Question:

Did you hear about the Energizer Bunny dying? Someone put his batteries in backwards and he just kept coming and coming and coming….. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You forgot to mention stranding me on little dummer with a dead battery. Yes…well….that was another trip, after all… That battery, btw, is totally, utterly, dead. Two years old, too young to die. It’s going back to Sears today… /daytripper

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [snip] that the world was a better place without me on it… Amen

See, that’s what editing can do to a concept – turn it into a suicide note! /daytripper (although if it gets any hotter here, that’s an idea…)

Response:

You forgot to mention stranding me on little dummer with a dead battery.

Yes…well….that was another trip, after all… That battery, btw, is totally, utterly, dead. Two years old, too young to die. It’s going back to Sears today… /daytripper

Response:

You forgot to mention stranding me on little dummer with a dead battery. Yes…well….that was another trip, after all… That battery, btw, is totally, utterly, dead. Two years old, too young to die. It’s going back to Sears today… /daytripper

Get someone else to lift it for you… Paul

Response:

(snipped report) That was a good read.  Excellent fishing description. Jeez, drink something with some actual caffeine in it next time and we might get a real epic bruce h

Response:

(snipped report) That was a good read.  Excellent fishing description. Jeez, drink something with some actual caffeine in it next time and we might get a real epic bruce h

Be careful what you ask for I suppose I should have mentioned that I rarely have anything with a significant amount of caffeine in it, since 1987, on the recommendation of a cardiac specialist back then who determined it was aggravating a non-life-threatening-but-really-distracting "premature ventricular contraction" syndrome I had been experiencing. And though the PVCs passed after two years, never to return (yet, at least) I still usually avoid caffeine, as I discovered I really didn’t need it – and that the world was a better place without me on it… /daytripper (*definitely*!

Response:

[snip] that the world was a better place without me on it…

Amen

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So I set my main anchor and starting paying out the anchor line – and totally misjudged the length of the line vs the speed of the outgoing current – and had the end of the anchor line slide through my hand and sink…. down…down….down to the bottom. … Did that once in the middle of the afternoon with half a dozen people on my boat watching…very embarassing. Indeed. Yet Paul – bless his heart – went very easy on me, considering the fullness of the opportunity. I don’t know that I’d be as kind, but then again, it was *my* boat, and we were a long way from land

You forgot to mention stranding me on little dummer with a dead battery.

Response:

[snip] that the world was a better place without me on it… Amen

No, no, no Paul, he didn’t say "IN" it!         Wolfgang

Response:

OK, this is a bit wordy. It didn’t start out that way, it just grew. Mostly ‘cuz I’m wound up like a friggin’ mainspring by caffeinated beverages, and I’d have to burn a kilo to flatten out. Deal with it…And pay no attention to the unethical counting…. So I’m kinda on this corporate shut-down thing for the week – although I’m supposed to be "available", whatever the hell that’s really supposed to mean, which is the only thing keeping me out of the mountains this week. Too bad, I’ll bet the alderflies are a’poppin right about now. So much for Plan A. Anyway, the weather forecast for this week starts out grim and gets worse – we’ll be in the mid 90’s and wicked humid for the next few days. And me with a dysfunctional air conditioning unit at home. Uh oh… Plan B is to spend as much time on water. Any water. So Monday morning I get my boat out of winter mothball mode, clean it up, slap the muffs and a hose on the engine,  fire it up, and wake the neighborhood dead for awhile while I checked the tires and get my gear on board. It looks good. We’re ready. Wife and sons are all working this week. Tough nuggies. Call the SO and let her know once I’m a little more than half way to the Merrimack. Can hear her silently crossing herself, figuring (1) I’m by myself on a big brawny river at night and (2) my back is still sorta healing up after the surgery. The surgery which she is still convinced was necessary because of the boat. Ahem… I tell her not to worry, Paul Goodwin’s gonna meet me at the launch. Then I call Paul  Whoops, no answer at work or on cell. Maybe he went fishing already? He finally calls back when I’m within 15 minutes of the river, he’ll definitely come but he’ll be an hour behind. No problem, I’ll putt around and work a few close by spots then pick him off the dock. So eventually we’re both on board and cruising down river towards the ocean. The tide is dead high so we spent the better part of a couple of hours stripping streamers up on Joppa Flats – basically a square mile of 6′ deep water at high tide – and mud and grass at low – with a vestigial island in the middle. A few weeks ago this area was blazing with activity, but tonite we’d only see the bait gommers with an occasional hook up. Two hours past high tide we motored out through the mouth into the ocean and fished the back side of the south channel rock jetty. This is a spot I always hit if I’m otherwise fishless – because I *always* catch at least a couple of fish here. It’s good for the first three hours of an outgoing tide, otherwise it’s crap. We had about an hour on the jetty point, with me holding the boat just in casting range of the rocks while Paul landed two stripers and popped another before that spot went dead. Towards the end I set two anchors to hold us in place and got in a few casts, got a smack but still blanked. We then scooted back into the river and up the tail edge of the flats, just south of the G13 can. The idea is to fish the drop off on the down stream edge, where the stripers should congregate to catch whatever gets swept off the flats. I’ve hit this spot on days where literally every cast produced a striper.  All you have to do is plop your anchor on the high side and ease down over the drop before making fast. So I set my main anchor and starting paying out the anchor line – and totally misjudged the length of the line vs the speed of the outgoing current – and had the end of the anchor line slide through my hand and sink…. down…down….down to the bottom. Damn – I hate it when I do that. Auxiliary Anchor instantly field promoted to Main Anchor. We fished this area as the sun set and the air began to cool, both on anchor and just drifting. Drifting worked better tonite, with Paul nabbing another couple of stripers, and me finally boating one. Then I got another. Things were looking up The stars were now out so we switched to black streamers. And I promptly caught another striper. And after a bit, my fourth one, a particularly feisty beast that got some really good knuckle-shots in on my reel hand and took me at least 5 minutes and about a quarter mile of drifting downstream to get in the boat. I’m guessing it was 24-25" – not legal, but a nice fish to end the evening, and a reaffirmation that flyfishing for stripers can be a blast… At 11PM and pitch black we motored back up the river, using the GPS to find each channel marker and bridge underpass in turn, as I had programmed into the unit a few years ago, and following the middle of the channel with the sonar display. Wonderful stuff, electronics. Hauled out in the dark (the $5 launch fees apparently won’t light the single streetlamp on the ramp, harrumph!), had my e-brake freeze solid two clicks from released when I backed down to haul the boat – gonna have to fix that beyotch now for sure, hit a local Wendy’s around midnight, then blasted home. Feeling great, back is fine. No ill effects, other than being wound up pretty tight from way too many Classic Cokes. (No – the *drink*, dammit!) SO will be eyeballing me like a hawk in the morning looking for damage, gonna have to literally pop out of bed on the run to keep the heat off me Mid-90’s and humid sucks on dry land. Much nicer to be on the water. Might just have to do the whole thing again tomorrow…Or maybe a lake… /daytripper (bzzzzzz….Man, how do people drink the *really* loaded stuff – like Jolt??)

