will be renting a decent bassboat so I will be mobile. I wanted to see what ya’ll say, so I will not be unprepared when I go. I have the standard bass gear, plus UL, spinning gear, and my flyrod. The little woman will be with me, so at least one person will outfish me d8^)!                                           thanks,                                                    Daty

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I don’t know how everybody else felt about the two a day fillet knife postings, but I really don’t like reading ads, so after I asked the guy to stop twice, and he didn’t, I complained to Berkeley and they inactivated his account. I hope he didn’t have any important projects due 8-). Usenet is not for commercial posting. University equipment is generally not for commercial posting. Now, back to your regularly scheduled fishing news. This group is so full of guys with boats and sonar. Has anybody thought of creating a new group rec.outdoors.guy.boat.sonar? Seriously, aren’t there any flyfishers out there?  Has the world gone completely to sonar driving thick thumbed baitcasting bass and tuna fishers? Well, I guess the guys with boats and sonar pretty much don’t have anything to do all winter until iceout. We flyfishers just tie and post and tie and post. The weather sucks here too. -john — John Danskin                        | (609) 258-5386                      | Gradual student (609) 258-1771 fax              | Graphics systems

Actually, many of us bass fishers do so because it is the only game in town.  I was an avid fly fisher until I was forced to live in San Antonio (yes, I know there are stocked trout near here, but it is hard to elbow your way in between all the corn fishers).  I have fly fished for bass (and tied my own bugs).  But are bass fishers and their depthfinders really that different from trout fishers and their 300+ dollar fly rods? If you want to be a gadgeteer, you can do it anywhere. Just a thought Noel Montgomery p.s.:  There is no ice out in SA TX, we catch fish year round.

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|  My belief is that this group is for any | subject-matter related to fishing. Fillet knives are definitely a part of | fishing! How was this any different from the posts you see where some person | either has a trolling motor for sale or is looking to buy one?! Who died and | made you God?! |   Larry Actually Larry, there is quite a bit of difference between a person who wants to get rid of his personal trolling motor (or wants to buy a used one) and a guy who is running a business for profit and is advertising on the net.  On the other hand, if something offends me, I just don’t read it.  BTW everyone it is REALLY Spring in the Southland,  I fished Fri,Sat,Sun and got a pretty good sunburn through some SPF-25 lotion!                         -Pat. p.s. nobody had to die, I’ve always been God.   p.p.s.  I haven’t gotten many replies, anyone have a used light saltwater         conventional reel for sale?  (noncommercial responses         only please :}  ).

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