Question:

This past few days I have been fishing the Sage SLT 5 weight 8′6. At 3 ounces it is a dream to cast and it turns over a dry fly so nicely. It performs consistently on long and short casts. but I think it’s the simple comfort it provides (smoothness, forgiveness, lightness) that impressed me. I also nymphed with it, but found it not as good as the Scott for lifting 3 AB shot, 2 #8 nymphs and a waterlogger strike indicator. The last rod I purchased was 4 years ago, a Scott SES. This is the first rod I have tried where I can really feel something worthy of calling a technological advance. I think it just made the Xmas list. — Gary M

Response:

Yes a very good rod with plenty or reserve power, smoothness and light weight in hand. Beats every other 5 weight i’ve ever cast.

Response:

Interesting comments. At our fishing clubs "Tackle Night" the Sage rep was there–so I had the opportunity to cast both the SLT and the XP. I found the SLT to be not to my liking at all. I use a Scott STS 905-4; aqnd again IMO, the SLT couldn’t hold a candle to the Scott., THe XP, however, was an absolute *dream* to cast. Since the Freshwater Scott STS series has been (stupidly IMO) discontinued–if I break the one I have I se an XP 905-4 in my future.   Dave M

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This past few days I have been fishing the Sage SLT 5 weight 8′6. At 3 ounces it is a dream to cast and it turns over a dry fly so nicely. It performs consistently on long and short casts. but I think it’s the simple comfort it provides (smoothness, forgiveness, lightness) that impressed me. I also nymphed with it, but found it not as good as the Scott for lifting 3 AB shot, 2 #8 nymphs and a waterlogger strike indicator. The last rod I purchased was 4 years ago, a Scott SES. This is the first rod I have tried where I can really feel something worthy of calling a technological advance. I think it just made the Xmas list. — Gary M

Response:

Question:

Someone told me that this fly is deadly for whitefish, and they were right. It’s tied with a body of chamois leather, like the kind you use to dry a car. The thing is that it doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever found in a whitefish stomach or like any underwater bug I’ve ever seen. My theory is that the whitefish smell it, which I suppose makes it bait. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Whatever it is, I bet Whitefish Jeff from NC would want a few dozen. Danl PS Steve, Hows the fire situation up around your cabin? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Someone told me that this fly is deadly for whitefish, and they were right. It’s tied with a body of chamois leather, like the kind you use to dry a car. The thing is that it doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever found in a whitefish stomach or like any underwater bug I’ve ever seen. My theory is that the whitefish smell it, which I suppose makes it bait. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Whatever it is, I bet Whitefish Jeff from NC would want a few dozen. Danl PS Steve, Hows the fire situation up around your cabin?

Bad. Real bad. There are fires all over the place. They’ve closed the Middle Fork for the first time ever, which really hurts the economy of this town, and the road over Galena Pass to Ketchum is closed. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Whatever it is, I bet Whitefish Jeff from NC would want a few dozen.

It’s a really simple pattern. Cut a strip of cream-colored chamois about 1/16 inch wide, double it over, and tie it on with the two ends making a tail and the doubled-over part a body. Tie down the body of chamois with a sparse criss-cross pattern of black thread. Finish with some ginger hackle at the front. My chamois nymphs are size 14. I fished it on a dropper from a large bead-head Prince Nymph and caught maybe 80% of the whitefish on the chamois pattern. It’s deadly. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

The fly was popular about 15 years agoon the South Platte, a river with some snotty fish.  It supposedly imitated "Rock Worms"  ie Crane fly larva. It was one of very few patterns that was successful in sizes larger than an 18. Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Someone told me that this fly is deadly for whitefish, and they were right. It’s tied with a body of chamois leather, like the kind you use to dry a car. The thing is that it doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever found in a whitefish stomach or like any underwater bug I’ve ever seen. My theory is that the whitefish smell it, which I suppose makes it bait. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Fish smoker??? Is that what that was? Sure didn’t smell like fish from my campsite! Danl (dave ain’t smokin no fish in here, man)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Whatever it is, I bet Whitefish Jeff from NC would want a few dozen. Ya know, it wouldn’t have been so bad if rw had brought that smoker.  Damn, I like smoked fish!  Not that silly pink salmon stuff either.  Maybe I should have tried that miniature fish smoker Bruiser was carryin’ around with him. At least I *think* it was a mini-fish smoker <wide Gs. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, rw – you should not be using chamois.  It’s true chamois is fairly expensive, but in fly tying terms you get way too big a piece for the price.  There is something called Syn-Sham which is packaged in much smaller pieces and is therefore much more expensive per square foot.  It’s what a real fly tying whore would use. Regards, Jeff

Response:

Whatever it is, I bet Whitefish Jeff from NC would want a few dozen. Ya know, it wouldn’t have been so bad if rw had brought that smoker.  

I didn’t bring it because it runs on AC electricity and I was camping. Of course, you had a motel room, so we could have plugged it in there. It makes a godawful hickory stink. Damn, I like smoked fish!  Not that silly pink salmon stuff either.  Maybe I should have tried that miniature fish smoker Bruiser was carryin’ around with him.  At least I *think* it was a mini-fish smoker <wide Gs.

I had smoked whitefish tonight — fresh out the the smoker, when it’s best, Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, rw – you should not be using chamois.  It’s true chamois is fairly expensive, but in fly tying terms you get way too big a piece for the price.  There is something called Syn-Sham which is packaged in much smaller pieces and is therefore much more expensive per square foot.  It’s what a real fly tying whore would use.