Response:

(bzzzzzz….Man, how do people drink the *really* loaded stuff – like Jolt??)

I used to drink that stuff back when I was closer to your age. It’s starting to wear off now. <g Nice TR. — Charlie…

Response:

What a nice story – a couple weeks ago I was in Maine.  A buddy of mine took me out twice for stripers in the Yarmouth area.  We were using shooting heads – an absolute hoot – and chasing busting schools.  We had the adrenaline up as long as the tide held out! Pete Collin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, this is a bit wordy. It didn’t start out that way, it just grew. Mostly ‘cuz I’m wound up like a friggin’ mainspring by caffeinated beverages, and I’d have to burn a kilo to flatten out. Deal with it…And pay no attention to the unethical counting…. So I’m kinda on this corporate shut-down thing for the week – although I’m supposed to be "available", whatever the hell that’s really supposed to mean, which is the only thing keeping me out of the mountains this week. Too bad, I’ll bet the alderflies are a’poppin right about now. So much for Plan A. Anyway, the weather forecast for this week starts out grim and gets worse – we’ll be in the mid 90’s and wicked humid for the next few days. And me with a dysfunctional air conditioning unit at home. Uh oh… Plan B is to spend as much time on water. Any water. So Monday morning I get my boat out of winter mothball mode, clean it up, slap the muffs and a hose on the engine,  fire it up, and wake the neighborhood dead for awhile while I checked the tires and get my gear on board. It looks good. We’re ready. Wife and sons are all working this week. Tough nuggies. Call the SO and let her know once I’m a little more than half way to the Merrimack. Can hear her silently crossing herself, figuring (1) I’m by myself on a big brawny river at night and (2) my back is still sorta healing up after the surgery. The surgery which she is still convinced was necessary because of the boat. Ahem… I tell her not to worry, Paul Goodwin’s gonna meet me at the launch. Then I call Paul  Whoops, no answer at work or on cell. Maybe he went fishing already? He finally calls back when I’m within 15 minutes of the river, he’ll definitely come but he’ll be an hour behind. No problem, I’ll putt around and work a few close by spots then pick him off the dock. So eventually we’re both on board and cruising down river towards the ocean. The tide is dead high so we spent the better part of a couple of hours stripping streamers up on Joppa Flats – basically a square mile of 6′ deep water at high tide – and mud and grass at low – with a vestigial island in the middle. A few weeks ago this area was blazing with activity, but tonite we’d only see the bait gommers with an occasional hook up. Two hours past high tide we motored out through the mouth into the ocean and fished the back side of the south channel rock jetty. This is a spot I always hit if I’m otherwise fishless – because I *always* catch at least a couple of fish here. It’s good for the first three hours of an outgoing tide, otherwise it’s crap. We had about an hour on the jetty point, with me holding the boat just in casting range of the rocks while Paul landed two stripers and popped another before that spot went dead. Towards the end I set two anchors to hold us in place and got in a few casts, got a smack but still blanked. We then scooted back into the river and up the tail edge of the flats, just south of the G13 can. The idea is to fish the drop off on the down stream edge, where the stripers should congregate to catch whatever gets swept off the flats. I’ve hit this spot on days where literally every cast produced a striper.  All you have to do is plop your anchor on the high side and ease down over the drop before making fast. So I set my main anchor and starting paying out the anchor line – and totally misjudged the length of the line vs the speed of the outgoing current – and had the end of the anchor line slide through my hand and sink…. down…down….down to the bottom. Damn – I hate it when I do that. Auxiliary Anchor instantly field promoted to Main Anchor. We fished this area as the sun set and the air began to cool, both on anchor and just drifting. Drifting worked better tonite, with Paul nabbing another couple of stripers, and me finally boating one. Then I got another. Things were looking up The stars were