Question:

Sure, Mike would definately have a good opinion. What he posts is interesting and would surely get people thinking. L. Reznam

Response:

We do not know yet what impact the mud snail will have on the "trout of the Shining Mountains," the native cutthroat trout. What we do know is that they will have an impact, and that impact will be bad. No ecosystem can endure such a mass shift in biomass without serious impact. The Great Lakes provide examples. When the Welland Canal was constructed, it allowed access from the Atlantic Ocean, through the St. Lawrence River, to the Great Lakes for such newcomers as the sea lamprey and the alewife. The sea lampreys devastated the lakes’ native lake trout, and the alewife populations multiplied until their die-offs littered the shorelines. Federal control programs introduced the Pacific salmon and steel- head as apex predators to control the burgeoning alewife populations; other federal programs killed the lampreys in their river breeding grounds. The Great Lakes sportfishing bonanza ensued. Most young fisherman are totally unaware of these historic changes in our vast North American aquatic ecosystems. Many are aware that a new intruder-the zebra mussel-is now causing a massive biomass shift in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, but few under- stand the implications for sportfish and sportfishing. Unfortunately, it will be decades before the scientific research is complete and the ecological changes to the lake fisheries are fully explained. The Pandora’s box of ecosystem invasions has been opened by world travel and commerce. The list of its dev- astations is long, but the Rogues Gallery of fishing invaders should become familiar to all fishermen, for in many cases fishermen have been the travel brokers for these agents of change, for good or bad. Bait pail biologists have intentionally and unintentionally introduced baitfish species to normative takes across the U.S., and some highly publicized sport fishery devastations have followed. Walleye enthusiasts have intentionally (and secretly) introduced walleyes to lakes and rivers where they have never existed before. The results have been devastating to some native and nonnative fish species. Northern pike have been secretly introduced to normative waters with similar results. And even brook, brown, and rainbow trout have been introduced to normative waters across the U.S., Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and South America, changing native fisheries wherever they were introduced. Fly fishers applaud these "successes," but they seldom see the other side of this coin. The rapid decline of the Yellowstone and greenback cutthroat species followed these introductions of normative trout into the Rockies. When I read the Lehmberg/Wiltshire piece, I had a frightening thought. The snail is easily carried to new waters on our wading shoes or boats: What if the New Zealand mud snail arrived in the Yellowstone-area waters in the felts of a world-traveling fly fisher? Serious food for thought. The Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) has taken the lead in attempting to educate us that "invasives pose a great threat to angling opportunities." They have formed special task groups to shed light on the threats to our fisheries and to help in focusing our fisheries conservation efforts. We can assist the FFF by joining the organization and by taking the preventive measures (such as dipping our waders in hot water after use) that they recommend. We must join in efforts to help prevent the spread of the mud snail beyond its current limited geographic distribution. The Coldwater fisheries of the entire nation may be vulnerable to this new menace. For information on how to join the FFF, go to its website www.fedflyfishers.org. This is a conservation organization that deserves our full support. Tiny New Zealand mud snails, which range in size from a grain of sand to 1/8 inch long, were first found in 1987 in Idaho’s Snake River. They have since spread rapidly through the Yellowstone ecosystem. In Montana they are in the upper Yellowstone River and in the Madison River below Hebgen Lake, below Quake Lake, and in Darlington Spring Creek on the Lower Madison. In Idaho, they are in the Henry’s Fork, most of the waters in central Idaho that flow into the Snake River, and the Snake through Hell’s Canyon and downstream to the Columbia. They are also in Lake Ontario. Researchers are finding the snails in many areas. One reason that we don’t have more reports is that few researchers are currently looking for them. Although there are native snails in most of our waters, tiny New Zealand mud snails, which prefer the margins of slow water, are a problem because they can reach concentrations of up to 300,000 per square yard. At this level, they can have a serious impact and displace native species. Since the snails eat the same detritus that midges and other insects eat, a large concentration of New Zealand mud snails can result in fewer midges, mayflies, caddisflies, and possibly stoneflies. The mud snail is just the latest in a growing list of invasive species that threaten our native species, including trout. Consider the pyramid of numbers in a the food chain. At the bottom, the pyramid is broad. This is where we find the basis of M in a stream: the producers, the green algae that combine carbon dioxide and water to make plant tissue. The next step up the pyramid represents all of the creatures that eat those producers. They are called the primary consumers. Moving up the pyramid, we find the secondary consumers, and at the top are the predators. In a trout stream, many of the insect forms live their lives in the water as primary or secondary consumers. Small fish might be the secondary consumers. Large trout are the predators at the top of the pyramid. Notice that the pyramid narrows quickly at the top. This means it takes many pounds of algae to feed fewer pounds of insects to support one pound of trout. Now consider a stream in which New Zealand mud snails have gained supremacy as a primary consumer.The little snails are ravenous for algae, and they rasp it up from every surface on which it grows. This means the algae is not there for the insects, so eventually there are fewer insects avail- able for the trout and fewer pounds of trout produced per mile of stream. Although trout eat a lot of native snails, they don’t eat New Zealand mud snails. For some reason, our trout don’t digest the tiny mud snails as readily as they do our bigger native aquatic snails. Preliminary research indicates that mud snails can pass through a trout’s digestive system not only undigested, but also alive. Mud snails have a strong operculum, a sort of door across the opening of their shell that they can close when stressed or attacked. This operculum may keep out the trout’s digestive juices. When the snails enter a harsh environment, they retreat into their shell and batten down the hatches" In laboratory experiments, biologists have exposed the snails to 3,000 milligrams/liter of chlorine (which is equivalent to about one cup of bleach in one gallon of water) for 30,60, and 90 seconds, and some of the snails survived. Similar results occurred when the snails were exposed to copper sulfate. No one knows for sure how the snails are spread. If birds or other wildlife are vectors, little can be done to halt the spread. The snails live out of water for at least 25 days as long as they stay damp. This means that they can be spread in many ways. If they remain dry for a few days, they will die. Anglers moving from one fishing spot to another spread the snails by carrying them from stream to stream on damp waders or in felt wading boots. As soon as the snail reaches a new stream of the correct temperature, it starts reproducing because the snails can be parthenogenetic, meaning they don’t need to mate before giving birth. A single snail is all it takes to establish a population. Controlling the Spread TAKE PRECAUTIONS to avoid transferring snails and other pests by cleaning your boat, trailer, and waders before you travel to another stream or take. This limits (but will not prevent) the spread of many introduced species, such as hydrilla, whirling disease carriers, and the mud snail. A simple hot-water bath will kill any snails trying to catch a ride on your boots or waders. Researchers say that 113-degree (F.) water kills them if they are exposed for 60 seconds. In 120- degree water, it only takes 30 seconds to kill them. Water from many hot-water heaters can reach these temperatures, so boiling your boots is not necessary if you use really hot tap water to clean your gear. You can also dry your gear for several days before using it again. Damp gear can keep snails alive for weeks. ‘Young snails in particular are so small they are almost invisible," says Dr. Billie Kerans of the Montana State University biology department. "If you fish waters that hold the snail, you must assume some are attached to you" She adds that researchers use several pairs of waders, alternating them in different waters, and suggests that anglers consider the same precaution. Dr. Kerans is leading a research effort looking at the snail’s impact on the ecosystem. This is a difficult study to undertake and it will be several years before we have any definitive data. However, according to Dr. Kerans, there is little doubt that there will be impacts. For example, in Grand Teton National Park, a population of large native snails in Pole Cat Creek is threatened by mud snails that now outnumber the natives 2,000 to 1. One of the most interesting mud snail sites is Darlington Spring Creek in Montana. This creek runs next to the lower Madison at the CobblestoneFishing Access, and anglers who want to fish the river must cross the creek to get there. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks has closed the access site to the public to prevent spread of the snail. The department is doing an environmental assessments to examine possible solutions to the mud snail invasion. One solution is to build a bridge across the creek and make the creek off … read more »

