Question:

In these trying times, when there has to be just one more way to make yet another dollar, I sense a marketing opportunity. Let me guess. You’re going to hire "mules" to smuggle hooks on airplanes. I suppose they’ll have to swallow them.

     Even better. These are high tech stainless hooks, so they aren’t dissolved by stomach acids. All the mule has to do is swallow them, then get      I was in with you on this one RW, but maybe we ought to think it a little more.       Charlie,       at least I hope they’re barbless

Response:

I take that back, I bet the right marketer could have offices in every major airport within two years…..who wants to hear my idea? john

Response:

I take that back, I bet the right marketer could have offices in every major airport within two years…..who wants to hear my idea? john

fire away, I’m on pins and needles  . . . Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://home.cogeco.ca/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

…..who wants to hear my idea?

Shoot.

Response:

we’re waiting       Handyman          Mike

Response:

In these trying times, when there has to be just one more way to make yet another dollar, I sense a marketing opportunity.

Let me guess. You’re going to hire "mules" to smuggle hooks on airplanes. I suppose they’ll have to swallow them. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

In these trying times, when there has to be just one more way to make yet another dollar, I sense a marketing opportunity. Somewhere along the line of two or three hundred dollars and flight….for the airlines. Anybody in here close enough to that industry to let me bend their ear a bit?  I mean this marvelous idea came from discussing fly fishing, so this post is only kinda sorta off topic. There is no profit or gain for you or I. I just have a question. john

Response:

Question:

[ . . . ] "Since his graduation from Princeton summa cum laude in 1983, Walter Kirn ‘83 has studied at Oxford University, worked as an editor at Spy magazine in New York City, published an acclaimed collection of stories, My Hard Bargain, and a novel, She Needed Me, and freelanced for various publications. Six years ago, he left Manhattan for Montana, attracted by the silence and the barking dogs that keep one from going ‘too deep into the verbal jungle.’ He became New York magazine’s book critic and continues to write regularly for several New York-based national publications from Montana, where he lives with his wife, Maggie-the daughter of actress Margot Kidder and writer Tom McGuane-and their 10-month-old baby, Maisie . . . .

[ . . . ] This isn’t real, is it? Are you sure one of the _New York Magazine_ competition writers didn’t do this? E. Penrose

Response:

This is rich. In the May 31, 1999 issue of Time Magazine, featuring a Special Report: How to Spot a Troubled Kid, Walter Kirn, author of the article "Inside Ritalin" wrote a piece titled: "The Danger of Suppressing Sadness – What if Holden Caulfield had been taking Prozac?" Holden Caufield, as I’m sure you remember, was the dropout hero of J.D. Salinger’s "The Catcher in the Rye." In that article, Kirn states: " . . . . I know from my own experience with clinical depression (contracted as an adult and treated with a combination of therapy and drugs) that such diseases are real and formidable, impossible to wish away . . . ." Pshaw. Tom

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I purchased the December issue of GQ today, which because of the really hot pictures of Charlize Theron on the cover and elsewhere in the magazine, wasn’t a total waste of $3.00. The article, "Inside Ritalin," by Walter Kirn is a complete work of fiction, in my opinion, both as it related to Kirn’s ADD status – ". . . . the symptoms first appeared in junior high school . . . ." – and his experience with Ritalin – " . . . . there I am, as jazzed as any speed freak who’s just put his girlfriend in the hospital after an all-night quarrel in a motel room . . . . ," unless he was taking 800 mg. a day. Kirn is a book critic and fiction writer.  His 1999

novel "Thumbsucker" is a – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – cynical coming of age story.  "When young Justin Cobb is finally cured of his thumbsucking habit, his obsessions change to less benign ones that include sex, drugs, fly-fishing, Mormonism, and Ritalin. This comic novel is set vividly in the world of the 1980s." From the Princeton "In Review" November 3, 1999 http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_old/PAW99-00/04- 1103/1103irtx.html "Interview with Walter Kirn ‘83 "Since his graduation from Princeton summa cum laude in 1983, Walter Kirn ‘83 has studied at Oxford University, worked as an editor at Spy magazine in New York City, published an acclaimed collection of stories, My Hard Bargain, and a novel, She Needed Me, and freelanced for various publications. Six years ago, he left Manhattan for Montana, attracted by the silence and the barking dogs that keep one from going ‘too deep into the verbal jungle.’ He became New York magazine’s book critic and continues to write regularly for several New York-based national publications from Montana, where he lives with his wife, Maggie-the daughter of actress Margot Kidder and writer Tom McGuane- and their 10-month-old baby, Maisie . . . . "Q: Do you feel torn between fiction and nonfiction? "A: My primary ambition is to be a fiction writer. At some point I made a conscious decision not to teach-yet-and so the alternative was quote unquote grub street, which I think is an honorable tradition much maligned by the lofty academics of the 20th century. I write for four magazines-Vanity Fair, GQ, Time, and New York-and for each one I try to exercise a different faculty. . . . Being a critic wasn’t an aspiration of mine, but it was something I could do from Montana, where I moved six years ago . . . . "Q: Tell us about your family. "A: I grew up in a tiny Minnesota town of 500 people called Marine-on-St.-Croix. My father actually went to Princeton, Class of 1960, and was a patent attorney at 3M in Minnesota. My mother, like the mother in Thumbsucker, was a registered nurse. In its vital statistics, the family in the book very much resembles my own. But I get tired of explaining: A writer’s like the magpie, he picks everything shiny and brings it back to his nest . . . It’s mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine-it’s not transcribe." "Mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine" fairly describes Kirn’s purportedly autobiographical "Inside Ritalin." Watch out for "literary types" and save your $3.00 for something

useful. Tell us more about those pictures…. — Mark Probert Make sure your vote counts–DO NOT vote from the Banana Republic of Florida!