The whitefish wouldn’t be able to smell Syn-Sham, or if they could they wouldn’t like it, which is the whole point. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Whatever it is, I bet Whitefish Jeff from NC would want a few dozen.

Ya know, it wouldn’t have been so bad if rw had brought that smoker.  Damn, I like smoked fish!  Not that silly pink salmon stuff either.  Maybe I should have tried that miniature fish smoker Bruiser was carryin’ around with him.  At least I *think* it was a mini-fish smoker <wide Gs. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, rw – you should not be using chamois.  It’s true chamois is fairly expensive, but in fly tying terms you get way too big a piece for the price.  There is something called Syn-Sham which is packaged in much smaller pieces and is therefore much more expensive per square foot.  It’s what a real fly tying whore would use. Regards, Jeff

Response:

Someone told me that this fly is deadly for whitefish, and they were right. It’s tied with a body of chamois leather, like the kind you use to dry a car. Someone told me that this fly is deadly for whitefish, and they were right. It’s tied with a body of chamois leather, like the kind you use to dry a car.

<snipped RW,  Maybe you ought to consider tying this for the Great NW Fly Swap in December  I think the pattern would also be nice for carp as well at the whitefish.  Love to have your chamois fly. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." — Benjamin Franklin

Response:

Are you gonna stay up there or are you leaving to escape the smoke? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bad. Real bad. There are fires all over the place. They’ve closed the Middle Fork for the first time ever, which really hurts the economy of this town, and the road over Galena Pass to Ketchum is closed. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Are you gonna stay up there or are you leaving to escape the smoke?

I’m staying. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

RW,  Maybe you ought to consider tying this for the Great NW Fly Swap in December  I think the pattern would also be nice for carp as well at the whitefish.  Love to have your chamois fly.

Can’t do that, Padishar. Wouldn’t be prudent. You see, I’m at least 60 miles from the nearest conceiveable source of suitable chamois, and I’m not talking about Switzerland. That would be Ketchum, Idaho, and frankly, I doubt that they have it. This is truly a killer whitefish fly. I’ve been fishing a bead head prince or pheasant tail with a chamois dropper. The trout invariably take the beadhead while the whitefish invariably take the chamois. It’s maybe 8:1 whitefish to trout, which suits me just fine, because I’d rather catch an 18" wild whitefish than a 10" stocker rainbow. Not only that, the whitefish cook up much better. On the other hand, maybe newborn elk calf would substitute. I know a lady who has one in her freezer. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

This is truly a killer whitefish fly. I’ve been fishing a bead head prince or pheasant tail with a chamois dropper. The trout invariably take the beadhead while the whitefish invariably take the chamois. It’s maybe 8:1 whitefish to trout…

If you get the time and inclination, switch the flies for awhile and let us know if the results seem the same, I’m curious. Regards, Jeff

Response:

Question:

maturely put….

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A well constructed TROLL is entertaining for those who recognise it as such. It should draw in fools and make them look even more foolish. Perhaps it may turn into an education for the fools, if the realise their foolishness. However, many posts classed as TROLLS aren’t worthy of the name. Consider a fishing analogy – a good TROLL is like a well tied fly, most TROLLs are simply bent nails with a dead worm. Despite most people claiming that they recognise them, they still seem to attract a huge following. A bit like a stupid fish still biting the dead worm even though it recognises it is attached to the hook. Mr Romney’s "If you bought a Hasselblad in 1970…" had over 20 replies as I scrolled past it, but I’m sure most people would claim to spot the basic flaw in his understanding of economics. Now, as for the "this brand is better than that brand", if I stick with the fishing analogy, that is like dropping a grenade in the pond to see what floats to the surface! Yet people are still drawn to the grenade as it sinks to the bottom of the pond just before it explodes. Why not all show your true intelligence and stop chasing what you all recognise as rubbish. I welcome sensible discussion and perhaps some well constructed and unbiased FAQ’s for newcomers covering the basics such as basic lens and body selection (without being brand specific), airport X-rays, etc.

Response:

A well constructed TROLL is entertaining for those who recognise it as such. It should draw in fools and make them look even more foolish. Perhaps it may turn into an education for the fools, if the realise their foolishness. However, many posts classed as TROLLS aren’t worthy of the name. Consider a fishing analogy – a good TROLL is like a well tied fly, most TROLLs are simply bent nails with a dead worm. Despite most people claiming that they recognise them, they still seem to attract a huge following. A bit like a stupid fish still biting the dead worm even though it recognises it is attached to the hook. Mr Romney’s "If you bought a Hasselblad in 1970…" had over 20 replies as I scrolled past it, but I’m sure most people would claim to spot the basic flaw in his understanding of economics. Now, as for the "this brand is better than that brand", if I stick with the fishing analogy, that is like dropping a grenade in the pond to see what floats to the surface! Yet people are still drawn to the grenade as it sinks to the bottom of the pond just before it explodes. Why not all show your true intelligence and stop chasing what you all recognise as rubbish. I welcome sensible discussion and perhaps some well constructed and unbiased FAQ’s for newcomers covering the basics such as basic lens and body selection (without being brand specific), airport X-rays, etc.