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Question:

Anyone who know about a really good book about Clasic Salmonflies? Ole A Andreassen http://www.flyfishing-illustrated.com

Response:

If you really want the classic book Try Geoge M. Kelson "The salmon fly" Dr T.E. Pryce, Tannatt "How to dress salmon flies Francis Francis "Book on angling" J.H. Hale "how to tie salmon flies William Blacker "The art of fly making" If you want more recent books on classic fly try Radencich Mikael Frodin Joseph Bates Ken Sawada Judith Dunham Paul Schmookler Poul Jorgensen Hope this help! Robert Mayrand – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Organization: Nextra Public Access Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly Anyone who know about a really good book about Clasic Salmonflies? Ole A Andreassen http://www.flyfishing-illustrated.com

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Question:

I’ve got to tell ya, the dogs haven’t been real happy with me and my broken foot. No more rousing games of soccer, it takes me forever to even get up or down the stairs or across the room. We’re playing other games, but I’ve got to be careful for quite a while yet. Walking aross the yard is a trick; lumpy ground is really hard to deal with. And I was the one who played with the dogs the most. Sigh. So the other day, I’m upstairs and I hear the door open (must be husband coming in) and then I hear strange dog sounds. So I hobble downstairs and I see this strange tangle of dogs and a human on the floor sort of rolling around in a ball. They heard me and they suddenly all stopped and looked at me, my husband looking the most sheepish of all. Silly hub’n puppies!

