Question:

I’m going to be in Hawaii and Kauai in February.  Are there any Saltwater Fly fishing opportunities there I haven’t read much on Fly Fishing in Hawaii. Thanks J.S.

Response:

I’m going to be in Hawaii and Kauai in February.  Are there any Saltwater Fly fishing opportunities there I haven’t read much on Fly Fishing in Hawaii. Thanks J.S.

J.S.,      I was in hawaii on the island of Oahu, I was a beginner to the sport of fly fishing. I looked and listened for anything that I could find on the art. I didnt find that much.      However, I have seen shows on fly fishing where they were fly fishing for Bone Fish. There are definitely bone fish all over the hawaiian islands. Would probably have to look for the flats, of course, as that is where they usually hang out. I dont know the exact fly types they used, but they were there. I was in hawaii for 3 years in the military. It was a good long time of fishing, but like I said, not much for fly fishing.      Also, there is a freshwater lake on Oahu that I did fly fish, but again, I was new into the whole fly fishing genre. The lake was stocked with Peacock Bass. Not very big from what I could see, but there were some lunkers in there, I am pretty sure. I have a buddy that is stationed out there right now, I will check with him to see if he can find anything out about it, specifically for the islands you mentioned. Cant promise anything, cause I dont know how much he will look, but I will drop it on him anyway.

Response:

Question:

How is flyfishing this year in Kamloops Area?

Response:

It was a long cool spring, and the past two weeks have been downright crappy, but the last few days of warm weather should be bringing up some bugs.  It’s still lake to lake as to action, some have been hot, many cold, but they should be consistently coming around in the next couple of weeks. Most lakes within a 1/2 hour of pavement have been quite busy on weekends, so going off the back roads will be needed for some quiet time on the water. Mild winter this year means that many of the smaller lakes haven’t winterkilled so prospects are good.  Cheers, Geoff McD.

Response:

We just got back this week, and I’ll agree that the weather was crappy; everything but snow! Fishing wasn’t all that bad however. Caddis are starting to show nicely….. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It was a long cool spring, and the past two weeks have been downright crappy, but the last few days of warm weather should be bringing up some bugs.  It’s still lake to lake as to action, some have been hot, many cold, but they should be consistently coming around in the next couple of weeks. Most lakes within a 1/2 hour of pavement have been quite busy on weekends, so going off the back roads will be needed for some quiet time on the water. Mild winter this year means that many of the smaller lakes haven’t winterkilled so prospects are good.  Cheers, Geoff McD.

Response:

Question:

The fall is a great time for fishing the West. My wife and I do our annual regular 2 week car bum in Sept/Oct. Best time for avoiding crowds and in the NW in particular is argueably the best season. Suggest you read Ted Leason’s book for a rundown on the basics of year rounded fishing in the NW. Dave

Hey George, I don’t think David is any sort of traitor. Hell, I’ve bummed around a good part of Idaho for the last 15 years, kayaking and fishing in the summer. I’ve also been on this newsgroup since quite a while before you started posting here. I don’t post much now because I’m making my own bamboo rods and don’t intend to go the Bastard route, I’ve had my fill of the C&R debate so mainly I lurk now with an occasional comment. Hell man, I even have a bottle of Gink on my vest!! Watch out, I may even drop in on your facility unannounced one day! Cheers. Jon

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thought I’d probe you guys for a few suggestions. My wife and I are going out west in early fall to scope out some property. As part of this trip, we want to take a week for flyfishing (both are avid ff). I am looking for some suggestions as to good places to try. We have fished Montana extensively in the summer but never in the fall. We figured we could go to the Red Lodge or Bozeman area and bum around or perhaps get a guide to float the Yellowstone. Is this a good time (or even worthwhile) to float the Yellowstone (I figure around the big bend area might be best; this is one river we have never fished)? Suggestions? Our other thought is to go to Oregon. We have friends there and could combine the goals of the trip. Again, is this a decent time to go and where would you suggest? We have some free airline tickets coming up and are pretty flexible. The main thing we want to avoid is being shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of people (its OK for us to be around people, I just would prefer to avoid being in a crowd of urban maniacs going after some standard steelhead run near a metropolitan area, if you know what I mean). Anyway, all suggestions are appreciated. We are both pretty comfortable with doing exploratories and the general wilderness adventure scene. I know this request is pretty general. Its the fall season fishing that we are relatively unfamiliar with out there. Thanks for any input. Jon McAnulty

–Jon, If you have never fished the Deschutes river (Oregon) in the fall your missing one of the best rivers in the world to catch steelhead on a fly on the surface.   There will be plenty of room without many fishermen if you go in Oct.   October is when the big "B" class Idaho fish enter the river (15-25lb).   A 20lb steelhead in a fast moving river on a fly rod is a fish of a life time.   Drop me a line if you want more info. Sharp Hooks, Pat Holdzit Fishing Products Inc. http://www.holdzit.com Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