now out so we switched to black streamers. And I promptly caught another striper. And after a bit, my fourth one, a particularly feisty beast that got some really good knuckle-shots in on my reel hand and took me at least 5 minutes and about a quarter mile of drifting downstream to get in the boat. I’m guessing it was 24-25" – not legal, but a nice fish to end the evening, and a reaffirmation that flyfishing for stripers can be a blast… At 11PM and pitch black we motored back up the river, using the GPS to find each channel marker and bridge underpass in turn, as I had programmed into the unit a few years ago, and following the middle of the channel with the sonar display. Wonderful stuff, electronics. Hauled out in the dark (the $5 launch fees apparently won’t light the single streetlamp on the ramp, harrumph!), had my e-brake freeze solid two clicks from released when I backed down to haul the boat – gonna have to fix that beyotch now for sure, hit a local Wendy’s around midnight, then blasted home. Feeling great, back is fine. No ill effects, other than being wound up pretty tight from way too many Classic Cokes. (No – the *drink*, dammit!) SO will be eyeballing me like a hawk in the morning looking for damage, gonna have to literally pop out of bed on the run to keep the heat off me Mid-90’s and humid sucks on dry land. Much nicer to be on the water. Might just have to do the whole thing again tomorrow…Or maybe a lake… /daytripper (bzzzzzz….Man, how do people drink the *really* loaded stuff – like

Jolt??)

Response:

I just posted some pix on abpf of the fish we got.

Response:

So I set my main anchor and starting paying out the anchor line – and totally misjudged the length of the line vs the speed of the outgoing current – and had the end of the anchor line slide through my hand and sink…. down…down….down to the bottom. … Did that once in the middle of the afternoon with half a dozen people on my boat watching…very embarassing.

Indeed. Yet Paul – bless his heart – went very easy on me, considering the fullness of the opportunity. I don’t know that I’d be as kind, but then again, it was *my* boat, and we were a long way from land The stars were now out so we switched to black streamers. … Do you usually do that ?

Yup. I think that’s covered in chapter 1 in the book "Stripers For Dummies" (which I have laying about somewhere  Moreover, a chunky black fly is called for, the more water displacement you can manage, the easier for the fish to find your fly in the dark… /daytripper (I think the dew point just met the temperature at 90. Horrible.)

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Those that wanted to should have. You all missed a great one. Suckers! I’ll let Kevin give the details.  I had to get my digs in after driving more than 3,000 miles in the last two weeks just for a little fly fishing. Joel Axelrad **DFD** I wanted to, but wound up at my boss’s lake home.  Dang.  Hot water, flush toilets, sandy beach, pontoon boat.   Now if only I could have done both…

Did you catch any fish? Wolfgang

Response:

rbc:  vixen wrote… I wanted to, but wound up at my boss’s lake home.  Dang.  Hot water, flush toilets, sandy beach, pontoon boat.   Now if only I could have done both…

We missed you cyli.  6, 7, 8, lb. pike on the fly and plenty of them.  We missed you all.  Make this clave the next time it comes up! Joel Axelrad **DFD**

Response:

Reports?

I’ll post one later or more likely tomorrow. Pictures?

My slides and CD come back on Thursday, I’ll post to ABPF then. Willi

Fix underscore in address to reply

Response:

Did you catch any fish? No, but I saw a nice imported striped bass.  It’s been so cold that I think they’re just getting ready to spawn up there in NW Wisconsin. There were no fish in evidence on Saturday, Sunday there were some rises out in the center of the lake and Monday we suddenly saw the same amount of fish I’d seen there on my trip last summer.   All the rivers were running high and lovely.  Each time I took a bridge over the Namekagon I was wishing for a raft and a bunch of time to go down it again.

had a clavemistress. I did do some casting practice from the dock, but only with a spinning rod, as the kids were in the water and up on the dock and on the beach (only two of them, but two kids and water makes a herd) and I was darned if I’d do anything with a back cast involved.

