Question:

So before you spend big $$s on tying technique books, ‘a kit’, materials you don’t know, vises, new gizmos, threads, hooks, gear, etc. contact me. There’s NO charge, NO fee. Just sound FREE advice from someone who has no affiliation to any manufacturer, catalog company, fly shop or publisher. And, if I can’t answer your question, I’ll say so!

Allan, that’s extremely nice of you and I assume that most people will take you at your word. Don’t be suprised, though, if a few people are skeptical because (1) your subject line is in all capital letters, (2) unless I’m mistaken, you haven’t posted much if at all on this newsgroup in the past, and (3) the phraseology of your post sounds a bit like one of those "too good to be true" sales pitches. Unfortunately, the combination of these three things gives your post the flavor of SPAM. I hope that’s not the case. One litmus test of whether or not someone has solely commercial interests in participating in this newsgroup is a simple examination of his or her posting habits. That said, I hope you’ll make a habit of sharing your fly tying insight with us. So here’s your first question… I’ve considered starting fly tying but can never quite justify it in my mind since I’m not sure it’s something I would enjoy. Here’s what I’d probably tie: parachute Adams, EHC, very small pheasant tail nymphs with and without bead, orange and yellow stimulators, foam beetles, yellow humpies, winged red ants, black gnats, tiny cream midges, even tinier griffiths gnats, and assorted woolly buggers. Is there one vise I can buy that will allow me to tie these flies? How much would I have to spend on supplies and materials to be able to tie these flies? –Steve

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This group appears only to be interested in advice coupled with at least a modicum of bullshit. So basically, no bullshit, no dice. The group exists for exchanging information ( and bullshit), so that everybody can participate. What is the point of going to e-mail ? If ROFF can not answer your questions, we will do it anyway. TL MC — "Where fishing is concerned, most anglers are basically manic excessives" http://www.mikeconnor.de – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do you have a fly tying question?  I don’t have all the answers but, what I do know, I’m willing to share without any b.s..

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<< So here’s your first question… I’ve considered starting fly tying but can never quite justify it in my mind since I’m not sure it’s something I would enjoy. Here’s what I’d probably tie: parachute Adams, EHC, very small pheasant tail nymphs with and without bead, orange and yellow stimulators, foam beetles, yellow humpies, winged red ants, black gnats, tiny cream midges, even tinier griffiths gnats, and assorted woolly buggers. Is there one vise I can buy that will allow me to tie these flies? How much would I have to spend on supplies and materials to be able to tie these flies? –Steve    Very nice.  And can he field strip an M50, blindfolded? GKT

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Do you have a fly tying question?  I don’t have all the answers but, what I do know, I’m willing to share without any b.s..

        great to have you back, connelly…but there’s no need for that false name and addy! wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Do you have a fly tying question?  I don’t have all the answers but, what I do know, I’m willing to share without any b.s..    great to have you back, connelly…but there’s no need for that false name and addy! wayno

<SPLORK!

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Do you have a fly tying question?  I don’t have all the answers but, what I do know, I’m willing to share without any b.s..

Should it be legal to patent or trademark a pattern ? Thanks man, — Halfordian Golfer It is impossible to catch and release a wild trout. A cash flow runs through it.

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Do you have a fly tying question?  I don’t have all the answers but, what I do know, I’m willing to share without any b.s.. Should it be legal to patent or trademark a pattern ?

I don’t see why not. Might be hard to enforce, though. If you determine the genetic sequence of a natrual insect you can patent it under fairly broad conditions. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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Allan,    Your offer is appreciated by the members of ROFF, and are you also willing to share the price of your flies? Ernie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do you have a fly tying question?  I don’t have all the answers but, what I do know, I’m willing to share without any b.s.. After 40 years of fly tying (probably over 50,000 flies) mostly for trout up here in the n.e. (Catskills), fly fishing and reading all that I can get my hands on I think I’ve learned some things that may help you find solutions to your fly tying and maybe fly fishing problems. So before you spend big $$s on tying technique books, ‘a kit’, materials you don’t know, vises, new gizmos, threads, hooks, gear, etc. contact me. There’s NO charge, NO fee. Just sound FREE advice from someone who has no affiliation to any manufacturer, catalog company, fly shop or publisher. And, if I can’t answer your question, I’ll say so! Tight Wraps Allan

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Do you have a fly tying question?  I don’t have all the answers but, what I do know, I’m willing to share without any b.s..

Without ANY b.s. ? Boy, are you ever in the wrong newsgroup. Just kiddin’ Allan, but it would be more appropriate to just chime in here on the newsgroup for all to read when you have something to contribute rather than popping in here unannounced and soliciting private email. — Ken Fortenberry

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do you have a fly tying question?  I don’t have all the answers but, what I do know, I’m willing to share without any b.s.. After 40 years of fly tying (probably over 50,000 flies) mostly for trout up here in the n.e. (Catskills), fly fishing and reading all that I can get my hands on I think I’ve learned some things that may help you find solutions to your fly tying and maybe fly fishing problems. So before you spend big $$s on tying technique books, ‘a kit’, materials you don’t know, vises, new gizmos, threads, hooks, gear, etc. contact me. There’s NO charge, NO fee. Just sound FREE advice from someone who has no affiliation to any manufacturer, catalog company, fly shop or publisher. And, if I can’t answer your question, I’ll say so! Tight Wraps Allan

Thanks Allan, I have a question or two….. questions that concern legitimacy. To the best of my recollection, this is your first message to this august body. Hence, my natural-borne skepticism. Are questions to be posted here at ROFF where you will answer them here publically at ROFF? Or do you prefer that questions be sent to you via e-mail? If the latter, what is your privacy policy concerning the security of e-mail addresses of questionaires? Since you mentioned that you had no affilition with fly shops, etc., but failed to mention that you had *no* affiliation with internet marketeers, I ask these hard questions not to dissuade your altruism, but to clarify your position concerning the privacy of ROFFians who visit this newsgroup, and who, unwittingly, may fall prey to the tentacles of ever-present address collectors who share or sell their lists to spammers. My questions are not posed nor meant to demean your knowledge and your apparent willingness to share that knowledge. That is commendable. *But*, please excuse my skepticism…. we’ve seen these types of posts before. –Walt — Ezflyfish.com: http://www.ezflyfish.com Blue Ridge Book Gallery: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg.html

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Do you have a fly tying question?  I don’t have all the answers but, what I do know, I’m willing to share without any b.s.. After 40 years of fly tying (probably over 50,000 flies) mostly for trout up here in the n.e. (Catskills), fly fishing and reading all that I can get my hands on I think I’ve learned some things that may help you find solutions to your fly tying and maybe fly fishing problems. So before you spend big $$s on tying technique books, ‘a kit’, materials you don’t know, vises, new gizmos, threads, hooks, gear, etc. contact me. There’s NO charge, NO fee. Just sound FREE advice from someone who has no affiliation to any manufacturer, catalog company, fly shop or publisher. And, if I can’t answer your question, I’ll say so! Tight Wraps Allan

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Question:

Hello: Re-stocking time. Still a few trees I haven’t fully decorated that I plan on attacking next spring. Anyone notice in any of the catalogs any place that offers Woolly Buggers tied Clouser style with metal eyes? Can’t seem to find in any catalog I presently have. Thanks, Bob

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello: Re-stocking time. Still a few trees I haven’t fully decorated that I plan on attacking next spring. Anyone notice in any of the catalogs any place that offers Woolly Buggers tied Clouser style with metal eyes? Can’t seem to find in any catalog I presently have. Thanks, Bob

can’t imagine they’d be all that hard to find.  most shops have the ability to get them from the multitude of wholesale fly producers now available.  it may take a little time, but i’m sure your local shop can get some for you. of course, a wooley bugger is about as easy to tie as any fly, and adding lead eyes is easy… also, many buggers are now being tied with coneheads instead of the lead-eyes. cb

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Hello: Re-stocking time. Still a few trees I haven’t fully decorated that I plan on attacking next spring. Anyone notice in any of the catalogs any place that offers Woolly Buggers tied Clouser style with metal eyes?