The full title is "The Habit of Rivers," (Reflections on Trout Streams and Fly Fishing), by Ted Leeson. Its literate and then some, and a useful perspective on NW fishing. Dave

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Thanks for the reply. Any title on that book? I suspect it is obvious but an exact title would help as I will probably have to order it. Thanks again. Jon

Response:

The fall is a great time for fishing the West. My wife and I do our annual regular 2 week car bum in Sept/Oct. Best time for avoiding crowds and in the NW in particular is argueably the best season. Suggest you read Ted Leason’s book for a rundown on the basics of year rounded fishing in the NW. Dave

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thought I’d probe you guys for a few suggestions. My wife and I are going out west in early fall to scope out some property. As part of this trip, we want to take a week for flyfishing (both are avid ff). I am looking for some suggestions as to good places to try. We have fished Montana extensively in the summer but never in the fall. We figured we could go to the Red Lodge or Bozeman area and bum around or perhaps get a guide to float the Yellowstone. Is this a good time (or even worthwhile) to float the Yellowstone (I figure around the big bend area might be best; this is one river we have never fished)? Suggestions? Our other thought is to go to Oregon. We have friends there and could combine the goals of the trip. Again, is this a decent time to go and where would you suggest? We have some free airline tickets coming up and are pretty flexible. The main thing we want to avoid is being shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of people (its OK for us to be around people, I just would prefer to avoid being in a crowd of urban maniacs going after some standard steelhead run near a metropolitan area, if you know what I mean). Anyway, all suggestions are appreciated. We are both pretty comfortable with doing exploratories and the general wilderness adventure scene. I know this request is pretty general. Its the fall season fishing that we are relatively unfamiliar with out there. Thanks for any input. Jon McAnulty

– Mr. G. ‘all’s fair with fur or feather’ http://www.gink.com http://www.rodbuilding.com http://www.xink.com 509-243-4100 or 5500

Question:

Thanks for all of the comments all of you sent me on the IIE vs II.  I just have one other question: How rugged is the Elan?  I plan to use it when I go hiking, canoeing, camping, etc.  I saw in another thread in this group that there was some question about the durability of one of the knobs.  Has anyone had any problems with the knobs breaking?  Can it stand to be used in the great outdoors?

Buy a good Camera bag, and don’t drop it.. I load my ElanIIe on the back of my Kawasaki Ninja zx-11, for motorcycling photos (see http://pwp.starnetinc.com/mercury/biking) I have a LowePro Nova 2 and pack 2 lenses (28-105, 100-300) with all the filters, film, and a micro-tripod (a Bogen) So far, it’s been pretty rugged… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks for your help.  I’m very close to a decision! Aldo P.S. One of you suggested saving the money and spending it on lenses.  I currently have a Rebel G and several lenses.  I just want a better body.

Response:

I’ve only looked at the IIE once, and I don’t have a brochure handy, but I thought that what you say the salesperson said is correct.  As I recall, the camera doesn’t actually focus on what the eye is looking at, it simply uses whichever of the 3 AF points your eye is looking at (or looking closest to, perhaps).  Am I wrong? Sean, Not sure what you mean.  If the subject covered by the right zone is 60 ft away and the subject at the left zone is 10 ft away, the focal plane will be at the level of the one you look at.  So I suppose the camera does focus on a zone and not an object if that is your point.

I have the IIe and I understand his point. His point is that if, for example, the eye is looking at a far left corner, which is 30 feet away, but the left AF point happens to be resting on an object 10 feet away, you are out of luck.

Response:

Hello Aldo, The IIe is worth the price of $50 for me. It works 98% of the time for me and hence very valuable. I would hate not to have the eye control after using it for a while now. Good luck, Ann — Ann Q. Lee http://carcassi.eng.uci.edu/intropictures.htm

Response:

The Eye control works for me all the time so I am glad that I decided to get the IIe instead of the II.  In addition the DOF preview works too.  So I believe it is low risk to spend extra < $ 100 to get this feature.  I am really confused by the other comments. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … However, I have heard a number of camera store salespersons say that they didn’t like it at all, and then went on to say that the camera DOESN’T HAVE TRUE EYE-FOCUSING, it’s just which little red square you use, which should tell you that ignorant camera salespeople are with us and always will be. I’ve only looked at the IIE once, and I don’t have a brochure handy, but I thought that what you say the salesperson said is correct.  As I recall, the camera doesn’t actually focus on what the eye is looking at, it simply uses whichever of the 3 AF points your eye is looking at (or looking closest to, perhaps).  Am I wrong? That is true, but the camera actually _does_ focus using that square. This salesman tried to steer me to a Minolta camera that focusses wherever the eye looks in the viewfinder, apparently. I know that this may not have any bearing on the original poster’s question, and I certainly don’t recommend one over the other, not having any real experience with either. — Sean Streiff — "Outside of that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?" If you have nothing else to do, check my photo page at http://www.enteract.com/~ckross