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nice to know he can step in A fun doggy game for sitting humans is the cat intended fishing pole game  a stick a string (preferably strong ones with a sproingy stick) and a soft toy to fly around ahead of the galloping herd can be lots of fun the dog that catches it has to fetch and give so the game can continue Nancy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got to tell ya, the dogs haven’t been real happy with me and my broken foot. No more rousing games of soccer, it takes me forever to even get up or down the stairs or across the room. We’re playing other games, but I’ve got to be careful for quite a while yet. Walking aross the yard is a trick; lumpy ground is really hard to deal with. And I was the one who played with the dogs the most. Sigh. So the other day, I’m upstairs and I hear the door open (must be husband coming in) and then I hear strange dog sounds. So I hobble downstairs and I see this strange tangle of dogs and a human on the floor sort of rolling around in a ball. They heard me and they suddenly all stopped and looked at me, my husband looking the most sheepish of all. Silly hub’n puppies!

Response:

nice to know he can step in A fun doggy game for sitting humans is the cat intended fishing pole game a stick a string (preferably strong ones with a sproingy stick) and a soft toy to fly around ahead of the galloping herd can be lots of fun the dog that catches it has to fetch and give so the game can continue Nancy

I think it’s harder on me than on the dogs. WAAAAAAAAAA! I wanna go out and play doggie soccer! <snivel donna

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Question:

I will be going to a family reunion in Northern Wisconsin next summer and I would like to do a little flyfishing while I’m there.  I’m new to flyfishing and have only fished in Colorado.  I will be North of Green Bay on the Oconto River.  Does anybody know what type of fly is good in June/July time frame?  I will be taking my tying equipment but would like to know so I can tie up some flies before I drive to grandma’s house. I’m also interested in fishing for walleye and pike or anything else that swims!!!!!  Any advice would be welcomed.  You can either post Thanks, Rik Meyers Colorado Springs, CO

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I will be going to a family reunion in Northern Wisconsin next summer and I would like to do a little flyfishing while I’m there.

The two web sites I find most accurate and useful for WI trout: http://home.dwave.net/~patrick/ http://www.vbe.com/~heusers/ff_wi/streams/whereto.htm Hope this helps. — Ken Fortenberry

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Question:

What is up with all this talk about being nice as you kill a trout and the hate wars between the Catch and Release and Catch and Kill camp?  For God sake go fly fishing, have a hell of a good time and quit thinking so damn much!! <grin  If you want to let the fish go, then do so.  If you are hungry, have it for dinner.  Crap, The FFF is on its way to becoming its own political part at this rate.  Some of you can phillibuster with the best of them.   Wake me when the topic entails the joy of fly fishing. Flamefully yours. Mike

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Wake me when the topic entails the joy of fly fishing.

Here Here ! I’ve got $250 bucks to blow on a new fly rod. Should I get a Sage or a Loomis ? Thanks in advance ! Release a Brookie for Bob ! (J.R. "Bob" Dobbs)

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Wake me when the topic entails the joy of fly fishing. Here Here ! I’ve got $250 bucks to blow on a new fly rod. Should I get a Sage or a Loomis ? Thanks in advance !

I’ve always pictured you with an Orvis, pink neoprenes and mirrored sun glasses. Ralph H Electro-Pal(TM) Electro-Pal is the Property of Cook-Walker Robotics which takes full legal responsibility for any slanderous or libelous writing the system may generate. To have your lawyer contact their lawyer email:

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[deleted] I’ve always pictured you with an Orvis, pink neoprenes and mirrored sun glasses.

oooooh…..you thavage you !!!. — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "Guilt replaced the creel…"

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Wake me when the topic entails the joy of fly fishing. Here Here !

Whatdahell?!?! No "fuck off, Mike" this time? What’s next?!? World peace? I want the real Moe Skeeter back, damnit!!  ;/ — Christian Figenschou – http://home.sol.no/figen/

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yep!

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Charlie Choc: <<I think they wear GoreTex Spandex waders and felt soled ballet shoes up there Aspen way. Yes.  And when they drive their Orvis Jeeps, they have Orvis driving gloves, and Orvis driving shoes, and Orvis driving hats.  And they smoke  Orvis cigars. Dave L.