Response:

Question:

Awhile ago I posted a question about using horses for flyfishing (for riding to the spots, not for materials), and got some helpful replies. Well, I’m gonna do it. I found a place to pasture a horse about five miles from Stanley, for $35 a month! I can’t imagine what it would cost me to keep a horse in Menlo Park, CA. It would be a choice between that and sending my kids to college. It’s a beautiful pasture on 40 acres owned by a crusty oldimer who used to live in my cabin way back when. I think he’ll show this greenhorn the ropes. His place is right at the foot of the Sawtooths, next to some beautiful country with high lakes. I’ve found I’m too old to hump my gear up to the high country. I figure $2000 or so for a good horse (I’ll start with one, then maybe get another), $1000 for a trailer, $500 or so for tack, and pocket change for shots, shoeing, and whatnot, and I’m in business. I just don’t know if I can wait for next spring. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

RW, EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWW   HEE HEEEE HAW!!!!!!   HHOOOOOOOOOOOOO As the "bank" side of a four horse stable for my daughter I got a tremendous laugh out of your post!! Thanks for the moments of "unbridled" (to make a poor horse pun) laughter – horse laughter even. You have made my day brighter! The down side is that if you think   " I figure $2000 or so for a good horse (I’ll start with one, then maybe get another), $1000 for a trailer, $500 or so for tack, and pocket change for shots, shoeing, and whatnot, and I’m in business. I just don’t know if I can wait for next spring. " is a realistic budget for

messin’ with horses you got "anuther think" coming. They can get pretty expensive – and I didn’t see any mention of YOUR medical bills Best of luck, but it sounds like someone offered to "git chew inna horse bidness right". GB

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Awhile ago I posted a question about using horses for flyfishing (for riding to the spots, not for materials), and got some helpful replies. Well, I’m gonna do it. I found a place to pasture a horse about five miles from Stanley, for $35 a month! I can’t imagine what it would cost me to keep a horse in Menlo Park, CA. It would be a choice between that and sending my kids to college. It’s a beautiful pasture on 40 acres owned by a crusty oldimer who used to live in my cabin way back when. I think he’ll show this greenhorn the ropes. His place is right at the foot of the Sawtooths, next to some beautiful country with high lakes. I’ve found I’m too old to hump my gear up to the high country. I figure $2000 or so for a good horse (I’ll start with one, then maybe get another), $1000 for a trailer, $500 or so for tack, and pocket change for shots, shoeing, and whatnot, and I’m in business. I just don’t know if I can wait for next spring. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Care to post some useful information?  Not that I don’t appreciate your solid-caps onomatopoetic laughter, but if you think rw has his numbers way off, how about telling him why instead of making fun of him.  I have more than a little horse experience myself and those numbers sound pretty close to me. Do you take yours to a hairdresser or what?

Doesn’t everybody take their horse to the hairdresser and get it manicured?!?! You must not have cared for your horse if you didn’t call the vet everytime it farted, coughed or sneezed because those are signs of serious illness! Especially the farting "Doc, I just don’t know what to do.  My horse keeps breaking wind even at a standstill!" On a serious note, I would look to spend a little more than $1000 for a trailer and $500 for tack.  Make sure to check the floor of the trailer.  Not a good idea to buy a trailer then have to fix it.  And make sure to actually sit in the saddle and make sure it is comfortable (preferably on the intended horse). When I say comfortable I mean for the horse AND you.   Just some suggestions. Besides, what’s the worst that can happen?  Find out it isn’t going to work out and then sell everything? Warren

Response:

Doesn’t everybody take their horse to the hairdresser and get it manicured?!?! You must not have cared for your horse if you didn’t call the vet everytime it farted, coughed or sneezed because those are signs of serious illness! Especially the farting "Doc, I just don’t know what to do.  My horse keeps breaking wind even at a standstill!" On a serious note, I would look to spend a little more than $1000 for a trailer and $500 for tack.  

Probably right. When I actually start buying things I tend to spend far more than my minimum estimates because I’d rather have nice things, as long as I get value for my money. Of course, I’ll have to reserve a few thousand for hairdressing and manicures. On a side note, lots of people ride Harley Davidson motorcycles around here. I’ve had a few bikes and I’ve always wanted a Harley, so I was musing about getting one. Then I thought about the comparatively low cost of a horse and how many more hours of enjoyment I’d get out of it, and there was no contest. Probably after I get the horse I’ll start thinking about Harleys again. Make sure to check the floor of the trailer.  Not a good idea to buy a trailer then have to fix it.  And make sure to actually sit in the saddle and make sure it is comfortable (preferably on the intended horse). When I say comfortable I mean for the horse AND you.   Just some suggestions.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions, WFin66. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

RW, Write back in a few years. By then you will have been educated. Without the experiential wisdom you are just speculating. Good luck with your horse scheme, but my point is that you WILL need to budget more than "pocket change" for the expenses you mentioned. Glen

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – To all – I couldn’t help myself… I hope RW dosen’t take it as a flame – wasn’t meant that way. On the other hand, when he mentioned those "pocket change" items – maybe he has BIG POCKETS and LOTS OF CHANGE!! $2000 for a horse and $1000 for a trailer. Do you expect shots, shoeing, and so on to be significant compared to that? Perhaps unlike your daughters, I’m not real sentimental about animals (except for my Golden Retriever). If I were looking at a bottomless pit of medical expenses for an animal I’d cut my losses. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

RW, Write back in a few years. By then you will have been educated. Without the experiential wisdom you are just speculating. Good luck with your horse scheme, but my point is that you WILL need to budget more than "pocket change" for the expenses you mentioned. Glen