This is one of my favorite flys. I tie it in sizes from 12 up to 0/2. I like yellow body with white hackle. It’s a killer for big bass. It’s really too easy to tie to bother with buying it. You could tie enough for a season while watching the Simpson’s.

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cb said<<also, many buggers are now being tied with coneheads instead of the lead-eyes. The advantage to the lead-eyes (barrel) is that it makes the hook ride upside down making it more weedless.

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Bob – Are you wanting to buy some or just looking for a recipe? Gary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello: Re-stocking time. Still a few trees I haven’t fully decorated that I plan on attacking next spring. Anyone notice in any of the catalogs any place that offers Woolly Buggers tied Clouser style with metal eyes? Can’t seem to find in any catalog I presently have. Thanks, Bob

Gary Miller, Moderator To subscribe, send an e-mail to: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<)))}"Catch ‘em all…Put ‘em back!<"{(((<

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Question:

Hello Richard: Drop by TroutWorld at http://www.troutworld.com I cover fishing in every state, events, stocking, and a lot more.  I’m also a member of the Luna Network. Thanks, Jeffrey Gray TroutWorld.com, Inc. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you want to promote your website, please reply to this leaving your url and e-mail address and a brief description of the site (1 sentence). I am creating a new feature to my site which contains useful links. Thanks Chris www.geocities.com/ccflies

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off my trolley by writing: Every knot you need to know,, about tying any rig, using the same knot,, yep it’s a top notch knot, takes a cheap tool to tie though

Knots?? You can get knotted here too hhtp://www.f-deans.freeserve.co.uk/knots/knots.htm Dixie

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| /  http://www.totalfishing.com.au   | /  "Catching fish is our game"    _/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://totalfishingadventures.com  Thanks If you want to promote your website, please reply to this leaving your url and e-mail address and a brief description of the site (1 sentence). I am creating a new feature to my site which contains useful links. Thanks Chris www.geocities.com/ccflies

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If you want to promote your website, please reply to this leaving your url and e-mail address and a brief description of the site (1 sentence). I am creating a new feature to my site which contains useful links. Thanks Chris www.geocities.com/ccflies

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http://totalfishingadventures.com  Thanks

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you want to promote your website, please reply to this leaving your url and e-mail address and a brief description of the site (1 sentence). I am creating a new feature to my site which contains useful links. Thanks Chris www.geocities.com/ccflies

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http://www.snapper.karoo.net/index.htm This site is purely amateur,  but I hope it would be of some use. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you want to promote your website, please reply to this leaving your url and e-mail address and a brief description of the site (1 sentence). I am creating a new feature to my site which contains useful links. Thanks Chris www.geocities.com/ccflies

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http://www.wetfly.co.uk Mainly North Country Spider and traditional materials  Thanks  Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you want to promote your website, please reply to this leaving your url and e-mail address and a brief description of the site (1 sentence). I am creating a new feature to my site which contains useful links. Thanks Chris www.geocities.com/ccflies

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Nice site – not really into wets myself but if I were… I particularly like the dying instructions – more people should get into this. Since I’m into Wulffs, muddlers and elk hair caddis variants, I’ve dyed a lot of deer hair over the years. One thing though – I couldn’t link to the good genetic hackle page – is there a www missing perhaps? R.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://www.wetfly.co.uk

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Why do you not pool all your information and set up a fly fishing portal together? Besides centralising good tips and advice, you could offer forums and polls, organise events, sell a variety of gear either through yourselves or commission from a vendor, …… Plus, by grouping your efforts into a single site, you’d be more attractive to advertisers and could split any revenue. Ta.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://totalfishingadventures.com  Thanks If you want to promote your website, please reply to this leaving your url and e-mail address and a brief description of the site (1 sentence). I am creating a new feature to my site which contains useful links. Thanks Chris www.geocities.com/ccflies

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My Scottish club site has a quiz, beginners guid,fun pages, Hint’s & Tip’s,UK venue information and much much more. www.gibbboyd.freeserve.co.uk   Thanks Colin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://totalfishingadventures.com  Thanks If you want to promote your website, please reply to this leaving your url and e-mail address and a brief description of the site (1 sentence). I am creating a new feature to my site which contains useful links. Thanks Chris www.geocities.com/ccflies

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If you want to promote your website, please reply to this leaving your url and e-mail address and a brief description of the site (1 sentence). I am creating a new feature to my site which contains useful links. Thanks Chris www.geocities.com/ccflies

http://ezknot.com/ Every knot you need to know,, about tying any rig, using the same knot,, yep it’s a top notch knot, takes a cheap tool to tie though — Rodney Long, Inventor of the  "EZ Knot," What should be in every tackle box. http://ezknot.com/

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Question:

Mark, Stay loose and keep trying.That’s why they call it fishing and not catching. You were going to C & R anyways. Correct pressure it’s just a matter of experience. You have to take into consideration if the fish is going upstream, down strean, how much string you have out, fish size.Just hang in there,have fun.     Capt. Dan **** Posted from RemarQ – http://www.remarq.com – Discussions Start Here ™ ****

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Not to rain on your parade, but… <heavy downpour snipped

Most of your points are well taken.   However, to make the story as interesting, yet as brief as possible, considerable details and irrelevent narrative were omitted from a long day of fishing.   Had I included everything, I have no doubt you would be impressed with our ambassadorship for fly fishing, our sportsmanship, and the number of fish hooked and played by nearby anglers whist we stood by courteously and patiently when it was our turn to do so.   You would also have been exceptionally bored.   It’s a big river; and we neither monopolized any good holes, caught all the fish, nor substantially interfered with anyone’s enjoyment of the day.   It was a fine day fishing for all; this story was but a snapshot of a moment. Lighten up, eh? If you were right, however, you’d have been right. Joe

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0] : Everybody see the theme happening here?  "Put a little pressure on ‘em?"  My : story: snipped: account of fishing for goldens : Still haven’t caught my first golden.. : -Mark : — Goldens aren’t hard to catch in wilderness streams provided they don’t see you first. They are ultra spooky. The whole secret is stealth. A six incher will scarf up a #10 Royal Wulff or just about anything else in your flybox, and there will be no question of being hooked up–he’ll be on. Just keep low, behind a bush or a rock–you don’t need a fancy cast, just get the fly on the water drifting reasonably. Actually I’ll suggest 14’s and 16’s are a more appropriate for the size of the typical golden, and are taken just as enthusiastically as 10’s. Mike — Michael McGuire                     Hewlett Packard Laboratories  (remove x’s from email if not      Palo Alto, CA 94303-0971   a spammer) Phone: (650)-857-5491              

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My buddy and I were fishing the Salmon River (NY) last fall during the annual salmon run.   We were there maybe a bit late for the peak of the run, and a lot of the fish in the river had been there a while and were a bit worn out.   Not that it wasn’t fun anyway, but once in a while, we’d hook into a really fresh fish with tons of energy.   These guys would take off like a freight train, jumping and taking you well into your backing going straight upstream.   Using an 8 or 10 pound tippet on these big fish necessarily made for a long difficult fight, but we had learned from experience when we could safely "put a little pressure ‘em" and when to let ‘em run.   The spinning rod guys, of course, had a lot less trouble dragging them out with 30# mono and so were somewhat impatient, but generally courteous, when we took our time bringing one in. On the last day of our trip, I worked a faster stretch, and my buddy was working a flat stretch upstream about 50 yards.   We were both hooking up fairly often, but he was really nailing them.   Every other time I looked up there it seemed, his rod was bent over while the spinning guys stood by with their lines out of the water.   I didn’t realize how frustrated some of the other fishermen were with this arrangement until I hooked the big one. Fishing an egg pattern, I saw my line hesitate and set the hook. Instantly, the big salmon sprinted upstream, jumping three times on the way. "Fish coming up!" I yelled upstream, and a half dozen or so other fishermen obliged me by pausing their casting.   The fish was so fast and strong, I quickly decided to walk upstream after him.   He was already 100 yards away and my drag was still singing.   That’s when I saw him.   Not the fish, the guy with the net.   This fish wasn’t even close to tired, but some nut case, tired of standing aroung waiting for another fly fisherman to land a fish, charged into the river and tried to scoop him out.   As tight as my tippet was stretched, even the slightest bump with that net would have cost me the fish instantly. To my relief, he only succeeded in scaring the hell out of it and it sped across to the other side of the river.   As I’m running up the shore to stop this guy, he practically sprints across the river (no small feat) in pursuit of my fish.   He’s still too far away to stop him when the fish reaches the shallows on the far bank.   The fish still has tons of strength left when "net man" get there.   He takes one stab at the fish with the net and the fish sprints upstream again.   My line wraps around net man’s legs and that was all she wrote.   I was still too far away to even curse at the guy.   I just walked back downstream and reeled in the slack.