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … However, I have heard a number of camera store salespersons say that they didn’t like it at all, and then went on to say that the camera DOESN’T HAVE TRUE EYE-FOCUSING, it’s just which little red square you use, which should tell you that ignorant camera salespeople are with us and always will be. I’ve only looked at the IIE once, and I don’t have a brochure handy, but I thought that what you say the salesperson said is correct.  As I recall, the camera doesn’t actually focus on what the eye is looking at, it simply uses whichever of the 3 AF points your eye is looking at (or looking closest to, perhaps).  Am I wrong?

That is true, but the camera actually _does_ focus using that square. This salesman tried to steer me to a Minolta camera that focusses wherever the eye looks in the viewfinder, apparently. I know that this may not have any bearing on the original poster’s question, and I certainly don’t recommend one over the other, not having any real experience with either. — Sean Streiff

– "Outside of that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?" If you have nothing else to do, check my photo page at http://www.enteract.com/~ckross

Response:

I’ve only looked at the IIE once, and I don’t have a brochure handy, but I thought that what you say the salesperson said is correct.  As I recall, the camera doesn’t actually focus on what the eye is looking at, it simply uses whichever of the 3 AF points your eye is looking at (or looking closest to, perhaps).  Am I wrong?

Sean, Not sure what you mean.  If the subject covered by the right zone is 60 ft away and the subject at the left zone is 10 ft away, the focal plane will be at the level of the one you look at.  So I suppose the camera does focus on a zone and not an object if that is your point. However, the camera DOES in certain mode, determine exactly what the subject is.  It is called AI Servo mode, a ‘predictive’ focus mode and there are a couple of variations on the mode.  To Quote from the Magic Lantern Guide: In AI servo AF mode the shutter can fire even before the AF operation is complete.  Designed for moving subjects, the AI servo AF incorporates predictive AF.  This means that the AF sensor ‘locks’ on to the main subject, determines it’s direction and speed, and calculates where the object will be at the moment of exposure.  Predictive AF even compensates for the unavoidable split second that elapses between the time the shutter release is pressed and the moment of actual exposure, as the reflex mirror flips up and the aperture closes to its working value. End of quote.  In some lighting / film speed situations you may have a wide open aperture yielding little depth of field so this could be the difference between a soft shot and a sharp one.  The book goes on to give some techniques on how you can assist predictive focus to choose the right subject and track it more precisely.  I have not had occasion since buying the camera in December and shooting 30 rolls of film to use this feature.  I can not tell you how well it works or does not work, but the MLG writers say it’s great.  I would think that if it only works or helps half the time it would still be nice. — John Pearce Phoenix  AZ home is the right word for reply

Response:

you are correct. the ECF detects which AF point you’re looking at, i.e. your eye selects which AF point to use. i have the EOS 50E (Elan IIE) and use ECF about 95% of the time. it’s always either ECF or centre focusing point or manual focusing. i never use automatic selection. bl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … However, I have heard a number of camera store salespersons say that they didn’t like it at all, and then went on to say that the camera DOESN’T HAVE TRUE EYE-FOCUSING, it’s just which little red square you use, which should tell you that ignorant camera salespeople are with us and always will be. I’ve only looked at the IIE once, and I don’t have a brochure handy, but I thought that what you say the salesperson said is correct.  As I recall, the camera doesn’t actually focus on what the eye is looking at, it simply uses whichever of the 3 AF points your eye is looking at (or looking closest to, perhaps).  Am I wrong? I know that this may not have any bearing on the original poster’s question, and I certainly don’t recommend one over the other, not having any real experience with either. — Sean Streiff

– My reply address above has been doctored to prevent SPAMming. Please undeliverable mail message.

