Question:

I find that after about six dozen fish that they chew about half the head off the fly. I would like it to be durable enough to last for a full morning’s fishing.

That’s easy, go up to Dodge City and fish with Wayne Knight – the fly will last a year or more<g. — Charlie…

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Willi wonders: Does any one here fish these patterns? I have tied a handful up, primarily the green(summer season) and orange(later evening) colors to see if they had special attractive characteristics for the stated periods of use. I can’t say that I fished them with top confidence, as I share your suspicion of general color theories. Anyway, they caught some fish, but didn’t knock my socks off.                               Tom Littleton

The waters he fished them on are pretty large turbulent waters. I don’t know what the exact area is like where he tested them but it is a large river. There areas of my local waters where I was going to try them are the deeper runs and the pocket water stretches. I’ll try to fish them with SOME confidence. Last fall I was in central/western Wyoming and had a couple days to fish. I stopped in a shop for some information. Since it was fall, the shop owner hadn’t had much business and seemed glad to have someone to talk to. We talked about quite a few things and he gave me some information that, I felt he wouldn’t normally give. It being fall in the Rockies, hatches were limited to sporadic caddis and BWO’s in about a size 20. The olives, he said, brought up the good fish. I asked him what he used and he showed me a large stimulator type fly that was very bright and flashy. The fly was tied on a number 14 stimulator hook which translated into a fly about the size of a normal size 10. I looked at him with some skepticism but bought a couple and went out. The section of river he sent me to carried alot of water even during the low flows typical in the Fall. The area was a series of deep strong runs, filled with large boulders.  I caught a few fish in the morning, then about 11 o’clock the Olives started popping up. I saw occasional rises and switched to a typical Olive imitation tied in a size eighteen. I caught a couple of smaller Browns on the current edges and continued to see an occasional surface feeding trout. The fish that were rising seemed to be smaller fish. I switched over to the fly that the shop owner recommended and I caught a number of sizable fish that came up off the bottom is the heavy current. My guess is that the better trout were feeding on the active and emerging nymphs but weren’t willing to come to the surface through the strong current for such a small fly. The larger attractor pattern, made the trip worthwhile. This isn’t a perfect example of his approach but it is the type of situation where a fly having certain exaggerated visual cues might work well. Willi

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Willi wonders: Does any one here fish these patterns?

I have tied a handful up, primarily the green(summer season) and orange(later evening) colors to see if they had special attractive characteristics for the stated periods of use. I can’t say that I fished them with top confidence, as I share your suspicion of general color theories. Anyway, they caught some fish, but didn’t knock my socks off.                               Tom Littleton

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with a series of flies designed by Gary LaFontaine that he calls his Double Wing series.

I have not experimented with the Double Wing series, but I have been using the Airheadfor several years now with great success, but unlike Gary, do not find it very durable. When I use it on the bedding bluegills I find that after about six dozen fish that they chew about half the head off the fly. I would like it to be durable enough to last for a full morning’s fishing. Big Dale

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Willi, Did you every get the email I sent to you (aka "Rusty Hook")?  Anyway, if you didn’t, here it is again: I’ll probably head up to the Yellowstone area for my vacation, preferably during the clave, but it won’t be due to poor fishing conditions around here. I’ll just be ready for something different by August.

Come on by Stanley this summer, Willi, and we’ll fish for wild cutthroats in places so beautiful they’ll make you eyes bleed. I’ll warn you, though. You’ll have to exert yourself to get there. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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Each year I come up with a few things that I’m interested in checking out streamside. This year, I’m looking to get a feel for streamer fishing, fishing a "cast" of wets and I’m thinking about experimenting with a series of flies designed by Gary LaFontaine that he calls his Double Wing series. Although I’m not much of a believer of a "right" fly or the importance of color overall, this series of flies is based on studies done by him using underwater divers to record the reactions of trout to certain colors and aspects of flies. The Double Wing series was a result of this study in terms of the "ideal" attractor pattern. He recommends certain color combinations for different light situations. Although Brooks, if I remember right, did some underwater observations, as far as I know, LaFontaine was the only person to study, from an underwater prospective and in a systematic manner, the reactions of trout to a number of variables of a fly’s construction. Does any one here fish these patterns? Any comments? Willi

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Question:

um…depends on the moment and method of collection… jeff (finally…a reason to be interested in tying)

Oh, I can picture it.  Jeffy standing on a street corner somewhere in Greensboro, scissors and little plastic baggies in hand – soliciting contributions. Good effin’ luck Peter

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um…depends on the moment and method of collection… jeff (finally…a reason to be interested in tying) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Waitaminute.. is that a dry fly or a wet fly?     "On the Sunday we arrived, I tied an outrageously colourful fly which featured a tuft of my wife’s pubic hair — Particle Salad/ Noom Room Studio http://home.earthlink.net/~psalad mp3 songs: http://www.mp3.com/particlesalad

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um…depends on the moment and method of collection…

Pffft. Joe F.

