Question:

How far from the fly should it be? 1.5 times the depth of the area you are fishing.

1.5 is at the low end of where mine seems to end up in slower water.   For faster water, I seem to get closer to 2x to keep the fly from dragging the indicator under.   OTOH, that’s only a guess, since I’m never really that sure how deep the water is in some cases. Joe F.

Response:

1.5 is at the low end of where mine seems to end up in slower water.   For faster water, I seem to get closer to 2x to keep the fly from dragging the indicator under.   OTOH, that’s only a guess, since I’m never really that sure how deep the water is in some cases.

Very true.  Current does matter.  I can’t remember where I read 1.5x, but it did seem like a good estimate of the "average" for most conditions.  I think the biggest key here is getting the flies to the desired depth.   Sometimes using a dry fly as an indicator is much better than using a yarn/foam/cork type indicator because the fish are feeding closer to the surface and you may want to present an adult version with a emerger or nymph trailing below.  Perhaps the best answer would have been "as conditions dictate?" — Warren change addy to yahoo for email Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt3/HFclave.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have some questions: First is it necessary for the indicator to float all the time if you can see it readily under water? IMO, no. How far from the fly should it be? 1.5 times the depth of the area you are fishing. Somewhere I have seen directions on how to make your own indicator with poly or macram

Question:

I’ve finally put up some photos of Christmas Island on my web site. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

I’ve finally put up some photos of Christmas Island on my web site.

GREAT PICS!!  Looks like one terrific time! — Wayne To fish is human….To release Divine! Before you buy.

Response:

I’ve finally put up some photos of Christmas Island on my web site.

Um, just a warning to everyone out there… Steve’s pictorial has pictures of boobies in it. OK, I warned you. –Steve

Response:

I’ve finally put up some photos of Christmas Island on my web site. Um, just a warning to everyone out there… Steve’s pictorial has pictures of boobies in it. OK, I warned you. –Steve

Correction. Just one boobie. Bruce caught it while trolling for trevally. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Nice. Why do they call it Christmas Island ? — TW – Halfordian Golfer "Guilt replaced the Creel" "A cash flow runs through it" "It is impossible to catch and release a wild trout"

Response:

Nice. Why do they call it Christmas Island ?

Captain Cook set ashore there on Christmas Day. It’s part of the Republic of Kiribati. (The capital is Tarawa.) It’s not to be confused with the other Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

As with most English sounding place names, it was named by one of the first white guys to visit there. Captain William Mynors of the East India Ship Company vessel, the Royal Mary, named the island when he arrived on Christmas Day, 25th December, 1643.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nice. Why do they call it Christmas Island ? — TW – Halfordian Golfer "Guilt replaced the Creel" "A cash flow runs through it" "It is impossible to catch and release a wild trout"

Response:

As with most English sounding place names, it was named by one of the first white guys to visit there.

In this case, those white guys may have been the first ever to visit. The island was uninhabited at the time. All they found were a few palm trees, a lot of turtles, and one shitload of birds. The island was deemed "uninhabitable", although the present-day native seem to be making a go of it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

[deleted] Captain Cook set ashore there on Christmas Day. It’s part of the Republic of Kiribati. (The capital is Tarawa.) It’s not to be confused with the other Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

Thanks. I wonder if he had a Sage 890RPL under the tree so that he could bone fish. Your pal, — TW – Halfordian Golfer "Guilt replaced the Creel" "A cash flow runs through it" "It is impossible to catch and release a wild trout"

Response:

[deleted] Captain William Mynors of the East India Ship Company vessel, the Royal Mary, named the island when he arrived on Christmas Day, 25th December, 1643.

That must be the other one ? — TW – Halfordian Golfer "Guilt replaced the Creel" "A cash flow runs through it" "It is impossible to catch and release a wild trout"

Response:

[deleted] Captain William Mynors of the East India Ship Company vessel, the Royal Mary, named the island when he arrived on Christmas Day, 25th December, 1643. That must be the other one ?

