Question:

if there’s one extra person we could have there, bar none, it’d be you.  and if it helps, we’re all jealous of you 100% of the time.  let me quote (loosely) the great jimmy buffett: you got your pickup washed and you just got paid, with any luck at all you might even get laid, rockin and a rollin on a livingston saturday night. there’s that, the yellowstone, madison, gallatin, bighorn, and bridger bowl and big sky also. bruce h

        i’ll be damned if i don’t think i see some tar heel in you goddam cowboys!  good thinkin, and good talkin, bruce! your friend in the old north state wayno

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<snipped I’ll get tying some up for us. bc. — Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. -Benjamin Franklin

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It is working again.

thanks warren, i thought i’d done something miraculous when the treads started coming up readable again. Wish I was able to make it.  I am getting really jealous right now.

if there’s one extra person we could have there, bar none, it’d be you.  and if it helps, we’re all jealous of you 100% of the time.  let me quote (loosely) the great jimmy buffett: you got your pickup washed and you just got paid, with any luck at all you might even get laid, rockin and a rollin on a livingston saturday night. there’s that, the yellowstone, madison, gallatin, bighorn, and bridger bowl and big sky also. bruce h — bare your soul let your spirit burn out along the road to no return – r.e. keen Before you buy.

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Let me know what size the grey ones are, and I’ll tie some up.

i’m not sure but i think they’re slightly larger.  use a tiemco 2488 size 24 and grey thread.  black thread for the rib and a crystal flash emerger wing.  black thread head. i bet we just see continued hatches of those tiny black midges, but who knows. bruce h — bare your soul let your spirit burn out along the road to no return – r.e. keen Before you buy.

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I didn’t get your original post on my news server, I had to go to Deja to read it.

   I can’t get anything on the web today, just e-mail and newsgroups. Do you think Al Gore got so mad he turned off the internet?

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yes, absolutely.  100% tiny black midges as far as i could tell.  with that black midge, the hatch goes quickly and the fish don’t take emergers for very long.

I have some black midges that I tied for the Green earlier this year. I’ll remember to bring them for this trip. the other midge i see a lot is grey with a black rib.  when those bugs hatch it seems like the hatch lasts longer and that the fish really get going on emergers.  just a theory though.

Almost sounds like a Grey RS2.  What size? and i’m told there are many other common midge hatches up there, it just seems like i either see black ones or grey ones with the black rib.

Let me know what size the grey ones are, and I’ll tie some up. bc. — Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. -Benjamin Franklin

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Are they the tiny little black midges?

yes, absolutely.  100% tiny black midges as far as i could tell.  with that black midge, the hatch goes quickly and the fish don’t take emergers for very long. the other midge i see a lot is grey with a black rib.  when those bugs hatch it seems like the hatch lasts longer and that the fish really get going on emergers.  just a theory though. and i’m told there are many other common midge hatches up there, it just seems like i either see black ones or grey ones with the black rib. bruce h — bare your soul let your spirit burn out along the road to no return – r.e. keen Before you buy.

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<excellent scouting report snipped

Bruce, Thanks for the report. I didn’t get your original post on my news server, I had to go to Deja to read it. I’m hoping this spell of good weather we’re having lasts for the Juan get together. Willi

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Willi, I did not get the original post either.   Bruce, Awesome report. Thanks for the selfless act of doing some recon for our benefit. I am sure the other fellow clavers thank you as well. You said people were using dry flies.  Are they the tiny little black midges? bc. — Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. -Benjamin Franklin

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<excellent scouting report snipped 1.  I can’t get email right now, and i’m actually having trouble with deja.com – when i get into the newsgroup the posts aren’t grouped into threads and the latest posts are from 11/21.  If anyone can help me here, i’d appreciate it.  In the meantime, if you need to reach me, call me at work 800-776-5973.  (bruce hopper’s my full name).

It is working again.  They were doing some maintenence on Deja and that was why it pulled up the weird format for the newsgroups.  When it puts a ‘*’ in the search section it means they are doing some work on the system. always wears breathables, but i switched to neoprenes at lunch and i was much more comfy after that, except when i stepped in a little deep and felt that awful feeling of water inside the waders.