Get a bunch of ROFFians up there for a long weekend and you will get enough free casting instruction to have you threading a weighted woolly bugger effortlessly and successfully through an entire tribe of high speed young’ns…..well, MOSTLY successfully.     Wolfgang who ain’t never fished that neighborhood.

Response:

rbc:  vixen wrote… I wanted to, but wound up at my boss’s lake home.  Dang.  Hot water, flush toilets, sandy beach, pontoon boat.   Now if only I could have done both… We missed you cyli.  6, 7, 8, lb. pike on the fly and plenty of them.  We missed you all.  Make this clave the next time it comes up!

Reports? Pictures? Willi

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Those that wanted to should have. You all missed a great one. Suckers! I’ll let Kevin give the details.  I had to get my digs in after driving more than 3,000 miles in the last two weeks just for a little fly fishing. Joel Axelrad **DFD** I wanted to, but wound up at my boss’s lake home.  Dang.  Hot water, flush toilets, sandy beach, pontoon boat.   Now if only I could have done both… Did you catch any fish? Wolfgang

No, but I saw a nice imported striped bass.  It’s been so cold that I think they’re just getting ready to spawn up there in NW Wisconsin. There were no fish in evidence on Saturday, Sunday there were some rises out in the center of the lake and Monday we suddenly saw the same amount of fish I’d seen there on my trip last summer.   All the rivers were running high and lovely.  Each time I took a bridge over the Namekagon I was wishing for a raft and a bunch of time to go down it again.   I did do some casting practice from the dock, but only with a spinning rod, as the kids were in the water and up on the dock and on the beach (only two of them, but two kids and water makes a herd) and I was darned if I’d do anything with a back cast involved. — rbc:  vixen    Fairly harmless remove invalid or hit reply to email. Though I’m very slow to respond. http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

Those that wanted to should have. You all missed a great one. Suckers! I’ll let Kevin give the details.  I had to get my digs in after driving more than 3,000 miles in the last two weeks just for a little fly fishing. Joel Axelrad **DFD**

Response:

Those that wanted to should have. You all missed a great one. Suckers! I’ll let Kevin give the details.  I had to get my digs in after driving more than 3,000 miles in the last two weeks just for a little fly fishing. Joel Axelrad **DFD**

I wanted to, but wound up at my boss’s lake home.  Dang.  Hot water, flush toilets, sandy beach, pontoon boat.   Now if only I could have done both… — rbc:  vixen    Fairly harmless remove invalid or hit reply to email. Though I’m very slow to respond. http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

Question:

Where are the Delaware River Shad? I have yet to get a report of any shad being caught. If you hear of any catches please report to my shad website at www.homestead.com/woofish/shad.html. Thanks.

Response:

Hi Peter.  Please refrain from making your shad posts to the Rec.outdoors.fishing.bass newsgroup.  It’s not considered "on-topic" to post about other kinds of fish on the bass group.  Much appreciated, and tight lines to ya! Regards, Warren Wolk (emailed to Mr Groves on 2/12)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Where are the Delaware River Shad? I have yet to get a report of any shad being caught. If you hear of any catches please report to my shad website at www.homestead.com/woofish/shad.html. Thanks.

Response:

Is that you Bob? — Craig Baugher www.yessssports.com

Response:

Nope, but someone’s gotta do it  Mr Groves has courteously replied to my email, and has apologized for the off-topic posts. WW

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is that you Bob? — Craig Baugher www.yessssports.com

Response:

Whats funny, is I love shad fishing.  Go for Bass in the morning and evening and shad during the day.  same area. Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nope, but someone’s gotta do it  Mr Groves has courteously replied to my email, and has apologized for the off-topic posts. WW Is that you Bob? — Craig Baugher www.yessssports.com

Response:

I wonder if we’re talking about the same type of shad Bill?  The American Shad? Warren2

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Whats funny, is I love shad fishing.  Go for Bass in the morning and evening and shad during the day.  same area. Bill Nope, but someone’s gotta do it  Mr Groves has courteously replied to my email, and has apologized for the off-topic posts. WW Is that you Bob? — Craig Baugher www.yessssports.com

Response:

Yes we are.  Big run of American shad up the Sacramento and Feather Rivers as well as the American River in Sacramento.  They were transplanted in the the early 1900’s along with Striped Bass.  Is a fun day when you catch 30-50 2-5# shad on an 8 weight fly rod.  Do not even have to cast the fly as I fish from a boat at Verona, the confluence of the Sac and the Feather.  Just feed out a 30′ shooting head and Amnesia line to the backing.  As to bassing, lots of bass in both rivers, both large and smallies.  The Feather is fed by the drop-shotting king lake, Oroville and the Sacramento is fed by Lake Shasta.  Went by Shasta last Friday and Sunday.  Sunday was raining and had snowed earlier in the day as was some pushed up in the middle of the road.  Was some people out fishing the lake by Bridge Bay Resort.  Wanted to stop and fish, but since the purpose of the trip was dropping the boat off in Medford, OR for a paint job and new T-8 kicker and bracket plus a mounting plate for the new MK 65 – AP I was returning with no boat.  Figure I will fish the lake mid April when I can go reclaim the boat.  Will be done earlier, but doing a trip to Cary, N.C. for a wedding and see friends in Martinsville, VA the 6 of April.  So not boating till mid April at a minimum. Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wonder if we’re talking about the same type of shad Bill?  The American Shad? Warren2 Whats funny, is I love shad fishing.  Go for Bass in the morning and evening and shad during the day.  same area. Bill Nope, but someone’s gotta do it  Mr Groves has courteously replied to my email, and has apologized for the off-topic posts. WW Is that you Bob? — Craig Baugher www.yessssports.com

Response:

But, if you are a bait fisherman, you would be able to find Bass easier if you knew where the shad were. — Mike..   A true fisherman approaches the first day of fishing much as a child approaches Christmas, with the eager   anticipation, sleepless nights, making of lists, and the anticipating of pleasure.

Response:

Different shad.  Here in California the shad the bass eat are Threadfin Shad.  maybe 3" long.  And all the predators munch them.  The American Shad is the largest member of the Herring family and come to the river from salt to spawn.  The males are about 2# while the ladies are up to 5#. Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – But, if you are a bait fisherman, you would be able to find Bass easier if you knew where the shad were. — Mike.. A true fisherman approaches the first day of fishing much as a child approaches Christmas, with the eager anticipation, sleepless nights, making of lists, and the anticipating of pleasure.

Response:

Question:

Lawrence, Just as long as you don’t wee on anyone.  :-) Ernie "lawrence" wrote Hi I hope you don’t mind sometimes I like to have a wee prattle! <snip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Regards Lawrence

Response:

Come out to Oregon and we’ll go for summer steelies on the Deschutes. Remember, you don’t have to tie your line to your reel! Then we’ll send you out bonefishing with Randall Kaufmann… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  you could possible do without tying your line to your real as that end of the line rarely sees daylight.

Response:

My fly reel holds about 250 metres/yards of line and backing and when 200 yards gets stripped by a fish hooked on a size 14 treble I start running Of course (Ernie from previous reply) others have been known to wee themselves Lawrence — http://www.f-deans.freeserve.co.uk http://www.flytyer.co.uk off my Lily Pad by writing: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Come out to Oregon and we’ll go for summer steelies on the Deschutes. Remember, you don’t have to tie your line to your reel! Then we’ll send you out bonefishing with Randall Kaufmann…  you could possible do without tying your line to your real as that end of the line rarely sees daylight.

Response:

My post was pretty snide. Wasn’t personal! At least when a fish that big strips your spool, you know it’s moving in the opposite direction!

Response:

Hi I hope you don’t mind sometimes I like to have a wee prattle! When I were a lad I remember fishing one day with a stick a cord and a piece of pin for a hook. I had at least three or four knots in the cord when this old codger said to me.  "Son you’ll never catch a fish with that it’s got too many knots in it" Whats knots got to do with it I replied. He said with a smile  "If you hook a fish, every knot between you and the fish is a weak spot. You have at least three or four weak spots, you can guarantee that it will be easier for the bigger fish to break one of these weak spots" "If you can son aim for one knot between you and the fish" I said which one would that be then? "The one that ties on the hook" he grinned and off he went. His legacy left to me all those years ago is with me to this day. Do not have more weak links between you and the fish than you need. I guess it’s impossible to fish with only one knot, between you and the fish, but you can minimise the effect. My fishing setup has a knot joining my line to my reel and a knot joining my line to my hook these two are a necessity. Well almost you could possible do without tying your line to your real as that end of the line rarely sees daylight. In between that (the weak spots) I have a permanently whipped loop on the end of my fly line. This joins to the leader with another loop and that is it! The only other weak spot I have is that I like to prattle every now and then Regards Lawrence — http://www.f-deans.freeserve.co.uk http://www.flytyer.co.uk

Response:

Question:

Looking for info for group trip of about 12-18 people for fishing in August & Sept.

Response:

You can’t do better than Mike Lawson’s at Henry’s Fork.  He and his guys can take you into Montana, Yellowstone and fish the better parts of easter ID. Wonderful guides, all of them.  Henry’s Fork Lodge can handle your group in very nice style.  The best fishing I’ve done in years. SAB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Looking for info for group trip of about 12-18 people for fishing in August & Sept.