I’m afraid Stan is referring to the discovery of the OTHER Christmas Island. The one in the Indian Ocean. Common mistake. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Amazing… that trevally almost of my chair. Is that a digitally enhanced fish, or is it really _that_ big? Herman I’ve finally put up some photos of Christmas Island on my web site. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

–         Cheers, Herman         Herman Nijland         Daytime webmaster         Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

Amazing… that trevally almost of my chair. Is that a digitally enhanced fish, or is it really _that_ big? Herman

It’s really that big. I got the picture from Bill Kiene. The fisherman is Kevin Thompson of the Sage Rod Company . — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Make that knocked me out of my chair. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Amazing… that trevally almost of my chair. Is that a digitally enhanced fish, or is it really _that_ big? Herman I’ve finally put up some photos of Christmas Island on my web site. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam) —         Cheers, Herman         Herman Nijland         Daytime webmaster         Lifetime flyfisher

–         Cheers, Herman         Herman Nijland         Daytime webmaster         Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

I wonder if he had a Sage 890RPL under the tree so that he could bone fish.

Personally I prefer to bone fish with a fillet knife, but to each his own. Pat K

Response:

Greetings: I wonder if he had a Sage 890RPL under the tree so that he could bone fish.

Personally I prefer to bone fish with a fillet knife, but to each his own.

Pat K

Just curious:   Do people _eat_ bone fish?  I am going to have an opportunity to fish for them a bit, for the first time, next January.  (I’ll be asking for help and advise later as the time gets closer, folks  :-)) Cheers,  -Mark

Response:

I wonder if he had a Sage 890RPL under the tree so that he could bone fish. Personally I prefer to bone fish with a fillet knife, but to each his own.

Just to be certain…you must know that I am usually fairly pedantic in my word usage and that the original sentence appeared as I intended. To wit: To "bone" something does not necessarily imply the removal of internal skeletal matter though that may be an undesired side affect of a really violent ‘boning’.  It does, however, imply the use of certain cylindrical erectile tissues in the act (as the verb ‘bone’).  The mimicked sheaths of the noun are often displayed proudly by the male of certain tribal customs. (Yes, I fear that I may have awoke the sleeping mountie with that last bit of imagery) Your pal, — TW – Halfordian Golfer "Guilt replaced the Creel" "A cash flow runs through it" "It is impossible to catch and release a wild trout"

Response:

Just curious: Do people _eat_ bone fish?  I am going to have an opportunity to fish for them a bit, for the first time, next January.  (I’ll be asking for help and advise later as the time gets closer, folks  :-))

Yes, they do, but not on Christmas Island. Because bonefish often travel in schools along the shore they’re very easy to net, much to the detriment of sportfishing. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Yep, wrong island.  I didn’t know there were two – I got the Australian version in the Indian Ocean.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [deleted] Captain William Mynors of the East India Ship Company vessel, the Royal Mary, named the island when he arrived on Christmas Day, 25th December, 1643. That must be the other one ?

Response:

Nice. Why do they call it Christmas Island ? Captain Cook set ashore there on Christmas Day. It’s part of the Republic of Kiribati. (The capital is Tarawa.) It’s not to be confused with the other Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

Is this the same Christmas Island where the millions of red land crabs migrate to the ocean to lay eggs every year?  I saw a Discovery Channel special on that and it looked like quite an impressive thing to see. — Levi "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

Response:

Nice. Why do they call it Christmas Island ? Captain Cook set ashore there on Christmas Day. It’s part of the Republic of Kiribati. (The capital is Tarawa.) It’s not to be confused with the other Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Is this the same Christmas Island where the millions of red land crabs migrate to the ocean to lay eggs every year?  I saw a Discovery Channel special on that and it looked like quite an impressive thing to see.

Nope, that’s the other one. They have ample numbers of land crabs, though. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

hmmm…then, i assume the "sleeping mountie" is a "bone" technique? jeff (in full monty) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wonder if he had a Sage 890RPL under the tree so that he could bone fish. Personally I prefer to bone fish with a fillet knife, but to each his own. Just to be certain…you must know that I am usually fairly pedantic in my word usage and that the original sentence appeared as I intended. To wit: To "bone" something does not necessarily imply the removal of internal skeletal matter though that may be an undesired side affect of a really violent ‘boning’.  It does, however, imply the use of certain cylindrical erectile tissues in the act (as the verb ‘bone’).  The mimicked sheaths of the noun are often displayed proudly by the male of certain tribal customs. (Yes, I fear that I may have awoke the sleeping mountie with that last bit of imagery) Your pal, — TW – Halfordian Golfer "Guilt replaced the Creel" "A cash flow runs through it" "It is impossible to catch and release a wild trout"

Response:

Yep, wrong island.  I didn’t know there were two – I got the Australian version in the Indian Ocean.

I suspect its that old International Date Line thing.  Probably the same island; just depends whether you’re looking at it from yesterday or tomorrow, compounded by the fact that when viewed from Australia the whole damn thing would be upside down and thus rendered unrecognizable anyway.  Moreover, the English would throw in an extra u somewhere in the middle or a superfluous e at the end, merely adding to the confusion.  The French on the other hand, would further muddy the issue by giving it an entirely unpronounceable spelling and then proceed to drown it in butter and garlic before eating it and rendering the whole argument moot.  Hope this helps.

Response:

Congratulation, I know that a such trevally, is really hard to bring back on a fly rod. You where fishing 12? I’m really, really happy for you.

I didn’t catch that monster, Phillipe. The angler is Kevin Thompson of Sage Rod Company. If I posted a photo of the only trevally I caught you’d die laughing. BTW, is that photo of the blond guy with the big trevally on your website a photo of you? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

I didn’t catch that monster, Phillipe.

Next time, next time… BTW, is that photo of the blond guy with the big trevally on your website a photo of you?

Yep, it’s me, but don’t say to my hairdresser that I’m fishing when I need to let him make me a decent look. (I preffer the picture with the Spanish Mackerel). A bientot, Philippe Pacific Angling on Line http://fishing.ifrance.com — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ (Reply-to set to something bogus to avoid spam)

* Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping.  Smart is Beautiful

Response:

Question:

I intend to spend my summer’s vacations ( august 18th to 30th) in the area of Yellowstone ( Idaho,Montana,Wyomming) with my familly (4 adults) . ours activities w’ll be, flyfishing, wildlife seeing, hiking if anyone have some informations about lodging in this area and flyfishing possibilities (not too more expansive). please inform me . thank you sincerely

Response:

My suggestion would be to stay in West Yellowstone, Montana. The town is the enterance to Yellowstone National Park & there are lots of moderately priced motels in town.You can fish a half a dozen or more rivers within an hours drive of the town. You can get a one day license in Idaho for $6-8, Montana sells 2 day licenses for about $10 & you can get a Yellowstone National Park 7 day license for less than $20. THere are over a half dozen good fly shops in town, (my favorite is Blue Ribbon Flies) where you can get info on the hatches & what is fishing well. They are not giving up their secret spots but they will steer you in the right direction. Yellowstone is a great park lots of trails & wildlife. There are times when traffic builds up do to people stopping for animals on the road & they are also repairing & rebuilding the roads in the park. Do a Web search for West Yellowstone & you can get all the info you need.

Response:

There are times when traffic builds up do to people stopping for animals on the road

If the fishing is slow try this…drive right at the speed limit on one of the primary loop roads in Yellowstone and wait for about 30 cars to back up behind you. Quickly (but safely) pull over to the side of the road and jump out with your camera (it helps to have a passgenger pointing to nothing in earnest) and run into the woods…hilarious to watch all 30 calls pull over and unload while you non-chalantley drive away laughing your head off. — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

Response:

Question:

<<I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Martin, welcome to the world of fly fishing.  I hope you find it as enjoyable as many of us do (Okay, I admit it, I am a fly fishing junkie!).  It sounds like you are off to a good start and that you are paying attention to the teaching aids you have purchased. There are probably three bits of wisdom I can pass on to you.   #1.  You have to put your time in with fly fishing.  The more time you spend on the water, the better you will be. #2.  Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  Even the best fly fisherman occasionally turns his line into a rats nest or loses a fish.   #3.  Don’t be concerned with the ignorant who believe that you can’t catch fish on a fly.   Given enough time and practice, you will be able to outfish them and will have a lot more fun doing it! Have fun! Mike

Response:

Hi Martin,  Be sure and take time to enjoy this learning phase of your fly-fishing career. Many is the time I’ve wished I could go back and start again. There is no joy like your first nymph-caught trout in a river or your first fish of any kind or method. Enjoy the learning and welcome to the ranks. Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now. My loop control is so-so.  Sometimes I’ll get a perfect cast, othertimes the line splashes down on the water in a pile.  Gotta work on that.

Response:

Good for you. You’ll find fly fishing to be an art while you friends "just go fishing". And, look at it this way, you were on the water and they weren’t.  You caught a fish that day and they didn’t.  You have accomplished something new and exicting and they didn’t. Have fun with it and it’ll treat you good. Bob Moss Landing, Ca. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now. My loop control is so-so.  Sometimes I’ll get a perfect cast, othertimes the line splashes down on the water in a pile.  Gotta work on that.

Response:

Hi Martin, Wellcome to the world of flyfishing. Indeed you made a good start. If I can help you by sending some flies to you let me know what pattern(s) you’d like to have and I’ll see what I can fix for you! Hans van der Stroom -snip- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now.

Response:

Don’t give up. The eventual payoff is well worth the effort, though it will take some time. Keep on practicing, find a good fly shop, patronize it and learn what you can from the owner. If you have a friend who can show you some things you will be way ahead, else read and get some videos. Consider a guide too.  Some day you will leave the bait fishermen in the dust, and the quality of the flyfishing experience can’t be beat, IMHO. Rick

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish."

Response:

I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now. My loop control is so-so.  Sometimes I’ll get a perfect cast, othertimes the line splashes down on the water in a pile.  Gotta work on that.

Response:

Question:

I am going to the Boulder Mountain area to do some fly fishing and was wondering where the best spots would be. I don’t have a 4 wheel drive, so I am limited. Thankyou. J.b.

Response:

Please check out the Utah Fish Finder for the fishing conditions. — Rich Utah Fish Finder http://www.xmission.com/~utah/fishing

Response:

Question:

Just moved here from LA, If anyone has any advice on the good places to float a dry, please email me. Thanks A bunch. Tight Lines John JTA The Truth Is Out There, But Would You Recognize It? Can You Handle It?

Response:

Just moved here from LA, If anyone has any advice on the good places to float a dry, please email me.

Try the San Juan in April – May and October.  You’ll love it.

Response:

Just moved here from LA, If anyone has any advice on the good places to

float a dry, please email me. Try the San Juan in April – May and October.  You’ll love it.

Chuck – You might also want to check out the Rio Grande near Pilar from October thru February.  You’ll find some excellent fishing and there won’t be many other people around.  Let me know if you want more info. Jeff Schmitt

Response:

I just caught up with the exchanges on New Mexico – also have the opportunity to get out that way in mid-late march and am trying to get some info on the San Juan.  I’ve read about the size and prolific bug life but have also heard about the crowds…Bottom line, what’s to be expected at that time of year, either weather wise or in terms of runoff?  I’m not up to date on the snow pack/drought conditions or how much difference it makes on this great tailwater…Happy to reciprocate if you all ever get out to the midwest.  Thanks.

Response:

Question:

Sorry if this is a re-post, but I never saw my original post, so here I go again: The other day I found an old South Bend bamboo fly rod at an antique shop.  The rod it self was in pretty good shape, but the guides and grip were shot.  It has a plastic reel seat with slip rings, and the cork grip has grooves in it, spaced about 1 inch apart.  It’s a 3- piece and each piece is of equal length. My question is this:  I would like to rebuild the rod and fish with it, since I doubt the rod has any collectable potential.  Does anyone know about these South Bend rods, and would it be worth my effort and expense to rebuild it and fish with it?  The shop wants $65.

Steve, Depends on whether you’re more interested in refinishing it or fishing it.    Some South Bends were ok, others were not.  If you want to start this as another hobby, $65 is a cheap investment and not much loss if you screw it up.   Some things to look for – are the pieces straight? If not you’re going to have to strip the varnish too because you have to use an alcohol lamp to heat it up to straighten it.  Are the ferrules still tight?  How’s the varnish – chipped, bumpy (alligatored)?  Check each piece carefully for delamination of the strips and "hook digs".   If you’re interested, I can give you the name of a rod dealer who carries "handyman’s specials". Ross

Response:

Of course it’s worth it. I keep and fish several old "mediocre" uncollectible rods with no market or collector value just for the fun of variety. I can think of few things more worthless than a rod which is never used. Cheers, Ken. — Ken Clark Ft. Lupton, CO

Response:

Steve, Ken is right.  Go for it.  If you are interested in it at all, claim the rod.  There’s a distinct difference between "restoration" and "repair".   You’ve taken the obvious precautions to make sure you aren’t taking a chance on a collectible, so give it a try.  Take your time, think ahead, be careful, and you will find that your efforts will be well worth it. Think of this:  You’re on a trout stream.  You’re fishing with a rod made by an anonymous someone who may have built your rod long before your time.   You rescued that rod from obscurity and added somethinng of yourself to it.  You catch and release a fish.  What better way to recognize that original maker and your sport? Another book for reference is "The Fine Bamboo Fly Rod" by Stuart Kirkfield (Stackpole Books).  It sets a reasonable thought pattern on what has to be done.  Good luck! –

Response:

Sorry if this is a re-post, but I never saw my original post, so here I go again: The other day I found an old South Bend bamboo fly rod at an antique shop.  The rod it self was in pretty good shape, but the guides and grip were shot.  It has a plastic reel seat with slip rings, and the cork grip has grooves in it, spaced about 1 inch apart.  It’s a 3- piece and each piece is of equal length. My question is this:  I would like to rebuild the rod and fish with it, since I doubt the rod has any collectable potential.  Does anyone know about these South Bend rods, and would it be worth my effort and expense to rebuild it and fish with it?  The shop wants $65. Thanks in advance for any responses.  Feel free to e-mail me. Steve –  A sunny day,       a box of midges,          and a wandering stream…    Man, this MUST be heaven!    <    Steve Kulpa    <<

Response:

Pick up the book titled" Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook" by Mike Sinclair. It is by far the best book out about this subject. All your questions will be answered.  If you can’t find it e-mail me and I’ll give you info. By the way 65 dollars to rebuild a cane rod is awfully cheap. Id look at a rod they had restored before turning them loose on my cane rod.             Mark Heskett

Response:

Question:

To Any UK or European Angler Types,   Does anyone out there have a good groundbait recipe for fish other than carp? Specifically I am looking for something attractive to small predatory or insect eating fish along the line of Bream and Perch Thanks in Advance

Response:

There is an article on ground bait in this months issue of In-Fisherman. I must admit, until I read the article, I had never heard of ground bait. (Apparently, it is very popular in Europe). The article specifically targets Bluegill (Shellcrackers). They mention using Spam, and other ingredients. Sorry, I dont have the issue with me or I would include the recipie. One thing I do remember was that they claimed that there is no better bait for Bluegill that have been attracted by groundbait than Maggots. I hope you can find a copy of the issue.

Response:

To Any UK or European Angler Types,  Does anyone out there have a good groundbait recipe for fish other than carp? Specifically I am looking for something attractive to small predatory or insect eating fish along the line of Bream and Perch Thanks in Advance

Chopped worms added either to peat (as a binder) or to a breadcrumb based groundbait always works well for perch. Tench and bream go for it too. Bream are traditionally groundbaited for with bread crumb based groundbait, containing samples of whatever the hook bait is.  There are lots of commercial groundbaits and additives which are good for roach, bream, rudd etc. Having said that, loose fed maggots are usually sufficient for perch. Steve

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First I’d like to indroduce myself for this is my first posting this   newsgroup. I live in the northern part of Germany and I’m thirty years old, I’ve been   fishing for various species with a lot methods for nearly twenty years.   I’ve been a serious carp angler for ten years but nowadays I spend most of   the time fishing for seatrout in the baltic sea either with fly or   spinning baits and I enjoy flyfishing for atlantic salmon in Norway Anyway, here we go:. To Any UK or European Angler Types,   Does anyone out there have a good groundbait recipe for fish other than carp? Specifically I am looking for something attractive to small predatory or insect eating fish along the line of Bream and Perch Thanks in Advance

Hello Curtis, Well, attracting bream is quite simple, first you need a lot of groundbait   because bream feed in great schoals and eat a lot. To hold them in place   for a longer time really needs a lot of bait. For a 5 hour bream session I   would recommend at least 3 gallons of groundbait, if there is a good stock   of bream the water. The difficulty in bream fishing is to get larger specimen (4 lbs + fish),   for they tend to travel solitarily the bigger they get. Smaller bream are easy to attract and to catch, if the water holds a good   stock and they live in large schoals.. The basic substance should be breadcrumb or bread. The groundbait should   be sweet for bream, vanilla is a very common additive and caramel, sugar   or koprah molasses are widely used by European bream anglers. Add maggots   or other live bait (worms) to the groundbait, about 1/4 of a gallon or so.   A good substance to add to bream groundbait are crushed butter cookies,   they can make up to 1/3 or even more of the mix. Don’t buy them in a   supermarket, try to get substandard goods from a factory or bakery. Good hook baits for bream are: maggots lobworms combination of maggot/lobworm combination of sweetcorn and maggot breadflake The "sweet bream mix" works very well for tench  either. When fishing for roach the mixture should be less sweet than for bream.   Hemp meal is very attractive for roach and cooked hemp is a fine hook bait   for this species (the basic substance beeing breadcrumb as well). And a substance used by European competions anglers is dove shit, believe   me or not, not much, some 2% or so. The Dutch and Belgian anglers have   used that for a number of years. Good hook baits for roach and rudd are maggots or casters. and especially for rudd the breadflake You’ll get a problem when there are a lot of carp in the water, because   carp like these groundbaits too. And they drive away the smaller fish   from your swim, when the occur in larger numbers. The only way of dealing with them in such a case is to get out the carp   rods …. . Attracting perch with groundbait doesn’t work. You can use a catapult and   shoot maggots in larger quantities into the water, this will attract some   perch but will attract more and more roach and/or rudd. Kind regards Wolfgang — Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are made for wise men to   contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration. (Izaak Walton,   The compleat angler, London 1653) ## CrossPoint v3.02 ##

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<<responding to a fly-fisherman looking for Nova Scotia info … I was in Nova Scotia this past August and had time to do a little fishing. With respect to lodging, I would recommend the NormaWay Inn because of its proximity to the Marramee River, its fantastic accomodations, its fine Bill

That is the Margaree River for anyone confused by the spelling. Walter Hingley

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<<responding to a fly-fisherman looking for Nova Scotia info … I was in Nova Scotia this past August and had time to do a little fishing. With respect to lodging, I would recommend the NormaWay Inn because of its proximity to the Marramee River, its fantastic accomodations, its fine food, and the staffs general friendliness. If you book with them, they will advise you of the best time of year to come, and will  even arrange for a guide for you. It could get crowded on the Marramee, so you may want to make plans to move on after a few days to try new locations. If you get a chance, take a few days off of fishing and do Cape Bretton. It is a beautiful park. Sorry I don’t have any phone numbers, but Nova Scotia has a very friendly Tourist Bureau, and they _will_ help you with everything. Could their phone number be 1-800-Nova-Scotia? I guess not, but it’s something like that. Hope it helps, Bill —

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I would like to plan a trip to Nova Scotia next spring/summer/fall to flyfish for salmon. I’ve fished salmon in Quebec and New Brunswick but not NS and am seeking the information necessary to plan the trip: best time of year?, which rivers?, accomodations (where?, cost?), guide necessary?, what flys?, etc?. Any help would be appreciated. Naturally, I want to do the trip as inexpensively as possible but would hire a guide when and if necessary. Please email me at:

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There may be less people doing overnight backpack trips, but I bet there are more people in the backcountry overall and doing a much more diverse set of activities. Which is very good news for us that do like to backpack: less people in the backcountry.  There might be more people in the woods but they all leave at dark.  I was talking to a fellow the other day who said he did quite

Oops! Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply we’re not in the backcountry after dark.  Many times I’m bivouaced on a ledge while climbing or camping in sagebrush near a remote desrt cave in Wyoming. So what I meant to imply is that besides the diversity of day trips many of us pack gear into remote places during mountaineering, caving, and whitewater trips that backpackers normally don’t visit. I’ve never seen backpackers on the East Ridge of the Grand Teton, or in the desert near Bighorn caverns, or along some of the remote stretches of whitewater in central Idaho, so there ARE more people in the backcountry overnight far from trailheads and vehicles, but in different places than backpackers normally go. I think what I’m getting at is, we are using backpacking as a mode of trasportation for some other goal, and not an end in itself. I’m not a "backpacker", yet backpacking is a critical part of getting to a lot of remote activities where I do spend the night. I’ve probably spent 300 night camped in backcountry far from roads in the past 6 or 7 years and only 3 of those night were on what I would call a backpacking trip. Steve —

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Eugene Miya: What worries me more are the borderline Wilcox’s out there reading the net (you can quote me on that).  I know a few in everyday life, and I lost one a couple of years back.  That is evolution in action. –eugene Steve Reiser:   Hi Eugene, I read your posting on "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and "White Winds", both of which I’ve read and have copies of.  Snyder indicated a lot of bad judgement by Wilcox.  Wilcox tries to be objective in his book, but one can’t help but notice his omissions. He seemed to cover up his errors not by arguing with Snyder’s account, but by ignoring them altogether. His book seemed somewhat defensive, especially at the end when he talks about all the grief he went through in the press afterword. I think Snyder probably gave an honest account, which arouses some wrath toward Wilcox, in most readers.  I didn’t like the way Wilcox covered his errors, but I was convinced that he suffered enough condemnation afterword to make me feel a bit sorry for him. I think his response was a bit overly defensive to the media, the Park Service, and the relatives of those who died. I would imagine that Wilcox’s attempt to gloss over his errors may have been part of the inspiration for Snyder to write his book in the first place. Hence, if Wilcox would have been more honest in the first place, it’s possible that neither book would have ever been written. It’s hard to read both books and not come up with mixed feelings toward Wilcox.  It’s tempting to feel some anger toward him for lack of good judgement, especially on their summit day for the second group, and at the same time feeling some sympathy for the weight of blame layed on him, since he was the expedition leader. (Snyder was better qualified to be the leader of the group.) Steve Reiser P.S – Seven friends of mine left yesterday for the Denali. I wish them well. (They’re more experienced than most in the books discussed above). If this appears twice, I first posted without a subject. —

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I think what I’m getting at is, we are using backpacking as a mode of trasportation for some other goal, and not an end in itself. I’m not a "backpacker", yet backpacking is a critical part of getting to a lot of remote activities where I do spend the night. I’ve probably spent 300 night camped in backcountry far from roads in the past 6 or 7 years and only 3 of those night were on what I would call a backpacking trip.

Maybe we have a problem with semantics here.  I think if you hike off into the woods with a backpack, you’re backpacking, no matter what the end result is.  I pack in to climb mountains, do caves, search for minerals, etc. and consider that backpacking.  Cripes, those packs are heavy – I’m not doing it for fun. Well, maybe I am.  Either way, I’m still pleased that there are less people out there when sunset finishes and the stars come out.

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There may be less people doing overnight backpack trips, but I bet there are more people in the backcountry overall and doing a much more diverse set of activities.

Which is very good news for us that do like to backpack: less people in the backcountry.  There might be more people in the woods but they all leave at dark.  I was talking to a fellow the other day who said he did quite a bit of backpacking in the early 70’s.  He said that he would hike 10 miles into the backcountry and see several groups of people back there too and think nothing of it.  Other than my group of friends, I don’t know anyone at all that backpacks and I almost never see anyone else in the backcountry (outside of hunters, that is).  One would think that there would at least be trail bikers back there but they seem to be more into ‘day-biking’.  I’m not complaining, of course, I’m happy.

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I thought some might find this article interesting – DH [some deleted] ON THE DECLINE   Overnight and longer backpacking trips are a sport on the decline, said Christy Metz, public information specialist for Rocky Mountain National Park. In their place, the number of day hikers and campground campers are growing. Backpacking began increasing in the early ’70s, peaked in the late ’70s, and has been falling ever since.  In 1977, Rocky Mountain National Park issued 62,708 back-country permits; in 1989, 32,792.

However, if you look at statistics for many other backcountry activities, you’ll find a drastic increase. Mountaineering, technical rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, spelunking, and many other backcountry sports are experiencing nearly exponential growth.  I see more people specializing in specific sports in the backcountry and less who are out strictly backpacking. DIVERSIFY   Some salespeople at moutaineering shops, however, are a bit hesitant to see their lines diversify too much.  Many tempered their enthusiasm for expansion with a note of service to the true back country lover.

This hesitation to diversify has cost many local stores business in specialized gear, more of which is sold through mail order companies.  I probably buy 50% of my outdoor gear through mail order due to this hesitance in local store.  I’m into all of the sports I listed above and the diversity of gear required is far more than most outdoor shops are willing to carry. My point here in comparison to the original article is to note that even though outdoor gear is fashionable on the streets, day hikes, and campgrounds, and with backpacking on the decline, there is still an exploding market for specialized backcoutry sports. There may be less people doing overnight backpack trips, but I bet there are more people in the backcountry overall and doing a much more diverse set of activities. Steve —

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I thought some might find this article interesting – DH Backpacking Outlets Expand Bottom Line    by Susan Simmons Eustes Boulder Business Report – May 1990    Despite a dramatic drop in number of campers and tourists trekking into the back country, area mountaineering stores say their sales are growing every year.    The day when the Vasque hiking boots were the "casual" loafer for many Boulderites has long disappeared.  Today, lighter and brighter are in demand and traditional mountaineering stores are expanding product lines to include gear for every sport from kayaking to mountain biking.    Like it or not, the mountaineering "look" continues to be fashionable in Boulder.  "You always want the ‘in’ look, whether you are hiking the mall or hiking Flagstaff," said John Whitbeck, manager at the north face in Boulder. "People want to wear clothing that identifies them as outdoorsy." ON THE DECLINE    Overnight and longer backpacking trips are a sport on the decline, said Christy Metz, public information specialist for Rocky Mountain National Park. In their place, the number of day hikers and campground campers are growing. Backpacking began increasing in the early ’70s, peaked in the late ’70s, and has been falling ever since.  In 1977, Rocky Mountain National Park issued 62,708 back-country permits; in 1989, 32,792.    … In 1985, the first year permits were issued for Indian Peaks [Wilderness Area], 2,134 were requested.  In 1989, 1,550 permits were requested.    So what does this mean for the people who sell camp stoves, sleeping bags, and hiking shoes?    It means even more business, said Whitbeck.    "In our 15 retail stores, without exception, business has been up a mile." The selling point for The North Face, and other mountain stores, is the dramatic shift in outdoor gear lines from the products carried 15 years ago. The traditional business of boots, packs and tents has mushroomed to include equipment for outdoor sports as varied as cross-country skiing or fly fishing. DIVERSIFY    As baby boomers married and began to raise children, more chose day hikes or more convenient overnight stays in campgrounds, say Jim Wilson of the back- country office at Rocky Mountain National Park. …    … (examples of stores diversifying) …    Dan Hare, manager of The Boulder Mountaineer, said his sales of backpacks and sleeping bags continues to increase, but "lots of people buy backpacks that never go into the back country," he added.    Shannon Long, manager at the Boulder Army Store, has noticed more of his customers are car camping and buying more for convenience.  Such campers, however, often opt for the more expensive lines.    "Ten years ago, people weren’t buying high-tech stuff.  They weren’t into buying brand names.  They were more concerned about getting a good product for a low price."    Clothing is a big seller for most outdoor shops.  Color are big, as are brand names and high fashion, mountain store owners agree.    Everybody likes rugby shirts and cotton shorts, said Phil Hollman, salesman at The North Face.  "Colors and style – people are really taken with that as much as we like to think they weren’t," Hollman said.  "Everything is getting more specialized: new technologies, new fabrics, lighter weight and very colorful."    Wools and cottons are taking a back seat to newer, more durable and comfortable fabrics such as Goretex, Dudley said.  And with the newer fabrics come higher prices.    The "tech heads" want the best, Noel added.  People want the fiberglass tent poles, the lightweight backpacks and the warmer, more water repellant clothing even if it means higher prices.    Some salespeople at moutaineering shops, however, are a bit hesitant to see their lines diversify too much.  Many tempered their enthusiasm for expansion with a note of service to the true back country lover.    Image and brand names mean more to people than store managers care to admit, [Mountain Sports buyer Scott] Lee said.  "We’re not quite as trendy a store as some …  We don’t want to lose our image as a mountaineering shop."

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