Response:

Hi I’m considering the Canon EOS Elan II camera, and wanted to know whether the eye-focus function of the IIE is worth it or should I stick to the Elan II.  If you have a IIE do you use the eye-focus a lot? How do you like it?  If you had to do it over again would you buy a camera with the eye-focus feature? Thanks for the help Aldo

Hi Aldo, I just wanted to speak up after watching this thread a couple of days. I am not the pro so many good minds on the group are but I felt I had something to contribute. One fellow mentioned you should buy the II and save the money for a good lens.  Well, no matter what you do you need to get a good lens for certain.  However, if you buy from a place like B&H there is only about US $50 difference in the cost and that won’t go far on a lens anyway. I bought the IIe last December thinking that the money was not such a big deal (I know, I’m lucky and I do give to charity) and I could turn it off if I did not like the ECF.  I heard many say it didn’t work for them, I heard many say you have to hold your face just right for every shot or it didn’t work.  I heard some say it didn’t work with glasses. Well, I’ve shot 30 rolls of film and would kick myself in the butt if I didn’t have it and somehow learned how useful, easy, and realiable it is.  It has worked for me in every single shot, even when I forgot about it and would have messed up the shot on my own.  It works without glasses, with glasses, with sunglasses, with my forehead up against the shoe mounted flash and my nose and mouth away from the camera body, it works when my face is perfectly positioned or not.  It works for me, it always works, and it is effortless.   I don’t know, maybe people that had trouble took calibration too seriously.  Maybe I was sloppy when I calibrated the thing so it works over a wider range of motion.  Maybe I have big eyes.  Who knows.  The thing is you won’t know until you have used one for awhile and only you know if you can afford the $50 bucks to find out.   — John Pearce Phoenix  AZ home is the right word for reply

Response:

… However, I have heard a number of camera store salespersons say that they didn’t like it at all, and then went on to say that the camera DOESN’T HAVE TRUE EYE-FOCUSING, it’s just which little red square you use, which should tell you that ignorant camera salespeople are with us and always will be.

I’ve only looked at the IIE once, and I don’t have a brochure handy, but I thought that what you say the salesperson said is correct.  As I recall, the camera doesn’t actually focus on what the eye is looking at, it simply uses whichever of the 3 AF points your eye is looking at (or looking closest to, perhaps).  Am I wrong? I know that this may not have any bearing on the original poster’s question, and I certainly don’t recommend one over the other, not having any real experience with either. — Sean Streiff

Response:

    I have owned the Elan IIe for over a year – It has survived many flyfishing trips and even a crash or two on a mountain bike – Coming from an Olympus background I was unsure of the plastic of todays camera and lens – but – so far all has worked well. I should also add that the camera with the 28 – 105 canon lens has given me some really great fast action photos that I would probably have botched with a manual focus camera – I wear glases and the eye focus only seems to ’search’ in very low light situations A Happy Canon Camper Wayne

Response:

Thanks for all of the comments all of you sent me on the IIE vs II.  I just have one other question: How rugged is the Elan?  I plan to use it when I go hiking, canoeing, camping, etc.  I saw in another thread in this group that there was some question about the durability of one of the knobs.  Has anyone had any problems with the knobs breaking?  Can it stand to be used in the great outdoors? Thanks for your help.  I’m very close to a decision! Aldo P.S. One of you suggested saving the money and spending it on lenses.  I currently have a Rebel G and several lenses.  I just want a better body.

Response:

see http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~btong/obl/photos/info for my write up on the EOS 50E (aka Elan IIE). click on "hardware". bl Hi I’m considering the Canon EOS Elan II camera, and wanted to know whether the eye-focus function of the IIE is worth it or should I stick to the Elan II.  If you have a IIE do you use the eye-focus a lot? How do you like it?  If you had to do it over again would you buy a camera with the eye-focus feature? Thanks for the help Aldo

– My reply address above has been doctored to prevent SPAMming. Please undeliverable mail message.

Response:

After doing my research and trying the Elan IIe in the store (it wasn’t calibrated correctly), I later let a store clerk talk me into getting the Elan II

Hmm funny a store clerk tried doing the same to me, fortunately I followed a similar tread a while back from the excellent folks in this group, there were a few neg’s and plenty of positives, I found that I too would appreciate a new technology that would save me having to lock focus and recompose or some other trick, so yeah I’d go for the E11e, even if it was just a gimmick I still support the advancement towards innovative and potentially useful technology. Trent

Response:

hi Aldo, i use my eye control always.the other day i picked up my sons reble g and i wasnt able to feel comfortable.(like something was missing) so long, Harry

Response:

*I* use the eye-focus function a lot! My wife, on the other hand, seems to not understand how it’s used, so for her, I put the camera in full auto mode. But it’s a great feature when you need to compose a shot other than dead center, great for depth-of-field auto settings, and will add to the enjoyment of your camera. However, I have heard a number of camera store salespersons say that they didn’t like it at all, and then went on to say that the camera DOESN’T HAVE TRUE EYE-FOCUSING, it’s just which little red square you use, which should tell you that ignorant camera salespeople are with us and always will be. Hi I’m considering the Canon EOS Elan II camera, and wanted to know whether the eye-focus function of the IIE is worth it or should I stick to the Elan II.  If you have a IIE do you use the eye-focus a lot? How do you like it?  If you had to do it over again would you buy a camera with the eye-focus feature? Thanks for the help Aldo

– "Outside of that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?" If you have nothing else to do, check my photo page at http://www.enteract.com/~ckross

Response:

I use the IIe in both eye controlled focus and camera controlled focus.  Its nice to have the eye control when you need it.  Buy it, you can always shut it off.

