Question:

We are planning a trip to the Laguna Madre late summer early fall.  Never been before.  Any help on flies, maps, places, etc would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance. Henry

Response:

We are planning a trip to the Laguna Madre late summer early fall.  Never been before.  Any help on flies, maps, places, etc would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance. Henry

Henry, what part of the Laguna Madre are you planning to visit? It runs about 120 miles from Corpus Christi south to the Brazos Santiago Pass at South Padre Island. For great fly fishing adventures, you can’t miss fishing with Capt. Joe Mendez, Capt. Bill Sheka or Capt. Billy Sandifer out of Corpus Christi. Out of Port Mansfield, try Capt. Charlie Buchen or Capt. Terry Neal. Out of  Arroyo City, I highly recommend Capt. Dan Coley and Capt. Rick Hartman.   Out of South Padre and Port Isabel, you can’t miss with Captains Eric Glass, Jim Stewart, Chuck Scates, Richard McInnis or Skipper Ray. Take lots of shrimp patterns and Clousers and have a great adventure. Phil Shook

Response:

Question:

Chaps             I live in the Aylesbury  /  Oxford area, and I’m seeking people’s recommendations re small still waters in this area. I have visited but not fished Vicarage Spinney and Barnes Lakes.  I have fished Church Hill and Lakeside, as well as Alders Farm. I DON"T WANT TO HEAR PEOPLE"S OPINIONS RE CONCRETE BOWL RESERVOIRES, thank you My favourite water is John O’Gaunt in Hampshire, but it’s too far aay for a day trip. I’d like to find something like JOG, but closer to home, say 30-40 mins drive max,  I want to fish, not drive, as a hobby. If anyone can recommend a good venue, I’d be very grateful, and maybe even see you there sometime. There are too few good venues around here, and I only have "Trout Fisherman" guide to go by, which is OK but a bit limited. So ??  please come back to me if you’ve a secret haunt you’d be willing to share, best wishes,

Response:

You are welcome to Join me ( as a guest for

Question:

The weather has finally warmed, water temps are up, ospreys are feeding chicks, bass are close in, panfish are feeding, the lake and river are full of gators vying for mates. On the beaches the salts are moving in close, sharks are biting, herons are stalking the water again with purpose. Starlings and robins have moved through. All is green (though dry) with the smell of magnolias, honeysuckle , confederate jasmine and citrus blossoms. In the cool damp mornings I wonder how anyone could live without the soothing of the senses in the south. Now if we could just get some rain paradise would be revived. — John Popp in Sanford Fl.

Response:

John, as much as I disliked my short residence in Orlando, you write of all the things I DID love about being there.  Nothing like my little weekend jaunts into the swamps around Hunters Creek for bluegill, bass, gator dodging, wildlife watching, solitude, silence….or the occasional drive to Canaveral Seashore for a little surf fishing with a fly. Ohhhhh, sweet memories…. Bruce Thomsen

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Question:

My uncle found a STEEL fly rod in his basement over the past weekend. He doesn’t fish, so he said that I could have it.  I haven’t seen it yet, but he says that it’s 7′6" or maybe even 8′ in length and is definitely a fly rod.  I’m hoping to pick it up tonight and check it out. Any ROFFians ever fished with a steel fly rod–and would they do it again? Is this a rare item?  Is it valuable or is it garbage? Tom Before you buy.

Response:

A guide buddy of mine has an old steel telescoping fly rod (w/ reel). He says it is worth some $$. Don’t know how much though. Maybe take it to someone who deals in old rods for some idea of its worth. Never has fished with it I don’t think. — Tight Lines! Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana http://www.montana.com/dno/dno.htm 406-626-4022 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My uncle found a STEEL fly rod in his basement over the past weekend. He doesn’t fish, so he said that I could have it.  I haven’t seen it yet, but he says that it’s 7′6" or maybe even 8′ in length and is definitely a fly rod.  I’m hoping to pick it up tonight and check it out. Any ROFFians ever fished with a steel fly rod–and would they do it again? Is this a rare item?  Is it valuable or is it garbage? Tom Before you buy.

Response:

Tom,    The first outfit I ever fished with was a rusty telescoping steel rod and a worn out level wind reel which caused more line tangles than I care to remember.  I hope I never have to do it again.  As to value, have you have seen the sign "We buy junk and sell antiques"? Ernie Tom wrote <snip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any ROFFians ever fished with a steel fly rod–and would they do it again? Is this a rare item?  Is it valuable or is it garbage? Tom

Response:

Tom, My first ‘fly rod’ was a telescoping steel model bought at Western Auto. It was a total abomination to cast, but the fact that it telescoped made it handy for fishing the small brooks I frequented at the time. I have no idea what it is worth……I suspect it will have some value as a curiosity. George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

Response:

My uncle found a STEEL fly rod in his basement over the past weekend. He doesn’t fish, so he said that I could have it.  I haven’t seen it yet, but he says that it’s 7′6" or maybe even 8′ in length and is definitely a fly rod.  I’m hoping to pick it up tonight and check it out. Any ROFFians ever fished with a steel fly rod–and would they do it again? Is this a rare item?  Is it valuable or is it garbage? Tom

Well, it wasn’t a steel rod after all.  It was an old fiberglass rod painted silver.  The paint was worn off in places and the glass was a rust color so it kind of looked like a rusty metal rod. Another uncle does have a steel rod that looks like a fly rod with the handle and reel seat on backwards–fly rod-style guides/eyes and a cork handle but the reel seat is in the front…  an odd piece, I’d say. Tom Before you buy.

Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

Ross, I had the same type of problem and I bought a C&R net with a small bungee cord that has a magnet at either end.  One end is attached to the D ring of my vest in the back and the other to the net.  The magnets keep the net nice and high on my back and out of the way.  When I pull on the net, the magnet releases and allows me to have a long line to net the fish. I don’t go fishing for trout anymore without it.  It is one of the best accessories I own.  I don’t use it on smaller fish and I have run across some larger fish that just didn’t fit, but for mid-size trout, I highly recommend it. Rooster – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The most obvious alternative seems to be to use a catch and release net, and herein lies my question.  When fishing alone on a river, how do you use the net and where/how do you carry it while fishing?  I’ve seen fishermen on TV with the nets hanging from the back of their vests, presumably on a retractable line.  Is that the best approach?  Is it easy to access when needed?What is the risk of breaking the rod tip if you have to hold the rod up high to bring the fish in the net?

Response:

Hi Ross, As Darin said in his post I too go without a net when fishing the waters around the Seattle area. Depending on the size of the fish I will usually not even touch the fish with my hands if possible. The reason I can do this is a nifty little tool called a Ketchum-Release designed by a fellow up in BC. So long as you use a barbless hook you can use this tool to slide over the line and then down over the fly. Usually with a simple twist or jerk of your wrist you can remove the fly and the fish is off and running. If you have done this with sufficient water under the fish and the fish hasn’t been played too long you won’t even have to touch the fish. If this fish is showing signs of being overly tired you should try to gently hold in gentle current it without EVER removing it from the water. Every second you have it out of the water reduces the fishes chances of recovery drastically. I also try to never release a fish that is visibly bleeding. If it is then it either goes to the eagles who often are nearby watching every move or if regulations permit I’ll take it home to the smoker (Having said that I might have killed all of ten fish in the last 5 years). The Ketchum-Release has got to be one of my all time favorite fly fishing tools. Just make sure you tie it onto your vest as they sink! Gary Disclaimer– I have nothing to do with the company that makes the Ketchum-Release I just like the tool! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m trying to fine tune my landing of medium size trout to minimize harm to the fish. I typically fish in coastal British Columbia rivers, which are prone to rocky shores (at least where I fish) and my normal method of landing fish involves beaching it then releasing it.  What I notice however is that often the fish will thrash about on the rocks while I’m in the process of beaching it until I pick the fish up to remove the hook and release it back in the water.  I can’t believe that having the fish roll around and hit the rocks (even if its only for a few seconds) can be all that helpful to its survival, so I am trying to find a better approach. The most obvious alternative seems to be to use a catch and release net, and herein lies my question.  When fishing alone on a river, how do you use the net and where/how do you carry it while fishing?  I’ve seen fishermen on TV with the nets hanging from the back of their vests, presumably on a retractable line.  Is that the best approach?  Is it easy to access when needed?What is the risk of breaking the rod tip if you have to hold the rod up high to bring the fish in the net? Can anyone share their experiences and recommendations in beaching fish in similar situations, are nets the solution? Sorry if these are dumb questions, any ideas or experience would be appreciated. Ross

Response:

I once saw Houston bow fishing for gar and other "rough fish".  He was shooting the fish, bringing them in, and then throwing them back in the water.  Couldn’t call that c&r at all, more like release and kill.  He stated that doing this was "good for conservation" since the gar kill sport fish.  I guess it’s a miracle that the largemouth made it this far, without J. Houston to protect them from the bad ol’ gar. David Burnside Since my Jimmy Houston rant a while back, I’ve had occasion to see him a few more times still doing exactly the same shit.   I don’t usually watch these shows, so maybe the others are just as bad, but that guy is appalling. It’s unfathomable to me how his mistreatment of the fish he catches continues to pass for sport and entertainment

Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

certainly.  The wet fish gets on dry sand/rock and the protective mucus on it are removed as when people grab fish with dry hands.  The fish becomes infected, etc. and later dies.

For a while now I’ve been a bit sceptical about the ‘dry hands -removes the mucous – gets infected – fish dies’ theory. I think that fish are probably perfectly able to replace a bit of slime that gets rubbed off locally. What about the abrasion that occurs ‘naturally’ in the animal’s life, e.g., when cutting redds? Don’t get me wrong: I’m not advocating handling with dry hands or dragging up on a gravel beach those fish intended for release, its just that I question a bit of angling lore that’s been repeated so often that everyone now believes it without challenge. As a matter of interest: the carp and pike specimen hunters in Britain take their ‘releasing’ very seriously. Most fisheries stipulate the use of special padded unhooking mats (that have to be of a minimum size) and weighing slings made of soft, non-abrasive material. There are also purpose-made antibiotic/fungicidal preparations on the market for anglers to apply to hook puncture wounds and other injuries on the fish, prior to release.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For a while now I’ve been a bit sceptical about the ‘dry hands -removes the mucous – gets infected – fish dies’ theory. I think that fish are probably perfectly able to replace a bit of slime that gets rubbed off locally. What about the abrasion that occurs ‘naturally’ in the animal’s life, e.g., when cutting redds? Don’t get me wrong: I’m not advocating handling with dry hands or dragging up on a gravel beach those fish intended for release, its just that I question a bit of angling lore that’s been repeated so often that everyone now believes it without challenge. As a matter of interest: the carp and pike specimen hunters in Britain take their ‘releasing’ very seriously. Most fisheries stipulate the use of special padded unhooking mats (that have to be of a minimum size) and weighing slings made of soft, non-abrasive material. There are also purpose-made antibiotic/fungicidal preparations on the market for anglers to apply to hook puncture wounds and other injuries on the fish, prior to release.

Tony, I to have heard the lore. I always wet my hands, not so much from the lore, but from practical experience as a youth. Down the street from where I was raised in Miami, old man Roberts had a fish farm. His business was importing tropical fish from around the world and selling them to pet shops so that hobbyists could have fish in their tanks. Occasionally, his son John and I would go out and help net & pick fish for the orders being shipped out. The old mans #1 rule was, "wet your hands and keep them wet". The reason being that it protected the fishes mucous which allowed the fish to arrive at their destination in healthy condition without ich growing all over them. I don’t have any scientific basis for any of this, just experience. The old man would usually reward us with a dollar or so and a dime or two for the soda machine. I think the one thing that has changed since the early 60’s that I really miss the most, is the ice-cold 6oz. Coca-Cola’s that would noisily clank down mechanical innards to the dispenser when you put that dime in the slot and depressed the cast iron handle. waldo — Ezflyfish.com http://www.ezflyfish.com BRBG http://www.abebooks.com/home/BLUEBOOKS P.O. Box 5112  Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828)963-5001

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For a while now I’ve been a bit sceptical about the ‘dry hands -removes the mucous – gets infected – fish dies’ theory. I think that fish are probably perfectly able to replace a bit of slime that gets rubbed off locally. What about the abrasion that occurs ‘naturally’ in the animal’s life, e.g., when cutting redds? Don’t get me wrong: I’m not advocating handling with dry hands or dragging up on a gravel beach those fish intended for release, its just that I question a bit of angling lore that’s been repeated so often that everyone now believes it without challenge. As a matter of interest: the carp and pike specimen hunters in Britain take their ‘releasing’ very seriously. Most fisheries stipulate the use of special padded unhooking mats (that have to be of a minimum size) and weighing slings made of soft, non-abrasive material. There are also purpose-made antibiotic/fungicidal preparations on the market for anglers to apply to hook puncture wounds and other injuries on the fish, prior to release. Tony, I to have heard the lore. I always wet my hands, not so much from the lore, but from practical experience as a youth. Down the street from where I was raised in Miami, old man Roberts had a fish farm. His business was importing tropical fish from around the world and selling them to pet shops so that hobbyists could have fish in their tanks. Occasionally, his son John and I would go out and help net & pick fish for the orders being shipped out. The old mans #1 rule was, "wet your hands and keep them wet". The reason being that it protected the fishes mucous which allowed the fish to arrive at their destination in healthy condition without ich growing all over them. I don’t have any scientific basis for any of this, just experience. The old man would usually reward us with a dollar or so and a dime or two for the soda machine. I think the one thing that has changed since the early 60’s that I really miss the most, is the ice-cold 6oz. Coca-Cola’s that would noisily clank down mechanical innards to the dispenser when you put that dime in the slot and depressed the cast iron handle. waldo — Ezflyfish.com http://www.ezflyfish.com BRBG http://www.abebooks.com/home/BLUEBOOKS P.O. Box 5112  Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828)963-5001

_______  What a fond description of old memories!   — Mr. G.   http://www.gink.com/html  Fly Fisherman’s Chat Site   "Flyfisherman’s Camp Fires Burning" http://www.gink.com http://www.rodbuilding.com http://www.xink.com

Question:

I am a flyfishing newbie.  Can someone recommend a good video which teaches the basics of flycasting?  I’m mostly going to be fishing saltwater using 9 weight and heavier rods, casting streamers.  I would especially like to learn to "double haul" and "spey cast".  Thank you for your replies.                                                           Spy in Hawaii

Response:

You might try http://www.troutangler.com and ask Zane or Tom about a video. I’m think they could recommend one to you. — happy trails, Mike & Vivian Foate Rocking Horse Ranch Arvada, Wyoming be sure mosey through our online/ranch bookstore and our music CDs and movies shop! http://www.rockinghorseranch.com

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Question:

I have sold my tools and materials, now I am offering my books and magazines.  $35.00 + shipping takes all. "Expert Fly-Tying,"  Paul Fling & Donald Puturbaugh, 1986 "Favorite Flies and Their Histories," Mary Orvis Marbury, 1892 (1995 reprint) "Fly-Tyer Pattern Bible," 1985 "Creative Fly-Tying & Fly Fishing," Rex Gerlach, 1974 "Practical Flies & Their Construction," Lacey Gee & Erwin Sias, 1966 My homemade note book with appx. 675 patterns, most with color pictures "Fly Tyer"  Aug ‘84, Nov ‘84, Spring ‘85, Fall ‘85 "American Fly Tyer:"  Spring ‘86-Winter ‘87, most issues "American Angler & Fly Tyer"  Spring ‘88-Fall ‘90, most issues "American Angler"  jan’91-June ‘91 If interested, email Jim at the above email address

Response:

Thanks to all of you who responded.  I sold the books to the first e-mail response I received. Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have sold my tools and materials, now I am offering my books and magazines.  $35.00 + shipping takes all.

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Question:

I have time available for a one day & camping overnight stay in the Lake Placid area of up state New York. I intend to fly fish the whole day and camp that night.  Can anyone help we with the following: 1 – Where to fish on the Ausable since it sounds like that is the place of choice.  If not, other locations to fish but they must be relatively close to Lake Placid.   2.  Where to get and how much a one day license will cost. 3.  Where I may be able to find a primative campsite location – preferably near where I would be fishing.. Thank you in advance – I’ll let you know how I did! — David A. Laatz Information Systems Counsulting Group, Inc. 704 S. Wenonah ave. Oak Park, Il 60304-1034 Phone – 708.445.0396

Response:

I have time available for a one day & camping overnight stay in the Lake Placid area of up state New York. I intend to fly fish the whole day and camp that night.  Can anyone help we with the following: 1 – Where to fish on the Ausable since it sounds like that is the place of choice.  If not, other locations to fish but they must be relatively close to Lake Placid.   3.  Where I may be able to find a primative campsite location – preferably

Head for Wilmington (actually on the river, 10 or 12 miles from Lake Placid.)  The Wilmington Notch state campsite may still be open (but there is frost at night by now) — "primitive" meaning cold water.  Camping is allowed only at organized and plumbed campsites.  Information can be got at Fran Betters fly shop on Hwy. 86 at the west end of Wilmington or Jones’ Outfitters on Main St., Lake Placid. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Question:

A good size brown beats them all. Just the take is enough for me, but the fight and all those minutes of wondering how big he really is. They just stick to the bottom with even, powerful pulls, just shy of breaking the leader. nothing beats this, Browns for me. kmustad – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Proportionally speaking, pound for pound I’d vote for those itty bitty rainbow minnows. Yeah, I would vote for the junior rainbows as well.  You gotta love their acrobatics. Bruce….

Response:

(Eric) writes: I was just wondering what everyone thought was the best fighting trout, the Brook, Rainbow, or Brown….My vote goes to the Rainbow because they jump the most and fight the longest….but the browns also give up good fights and try to get under rocks and the sort…and hope you make the wrong move….Just curious to hear what other flyfishermen feel is the best fighting trout. Proportionally speaking, pound for pound I’d vote for those itty bitty rainbow minnows. You know, the ones that are only about twice as big as your fly.

The same ones that become ‘flying fish’ when you set the hook ? TimW

Response:

I have heard that sea run cutt’s are very hard fighters when they first enter fresh water.  Cutt’s in the high lakes around here are poor fighters, generally, and susceptible to a relatively high mortality rate. TimW

Well conditioned sea-run cutts usually fight much like browns or brook trout; they tend to stay deep, pull hard and shake. They may jump a bit more However a fair number of fish become quite acrobatic and will also make good runs, making the reel scream. I have memories of a fair number of these that I took to be small coho. I remember one fish while working the spring time chum migration on the Harrison that body surfed down the wave of a boat wake to snatch my fly and promptly put in 5 or 6 consecutive jumps; sulked a bit then jumped a few more times. Ralph H

Response:

(Eric) writes:   Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly   I was just wondering what everyone thought was the best fighting   trout:   Eric

Steelhead. OK, next question… -tgades

Response:

 I’d vote for those itty bitty rainbow minnows. You know, the ones that are only about twice as big as your fly. The same ones that become ‘flying fish’ when you set the hook ?

I know what you mean, those little dudes I launch into the bushes behind me.  ZZZing!  Quite a surprise.  Poor fish, mindin’ his own bidness, when Bang! Zoom! to the moon! Anglerboy

Response:

Mulberry–not the Marlboro, now–which is tied to imitate a–you got it–mulberry.  But these are hardly fair comparisons.  The best stripe

Gee Dave, I have never of the Mulberry hatch!  ;-) -Burton

Response:

Both choices are wild rainbows: 1- summer steelhead.  Not like a winter fish. The turbos are spun up,they’re taken on lighter tackle, and you may be able to sight-fish with dries.

<<< Yeah, it can be real fun watching a finning steelie turn his head and take your fly.  The most incredible sight I have ever seen was this huge 20+ lb. steelhead rise to an October Caddis on the Siletz.  It looked totally incongrous.  That head looked like a basketball. 2- native redside.  I’ll never forget a 17" Deschutes fish that I would have thought was a steelhead, if I wasn’t after the lead fish in a pod of rising trout.  Incredible fight! <<<

I like those big 20-25 pounders.  I have yet to land one.  They fight so different.  You bring them in a couple of times, then they run back out twenty or thirty yds. then go nuts like a chicken with it’s head cut off.  Then they are gone! -Burton – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Rainbow, without a doubt.  They hit like a train, leap, make strong runs.  Brown and cutthroats are great bulldoggers, and I have seen browns make some good leaps.  Nothing touches the rainbow/steelhead though. — Don Jordan POB 2357 Chiefland, FL 32644 http://ripserv.com/indyjones I am mostly a eastern fisherman so I don’t know what to expect from western trout but years back I was fishing a tiny stream in Utah that was filled with rainbows of 7-9 inches ( the local flyshop wasn’t even aware of the fishery) and I never battled such feisty fish before as these guys.They just wouldn’t give up…..I landed about 1/2 of what I hooked…… They were absolutely amazing !                                                                                        Jody

It sounds like you need to visit the Pacific Northwest Jody!  You would get the battle of your like from some of our brutes. -Burton

Response:

….but the browns also give up good fights and try to get under rocks and the sort…and hope you make the wrong move….Just curious to hear what other flyfishermen feel is the best fighting trout. Proportionally speaking, pound for pound I’d vote for those itty bitty rainbow minnows. You know, the ones that are only about twice as big as your fly. The same ones that become ‘flying fish’ when you set the hook ? TimW

Yes, they usually hit me in the face. If I open my mouth I can eat them right then! DJones

Response:

(Eric) says: : : I was just wondering what everyone thought was the best fighting : trout, the Brook, Rainbow, or Brown….My vote goes to the Rainbow : because they jump the most and fight the longest….but the browns : also give up good fights and try to get under rocks and the sort…and : hope you make the wrong move….Just curious to hear what other : flyfishermen feel is the best fighting trout. : : Eric : : my vote: : : 1) Gerard Strain Rainbows of Kootney Lake  BC; hands down : 2) Kamloops strain Rainbow of the South Interior of BC : : Gerard have the acrobatics and drive of any fish that swims plus : considerably more strength than any salmonid I’ve ever hooked; : including browns; various strains of cutts, Madison, Bow River and : Crowsnnest Rainbows; steelhead ; cohoe etc : : Kamloops fish combine great acrobatics and strength with are largely : insectorvious (sp) : I definitely second Eric’s vote.  The Kamloops trout is very widespread in Southeastern BC. and NE Washington State. – Keith

Response:

The best fighting trout is the one you have on your line right now

Response:

I was just wondering what everyone thought was the best fighting trout, the Brook, Rainbow, or Brown….My vote goes to the Rainbow because they jump the most and fight the longest….but the browns also give up good fights and try to get under rocks and the sort…and hope you make the wrong move….Just curious to hear what other flyfishermen feel is the best fighting trout. Eric

I like Half-pounders on the lower Klamath river in Nor Cal and the lower Rogue river southern Oregon. These are small fall run steelhead, ocean going rainbow trout. They run 12 to 22 inches and are hot as a pistol. They are a great fly rod fish and there are less of them every year. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

Response:

Proportionally speaking, pound for pound I’d vote for those itty bitty rainbow minnows.

Yeah, I would vote for the junior rainbows as well.  You gotta love their acrobatics. Bruce….

Response:

All of the trouts and chars have periods when they are more aggressive and better fighters.  Get a pre-spawn brown or rainbow and you have a much better situation then these same fish at other times of the years. I have heard that sea run cutt’s are very hard fighters when they first enter fresh water.  Cutt’s in the high lakes around here are poor fighters, generally, and susceptible to a relatively high mortality rate. TimW I had the opportunity (and luck) to fish for skamania steelhead at Trail Creek this July.  These

fish were a fresh summer run strain from Lake Michigan, I don’t really know where the original brood stock came from but I think it was Wash.  They were absolutly incredible fighters, much better than "normal" strains of steelhead. Vince

Response:

All of the trouts and chars have periods when they are more aggressive and better fighters.  Get a pre-spawn brown or rainbow and you have a much better situation then these same fish at other times of the years.   I have heard that sea run cutt’s are very hard fighters when they first enter fresh water.  Cutt’s in the high lakes around here are poor fighters, generally, and susceptible to a relatively high mortality rate. TimW – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Eric, I think the rainbow is a real acrobatic fighter while the brown is more like a bull dog.  Also the cutthroat, the brookie, and the golden all vie with each other over which is the most beautiful that depending water and environment. My favorite trout happens to be the one that’s on the end of the line but I do have a bit of a preference for Mr. Brown Trout. My favorite fish on a fly rod would be a large white fish or carp from the side channel in the lower Yellowstone River. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 materials catalog) http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

Response:

I was just wondering what everyone thought was the best fighting trout, the Brook, Rainbow, or Brown….My vote goes to the Rainbow I like Half-pounders on the lower Klamath river in Nor Cal and the lower Rogue river southern Oregon. These are small fall run steelhead, ocean going rainbow

Umm, yeah I forgot about the half-pounders!  They are little silver missiles.  Probably the friskiest fish I’ve ever had on.  The Rogue is a great river.  They are protecting them now. -Burton

Response:

(Eric) writes: I was just wondering what everyone thought was the best fighting trout, the Brook, Rainbow, or Brown….My vote goes to the Rainbow BTW–has anyone developed fly to imitate the fish-food-pellet hatch? It could float for a second then sink to the bottom where it would swell up DJones No, but I have seen some pretty novel approaches to "fly fishing".  On the

Metolius River I have seen a yellow Cheeto Fly and a white Bread-crumb Fly fished below the Allingham Bridge from which tourist types are prone to throw things in an effort to get a rise from a big fish.  It frequently works. -Burton

Response:

I have heard that sea run cutt’s are very hard fighters when they first enter fresh water.  Cutt’s in the high lakes around TimW Yeah, the sea-run cutt’s are dynamite hear on the Oregon Coast.  However,

they have declined so bad it’s getting hard to find them.  I pick one up occasionally while targeting other fish.  They strike like it’s their last meal. Burton

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I was just wondering what everyone thought was the best fighting trout, the Brook, Rainbow, or Brown….My vote goes to the Rainbow because they jump the most and fight the longest….but the browns also give up good fights and try to get under rocks and the sort…and hope you make the wrong move….Just curious to hear what other flyfishermen feel is the best fighting trout.

My preference is the rainbow, since I like fish that jump.  Brown’s give you a nice tug of war, but that’s about all.  Then best of all is the sea-run rainbow, the steelhead.  I have had hens that I swear could tailwalk on the water. -Burton

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I have heard that sea run cutt’s are very hard fighters when TimW I had the opportunity (and luck) to fish for skamania steelhead at Trail Creek this July.  These fish were a fresh summer run strain from Lake Michigan, I don’t really know where the original brood stock came from but I think it was Wash.  They were absolutly incredible fighters, much better than "normal" strains of steelhead. Vince Yup, nice fighting fish!  One of the better strains for flyfishing.  They

originally came from the Washougal in Washington, but now are all over the place including Peru. -Burton

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(Eric) writes: I was just wondering what everyone thought was the best fighting trout, the Brook, Rainbow, or Brown….My vote goes to the Rainbow because they jump the most and fight the longest….but the browns also give up good fights and try to get under rocks and the sort…and hope you make the wrong move….Just curious to hear what other flyfishermen feel is the best fighting trout.

Proportionally speaking, pound for pound I’d vote for those itty bitty rainbow minnows. You know, the ones that are only about twice as big as your fly. They can leap many times their own length out of the water and they run back and forth like their life depended on it. (Reminds me of my kid on too many snicker bars) And ya gotta hand it to them for their gusto going for that huge fly, it must look like a whole day

Question:

I am going on a 7 day canoe trip in Quetico Prov. Park in Ontario in July. Does anyone have any information on what gear and flys to use for the smallmouth bass and pike. Thanks

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I am going on a 7 day canoe trip in Quetico Prov. Park in Ontario in July. Does anyone have any information on what gear and flys to use for the smallmouth bass and pike. Thanks

I was up there 2 years ago for a 14 day trip and what an experience!!  Although we weren’t fly fishing, several people were.  The patterns which they said were effective were assorted minnow patterns (Muddler, Sculpin) as well as a crawfish pattern.  Glo balls would probably work well from what I saw.  I was primarily spincasting and killed the smallmouth on a little floating rapala about 2 inches long.  We seemed to hit most of the bass below waterfalls.  My dad caught one that was almost 4 1/2 pounds!  Watch out for the Pike.  They chomped anything that they could catch.  You might also have fun with the walleye.  Besides, IMHO walleye taste much better than smallmouth. Let me know how it went (I’m jealous). Tom Cavitt

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