I’ll do that. The "pocket change" phrase was hyberbole. BTW, I’m not merely speculating. Like everything I do that requires significant outlays of cash, I’ve been looking into it pretty carefully. I’ve long wanted a horse or two, but having them at my California residence would be an absurd waste of money — something for billionares in Woodside. Here in Idaho it looks like a bargain, plus I’d be pasturing them right next to some great country. Most enjoyable things require some money (at least, the things I enjoy), but I’m no sucker, which you implied I was, and which frankly pissed me off. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Gee RW, as I mentioned before, my comments were NOT made to, as you say it "piss you off", but I DID find a GREAT deal of humor in your original thesis. This message sounds much more rational, as though you are now considering the big picture. I too enjoy the horses. I have liked them for years and only bought some in the past few years. We were terribly naive when we got started (we actually thought ONE bale of hay was significant!! – now we buy *hundreds* of bales in one trip). No, we do not go to the horseyhairdresser, but we DO take VERY good care of ALL our animals. Perhaps I was too flip in my original response to the group. I truly would not want to see anyone have a bad horse experience and it sounded like that is where you were headed. So sorry I hurt your feelings! Glen

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – RW, Write back in a few years. By then you will have been educated. Without the experiential wisdom you are just speculating. Good luck with your horse scheme, but my point is that you WILL need to budget more than "pocket change" for the expenses you mentioned. Glen I’ll do that. The "pocket change" phrase was hyberbole. BTW, I’m not merely speculating. Like everything I do that requires significant outlays of cash, I’ve been looking into it pretty carefully. I’ve long wanted a horse or two, but having them at my California residence would be an absurd waste of money — something for billionares in Woodside. Here in Idaho it looks like a bargain, plus I’d be pasturing them right next to some great country. Most enjoyable things require some money (at least, the things I enjoy), but I’m no sucker, which you implied I was, and which frankly pissed me off. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Perhaps I was too flip in my original response to the group. <

Pretty hard to be *too* flip!  <g

Response:

RW, EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWW   HEE HEEEE HAW!!!!!!   HHOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Care to post some useful information?  Not that I don’t appreciate your solid-caps onomatopoetic laughter, but if you think rw has his numbers way off, how about telling him why instead of making fun of him.  I have more than a little horse experience myself and those numbers sound pretty close to me.  Do you take yours to a hairdresser or what? — Levi I have been through some terrible things in my life – some of which actually happened.  –Mark Twain

Response:

RW, EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWW   HEE HEEEE HAW!!!!!!   HHOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Hey! Attributions are in order – lest you be accused of plagiarizing the best line that Chill Wills ever delivered… /daytripper (lessee who remembers…)

Response:

RW, EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWW   HEE HEEEE HAW!!!!!!   HHOOOOOOOOOOOOO Care to post some useful information?  Not that I don’t appreciate your solid-caps onomatopoetic laughter, but if you think rw has his numbers way off, how about telling him why instead of making fun of him.  I have more than a little horse experience myself and those numbers sound pretty close to me.  Do you take yours to a hairdresser or what?

Ha! Good one, Levi. I can just picture his daughters’ horses with little ribbon curliques in their manes. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

To all – I couldn’t help myself… I hope RW dosen’t take it as a flame – wasn’t meant that way. On the other hand, when he mentioned those "pocket change" items – maybe he has BIG POCKETS and LOTS OF CHANGE!!

$2000 for a horse and $1000 for a trailer. Do you expect shots, shoeing, and so on to be significant compared to that? Perhaps unlike your daughters, I’m not real sentimental about animals (except for my Golden Retriever). If I were looking at a bottomless pit of medical expenses for an animal I’d cut my losses. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

The immortal "Dr. Strangelove", of course. That was Slim Pickins. My favorite Chill Wills movie was probably "The Rounders" (unless you count the "Over the Hill Gang" TV stuff, that was great).

On the other hand, Slim Pickens DID deliver that line in a most artful fashion in Dr. Strangelove and in one of the most memorable scenes in movie history. Wolfgang (Whose practice in ducking and covering still serves him well to this day)

Response:

Question:

Hi Mark, The best grayling flies (IMHO that is, and I caught a lot of ‘m) are:  Dries: 1. Klinkhamer Special 2. Traun Special 3. Deerhair Caddis/CDC-flies (small one’s!!)/Compara Duns  Nymphs: 1. Hare’s Ear Goldbead 2. Zug Bug 3. Caddis emergers This is in order of effectivity. You can mail me if you don’t know the patterns. CU Hans van der Stroom

Response:

Mark, Grayling can be caught on many different flies.  Probably the surest thing is some black gnats.  But I have caught them on smaller streamers also.  Small minnow imitations, too. Pike are fun – take some fur "flies" – rabbit is good – especially white in my experience.  You can get a big pike to hit one of these even when he is so full of suckers that he does not even want to move. Lake trout might be a problem, depending on where you are going.  Where I am planning to go this Summer, they never go deep, but that is up on the Arctic Circle.  By July, you might not find any shallow enough for a fly rod.  If you do, I have had the best luck with minnow imatations retrieved fast – they are strong swimmers and I think that they are used to chasing prey that move pretty fast. You might email me and let me know where you are going, Kermit

Response:

Greetings:   I’ll be fishing up in northern Canada around the middle of July, and would very much appreciate any info you could provide concerning your favorite fly patterns (and sizes) for arctic grayling, lake trout and northern pike.     I actually have caught smaller northerns on Dahlberg Divers, bunny leeches, etc., but I have never caught a lake trout on a fly, and I have never even seen a grayling.  I’m tying Dahlberg Divers, deer hair poppers and bunny leeches now, but I would like your feedback regarding patterns. I’m guessing that mosquito patterns, Elk Wing Caddis, maybe Adams would be good for grayling?  Any and all advice appreciated.  Thanks!   Cheers, and tight lines, -Mark