Response:

Hi I’m considering the Canon EOS Elan II camera, and wanted to know whether the eye-focus function of the IIE is worth it or should I stick to the Elan II.  

Save your money for a good lens Jim Arnold Dallas, TX

Response:

After doing my research and trying the Elan IIe in the store (it wasn’t calibrated correctly), I later let a store clerk talk me into getting the Elan II (afterall, it is just a gimmick – and I could find better things to spend the extra money on). Well, I shot one roll of film in the Elan II and knew that I had better get back to the store and exchange it for the IIe. First, while shooting in a wooded area, I could have used the Eye Focusing because the Elan II was automatically focusing on a section of trees that were closest to me, rather than the one I wanted to focus on. So, I had to manually choose the focus point. Next, when wanting to try the Depth of Field Preview, I first had to change the custom setting on the Elan II so I could use the AF Lock button to activate the Depth of Field Preview. By the end of the roll I knew I would miss the Eye Controlled Focussing – or rather, I knew how helpful it can be. Spend the extra $50 and get the Elan IIe. You will not regret it. And, if you wish to turn it off, you can. But it will always be there when you want/need it. The Eye Controlled Depth of Field Preview is worth it alone! Michael Chicago, IL

Response:

I strongly recommend getting the Eye Control Focus feature.  It is much more than a gimmick—it quickly becomes intuitive, and I think it is the natural evolution of making autofocus work as smoothly as manual focus. The ECF on the Elan IIE is better than that on the A2E, since it is bidirectional (vertical and horizontal). Richard Baltimore

Response:

Hi I’m considering the Canon EOS Elan II camera, and wanted to know whether the eye-focus function of the IIE is worth it or should I stick to the Elan II.  If you have a IIE do you use the eye-focus a lot? How do you like it?  If you had to do it over again would you buy a camera with the eye-focus feature? Thanks for the help Aldo

Response:

Question:

Hi everyone,     Is it possible to catch river whitefish with spinning rod? All I’ve heard so far is to use  fly rod. Any hint on using spinning tackle would be greatly appreciated. George

Response:

Probably not the same type of river your talking about, but I use a spinning rod with a small teardrop ice jig tipped with a wax worm when fishing for ciscoes and whitefish on the Ste. Mary’s River system. But we’re in 30′ of water, anchored. Hi everyone,     Is it possible to catch river whitefish with spinning rod? All I’ve heard so far is to use  fly rod. Any hint on using spinning tackle would be greatly appreciated. George

– Joe "Mushrat" Woytta http://www.flash.net/~mushrat Northern Pike anglers, check out http://www.flash.net/~mushrat/pikemasters

Response:

Question:

It seems that the vise jaws were on the brittle side, at least judging by the post over the last year or so. I think the company may have gone under.             Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are they any good?

Response:

Tom: Save your money. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are they any good?

Response:

Are they any good?

Response:

Are they any good?

Tom:  this question was posed recently, either here or in rec.outdoors.fishing.fly.tying, and I seem to recall some very negative comments.  No personal experience, however. Mark Faulkner

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Question:

Why not try the Beartooths or the Absoraokas,  northeast of Yellowstone. The Beartooth plateau is great for backpacking and fishing. Penny — Specialty Outdoor Sewing Professional Sewing for the Outdoor Enthusiast Spokane, Washington Ask about my line of Cataraft accessories!   web page coming soon…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi! My hubby and I are going backpacking in Wyoming is a few weeks.  He loves to fly fish and love to hike.  We have done the usual tourist routes in the Tetons, Yellowstone and Winds.  I would love some suggestions for other areas we could visit.  Any input would really be appreciated. Thanks! Mary

Response:

Check out the Snowy Range southwest of Laramie.  Your hubby can fly fish and hike to his heart’s content and won’t have to fight crowds – tourists either go on to Yellowstone and the Tetons to the north or Colorado to the south.  The scenery is beautiful and different from any other mountain range I’ve been in.  Geez, I hate telling more people about this place – maybe you should check out the Big Horns in north central Wyoming.