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Waitaminute.. is that a dry fly or a wet fly?     "On the Sunday we arrived, I tied an outrageously colourful fly which featured a tuft of my wife’s pubic hair

– Particle Salad/ Noom Room Studio http://home.earthlink.net/~psalad mp3 songs: http://www.mp3.com/particlesalad

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Waitaminute.. is that a dry fly or a wet fly?     "On the Sunday we arrived, I tied an outrageously colourful fly which featured a tuft of my wife’s pubic hair

This whole story smells a little fishy to me.  :P   minkaz – someone had to say it heheh

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While preparing for my move, I found an article from a major London newspaper that some one had sent me about four years ago.  Rather than editorialize (ok, I had to make one comment) it, I thought that this crowd would appreciate it. Fly fishermen find wifely charms provide new lure By Michael Hornsby, countryside correspondent.     Male anglers are going to indelicate lengths to test the age-old belief on the riverbank that female rivals possess some unfair magic enabling them to hook more and bigger fish.     Scientific research (albeit disputed) provides some support for the idea, suggesting that female pheromones, the bodily scents that attract members of the opposite sex, may work equally well in luring salmon and trout.     Anglers now claim to have proved the theory by incorporating strands of their wives’ pubic hair in the material used to make fishing flies. Disclosure of this dubious practice has provoked a risqu

Question:

I just signed up for the three day class with Outdoors, Inc. in St. Louis. Is it worth the $350? Bob

Response:

Robert D. Sheppard writes: I just signed up for the three day class with Outdoors, Inc. in St. Louis. Is it worth the $350? Bob

If you are a beginner, yes. Coming back after a long hiatus, yes. Been ffing for a year, maybe. Been ffing for a few years, no. Dave LaCourse

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depends…is that the one that includes budweiser? jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just signed up for the three day class with Outdoors, Inc. in St. Louis. Is it worth the $350? Bob

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Question:

I will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for anything.  I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National Park, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai Peninsula and Prince William sound region.  Rivers that I can hike to and fish would be ideal.  Is there anyone who has been to that region that might have any information about what there is to fish for and where I could access the best spots on rivers. Tight lines, Brent

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I will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for anything.  I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National Park, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai Peninsula and Prince William sound region.  Rivers that I can hike to and fish would be ideal.  Is there anyone who has been to that region that might have any information about what there is to fish for and where I could access the best spots on rivers. Tight lines, Brent

You are hiking the entire Kenai and Prince Williams Sound. Are you sure you have a map that shows a scale? Anyway, I would be more worried about my boots then the fishing.  Walt in Juneau, AK.

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I apologize for the confusion.  These are general areas that I am considering.  I only plan on going to Denali for a week and then one other specific place for a week.  I would love some input as to which areas would give me the best opportunities for good hiking and GREAT fishing in July.  I would want to fish for trout or salmon.  (I’m not picky). Any response would be helpful. Thanks, Brent – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for anything.  I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National Park, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai Peninsula and Prince William sound region.  Rivers that I can hike to and fish would be ideal.  Is there anyone who has been to that region that might have any information about what there is to fish for and where I could access the best spots on rivers. Tight lines, Brent You are hiking the entire Kenai and Prince Williams Sound. Are you sure you have a map that shows a scale? Anyway, I would be more worried about my boots then the fishing.  Walt in Juneau, AK.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for anything.  I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National Park, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai Peninsula and Prince William sound region.  Rivers that I can hike to and fish would be ideal.  Is there anyone who has been to that region that might have any information about what there is to fish for and where I could access the best spots on rivers. Tight lines, Brent You are hiking the entire Kenai and Prince Williams Sound. Are you sure you have a map that shows a scale? Anyway, I would be more worried about my boots then the fishing.  Walt in Juneau, AK. Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en" <html &nbsp; <blockquote TYPE=CITEI will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for <branything.&nbsp; I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National <brPark, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai <brPeninsula and Prince William sound region.&nbsp; Rivers that I can hike to <brand fish would be ideal.&nbsp; Is there anyone who has been to that region <brthat might have any information about what there is to fish for and <brwhere I could access the best spots on rivers. <pTight lines, <pBrent</blockquote You are hiking the <ientire Kenai and Prince Williams Sound.</i Are you sure you have a map that shows a scale? Anyway, I would be more worried about my boots then the fishing.&nbsp; Walt in Juneau, AK.</html At Denali call Glacier Expeditions toll Free 1-877-880-9045 they kn

Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

Someone wrote, about Slough Creek: The fish’s condition, IMO, left much to be desired. They appeared healthy but their fights were normally poor considering their size. The fish were long, large headed and skinny. I was surprised to see large headed fish over 20". The only times I’ve seen large headed fish were in populations of fish that were stunted due to over population or lack of food. Every large headed fish I had seen in the past was small. Interesting.

Some Slough cutts will fight hard, others won’t. There’s been 3 consecutive years of dought, which might have something to do with their late season lethargy. Once, when still guiding, I took an old guy out–on the Yellowstone. He was in his mid-80’s and could hardly stand up. He was cheerful about it. He was some kind of an environmental big shot. He had known Starker and Aldo Leopold. Late in the evening, when we should have already taken out, I stood downstream of the old guy and propped him up while he tossed a large hopper into a riffle near Carbella bridge. He hooked a fish that made my jaw drop. I saw the dorsal fin break the water and thought it had to be at least ten pounds. When we finally got the fish to the net, it turned out to be a 22" cutthroat. It was the first time I had ever been dissapointed to see a fish that long. Judging from the dorsal fin and the tail, which we had seen several times before we got him in, I thought he must surely be 6" longer than that. This cutthroat looked like an expanded version of a Beartooth Plateau brook trout: fully 1/2 of it’s 22" length was head! That’s trout’s head almost a foot long! I could have put a clinched fist into his mouth. I don’t know how old he was, but he seemed to survive us. I got 2-3 quick pictures (with the customer’s daughter’s camera) and let him go. How old does a trout get? That one had to be somewhere near the upper limit. ….got a $200 tip for that fish, which was a record of sorts in itself, at least for me.

Response:

He hooked a fish that made my jaw drop. I saw the dorsal fin break the water and thought it had to be at least ten pounds. When we finally got the fish to the net, it turned out to be a 22" cutthroat. It was the first time I had ever been dissapointed to see a fish that long. Judging from the dorsal fin and the tail, which we had seen several times before we got him in, I thought he must surely be 6" longer than that. This cutthroat looked like an expanded version of a Beartooth Plateau brook trout: fully 1/2 of it’s 22" length was head! That’s trout’s head almost a foot long!