Response:

Hi: I second the recomendation to Mike Lawson’s shop.  I took a trip with Mike Smith, Smitty, this summer and had a great time.  However, the shop is more expensive than any of the others in the area, so be aware.  The shop has a web site, I don’s know the url but know it is listed at www.davisbrown.com/fflnk.html Chris Brown

Response:

Question:

…cruising down a cool canyon-bottom, lots of trees and bushes…really hot out…glad I’m in the shade…  I keep riding.  I pass a large white rock on my left…AAAGGGHHH!!  That’s no rock!  It’s a 1/4-ton COW!!!  I surprised the cow and woke it up, and it scared the s#!+ outa me by transforming from a white boulder into a 1/4-ton walking hamburger!!! Bye Cow!  Gotta go!!! Tom Kenney http://www.bearcomp.com/bearcom/tom.html

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Surprise #1: The 700m descent through the woods is bulldozed! Seriously. (This is *not* the same bulldozed trail I wrote about in another post. ACK!) Surprise #2: Back on the singletrack… that old hairpin "turn & drop"… and right around the corner, into the drop, a 10" diametre tree at chest level. I reached out and grabbed the tree with both hands and sort of went under in limbo fashion. My bike flipped up and stayed attached to my feet (powerstraps). It was Really Hard to get untwisted. Surprise #3: Untwisted and back in the saddle… hey… what are those hikers doing walking through the underbrush? Around the corner, and NO BRIDGE! Where’d the damn bridge go? Sure it was old and falling apart, with big holes in it, but it still worked. (The hikers are looking for a way to cross.) (Not Such A) Surprise #4: The water is Real Cold. (No way I was turning back.)

SURPRISE #4:  Going down my favorite singletrack downhill at night.  Hey, what’s that big black thing doing in the middle of the trail.  Hey, thats a bear.  Let’s get outta here.  Shit, its coming after us. SURPRISE #5:  This is especially common for those who live in the Northeast during the fall.  Ever hear of the diamond tailed Micranthena.  It a spider with a real funny looking tail on it almost diamond shaped.  Well, i’m cruising down my favorite trail (again at night) and WHOA! A BOA! Not quite, but close.  You fly through a real big spider web and the spider is crawling up your face. SURPRISE #6:  Moths at night.  You are again flying down your favorite trail and OOOPPS!!! COOUUUGGGHHHH.  CHOKE.    Yep.  You just ate a meal high in protein and carbohydrates. SURPRISE #7:  Whats that reflector up ahead?  DAMN’ THATS NO REFLECTOR, THEM ARE WOLVES!  Move on out! SURPRISE #8:  Skunks.  Need i say more. SURPRISE #9:  Damn kids.  Why the hell did they have to put a fishing line snare across the trail. SURPRISE #10: Hunters.  "No, really.  I am not a deer." SURPRISE #11: Red Neck Hunters.  "No, really.  I am not a grouse." SURPRISE #12: Red Neck Rapists  "No, i may have long hair, but i’m no girl." SURPRISE #13: dAMN, i thought my battery lasted longer than this. sucks! dan

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Were you ever riding a favourite trail, one you know *really* well, and get a nice surprise? Like the other day, I crossed over a highway to hit a nice descent down to a river… Surprise #1: The 700m descent through the woods is bulldozed! Seriously. (This is *not* the same bulldozed trail I wrote about in another post. ACK!)

        I had this happen to me to, on a piece of trail on University property. It used to be a "lint" (that’s right, linet), covered trail, but now it is just rubbish, they bulldozed it, and then chopped th e trees.  I guess too many people were having fun there.

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Were you ever riding a favourite trail, one you know *really* well, and get a nice surprise? Like the other day, I crossed over a highway to hit a nice descent down to a river… Surprise #1: The 700m descent through the woods is bulldozed! Seriously. (This is *not* the same bulldozed trail I wrote about in another post. ACK!) Surprise #2: Back on the singletrack… that old hairpin "turn & drop"… and right around the corner, into the drop, a 10" diametre tree at chest level. I reached out and grabbed the tree with both hands and sort of went under in limbo fashion. My bike flipped up and stayed attached to my feet (powerstraps). It was Really Hard to get untwisted. Surprise #3: Untwisted and back in the saddle… hey… what are those hikers doing walking through the underbrush? Around the corner, and NO BRIDGE! Where’d the damn bridge go? Sure it was old and falling apart, with big holes in it, but it still worked. (The hikers are looking for a way to cross.) (Not Such A) Surprise #4: The water is Real Cold. (No way I was turning back.) DANIEL CLEMENTS (Barrie, Ontario CANADA)

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Question:

With the current thread on the exploding float tube (Float Tube Safety – Near Drowning) I was thinking about the recent thread about the guy who drowned. It appeared that he was stuck in an upside-down float tube. A few have said that they would try to flip their tubes and see if they can get out. Has anybody tried this yet? Jon Porter

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With the current thread on the exploding float tube (Float Tube Safety – Near Drowning) I was thinking about the recent thread about the guy who drowned. It appeared that he was stuck in an upside-down float tube. A few have said that they would try to flip their tubes and see if they can get out. Has anybody tried this yet? Jon Porter