There is a product called Simmseal (sp?) that works wonders for leaky neoprenes.  It is a liquid neoprene and you just pour a drop on the leak, spread it around a little and let it set.  Very easy fix once you find the leak. Wish I was able to make it.  I am getting really jealous right now. — Warren Before you buy.

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I made it up to the SJ saturday to try to figure out where the fish are before everyone shows up.  Here’s a list of mostly unrelated observations: 1.  I can’t get email right now, and i’m actually having trouble with deja.com – when i get into the newsgroup the posts aren’t grouped into threads and the latest posts are from 11/21.  If anyone can help me here, i’d appreciate it.  In the meantime, if you need to reach me, call me at work 800-776-5973.  (bruce hopper’s my full name). 2.  It’s certainly tougher to see into the water with the sun so low, but when the fish are making rise forms, either taking emergers or dries, they’re easy to see.  I used several tricks to spot fish holding deeper, because sight fishing with nymphs is one of the most productive methods for me up there.  I stood on the bank, varied my angle, squinted, etc.  Early in the day, you can see into the water well from the north side of the river.  The rest of the day it help to face north and get the sun at your back. 3.  There was maybe 2.5 hrs during the day where the fish were taking dries.  I saw lots of fish on dries out in the current about 200 yards below texas hole – also a good place to get some water to yourself.  I caught fish by just putting emergers on the surface.  When i actually picked out a single fish and used a few different dry fly/tippet combos, all i got was refusals.  Tough customers. 4.  Knowing where the fish are is so important now, so i scouted the area right below the dam where the fish are known to be plentiful, large, and very selective.  They mostly take the tiny midge patterns close to the dam, although lots of folks fish leeches, worms, and eggs up there also.  I picked up only two fish there after lots of work. Both on size 24 red larva.  All day i landed 10 fish and that counts two smaller ones. 5.  Overall it was a bit of a frustrating day.  Ten fish isn’t bad, but i caught about 4 in the last half hour, nymphing deep in the main channel, blind casting where i knew there were fish.  It was cold all day and i dropped 4 or 5 flies before tying them on.  When you drop a size 24 ufo, don’t bother looking for it.  I’m one of those guys who always wears breathables, but i switched to neoprenes at lunch and i was much more comfy after that, except when i stepped in a little deep and felt that awful feeling of water inside the waders. 6.  I fish there a lot and i’ve got all the patterns and equipment, etc, but getting advice from me is a lot different than fishing with a guide.  For some reason they’ve just got it dialed in, and I think it’s mostly knowing where the fish are holding at that particular time. I’ve only fished with a guide four times up there, and each time i’ve caught far more fish than i would’ve on my own.  If anyone wants a guide for a day, i’d recommend Chris Guikema http://www.sanjuanworm.com – he is friendly and an excellent guide.  Craig at Float n Fish said he’d guide for this group (he knows we’re coming) and fishing with him would be a treat also.  Float n Fish has no website, but they can be reached at 505-632-5385 – Craig or Ray will usually answer the phone. 7.  The water was still clear, lake turnover hasn’t started yet.  Every day that goes by clear increases our chances of encountering cloudy water 8.  Something i’ve noticed lately:  Lots of guys enter the river carrying two rods, one set up for dries, one for nymphs.  At first i thought "give me a break" but when i think about it it makes some sense.  Lots of times i see fish surfacing so i quickly pull the yarn out of my leader and pop the indicator knot out and switch to emergers or a dry and by the time i’ve made the change, maybe three minutes, the fish aren’t rising any more.  So, i switch back to a deep rig and re rig and indicator (5 min) only to find the fish surfacing again. Either i’m real dumb (very likely) or these "two rod" guys have a good idea. I’m really looking forward to seeing/meeting everyone. bruce h — bare your soul let your spirit burn out along the road to no return – r.e. keen Before you buy.