____ David!  Be nice.  On second thought, do you suppose someone will come out with a Presidential Cigar? How about a Presidential Harmonica? I imagine sales would depend upon if a fly fisherman would rather suck or blow? Out of my league.  We don’t sell cigars. We rather prefer customers that like to squeeze things. ))) A little levity here fellahs.   )))))))))))) oh my god. Mr. G. Side note to Monica.  Honey, I hope they impeach the immoral, aldulterous, unethicial, dishonorable, quibbling, lying, dope smoking, fornicating, wife cheating, bastard.  Makes everyone wonder what really goes on in that family, doesn’t it?  I should include the many unsaid things about a President that is married to an unfaithful wife also.  Dragging Hillary out of the Whitehouse will include repairing the prying finger mark impressions she will leave on the granite pillars. Trust me.  These are not nice people. None of them are. If Ross Perot was a fly fisherman, I’d probably vote for him. Sorry gang.  This nonsense doesn’t belong here. Back to Ironhead fishing for me. Sorry.  I just dislike Bill Clinton, a great deal.

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Wake me when the topic entails the joy of fly fishing. Here Here ! I’ve got $250 bucks to blow on a new fly rod. Should I get a Sage or a Loomis ? Thanks in advance ! I’ve always pictured you with an Orvis, pink neoprenes and mirrored sun glasses.

I think they wear GoreTex Spandex waders and felt soled ballet shoes up there Aspen way. — Charlie…

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Charlie Choc: <<I think they wear GoreTex Spandex waders and felt soled ballet shoes up there Aspen way. Yes.  And when they drive their Orvis Jeeps, they have Orvis driving gloves, and Orvis driving shoes, and Orvis driving hats.  And they smoke  Orvis cigars. Dave L.

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And they smoke  Orvis cigars. Dave L.

Good to see that there are still Americans who know that cigars are for smoking! By the way: do you guys know if "THE CIGAR" was an Orvis one????? Hans van der Stroom

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Well, if you are talking about perch, white bass, walleye and other well populated fish I agree.  But, . . . if you are talking bass or trout I can not agree with killing them.  The pressure is too great.. john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is up with all this talk about being nice as you kill a trout and the hate wars between the Catch and Release and Catch and Kill camp?  For God sake go fly fishing, have a hell of a good time and quit thinking so damn much!! <grin If you want to let the fish go, then do so.  If you are hungry, have it for dinner.  Crap, The FFF is on its way to becoming its own political part at this rate.  Some of you can phillibuster with the best of them. Wake me when the topic entails the joy of fly fishing. Flamefully yours. Mike

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And they smoke  Orvis cigars. Dave L. Good to see that there are still Americans who know that cigars are for smoking! By the way: do you guys know if "THE CIGAR" was an Orvis one????? Hans van der Stroom

… it was a Cuban cigar – I gave it to him (with a wink) when he was here in BC last year. Ralph H

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Question:

Howdy folks!!! What:           Free Presentation on Flyfishing the Arkansas River during the Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch Who:            Matt and Chris Brown of Browner’s Guide Service in Salida, Colorado. Where:          The Trout Unlimited/Wild Trout Chapter’s April                 meeting at the Best Western Landmark Inn,                         455 S. Colorado Blvd. (Colorado Blvd.                         & North Cherry Creek Drive) When:           Wednesday, April 22nd at 6:30 pm Come here Matt and Chris tell us how, when and where to catch the big ones. Then hang around to swap stories and tips with other local anglers. at 832-4600.

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Greetings TU members from Wisconsin.  Just saying hi!  Our fishing opener starts tomorrow. Larry Seiler http://cwinc.net/larryseiler 1998 Wis Inland Trout Stamp Design Competition winner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Howdy folks!!! What:      Free Presentation on Flyfishing the Arkansas River during the Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch Who:       Matt and Chris Brown of Browner’s Guide Service in Salida, Colorado. Where:     The Trout Unlimited/Wild Trout Chapter’s April                    meeting at the Best Western Landmark Inn,                    455 S. Colorado Blvd. (Colorado Blvd.                    & North Cherry Creek Drive) When:              Wednesday, April 22nd at 6:30 pm Come here Matt and Chris tell us how, when and where to catch the big ones. Then hang around to swap stories and tips with other local anglers. Lopez at 832-4600.