Response:

I read Vanity Fair regularly, and have never noticed thisWalter Kim……am I missing something?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I purchased the December issue of GQ today, which because of the really hot pictures of Charlize Theron on the cover and elsewhere in the magazine, wasn’t a total waste of $3.00. The article, "Inside Ritalin," by Walter Kirn is a complete work of fiction, in my opinion, both as it related to Kirn’s ADD status – ". . . . the symptoms first appeared in junior high school . . . ." – and his experience with Ritalin – " . . . . there I am, as jazzed as any speed freak who’s just put his girlfriend in the hospital after an all-night quarrel in a motel room . . . . ," unless he was taking 800 mg. a day. Kirn is a book critic and fiction writer.  His 1999 novel "Thumbsucker" is a cynical coming of age story.  "When young Justin Cobb is finally cured of his thumbsucking habit, his obsessions change to less benign ones that include sex, drugs, fly-fishing, Mormonism, and Ritalin. This comic novel is set vividly in the world of the 1980s." From the Princeton "In Review" November 3, 1999 http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_old/PAW99-00/04- 1103/1103irtx.html "Interview with Walter Kirn ‘83 "Since his graduation from Princeton summa cum laude in 1983, Walter Kirn ‘83 has studied at Oxford University, worked as an editor at Spy magazine in New York City, published an acclaimed collection of stories, My Hard Bargain, and a novel, She Needed Me, and freelanced for various publications. Six years ago, he left Manhattan for Montana, attracted by the silence and the barking dogs that keep one from going ‘too deep into the verbal jungle.’ He became New York magazine’s book critic and continues to write regularly for several New York-based national publications from Montana, where he lives with his wife, Maggie-the daughter of actress Margot Kidder and writer Tom McGuane- and their 10-month-old baby, Maisie . . . . "Q: Do you feel torn between fiction and nonfiction? "A: My primary ambition is to be a fiction writer. At some point I made a conscious decision not to teach-yet-and so the alternative was quote unquote grub street, which I think is an honorable tradition much maligned by the lofty academics of the 20th century. I write for four magazines-Vanity Fair, GQ, Time, and New York-and for each one I try to exercise a different faculty. . . . Being a critic wasn’t an aspiration of mine, but it was something I could do from Montana, where I moved six years ago . . . . "Q: Tell us about your family. "A: I grew up in a tiny Minnesota town of 500 people called Marine-on-St.-Croix. My father actually went to Princeton, Class of 1960, and was a patent attorney at 3M in Minnesota. My mother, like the mother in Thumbsucker, was a registered nurse. In its vital statistics, the family in the book very much resembles my own. But I get tired of explaining: A writer’s like the magpie, he picks everything shiny and brings it back to his nest . . . It’s mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine-it’s not transcribe." "Mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine" fairly describes Kirn’s purportedly autobiographical "Inside Ritalin." Watch out for "literary types" and save your $3.00 for something useful. Tell us more about those pictures…. — Mark Probert Make sure your vote counts–DO NOT vote from the Banana Republic of Florida!