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Question:

I’ll be in Richand-Pasco, WA next week and would like to get some time on the river in between job assignments. What can anyone tell me about this area?  All I read is that the rivers are big; I would need a boat to fish them; and the fish on the Columbia around the Hanford area will glow! I’d appreciate any tips on flies and conditions. Regino —

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<< I’ll be in Richand-Pasco, WA next week and would like to get some time on the river in between job assignments. What can anyone tell me about this area?  All I read is that the rivers are big; I would need a boat to fish them; and the fish on the Columbia around the Hanford area will glow! I’d appreciate any tips on flies and conditions. Regino   Regino, You will be about an hour to hour and a half from the famous Yakima River.  I highly recommend fishing it for wild Rainbow trout.  A local store in the area keeps a good web page about conditions.  I believe it is www.worleybugger.com In case that isn’t the right URL search under Worly Bugger Fly Shop. Fishing on the Columbia is very limited this time of year.  You can head over towards the Idaho border and get into some Spring Chinooks.  The Clearwater would be a decent bet there.  Unfortunately, I don’t fish that run so can’t be much help. Mike Spokane, WA

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I’ll be in Richand-Pasco, WA next week and would like to get some time on the river in between job assignments. What can anyone tell me about this area?  All I read is that the rivers are big; I would need a boat to fish them; and the fish on the Columbia around the Hanford area will glow! I’d appreciate any tips on flies and conditions. Regino

The Yakima River between Yakima and Ellensburg is pretty good.  It takes a bit over an hour to get there from Richland.   Unfortunately, this time of year usually means considerable flow in the river to support irrigation, but you may be able to find decent fish along the banks using hoppers. About an hour north of Richland is a spring creek called Rocky Ford.  It is between Moses Lake and Ephrata off of SR 17.  When I lived there, it was great in the early morning and in the evening, but quite slow during the day.  Fish (Columbia Redsides) averaged ~20-24 inches and 3-8 lbs.  If you go there, take small flies (no bigger than 18s). You also might try the Jon Day and the Deschutes in Oregon.  They are not that far from the Tri Cities.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ll be in Richand-Pasco, WA next week and would like to get some time on the river in between job assignments. What can anyone tell me about this area?  All I read is that the rivers are big; I would need a boat to fish them; and the fish on the Columbia around the Hanford area will glow! I’d appreciate any tips on flies and conditions. Regino The Yakima River between Yakima and Ellensburg is pretty good.  It takes a bit over an hour to get there from Richland.   Unfortunately, this time of year usually means considerable flow in the river to support irrigation, but you may be able to find decent fish along the banks using hoppers. About an hour north of Richland is a spring creek called Rocky Ford.  It is between Moses Lake and Ephrata off of SR 17.  When I lived there, it was great in the early morning and in the evening, but quite slow during the day.  Fish (Columbia Redsides) averaged ~20-24 inches and 3-8 lbs.  If you go there, take small flies (no bigger than 18s). You also might try the Jon Day and the Deschutes in Oregon.  They are not that far from the Tri Cities.

I also recommend Rocky Ford.  Very small flies work great, but we also did well for very large bows using San Juan Worms, so take those along too.  At times the lunkers would hit those like a freight train. Good Luck, Pat Kirkpatrick * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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I also recommend Rocky Ford.  Very small flies work great, but we also did well for very large bows using San Juan Worms, so take those along too.  At times the lunkers would hit those like a freight train. Good Luck, Pat Kirkpatrick

Oops….I also forgot one:  try wooly buggers around dusk. Pat:  Is the stretch below the lower hatchery still closed?  It used to be a great place to go to avoid other fishers….

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place to go to avoid other fishers….

Better check the reg’s.  We were there 2 years ago and it was open right below the hatchery.  Btw, we ran out of San Juan Worms and couldn’t find any locally.  Finally found a tackle/hardware shop in Soap Lake, and the owner/tyer tied some up while we ate dinner across the street–kind of a flys made to order while-you-wait deal! Cheers, PatK * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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Btw, we ran out of San Juan Worms and couldn’t find any locally.  Finally found a tackle/hardware shop in Soap Lake, and the owner/tyer tied some up while we ate dinner across the street–kind of a flys made to order while-you-wait deal! Cheers,

Ah….I remember the Soap Lake shop well…..I always thought that opening a shop in Ephrata would be a good thing to do.  You know…..go to RF in the morning, figure out what is hatching, tie a bunch up and sell them for an exorbitant price to all the folks getting skunked on the stream. When I left WA (about 4 years ago or so) RF had just been closed to public access right above the discharge stream from the lower hatchery.   The first year it was closed I managed to obtain access from the owner, but he subsequently ceased granting such access.  Oh, well.

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There certainly is a dearth of flyfishing gear in that area, despite the ffing opportunities.  To insure a successful shop opening in that impoverished area, however, you may need to combine the flyshop with a Greasy Spoon diner, and maybe a gas station/general mercantile.  You know–a shopping mall not to exceed 1000sq.ft.! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Btw, we ran out of San Juan Worms and couldn’t find any locally.  Finally found a tackle/hardware shop in Soap Lake, and the owner/tyer tied some up while we ate dinner across the street–kind of a flys made to order while-you-wait deal! Cheers, Ah….I remember the Soap Lake shop well…..I always thought that opening a shop in Ephrata would be a good thing to do.  You know…..go to RF in the morning, figure out what is hatching, tie a bunch up and sell them for an exorbitant price to all the folks getting skunked on the stream. When I left WA (about 4 years ago or so) RF had just been closed to public access right above the discharge stream from the lower hatchery. The first year it was closed I managed to obtain access from the owner, but he subsequently ceased granting such access.  Oh, well.

Before you buy.

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Question:

I am intrigued as to why an Italian would call himself Ich Chemiker. Are you really a German water chemist living in Italy who fly fishes? Good effort on the site- you’ve done more than me in this respect! David (Actually a Brit chemical engineer (by initial qualification but not for the last 19 years!) living temporarily in Canada) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi you all! There’s a new flyfishing site, have a look:: www.fly.to/pafumi

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Hi you all! There’s a new flyfishing site, have a look:: www.fly.to/pafumi

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Sorry for the spamming, I made a mistake….

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Hi you all! There’s a new flyfishing site, have a look:: www.fly.to/pafumi

Run that by me one more time? — Levi I have been through some terrible things in my life – some of which actually happened.  –Mark Twain

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All,     I must first say that have been reading ROFF rather religiously the past couple weeks and have found it to be extremely beneficial to my fly fishing. Many of my own queries have been addressed here.  Thank you.     Anyway, now to my question.  I have been fishing a particular stream with nice smallmouth in it for years now.  I have exclusively used ultra-light takle for this stream and have been extremely successful.  Now that I am more into flyfishing, I now want move on and try out some flys on this stream, but being as I have mainly flyfished for the rainbows of East Tennessee, I am somewhat at a loss for what types of flys to use.     I was wondering if anyone would have some suggestions for what are some good, general, "ol’ trusty" flys for catching smallmouth out of streams? Any bit of information will be greatly appreciated!                                                                 Thanks *BOB*

Hi Bob, I prefer to take them on top if I can. I would try something about one inch long like a hopper or dry muddler.  A friend that was working back East for a few years found out they liked the steelhead dry fly called the ‘Bomber’. It is spun and clipped grey deer hair body with a grizzly palmered hackle in about a size #6 or 8. I also used a light colored medium sized hard bodied popper on the lower umpqua River in Oregon. Early morning and late evening is best on top. Under water I would try a Whitlock Near-nuff Crayfish, weighted brown Wolly Bugger, Clouser Minnow or Big brown Rubberleg Nymph. Something weighted that is big, buggy and black or brown? I have also heard that they can be caught on most trout patterns at times.

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   I must first say that have been reading ROFF rather religiously the past couple weeks and have found it to be extremely beneficial to my fly fishing.

LOL! We must be slipping! [snipped]    I was wondering if anyone would have some suggestions for what are some good, general, "ol’ trusty" flys for catching smallmouth out of streams? Any bit of information will be greatly appreciated!

My experience with stream smallies (eg: Housatonic, Contoocook) has been that whatever I’m using for trout will generally work with the small mouths (in fact when I’m aiming for the trout the smallies seem to get to my fly first). If I’m aiming to hook up with small mouths, big flies (especially soggy ones) seem to work best. Woolly Buggers/Bombers, Deceivers, Matukas, Muddlers (my favorite), Wool-head Sculpins, etc. For dry flies, terrestrials (hoppers, beetles, flying ants, etc) have worked for me, along with the more "trouty" patterns. hth! /daytripper

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    Anyway, now to my question.  I have been fishing a particular stream with nice smallmouth in it for years now.  I have exclusively used ultra-light takle for this stream and have been extremely successful.

What did you use that was so sucessful?  Try imitating it.  Crayfish? Try a crayfish pattern (complicated to tie) or just a weighted woolybugger fished slowly in  crayfish colors.  Appropriately colored (weighted if necessary) wooly buggers can also imitate hellgramites or leeches. Floating Rapalas? A streamer in the colors of your most sucessful plugs might do the trick- a generic baitfish imitation will have a light underside and dark back, maybe some flashabou or a tinsel wrapped hooked or mylar body.  I find that smallmouths will eagerly strike dries and nymphs if drifting nearby, but are more likely to chase larger flies over some distance.  A floating muddler minnow, slightly waking the surface at the end of the downstream swing sometimes works really well.  In general I’ve had the best experiences with down-n-across presentations.  Since you have been an ultralight fisherman, you should be familiar with a "color" available in soft plastics called "pumpkinseed".  Some folks really like chartreuse but I typically stick to earth tones.  Was that too vague?  My best wooly bugger this year: #8 2x streamer hook.  Light olive, medium sized chenille body.  Very light olive (almost appears yellow in the water) marabou tail with (soft) red palmered hackle. Mu Young Lee             Ann Arbor, MI   USA

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Try size 8-4 clousers in brown orange and Chartreuse and white. Also, Woolly Buggers in brown, black, and olive in sizes 10-6 are good. And you can’t go wrong with deer hair bugs DAYGLOW York Team DBE

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Hello All,     I must first say that have been reading ROFF rather religiously the past couple weeks and have found it to be extremely beneficial to my fly fishing. Many of my own queries have been addressed here.  Thank you.     Anyway, now to my question.  I have been fishing a particular stream with nice smallmouth in it for years now.  I have exclusively used ultra-light takle for this stream and have been extremely successful.  Now that I am more into flyfishing, I now want move on and try out some flys on this stream, but being as I have mainly flyfished for the rainbows of East Tennessee, I am somewhat at a loss for what types of flys to use.     I was wondering if anyone would have some suggestions for what are some good, general, "ol’ trusty" flys for catching smallmouth out of streams? Any bit of information will be greatly appreciated!                                                                 Thanks *BOB*

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I’ve had luck with such flies as Bitch Creek, Wooly Buggers, and streamers. I kinda concoct my own fly that is basically a bunch of dubbing wrapped aound the shank of the hook with a maribou tail, usually in black, size 4-6. You can weight them for deeper waters if needed. Minnow patterns usually work good, I’ll make that same fly and add some flashabou to it as an attractor. Hope that helps. Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All,     I must first say that have been reading ROFF rather religiously the past couple weeks and have found it to be extremely beneficial to my fly fishing. Many of my own queries have been addressed here.  Thank you.     Anyway, now to my question.  I have been fishing a particular stream with nice smallmouth in it for years now.  I have exclusively used ultra-light takle for this stream and have been extremely successful.  Now that I am more into flyfishing, I now want move on and try out some flys on this stream, but being as I have mainly flyfished for the rainbows of East Tennessee, I am somewhat at a loss for what types of flys to use.     I was wondering if anyone would have some suggestions for what are some good, general, "ol’ trusty" flys for catching smallmouth out of streams? Any bit of information will be greatly appreciated!                                                                 Thanks *BOB*

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download headers until you get to the thread posted by Todd Arnold on July 15….folks responded pretty goo to that one and it contains a variety of tips… and then look for a book titled, "Smallmouth strategies for the

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Question:

I’ve got the reports coming in from the MassWildlife.  They are generally posted on Fridays, but let’s just say when I get them, you get them.  http://www.fishine.com — Mark Cahill Mark Cahill’s Fishing New England – Daily Fishing News http://www.fishingne.com The Internet Journal of Saltwater Fly Fishing – Editorial Director http://www.reel-time.com/

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Uh, that url is actually http://www.fishingne.com Sorry! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got the reports coming in from the MassWildlife.  They are generally posted on Fridays, but let’s just say when I get them, you get them.  http://www.fishine.com — Mark Cahill Mark Cahill’s Fishing New England – Daily Fishing News http://www.fishingne.com The Internet Journal of Saltwater Fly Fishing – Editorial Director http://www.reel-time.com/

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Question:

I’m looking for a fresh water fly fishing buddy.  I live in Fairfax county.

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OK weevee66.  You wanna fish for trout and smallmouth or are shad, carp, largemouth, catfish and other trash fish your main quarry?  When were you born and what is your real name?  Many of us posted brief Bios awhile back. Care to do the same?  Send me a private e-mail with a detailed listing of all your best secret fishing holes and we will talk.  I’m just outside of Fredericksburg. Wayne To fish is human…to release divine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m looking for a fresh water fly fishing buddy.  I live in Fairfax county.

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Question:

I got a used rod from my dad who picked it up at a house auction and want to change from spin casting to fly fishing this spring. The rod is a 3pc bamboo ~9′ and was made by Union Hardware Co, Torrington, Conn. I can’t find any markings on it that would indicate the correct weight line, but am assuming 6-7 weight. I usually fish in small spring creeks & from a canoe paddling small lakes casting towards shore. Can i get away with 1 line? I was thinking of a slow sinking tip line. Can i use this rod for the type of fishing i do or should i purchase a 4- 5wt rod?  mark

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If you are only buying one line, get a floater. You can always use a neutral or slow sink leader but you can’t make a sinking line float properly. I don’t know much about bamboo rods but would have thought you would be better off with a carbon 5wt, probably 8 – 9 feet in length. — Regards Peter Kay (Remove "nospam" to email)

:I got a used rod from my dad who picked it up at a house auction and :want to change from spin casting to fly fishing this spring. : :The rod is a 3pc bamboo ~9′ and was made by Union Hardware Co, :Torrington, Conn. I can’t find any markings on it that would indicate the :correct weight line, but am assuming 6-7 weight. : :I usually fish in small spring creeks & from a canoe paddling small :lakes casting towards shore. Can i get away with 1 line? I was thinking f a slow sinking tip line. : :Can i use this rod for the type of fishing i do or should i purchase a 4- :5wt rod? : : mark

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I got a used rod from my dad who picked it up at a house auction and want to change from spin casting to fly fishing this spring. The rod is a 3pc bamboo ~9′ and was made by Union Hardware Co, Torrington, Conn. I can’t find any markings on it that would indicate the correct weight line, but am assuming 6-7 weight. I usually fish in small spring creeks & from a canoe paddling small lakes casting towards shore. Can i get away with 1 line? I was thinking of a slow sinking tip line. Can i use this rod for the type of fishing i do or should i purchase a 4- 5wt rod?  mark

Mark,    First, since you indicated that you need line, anyway, take your rod in to a good fly fishing shop and ask what weight line would be appropriate.   (You might save a few bucks at a K-Mart, but you’re going to need some good advice, which you aren’t likely to find there, and nothing is tackier than buying goods from a discount store and then going to a fly shop for advice on how to use it.)   Also, you can find out how much the rod you have is worth; some older bamboo rods are too valuable for a beginner to be fishing with.    Second, no, if I had only one line, it wouldn’t be a sinking tip.    For a novice, a double tapered floating line is almost mandatory.   You can fish nymphs and such with a floating, but you can’t fish a dry fly with a sinking tip, and I can’t even imagine fly fishing without fishing drys (about 90% of the fun, to me).    Third, since you’re a novice, I’d try out the rod before decideing on whether or not the rod you have is perfectly suited for your type of fishing. You can always ‘fine tune’ later, and will appreciate new and better equipment even more.   (I can still remember my first graphite after years of bamboo and fiberglass…ahhhhhhh!) Good luck, Max http://www.inetarena.com/~mwi

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Mark, I would agree with Peter with the floating line, but I would really say that perhaps you are approaching this problem a little backwards.  First determine what type of fish you are fishing for and under what are the typical conditions then select the correct equipment.  What type of fish are you going to be fishing for?  Are you going to typically stick to the lake? What type of insects are available on the lake or stream?  Do you want to fish streamers, dries or wets?  I would say that once you can answer these types of questions, then the answer of the flyline becomes quite obvious. Hope that wasn’t a long roundabout answer to your question. Dana – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I got a used rod from my dad who picked it up at a house auction and want to change from spin casting to fly fishing this spring. The rod is a 3pc bamboo ~9′ and was made by Union Hardware Co, Torrington, Conn. I can’t find any markings on it that would indicate the correct weight line, but am assuming 6-7 weight. I usually fish in small spring creeks & from a canoe paddling small lakes casting towards shore. Can i get away with 1 line? I was thinking of a slow sinking tip line. Can i use this rod for the type of fishing i do or should i purchase a 4- 5wt rod? mark

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Hello all:       I have been fly-fishing only a little while, and discovered the joy of small-mouth fishing the James River in Virginia.  Since its summer and the trout are sullen, it has been a great place to keep practicing my casting.  I have already gleaned a lot of information about using crayfish and dace style patterns, wooly buggers, etc., and I have been fishing the seams, bank overhangs, riffles, and the like.  Generally though, I have approached small-mouthing like trout.  Does anyone have suggestions specific to small-mouth bass that differ or are unique to this species, that improve your luck.  Also, any idiosyncracies of the James River? Best spots, places to avoid like the plague, etc.  I would appreciate any and all information, posted or e-mailed.   Dan Johnson

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      I have been fly-fishing only a little while, and discovered the joy of small-mouth fishing the James River in Virginia.   Dan Johnson

Dan, I enjoyed fishing near Pony Pastures in Richmond.  It does seem to get crowded at times, but not with ffishers.  There’s a good Orvis dealer in Richmond that has a lot of smallmouth knowledge.  Also check with Harry Murray of Murray’s Fly Shop.  He’s a smallmouth guru.  Let me know how you do…                                           Randy

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Dan, We’ve been fishing the Wingina to Scottsville stretch for about 20 years now.  There’s some beautiful water along the way and only two areas that can be a little hairy in the boats.  It’s best as a three day float.   Just don’t go weekends because of all of the tubers on the river. Doug

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Have some new fly fishing gear and new to the sport.  Planning to go out on my first outing to the Deerfield in western Mass this weekend.  If any out there know of a good spot to start I’d appreciate the info.  Have enjoyed following this newgroup for some time.  Now I guess it’s time to take the first of many enjoyable steps. Thanks in advance for any info. Claude

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If you are going out tothe deerfield you better find out how the water level is water has been running real high this year makes for real hard fishing.

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Have some new fly fishing gear and new to the sport.  Planning to go out on my first outing to the Deerfield in western Mass this weekend.  If any out there know of a good spot to start I’d appreciate the info.  Have enjoyed following this newgroup for some time.  Now I guess it’s time to take the first of many enjoyable steps. Thanks in advance for any info. Claude

From all reports that I’ve heard, the Deerfield is basically not even fishable yet, due to high fast water conditions. — David T. Blizard CGI Animator Post Perfect inc. 220E 42nd St New York NY 10017 (W) 212 972 3400 X5394 http://www.users.interport.net/~daveb "Pork, the other white meat!"

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Have some new fly fishing gear and new to the sport.  Planning to go out on my first outing to the Deerfield in western Mass this weekend.  If any out there know of a good spot to start I’d appreciate the info.  Have enjoyed following this newgroup for some time.  Now I guess it’s time to take the first of many enjoyable steps. Claude

I am going to the deerfield also this weekend. I lived in a little town called Sunderland which, is a couple of miles from south deerfield (where Yankee Candle is). I fished quite a bit there from the route 91 bridge downstream for a couple miles. The water is a little slower moving but, you can find some great runs. Try right at the rt 91 bridge. There are a few likely spots. Hopefully the water will be down this weekend. I was there a couple of weeks ago and it was chocolate milk ! good luck.

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I have a couple of rods I use in freshwater in Michigan, I going to Nort Carolina for spring break and was going to fish on the shore and the bay between the outr banks and the coast. I heard never use  non salt water equipment in salt water.  The question is: Is this safe for the rod. What if I wash it every day. I can’t imagine the salt water effecting the anodised aluminum reel its an Orvis Madison and I also have a cheap Graphite Cabela reel. I cook spagetti noodles in salt water in an anodised aluminum pot and no ill effects yet. Am I worried about nothing. :-O

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You should be ok as long as you use fresh water to rinse it off after you get home.  You might want to use a line conditioner when you get all through just to put a good finish back on your line.  your flys may get a little corroded too especially if you file the points down.  no big loss there tie up a few extra bill

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I have a couple of rods I use in freshwater in Michigan, I going to Nort Carolina for spring break and was going to fish on the shore and the bay between the outr banks and the coast. I heard never use  non salt water equipment in salt water.  The question is: Is this safe for the rod. What if I wash it every day. I can’t imagine the salt water effecting the anodised aluminum reel its an Orvis Madison and I also have a cheap Graphite Cabela reel. I cook spagetti noodles in salt water in an anodised aluminum pot and no ill effects yet. Am I worried about nothing. :-O

I have used a big fresh water fly rod in salt water, and have had no problem.  I have washed it off with fresh water immediately after I finish fishing (even before the beers).  It has not rusted at all. That goes for the reel too.   However, I neglected to wash off my wading boots a couple of times and the eyelets have almost rusted away.   stefan m. Arlington, Texas Web Page:  http://rampages.onramp.net/~smarc

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That stuff should work just fine. What length and weight rod, that could be a bigger concern… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a couple of rods I use in freshwater in Michigan, I going to Nort Carolina for spring break and was going to fish on the shore and the bay between the outr banks and the coast. I heard never use  non salt water equipment in salt water.  The question is: Is this safe for the rod. What if I wash it every day. I can’t imagine the salt water effecting the anodised aluminum reel its an Orvis Madison and I also have a cheap Graphite Cabela reel. I cook spagetti noodles in salt water in an anodised aluminum pot and no ill effects yet. Am I worried about nothing. :-O

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: I have a couple of rods I use in freshwater in Michigan, I going to Nort : Carolina for spring break and was going to fish on the shore and the bay : between the outr banks and the coast. I heard never use  non salt water : equipment in salt water.  The question is: Is this safe for the rod. What : if I wash it every day. I can’t imagine the salt water effecting the : anodised aluminum reel its an Orvis Madison and I also have a cheap : Graphite Cabela reel. I cook spagetti noodles in salt water in an anodised : aluminum pot and no ill effects yet. Am I worried about nothing. :-O   The best thing to do is to make sure that you wash everything in fresh water and lots of it!   There is a product that I sell at Dame Julina Flyfishing in Columbus, Ohio. It is called dynaGlide. You spray this stuff all over your reels, rods, and other equipment. It is even safe for flylines! This stuff just plain works. It is something like WD-40, but better for the sportsman. Jon Porter

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I have a couple of rods I use in freshwater in Michigan, I going to Nort Carolina for spring break and was going to fish on the shore and the bay between the outr banks and the coast. I heard never use  non salt water equipment in salt water.  The question is: Is this safe for the rod. What if I wash it every day. I can’t imagine the salt water effecting the anodised aluminum reel its an Orvis Madison and I also have a cheap Graphite Cabela reel. I cook spagetti noodles in salt water in an anodised aluminum pot and no ill effects yet. Am I worried about nothing. :-O

Just rinse the guides well in fresh water.  dunk your reel in a bucket or sink full of fresh water.  as long as everything gets a fresh water bath and a chance to dry you should be okay.  be sure everything is dry before you pack it!

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