Hi Jon, Several years ago I accidently flipped my tube.  Thank god I had two friends right next to me and we were only about six feet from the bank.   I don’t think I could have gotten out of the tube by myself.  I promptly bought a pontoon boat with a rowing system (Water Otter) and have never been in a float tube since. After getting the Water Otter I purposely turned it over a couple of times to see how difficult it would be to get out of it (again with friends present to help).  I was able to free myself rather quickly on both occasions.  I’ve never had an unscheduled roll over as it seems to be quite stable.  I suppose a roll over is possible if I was not paying attention and ran one of the pontoon up on a rock in faster water. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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Question:

I am looking for some good spots for Saltwater-flyfishing in the vicinity of Boston (MA). Any suggestions for good spots, how to get and fish there are welcome. Thank,   Thomas

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: I am looking for some good spots for Saltwater-flyfishing in the : vicinity of Boston (MA). Any suggestions for good spots, how to get and : fish there are welcome. : Thank,   Thomas In Ma, I am told that the Joppa flats in Newburyport at low tide and Cranes beach in Ipswitch at all tides produce well. However, So. ME is close and there are many spots. I am partial to the beach in front of my house at Ferry Beach in Saco. The nice thing this summer was that the angler could see fish sign-either birds working or fish breaking. June was the best month. Come up next summer. I will give you directions.  y t, m

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Question:

I have done only a little flyfishing.  I just bought a cheapo Berkley flyfishing kit with a 7 1/2 foot rod which came with #6 double taper line.  When I use it, the line slams into the water like a log.  I remember when I was younger, I tried out my Dad’s flyrod which was made of bamboo and used level line.  I could make it lay down on the water real nice.   What is my biggest problem, the rod or the line.  If I switch to a better or different line will that help.  I normally fish on small waters like the Owens River above Bishop, CA. Mark Rubin — This is a test of the signature file.  Had this been a real sigature file, it would contain cute graphics and a catchy phrase.  This is only a test…

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I have done only a little flyfishing.  I just bought a cheapo Berkley flyfishing kit with a 7 1/2 foot rod which came with #6 double taper line.  When I use it, the line slams into the water like a log.

Hi Mark-     You might try casting the line toward the tree line rather than the horizon or worse yet, the water. When the line straightens out, follow the line with your rod tip as the line settles to the water. This should soften the landing. Also you might try some roll casts that direct the fly into the air rather than attempting to nail it to the water ar trying for max distance.   Despite what the pictures in the magazines show, casting is not nearly as important your ability to mend and control line once it’s on the water.Try not casting at all! Spend some time simply drifting your fly downstream and steer it into fishy spots by practicing your mends. You will quickly find that a longer rod is easier to mend with because it keeps you farther from the fish and it picks up more line from the water.    Good luck and soft landings-Ralph

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Also, as a new fly fisherperson, I’ve found that the cast comes off better when it is done "almost willfully slowly." And it is even better yet when I’m not thinking about it. My suggestion would be to slow down a lot and see what happens. Also start with shorter casts and work up. My limited experience has shown that most fishing on streams is done in the 15 to 30 foot range . . . sometimes closer. My friend "Doc" keeps telling me "less line" and it is beginning to sink in. Really the best deal would be to spend even 15 minutes with a competent flyfisher . . . who can tell you what is going wrong. Your casting can improve a million percent in even that short amount of time. Bob Vorel

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First of all if you havent ever been to VanCampens I strongly suggest that you check it out because the Trout there are BIG and beutiful…..(Browns,Rainbows,Brook…..and its in the Del. Water.Gap) Anway I was wondering….I am a novice Fly-Fisherman and I want to know what Flies I should be using between hatches on this and other coldwater streams….and what will attract them even when they are not really that hungry….. Any Info you can give me on Flies that usually hatch up there or Flies that work would be greatly appreciated….. Thanks Matt,

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   I have done only a little flyfishing.  I just bought a cheapo Berkley   flyfishing kit with a 7 1/2 foot rod which came with #6 double taper line.    When I use it, the line slams into the water like a log.  Hi Mark- <snip      Despite what the pictures in the magazines show, casting is not nearly  as important your ability to mend and control line once it’s on the  water.Try not casting at all! Spend some time simply drifting your fly  downstream and steer it into fishy spots by practicing your mends.     Good luck and soft landings-Ralph

Good advice indeed, although if I may add a small contribution … Being more a lake angler that the faster water, the Lake Trout of NZ would be long gone, unless they were deep water dwellers, with a noisy line entry such as Mark is describing. I have spent many many hours perfecting my casting (as well as retrieving .. <grin) whilst not actually having been anywhere near the water. I found it invaluable to practice on my own (without annoying fellow anglers, or scaring the fish) in the back yard or local park and to learn to *air* cast ( rather than rip) blind in order to become not only accurate, but to lay out a effecient, long and delicate roll when stalking the elusive NZ Rainbow. Casting practice is also invaluable when sandwiched on both sides by equally feverish anglers, or faced with an annoying and pesky breeze blowing over your right shoulder. Not for the faint hearted, nor inexperienced .. <grin Regards .. Tim.D Wellington, New Zealand.