Response:

~~~ Words escape me.  Rent "The Devil’s Advocate" for a good gander, and don’t break the rewind button on your VCR remote. _____

Kim……am I missing something?" ~~~ He’s not not cup of espresso.  I did a google.com search on "Walter KIRN" and came up with a lot of stuff he’s written in "New York Magazine" and "Time", each of which have on-line versions, but I had never heard of him before. "Vanity Fair" is not on-line, as far as I can tell.   This doesn’t really answer your question, though. Cheers, Tom

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Magazine_ competition writers didn’t do this?" ~~~ It’s real in the same sense that the writings of Hunter S. Thompson are real. Cheers, Tom

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I purchased the December issue of GQ today, which because of the really hot pictures of Charlize Theron on the cover and elsewhere in the magazine, wasn’t a total waste of $3.00. The article, "Inside Ritalin," by Walter Kirn is a complete work of fiction, in my opinion, both as it related to Kirn’s ADD status – ". . . . the symptoms first appeared in junior high school . . . ." – and his experience with Ritalin – " . . . . there I am, as jazzed as any speed freak who’s just put his girlfriend in the hospital after an all-night quarrel in a motel room . . . . ," unless he was taking 800 mg. a day. Kirn is a book critic and fiction writer.  His 1999 novel "Thumbsucker" is a cynical coming of age story.  "When young Justin Cobb is finally cured of his thumbsucking habit, his obsessions change to less benign ones that include sex, drugs, fly-fishing, Mormonism, and Ritalin. This comic novel is set vividly in the world of the 1980s." From the Princeton "In Review" November 3, 1999 http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_old/PAW99-00/04-1103/1103irtx.html "Interview with Walter Kirn ‘83 "Since his graduation from Princeton summa cum laude in 1983, Walter Kirn ‘83 has studied at Oxford University, worked as an editor at Spy magazine in New York City, published an acclaimed collection of stories, My Hard Bargain, and a novel, She Needed Me, and freelanced for various publications. Six years ago, he left Manhattan for Montana, attracted by the silence and the barking dogs that keep one from going ‘too deep into the verbal jungle.’ He became New York magazine’s book critic and continues to write regularly for several New York-based national publications from Montana, where he lives with his wife, Maggie-the daughter of actress Margot Kidder and writer Tom McGuane-and their 10-month-old baby, Maisie . . . . "Q: Do you feel torn between fiction and nonfiction? "A: My primary ambition is to be a fiction writer. At some point I made a conscious decision not to teach-yet-and so the alternative was quote unquote grub street, which I think is an honorable tradition much maligned by the lofty academics of the 20th century. I write for four magazines-Vanity Fair, GQ, Time, and New York-and for each one I try to exercise a different faculty. . . . Being a critic wasn’t an aspiration of mine, but it was something I could do from Montana, where I moved six years ago . . . . "Q: Tell us about your family. "A: I grew up in a tiny Minnesota town of 500 people called Marine-on-St.-Croix. My father actually went to Princeton, Class of 1960, and was a patent attorney at 3M in Minnesota. My mother, like the mother in Thumbsucker, was a registered nurse. In its vital statistics, the family in the book very much resembles my own. But I get tired of explaining: A writer’s like the magpie, he picks everything shiny and brings it back to his nest . . . It’s mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine-it’s not transcribe." "Mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine" fairly describes Kirn’s purportedly autobiographical "Inside Ritalin." Watch out for "literary types" and save your $3.00 for something useful. Cheers, Tom

Response:

Question:

– half-assed spey – if the current is moving to left to right (for a right hander) drag the rig up in front of you with the rod parallel to the water then raise the rod, make the typical spey "D" loop behind you and out it goes.

Peter, could you explain this a bit more?  I’ve heard of spey casting but I don’t really know what it involves, but I’d like to try what you’re saying. — Regards, Jeff Before you buy.

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When I’m casting really heavy rigs, like for steelhead, I let the backcast drop into the water behind me and let the current straighten the line out. Then I just lob the rig upstream.

I had to do that with the "bead ‘n’ bunny" rig I talked about earlier. It never gets pretty looking, but if you don’t shoot a little line as well like you mentioned earlier, it *feels* absolutely horrible. — Regards, Jeff Before you buy.

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Bruiserman writes: I get that "bounce" effect, especially on the forward cast, whenever i cast a little lead.  All of my rods are moderate action and i don’t throw anything like a tight loop.  Sometimes my flies even bounce back at me

…in which case, you are approaching George Harvey’s preferred nymph presentation, which he calls a tuck cast. The principle is: overcast the forward pitch upstream, dropping the rod tip at the end, resulting in this bounce effect. You thereby get the weight(nymphs,etc) to strike water first and start to sink, with the floating part of the rig piled up on the water. Then, when the nymph drifts downstream, it does so with far less drag and covers the absolute bottom more effectively. Control of this technique takes lots of practice(I pull it off gracefully perhaps one time in three tries), but does allow an upstream nymph to fish through a lot of water.                              Tom Littleton

Response:

On another topic entirely, I was fishing down at the lake the other day for carp and was dropping in a #12 cracked corn fly made with yellow chenele and copper wire.  Couldn’t keep the LARGE bluegill off the darn thing!  We’re talking bluegill measured by weight not relationship to hand size. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

Sounds so simple even I can tie it. I will tie up a dozen tonight. Ought to work great on my G-series 2 weight rod. Big Dale – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Wish i had a video of these techniques because my St. Croix 14 foot rod arrived yesterday and I am trying to figure out how to cast with it.

Watcha’ gonna’ do with that bad boy, BD? — Charlie…

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—

Check out www.Billysandifer.com to get a few ideas. This guy guides on South Padre Island and does the surf thing by guiding clients out of an old Surburban. He finds that the door hinges wear out first on his trucks.This guy is no where near the lunatic fringe…he is way past the fringe. He likes the two-handed rods for casting 100 feet into 40 mph winds that are common. His personal record in a 740 pound shark, but one of his clients beat that by 80 or 90 pounds. I just think it would be a good excuse to learn how to play with a two handed rod. Big Dale

Response:

— Check out www.Billysandifer.com to get a few ideas. This guy guides on South Padre Island and does the surf thing by guiding clients out of an old Surburban. He finds that the door hinges wear out first on his trucks.This guy is no where near the lunatic fringe…he is way past the fringe. He likes the two-handed rods for casting 100 feet into 40 mph winds that are common. His personal record in a 740 pound shark, but one of his clients beat that by 80 or 90 pounds. I just think it would be a good excuse to learn how to play with a two handed rod.

Barbed or barbless hooks? <g — Charlie…

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Big Dale, On another topic entirely, I was fishing down at the lake the other day for carp and was dropping in a #12 cracked corn fly made with yellow chenele and copper wire.  Couldn’t keep the LARGE bluegill off the darn thing!  We’re talking bluegill measured by weight not relationship to hand size. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

Response:

A lot of people would call that desirable as it allows the nymph to get into the water ahead of your line and start sinking more quickly! Smooth it out a bit and proclaim "I meant to do that" and that’s what a tuck cast is.  Lot’s of good fishermen do it.  Otherwise, you could either underpower your cast slightly, or leave a little slack in your line – let go of the line with your line hand and instead of snapping back it will shoot out a bit more.  Once in awhile, I can even practice what I preach, so it can’t be too hard That’s actually a casting question that I wanted to ask here.  I get that "bounce" effect, especially on the forward cast, whenever i cast a little lead.  All of my rods are moderate action and i don’t throw anything like a tight loop.  Sometimes my flies even bounce back at me a little.  What’s the easiest way to moderate or fix this casting problem?  (I usually use a DT line if that matters)  I’d let up a little but i’m usually trying to throw the whole mess (the indicator, lead, and two fly setup jeffc mentioned) into the wind or something. Any suggestions?

– Regards, Jeff Before you buy.

Response:

the opposite way, drag the rig a little past you with the rod level then continue moving the rod tip behind, pickup and drag the rig in the air in half circle then out with the rod vertical.  It’s easier to do than explain.

Wish i had a video of these techniques because my St. Croix 14 foot rod arrived yesterday and I am trying to figure out how to cast with it. Big Dale – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

the opposite way, drag the rig a little past you with the rod level then continue moving the rod tip behind, pickup and drag the rig in the air in half circle then out with the rod vertical.  It’s easier to do than explain. Wish i had a video of these techniques because my St. Croix 14 foot rod arrived yesterday and I am trying to figure out how to cast with it. Big Dale

man, you finally gotta rod that matches your moniker.  congrats. The best explanation I’ve seen so far is Mike Maxwell’s "The Art & Science of Spey Casting." Really, the main difference between roll casting and spey casting shows up in the forward loop.  The roll cast rolls off the water where the spey cast looks like a regular forward loop from an overhead cast. Without gettting fancy, go out to a pond and roll cast.  After you’ve got a rhythm going, then add an upward push at the end rollcast power stroke.  Instead of a rollcast, you’ll end up with a forward overhead cast looping, assuming the timing works. drop me an email if there’s some things you want to go over. Peter

Response:

I think it’s because you’re usually throwing weight, and a fast action rod isn’t good for that. It generates shocks in the line when the weight reaches the end of forward or backward cast.

That’s actually a casting question that I wanted to ask here.  I get that "bounce" effect, especially on the forward cast, whenever i cast a little lead.  All of my rods are moderate action and i don’t throw anything like a tight loop.  Sometimes my flies even bounce back at me a little.  What’s the easiest way to moderate or fix this casting problem?  (I usually use a DT line if that matters)  I’d let up a little but i’m usually trying to throw the whole mess (the indicator, lead, and two fly setup jeffc mentioned) into the wind or something. Any suggestions? bruiser Before you buy.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think it’s because you’re usually throwing weight, and a fast action rod isn’t good for that. It generates shocks in the line when the weight reaches the end of forward or backward cast. That’s actually a casting question that I wanted to ask here.  I get that "bounce" effect, especially on the forward cast, whenever i cast a little lead.  All of my rods are moderate action and i don’t throw anything like a tight loop.  Sometimes my flies even bounce back at me a little.  What’s the easiest way to moderate or fix this casting problem?  (I usually use a DT line if that matters)  I’d let up a little but i’m usually trying to throw the whole mess (the indicator, lead, and two fly setup jeffc mentioned) into the wind or something. Any suggestions?

Try shooting some line. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

That’s actually a casting question that I wanted to ask here.  I get that "bounce" effect, especially on the forward cast, whenever i cast a little lead.

I’ve been practicing the Lefty technique of swinging the backcast around behind you (in a clockwise motion for right handed casters) rather than pulling the line straight back. The forward cast is just like normal except you aim high. I’ve seen people who use this technique with streamers and it’s pretty impressive. I’m still working on the form, but I do get less bounce that’s for sure. I can now cast heavy streamers 15′ instead of 10′ –Steve

Response:

I’ve been practicing the Lefty technique of swinging the backcast around behind you (in a clockwise motion for right handed casters) rather than pulling the line straight back. The forward cast is just like normal except you aim high. I’ve seen people who use this technique with streamers and it’s pretty impressive. I’m still working on the form, but I do get less bounce that’s for sure. I can now cast heavy streamers 15′ instead of 10′ –Steve

Typical overhead casting is usually not a good idea with lead and weighted flies anyway.  I use a number of different casts, rarely overhead, when nymphing.  No matter what method, I always keep the loops wide open and yes, I prefer a slower rod for this. – upstream lob – just let the rig run straight downstream at the end of the drift then in one motion, pick it up and lay it out upstream. – half-assed spey – if the current is moving to left to right (for a right hander) drag the rig up in front of you with the rod parallel to the water then raise the rod, make the typical spey "D" loop behind you and out it goes. – circle or half a half-assed spey – with the current going the opposite way, drag the rig a little past you with the rod level then continue moving the rod tip behind, pickup and drag the rig in the air in half circle then out with the rod vertical.  It’s easier to do than explain.

Response:

I’ve been practicing the Lefty technique of swinging the backcast around behind you (in a clockwise motion for right handed casters) rather than pulling the line straight back. The forward cast is just like normal except you aim high. I’ve seen people who use this technique with streamers and it’s pretty impressive. I’m still working on the form, but I do get less bounce that’s for sure. I can now cast heavy streamers 15′ instead of 10′

When I’m casting really heavy rigs, like for steelhead, I let the backcast drop into the water behind me and let the current straighten the line out. Then I just lob the rig upstream. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

– half-assed spey – if the current is moving to left to right (for a right hander) drag the rig up in front of you with the rod parallel to the water then raise the rod, make the typical spey "D" loop behind you and out it goes.

I had a guide teach me this one day when I couldn’t roll cast worth a shit (okay, that’s most days).   Not only is it a great way to cast a nymph & shot, but it looks damned cool too. Joe F.

Response:

Why is a softer rod better for nymphing?

Response:

Why is a softer rod better for nymphing?

No no Wayno, just turn and walk away… <g — Charlie…

Response:

Why is a softer rod better for nymphing? No no Wayno, just turn and walk away… <g — Charlie…

        your wisdom prevails, as usual, mon duc. wayno, who never enjoyed a sitting duck

Response:

Yeah, yeah, I know. Maybe nymphs would be scared off by a stiff rod? But really: seems that medium to slow action is recommended for nymphing, faster for casting (esp. into a wind, streamers, etc). Why? -A humble and ignorant supplicant

Response:

I can’t really put my finger on it, but…. Oh that didn’t sound good. The thing is, I have a pretty stiff rod now, and… umm… let’s try again. For one thing, you don’t really want an super-tight loop if you’re using 2 nymphs, lead, and a strike indicator.  Nymphing does not necessarily mean those things, but sometimes it does.  A less-stiff rod helps you open the loop a bit. A faster rod usually generates higher line speed, which some people find helpful for drying out a dry fly.  With a nymph or streamer, not only is this not necessary, but it’s undesirable.  I once saw a video where an expert suggested a tactic of letting your streamer drop and touch the water behind you to keep wet, thereby allowing it to sink a little more quickly when landing on the forward cast.  I’ve never tried it for fear of looking like an even worse fisherman than I am. Finally, and this is the part I "can’t put my finger on", but a stiff rod just doesn’t seem to give the best feel when detecting strikes or setting the hook.  If you are literally feeling the take with your rod tip, I’m sure your line would be too tight to the fish, but still it just doesn’t feel right to me.  Bottom line for me personally – I have a Loomis GLX I’ve been using for nymphing and I’m switching to a little more moderate action.  Even though I tend to like faster rods, it doesn’t feel right to me for nymphs.  I’m not an expert but intermediate – don’t know if that means I’m more or less helpful to you at your level. Yeah, yeah, I know. Maybe nymphs would be scared off by a stiff rod? But really: seems that medium to slow action is recommended for nymphing, faster for casting (esp. into a wind, streamers, etc). Why? -A humble and ignorant supplicant