Response:

Question:

I would like some advice on bite tippets for Blue Fish and other toothy critters – both fresh and saltwater.  I have used various wire type leaders for spin fishing but have no experience with fly fishing for northerns, blue fish etc. Thanks Jim

Response:

For bluefish smaller than 4 pounds you can get away with 30 pound mason or similar hard mono.  Anything bigger and you will wnat singlestrand wire. Cehck out any of the good knot books (Mclane or whoever) for ways to join wire to mono. For spanish mackerel heavy mono is fine.  King macs wire.   Northern pike will let you get away with mono.  there are some who say wire is better because it is thinner.  In my experience it just scares the fish due to shine.  Use clear Mason. Do no use braided wire.  No good at all.

I would like some advice on bite tippets for Blue Fish and other toothy critters – both fresh and saltwater.  I have used various wire type leaders for spin fishing but have no experience with fly fishing for northerns, blue fish etc. Thanks Jim — Flyfish NC                                                   Gordon Churchill http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/3853                                                                    

Response:

I would like some advice on bite tippets for Blue Fish and other toothy critters – both fresh and saltwater.  I have used various wire type leaders for spin fishing but have no experience with fly fishing for northerns, blue fish etc. Thanks Jim

Hi Jim, I think most fly fishers use wire for Barracudas, Northern Pike, Sharks and Bluefish. For Billfish, Tarpon, Snook and Jacks most use heavy/hard mono. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

Response:

Question:

Which comes to my contention: this nonsense of isolating the disease is a waste of time, effort and money.  The only way you can stop a disease is thru immunity.  Find the genetics that make some rainbows and most browns immune, and propagate that to the rainbows.  Or come up with a "treatment" that can be added to the stream bed to negate the effects of the tubifex worm.  The idea of isolating trout from the disease makes as much sense as telling folks we can stop AIDS if all we do is stop having sex!

there has been some research that shows that tubiflex worms survive well in altered habitats (tailwaters, heavily logged and grazed areas).  the key to stopping the spore from affecting fish is to work to stop tubiflex worms. this can be done by restoring and protecting good fish habitat. hatchery fish are not the answer to WD.  habitat is the key in this and almost all fishery battles. chris

Response:

Doesn’t surprise me.  Rock Creek and the Big Hole are also reporting whirling disease.  When first told that the parasite eggs were capable of being transported on waders, it occured to me that in the past, I’d fish the Madison one day and Big Hole or Yellowstone the next.  I did this for several years before the "announcement" came.  How many thousands of other fishermen did the same?   Which comes to my contention: this nonsense of isolating the disease is a waste of time, effort and money.  The only way you can stop a disease is thru immunity.  Find the genetics that make some rainbows and most browns immune, and propagate that to the rainbows.  Or come up with a "treatment" that can be added to the stream bed to negate the effects of the tubifex worm.  The idea of isolating trout from the disease makes as much sense as telling folks we can stop AIDS if all we do is stop having sex!

Response:

Hi Group, Last evening I received a distubing bit of new that whirling disease has been discovered in the Yellowstone River near the spring creeks in the Paradise Valley. I think there is supposed to be some type of announcment in the next day or so. We’ll see what happens from there. — Tight Lines ….. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Catalog,Tips & Tricks, Fishing Reports, & NeverSink at: http://www.btsflyfishing.com

Response:

Question:

If you fish, boat, camp, hunt or anything to do with the great

outdoors and have friends that do the same, why not start your  OWN business with little or know cost to you? < The IRS does make a distinction between a hobby business and a real business. You may be asked to demonstrate that it is a real business and not just supporting your hobby. Just because you have the legal paperwork that shows it to be a "business" doesn’t mean that the IRS has to accept it. The small tax savings will be more than offset by the cost of an audit. You are just making yourself a target.

Response:

My name in Norm Larsen and I’d like to tell you a fishing story!! A couple of week ago a friend of mine came to me and asked me if I fished, I said sure I fish, why? Well he said: " if I could show you how you can deduct your fishing, camping, boating and hunting expenses from your income tax AND earn an income would you like to here about it? That was a no-brainer  for me, so I asked him to show it to me. He proceeded to show me of the most  interesting companies I had ever seen, The companies called Champion Fishing    Co.  based out of  Texas. They have a 197 page catalog that is full of outdoor  equipment. All name brand gear like Mitchell, Fenwick, Remmington etc. By October of this year they’ll have golfing, mountain bike and organized sporting equipment too!! I thought it made since to buy my gear from myself than from someone else! They have the simplest compensation plans I have ever seen too! There’s no start-up fees, no inventory, no quota’s , no organizational  tracking and no weekend deliveries!! Everything is shipped direct to the buyer. The recreational fishing industry is a $69.4 BILLION dollar a year business with 60 million people. That doesn’t include the Pro- Fishing industry, boating, camping or hunting!! Champion Fishing Co. has been growing at a fantastic rate. The number of reps has tripled since last October. Some states only have a few reps so were talking ground floor, "once in a life time opportunity"! If you fish, boat, camp, hunt or anything to do with the great outdoors and have friends that do the same, why not start your  OWN business with little or know cost to you? If would like more info on this program, please contact me by return email with your address and I’ll send you some info. If you give me your phone number I’ll call you a week or so after I send to answer any questions you may have. Sincerely, Norm Larsen