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Question:

I got a used rod from my dad who picked it up at a house auction and want to change from spin casting to fly fishing this spring. The rod is a 3pc bamboo ~9′ and was made by Union Hardware Co, Torrington, Conn. I can’t find any markings on it that would indicate the correct weight line, but am assuming 6-7 weight. I usually fish in small spring creeks & from a canoe paddling small lakes casting towards shore. Can i get away with 1 line? I was thinking of a slow sinking tip line. Can i use this rod for the type of fishing i do or should i purchase a 4- 5wt rod?  mark

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If you are only buying one line, get a floater. You can always use a neutral or slow sink leader but you can’t make a sinking line float properly. I don’t know much about bamboo rods but would have thought you would be better off with a carbon 5wt, probably 8 – 9 feet in length. — Regards Peter Kay (Remove "nospam" to email)

:I got a used rod from my dad who picked it up at a house auction and :want to change from spin casting to fly fishing this spring. : :The rod is a 3pc bamboo ~9′ and was made by Union Hardware Co, :Torrington, Conn. I can’t find any markings on it that would indicate the :correct weight line, but am assuming 6-7 weight. : :I usually fish in small spring creeks & from a canoe paddling small :lakes casting towards shore. Can i get away with 1 line? I was thinking f a slow sinking tip line. : :Can i use this rod for the type of fishing i do or should i purchase a 4- :5wt rod? : : mark

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I got a used rod from my dad who picked it up at a house auction and want to change from spin casting to fly fishing this spring. The rod is a 3pc bamboo ~9′ and was made by Union Hardware Co, Torrington, Conn. I can’t find any markings on it that would indicate the correct weight line, but am assuming 6-7 weight. I usually fish in small spring creeks & from a canoe paddling small lakes casting towards shore. Can i get away with 1 line? I was thinking of a slow sinking tip line. Can i use this rod for the type of fishing i do or should i purchase a 4- 5wt rod?  mark

Mark,    First, since you indicated that you need line, anyway, take your rod in to a good fly fishing shop and ask what weight line would be appropriate.   (You might save a few bucks at a K-Mart, but you’re going to need some good advice, which you aren’t likely to find there, and nothing is tackier than buying goods from a discount store and then going to a fly shop for advice on how to use it.)   Also, you can find out how much the rod you have is worth; some older bamboo rods are too valuable for a beginner to be fishing with.    Second, no, if I had only one line, it wouldn’t be a sinking tip.    For a novice, a double tapered floating line is almost mandatory.   You can fish nymphs and such with a floating, but you can’t fish a dry fly with a sinking tip, and I can’t even imagine fly fishing without fishing drys (about 90% of the fun, to me).    Third, since you’re a novice, I’d try out the rod before decideing on whether or not the rod you have is perfectly suited for your type of fishing. You can always ‘fine tune’ later, and will appreciate new and better equipment even more.   (I can still remember my first graphite after years of bamboo and fiberglass…ahhhhhhh!) Good luck, Max http://www.inetarena.com/~mwi

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Mark, I would agree with Peter with the floating line, but I would really say that perhaps you are approaching this problem a little backwards.  First determine what type of fish you are fishing for and under what are the typical conditions then select the correct equipment.  What type of fish are you going to be fishing for?  Are you going to typically stick to the lake? What type of insects are available on the lake or stream?  Do you want to fish streamers, dries or wets?  I would say that once you can answer these types of questions, then the answer of the flyline becomes quite obvious. Hope that wasn’t a long roundabout answer to your question. Dana – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I got a used rod from my dad who picked it up at a house auction and want to change from spin casting to fly fishing this spring. The rod is a 3pc bamboo ~9′ and was made by Union Hardware Co, Torrington, Conn. I can’t find any markings on it that would indicate the correct weight line, but am assuming 6-7 weight. I usually fish in small spring creeks & from a canoe paddling small lakes casting towards shore. Can i get away with 1 line? I was thinking of a slow sinking tip line. Can i use this rod for the type of fishing i do or should i purchase a 4- 5wt rod? mark

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Question:

hello fellow brewers.  I noticed an article in the local paper that cuaght my interest…. Washington AP – Fellowships fund strange, unusual post-graduate projects  ….. "Christian T. De Benedetti of Newberg, Ore., who is studying at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., is going to Senegal, Niger, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Germany to study beer making.  He has brewed his own beer and worked with barrels and casks in Oregon’s beverage industry.".    Oh man, some guys have all the luck.  Ok minus the air fare and lodging, i wonder how many pints his fellowship will buy?  They don’t indicate exactly how much he was awarded for the fellowship, but another recipient was allowed $16,000 to go fly fishing in exotic locations! Congratulations Christian! tas — Terry A. Stinnett, Ph.D.             Dept of Applied Behavioral Studies         Oklahoma State University       Stillwater, OK 74078-3063      