– Regards, Jeff Before you buy.

Response:

Scottb: Yeah, yeah, I know. Maybe nymphs would be scared off by a stiff rod? But really: seems that medium to slow action is recommended for nymphing, faster for casting (esp. into a wind, streamers, etc). Why?

Who says they are?  I’m a successful nympher and use a Sage RPl+, SP, and a Winston LT (soft compared to Sages).  I find the stiffer rod makes casting (albeit short casts) easier with split shot and strike indicator.  It’s more of a lob.  Some would say that *all* my casts are like a lob, but that’s another story.  <g Dave LaCourse

Response:

Why is a softer rod better for nymphing?

I think it’s because you’re usually throwing weight, and a fast action rod isn’t good for that. It generates shocks in the line when the weight reaches the end of forward or backward cast. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

But really: seems that medium to slow action is recommended for nymphing, faster for casting (esp. into a wind, streamers, etc). Why? Who says they are?

Well there ya go Scott.  Some things have pretty much universal answers, others have as many answers as fishermen.  Best way is to experiment.  Cheapest way to experiment is to buy used, use it, then sell it and buy another.  Sometimes you can break even or even make a few bucks in the process. Regards, Jeff

Response:

The Winter 2001 issue of Flyfishing and Tying Journal has an outstanding 13 page article on nymphing stategies.  If you don’t get this Journal (1st copy for me), e-mail me with your home state.  They list flyshops that sell the Journal.   It is some of the best info I have seen on the subject. Dave L.

Response:

The Winter 2001 issue of Flyfishing and Tying Journal has an outstanding 13 page article on nymphing stategies.  If you don’t get this Journal (1st copy for me), e-mail me with your home state.  They list flyshops that sell the Journal.   It is some of the best info I have seen on the subject. Dave L.

It is well done, but I hear that the author only wrote it after spending a week with our Uncle Louie on the Rapid. Peter

Response:

Dave, As a newbie, nymphing is my next great challenge, since everyone seems to talk about how productive it is.  I’ve caught one (1) trout on a wet fly and one (1) trout on a dry fly, with several misses on each as well.  I’ve caught numerous pan fish on panfish/bass bugs. So, yes, I’d be interested in getting a copy of this journal. Thanks, Rob The Winter 2001 issue of Flyfishing and Tying Journal has an outstanding 13 page article on nymphing stategies.  If you don’t get this Journal (1st copy for me), e-mail me with your home state.  They list flyshops that sell the Journal.   It is some of the best info I have seen on the subject. Dave L.

– Robert Switzer        wk (732) 949-4942 Lucent Technologies   rm. 4J-263, 101 Crawfords Corner Rd. Holmdel, NJ, 07733

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Peter Charles writes: The Winter 2001 issue of Flyfishing and Tying Journal has an outstanding 13 page article on nymphing stategies.  If you don’t get this Journal (1st copy for me), e-mail me with your home state.  They list flyshops that sell the Journal.   It is some of the best info I have seen on the subject. Dave L. It is well done, but I hear that the author only wrote it after spending a week with our Uncle Louie on the Rapid. Peter

Well, thank you, young fella.  You show me how to streamer fish and I’ll reveal the secrets of nymphing — this June, at Lakewood. Louie Dave LaCourse

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Rob Switzer writes: So, yes, I’d be interested in getting a copy of this journal.

Hi, Rob.  I’ve answered you by e-mail, not knowing you listed your address here.   In New Jersey they list: The Fly Hatch in Shrewsburg (www.flyhatch.com) Orvis Store in Paramus (www.orvis.com) The Sportsmen’s Center in Bordentown (www.sportsmenscenter.com) Hope this helps, Rob.  If not, please feel free to e-mail me with any questions. Dave LaCourse

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Question:

The Sylvania Tract, a little west of Ironwood, has geat smallmouth fishing.  It is all canoe, catch and release, barbless hooks only, and if you stay in overnight, has only primitive camping.  It is possible to rent a canoe and go into Clark Lake in the morning, fish the day, and get out before dark.  It’s not that big a lake.  We fished in June and caught bass to 21 inches.  I expect if you do a search on Sylvania Tract you will quickly find info. good luck

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I’m heading up to Ironwood, Michigan for a wedding in mid August.  Does anyone have any advice on some good fishing spots nearby?  Any type from fly-fishing for trout to trolling for walleye would be appreciated. Thanks, SB

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I was up in that neck of the woods last summer and did some fly fishing in two general locations in that area. The Porcupine mountains are a few miles northeast from Ironwood. I didn’t catch too much there, but it sure is a pretty place with some beautiful vistas and backcountry. If you take Rt. 2 east to Watersmeet, you’ll come to the Ontonogon River. Easy to wade and full of cooperative brookies. I had great luck with small royal wolffs. When you buy your license, get a free copy of Michigan’s Inland Trout and Salmon Guide, which has maps of the whole state and its trout streams. Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m heading up to Ironwood, Michigan for a wedding in mid August.  Does anyone have any advice on some good fishing spots nearby?  Any type from fly-fishing for trout to trolling for walleye would be appreciated. Thanks, SB

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I’m heading up to Ironwood, Michigan for a wedding in mid August.  Does anyone have any advice on some good fishing spots nearby?  Any type from fly-fishing for trout to trolling for walleye would be appreciated. Thanks, SB

    If you are daring and have a bit of cash book a charter out of the harbor about 45 min north of there (The name escapes me right now Black River Harbor???) .  The Salmon should be just offshore by then.  Otherwise you have world class musky and walleye waters about 30 minutes south in the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Wisconsin.  No Trolling allowed but this is world class water with many opportunties.  Clear and dark waters lie in the flowage and boat rentals as well as local info are available.  Night fishing may be the key for some really big fish by then.    As for trout streams the Montreal can yield some good catches late in the season if the water remains high enough and is only 15-20 minutes to the west.  Then you do have the Brule to the east, but personally I believe it is overrated and overfished. Good luck.  Both to you and the future wedded couple. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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I made the trip two years ago.  The one suggestion I would make strongly is to go north via the Cassiar rather than the Alaska Highway.  The Cassiar Highway is "relatively" new,  still some stretches not paved,  VERY shy on service stations,  But well worth a try.  We had planned to go north that way and return via the Alaska Hwy, but decided to travel the Cassiar both ways.  It’s only about 500 miles of your trip,  but much more rewarding than the much busier Alaska Hwy.  The Cassiar roughly parallels the Alaska highway on the west.  You head west from Prince George on HWY 16, turn north at Kitwanga and follow the Cassiar Highway til it intercepts the Alaska Highway near Watson Lake at the British Columbia/Yukon Territory border. There’s lots of excellent fly fishing along the way.  A couple of spots that I remember particularly well:  Edentenajon Lake – great place if you have a float tube or small boat. We even caught plenty for dinner wading along the shore where we camped.  Very nice but small private camp Red Goat Lodge, right on the lake.  Cottonwood River – spent about 2 hours catching and releasing MANY large grayling just off the road.  Grayling 16 – 18 inches, which is good size for them. If you’d like to see some photos of these places let me know at Works format.  Not professional quality, but they still get me excited to head north again. You’ll have a great time.  Enjoy your trip. BARRY – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : hello one and all- : i am planning my trip of a lifetime for next may- i am going to : drive from washington state to the yukon and alaska. if anyone : can recommend rivers to fish along the way i would be grateful : to hear about them. this posting marks the very beginning of my : research. my itinerary is wide open and the individual