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Everybody see the theme happening here?  "Put a little pressure on ‘em?"  My story: We were fishing in the 20 lakes basin of California.  I am new to California fishing and newer to fly fishing, I grew up in Michigan.  My buddy Paul and I had no trouble landing a couple delicious brookies the day before in the backcountry, and stocked rainbows from Saddlebag lake to days prior (my buddy Paul makes an excellent trout breakfast scramble).  But we’re really looking for the gold.. Golden Trout.  We try at several lakes and streams with no luck for goldens (just a brookie or two).. as we head further back into the backcountry, we come upon a stream that looks promising.  The bank is about 10 feet above the stream.. and we approach low as the sun is high, though not high enough for us to cast a shadow.. and we see them.  Goldens.. moving slowly left to right, slowing to inspect possible food sources (not rising) then continuing.  Since we’re backpacking, I’m using a fenwick fly/spin rod that doesn’t excel at either but packs well..  and I tie on my nymphs one by one, throwing them from the bank (I am NOT a good flyfisher.. my casts still have the grace of a collapsing bridge), staying low.. and we watch them ignore our offerings.  Paul (with only spinning gear) tosses out spinners and lures 40 feet downstream with no luck either.  After an hour or two of fruitless fishing up and down the section of stream, we quit fishing to have some burbon and nutrition.. and we watch the Goldens pass by like we’re in some kind of twisted dentist’s office.  Paul tells me about a pool he found downstream that might have a good evening bite.. so after a few hours of short hikes and exploring, I go back to camp, grab my gear and head to the pool.  Paul is already there, watching the evening rise.. wishing HE had brought his fly gear.  But Paul has proven why I like to pack with him.. he gives me first shot at the shittish rising Goldens with my fly gear.  I tie on a caddis, approach low, cast upstream.. and the fly stops dead, ripple, SET HOOK and golden on!    He jumps (yep, looks like a Golden, we estimate he’s at about 14-16"), heads upstream, yanking off my line.. all the while I’m having 2nd thoughts about my set.. the timing wasn’t great, didn’t feel real solid.  I decide, in order to make sure the hook is in, I’ll "put a lttle pressure on…" to further set the hook. Yep, game over, fishy all gone, we’re done for the evening (even though we didn’t know it at the time). Still haven’t caught my first golden.. -Mark — Particle Salad/ Noom Room Studio http://home.earthlink.net/~psalad

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I was guiding a client last year on the Ocanuluftee river in the smokies.The water was high and murky and I tied on one of my prince variations for him on a 5X tippet. After fishing the first eddy I put him on he asked me if this was a joke.By the third eddy he fished he changed his tune.He hooked up about three feet off the bank and said I think I’m hung up! I told him to set the hook harder! He said but I’m hung up! I said It’s a big fish buddy put it to him! He jerked the rod sharply and the fish exploded! I screamed get downstream of him before he makes his run! It was too late! The fish lipped the pool and headed into class five water.He held the rod high as the reel sang it’s song.After about 120 yards the fish parted the leader.He said I didn’t know there were fish like that up this high.I replied’ I didn’t either. Moral to the story"Never under estimate the brown trout and use 2X tippet when the water’s murky!                                                                                 Tim

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In my youth, I was a bait fisherman, just like my dad.   We were fishing the Chesapeake Bay near the Md/Va line and doing pretty well against some sea trout in about 70 ft of water.   As usual, just as the sun starts going down and the wind picks up, the fishing starts getting really good, but it’s time to go in.   Just before I reel in for the last time, I feel a bump and haul back on my rod.    I got it, but what?   Instantly it takes off south, aided by a 2 knot current.   I’m using a medium stiff spinning rod and 18-lb line, but he’s just peeling it off at high speed.   This is the fish of a lifetime.   After what seemed like a minute, but was probably only15 seconds, the line goes slack.   I’m deflated.   On reeling in, I find lots of nicks in what’s left.   Probably a big bluefish, maybe a shark, I’ll never know.   Man was that a fish. Joe

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I often remember the big fish that I’ve lost, especially from a mistake I made.  Any interest in exchanging the tales?  Herewith a modest contribution.

(Section deleted) Finally hooked a carp. I can remember fishing for Bluegill in my favorite section of Big Bear

Lake with my 3wt when I hooked into a monster.  It took about 20 minutes to get this thing close to me.  The largest Bluegill I’ve ever seen.  It was absolutely HUGE!! I wanted to keep it as I knew nobody would believe me when I told them how big. I had no net with me, after all who needs to net Bluegill.  I couldn’t get my hand around him and being a Bluegill couldn’t put my thumb in is mouth. No way to grab him !!!  Finally my 6x tippet gave way.  I dropped my rod and tried to grab with both hands, but he just slowly swam away. The following week I heard someone had caught a 4lb  9oz record the very next day. I guess you just can’t win them all. Bill

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Good thread, Michael. Fishing on the Beaverhead two years ago, floating below Dillon with the pontoon boat.  Slow day in September, having to pound them up and not much sucess at that either.   Dropped a two nymph rig into a drop-off that must have been 15 feet deep, and just let it sink – fooling around, mostly.  WHAM.  Rod bends straight down (like I was jigging for 10 pound crappies or something).  Five seconds later leader pops at, of all places, the nail knot attachment to the fly line.  Lost the entire leader.  First and only time that has ever happened to me, but now I carry an extra leader. Then there was the time…… (man, I got a load of these kind of stories) Mark Faulkner

Oh Mark, you brought back bad memories.  I had been fishing the Bow River in Alberta for three days and my luck had been so-so.  it was getting dark and I worked my way up to this flat, just upstream of a spot called Policeman’s.  I could see regular rises and there was one large regular one at the tail of an almost imperceptible seam.  I drift a #14 Henryville down, the rainbow took it and headed into the current with me hanging on for dear life.  I put a bit of pressure on and ping!!!, the leader parts in the middle.  Standing there looking at half my leader, I remember stepping on it earlier when releasing a small fish.  Must have nicked it with a stud.  Damn.  Would have been the best fish I had in a while. Peter Email address hacked. Remove -delete-this- to email a reply.