: Hi! : My hubby and I are going backpacking in Wyoming is a few weeks.  He loves : to fly fish and love to hike.  We have done the usual tourist routes in : the Tetons, Yellowstone and Winds.  I would love some suggestions for : other areas we could visit.  Any input would really be appreciated. : Thanks! : Mary

Response:

Hi! My hubby and I are going backpacking in Wyoming is a few weeks.  He loves to fly fish and love to hike.  We have done the usual tourist routes in the Tetons, Yellowstone and Winds.  I would love some suggestions for other areas we could visit.  Any input would really be appreciated. Thanks! Mary

Response:

Question:

DEAR JIM: There is a remarkable difference in staying power between soft and weak southern strains of bass compared to damned yankee bass found in Lake Erie or let us say in Wisconsin, etc.  A lot of it has to do with oxygen content but overall, southern bass on the average are soft and mushy fleshed.  Many other fishermen have noticed this also.  So if you’re going to make a choice, go north where the real fighting bass hang out. — George Gehrke/President Gehrke’s World’s Best Fly Fishing Products Asotin, WA 99402 509-243-4100  FAX 4644

Response:

…..and while this is probably just my imagination George, it has always seemed to me that bass that hang out in rivers are stronger fighters than those that fin lazily in lakes…..for pure excitement, a river smallie that slams your topwater bug would be hard to top!   Regards, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – DEAR JIM: There is a remarkable difference in staying power between soft and weak southern strains of bass compared to damned yankee bass found in Lake Erie or let us say in Wisconsin, etc.  A lot of it has to do with oxygen content but overall, southern bass on the average are soft and mushy fleshed.  Many other fishermen have noticed this also.  So if you’re going to make a choice, go north where the real fighting bass hang out. — George Gehrke/President Gehrke’s World’s Best Fly Fishing Products Asotin, WA 99402 509-243-4100  FAX 4644

Response:

overall, southern bass on the average are soft and mushy fleshed.  Many other fishermen have noticed this also.  So if you’re going to make a choice, go north where the real fighting bass hang out.

Ahhhh, but George, everyone wants that ten pound HAWG!  And to get a HAWG you have to go south.  No one really seems to care that it will wallow in the mud and then show its belly like its namesake!  Can’t tell how hard a fish fought by looking at a picture! Hell, here in California we can’t even say HAWG, properly… Not even in southern California!

Response:

overall, southern bass on the average are soft and mushy fleshed.  Many other fishermen have noticed this also.  So if you’re going to make a choice, go north where the real fighting bass hang out. Ahhhh, but George, everyone wants that ten pound HAWG!  And to get a HAWG you have to go south.  No one really seems to care that it will wallow in the mud and then show its belly like its namesake!  Can’t tell how hard a fish fought by looking at a picture! Hell, here in California we can’t even say HAWG, properly… Not even in southern California!

____YOU make me smile! Thanks Mr. G. — George Gehrke/President Gehrke’s World’s Best Fly Fishing Products Snake River – Hell’s Canyon Asotin, WA 99402 / 509-243-4100  FAX 4644

Response:

In California we can say"hawg" in Lake Co.The state record largemouth is over 18 lbs. caught in Hidden Valley reservoir. The reservoir is planted with pure strain Fla. largemouth and may only be fished with permission of a landowner from the surrounding gated community.

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So you say you want bass, eh? Want some really fiesty bass? Not huge hawgs like you get in the southern US, but the smallmout bass here in Ontario are awesome. Get yourself up around Georgian Bay and bring some smallish poppers, nymphs, wooley buggers, crayfish imitations, etc. and hang on. I use a 6 wt 9 foot rod and I am in heaven. but just tell me when to show up! — George Gehrke/President Gehrke’s World’s Best Fly Fishing Products Snake River – Hell’s Canyon Asotin, WA 99402 / 509-243-4100  FAX 4644

Hi George I agree, the smallmouth is one of the hardest fighting fish pound for pound I’ve ever caught. Also there are a few in the Snake river near someone I know but shhh! I’ll never say where. Good tying &… — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

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So you say you want bass, eh? Want some really fiesty bass? Not huge hawgs like you get in the southern US, but the smallmout bass here in Ontario are awesome. Get yourself up around Georgian Bay and bring some smallish poppers, nymphs, wooley buggers, crayfish imitations, etc. and hang on. I use a 6 wt 9 foot rod and I am in heaven.

but just tell me when to show up! — George Gehrke/President Gehrke’s World’s Best Fly Fishing Products Snake River – Hell’s Canyon Asotin, WA 99402 / 509-243-4100  FAX 4644

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overall, southern bass on the average are soft and mushy fleshed.  Many other fishermen have noticed this also.  So if you’re going to make a choice, go north where the real fighting bass hang out. Ahhhh, but George, everyone wants that ten pound HAWG!  And to get a HAWG you have to go south.  No one really seems to care that it will wallow in the mud and then show its belly like its namesake!  Can’t tell how hard a fish fought by looking at a picture! Hell, here in California we can’t even say HAWG, properly… Not even in southern California!