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: hello one and all- : i am planning my trip of a lifetime for next may- i am going to : drive from washington state to the yukon and alaska. if anyone : can recommend rivers to fish along the way i would be grateful : to hear about them. this posting marks the very beginning of my : research. my itinerary is wide open and the individual : destinations will be determined by the fish and the scenery : along the way. as well as flyfishing i love photography and i’ll : be doing a lot of that too. wish i could go to sleep and wake up : in about 11 months… Starting in Washington State, point your car north.  Then turn right and go into N. Idaho.  Pick a river and begin your journey. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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: hello one and all- : i am planning my trip of a lifetime for next may- i am going to : drive from washington state to the yukon and alaska. if anyone : can recommend rivers to fish along the way i would be grateful : to hear about them. this posting marks the very beginning of my : research. my itinerary is wide open and the individual : destinations will be determined by the fish and the scenery : along the way. as well as flyfishing i love photography and i’ll : be doing a lot of that too. wish i could go to sleep and wake up : in about 11 months… Starting in Washington State, point your car north.  Then turn right and go into N. Idaho.  Pick a river and begin your journey.

As a starter buy a copy of the "Milepost" highway travel guide. It gives a detailed description of the Alaska Highway and gives details of the rivers and creeks that you cross and what fish are in them. There’s a lot of Grayling. I’ve driven the highway 3 times. Now days it’s just a well paved road through the wilderness with beautiful scenery Ed. Ed Fenton Burlington, Ontario, Canada

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hello one and all- i am planning my trip of a lifetime for next may- i am going to drive from washington state to the yukon and alaska. if anyone can recommend rivers to fish along the way i would be grateful to hear about them. this posting marks the very beginning of my research. my itinerary is wide open and the individual destinations will be determined by the fish and the scenery along the way. as well as flyfishing i love photography and i’ll be doing a lot of that too. wish i could go to sleep and wake up in about 11 months… thanks for any and all suggestions- greg

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Question:

Looking to fly fish in the Smokies the end of May.  Any input or suggestions would be appreciated.  TIA. Bruce —

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Where in the Smokies? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Looking to fly fish in the Smokies the end of May.  Any input or suggestions would be appreciated.  TIA. Bruce —

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Thanks for the reply.  Big Cr. and Cataloochee. We are tent campers and realize the areas may be busy.  Any input is appreciated. Joyce and Bruce — FRIENDSHIP True friendship comes when silence between two friends is comfortable.

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Question:

"In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future.  The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that  no longer exists."             Eric Hoffer (1902-83), U.S. philosopher.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : "In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. :  The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that :  no longer exists." : Eric Hoffer (1902-83), U.S. philosopher. So…am I supposed to learn to ffish without an indicator, or learn to fish with one? JonCook. PS: Ok, I couldn’t post without adding an IMO, which should just be     taken as that, no more. When I started, I used 1/2 foam square     and I think it really taught me how to manage a long leader in     the currents. Now, I don’t usually use an indicator, though in     poor afternoon light I’ll add 1/4 square. The BIG IMO, though,     is that using those big cork things to *float* a heavily     weighted nymph at a precise depth is ridiculous. Yeah, it     catches fish, but I can’t bring myself to do it…

Reminds me of a famous story — I think it has been attributed to George Bernard Shaw.  Anyway, the story goes that he approached a lady at a dinner party and asked if she’d go to bed with him for $2,000.  She thought a minute and said, "Well, Maybe."  Then he said, "how about for $20." She reacted violently saying, "What do you think I am, a common whore?"  His response, "we’ve already established what you are — now we’re merely haggling about price." I may have the story screwed up but I hope you get the drift. Incidentally, I often fish with indicators with no apologies.  I wonder sometimes if all the discussion about defining flyfishing is really that or the usual search for something — anything — to make one person feel superior to another.  I enjoy all forms of flyfishing about equally and fish with others who seem to get an equal kick out of fishing with lures and bait.  Frankly, I try not to believe I’m superior to anyone — even though with my physical beauty and obvious great intelligence, restraining such feelings is sometimes difficult. Regards, Dick Hubbard

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<snip Reminds me of a famous story — I think it has been attributed to George Bernard Shaw.  Anyway, the story goes that he approached a lady at a dinner party and asked if she’d go to bed with him for $2,000.  She thought a minute and said, "Well, Maybe."  Then he said, "how about for $20." She reacted violently saying, "What do you think I am, a common whore?"  His response, "we’ve already established what you are — now we’re merely haggling about price."

<snip I heard it was Winston Churchill. Charlie…

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Incidentally, I often fish with indicators with no apologies.  I wonder sometimes if all the discussion about defining flyfishing is really that or the usual search for something — anything — to make one person feel superior to another.  I enjoy all forms of flyfishing about equally and fish with others who seem to get an equal kick out of fishing with lures and bait.

I tend to agree with your statement Dick, as I’m on the wrong side of 60 now and have had enough "hobbies" to see this pattern of "I’m better than you" syndrome. Many years ago when I first got into civil aviation as a fledgling pilot the conventional gear (ie: tailwheel) fixed gear aircraft were dominant. Years later when retract gear, constant speed props were common, I noticed this attitude: "you’re not a real pilot unless you can fly a taildragger", or a variant, "you’re not a real pilot unless you fly retractable gear aircraft, etc. etc. One year I saw John Denver at an airshow wearing a T-shirt that said "if you ain’t a pilot, you ain’t shit!" In all other endeavors that require a certain amount of skill, it seems people tend toward taking an "attitude" of superiority if someone else does it differently. I have learned to live with that, and like the recent discussions on this NG, I just don’t let it bother me if someone else espouses a position that says I’m not a "real flyfisherman" just because we differ in how we go about it. I see those folks as trying to justify what THEY are doing, and it must feed their ego to look down on others that don’t do it their way. BTW, "real" flyfishermen fish for smallmouth bass!   Frankly, I try not to believe I’m superior to anyone — even though with my physical beauty and obvious great intelligence, restraining such feelings is sometimes difficult.