Response:

Question:

 I use the 14-pound test Berkley Fireline on my three ultra-light salt water spinning rods. It casts nicely and I use Palomar knots with it.  The stuff is so thin, it simply is not as easy to handle as mono. I use it for inshore fishing for redfish, flounder and seatrout. I have *never* lost a fish to line break, but occasionally it does cut when it rubs the wrong way against oyster beds. — – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – Harry Krause  Krause & Associates, Inc. Post Office Box 7575 Jacksonville, Florida 32244

Response:

J. Smith, I can already foresee some potential hassles with tying knots with the Fireline — hell, just tying the knot to stay on the reel took a couple of attempts (I had to add a small overhand knot at the tag end to prevent it from slipping through)!   What’s really tough, since the line is so slick, strong and thin, is simply getting a good enough *grip* on the stuff to cinch down the knot! If you don’t use some kind of cloth or kleenex or some other hard tool to wrap the line around, the shit’ll dig right through your skin!

 Try the Polimar (sp?) knot.  I’ve used it on the braided lines like  Fenwick Iron Thread, and Spiderwire in addition to the new Fireline.  If you still have trouble with it, use a double Polimar.  Basically,  you simply double the line then tie a Polimar knot.  Works for me,  really never had problems with the knot when using this one. From what I understand, the gray color does fade, and rather quickly at that.  But of course, if you’re looking for the small-diameter strength and non-stretch attributes, I think the line is thin enough to still work well (I’ll still keep my spinning reel handy with a spool full of good mono!).

 Yup, the color (dark gray) fads into a light gray or white color after  some use 5 trips?  Chris  San Jose, CA

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Every year I try to decide which lines to use. I have tried the braids, liked the low strech,hated the color lose. Does anybody know about this new Fireline? I do all kinds of fishing, bass,walleye,crappie,panfish. [deleted stuff] I can already foresee some potential hassles with tying knots with the Fireline — hell, just tying the knot to stay on the reel took a couple of attempts (I had to add a small overhand knot at the tag end to prevent it from slipping through)!   What’s really tough, since the line is so slick, strong and thin, is simply getting a good enough *grip* on the stuff to cinch down the knot! If you don’t use some kind of cloth or kleenex or some other hard tool to wrap the line around, the shit’ll dig right through your skin!

[deleted stuff] I use the fireline for steelhead.  I’ve found that I have no problems with knots as long as I double up the line before I tie.  It is easier to tie with than spiderwire.  When I was using spiderwire, The only way I could get a knot to stay was with superglue.  I’m pleased with the fireline and have tossed my superglue.  I understand that the spiderwire fusion is the same line with an extra coating for added smoothness on the guides, making it a little thicker in diameter. Andy S.

Response:

Every year I try to decide which lines to use. I have tried the braids, liked the low strech,hated the color lose. Does anybody know about this new Fireline? I do all kinds of fishing, bass,walleye,crappie,panfish.

I haven’t actually ‘fished’ with my new reelful of Fireline, but I did get out to a local reservoir to at least throw out a few practice casts (they’ve also got these cool new ‘casting ponds’ here in Campbell, CA, used primarily by the local fly-fishermen, but also available to us bait- casters).   I can already foresee some potential hassles with tying knots with the Fireline — hell, just tying the knot to stay on the reel took a couple of attempts (I had to add a small overhand knot at the tag end to prevent it from slipping through)!   What’s really tough, since the line is so slick, strong and thin, is simply getting a good enough *grip* on the stuff to cinch down the knot! If you don’t use some kind of cloth or kleenex or some other hard tool to wrap the line around, the shit’ll dig right through your skin! From what I understand, the gray color does fade, and rather quickly at that.  But of course, if you’re looking for the small-diameter strength and non-stretch attributes, I think the line is thin enough to still work well (I’ll still keep my spinning reel handy with a spool full of good mono!). Hopefully, these newsgroup threads will continue regarding these new hi-tech lines; there’s got to be an easy solution to these knot-tying woes.  I’m pretty sure some past discussions in these newsgroups have adequately addressed the problem.  Unfortunately, until I actually ‘tied some on,’ I didn’t bother to read them. Any ideas (already discussed or not) would be gratefully appreciated! J Smith Sunnyvale, CA

Response:

Question:

There are ways to get a Sage for cheaper than the normal price.  I got my 590 RPL+ for quite a bit less than retail and its the same rod, brand new, not a second and I love it.

Don’t keep us in suspense…. I’m looking for a RPL Rick

Response:

You mean the inverse of capitalism – capitalism is when market demand determines the price not when a supplier controls the price. If all of us stopped buying because the price was too high then the prices would come down. That would be capitalism at work.

Exactly!  If Sage can’t send enough rods out the door, they’ll go to their distributors and lower the price.  In addition, your point is also an example of why the "price-setting" issue is legal.  As long as consumers have an opportunity to purchase other manufacturer’s similar goods (Orvis, Redington, etc), without fear that manufacturers are working in concert to keep prices high, the system (capitalism) will work.  I also think that many of us draw capitalism out to more than it truly is.  Your example shows only a possible by-product of capitalism.  The only inherent principle in capitalism is that of an economic system that allows for the private ownership of industry. My original intent with the first post was to show that, at least under the current laws, Sage’s (and others) policy on rod prices is legal. Federal Anti-Trust and price-fixing laws deal specifically with a group of manufacturers acting together to either restrict trade or keep prices high (or both).  What a single manufacturer does or doesn’t do with their products is, for the most part, entirely up to them and not currently addressed under law (as far as I know).  The moral or ethical considerations of a manufacturer’s policy is another thing entirely, and one that I probably agree with you on. Jerry Cobb Nashville, TN

Response:

two of my favorite rods are a 3 an 5 wt. redington.  great action and the price is right ( for me).