So you say you want bass, eh? Want some really fiesty bass? Not huge hawgs like you get in the southern US, but the smallmout bass here in Ontario are awesome. Get yourself up around Georgian Bay and bring some smallish poppers, nymphs, wooley buggers, crayfish imitations, etc. and hang on. I use a 6 wt 9 foot rod and I am in heaven.

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DEAR JIM: There is a remarkable difference in staying power between soft and weak southern strains of bass compared to damned yankee bass found in Lake Erie or let us say in Wisconsin, etc.  A lot of it has to do with oxygen content but overall, southern bass on the average are soft and mushy fleshed.  Many other fishermen have noticed this also.  So if you’re going to make a choice, go north where the real fighting bass hang out.

George,   I don’t know where you got your information on "southern" bass. There is a largemouth strain that is called "Florida bass" and have been transplanted to many other parts of the country, even to places outside the South. Are you saying that there is less oxygen in the lakes and rivers in the South than in the northern parts of the country and the causes the bass to become weak and mushy fleshed. Thats crazy. I’ve caught bass from Canada to Florida. Admittedly, a five-pound smallmouth in Canada (which is a whopper there) gives one heck of a fight. But tie into one like that in Dale Hollow (look it up on a map) or on the Holston and tell me about "weak southern fish". Go to Rodman (knowing about southern fish I’m sure that you know where this is) and hook-up with a big largemouth in the stump fields and tell me that he is weak and mushy.    As far as the flesh of the Florida bass goes, its as firm and good-tasting as any that I’ve eaten.    These are, of course, only my opinions which are based on anecdotal information. What are yours based on? A priori opinions, I suspect. —

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Question:

  Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers?   unless the river is really large, you don’t need a sinking at all…   TimW

Do you change for a sinking leader or will the nymph drag the leader down with it quickly enough? Peter. —  Peter Sollander, CERN ST/MC/TCR  Tel: (+41) 22.767.8081          Fax: (+41) 22.767.8910        

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  Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers?   unless the river is really large, you don’t need a sinking at all…   TimW Do you change for a sinking leader or will the nymph drag the leader down with it quickly enough?

I use a long leader and split shot and fish effectively in 6+ feet of water.  One spot in particular that comes to mind.  The majority of the Roaring Fork flows between these two big rocks right in the main channel causing impressive rapids.  I would routinely wade deep right to the edge of this and nail nice ‘bows one nymphs fished deep with 5 or more BB’s right in this fast water.   My problem with sinking lines, leaders etc. is that the fly will float up from the bottom too far, unless the weight is RIGHT THERE within 6 inches or so of the bug.  A fly one or two feet off the bottom in this fast water will not catch fish. TimW For larger rivers, and some streamer applications, a Hi-speed, Hi-D Sinking tip line is WAY cool.  Dragging a big wooley behind a driftboat with a sink tip can be deadly. TimW

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: If the river is unusually fast or deep, you might want to use a sink : tip, the weight of the line depends on what your rod is rated for. The : idea is to get the nymph to bounce on the bottom once in a while. A : small split shot or some "Shape-A-Weight" on the leader can do the same : thing. True. A great time and money saver. : As far as being a beginning caster, I would get the Weight Forward (WF) : line as it is easier to put the fly where you want it. I’ve been told this often, but my experience has been that they’re really not that much easier to cast than a DT line, and DT lines turn over a mite easier. PLus, you can turn ‘em around when then get worn! –mike

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Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers? DT, WF?  sinking tip? #1-#4? and what about leaders?  Sinking? Fast Sinking, Extra Fast Sinking?

If you are fishing "small rivers" I wouldn’t bother with a sinking line. You can get a fly down to the fish even with a floating line. A long leader with a small split shot or bead head  will do in most situations. I’ve been tying beads into the body of many nymphs instead of lead and find they work great. You can also add a sink tip to your line, sized to the situation. I always carry a few in different sizes just in case. If you are planning to fish a lake, or a fast, deep river then a sinking line would be handy. I carry a med. sink for lakes and time the decent. For Steehead in rivers I pack a floating, 10 ft. sink tip, and a 24 ft 325 gn. sink tip. The last line works great for strippers….but casting is kind of chuck and duck….

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For nymph fishing small rivers and creeks a floating line is generally all that is required.  For especially deep hole a weight forward would be a good choice, but in  most instances a floating line with a leader set for the depth of water, and a strike indicator, is my general set-up of choice. Clint

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writes: Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers? DT, WF?  sinking tip? #1-#4? and what about leaders?  Sinking? Fast Sinking, Extra Fast Sinking? What’s a beginner’s choice Any ideas?