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I bet that’s a Watson Fellowship. They’re awarded to liberal arts undergraduates who have a dream to pursue some special topic for one year. Many are pretty unusual (both the dreams and the undergraduates, I guess!). The project does not have to be practical. Just passionate. I used to sit on a committee to select the local Watson nominees. Neat job. JEG – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hello fellow brewers.  I noticed an article in the local paper that cuaght my interest…. Washington AP – Fellowships fund strange, unusual post-graduate projects  ….. "Christian T. De Benedetti of Newberg, Ore., who is studying at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., is going to Senegal, Niger, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Germany to study beer making.  He has brewed his own beer and worked with barrels and casks in Oregon’s beverage industry.".    Oh man, some guys have all the luck.  Ok minus the air fare and lodging, i wonder how many pints his fellowship will buy?  They don’t indicate exactly how much he was awarded for the fellowship, but another recipient was allowed $16,000 to go fly fishing in exotic locations! Congratulations Christian! tas — Terry A. Stinnett, Ph.D.             Dept of Applied Behavioral Studies         Oklahoma State University       Stillwater, OK 74078-3063

– John Gastineau                  "The indoor life is the next best NCSU Physics                     thing to premature burial." Raleigh, NC, USA                 Edward Abbey

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Question:

Seeking fishing experiences on the private waters of Oasis Springs, CA. Specifically: type of water, cost, lodge accomodations,  and maximum number permitted daily. Thanks, Norm Norm Hanami

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Yes, I’ve fished Oasis Springs Ranch.  It was the dumbest trout

experience I have nothing good to say about this place. I didn’t like dealing with the people, to the point of feeling cheated. And, I’ve heard from others (I never actually got there, and lost my deposit) exactly what the other posts said. That is, there’s one decent stretch, it’s hatchery fish, and the brochure is full of bull. Jack Formerly

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Went there the first year to check it out.  Beautiful lodge.  Nice location.  Huge "native" fish with very rubbed noses and fins.  Oh well. Varied stretches of water, from deep pool to riffles & runs.  Also great fishing below PGE transfer pipe up one of the arms.  Struck me as an odd combination. . . Since then i’ve had several friends go there and have a great time.  They have all sorts of other distractions, tennis court, i think horse riding as well.  Good location for a weekend get away with a non-fishing SO or something.  There have been some intro classes up there for new fishers, also. just my #22 –jim *                                                     *

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Norm, I get a flyer from these folks about twice a year. Never tried ‘em, but it seems like a nice outfit. Try calling ‘em (800) 642-4150 or (916) 474-1943.

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Yes, I’ve fished Oasis Springs Ranch.  It was the dumbest trout experience I’ve ever had.  Caught endless numbers of of 4-6 lb. football shaped rainbows….straight out of some brood hatchery around Redding.  The waters? The brochure says "5 1/2 miles of prime stream.  It’s more like 400 yards of prime, since a PGE flume is a short distance above the lodge, which removes most of the water from the upper stream and shoots it back into the lower stream. (There is a dam just below the lodge, which is where the football shaped big ones hang out.  Give them anything black and ugly on a sinking line…they are stupid trout, and will apparently eat anything coming near the dam that looks like food.) The lodge itself is prime, and the grounds are pleasant, food better than average. My advice?  Take your signifigant other, have a restful time, but don’t expect a quality flyfishing experience.

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Question:

done some diving from a kayak, and have found the following to be true: 1. You must make sure that your fins are secured in the boat. Most sink and will be of no use to you at the bottom of the sea. 2. You often need two hands to put fins on. If you don’t attach yourself to the boat and are still in a situation where it seems advantageous to be with your boat, this can be a problem. Additionally, if you don’t wear the booties you use with your fins, they are probably of little or no use. Fins that fit improperly are painful, at best, and frequently of little use.

A company call Caddis makes fins for float-tube fisherman.  They float and fit any size shoes, booties, etc.  You can probably find them at your local fly fishing store. — -Wayne Trzyna

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1. You must make sure that your fins are secured in the boat. Most sink and will be of no use to you at the bottom of the sea.

A company called Caddis makes fins for float tube fisherman.  The fins float and fit any shoes. booties, etc.  You can probably find them at your local fly fishing store. — -Wayne Trzyna

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I can’t help but think that a pair of fins stowed in your sea kayak would be a tremendous safety feature. Anyone who has used fins can testify that they are a HUGE advantage when swimming. Do any of you sea kayakers carry them?