I know what you mean there too, damn, it’s hard to be humble when you’re as good as you and I! Regards, Frank Church Elkhart, IN —

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[snip] " just because we differ in how we go about it. I see those folks as trying to justify what THEY are doing, and it must feed their ego to look down on others that don’t do it their way. BTW, "real" flyfishermen fish for smallmouth bass!

your not a real flyfisherman unless you bite their heads off! Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Frankly, I try not to believe I’m superior to anyone — even though with my physical beauty and obvious great intelligence, restraining such feelings is sometimes difficult. I know what you mean there too, damn, it’s hard to be humble when you’re as good as you and I! Regards, Frank Church Elkhart, IN —

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your not a real flyfisherman unless you bite their heads off! Mike

Of the fish or of the flies?

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your not a real flyfisherman unless you bite their heads off! Mike Of the fish or of the flies?

The fish of course.  You eat the whole fly! Sheesh   Mike

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Question:

A relatively new angler, I have discovered the bliss of pursuing trout by canoe. I have fished for Brook and Lake Trout in Algonquin Park a few times and thoroughly enjoyed it. But I was always there in the Spring. I am planning a trip into the series of lakes at the Magnetawan Lake access point — next week. It was as close as I could get to the Sept 30 season closing. The weather is still warm, so I expect the fishing to be a little difficult. I’m bringing spinning gear and, for the first time, a fly fishing rod. By canoe, mostly lake fishing with a side trip to a river. I have a Dispy Diver if necessary. If anyone can provide any suggestions by e-mail on techniques for this time of year, I would appreciate it. I would be happy to report back on my success and share any learning. (To the two gentleman who helped me out by e-mail this past spring, I promise a full report after this trip.)  Thankyou.   —

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Question:

Heading to B.C. but I don’t know where to go.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I’m a stream fisherman so point me in the right direction.

BC is mostly lake fishing, esp Kamloops area.  However, there is excellent stream fishing at Skagit River (C&R only) near Hope also steelhead/salmon at Chilliwack River. — The views expressed are my own and does not represent those of my employer.

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Heading to B.C. but I don’t know where to go.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I’m a stream fisherman so point me in the right direction.

From you monniker you might like to try and get hold of Kelly Davison 11891 Charrington Maple Ridge BC 604 467 6406 He guided me a couple of years back in September/October and I lost count of the bright sea run cuts we landed – mostly 2lb or so – but up to about 4lb. All taken on an olive marabou/mylar minnow pattern on a l/s size 8. My first experience with cuts – and one of the best days fishing ever! I also heard that you can beach cast for them with a fly rod from below College Park – but didn’t have the time to get down there. Tight lines — Martin Kurrein 199 Strand London WC2R 1DR http://www.mkurrein.co.uk/

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Heading to B.C. but I don’t know where to go.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I’m a stream fisherman so point me in the right direction.

Try the Web page for Hansen’s in Vancouver (I could find the address somewhere if you can’t).  They gave me a greta trip for early July – lake fishing with damsel flies.  But they could give you a completely different suggestion for the time you are going.

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Heading to B.C. but I don’t know where to go.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I’m a stream fisherman so point me in the right direction.

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Question:

i am still always amazed when i see farm raised goldens for consumption at safeway… TimW

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(AdFirmOne) writes: As you probably know, Goldens live above the 10,500 foot range.  I’ve fished for them quite a bit in the eastern Sierra.

<SNIP Not necessarily so, last year caught a nice 14" golden at a lake whose elevation was at 8200 ft.  Tough to find goldens in the Sierra below 10,000 ft., but they are there.  Check out Ralph Cutter’s Sierra Trout Guide.  It has all the fishable waters in the Sierra listed by county and whether a lake or a stream.  The listing not only includes what type of trout are in evidence there, but also what elevation and which topographical map it it can be found on.                                  Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

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I agree that altitude is not the govering factor.  I know a lake in the norther sierra’s with goldens.  The lake is at roughly 7000′. No I won’t tell where.  It gets too much fishing preasure as it is. | |…… Seek harmony and balance in the mountains, find harmony and balance within…..

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: I agree that altitude is not the govering factor.  I know a lake in : the norther sierra’s with goldens.  The lake is at roughly 7000′. I saw a mess of Goldens for sale in my local grocery store.  I couldn’t believe it!  I thought these fish were fairly rare? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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: I agree that altitude is not the govering factor.  I know a lake in : the norther sierra’s with goldens.  The lake is at roughly 7000′. I saw a mess of Goldens for sale in my local grocery store.  I couldn’t believe it!  I thought these fish were fairly rare?

Those aren’t the same "goldens" that are often sought after here.  They’re farm grown fish with almost a solid gold color the bares no resemblance to the Volcano Creek or Little Kern Golden trout.  I’ve seen some pictures of "golden" trout that have been introduced in some of the high country lakes in Wyoming and they also bare little resemblance to the High Sierra natives.  They’re complete devoid of par marks and don’t have the red fins of the V.C. or L.K. golden.   — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems – Ithaca, NY

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I’ve seen some pictures of "golden" trout that have been introduced in some of the high country lakes in Wyoming and they also bare little resemblance to the High Sierra natives.  They’re complete devoid of par marks and don’t have the red fins of the V.C. or L.K. golden.  

That’s because they’ve grown to larger size.  I’ve caught small Goldens in Wyoming and Montana that fit your description.  The size of these smaller Wyoming trout matches the bigger California trout, and so does their coloration. Both rainbows and goldens loose their par marks as they get bigger. — -Wayne Trzyna

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Both rainbows and goldens loose their par marks as they get bigger.

Not so.  California (e.g. Kern) goldens keep the par marks through life. Matt Carey – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — -Wayne Trzyna

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(AdFirmOne) writes: As you probably know, Goldens live above the 10,500 foot range.  I’ve fished for them quite a bit in the eastern Sierra. All the trips required at least a 8 hour hike in to get beyond the rainbows and brookies.  A short trip like yours doesn’t promise much when searching out these beautiful fish. Good luck tho. As I said, I know of one lake that contains goldens that can be reach by vehicle with sufficient ground clearance.  I also know of several others that require no more then an hour hike.  None of these are going to be high producers.  I would guess that none of these lakes are higher then 10,500′ in elevation either.  I’m not so sure that 10.5K or even 10K is some sort of magic number for Sierra Goldens.