The Cutts we caught in the Yellowstone were typical small headed fish and fat. The smaller Cutts we caught in other places were also typically proportioned. The Slough Creek fish were the only ones I remember with big heads. Willi

Response:

The Slough Creek fish were the only ones I remember with big heads. Willi

I’ve been fishing Slough Creek for over 15 years and have never caught a cut that was abnormally proportioned.   I’m sorry to hear of your experience Willi. Must be bad luck Joel Axelrad **DFD**

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The Slough Creek fish were the only ones I remember with big heads. Willi I’ve been fishing Slough Creek for over 15 years and have never caught a cut that was abnormally proportioned. I’m sorry to hear of your experience Willi. Must be bad luck Joel Axelrad **DFD**

Maybe it was my perception, but I felt that the majority of the fish we caught were large headed. Willi

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Maybe it was my perception, but I felt that the majority of the fish we caught were large headed.

I am still wondering if the low water levels and above normal water temps haven’t done something to the food supply.  The fish in the 1st and 3rd meadows seemed normal to me. — Warren Findley Remove (nospamZZ) to respond via email http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt/

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Maybe it was my perception, but I felt that the majority of the fish we caught were large headed. I am still wondering if the low water levels and above normal water temps haven’t done something to the food supply.  The fish in the 1st and 3rd meadows seemed normal to me.

I thought the fish is the second meadow were very sluggish fighters. They looked like normal cutthroat to me, but they came to hand with a deplorable lack of vigor. I don’t know whether this was due to the warm water, or the food supply, or the fact that this is one of the most heavily fished areas in the Park. Maybe it was a combination of all three factors, and maybe more. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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They looked like normal cutthroat to me, but they came to hand with a deplorable lack of vigor. I don’t know whether this was due to the warm water, or the food supply, or the fact that this is one of the most

Been out of state for a while and haven’t been able to post. My experience is that this type of sluggishness is due to the water temp. When it gets like that, I usually quite fishing. — Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana www.diamondnoutfitters.com

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They looked like normal cutthroat to me, but they came to hand with a deplorable lack of vigor. I don’t know whether this was due to the warm water, or the food supply, or the fact that this is one of the most Been out of state for a while and haven’t been able to post. My experience is that this type of sluggishness is due to the water temp. When it gets like that, I usually quite fishing.

I’ve only ever run into large headed fish on Spring Creek, PA – something I attribute to over stocking.  What’s the story here? Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – They looked like normal cutthroat to me, but they came to hand with a deplorable lack of vigor. I don’t know whether this was due to the warm water, or the food supply, or the fact that this is one of the most Been out of state for a while and haven’t been able to post. My experience is that this type of sluggishness is due to the water temp. When it gets like that, I usually quite fishing. I’ve only ever run into large headed fish on Spring Creek, PA – something I attribute to over stocking.  What’s the story here?

I’m the one that commented on the large headed fish. Steve didn’t see them that way. (Maybe he has some pix?) I can see a skinny fish in my mind of about 20" that was almost one third head. I remember thinking that the only fish I’ve seen proportioned in this way were stunted fish. But since the picture is Willi

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I can see a skinny fish in my mind of about 20" that was almost one third head. I remember thinking that the only fish I’ve seen proportioned in this way were stunted fish. But since the picture is Willi

Here’s one from PA. http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/images/brown.jpg I’m judging by the size of the mouth.  This 11" brown would’ve been 16" to 18" on the Grand, given the same sized mouth. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

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Slough Creek big fish always were very sluggish to me.  I’ve caught them from mid July to end of August and the BIG ones always acted slow.  Another strange thing was that they would play dead after being released.  The fish would swim off and go to the bottom belly up.  When you went over to get it to help revive it, it would quickly swim away. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – They looked like normal cutthroat to me, but they came to hand with a deplorable lack of vigor. I don’t know whether this was due to the warm water, or the food supply, or the fact that this is one of the most Been out of state for a while and haven’t been able to post. My experience is that this type of sluggishness is due to the water temp. When it gets like that, I usually quite fishing. — Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana www.diamondnoutfitters.com

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Excellent reports Willi, and I like the format of dividing them up for each place you  fished.  I never knew that cutts were so different in their approach to the dry – very cool. bruce h

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The fish’s condition, IMO, left much to be desired. They appeared healthy but their fights were normally poor considering their size. The fish were long, large headed and skinny. I was surprised to see large headed fish over 20". The only times I’ve seen large headed fish were in populations of fish that were stunted due to over population or lack of food. Every large headed fish I had seen in the past was small. Interesting.

That is interesting.  It makes you wonder how that even came to be.  It takes quite a bit of food to grow a fish over 20".  Yet, they looked malnourished.  So they must have been very old fish, another thing that doesn’t usually happen without good conditions.