Doug, I’ve considered this myself at times. I scuba as well as kayak, and have even done some diving from a kayak, and have found the following to be true: 1. You must make sure that your fins are secured in the boat. Most sink and will be of no use to you at the bottom of the sea. 2. You often need two hands to put fins on. If you don’t attach yourself to the boat and are still in a situation where it seems advantageous to be with your boat, this can be a problem. Additionally, if you don’t wear the booties you use with your fins, they are probably of little or no use. Fins that fit improperly are painful, at best, and frequently of little use. 3. Fins are still of little use in a strong current. What they provide in power, they cost in energy. I have seen many divers grow fatigued and give up after kicking under 100 yards against a slow current. They seemed to think the fins gave them enough power to overcome anything and never took the time to learn about currents and how to avoid same. If the distance is great, it is certainly wiser to find the way to cross the current than it is to don fins and swim directly into its teeth. 4. Preparing for cold water immersion is worth more than all the additional equipment you can carry. If you have your warmth, you don’t need to swim great distances or fight currents because you can wait for rescue. This means that you should make someone aware of your activities and location, that you should set a "drop dead" time, after which this person contacts the coast guard or relevant rescue agency, and that you should do your best to stay visible (more on these issues when I post the next article – I’ve just got to remember to bring in the magazine – there is also a discussion on fins in there too, but I don’t remember their conclusions – these comments are wholly my own). Anyway, it seems to me that if you are forced to swim, recognizing currents and avoiding them will be of more benefit. Fins can be a useful backup, but as always, if you are going to use them, practice. If you lose the fins when the boat capsizes or when you are trying to put them on in heavy conditions, you may find yourself in a nasty situation, especially if you are counting on them to get you to shore. Rick

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 Hello, everyone,  although somewhat edited for brevity, the following is a description of an  accident (in Coos bay) and two incidents that (in Kalaloch Beach – part of Olympic National Park in Wash.) we should all take note of. Everything  in quotes is taken directly from the article.

Thanks for posting this.  I think we all need a reminder from time to time. Nature is way bigger than we are…..

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I can’t help but think that a pair of fins stowed in your sea kayak would be a tremendous safety feature. Anyone who has used fins can testify that they are a HUGE advantage when swimming. Do any of you sea kayakers carry them?

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Hello, everyone, although somewhat edited for brevity, the following is a description of an accident (in Coos bay) and two incidents that (in Kalaloch Beach – part of Olympic National Park in Wash.) we should all take note of. Everything in quotes is taken directly from the article. "Eric Konheim, 27, died on June 12, 1991, while kayak surfing alone…. Eric was a skilled kayaker, proud of his ability to roll and to read moving water… In 1987, Eric bought a folding sea kayak and began taking trips, including a 450-mile expedition along the Gulf Coast from Belize to Cancun, Mexico. He also paddled in the Sea of Cortez, the Bahamas, and along the coast of Venezuela. In 1988, he took a river kayaking class in Colorado and bought a white-water kayak. He kayaked many white-water rivers and was a commercial raft guide." … Eric’s companion was feeling ill and decided not to go out with him to do some kayak surfing in his Prijon T-Slalom kayak. Although this was a surfing accident, going in and out of surf is something we sea kayakers MUST do every time we go out, so don’t think ‘this can’t happen to me.’ It CAN. Enough commentary. "After telling Dave he would surf only for a short while, Eric went out alone at about 4 p.m. Dave took a nap and woake about a half hour later. He began looking for Eric and around 5 p.m. found his friend’s kayak floating in the surf. Unable to find Eric, he called for help." Eric was found at 6 p.m. by a Coast Guard Chopper (these guys don’t get enough credit – it’s too bad that they can only pick up the pieces afterward). He was 150 yards off short (an easy swim for someone who swam competitively, you may say, but I swam in college and done some open water swimming in strong currents. Believe me,150 yards can be a very LONG swim!). He was wearing: "a helmet, a PFD with a whistle and knife attached, a neoprene spray skirt, a pull-over pile jacket, and a long sleeve paddle jacket. Eric’s kayak and paddle were found in good condition. He had not worn either his wet suit or his dry suit, though he had both with him in his van. Eric knew about hypothermia: he had had EMT training and river guide training." … "The official cause of death listed on the medical examiner’s report is "asphyxia by drowning, immersion hyperthermia." This is reasonable considering the water temperature was 50-53 degrees Fahrenheit, and Eric was tall and thin and was not wearing much thermal protection. HIs core temper- ature was 73 degrees." The author points out that Eric (though wearing a helmet) may have been knocked out by his paddle. "I once broke the aluminum shaft of a sturdy white-water paddle while getting pitch poled…The water was deep, the  paddle hit nothing but water. The smooth curve left in the broken shaft proved there were no defects in the paddle. An engineering analysis later showed it took more than 200 pounts of force to break that paddle. If it had hit my head with that force… who knows?" In any case, this article brings out some interesting and notable points. If you do go out alone, please take all the cold water immersion protection you can. It’s really easy to cool off by doing a roll, but it just ain’t so easy to get warm. The other two stories are about currents. Both kayakers found themselves in the water 75 or more yards from shore. The first was wearing "a 1/8 inch farmer john-style wet suit, a PFD, neoprene spray skirt, helmet, and watersport sandals….I began swimming for the beach with both hands on the stern of my boat. After a while, it appeared my effort had been wasted; I was no closer to the beach." He lost a float bag from the kayak and it did a Cleopatra’s Needle when it filled, so he finally abandoned the boat. He found the surf conditions too rough for reentry. He tried to use his paddle to propel himself, but gave up after some fruitless effort. By this time, 40 minutes has passed and he is still no closer to shore. He believes that he didn’t realize he was caught in a rip current because his thinking was impaired by cold water shock. Finally, he began swimming cross-current and made his way back to shore once he exited the current. The good news is that he had been seen by a "couple on the beach," who called for help. The coast guard had responded, but he managed to get out before they arrived. Same story, same place, different person. Bill "had once played in a rip current…and he had been out in ocean swells…but this was his first time kayaking in ocean surf. Bill didn’t have a roll, but the though he could perform a self rescue or swim to shore if he capsized. Bill is a strong, formerly competitive, swimmer with SCUBA diving experience. He is very com- fortable in and around the water. His kayak had front and rear bulkheads…He wore a 1/4-inch-thick, full wet suit" (his scuba suit) "polypropylene long underwear, neoprene tooties, a neoprene diver’s hood, a paddling jacket, and a PFD." He also had a bilge pump, paddle float, and some flares. Bill was separated from his kayak by the heavy surf (8 foot breakers). "He tried in vain to re-enter the kayak using a paddle-float outrigger…He could only get half way in before another wave would hit and knock him over. After 10 minutes of unsuccessful self-rescue attempts, he realized he and his kayak were drifing dangerously close to the rocks." He fired a flare and watched a beachcombers pointed at the pretty color and resumed their activities. I guess flares only work if people understand what they are for. Bill finally decided it was time to part ways with his kayak. "He retrieved his paddle and the paddle float and began swimming toward shore with the paddle float under his chest. After about a half hour of swimming, he realized he was losing ground." See, not even we good swimmers can out swim a current. "He was about 300 yards from shore and quickly became exhausted…He had one thing in his favor: his 1/4-inch-thick wetsuit was keeping him warm." He "began body surfing toward shore for all he was worth. While swimming a crawl stroke with the paddle was unproductive, by holding it against his chest, he discovered the waves would push it and carry him toward shore. (An experienced paddler told me that he has used his paddle to advantage while swimming in surf, but unlike others I’ve talked to, he uses the paddle while swimming backstroke. His technique is similar to back paddling a kayak). Bill found he could steer across the waves by shifting the paddle in his hands. Using the paddle this way let him angle away from the rocks." "Lessons Learned: While the first paddler became chilled and possibly hypo- thermic in his 1/8 inch farmer john wet suit, Bill’s 1/4 inch thick full suit, booties, and hood actually kept him too warm! Soon after reaching shore, Bill removed some of his wet-suit clothing to cool off. In the water, Bill worried only about exhaustion and the rocks… In my experience, 1/8 inch thick Farmer John wet suits are not adequate protection for prolonged immersion in 50- degree water." This was all printed without permission, however, I feel safety is more important than copywrites. Everyone who goes kayaking should learn to roll. These two stories should let you know just how helpless a kayaker is in 50 degree water when currents are strong. The very gear you must wear to protect you from becoming hypothermic will make you a very weak (but bouyant) swimmer. You must use other methods of getting in and out of heavy conditions. If you must, leave the boat. It does provide a lot of bouyancy, but if you don’t have more than an hour of cold water protection, you’ve got to get going quickly. Don’t waste time waiting for help, you are your own best defense against accident. Well enough diatribe. If you wish, I will post other safety articles from Sea Kayaker when it comes out. Rick

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