Hi    Golden Trout were rainbow trout less than 50,000 years ago.  They evolved into goldens in the Kern River system as low as 7,000 ft. They are considered a high elevation fish largely because that was where we planted them in the mid 1800s and early 1900’s.  They have the ability to live in most waters that can support bows.    There are about a dozen roadside golden trout waters and many less than an hour from the car (don’t ask). You’ll need to do some sleuthing, but that’s half the fun!    Tight lines, Ralph —

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Hello, I tried to post something like this already, but it doesn’t seem to have made it. My family is going on a weekend trip camping and fishing.  We are looking for possible sites to find some golden trout, but with the tight constraints–we are on a 2-day weekend trip.  This limits how far we can pack in and how far from LA (where the rest of my family lives) we can go. Any information would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks, Matt Carey

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Matt      It has been a few years but about 30-40  miles north of Bishop is a lake called convict lake. It’s fising used to be outstanding. Hike above this lake they say about 3 miles and you come to some very high mountain lakes that used to have golden trout. I tried this hike once with may not so good leg and never reached these lakes but am told they are there and seen them on the maps.      I think Convict lake’s resort used to have an internet site. Look for it at any web search engine (webcrawler, altavista, infoseek, etc.). This used to be one of my favorite fishing spots. Watch the weather reports for the storms come upon this area VERY quickly. HTH Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I tried to post something like this already, but it doesn’t seem to have made it. My family is going on a weekend trip camping and fishing.  We are looking for possible sites to find some golden trout, but with the tight constraints–we are on a 2-day weekend trip.  This limits how far we can pack in and how far from LA (where the rest of my family lives) we can go. Any information would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks, Matt Carey

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In ‘89 I did a trip up to Lake Mildred (or Martha, not sure of the name)…it’s the first lake in the chain above Convict. That lake produced many fish, but no goldens…Convict Lake was terribly crowded and I’m sure it hasn’t gotten any better…. I’ll be fishing in the Lone Pine/Whiteny area the 4th of July weekend…hoping to get up to some of the higher lakes in that area…I’ll let you all know what happens.

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As you probably know, Goldens live above the 10,500 foot range.  I’ve fished for them quite a bit in the eastern Sierra. All the trips required at least a 8 hour hike in to get beyond the rainbows and brookies.  A short trip like yours doesn’t promise much when searching out these beautiful fish. Good luck tho.

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There are a few places that do not require 8 hour hikes. More like 15 minutes or less. (These places should be held dear, but they do not hold large goldens-if there are such a thing). Some of these are roads approaching the Kern River drainage and some of the Sierra mountain pass roads. Mail me directly and I can give you a little more info. -Don M.

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Matt     It has been a few years but about 30-40  miles north of Bishop is a lake called convict lake. It’s fising used to be outstanding. Hike above this lake they say about 3 miles and you come to some very high mountain lakes that used to have golden trout. I tried this hike once with may not so good leg and never reached these lakes but am told they are there and seen them on the maps.

There are quite a few lakes in this area along the eastern slope of the Sierra that are about the same distance from a lake that you can drive to.  Go up over Piute pass (out of Rock Creek) and you’ll get into some good Golden Trout country as well.  In the June Lake area Gibbs and Kidney lake are about the same distance *up* as the lake above Convict lake.  There are some golden trout lakes in the Mammoth Lakes and 20 Lakes Basin (near Saddlebag Lake). I even know of a lake that you can drive to that is a bit further north that has Golden trout in it. I’m a bit reluctant to provide a lot of details about a lot of these places however.  I wouldn’t have hesitated about 3-4 years ago but with the commercialization of the net I’m afraid that I’d see a pay-per-view web site or a 1-900 number with all the Golden trout lakes for anyone (and everyone) to use to find these spots.   — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems – Ithaca, NY

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As you probably know, Goldens live above the 10,500 foot range.  I’ve fished for them quite a bit in the eastern Sierra. All the trips required at least a 8 hour hike in to get beyond the rainbows and brookies.  A short trip like yours doesn’t promise much when searching out these beautiful fish. Good luck tho.

As I said, I know of one lake that contains goldens that can be reach by vehicle with sufficient ground clearance.  I also know of several others that require no more then an hour hike.  None of these are going to be high producers.  I would guess that none of these lakes are higher then 10,500′ in elevation either.  I’m not so sure that 10.5K or even 10K is some sort of magic number for Sierra Goldens. — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems – Ithaca, NY

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Stuff Deleted… As I said, I know of one lake that contains goldens that can be reach by vehicle with sufficient ground clearance.  I also know of several others that require no more then an hour hike.  None of these are going to be high producers.  I would guess that none of these lakes are higher then 10,500′ in elevation either.  I’m not so sure that 10.5K or even 10K is some sort of magic number for Sierra Goldens. — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems – Ithaca, NY

Elevation isn’t the determining factor, as you have said. It’s the temp. and cleanness of the water. It’s just that you tend to find both at higher elevations. It also seems that you are fishing the same places I am. Please don’t post the locations. It took me years of hiking and searching to find these places. I would hate to see them become the next hot spot to go fly fishing. Darryl Hayashida

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AdFirmOne sandbags: : As you probably know, Goldens live above the 10,500 foot range.  I’ve : fished for them quite a bit in the eastern Sierra. All the trips required : at least a 8 hour hike in to get beyond the rainbows and brookies.  A : short trip like yours doesn’t promise much when searching out these : beautiful fish. Good luck tho. Nice try- Do you think the Kern is at 10.5K?  More like 6,000.  Basically, Goldens live in clean, cold water and are very sensitive to environmental impact.  There really is no altitude limit, as evidenced by their presence in many lakes and streams throughout the easter sierras.  Sure, you can hike to lakes at 9,000-10,000 ft. and catch goldens.  In fact, the DFG uses some remote lakes around cottonwood pass for hatcheries (*DO NOT* fish at these lakes- it’s illegal).  However, this does not mean that goldens aren’t found at lower elevations.  Many streams are within a few hours hike, and some lakes have parking lots a few miles from the shore- both contain goldens. Get a topo, and call some fly shops in the bishop area. Best regards, Hans — "The worst monotonous drone coming from a lectern or the most eye-splitting textbook written in turgid English is nothing in comparison to the psychological Sahara that starts right in your bedroom and spurns the horizon."         -Joseph Brodsky, from "In praise of Boredom"          delivered as a commencement address at Dartmouth College. Hans T.H. Beernink, Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont

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