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Too muchfalse casting is a detrriment to accurcacy. I roll the line foward,pick it up and cast it out with one or at the most two false casts. I slight lifting motion to get the line off the water helps too. Practice or get Joan Wulff’s video or both will help. Call my radio show any Sat. morning from 6-7am eastern time toll free at 1-800-298-8255 and tell us how you are doing. Tight lines, The Fishin’ Zone Steve Sloan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Also, as a new fly fisherperson, I’ve found that the cast comes off better  when it is done "almost willfully slowly." And it is even better yet when  I’m not thinking about it. My suggestion would be to slow down a lot and  see what happens. Also start with shorter casts and work up. My limited  experience has shown that most fishing on streams is done in the 15 to 30  foot range . . . sometimes closer. My friend "Doc" keeps telling me "less  line" and it is beginning to sink in. Really the best deal would be to spend even 15 minutes with a competent  flyfisher . . . who can tell you what is going wrong. Your casting can  improve a million percent in even that short amount of time. Bob Vorel

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Question:

Has anyone been able to find fishable water within 2 hours of Denver? I tried several streams in RMNP last weekend but they are all running high and fast. Cheeseman is at about 2000 CFS. The Big Thompson is currently running at about 300CFS below Lake Estes and although I haven’t seen the river at this volume it sounds fishable (?). Any tips would be GREATLY appreciated!

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Has anyone been able to find fishable water within 2 hours of Denver? I tried several streams in RMNP last weekend but they are all running high and fast. Cheeseman is at about 2000 CFS. The Big Thompson is currently running at about 300CFS below Lake Estes and although I haven’t seen the river at this volume it sounds fishable (?). Any tips would be GREATLY appreciated!

Hiya Justin! I have been experiencing the same problems with blown out streams in Colorado until very recently. Upon realizing that any stream attempt was going to be a disaster, I begrudgingly decided to try my hand at some small lakes. Traditionally, I am the worlds WORST lake fisherman with a fly. I usually cannot catch ANYTHING, but I figured that this option was better than drowning in a swollen river. On a whim, I decided to try fishing the lake at the bottom of St. Mary’s Glacier on Saturday. The fishing was SO much fun that I took Monday off from work to do it again. That lake literally boils with rising brookies. Most of the fish are small (5-8 inches), but they aren’t very picky and it is one of the most beautiful spots around. Fishing there was a great confidence booster for me and while the fish weren’t big, they did end the frustration I have been having with my recent river trips. If you haven’t been there before, just take I-70 slightly past Idaho Springs to Fall River Road (Exit 238). Take fall river road up for quite a ways (You will go over spots of unpaved road) and eventually there is a small parking area on the right and wide rubble trail on the left. Hike up the trail on the left about 3/4 mile. Tie on just about anything and have fun. I caught a bunch on a #18 Blue Wing Olive, but I even took a few on a #12 Adams. Be prepared for funky weather. I got snowed on on Saturday and rained on on Moday. Tight Lines, Chad McArthur

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Has anyone been able to find fishable water within 2 hours of Denver? I tried several streams in RMNP last weekend but they are all running high and fast. Cheeseman is at about 2000 CFS. The Big Thompson is currently running at about 300CFS below Lake Estes and although I haven’t seen the river at this volume it sounds fishable (?). Any tips would be GREATLY appreciated!

Decided to combat near terminal cabin fever and trucked up to S. but sure no crowds.  Caught three in three hours, including the nicest brown on that stretch in two years -18-19".  Wasn’t a lot of fun, tho, with insane tangles trying to cast three 3/0 split shots over top of willows behind.  Can’t wade out more than 3-4′, but fish are to be found close in if you can find some fairly slow water.  Took them all on big bright red worm.  Think Dick at Flies and Lies in Decker called it a "traditional ol’ English-tied worm".  You gotta be near spiritual about this sport to find these conditions a kick!!

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The rivers have been less then ideal.  For myself, I have turned to one of my second favorite activities.  Fly fishing for Bluegill.  Here in the Grand Junction area we have a couple of places that are producing ‘gills to 9 inches plus.  On a four wt. they are a blast.  My E-Mail is I don’t mind company, I just value good fish too much to want to see the meat hunters showing up.

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I’ll be coming out that way in August to visit my brother at CU.  I’ve been to S. Platte and Buffalo (man that place was really crowded), and Cloudland Canyon last spring but am really looking for something a little less crowded (and less touristy).  Need help in Atlanta, Jeff

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Jeff, Since you will be in Boulder you could try the Cache La Poudre. It’s west of Ft. Collins. It has some prime water sites. Other places include the Frying Pan river near Basalt, CO and the Colorado river near

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