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These first few aren’t huge but memorable nonetheless… I guess there’s one every season or so for me,  a brown that took a hares ear spider on one side of the river, and immediately bolted for a single snag/branch hanging into the water clear across stream and promptly wrapped the leader around it, I barely had set the hook. Same river, two years or so earlier, a rainbow picked up a damsel nymph hit the main main current, crossed the current to a backwater on the other bank 20 yards downstream leapt and hung the line up in a bush. Then there are the bruisers … usually in backwaters … I did my first and only float trip last year … what a revelation.  This damned river Goulburn is much maligned as being difficult to fish and so it is, if you are looking for a swag of fish taken in runs, glides etc. Naturally things are differnt during a hatch, then selectivbity is a problem. On that trip I was broken in a backwater on the strike to a parachute dun, guide reckons "Biig"  …hard to tell I guess, but the sight of that dun disappearing is something I won’t forget, damn fish charged it and managed to break the fly-knot on 6 lb tippet when I lifted into him. Man there is some serious recovery time needed after things like that. The best thing about that trip though was I found where the fish were, very few mid-stream, mostly backwaters and hard against the bank near overhang branches and the like.  It gave me confidence in the water I knew there where fish and roughly where … so now I fish it with a heap of confidence, knowing that patience will pay off. Two weeks after the float, I returned foot, I watched backwaters relly looked and sure enough, 2lb plus fish accessible form the bank admittedly in tricky circumstances.  I spotted a much larger brown cruising a particular back water 6 times , always he’d be coming toward me or I’d be caugth in the open and couldn’t move … on the seven occasion the wind blew and riffled the water as he swam away .. the size 14 heavy wire fiery-brown nymph was taken, I lifted and all hell broke loose in the shallow water.  I couldn’t afford to let him run at all because of logs, and you guessed it … the hook straightened.  I cursed a little and *laughed* a hell of a lot while untangling leaderr and line from around my ears and hat, checked my watch –  one cast in 3 hours and worth every last second of it. That float trip has changed the way I fish ~that~ river forever. Geez …then there a the lake fish …. Steve

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I agree, this is a great thread. Last Memorial Day, I joined my Father-In-Law on the Potholes Res. in Central Washington.  He enjoys fishing for walleye so was rigged up and trolling for them.  I personally don’t care for spiny rays so had my rod rigged with my favorite Wolly Bugger pattern. After 30 minutes the fish finder turns black with fish and I start pounding nice 14 inch rainbows.  My next hit, the reel starts screaming and I was totally unpreparred for this size of fish (even though the lake is known to have 10 pound plus rainbows in it.)   After about 20 seconds the hook pulls out.  I reel in and check my fly and leader and cast it back out.  Two minutes later, I am into another monster fish that has the reel on meltdown again. This time I was ready for it  and proceeded to adjust the drag while my Father-in-Law cranked up the downriggers and was getting to turn the boat around to give chase.   In that short period of time, the fish was within 10 feet of spooling me with the drag cranked all the way down when the fly popped loose again.  It never did slow down. Mike Wilson Fishing!! What else is there?

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I often remember the big fish that I’ve lost, especially from a mistake I made.  Any interest in exchanging the tales?

    This is a little long…    Jackson and I had spent most of the morning trying to gain access from ranchers to the river.  We knew from maps that the state had designated it "Gold Medal Water" but we were determined to get on it somewhere other than the few public acess points.     At the time Jackson was tractor salesman for Case power equipment so it seemd he was the right one to go knocking on strangers doors.  After all, they all owned tractors.  The hard part was guessing who were the Case guys and who were the John Deers!!  A fella can be kinda partial to his heavy machinery, right up there with the pickup.     And so it went – "No", after "No" after nobody home,  when finally we hit paydirt.     "Be sure to close the gate!"     Always obey this request.  We were in.  A short drive and we came upon the water – wide and slow, winding through hay fields.  We began to walk down current and came to a hard dog leg in the stream.  A nice backeddy curled against the current.  As we looked the risers became evident.  Jackson patted me on the back – a little harder than I liked, but that was OK, our mission was accomplished.     There was such an abundance of available food for these fish – terresterials and aquatics alike, that we really didn’t know what to use.  One thing was certain – it was going to be dry.     I went with a #14 irresistable and proceeded to put down every fish I cast to.  Well, not put down exactly, they would simply move five feet ahead of where I could reach after a couple of presentations.  Jackson was having the same kind of success.     I had started fishing down stream of the bend, but soon found myself standing right in it with the trout now rising behind me.  That’s when Mike (Jackson) called me.     "Jonnie boy – check this dude!"     I climbed out of the stream and walked over to him.  From where he was standing I saw nothing at first.  Then she breeched.  Such a rainbow I’d never been this close to.  The rise was stupid big.  Just a big old bug sucking spotted maw followed by the back of a buffalo and the vertical tail of a whale.     This fish was working less than two feet from shore faceing straight into the current.  The assortment of insects seemed to delight him judging by the way he steadily fed.  I tried to watch what he was eating but it was futile.  There was just too much. I actually watched this pig eat a yellow jacket.     Mike offered up the trout to me; he was going to watch.  I eased into the current no more than 20 feet down stream and waited.  I let this trout rise four or five times before even stripping out line.  I wanted a solid bead on his lie, and I wanted him happy.     My first cast was short.  I waited for one more rise and made a second.  It was perfect.  The irresistable floated happily right over his lie.  Dammitt. Again I waited for him to show.  Then I tried to time it – kind of like a surfer counting waves.     It was time.  The cast was true and it was clear – even before it happened – that this was the cast.  Mike knew it too and even called out – just before he struck – "That’s it".     He was right.     That trout took so confidently that I had to laugh.  I did.  Then I really started laughing as the fish made an immediate downstream run.  Downstream? This I was not ready for.  Don’t ask me why.  The fish swam right passed me.  I could have hit him with the rod. I stripped my wet ass off to keep the line tight and then right back out again and suddenly on the reel.  The old Medalist chugged and groaned and I suddenly realised this fish was well on it’s way to spooling me.  I clammered out of the stream and up onto the high bank.     Mr. fish was an easy 60 yards into the backing when I had this great idea. Instead of continuing the chase on foot I’d:     "Put a little pressure on him"     Famous last words.  The hook had simply pulled free.  I fell back into the tall golden grass and held my forehead.  Jackson was quick to produce a flask of good scotch.  Dam that was a good belt of whisky.   JE JE

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Wish this was mine, but it’s a good story anyway… My brother in law live in LA, and he’s a fishing nut! I took him to the quality waters here in New Mexico with a guide ’cause the water was flowing at almost 5000 cfm. We’re in Texas hole, and close to the top of the hole. He casts to the rapids, and gets a strike, a big one! He asks the guide what to do, and the guide say’s let him run. He ran about a hundred yards and tied up the line in a tree. I never heard a fly reel scream like that in my life! Sure wish it would have been me….

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Michael Goldstein wrote [great thread snipped] Long before I started fly fishing, when I was 12, I fished for bonito from a "bait barge" in Long Beach harbor.  I was fishing a live anchovy in the usual manner with no weight…just the free swimming bait fish.  (I’ve been told by my marine fishing buddies that this type of fishing is called ‘fly fishing’ … go figure). Anyway, on one particular day I was fishing with my $10 trout rod/reel spinning combo I had bought at Thrifty Drug store…You know, the cheap little spinning jobs where the line is always getting caught underneath the spool and wrapped around the axle.  (You probably have to be at least 35 years old to know the cheap little reel I’m talkin about).  Anyway, on this one particular day here I was with my bait in the water and the line caught up and wrapped under the spool in the usual fashion.  In this situation there’s nothing to do but remove the spool and unwind the tangle.  So, while I had the spool off and I’m unwrapping the line, a bonito hits…don’t know how big, but those of you who’ve caught ‘em know how they run when they hit that anchovy. So here I am, with the spool off and the fish pulling away like crazy and my trying to get control and put the spool back on … and the damn fish pulled the whole rig out of my hands and over the rail…rod, reel … everything gone. I was not a happy camper that day! —                                                       -dnc-

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I often remember the big fish that I’ve lost, especially from a mistake I made.  Any interest in exchanging the tales?  Herewith a modest contribution. (Section deleted) Finally hooked a carp. I can remember fishing for Bluegill in my favorite section of Big Bear Lake with my 3wt when I hooked into a monster.  It took about 20 minutes to get this thing close to me.  The largest Bluegill I’ve ever seen.  It was absolutely HUGE!! I wanted to keep it as I knew nobody would believe me when I told them how big. I had no net with me, after all who needs to net Bluegill.  I couldn’t get my hand around him and being a Bluegill couldn’t put my thumb in is mouth. No way to grab him !!!  Finally my 6x tippet gave way.  I dropped my rod and tried to grab with both hands, but he just slowly swam away. The following week I heard someone had caught a 4lb  9oz record the very next day. I guess you just can’t win them all. Bill

While liveing in San Mateo Fl. one of my neibors was going to St. Augustine with his boat to fish and asked me to go along. My only rod at the time was a bamboo 7wt 7′ and I thought a mudler minnow with a straight leader of 20lb test would work fine in salt. We were up under the bridge of lions when I thought I was bottom hung. I started to be able gently to crank in line with just a bit of trouble when this shadow started to show and my buddy asked what the hell I had. As it came up I saw the eye of the most god awful tarpon I had ever even heard of. At that point he decided this was a bit more than a minor nuisance. There was this terrific splash of water and he was gone, my fly rod was broken just above the grip and all I could do was sit there shaking, looking at the busted rod. That was a 14′ boat and that fish was at least half the boat size. That is the truth although I can understand any disbeliefe.                                                         John Popp                                                       in Sanford Fl.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – These first few aren’t huge but memorable nonetheless… I guess there’s one every season or so for me,  a brown that took a hares ear spider on one side of the river, and immediately bolted for a single snag/branch hanging into the water clear across stream and promptly wrapped the leader around it, I barely had set the hook. Same river, two years or so earlier, a rainbow picked up a damsel nymph hit the main main current, crossed the current to a backwater on the other bank 20 yards downstream leapt and hung the line up in a bush. Then there are the bruisers … usually in backwaters … I did my first and only float trip last year … what a revelation.  This damned river Goulburn is much maligned as being difficult to fish and so it is, if you are looking for a swag of fish taken in runs, glides etc. Naturally things are differnt during a hatch, then selectivbity is a problem. On that trip I was broken in a backwater on the strike to a parachute dun, guide reckons "Biig"  …hard to tell I guess, but the sight of that dun disappearing is something I won’t forget, damn fish charged it and managed to break the fly-knot on 6 lb tippet when I lifted into him. Man there is some serious recovery time needed after things like that. The best thing about that trip though was I found where the fish were, very few mid-stream, mostly backwaters and hard against the bank near overhang branches and the like.  It gave me confidence in the water I knew there where fish and roughly where … so now I fish it with a heap of confidence, knowing that patience will pay off. Two weeks after the float, I returned foot, I watched backwaters relly looked and sure enough, 2lb plus fish accessible form the bank admittedly in tricky circumstances.  I spotted a much larger brown cruising a particular back water 6 times , always he’d be coming toward me or I’d be caugth in the open and couldn’t move … on the seven occasion the wind blew and riffled the water as he swam away .. the size 14 heavy wire fiery-brown nymph was taken, I lifted and all hell broke loose in the shallow water.  I couldn’t afford to let him run at all because of logs, and you guessed it … the hook straightened.  I cursed a little and *laughed* a hell of a lot while untangling leaderr and line from around my ears and hat, checked my watch –  one cast in 3 hours and worth every last second of it. That float trip has changed the way I fish ~that~ river forever. Geez …then there a the lake fish …. Steve

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I often remember the big fish that I’ve lost, especially from a mistake I made.  Any interest in exchanging the tales?  Herewith a modest contribution. I often fish a pond near my house in Princeton, NJ which contains sunnys, smallmouth, and HUGE carp, i.e. 10+ lbs.  Generally, I’ll try to catch the smallmouth, switching to the carp if I see them cruising.  But in a year of hit-and-miss trying, I’ve never gotten a carp on.  They are extremely spooky, and even if you get a nymph on their nose while they’re tailing (generally what I’m trying to do), it’s very hard to read a take. It’s late Fall, and the pond is already cold enough that the smallmouth aren’t hitting.  Rather than go home skunked, I switch to a smaller streamer that is more likely to catch a sunny (though it still might attract a bass). On the first cast of the new streamer, it stops after a short retrieve. Now, if you’ve ever fished for smallmouth you know that one of the problems with catching them is hooking them.  Their jaws are so powerful that even if you try to set the hook hard, once, they may have the fly locked in their jaws, and will spit it out after a few seconds.  So, hoping the fish might be a smallmouth, I lock the line against the rod and hit it a second time. The theory here is that, with six pound tippet, it won’t matter if I lock up against a sunny, or even a smallmouth (which on this pond rarely get bigger than 2 pounds).  But I want to make sure the hook is set. As I’m pulling on the line, I see a grey torpedo explode from the bottom of the pond near my fly.  The acceleration is so rapid that a bow wave builds up in front of it across the entire width of the pond (maybe 150 feet).  My jaw drops as I react to the awesome power display, and try to track the streak with my rod tip.  It takes me a second to realize I should release my lock on the line, but as I do, the 6 lb tippet parts. Finally hooked a carp.

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Michael Goldstein: <<I often remember the big fish that I’ve lost, especially from a mistake I made.  Any interest in exchanging the tales? (good story snipped) I was fishing a river in Maine, early in the season which means I was lobbing big streamers with a 6 weight.  I had a reel on that did not have the best drag system, and hitched into a *very* big fish.  He zoomed across the pool and was headed down-stream to the next pool when I palmed my reel — palmed it too much, that is. The tippet broke and a couple of guys near me gasped in disappointment. About 30 minutes later a local fisherman started fishing and I thought his set up strange:  He had a sinking line, very short leader, and was tying on a #10 White Wulff.  He cast into the current and when the fly was down stream he retreaved it *very* slowly.  On his second cast, He was into a big fish.  I left the water, put my rod down and watched him land a 28 inch Togue (laketrout that gets into a river).  The togue had my white Zonker in his jaw, right next to the White Wulff!  He killed the togue, tied it to his Maine basket, packed up and left.  He had his supper.   Dave LaCourse

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I often fish a pond near my house in Princeton, NJ which contains sunnys, smallmouth, and HUGE carp, i.e. 10+ lbs.  Generally, I’ll try to catch the smallmouth, switching to the carp if I see them cruising.  But in a year of hit-and-miss trying, I’ve never gotten a carp on.  They are extremely spooky, …

I’ve never caught a carp on a nymph or a streamer, only on mulberry flies. When the mulberries get ripe and drop into the water you toss a hunk of purple yarn under the tree. Some folks scatter bread crumbs on a spot for a week or two then use a "bread crumb" fly to catch carp. I don’t, I feel guilty enough about the mulberries. — Ken Fortenberry

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I often remember the big fish that I’ve lost, especially from a mistake I made.  Any interest in exchanging the tales?

We were camped at Rainbow Lake, about 10,000 ft above sea level on the Doubletop Mt. Trail in the Wind River Range. Finis Mitchell’s book claimed that Rainbow Lake was an excellent fishery. Being a flatlander I was not very good at unlocking the secrets of a high alpine lake. I tried my whole bag of lake methods and being limited to fishing from the shore, (no float tube or boat), I got discouraged and inattentive. I had a muddler minnow that I tossed purposefully but retrieved casually. On one of the strips of the retrieve, while I was planning where to make the next "perfect" cast, something hit that muddler so hard it took muddler tippet and all. I just wasn’t paying attention. — Ken Fortenberry

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I often fish a pond near my house in Princeton, NJ which contains sunnys, smallmouth, and HUGE carp, i.e. 10+ lbs.  Generally, I’ll try to catch the smallmouth, switching to the carp if I see them cruising.  But in a year of hit-and-miss trying, I’ve never gotten a carp on.  They are extremely spooky, …

Folklore says that carp can feel the vibrations you impart to the line   (movement, heartbeat and breathing). If you want to catch them, get a y shaped stick and shove the straight end into the ground. Prop up the fishing rod with the y shaped part of the stick. If you are using a fly, watch for line movement unrelated to the current flow. The subtle line movement (especially in calmer waters) around the shore will indicate a carp or sucker is on the line. When you see the movement, pick up the rod and set the hook. Failure to do so will possibly mean that your fly rod will be yanked into the water by the carp/sucker. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’ve never caught a carp on a nymph or a streamer, only on mulberry flies. When the mulberries get ripe and drop into the water you toss a hunk of purple yarn under the tree. Some folks scatter bread crumbs on a spot for a week or two then use a "bread crumb" fly to catch carp. I don’t, I feel guilty enough about the mulberries. — Ken Fortenberry

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I often remember the big fish that I’ve lost, especially from a mistake I made.  Any interest in exchanging the tales?  Herewith a modest contribution.

I’ve got two 12 years or so ago I was fishing the Androscoggin River somewhere near Errol, NH during the famed alder fly hatch. As dark was coming on I was fishing a nice pool and I noticed a fish sipping flies in a back eddy behind a rock, I dropped a fly on him and got a beautiful head and tail rise, to my amazement the fish was quite large, I missed him and he never came back up. The next day I got position in the same pool fairly early and just at dark there he was. I dropped my fly on him and he took it, I setup and my reel began to scream as he headed out into the main current. About 10 yards out he popped the leader. I thought well ok and then the fish leapt out of the water 4 times, each time furthur out in the river, apparantly trying to spit the hook. I esitmate the fish was between 25-30", at that time possibly the biggest trout I had ever hooked. A few years ago fishing for browns in a Maine river  at dark I cast on a sipper. I set the hook and my rod bent right to the water, the reel began to scream as the fish ran downriver. I pulled the anchor in the boat to drift with the fish as my partner manned the oars. This was the biggest fish I have ever hooked (I think) the fish stripped me to the backing, turned up stream and came off as the line went slack ( I was stripping in like a madman but not fast enough). I never saw him, just felt the power and dream of a rematch! dave

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Good thread, Michael. Fishing on the Beaverhead two years ago, floating below Dillon with the pontoon boat.  Slow day in September, having to pound them up and not much sucess at that either.   Dropped a two nymph rig into a drop-off that must have been 15 feet deep, and just let it sink – fooling around, mostly.  WHAM.  Rod bends straight down (like I was jigging for 10 pound crappies or something).  Five seconds later leader pops at, of all places, the nail knot attachment to the fly line.  Lost the entire leader.  First and only time that has ever happened to me, but now I carry an extra leader. Then there was the time…… (man, I got a load of these kind of stories) Mark Faulkner

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Then there was the time…… (man, I got a load of these kind of stories)

Yeah, me too.  The most painful fish I ever lost…. Last year I went with a friend to fish the classic chalk streams of England. One day we’re fishing the Lodden.  The water was off color that day, and nothing was rising.  So I start, like any self respecting American fisherman, working a nymph, not realizing it’s not allowed on this river. (The guide is a young chap who’s filling in for the guy who booked the trip, and he doesn’t know either.)  Anyway, so I’m fishing to a bunch of fish that have never seen an artificial nymph, and iIt’s a perfect river for this kind of fishing, as the fish have concentrated in some deep holes. In one hole, having taken a bunch of fish — easily 10 in the 2  lbs. class in less than an hour, all stockers — I see a huge shape flash on, then refuse, my bead-head hare’s ear. After a dozen casts, and no further luck, I tie on a "large olive bead head damsel nymph, tied Matuka style". In other words, a wooly bugger. Sacrilege in these parts, even where nymphing is OK. I just happened to have one in my vest, and the guide is helping my friend, so he can’t object. I feel deliciously wicked. I’m fishing on a short line on the dead drift. On the second cast the line hesitates, and I lift the rod. The resistance is so firm, I’m sure it’s bottom. But then the line starts to vibrate. It’s a bloody great fish! The line noses down, then my reel screams as the fish takes off across the pool. Then down again, there’s nothing I can do but let it run. Then upstream 20 yards, with me chasing it along the bank.  I get a good look at it, it’s a huge brown trout, at least 30"! Then across to the far bank into the reeds. I put some side pressure on him and the line goes limp! Broken off at the fly. When we were fishing drys, the guide had put on 7x tippet, and I hadn’t realized. With 2.5 pound breaking strength, I’ve been too forceful. To make it even worse, guide points out that this was undoubtedly a wild fish, since the stocked trout are rarely more than 2 pounds, or 20 inches. I feel ill, mentally replaying the fatal sideways pressure, wishing I had shortened the tippet to a 6 lbs. breaking strenght 4x.  In the stained water, nymphing, it would have been fine.   It takes me about an hour before I have the heart to fish again!

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Question:

Anyone interested in fishing this great river with myself email: I’m not a guide. I have been fly fishing for 25 years ( I am 35) and tie ALL my own flies. Looking to meet a few avid fly fishermen. -Dave

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Anyone interested in fishing this great river with myself email: I’m not a guide. I have been fly fishing for 25 years ( I am 35) and tie ALL my own flies. Looking to meet a few avid fly fishermen. -Dave

Stand at the head of any Delaware pool on a pleasant Saturday in June, swing your rod around in a circle at arm’s length and you should hit about 10 fellow fly chuckers Seriously, I love to fish the Delaware though don’t get down there as much as I would like these days. I would suggest a stay at the Delaware River Club or the West Branch Angler and you will likely meet a number of friendly folks that share your interest. Good luck, Steve

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Ditto on your recommendation on the West Branch Angler. Top shelf

operation with lots of good people. Bill — Bill Fling                     Tel. (315) 298-3044 SALMON RIVER ANGLERS LODGE     FAX  (315) 298-2619 P.O. Box 353                   Rt. 13, Rome Road Pulaski, NY 13142-0353   ‘SALMON RIVER/LAKE ONTARIO SPORTFISHING REPORTS’             ‘http://www.salmon-river.com’

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Ditto on your recommendation on the West Branch Angler. Top shelf operation with lots of good people.

I much prefer The Delaware River Club over West Branch Angler (they’re about a mile apart for those not familiar with the West Branch of he Delaware.  The West Branch Angler seems to be trying to cater to a more upscale crowd and it’s reflected in the prices of their flyshop and accomodations.  I’ve been in their shop about three times and each time they came off a bit snobbish.  The DRC on the other hand just doesn’t seem pretentious at all.  I stayed at the lodge last year with my girlfriend and even though she doesn’t fish they offered her the use of a pair of waders (no charge) so that she could "fish" with me.  Bob and his wife are extremely congenial and offer information freely about places to fish, techniques, and just about anything else one might need.  Add to that the experience and knowledge of Al Caucci and his fly school at DRC and it’s hard to beat. This may only be a rumor, but the first time I fish the West Branch I talked to a couple of guys that implied that the owner of West Branch Angler had been prosecuted two years in a row for illegally stocking rainbows in the section of stream in front of their resort.  Apparently the fine for such an offense was about the same as a single nights stay at one of their cabins. Add Bill

John Fereira

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The minimum release has been cut back to 160 cfs. Looks like trouble ahead for the WB and big D trout if we have a "normal" rainfall summer and the Delaware tribs supply enough water to keep Phila. happy. It’s sad that the NYDEC would agree to such a release schedule. But I guess the decision was made by people who don’t fish the WB and and don’t know it’s water needs in the summer. In their ignorance, I suppose 160 cfs sounded like a good number.            Bob

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What do mean be by stability in the releases from Cannonsville? I’ve been fishing the WB since 1980 and the water releases have pretty much remained the same. Up one day, down the next. Starting this year, a new release schedule has been instituted. Starting June 1, the mandatory release will be 160 cfs. This will continue until Sept. 1. In the past the mandatory summer release started on June 15 and was 330 cfs. I believe these numbers are correct or nearly so. In addition the minimum winter release has been increased slightly. Instead of 30 people/minute in Deposit flushing their toilets, I think they’ve increased it to 45. I agree with Al Caucci who believes this new minimum summer release schedule is inadequate. If we get a stretch of 80 degree plus days for about a week in July, the water temps. near Hancock will go thru the roof. In addition, with such a small release, most of the trout will tend to move upstream towards Deposit. The "stress bank" has been increased. Big deal. I realize that these higher temps. will adversely affect Caucci’s DRC business which is near Hancock, but I also believe it will have a major negative effect on the whole WB fishery. It most likely will cut the driftboat traffic on the WB which is a plus.  But with the river running low during the summer, it will make the river more fishable than in the past and will put a lot more fishing pressure on the trout. I hope I’m wrong, but that’s the worst case scenario that I see for this summer on the fabulous WB. Bob Hergan

I suppose "relative stability" would be a more accurate term for the flow regime in the upper Delaware. Absolute stability is, of course, unattainable even under natural conditions let alone in a system which serves so many demands. Cold water fishery considerations will always take a back seat for NYC water supply and combatting saltwater intrusion to protect the Phila.& Camden water supplies. The "directed" releases which are aimed at holding back the saltline and and which require a 1750cfs at the Montague gauge are (IMHO) more important to the c.w. fishery than the "conservation" releases which began in fits and starts in 1977 and were finally permanently approved by the DRBC late in ‘83. The agreement called for a minimum release from Cannonsville of 45cfs from 4/1 to 6/14 and 8/16 to 12/31, 325cfs from 6/15 to 8/15 ( except in defined drought or drought warning- a whole nother story) and 33cfs from 11/1 to 3/31. If the required summer release from Canonsville has been cut back to 160 cfs there will be problems in the W. Branch and the mainstem since the mainstem Delaware lives or dies by the cold water thermoplume from the W. Branch. This will happen when there is adequate enough flow in the watershed in general to maintain the "Montague Formula" without Canonsville’s help.                         Regards, RY

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What do mean be by stability in the releases from Cannonsville? I’ve been fishing the WB since 1980 and the water releases have pretty much remained the same. Up one day, down the next. Starting this year, a new release schedule has been instituted. Starting June 1, the mandatory release will be 160 cfs. This will continue until Sept. 1. In the past the mandatory summer release started on June 15 and was 330 cfs. I believe these numbers are correct or nearly so. In addition the minimum winter release has been increased slightly. Instead of 30 people/minute in Deposit flushing their toilets, I think they’ve increased it to 45. I agree with Al Caucci who believes this new minimum summer release schedule is inadequate. If we get a stretch of 80 degree plus days for about a week in July, the water temps. near Hancock will go thru the roof. In addition, with such a small release, most of the trout will tend to move upstream towards Deposit. The "stress bank" has been increased. Big deal. I realize that these higher temps. will adversely affect Caucci’s DRC business which is near Hancock, but I also believe it will have a major negative effect on the whole WB fishery. It most likely will cut the driftboat traffic on the WB which is a plus.  But with the river running low during the summer, it will make the river more fishable than in the past and will put a lot more fishing pressure on the trout. I hope I’m wrong, but that’s the worst case scenario that I see for this summer on the fabulous WB.
Bob Hergan  

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <snip pervious posts Tell you what bugs me: maybe social degradation on the Delaware was inevitable, but it looks to me and plenty of others like the hucksters ruined the experience on the river and instigated a disturbing control mentality throughout the watershed. These guys were largely mute in the 70’s and early 80’s when the battle for adequate flows was going on. Just as soon as there was some stability they moved-in to scarf-up control and reap the profits.                         Ray Ray, I’m not sure what you mean by "social degradation" and would be interested in your definition.

A selfish one admittedly: overcrowding due to access restrictions to the point of unpleasantness, a lack by many of what the old timers called stream etiquette, general unseemliness like yelling things like paraleptophlebia and isonychia across the pools. And many other things that could be endlessly rationalized and debated but that have vitiated what I consider a satisfying angling experience. As to the ‘Johny come lately with money’ scenario, it seems like what else could be expected. With flow stability providing a real world-class fishery the value of riverside property as a money maker was now to be realized. So a couple of guys with the resources show up and start buying so they can lock up as much access as possible. They can sell this access and related services for top dollar. This is pretty much the development scenario going on everywhere.

True but nonetheless still worth bitching about.                                 Regards, Ray

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<snip pervious posts Tell you what bugs me: maybe social degradation on the Delaware was inevitable, but it looks to me and plenty of others like the hucksters ruined the experience on the river and instigated a disturbing control mentality throughout the watershed. These guys were largely mute in the 70’s and early 80’s when the battle for adequate flows was going on. Just as soon as there was some stability they moved-in to scarf-up control and reap the profits.                         Ray

Ray, I’m not sure what you mean by "social degradation" and would be interested in your definition. As to the ‘Johny come lately with money’ scenario, it seems like what else could be expected. With flow stability providing a real world-class fishery the value of riverside property as a money maker was now to be realized. So a couple of guys with the resources show up and start buying so they can lock up as much access as possible. They can sell this access and related services for top dollar. This is pretty much the development scenario going on everywhere. One solution would be the purchase of public access easements by local or state governments. But I wouldn’t hold out much hope for this happening along the New York State boundary. Regards, Steve

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <snip DRC accolade This may only be a rumor, but the first time I fish the West Branch I talked to a couple of guys that implied that the owner of West Branch Angler had been prosecuted two years in a row for illegally stocking rainbows in the section of stream in front of their resort.  Apparently the fine for such an offense was about the same as a single nights stay at one of their cabins. Geez, John! I’ve not heard this rumor but…if it is only a rumor of which you know no actual facts it is unfortunate you chose to pass it along on the internet.  Such rumor publication has the potential to do unnecessary harm to the innocent. I agree that the WBA prices are stiff but on the other hand all of the employees I have interacted with have treated me very cordially and have been helpful to me. Their accomodations have been wonderfull. I have heard good things about the DRC from others and will give them a try this year. Regards, Steve Actually, neither WBA or DRC is squeaky-clean in their attempts to attract customers.  WBA’s stocking violations are fairly well known; DRC has a habit of dramatically overstating the amount of private water they have (I measured .75 miles vs. their claim of 2.5 miles), and then they’ll throw you out of the best pool (Cole’s) on a whim.  But not to worry, because all of DRC’s water and much of WBA’s water is fairly easily accessible from the New York side.  My recommendation: find a decent non-angling motel nearby and fish the entire West Branch netween Deposit and Hancock as well as the main stem below Hancock.  Neither DRC or WBA is worth the extra money or the hassle. MZ

Tell you what bugs me: maybe social degradation on the Delaware was inevitable, but it looks to me and plenty of others like the hucksters ruined the experience on the river and instigated a disturbing control mentality throughout the watershed. These guys were largely mute in the 70’s and early 80’s when the battle for adequate flows was going on. Just as soon as there was some stability they moved-in to scarf-up control and reap the profits.                         Ray

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<snip DRC accolade This may only be a rumor, but the first time I fish the West Branch I talked to a couple of guys that implied that the owner of West Branch Angler had been prosecuted two years in a row for illegally stocking rainbows in the section of stream in front of their resort.  Apparently the fine for such an offense was about the same as a single nights stay at one of their cabins.

Geez, John! I’ve not heard this rumor but…if it is only a rumor of which you know no actual facts it is unfortunate you chose to pass it along on the internet.  Such rumor publication has the potential to do unnecessary harm to the innocent. I agree that the WBA prices are stiff but on the other hand all of the employees I have interacted with have treated me very cordially and have been helpful to me. Their accomodations have been wonderfull. I have heard good things about the DRC from others and will give them a try this year. Regards, Steve

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <snip DRC accolade This may only be a rumor, but the first time I fish the West Branch I talked to a couple of guys that implied that the owner of West Branch Angler had been prosecuted two years in a row for illegally stocking rainbows in the section of stream in front of their resort.  Apparently the fine for such an offense was about the same as a single nights stay at one of their cabins. Geez, John! I’ve not heard this rumor but…if it is only a rumor of which you know no actual facts it is unfortunate you chose to pass it along on the internet.  Such rumor publication has the potential to do unnecessary harm to the innocent. I agree that the WBA prices are stiff but on the other hand all of the employees I have interacted with have treated me very cordially and have been helpful to me. Their accomodations have been wonderfull. I have heard good things about the DRC from others and will give them a try this year. Regards, Steve

Actually, neither WBA or DRC is squeaky-clean in their attempts to attract customers.  WBA’s stocking violations are fairly well known; DRC has a habit of dramatically overstating the amount of private water they have (I measured .75 miles vs. their claim of 2.5 miles), and then they’ll throw you out of the best pool (Cole’s) on a whim.  But not to worry, because all of DRC’s water and much of WBA’s water is fairly easily accessible from the New York side.  My recommendation: find a decent non-angling motel nearby and fish the entire West Branch netween Deposit and Hancock as well as the main stem below Hancock.  Neither DRC or WBA is worth the extra money or the hassle. MZ

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I heard the same rumor about the stocking, and the W. Br. Angler owner is doing his damddest to buy up and post as much of the W. Br. and also the main D below Hancock to cater to that upscale crowd you mentioned. That’s why the NYDEC bought a couple of access sites in the no-kill section. Just to get there before he did. Got this from a DEC official about the access sites.  

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Question:

Question:

Piragis, the Boundary Waters Catalog people, offer a fishing rod holder that clamps to the gunwale.  I’ve used it for spinning and baitcasting rigs and I think it’ll hold a flyrod.  You can call them at 1-800-223-6565.  They also have a web site: http://www.piragis.com/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone have any ideas on where to get or how to make fly rod holders for a canoe? — Paul Bunchuk Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

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Anyone have any ideas on where to get or how to make fly rod holders for a canoe? — Paul Bunchuk Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

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Question:

Question: while in Victoria, BC, I purchased an antique Wheatly box with about 50 wet flys (mostly Peter Ross and Montreal). Is anyone on the west coast (esp California) still using wet flys with any results or have they been wiped out by nymphs?

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Question: while in Victoria, BC, I purchased an antique Wheatly box with about 50 wet flys (mostly Peter Ross and Montreal). Is anyone on the west coast (esp California) still using wet flys with any results or have they been wiped out by nymphs?

I am still using wet flies (I live in Montana).  My favorite flies are Peter Ross, Grizzly King, Silver March Brown, Soft Hackles etc.  I ususally use them when I can’t see dry flies in late evening and when fish are taking something at subsurface (I use either emerger flies or wet flies in this case).  Wet flies work very well.  Therefore, I always carry dry, nimph, and wet fly boxes in my vest. NK

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Is anyone on the west coast (esp California) still using wet flys with any results or have they been wiped out by nymphs?

I tie and fish traditional winged wets and soft hackles all the time, and they still work on the Oregon coast streams.  –Roger

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 Is anyone on the west coast (esp California) still using wet flys with any results or have they been wiped out by nymphs?

Hi Doug, Fish the traditional wet fly is still one of my favorite fishing methods. The only real change I’ve made over the years is my wet flies are much smaller than they used to be.  In years past my average wet fly was a #8 or #10.  Today they are mostly #14 or #16.  I think they are more deadly today than years past especially when fished over "hard pressed" fish.   These fish have seen everything ten times a day and a wet fly is something different. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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Do you fish a wet fly like a nymph? i.e. split shot 6-8" above the fly? I am new to this, have gotten pretty good at tying my own flys, and like to tie many of the wet fly patterns, but honestly don’t know how to fish them. Someone let me know please? DLowe

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Dear DLowe,     The traditional way of fishing wets was to cast across and downstream and let the line and leader swing around in a large, slow arc, take a step downstream, cast again, etc covering as much water as possible.  Flies were unweighted and usually fished two or three at a time.  Twitching the flies as they swung around and/or mending to slow the swing were common additions to the technique.  This method has been declared extinct several times over the last hundred years, first by the dry fly purists of the turn of the century, more recently by nymph specialists.  It still works, it is a very relaxing and pleasant way to fish, and it is a good way for a novice to learn to read water.      I highly recommend the book Wet Flies by Dave Hughes.  –  Roger

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(KilchsGray) writes: Dear DLowe,    The traditional way of fishing wets was to cast across and downstream and let the line and leader swing around in a large, slow arc, take a step downstream, cast again, etc covering as much water as possible.  Flies were unweighted and usually fished two or three at a time.  Twitching the flies as they swung around and/or mending to slow the swing were common additions to the technique.  This method has been declared extinct several times over the last hundred years, first by the dry fly purists of the turn of the century, more recently by nymph specialists.  It still works, it is a very relaxing and pleasant way to fish, and it is a good way for a novice to learn to read water.     I highly recommend the book Wet Flies by Dave Hughes. —  Roger

Ditto on the Dave Hughes book. Dave just did a presentation to our club on wet flies. Don Burns

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Question:

I will be staying on the beach at Ambergris Cay in mid October.  I plan on doing some guided fishing (tarpon, bonefish, etc…), but what about just flingin’ flies from the beach (fairly secluded)?  Are there snappers, etc available to throw small clousers to, or some other type of "saltwater panfish" to occupy an early morning of walking the beach?  Any suggestions on flies to bring and species available would be most appreciated. Paul DiConza Albany, NY

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: I will be staying on the beach at Ambergris Cay in mid October.  I plan on : doing some guided fishing (tarpon, bonefish, etc…), but what about just : flingin’ flies from the beach (fairly secluded)?  Are there snappers, etc : available to throw small clousers to, or some other type of "saltwater : panfish" to occupy an early morning of walking the beach?  Any suggestions : on flies to bring and species available would be most appreciated. Great question.  Please answer in the group.  Thanks. — Rick (who would like to do this himself, very soon.) T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Assistant professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    |  These University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    |  opinions Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. |  are mine.

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I will be staying on the beach at Ambergris Cay in mid October.  I plan on doing some guided fishing (tarpon, bonefish, etc…), but what about just flingin’ flies from the beach (fairly secluded)?  Are there snappers, etc available to throw small clousers to, or some other type of "saltwater panfish" to occupy an early morning of walking the beach?  Any suggestions on flies to bring and species available would be most appreciated. Paul DiConza Albany, NY

I was down in Belize a month ago and had a great time.  On the first morning I was preparing my rods and had a school of bonefish pass within fifty feet of the beach and had one on with the second cast.  There are plenty of "SW panfish" everywhere but you will have to use smaller flies.  I had my best luck with size 8 and 10 crazy charlies in Olive, olive brown,pink puffs (pink head white wings), tan and some orange.  You might have a hard time finding size 10 SW hooks and the only source I found was Partridge.  We ended up using 6 wt. rods most of the time stepping up to 8 wt. for permit and both with 15-18′ leaders.  Found that 3 feet of flourocarbon tippet of the end of a 15′ leader worked great.  We had many fish over 5Lbs. with the biggest landed fish of the week at 7lbs.  Saw plenty of bonefish over ten and a few golden bones.  Planning on going down again the end of March 97. EYES ON CHARLIES MINI, X-SMALL AND SMALL Good fishing,                      Marcos Vergara                      Fly & Field, Inc.

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Anywhere there is surf and coral you can catch small snappers, grouper and other stuff.  A wire leader is advisable.  The groupers will go to holes and have to be pulle out/

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Question:

Anybody out in cyberspace have any info on Steelheading in S. Alaska, specifically Prince of Wales Island in the spring? I would like to do a budget, do it yourself type trip in May. If you have any info please Ken L.

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I have fished Prince of Wales Island several times in september for Silvers,           Chum,Pinks and Sockeyes. Thats the right time of the year for a trip, fly to Ketchican, rent a car from Alaska car rental at the airport and take the Aroura State Ferry to Hollis on Prince Wales Island, drive to the town of Craig and stay at Ruth Anns Hotel for $65 a night. The ferry price is $125 with car. The car rental is $40 a day, 14 day fishing licence is $30, buy it in Ketchican. There is 1200 miles of logging roads on the Island and a lot of rivers along the roads. Excellent Steel Head fishing. You can write to Tongrass National Forest for maps of roads and rivers and also info on where the steel head are in May. There are grocery stores and restaurants available. There are very few people fishing so you will not have to fight crowds. There are no Grizzly Bears but you will see a lot of Black Bears, they are safe. The trip can be done for a $1000 or less for 8-10 days, depending on air fare. Have a good trip!

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