Response:

David, I have the model 490, 4 weight, Sage RPL+.  I’m not an experienced flyfisherman, and only have two other rods I’ve used extensively.  I started with a Wal-Mart special, moved up to the Sage, and also own an Orvis superfine 6 weight.  The Sage is stiffer, more powerful, and I fish it the most.  The Orvis flexes more easily and I have to force myself to wait longer between the backcast and forward cast to use it effectively. I would recommend you definitly try different rods and find one that suits your style or speed.  I can’t cast that far and still find that the majority of the fish I catch are within half my maximum range.   Look for a rod that you enjoy casting and you wouldn’t mind using all day. Good Luck. Ronny

Response:

: I am thinking about trying a RPL+, and have recently been looking at : some of the spring catalogues for prices.  Does everyone charge list : price (or close to it) or is there someplace that offers at least some : discount?  There must be some entrepreneurs out there  who are willing : to take a little less to make a sale. Sage sets the price. — Jeff Smith                                     Graduate student http://www.msc.cornell.edu/~jeffs         Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Response:

Smith) writes: : I am thinking about trying a RPL+, and have recently been looking at : some of the spring catalogues for prices.  Does everyone charge list : price (or close to it) or is there someplace that offers at least some : discount?  There must be some entrepreneurs out there  who are willing : to take a little less to make a sale. Sage sets the price.

Although I’m not an antitrust lawyer, I seem to recall from lawschool that such "prics setting (i.e., price fixing)" is illegal and can land one in Leavenworth.  I recognize that Sage (or Orvis etc.) can suggest a retail price but I believe any effort to enforce it on independent dealers would be illegal.

Response:

I currently own several Sage SP rods and din’t even look twice at the new RPL+ rods when they came out.  I spent two weeks in Montana last October and my partner was fishing his brand new RPL+ 590-4.  I asked to cast it one day while we waited to load our drift boat, well the short story is that my wife is currently fishing with some darn nice Sage SP’s and I own two RPL+ series rods. 590-5 and 896-4, I have not been a big fan of four piece rods in the past, but I think you will find that these rods are amazingly easy to cast and shoot lots of line.   I kept my 390sp for my BWO & PMD fishing, but for most of my fishing the RPL+ is my new rod of choice. Cast one! Pask

Response:

: Smith) writes:

: : Sage sets the price. : : Although I’m not an antitrust lawyer, I seem to recall from lawschool : that such "prics setting (i.e., price fixing)" is illegal and can land : one in Leavenworth.  I recognize that Sage (or Orvis etc.) can suggest : a retail price but I believe any effort to enforce it on independent : dealers would be illegal. I talked to a guy at Dan Bailey’s who told me that Sage tells them what price they can sell the rod for.  As I did some looking around, I found that Bailey’s had the same price as everyone else.  You can check the sage website (http://www.sageflyfish.com/) to get the prices.  Prices are "suggested retail", but maybe if you undercut the price Sage might forget to supply the retailer the next year.  We’ve had a discussion about this before- I forget what the final upshot was. — Jeff Smith                                     Graduate student http://www.msc.cornell.edu/~jeffs         Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -: Although I’m not an antitrust lawyer, I seem to recall from lawschool : that such "prics setting (i.e., price fixing)" is illegal and can land : one in Leavenworth.  I recognize that Sage (or Orvis etc.) can suggest : a retail price but I believe any effort to enforce it on independent : dealers would be illegal. I talked to a guy at Dan Bailey’s who told me that Sage tells them what price they can sell the rod for.  As I did some looking around, I found that Bailey’s had the same price as everyone else.  You can check the sage website (http://www.sageflyfish.com/) to get the prices.  Prices are "suggested retail", but maybe if you undercut the price Sage might forget to supply the retailer the next year.

 I wonder if any lawyers at the Justice Department are flyfisherman or read this group. Mike Ray Atlatna, Ga Cashiers, NC  

Response:

There are ways to get a Sage for cheaper than the normal price.  I got my 590 RPL+ for quite a bit less than retail and its the same rod, brand new, not a second and I love it.  If anyone was paying attention about 3 months ago I was trying to sell one for under retail but got no takers so I basically gave it to my fishing partner for Christmas.  

Response:

Although I’m not an antitrust lawyer, I seem to recall from lawschool that such "prics setting (i.e., price fixing)" is illegal and can land one in Leavenworth.  I recognize that Sage (or Orvis etc.) can suggest a retail price but I believe any effort to enforce it on independent dealers would be illegal.