Hi Pete, I would not choose a sinking line for nymph fishing in most situations. The object of most nymph fishing is to get the fly to *dead drift* in the bottom 6" or so of water.  It’s very tough to dead drift a nymph on a sinking line as you have no control over the sinking line once it sinks. You are at the mercy of the currents because you can’t mend the line.  It is much more effective to fish nymphs on a floating line with a long leader because you can mend it and control the drift; and it’s especially effective to use a strike indicator to suspend the nymph exactly where you want in the water column and drift it down the current lane you choose. If you want particulars on this, drop me some e-mail & I’ll let you know how to set such a system up, along with casts to help you fish it. The place I use a full sinking line is in a lake as it allows you to swim your fly right over the top of weedbeds and structure which is very difficult to do with a floating line and a long leader.  Works well because there is no current in the lake to push your line around.  You could also use a sink tip for this though It tends to rise up a bit as you retrieve it.   A sink tip is a good choice in rivers because you can mend the belly section (the floating part) to control the sinking part.  Unfortunately it’s not real good for "dead drifts" as you need to have some tension on the line to detect the strike and if you have tension on the line you’re not getting a dead drift.  I will use a sink tip for swimming streamers across the current and also for swinging nymphs through the current to imitate a big swimming nymph (like an isonychia) or perhaps a caddis pupa (rarely but once in a while). Don’t feel you need to go out and buy all the different types of lines – floating, sinking (in 6 different densities), and sink tips (in all the different densities and about 10 or 12 different lengths).  Get a floating line and learn how to use it.  Then if you are going to fish specific conditions – such as on a lake at a depth of 10 feet deep – get the appropriate line for those conditions.  Otherwise you can go out and buy 6 different lines or more and still not have the one you need when you need it.                                          Hope this helps,                                                   Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

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Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers? DT, WF?  sinking tip? #1-#4? and what about leaders?  Sinking? Fast Sinking, Extra Fast Sinking? What’s a beginner’s choice Any ideas? Cheers,        Pete. —  Peter Sollander, CERN ST/MC/TCR  Tel: (+41) 22.767.8081          Fax: (+41) 22.767.8910        

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Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers?

unless the river is really large, you don’t need a sinking at all… TimW

Response:

Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers?

If the river is unusually fast or deep, you might want to use a sink tip, the weight of the line depends on what your rod is rated for. The idea is to get the nymph to bounce on the bottom once in a while. A small split shot or some "Shape-A-Weight" on the leader can do the same thing. As far as being a beginning caster, I would get the Weight Forward (WF) line as it is easier to put the fly where you want it.

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Question:

I’m planning a trip with several friends.  We want to fly into Albuquerque.  We’ve all been to the San Juan/Navajo Dam area several times, but want to go somewhere different.  We’re thinking about staying in going to Southern Colorado (Dolores, Durango, or somewhere near the Rio Grande River).  We are planning a 4-5 day trip and may consider a day of fishing at Navajo if the logistics work out.  We like low budget but comfortable motels.  Anyone have any ideas?  Fishing holes/destinations? Sleeping quarters? Thanks, Brian Sharp

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  I’m planning a trip with several friends.  We want to fly into   Albuquerque.  We’ve all been to the San Juan/Navajo Dam area several   times, but want to go somewhere different.  We’re thinking about staying   in going to Southern Colorado (Dolores, Durango, or somewhere near the Rio   Grande River).  We are planning a 4-5 day trip and may consider a day of   fishing at Navajo if the logistics work out.  We like low budget but   comfortable motels.  Anyone have any ideas?  Fishing holes/destinations?   Sleeping quarters? Also consider the Conejos River and it’s tributaries west of Antonito. Lots of different kinds of water, lots of public

access and lots of good camping spots and lodges. Denver, Colorado        ftp.rmii.com/pub2/gwgodden      

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Brain,  From personal experience I would like to suggest that you stay in Durango.  It makes a great central base to start from.  The Delores is about 1 1/2 hours due west and the San Juan is about 1 hour south.  The Rio Grande might be a problem because it is about 2 – 21/2 hours away due east.   If you looking for cheap lodgings pick up a copy of the  American Automobile Association’s (AAA) tour books for the states of New Mexico and Colorado.  They list just about every motel in the Durango area or the entire state for that matter.  They list prices too.  So you can shop around. If you are looking for a guide try:  Doug Buck at Duranglers in Durango, CO                                                   (303)-385-4081 He is familiar with just about all the waters that you mentioned. Good luck.  Let us know how you did.

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Call Tom Knopek at Duranglers in Durango if you’re looking for a guide. Several great places to fish.  Try the Delores below McPhee Dam north of Cortez Colorado.  Try the San Miguel near Telluride.  Last undammed river in Colo.  If you’ve got the time, Black Canyon of Gunnison river is once in a lifetime! Andy Gordon Phoenix, Arizona Andy Gordon, (602) 224-0999

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