Response:

We left too late for the walk into Slough Creek. Although the hike wasn’t steep, it was a pretty good hump into the second meadow where we fished and it was already hot when we started. Lots of sweat, the river was a welcome sight. The walk would have been much more pleasant in the cool of the morning. Slough Creek seems to me to be the most publicized water in Yellowstone and I was pleasantly surprised by the uncrowded conditions there.  We did run into a few people, but we pretty much had the river to ourselves. There were low, late summer water conditions. Being a meadow river, it was very placid with large oxbow pools punctuated by shallow runs with moderate current. The water was clear and sight fishing was possible for cruising or feeding fish, but the fish were also willing to rise a long distance from the bottom of the deep stretches to take a dry. The fishing was good, somewhat challenging and with lots of fish. The Cutts feeding behavior was very frustrating at first especially in the slow sections of deeper water. The fish would materialize out of the depth and slowly lift up below and behind the fly. Most would casually drift back with the current, hovering below the surface scrutinizing the fly. Some fish would then slowly sink back into the depth and others would SLOWLY inch toward the fly. Of the fish that moved to the fly, some would drift down at the last moment, some would nudge the fly, some would swat at the fly and others would take it with confidence in an agonizingly slow, deliberate manner. Many fish were sizable and their appearance out of the depths made them appear more so. The result was missed fish from false takes and from pulling the fly away before the fish took. The fish forced you to adopt their unhurried, deliberate approach. Their approach gave you a clear idea of what they though of your fly. For some flies they would just move a bit and retreat back, others they would scrutinize and reject, others they would slash at, bump, mouth or hit, and if you found the right one they would take it with slow assurance. A size 12 black deer hair beetle worked very well for me. We had a very good day of fishing with lots of fish even under the hot, bright sun. The fish’s condition, IMO, left much to be desired. They appeared healthy but their fights were normally poor considering their size. The fish were long, large headed and skinny. I was surprised to see large headed fish over 20". The only times I’ve seen large headed fish were in populations of fish that were stunted due to over population or lack of food. Every large headed fish I had seen in the past was small. Interesting.  We saw one truly large fish cruising in a backwater area. It was probably close to the length of Steve’s big fish from "Rattlesnake" but it would have weighed about a third as much. The area was very "western" to me with a nice mixture of bluffs, trees, meadow and huge skies. I enjoyed the day and plans had been made to go to the third meadow, but time seemed to while away and we didn’t make it back. Willi

Response:

……. The Cutts feeding behavior was very frustrating at first especially in the slow sections of deeper water. The fish would materialize out of the depth and slowly lift up below and behind the fly. Most would casually drift back with the current, hovering below the surface scrutinizing the fly. Some fish would then slowly sink back into the depth and others would SLOWLY inch toward the fly…….

Very nice report, Willi.  Over the years, I’ve gone from a confirmed dry fly fisher to a confirmed nympher.  When I do use dries or emergers, splashy rises don’t excite me much anymore.  The slow, painfully deliberate, all-too-visible rise of a big fish from the deep that you describe, however, remains one of the greatest, and trickiest, thrills in fishing.  Amazing how much tension can mount in the space of just a few seconds.  I think the best is when it happens in close, with the fish facing directly toward you, and you can see straight down its gullet as it opens up to take the fly. JR

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When talking about Slough Creek, one thinks of meadows (lower meadow, first meadow, second meadow and, if you have horses, third meadow).

You don’t need horses to get to third meadow. It’s only eight miles from the parking lot to the confluence of Slough & Elk Tongue Creeks. It’s an easy hike over a well maintained trail of less than 2.5 hours. What is the terrain like upstreams, between meadows ? Can one access the river ? is it worth fishing ?

I’ve only fished between second and third. It’s steep, the scree can be very dangerous but if you’re careful and choose your entry & exit points with prudence it’s quite fishable. Expect cutts to average 17" with the occasional 22" or better. — Ken Fortenberry

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As a matter of fact I just got off the phone with a friend who was up there last weekend and did really well between the first and second meadows. He said he was fishing in the tree line and caught one 18" cutt after another. He talked to a Ranger who said not many people fish between the meadows. Neither knew why, certainly not from a lack of fish. The best they could speculate was bears. Make sure you remember bear spray.  Might never need it, certainly won’t if you are dead. Warren PS-He was knocking them dead on parachute Adams.

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Interesting, it took me about 45 minutes to get to the 1st meadow, I thought it took 2 1/2 hrs to get to the 2nd meadow. Thanks, -Vittorio – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When talking about Slough Creek, one thinks of meadows (lower meadow, first meadow, second meadow and, if you have horses, third meadow). You don’t need horses to get to third meadow. It’s only eight miles from the parking lot to the confluence of Slough & Elk Tongue Creeks. It’s an easy hike over a well maintained trail of less than 2.5 hours. What is the terrain like upstreams, between meadows ? Can one access the river ? is it worth fishing ? I’ve only fished between second and third. It’s steep, the scree can be very dangerous but if you’re careful and choose your entry & exit points with prudence it’s quite fishable. Expect cutts to average 17" with the occasional 22" or better. — Ken Fortenberry

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Hmm, how often do serious bear accidents occur in Yellowstone ? You do not really hear about that many people eaten or even mangled, inspite of the fact that tourists can be real idiots (last year, every time a wild animal was spotted, a horde of turists would swarm from the cars towards the animal. I thought I would see someone gutted to death by an elk, a moose or  a bison by the end of my visit, however, this did not happen). I agree, though, bears can be frightful sight when fishing ….. -Vittorio – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As a matter of fact I just got off the phone with a friend who was up there last weekend and did really well between the first and second meadows. He said he was fishing in the tree line and caught one 18" cutt after another. He talked to a Ranger who said not many people fish between the meadows. Neither knew why, certainly not from a lack of fish. The best they could speculate was bears. Make sure you remember bear spray.  Might never need it, certainly won’t if you are dead. Warren PS-He was knocking them dead on parachute Adams.

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Get a copy of Mark of the Grizzly.  Excellent book about bear attacks.  Quite a few stories about Yellowstone tourists being eaten, people being attacked in Gardiner, ect ect.  If I remember correctly there was even one about an attack in Slough. Obviously not something Yellowstone would like to publicize.  You would probably be suprised at the number of non fatal bear "incidents".  For $40 it isn’t too bad of an investment.  Think of it as living insurance.  Probably won’t ever need it, but better to be safe than sorry.  I am going to buy some soon.  Especially after getting a little close for comfort a few weeks ago on Mill Creek in the Paradise Valley. Warren

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There’s a pretty bearanoia story (involving Sough Creek) at http://www.montana-riverboats.com/flies/     …under the Roadkill link…. — /* Sandy Pittendrigh                  –oO0  * http://www.nervana.montana.edu/~sandy  */

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Hi folks, I have a question regarding Slough Creek in Yellowstone. When talking about Slough Creek, one thinks of meadows (lower meadow, first meadow, second meadow and, if you have horses, third meadow). How about between meadows ? Below the lower meadow, the river gets into a steep canyon which is somewhat unaccessible, and can be dangerous (or so books say, I have never tried it). What is the terrain like upstreams, between meadows ? Can one access the river ? is it worth fishing ? Thanks, -Vittorio

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Question:

When I was ready for the purchase I brought my own reel with 6 wt. line.  I brought both rods out and cast them using the same line and reel setup.  I actually tried 3 models of Sage rods.  After the Sage I tried the Scott.  I bought the Scott.  BTW, I had also tried Loomis, Redington, Orvis, and Diamondback that day and Fenwick, Cortland, and St. Croix earlier.  It boiled down to what worked best for my casting style and preference.  There are two big fly fishing shows in Maryland in two weeks and a better place to compare virtually all the manufacturers could not be found.  Bring your own reel and line setup so you can compare apples. Wayne To fish is human…to release divine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     Which rod is better – Scott or Sage? Why? Thanks for your time. G Wilson

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My old man was a cabinet maker who said a poor workman always blames his tools. In the right hands (appropriate skills and experience) probably almost any reputable manufacturer’s rod would be good, so pick the one YOU prefer. I personally use one Orvis and one Sage rod. Both have served me well. regards from Montreal John Brkich

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    Which rod is better – Scott or Sage? Why? Thanks for your time. G Wilson

I’d agree with all the comments to the effect that it is a matter of individual casting style. I would point out though, that Scott and Sage appear to be at opposite ends of the fast/slow spectrum, based on my modicum of experience. There are shop owners here who can probably comment further on this issue. For a novice, basically the Sage would seem really stiff in comparison to the Scott. The Sage would probably seem easier to cast, at least at first. Personally, I fish a Winston IM6 4 weight most of the time. Scotts were too slow for me, Sages too fast. Good Luck Rick

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     Which rod is better – Scott or Sage? Why? Thanks for your time. G Wilson

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    Which rod is better – Scott or Sage? Why? Thanks for your time. G Wilson

Very Simple. Whichever one fits your casting style. Years ago, my flyshop sent me a LL 9 footer to try when I was looking for a 4wt. Fished it on a Pa Spring creek. When the dealer called to ask how I liked it, I told him I had good news and bad news. life. Took 2-1/2 hours to do what should have taken 2-1/2 minutes. Bottom line: ordered a 4 wt Scott and never looked back. All my rods are now Scotts (Harry, SF vintage) and I love them, but that is because they suit my casting/fishing style. Don’t let someone tell you which to buy. Fish them both and buy the one that fits you. The Scott does have one real advantage though. The line weight specified really is the correct line weight. With the Sage, no way (unless they’ve changed recently) Good Luck, BP

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     Which rod is better – Scott or Sage? Why? Thanks for your time. G Wilson Very Simple. Whichever one fits your casting style. Years ago, my flyshop sent me a LL 9 footer to try when I was looking for a 4wt. Fished it on a Pa Spring creek. When the dealer called to ask how I liked it, I told him I had good news and bad news. life. Took 2-1/2 hours to do what should have taken 2-1/2 minutes. Bottom line: ordered a 4 wt Scott and never looked back. All my rods are now Scotts (Harry, SF vintage) and I love them, but that is because they suit my casting/fishing style. Don’t let someone tell you which to buy. Fish them both and buy the one that fits you. The Scott does have one real advantage though. The line weight specified really is the correct line weight. With the Sage, no way (unless they’ve changed recently) Good Luck, BP

Hi BP, I think you pretty well hit it on the head. We all don’t need the same length, line size or action because of our different casting styles and different fishing conditions. I agree that the old original G series Scott and also the Winston IM6 series rods are a little softer than the Sage LL series. The softer rods will work in a little closer, but might not cast as well in longer places or the wind. It is always a compromise. I see trout stream fly fishers going to softer, light rods as they get better and more experienced. The softer and light rods will allow you to land bigger fish on lighter tippets too. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

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Question:

Hello all- I want to relate the experience I had my first time……flyfishing. (You were expecting something else?)   Last winter I ran across a Martin 6/7wt rod & reel at Target. It’s not my first choice for a place to buy fishing gear, but at $20 on clearance I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I upgraded the reel to a Martin 63SS (also on clearance for $10), and then, after much consideration, fitted it w/ an Air-cell WF line.  I already had a float tube and have been enjoying that using my spinning rod. So finally, The Long Winter was over, the staircase I promised my wife for Christmas 3 yrs ago was built, and I hit the water last Sunday (5/18). There’s a small, maybe 80 acre, spring fed lake near my home in East Central MN. that I like to go to….full of Bass, crappie, sunnies, and a few northerns. Just before I was about to take off a wind kicked up out of the N/NE about 15-20 mph, which I figured wouldn’t bode well for a novice, so I went with the idea of probably just practicing casting, maybe staying for an hour or so. ……Four or five hours later, I figured I better quit because my hand was starting to cramp up. I haven’t had that much fun in a LONG time! I think I might be an addict…..I didn’t catch but three fish, none of them wighing much more than the fly, or wooly bugger, or whatever it was I had tied on, but the freedom of the tube along with the lightness of the tackle is, I believe, my kind of sport. I’m already thinking of upgrading again.  Do I have a disease? Thanks for listening.  Just thought I’d share my good times. Later, Pete

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Peter, Sorry to say, but yes you are hooked. It’s a slow, painful, yet incredibly enjoyable death and the support groups are a blast!!! Welcome to the ring and Fish On Fly Boy!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello all- I want to relate the experience I had my first time……flyfishing. (You were expecting something else?)   Last winter I ran across a Martin 6/7wt rod & reel at Target. It’s not my first choice for a place to buy fishing gear, but at $20 on clearance I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I upgraded the reel to a Martin 63SS (also on clearance for $10), and then, after much consideration, fitted it w/ an Air-cell WF line.  I already had a float tube and have been enjoying that using my spinning rod. So finally, The Long Winter was over, the staircase I promised my wife for Christmas 3 yrs ago was built, and I hit the water last Sunday (5/18). There’s a small, maybe 80 acre, spring fed lake near my home in East Central MN. that I like to go to….full of Bass, crappie, sunnies, and a few northerns. Just before I was about to take off a wind kicked up out of the N/NE about 15-20 mph, which I figured wouldn’t bode well for a novice, so I went with the idea of probably just practicing casting, maybe staying for an hour or so. ……Four or five hours later, I figured I better quit because my hand was starting to cramp up. I haven’t had that much fun in a LONG time! I think I might be an addict…..I didn’t catch but three fish, none of them wighing much more than the fly, or wooly bugger, or whatever it was I had tied on, but the freedom of the tube along with the lightness of the tackle is, I believe, my kind of sport. I’m already thinking of upgrading again.  Do I have a disease? Thanks for listening.  Just thought I’d share my good times. Later, Pete

David726 E-mail for further assistance to:

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: Do I have a disease? Oh poor poor Pete!  My pitty goes out to you, and I understand because the same thing has happened to me in the last year. I have it so bad that the other day my wife said I should just go to Alaska for 6 months fishing and get it all out of my system.  Her thought was that then I could come back and be cured of my angling, and recently fly fishing disease. I explained to her that would be equivelant to sending a cocaine addict to Columbia expecting him to come back clean. Does anybody know what the fish in Alaska will be hitting on over the next 6 months.  ;-) — Kevin W. Tharp http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/4351

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Hello all- I want to relate the experience I had my first time……flyfishing. (You were expecting something else?)  

Well sort of.  We get a lot of these, and I was hoping beyond hope that maybe it was in fact something else.  Oh well. Last winter I ran across a Martin 6/7wt rod & reel at Target. It’s not my first choice for a place to buy fishing gear, but at $20 on clearance I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I upgraded the reel to a Martin 63SS (also on clearance for $10), and then, after much consideration, fitted it w/ an Air-cell WF line.  I already had a float tube and have been enjoying that using my spinning rod.

Well you could go wrong, but what the hell! So finally, The Long Winter was over, the staircase I promised my wife for Christmas 3 yrs ago was built, and I hit the water last Sunday (5/18). There’s a small, maybe 80 acre, spring fed lake near my home in East Central MN.

Whoa! Kewl!  Where in Mn pray tell? that I like to go to….full of Bass, crappie, sunnies, and a few northerns. Just before I was about to take off a wind kicked up out of the N/NE about 15-20 mph, which I figured wouldn’t bode well for a novice, so I went with the idea of probably just practicing casting, maybe staying for an hour or so.

Sounds just like MN. ……Four or five hours later, I figured I better quit because my hand was starting to cramp up. I haven’t had that much fun in a LONG time! I think I might be an addict…..I didn’t catch but three fish, none of them wighing much more than the fly, or wooly bugger, or whatever it was I had tied on, but the freedom of the tube along with the lightness of the tackle is, I believe, my kind of sport. I’m already thinking of upgrading again.  Do I have a disease?

Yes.  Most likely.  Some doofus around here might make some lame reference to Traver’s Trout Madness, but not me.  It probably has something to do with minnesota.  Long, round vowels.  Ending sentences with prepositions.  Inclination towards bland foodstuffs. Polka Music (God I hope you don’t live near Sturgeon Lake:-)).  Mosquitos. Calling creeks cricks.  Grain Belt.  The Vikings. Letting an NHL hockey team go like that.  It’s a disease all right, and you have it.   And don’t think that FFing is going to save from it – nope you’re f__king doomed pal. One thing will help, and that doesnt include NEVER GOING TO THE WHITE RIVER NEAR IRON RIVER WISC.  That won’t help you one iota.  So don’t bother going there.  Stay away.  Tell your friends so they go and leave all the good water to you. Thanks for listening.  Just thought I’d share my good times.

Always up for that. </chaz

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Like a Sturgeon.. oh oh… Hooked for the very first time… Like a stur-ur-ur-urgeon… I feel its heartbeat… through my line… I’ll stop now… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

There is.. a fish ..upon a dish.. They call the rising trout… it’s often seen by those who are keen.. but not by those who shout… — Colin J. McPherson B.Eng. Design and Structures Group, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath,Bath,U.K.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Like a Sturgeon.. oh oh… Hooked for the very first time… Like a stur-ur-ur-urgeon… I feel its heartbeat… through my line… I’ll stop now… — TimW Halfordian Golfer There is.. a fish ..upon a dish.. They call the rising trout… it’s often seen by those who are keen.. but not by those who shout…

"…hey !" Now you got the toes tapping…we could be in some serious trouble by friday… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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Sorry if this has been repeated, It was April the 41st, being a quadruple leapyear, I was driving in downtown Atlantis.  My Barracuda was in the shop, so, I was in a rented Stingray, and it was overheating.  So I pulled into a Shell station, they said I’d blown a seal.  I said:  "Fix the damn thing and leave my private life out of it, okay pal?"  While they were doing that I walked over to a place called the Oyster Bar.  A real dive. But I knew the owner, he used to play for the dolphins.  I said "Hi Gill!", you have to yell, he’s hard of herring.   Gill was also down on his luck, fact is he was barely keeping his head below water.  I bellied up to the sandbar, he poured the usual:  Rusty snail, hold the grunion, shaken, not stirred, with a peanut butter and jelly-fish sandwich on the side, heavy on the mako.  I slipped him a finn, on porpoise.  I was feelin’ good.  I even dropped a sand-dollar in the box for Jerry’s Squids, for the halibut.  Well, the place was crowded.  We were packed in like sardines, they were all there to listen to the big band sounds of Tommy Dorsal.  What sole!  Tommy was rockin the place with a very popular tuna:  "Salmon Chanted Evening", and the stage was surrounded by screaming groupers.  Probably there to see the bass player.  One of them, she was this cute little yellowtail.  And she’s givin’ me the eye.  So I figure this is my chance for a little fun, you know, a piece of pisces.  But she said things I just couldn’t fathom.  She was too deep.  Seemed to be under a lot of pressure.  Boy, could she drink.  She drank like a… er, she drank a lot!  I said: "What’s your sign?"  She said: "Aquarian"  I said "great, let’s get tanked".   I invited her up to my place for a little midnight bait.  I said come on baby you wanna, it’ll only take a few minnows.  She threw me that same old line:  "Not tonight, I got a haddock"  And she wasn’t kiddin either cause, in came the biggest, meanest looking haddock I’d ever seen come down the pike.  He was covered with Mussels.  He came over to me and he said:  "Listen Shrimp, Don’t you come trolling around here."  What a crab.  This guy was steamed.  I could see the anchor in his eyes.  I turned to him and said "ah, baloney, you’re just being shellfish."  Well, I know there was going to be trouble, and so did Gil, cause he was already on the phone to the cods.  The haddock hits me with a sucker punch.  I catch him with a left hook.  He eels over.  It was a fluke.  But there he was, lying on the deck, flat as a mackerel.  Kelpless.  I said:  "Forget the cods Gil, this guy’s gonna  need a sturgeon."  Well, the yellowtail was impressed with the way I landed her boyfriend.  She came over to me and she said "Hey bigboy","you’re really a game fish, what’s your name?"  I said "Marlin."   Well, from then on, we had a whale of a time.  I took her to dinner, I took her to dance.  I bought her a bouquet of flounders.  And then I went home with her.  And what did I get for my trouble:  A case of the clams.  

Response:

Like a Sturgeon.. oh oh… Hooked for the very first time… Like a stur-ur-ur-urgeon… I feel its heartbeat… through my line… I’ll stop now… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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Question:

Will be heading to the Bighorn the first week of may.  looking for others experiences this time of year.  Also, heard there may be some type of algee released from the lake this time of year.  Is this true?  Is there an impact on nymphing?  What else can you tell me?

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Will be heading to the Bighorn the first week of may.  looking for others experiences this time of year.  Also, heard there may be some type of algee released from the lake this time of year.  Is this true?  Is there an impact on nymphing?  What else can you tell me?

I recommend you contact Bob Krumm, well know Bighorn guide at and it’s condition at different times of the year. Good luck. — Tight Lines ….. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products http://www.btsflyfishing.com Tiemco quality hooks, under $6.00 pkg/50

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Question:

Need advice on where to look for  an inexpensive (<$100) 4 peice pack rod (preferably 9′ 6 wt)–used or new.  If anyone knows of a good

Look for glass rods with the Abu or Fenwick name — probably no longer sold new, but the old ones must be somewhere…. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Need advice on where to look for  an inexpensive (<$100) 4 peice pack rod (preferably 9′ 6 wt)–used or new.  If anyone knows of a good starting point would appreciate a tip!

Response:

Need advice on where to look for  an inexpensive (<$100) 4 peice pack rod (preferably 9′ 6 wt)–used or new.  If anyone knows of a good starting point would appreciate a tip!

For the same money, you might be able to get a better quality rod by going to a two piece rod.  Put it in a schedule 40 PVC tube and use it for a walking stick.  It helps me a lot crossing streams and going up/ down steep inclines.  The thin wall PVC won’t hold up as well if you really put your weight on it (like when you need it most).   Rob

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: For the same money, you might be able to get a better quality rod by : going to a two piece rod.  Put it in a schedule 40 PVC tube and use it : for a walking stick.  It helps me a lot crossing streams and going up/ : down steep inclines.  The thin wall PVC won’t hold up as well if you : really put your weight on it (like when you need it most).   Rob, I also use two-piece rods hiking and backpacking.  I carry them in a sturdy PVC tube and use the tube as a walking stick.  If I ever fell right on top of it. . . well I think I would rather have the rod break than me (but I am not too sure). Schedule 40 PVC?  Hmmm.  I guess I will know what to ask for next time I acquire a PVC rod tube.  Thanks for the terminology. Cheers, Burnaby, BC

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Check and see if you can find a st. Croix dealer in canada. I bought two 4 pc.    pack

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Hi, If you are into building your own rod the River’s Edge in Bozeman, MT has Sage second blank (4 peice pack rods) for about $130.00.  If you think you might be interested you can call them at 406-586-5373. Good Luck Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (catalog avail)

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Al, Thanks for the post.  I saw your message of Jan 4 regarding the River’s Edge and the sage seconds.  We live in Chicago and have a tough time finding a source for seconds, especially travel rods at this price! Bryan and company at rivers edge were quite helpful.  I just purchased two of the blanks and there in the mail now.

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St. Croix is available in Canada at a decent price.  Diawa makes a 4 – 5 wt. that fishs very well.  Pack rods at low prices can be hard to find.  Good luck. Peter – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Check and see if you can find a st. Croix dealer in canada. I bought two 4 pc.    pack

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Check the Cabela’s 1996 Spring catalog.  They’re listing a 4pc. pack rod blank (9′/6wt I think) for less than $50.  They list it as an import, but who knows.

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I looking for an moderately priced pack rod, and have found a Cabela’s Fish Eagle 8′ 4wt. for #116.  Anybody out there have any opinions about the rod?

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I really like the St. Croix Imperial, 8′ for 4/5 in a 4 piece … rod holder included for around $125. Also it has a lifetime guarantee … I like the intermediate action so much that I am fishing it almost as my #1 rod. bob vorel

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Question:

I’ve heard that someone makes a CD-ROM on fly tying.  If you have info on who make this, please respond ASAP.  Need as going away gift. — Kelly Mills http://www.vni.net/~hitech/kmills.htm

Response:

I’ve heard that someone makes a CD-ROM on fly tying.  If you have info
on who make this, please respond ASAP.  Need as going away gift.
–
Kelly Mills

http://www.vni.net/~hitech/kmills.htm

The current Fly Fisherman has an ad for the CD you want, with the phone number to order it. I also saw this CD at a fly shop in Indianapolis so it is probably being stocked in many flyshops now. The Virtual Flyfisher web site has a review of it in this month’s online magazine.

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Kelly,    I have just received a copy of ”Tying Flies for Trout” by Elkwing Productions, P.O. Box 789, Waitsfield, VT 05673.    In my first look through it, I was somewhat impressed. It offers quite a variety of fly recipes, and includes six videos that take the tyer through the entire process for tying a particular fly.    It works on Macs and PCs and the production values are pretty good, although there are a problem or two (it was hard to hear the commentator during the tying videos). But the photos are good and you can blow them up quite large to get a good look at them.    Sorry I don’t have a phone number, but the above info might help you get started. All the rest of the info is at the office.    By the way, I am the outdoor editor for the Great Falls Tribune, in Great Falls, MT. just to let you know this was an objective opinion and not an employee shilling their product.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Kelly,   I have just received a copy of ”Tying Flies for Trout” by Elkwing Productions, P.O. Box 789, Waitsfield, VT 05673.   In my first look through it, I was somewhat impressed. It offers quite a variety of fly recipes, and includes six videos that take the tyer through the entire process for tying a particular fly.   It works on Macs and PCs and the production values are pretty good, although there are a problem or two (it was hard to hear the commentator during the tying videos). But the photos are good and you can blow them up quite large to get a good look at them.   Sorry I don’t have a phone number, but the above info might help you get started. All the rest of the info is at the office.   By the way, I am the outdoor editor for the Great Falls Tribune, in Great Falls, MT. just to let you know this was an objective opinion and not an employee shilling their product.

I’ve been looking for the same thing.  The phone number to Waitsfield "Learn to Tie Flies on CD"  is 800 411-3984.  There is a small add on page 76 in January/February issue of FlyRod&Reel. Dennis DiAugustine

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Hi Kelly, A good fly tying CD Rom is Tying Flies for TROUT by Dick Stewart & Farrow Allen.  It uses video as well as still photography to bring a wide array of flies to you. It my very well be the same CD as talked about by others on this thread. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (catalog avail)

Response:

I’ve heard that someone makes a CD-ROM on fly tying.  If you have info
on who make this, please respond ASAP.  Need as going away gift.
–
Kelly Mills

        We carry the Dick Stewart & Farrow Allen CD "Tying Flies for Trout" which has fly tying video clips, patterns, instruction for tying the patterns, reference materials concerning fly tying and the like. The price is $49.95 + shipping.         To order call us (HunterBanks Co., the southeast’s premier fly shop) at 800-227-6732.

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Hello! Yes, CD ROM with databse of flies is manufactured by: Fine Line Classic Collection address: Langoddveien 49 N-1335 Snaroya Norway Phone: 47 66849622 Fax: 47 67532840 They have no mail address. Product name: FlyLab for Windows The software is in two versions. FlyLab ver. 1.2 Light on discettes contains 300 patters. Price NOK 495,- FlyLab ver. 1.2 Full on discettes or CD Rom contains 900 patterns. Pris NOK 995,- Prices ex. mailing costs. Hardware spec: Minimum 386 /4mb RAM 256 color 36 Mb HD Windows 3.1 Rec. Hw. 486 /8 Mb RAM 32/64 color 48 Mb Hd Windows 3.11 The databse gives possibilities to add privat patterns as well as making notes on the original. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to mail me. Best Regards Erik R=F8hne

Response:

I’ve heard that someone makes a CD-ROM on fly tying.  If you have info on who make this, please respond ASAP.  Need as going away gift. The current Fly Fisherman has an ad for the CD you want, with the phone number to order it. I also saw this CD at a fly shop in Indianapolis so it is probably being stocked in many flyshops now. The Virtual Flyshop web site has a review of it in this month’s online magazine.

Try http://www.flyshop.com/Mall/Elkwing "Tying Flies for Trout" by Farrow and Allen. — Mike Tucker-  The Virtual Flyshop Web: http://www.flyshop.com Phone: 970/225-6445

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