Michael Both "trust" and "price-fixing" refer to two or more parties acting in concert.  For example, if Sage and Orvis execs were to conference call and set a price for an indentical product (or very similar product), it would in all likelyhood be price-fixing and is illegal.  Similarly, if the same two companies were to attempt to organize their efforts in an attempt to dominate a market or industry, they are working in "trust," and is considered illegal.  The industrial giants of turn-of-the-century railroad and steel businesses come to mind. Any given manufacturer can REQUIRE its distributors to sell at a certain price, as long as it is part of the agreement to distribute the product, although typically the agreements state a retail price that cannot be lowered.  Any distributor can REFUSE to sell a manufacturer’s product if its terms do not meet the dist.’s needs/wants, such as too high a retail price, not enough margin, etc.  The whole thing reeks of capitalism if you ask me <VBG. Jerry Cobb Nashville, TN

Response:

Although I’m not an antitrust lawyer, I seem to recall from lawschool that such "prics setting (i.e., price fixing)" is illegal

Its not illegal as long as the pricing philosophy is applied to all vendors.  This practice is less common than it used to be, but is not uncommon with "premium" products whose image is based in part on a fixed, high, price. I’m going way back now — but I beleive this one went to the Supreme Court in the 70s. It was a hair-care manufacturer.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any given manufacturer can REQUIRE its distributors to sell at a certain price, as long as it is part of the agreement to distribute the product, although typically the agreements state a retail price that cannot be lowered.  Any distributor can REFUSE to sell a manufacturer’s product if its terms do not meet the dist.’s needs/wants, such as too high a retail price, not enough margin, etc.  The whole thing reeks of capitalism if you ask me <VBG. Jerry Cobb You mean the inverse of capitalism – capitalism is when market demand determines the price not when a supplier controls the price. If all of us stopped buying because the price was too high then the prices would come down. That would be capitalism at work.

Capitalism is rule by those who own the capital i.e., by the shareholders of Sage and Orvis.  We also own capital which we can invest, and this gives birth to free markets.  Strictly speaking though, capitalism is not the rule of the market, the market is a product of capitalism. — Keep your stick on the ice.

Response:

It’s ridiculous to call this price fixing.  Setting the price keeps Walmart and other big volume "businesses" from undercutting the price. It has been tried in the courts and found ok.     If you don’t like the price DON’T BUY IT!!!! An expensive fly rod is hardly an essential item.  They do cast better, but most any rod will cast better than the caster.  What’s sad is that the public can’t get enough of these expensive rods!  I’m sure that the materials, engineering, and demand are driving up the cost, but as long as people continue to be shell out the big bucks the manufacturers are not going to look for ways to cut costs.  I bet if someone came out with a rod with laser aligned guides people would buy it.  Americans just *have* to have the best.   Just my opinion, Rob Gregoire

Response:

Any given manufacturer can REQUIRE its distributors to sell at a certain price, as long as it is part of the agreement to distribute the product, although typically the agreements state a retail price that cannot be lowered.  Any distributor can REFUSE to sell a manufacturer’s product if its terms do not meet the dist.’s needs/wants, such as too high a retail price, not enough margin, etc.  The whole thing reeks of capitalism if you ask me <VBG. Jerry Cobb Nashville, TN

You mean the inverse of capitalism – capitalism is when market demand determines the price not when a supplier controls the price. If all of us stopped buying because the price was too high then the prices would come down. That would be capitalism at work.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Any given manufacturer can REQUIRE its distributors to sell at a certain price, as long as it is part of the agreement to distribute the product, although typically the agreements state a retail price that cannot be lowered.  Any distributor can REFUSE to sell a manufacturer’s product if its terms do not meet the dist.’s needs/wants, such as too high a retail price, not enough margin, etc.  The whole thing reeks of capitalism if you ask me <VBG. Jerry Cobb Nashville, TN You mean the inverse of capitalism – capitalism is when market demand determines the price not when a supplier controls the price. If all of us stopped buying because the price was too high then the prices would come down. That would be capitalism at work.

AMEN!

Response:

writes:  If you don’t like the price DON’T BUY IT!!!! An expensive fly rod is hardly an essential item.  They do cast better, but most any rod will cast better than the caster.  What’s sad is that the public can’t get enough of these expensive rods!  I’m sure that the materials, engineering, and demand are driving up the cost, but as long as people continue to be shell out the big bucks the manufacturers are not going to look for ways to cut costs.   Just my opinion, Rob Gregoire

Rob, thats the reason I’m trying to get one at less than MSR.

Response:

My buddy and I both have a 590 RPL+ and I am amazed at the difference it has in the casting and overall sensitivity.  Seriously they are unlike any rod I’ve ever thrown.  It takes some getting used to the new feel it has, but now I won’t put it down for my other rods.  Besides I’m not a big fan of noodle rods and the RPL+ rods are nice and stiff but forgiving in the tip.  Plus you can’t beat the warranty.  I’d definitely recommend one.

Response:

I am thinking about trying a RPL+, and have recently been looking at some of the spring catalogues for prices.  Does everyone charge list price (or close to it) or is there someplace that offers at least some discount?  There must be some entrepreneurs out there  who are willing to take a little less to make a sale. Atlanta, Georgia Cashiers, North Carolina

Response:

Has anyone out there had any experience with the new SAGE RPL+ flyrods.  Although I will cast before buy, Im relatively new to flyfishing and would appreciate comments.

I have cast but never fished an RPL+.  It is a hell of a parking lot rod.  It’s fairly easy to cast a lot of line with a nice tight lope (even for a lousy caster like me.  It’s a very fast action rod.  Whether it will work as well on the water depends, I think, on what type of fishing you will be doing with it and what sort of action you prefer.  Logically, it would seem to be a better big fish rod (e.g. steelhead) where long casts amy be necessary than a spring creek brook trout rod. I casted the 8 wt. and while it was lots of fun in the lot, I generally like a some what slower rod (I prefered the Sage SP). Anyway, that’s my $.02. Andy

Response:

Has anyone out there had any experience with the new SAGE RPL+ flyrods.  Although I will cast before buy, Im relatively new to flyfishing and would appreciate comments.

Response: