Question:

George somebody (can’t remember his last name) once told me to

I can’t imagine anyone named George flaming anyone in this manner. <g — TL, Tim

Response:

George somebody (can’t remember his last name) once told me to I can’t imagine anyone named George flaming anyone in this manner. <g

I’m shocked! SHOCKED! I tells ya! /daytripper (Could never happen here

Response:

There’s an old Western pattern, The Rio Grande Trude, that’s VERY similar to your Pass Lake. It was somewhat of a standard some twenty years ago, but you seldom see it anymore. There was a guy that specialized in the fly and caught some very big fish in waters that generally demand very small flies. One of the reason the fly is so good is that it fishes well dry, damp or wet. Willi

Help me out here. Isn’t the Rio Grande Trude basically a Royal Trude with out the red thread on the body? If so I keep several of those in my fly box. The Royal Trude is my favorite fly on my favorite stream. However, if the fishies are being fussy and not taking it, I will try the Rio Grande (or at least what I am thinking is Rio Grande) and sometimes I will start catching fish with it. It seems odd to me that that small of a change in the fly (no red body thread) will make that much difference. Also, if they are taking the Royal they won’t touch the Rio Grande. Russell

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"pittendrigh" < George somebody (can’t remember his last name) once told me to It was funny.  In fact, thanks George. I needed that.

Sorry, I can’t help myself here Sandy… was it the telling you needed or did you actually do it and discover you needed it? c):-) Clark

Response:

  Very interesting.  Peacock herl is fascinating stuff.  There are many   materials with a vast range of uses in fly tying, but peacock herl is a   true standout among them.  It is the only material I know of which   virtually guarantees that flies incorporating it will catch   fish……there’s just something magic about it.  I have never   encountered a fly using peacock herl that is not a good fish catcher.     That said, I find it a bit odd to see it in a dry fly.  Herl, by its   very nature, floats like a brick.  Unlike many feathers, it is not the   least bit hydrophobic…..quite the contrary, it wicks up water so   effectively that it is difficult to make it float, even with the best of   floatants.     Never having seen this fly in action, I would suspect that the wing   stays on the surface while the body is submerged.  While this sort of   arrangement often makes it hard to keep a fly floating at all, thus   causing no end of frustration, it is often VERY appealing to fish.  My   own favorite Pass Lake works on the same principle.  I tie it with a   chenille body (equally problematic in dry flies) which will occasionally   allow the fly to sit on the surface for a short while but inevitably   causes the entire body to sink through the meniscus, leaving the wing   (at best) to keep the whole damned thing from sinking.  Both trout and   panfish frequently find this irresistible. My guess is that the fly Harry posted is going to float LESS well than your Pass Lake. CDC does float but not well enough to hold the weight of a soaked peacock body. Like you stated through, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There’s an old Western pattern, The Rio Grande Trude, that’s VERY similar to your Pass Lake. It was somewhat of a standard some twenty years ago, but you seldom see it anymore. There was a guy that specialized in the fly and caught some very big fish in waters that generally demand very small flies. One of the reason the fly is so good is that it fishes well dry, damp or wet. Willi

Response:

Yeah you’re right, I over reacted and apologize to Sandy.

Not necessary, and not a problem. I did say "it’s interesting how ideas get invented multiple times," didn’t I? Anyway, if you want to play on the internet it helps to have a thick skin. Words come right off the tips of people’s fingertips, and, as such, are easily interpreted in multiple, unintended ways.   George somebody (can’t remember his last name) once told me to It was funny.  In fact, thanks George. I needed that.

Response:

I just made a new set of step-by-step tying instructions for the world famous ‘Flat Caddis’ This is a fly I’ve been tying for years. It’s an attempt an anatomically more accurate version of the Troth Elk Hair Caddis. This fly does lie flat to the water, like a real caddis fly. And I enjoy tying it. Does it catch more fish than an Elk Hair Caddis? I can’t honestly say yes. It certainly does just as well however, and it floats like a cork.   There is something about horizontally oriented parachute hackles that does a better job of floating a dry fly than traditional hackles. http://montana-riverboats.com/pages/pages.php?page_title=FlatCaddis

Response:

I just made a new set of step-by-step tying instructions for the world famous ‘Flat Caddis’

I also like this fly better than a traditional EHC but I like an EHC with no hackle in the body and a traditional hackle, full but slightly undersized, best. I also tie the wing slightly longer than normal. When tied that way, the fly rides the water "full of life" and you can easily give the fly some lifelike action which I think is often a trigger for fish. I also fish an EHC with no hackle at all. It floats reasonably well when totally dry but is most effective down in the film or slightly sunken. Willi

Response:

I just made a new set of step-by-step tying instructions for the world famous ‘Flat Caddis’ I also like this fly better than a traditional EHC but I like an EHC with no hackle in the body and a traditional hackle, full but slightly undersized, best.

I’ve always like the pattern you describe too, Willi, but I’ve never thought of it as simply a variant EHC.  I’m pretty sure it has a name of its own but that name escapes me.  Anybody? Wolfgang

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just made a new set of step-by-step tying instructions for the world famous ‘Flat Caddis’ I also like this fly better than a traditional EHC but I like an EHC with no hackle in the body and a traditional hackle, full but slightly undersized, best. I’ve always like the pattern you describe too, Willi, but I’ve never thought of it as simply a variant EHC.  I’m pretty sure it has a name of its own but that name escapes me.  Anybody? Wolfgang

 I think this style was first made popular by Ralph Cutter and  his e/c caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=e/c and  Bob Brooks Headlight caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=headlite Harry

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I also like this fly better than a traditional EHC but I like an EHC with no hackle in the body and a traditional hackle, full but slightly undersized, best. I’ve always like the pattern you describe too, Willi, but I’ve never thought of it as simply a variant EHC.  I’m pretty sure it has a name of its own but that name escapes me.  Anybody? Wolfgang  I think this style was first made popular by Ralph Cutter and  his e/c caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=e/c and  Bob Brooks Headlight caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=headlite

The above patterns are similar to the Flat Caddis Pittendrigh described. The pattern I was describing may have a name, but it evolved for me from a pattern described by Wright that from what I remember, he called a Skittering or Fluttering Caddis. He used spade hackle tips for the wings (some other tiers used mink hairs) that were tied in in three bunches. These materials are hard to get and the wing was hard to tie "right" so the fly would have action and good flotation. I substituted elk/deer hair for the wing. Over time, I lengthened the wing and used more turns of hackle but with a hackle one size smaller than "usual." This makes for a fly that skitters and hops on the surface very easily. Willi

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I also like this fly better than a traditional EHC but I like an EHC with no hackle in the body and a traditional hackle, full but slightly undersized, best. I’ve always like the pattern you describe too, Willi, but I’ve never thought of it as simply a variant EHC.  I’m pretty sure it has a name of its own but that name escapes me.  Anybody? Wolfgang  I think this style was first made popular by Ralph Cutter and  his e/c caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=e/c and  Bob Brooks Headlight caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=headlite The above patterns are similar to the Flat Caddis Pittendrigh described. The pattern I was describing may have a name, but it evolved for me from a pattern described by Wright that from what I remember, he called a Skittering or Fluttering Caddis. He used spade hackle tips for the wings (some other tiers used mink hairs) that were tied in in three bunches. These materials are hard to get and the wing was hard to tie "right" so the fly would have action and good flotation. I substituted elk/deer hair for the wing. Over time, I lengthened the wing and used more turns of hackle but with a hackle one size smaller than "usual." This makes for a fly that skitters and hops on the surface very easily. Willi

I’ve been tying caddis in this style for nearly twenty years and the idea was not original.  It was taught to me by the Malignant Dwarf who, if memory serves, learned it from someone else when he began twenty or more years before.   Sorry Harry, but what I’m thinking of (and what I believe Willi is describing) doesn’t look much like either of the flies on the pages you cited. Wolfgang

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just made a new set of step-by-step tying instructions for the world famous ‘Flat Caddis’ I also like this fly better than a traditional EHC but I like an EHC with no hackle in the body and a traditional hackle, full but slightly undersized, best. I’ve always like the pattern you describe too, Willi, but I’ve never thought of it as simply a variant EHC.  I’m pretty sure it has a name of its own but that name escapes me.  Anybody? Wolfgang

I’ve always heard them called Skittering Caddis.  There is a version at http://www.hawkeyeflyfishing.com/Fly_patterns/Drys/D15.html  ,though the version I prefer has no palmered hackle on the body, but a dense short conventional hackle in front of the wing. BTW I have used a larger version of this fly  (light wire size 6 salmon/steelhead hook) to good effect on steelhead this time of year – also effective on trout during the October Caddis hatch Bob Weinberger

Response:

"William Loehman/Susan Schwarz" I also like this fly better than a traditional EHC but I like an EHC with no hackle in the body and a traditional hackle, full but slightly undersized, best. I also tie the wing slightly longer than normal. When tied that way, the fly rides the water "full of life" and you can easily give the fly some lifelike action which I think is often a trigger for fish. I also fish an EHC with no hackle at all. It floats reasonably well when totally dry but is most effective down in the film or slightly sunken.

I like similar styles and particularly like an EHC with a cdc hackle instead of the traditional. Very effective on spring creeks. Clark

Response:

I think this style was first made popular by Ralph Cutter and  his e/c caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=e/c and  Bob Brooks Headlight caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=headlite Harry

Hello Harry: Yes, those flies are interesting: basically the same fly as mine. My proportions are different, and I don’t bother with a dubbed body, but basically it’s the same. Every idea seems to get invented multiple times. I got email from an historian the other day (among other things, he’s tracking down a reference to flies taken along on the Lewis and Clark expedition). Anyway one thing led to another. I mentioned to him I first showed the Flat Caddis to Gary LaFontaine in 1981, at a fly fishing demonstration Gary put on at Dave Kumlein’s Bozeman Orvis shop. Gary liked that fly, and offered to ‘help me get it published.’ In retrospect, I was a fool not to take him up on that.

Response:

Your right I was looking at the  Pittendrigh  pattern…. how ’bout this one? http://www.troutflies.com/pictures/flys/spent_caddis/spent_caddis.shtml – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I also like this fly better than a traditional EHC but I like an EHC with no hackle in the body and a traditional hackle, full but slightly undersized, best. I’ve always like the pattern you describe too, Willi, but I’ve never thought of it as simply a variant EHC.  I’m pretty sure it has a name of its own but that name escapes me.  Anybody? Wolfgang  I think this style was first made popular by Ralph Cutter and  his e/c caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=e/c and  Bob Brooks Headlight caddis http://www.troutflies.com/go.mv?ID=headlite The above patterns are similar to the Flat Caddis Pittendrigh described. The pattern I was describing may have a name, but it evolved for me from a pattern described by Wright that from what I remember, he called a Skittering or Fluttering Caddis. He used spade hackle tips for the wings (some other tiers used mink hairs) that were tied in in three bunches. These materials are hard to get and the wing was hard to tie "right" so the fly would have action and good flotation. I substituted elk/deer hair for the wing. Over time, I lengthened the wing and used more turns of hackle but with a hackle one size smaller than "usual." This makes for a fly that skitters and hops on the surface very easily. Willi I’ve been tying caddis in this style for nearly twenty years and the idea was not original.  It was taught to me by the Malignant Dwarf who, if memory serves, learned it from someone else when he began twenty or more years before.   Sorry Harry, but what I’m thinking of (and what I believe Willi is describing) doesn’t look much like either of the flies on the pages you cited. Wolfgang

Response:

  Anyway one thing led to another. I mentioned to him I first showed   the Flat Caddis to Gary LaFontaine in 1981, at a fly fishing demonstration   Gary put on at Dave Kumlein’s Bozeman Orvis shop. Gary liked that fly,   and offered to ‘help me get it published.’   In retrospect, I was a fool not to take him up on that. IMO, it just a matter of marketing in terms of how a "new" fly name gets recognized and is largely just an ego thing. It seems to me that it is the person responsible for making a particular pattern popular that gets the naming "right", not necessarily the "first" person to tie it. IMO, there are very few unique flies that come out. Most are just minor variations. With the number of tiers out there, virtually all of these variations have been tried by some tiers. Not to criticize your pattern, but I find it highly unlikely that you were the first person to use the elk hair tag as a post for a parachute. Actually, I could give a shit and would be happy to call it the pittendrigh flat wing caddis. Your reaction reminds me of Andy Kim becoming pissed off because other people were using a thread body for their midge nymphs and calling them something other than "Yong" something. Willi

Response:

  Your right I was looking at the  Pittendrigh  pattern…. how ’bout   this one?   http://www.troutflies.com/pictures/flys/spent_caddis/spent_caddis.shtml That’s the right "style". I like a skinnier body, shorter denser hackle and a longer wing. Willi

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Gary put on at Dave Kumlein’s Bozeman Orvis shop. Gary liked that fly, and offered to ‘help me get it published.’ In retrospect, I was a fool not to take him up on that. Your reaction reminds me of Andy Kim becoming pissed off because other people were using a thread body for their midge nymphs and calling them something other than "Yong" something. Willi, I’ve never read that sort of atitude into Sandy’s posts, and don’t really see it in this one. Sandy puts up detailed patterns and tying instructions for basically altruistic reasons (as far as I can tell). I have always appreciated his posts and his ROFF presence. To me his comment above was a simple honest statement of having had a chance to accept help from a very well-known person and for some reason passing it up.

Yeah you’re right, I over reacted and apologize to Sandy. I also value his input here and on ROFFT and think that he does have some very innovative ideas especially in his use of foam. I was on Andy Kim’s website the other night and read his rants and……. The naming of flies and credit for designing them has always seemed like   a weird thing to me. It seems to me to be more fame or ego or money or advertising related than substance. There are very few truly new patterns. Most are just SLIGHT modifications of other patterns being used. EVERY tier that has been tying for any length of time routinely ties his own patterns whether purposeful or inadvertent. Few patterns remain true to the original. More significant to me is when someone comes up with the idea for incorporating new materials into a fly or coming up with new techniques for tying or creating a new style of fly. But who knows who was the first person to use CDC on a fly or beadheads or foam or epoxy or who was the first to use a parachute hackle or dubbing twist or ……. If some famous person in the golden retriever world liked your work and offered to put a plug in for you, wouldn’t you feel the same way?  

No Willi

Response:

…. how ’bout this one? http://www.troutflies.com/pictures/flys/spent_caddis/spent_caddis.shtml

Yep, that’s the one I had in mind.  Interesting body in the photo.  Herl? Wolfgang

Response:

Here is a variation using CDC http://www.troutflies.com/rofft/cdc/downwing.shtml – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Your right I was looking at the  Pittendrigh  pattern…. how ’bout   this one?   http://www.troutflies.com/pictures/flys/spent_caddis/spent_caddis.shtml That’s the right "style". I like a skinnier body, shorter denser hackle and a longer wing. Willi

Response:

Here is a variation using CDC http://www.troutflies.com/rofft/cdc/downwing.shtml

Tie that in black and you just might have a winner for the Bighorn.

Response:

I do tie it in black, I would show you ‘cepting my new DC has not made it to my door. I made the mistake of buying it over the net from what c/net describes as 4 star rated seller(good rating). I did get one after 10 days, plugged  it in and the LED read "system error". The manual says send back to Nikon if this error shows up. Back to the seller it went…now they tell me all of the Nikons they have are defective… I  asked for my money back after three weeks of  hassles and BS. I do not believe a thing these dudes say now , pity I have spent hula bucks with them in the past. No more, the sales manager would not even return my calls. BuyRiteDigital….beware – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here is a variation using CDC http://www.troutflies.com/rofft/cdc/downwing.shtml Tie that in black and you just might have a winner for the Bighorn.

Response:

…. how ’bout this one? http://www.troutflies.com/pictures/flys/spent_caddis/spent_caddis.shtml Yep, that’s the one I had in mind.  Interesting body in the photo.  Herl? Wolfgang

Yep that be herl… you should reinforce the stuff though, rope it, or a thread rib. I find this bug works well on the Yellowstone for some reason. Cutts eat it, but then, they eat lots of things most of the time

Response:

…..Herl? Yep that be herl… you should reinforce the stuff though, rope it, or a thread rib. I find this bug works well on the Yellowstone for some reason. Cutts eat it, but then, they eat lots of things most of the time

Very interesting.  Peacock herl is fascinating stuff.  There are many materials with a vast range of uses in fly tying, but peacock herl is a true standout among them.  It is the only material I know of which virtually guarantees that flies incorporating it will catch fish……there’s just something magic about it.  I have never encountered a fly using peacock herl that is not a good fish catcher. That said, I find it a bit odd to see it in a dry fly.  Herl, by its very nature, floats like a brick.  Unlike many feathers, it is not the least bit hydrophobic…..quite the contrary, it wicks up water so effectively that it is difficult to make it float, even with the best of floatants. Never having seen this fly in action, I would suspect that the wing stays on the surface while the body is submerged.  While this sort of arrangement often makes it hard to keep a fly floating at all, thus causing no end of frustration, it is often VERY appealing to fish.  My own favorite Pass Lake works on the same principle.  I tie it with a chenille body (equally problematic in dry flies) which will occasionally allow the fly to sit on the surface for a short while but inevitably causes the entire body to sink through the meniscus, leaving the wing (at best) to keep the whole damned thing from sinking.  Both trout and panfish frequently find this irresistible. Wolfgang

Response:

Question:

I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it??

If they are feeding then why not cast a fly to them? richard

Response:

I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it?? arjay

    Since you are a newbie, don’t believe anything anyone says about this. All you need to know is ….. if the fish don’t bite on your offering yet are obviously feeding ….. change your offering.     Did you know there is a conspiracy to take all of your money.  Oh yes! Tackle manufacturers have been investing in raising and then planting fish that ignore your bait.  If you are hooked on fishing…..you will spend the rest of your life spending huge amounts of money in the never ending attempt to find what the fish like to eat.     Some day you will think you know what it is and you will tell a newbie what to do.  He will embarrass you in front of everybody when he doesn’t catch anything.         Dan in Quebec

Response:

A funny story about trout. I was fishing at the Chatfield Spillway near Denver and saw a whole spillway full of Rainbow Trout surfacing and jumping all over the place. I and three other people broke out our flyrods and used everything we had and didn’t catch anything. A game warden came by and started laughing hysterically at us. I asked him what was up and he said "it was feeding time at the hatchery." These stocker trout "beg" for food at a certain time of the day, depending upon where the sun is in the sky.  They’ll hop out of the water and just hang out.  After being in the water for a while, they stop it, but the first week it annoys the heck out of fisherman. Dan Dow

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Are they jumping out of the water, clearing it.  Those are often carp, and all I can figure is they jump for joy, not feeding!  They do this a lot early in the morning If you are seeing swirls in the water rather than fish clearing it, they are probably feeding on something on the surface.  Try topwater or flies I wrote an article on my site about an experience I had.  Kept seeing fish come to the top at Lake Oconee here in GA.  Could not get them to hit.  One finally came up right at the boat and I saw it – a brown bullhead!    I caught one later on a plastic worm. Ronnie http://fishing.about.com

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I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it?? arjay

–When salmon are jumping and rolling on the surface, you might as well sit back and watch the show.  The biters are on the bottom of the stream or river, not up on top. Sharp Hooks, Pat Holdzit Fishing Products Inc. http://www.holdzit.com Before you buy.

Response:

I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it?? arjay

Response:

Hi arjay, It depends.  One area (on a river) where I fish often, the Sturgeon will "go nuts" at about dusk, these are very big fish jumping out of the water like a breaching whale.  The Sturgeon jump typically has no effect on the bite of Catfish, Bass, Walleye and Crappie that are common in the area. On the other hand, if the fish you are fishing for is surfacing and you are fishing worms on the bottom, you are probably in for a long sit.  You would need to target your bait and presentation to the feeding activity of the fish.  One afternoon last week, I was at the spot mentioned above fishing crawlers on the bottom.  Some fish was feeding sporadically on the surface and I was getting no bite.  I threw out a crawler under a float, about 15" below the surface.  The float drifted with the current into the "strike zone" where the mystery fish was surfacing and the float was down.   I was on to a pretty good bass. Jumping alone can only offer you clues.  Anytime the bite is slow, you should change the presentation (possibly many times).  If the change in presentation doesn’t work, you might want to change location. As far as selectivity… could be!  Depends on the fish.  Trout will often be completely selective, but usually not this late in the season.  Next time you get to the lake, bring a grasshopper or attractor fly and a big float. Place the float about 2-3′ above the fly and use the weight on the float to cast. Good Luck! Hope this helps, Fritz

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it?? arjay

Response:

Question:

I recall that a couple years back, the slang for "cool" or "really great" was "fly". Gives "fly fishing" a whole new cachet, dontcha think? — "If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic" — Harry S. Truman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  I’m new too the sport of "Fly"

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            I’m new too the sport of "Fly", but an avid fisherman back on the East Coast. Will be out  around Col. Springs in early October.

The South Platte is legendary. I fished Eleven Mile canyon when I was out in CoSprings on business last year at this time and it is absolutely, unbelievably gorgeous. Plus I even caught a few fish. It is about 1.5 hours from the town as I recall. I don’t know how it compares to other stretches of the river as far as productivity goes, but I cannot imagine a more jaw-dropping locale than the 11-Mile stretch. –Steve

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Folks,             I’m new too the sport of "Fly", but an avid fisherman back on the East Coast. Will be out  around Col. Springs in early October. Was wondering if there is any appreciable Fly fishing in this part of the State? I have seen folks fishing in and around Breakenridge, Gunnison (sp?), and Vail on a previous bike trip. How does Col. Springs stack up to these places and the rest of the state for that matter? Thanks in advance for any and all info Dan

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Question:

Hi Paint Island, Bordentown? That’s almost next door to me (Perrineville).  How can I get to your place from I-195? Are you going to be at Paddlesport ‘99 in Somerset? re:where to put the fish – I was thinking in the compartment in the back of the yak… Roger D.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Greetings from Paint Island Canoe & Kayak in Bordentown, NJ. Depending upon the size of the fish you may catch may also play a roll in what boat you chose. It also brings to mind a story in a seakayaker magazine about 2 years ago where a northwest coast paddler hooked a fish that pulled him for miles before the yaker gained control. In that case, or if you ever see this as a possibility, I would lean towards the bigger boat just in case you wind up further away from anywhere. You certainly will not go wrong with the Current Designs boats. Where will you put the fish you catch? Ron Paint Island Canoe & Kayak http://www.riversport.com/paintisland/

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Greetings from Paint Island Canoe & Kayak in Bordentown, NJ. Depending upon the size of the fish you may catch may also play a roll in what boat you chose. It also brings to mind a story in a seakayaker magazine about 2 years ago where a northwest coast paddler hooked a fish that pulled him for miles before the yaker gained control. In that case, or if you ever see this as a possibility, I would lean towards the bigger boat just in case you wind up further away from anywhere. You certainly will not go wrong with the Current Designs boats. Where will you put the fish you catch? Ron Paint Island Canoe & Kayak http://www.riversport.com/paintisland/

Response:

Greetings from Paint Island Canoe & Kayak in Bordentown, NJ. Depending upon the size of the fish you may catch may also play a roll in what boat you chose. It also brings to mind a story in a seakayaker magazine about 2 years ago where a northwest coast paddler hooked a fish that pulled him for miles before the yaker gained control. In that case, or if you ever see this as a possibility, I would lean towards the bigger boat just in case you wind up further away from anywhere.

About a block or so from where I live is one of the major tributaries to Cayuga lake.  Ever late spring some really large carp come up into it to spawn (there are also some large rainbow, lake trout, brown trout, and landlock salmon that come up other times of the year).  I’ve got a little Aquaterra Caspia that I put in there with my flyrod.  Along with my regular paddle I bring a small hand paddle for manoevering about.  I’ve hooked several fish that have pulled me several hundred feet up and down the river, a couple of which I had on for over 20 minutes before they broke off.  I saw a fish there in the fall that was over 3′ long and easily 25 pounds. You certainly will not go wrong with the Current Designs boats. Where will you put the fish you catch?

Good question.  Although Current Designs makes some really nice boats I can’t think of any of the models that would be good for fishing out of. One of the nice things about the Caspia is that it has a large cockpit and when I fish from it I don’t use a spray skirt.  Something like an Old Town Loon 138 would also be good for kayak fishing because of the large cockpit and good initial stability. When someone comes here asking about a good kayak for fishing I see two different types of conditions.  There is the "getting from point A to point B" and then getting out to fish, and there are situations where one would want to fish while sitting in the boat.  For the latter type of fishing, a wide, stable kayak would be the best choice.  For the former, a kayak which will cover distance a little quicker might be better.  Most of the CD boats would be good for getting from point to point B, but not so good to actually fish from. John Fereira Stop Unsolicited Commercial Email – Join CAUCE (http://www.cauce.org) Support HR 1748, the anti-spam bill.

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O.K., tough choice.  I’m moving from a sit-on-top to a sit-inside. I want a kayak for fishing up to 2 miles off the (East) coast & back-bays.  Yes, I know there will be a transition, but I’m looking for a long term solution that I’ll ‘mature’ into.   Any suggestions are welcome?

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O.K., tough choice.  I’m moving from a sit-on-top to a sit-inside. I want a kayak for fishing up to 2 miles off the (East) coast & back-bays.  Yes, I know there will be a transition, but I’m looking for a long term solution that I’ll ‘mature’ into.   Any suggestions are welcome?

There is quite a bit of a difference between the Current Designs Pachena and the Solstice GT.   You didn’t mention what kind of SOT boat that you are paddling now but the transition between that and the Solstice GT is likely going to be difficult.  I’ve done a bit of fishing (fly) out of a kayak and I can’t imagine trying to do it out of a Solstice.  It’s initial stability is pretty low and for fishing, you’ll want something that you don’t have to even think about maintaining upright.   The Pachena would likely be a much better choice for your needs.  Something like the Seda Viking at 16′6" and 24" wide would probably also be a good choice in a fiberglass boat. John Fereira Stop Unsolicited Commercial Email – Join CAUCE (http://www.cauce.org) Support HR 1748, the anti-spam bill.

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Bruce: Hey, you don’t have to rub our USA noses in it, do you?  Seriously, thanks for an informative post.  Of course, do you realize you just ruined your fishing? Now your area will become a dreaded "destination fishery", bringing yuppie Yankees crawling all over your fishing waters.  Articles will appear in fishing magazines, rods will be named after your favorite rivers, and if you’re really lucky there will be a Jeep model named in your honor.  :) Mark Faulkner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hmmmm, humble Aussie here, and after reading numerous articles from the newsgroups I’ve gotta say you have to get down into the Southern Hemisphere. Where I live in Horsham in Western Victoria, down south in case you didn’t know, I have world class lake fishing virtually at my doorstep. Twenty minutes in one direction takes me to Lake Toolondo, home of sensational brown trout, and 30 minutes in the other direction takes me to Lake Fyans where I landed a lovely little rainbow on Sunday night. Lovely start to the working week, I must say. Seriously, without being flippant, I had no idea how lucky I was as far as my fly fishing goes until I started to read articles from the newsgroup. I don’t have to plan fishing trips. Mates simply call during the day, ask what I’m doing later and whether I’d like to go fishing. We pack our gear into the car and we’re there in no more than half an hour. And that’s to get to the best waters. There are plenty as close as 10 minutes away which produce browns to 5lb on a good day. If anyone’s considering an Aussie holiday, you could do worse than to visit from September through to March. Hope you like it hot, though. Regards, Bruce L.

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Mark Faulkner you’re really lucky there will be a Jeep model named in your honor.  :) The Subaru already has the "Outback".   Dave LaCourse

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Mark Faulkner you’re really lucky there will be a Jeep model named in your honor.  :) The Subaru already has the "Outback". Dave LaCourse

Jeez, how could I forget that.  Mark Faulkner

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Bruce: Hey, you don’t have to rub our USA noses in it, do you?  Seriously, thanks for an informative post.  Of course, do you realize you just ruined your fishing? Now your area will become a dreaded "destination fishery", bringing yuppie Yankees crawling all over your fishing waters.  Articles will appear in fishing magazines, rods will be named after your favorite rivers, and if you’re really lucky there will be a Jeep model named in your honor.  :) Mark Faulkner

Don’t worry about it Mark, Rex Hunt will probably be there, and he will keep the tourists away! Regards, — Bill

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Question:

Last month someone on this newsgroup posted an inquiry regarding where to find appropriately sized waders for children. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name/address of the poster. I believe I referred him/her to LL Bean, Cabela, or Damsel Fly. Yesterday I received a catalog from "The Global Flyfisher" in Northbrook, Illinois which lists "Fly Tech Youth Waders" which sound like exactly what this person was looking for. The listing in the catalog: "Finally, Fly Tech brings us an affordable neoprene youth wader! These youth waders have everything adult waders have. Made of 3.5mm Neoprene with a high back and adjustable suspenders. They have a large handwarmer pocket, padded knee pads, Hypalon soles, 3-D rings for accessories. Gravel guards and repair kit included. Brown." Comes in Small, Medium, and Large (they include a sizing chart). Price= $65.00 Phone: 800-457-7026 I have no ties to this company and have not seen the waders myself except in a picture, but I thought if the person was still out there looking for waders for their kid this might be the ticket.

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I’d like to hear a serious discussion of peripheral gear…waders and boots.  Let me start by telling those what I have found out then pose some questions.  Stocking foot waders seem to be more versatile than booted waders i.e. your stocking foots can go into your float tube fins for example and you have your choice of boots, felt sole for mossy bottom cleats for whatever. Neoprenes seem to have no use.  As someone who travels I need all the lightness and space I can get.  Even in the coldest Western stream I am toasty warm in plastic redball waders and sweet pants for insulation.  I use my waders protective socks made of neoprene that are designed to prevent chafing of the lightweight waders and keep gravel out with a cuff INSIDE my waders over my socks.  This keeps my feet warm and prevents me from feeling that bunched up sock and wader feeling that we all hate after walking around with all this gear on.  This negates the protection of the wader but really feels comfortable all day long.  If you have any other tips to share please post them.  Using this system of layering under thin waders I have put my neoprenes away forever.   My questions are do the Gortex fabrics that allow the wader to breath keep you drier inside on a hot day?  Do they really work as advertised?  My biggest problem is that sweaty clammy feeling from wearing a plastic bag all day.  Second, for those of you who have to hike in and pass through water to fish what do you do?  Feltsole boots are crappy hiking boots.  I’m thinking of forgetting the feltsoles and   trying hiking boots in my waders.   Anyone do this?  

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what do you do?  Feltsole boots are crappy hiking boots.  I’m thinking of forgetting the feltsoles and   trying hiking boots in my waders.   Anyone do this?

Hiking boots are crappy wading boots. If you step on a smooth, wet rock with rubber soled boots you might as well be wearing roller skates. Tight Lines Jay Whitworth

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Griz, Regarding you idea about using hiking boots with your waders, while I haven’t done that yet, I plan to. For years I used nothing but a three-ply (canvas, rubber,canvas) pair of hodgman’s hippers. I love them because they’re the toughest thing you can get for the money. However, i find as I stray farther from my home waters that I need chest waders, and I happened upon a going out of business sale and got a pair of neo. for $50. However, because the boots are so expensive and I’m so cheap, I thought about just going to a discount store and buying some fake leather hiking boots. Seems logical. I’ll tell you how they work when I get back from a trip to the west branch of the delaware in New York.  I’m looking forward to a heavy hendrikson hatch. grant

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Griz, Regarding you idea about using hiking boots with your waders, while I haven’t done that yet, I plan to. For years I used nothing but a three-ply (canvas, rubber,canvas) pair of hodgman’s hippers. I love them because they’re the toughest thing you can get for the money. However, i find as I stray farther from my home waters that I need chest waders, and I happened upon a going out of business sale and got a pair of neo. for $50. However, because the boots are so expensive and I’m so cheap, I thought about just going to a discount store and buying some fake leather hiking boots. Seems logical. I’ll tell you how they work when I get back from a trip to the west branch of the delaware in New York.  I’m looking forward to a heavy hendrikson hatch. grant

Hi Grant, For years I used a pair of jungle boots purchased at a surplus store. All I had to do was glue indoor/outdoor carpet to the soles. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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Question:

It’s pretty sad when the first post to a new group, fly tying, is SPAM. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The FISHING LOG is a Powerful Software Program for Windows  It tracks every aspect of your fishing trips/sessions in great detail. It is colorful, extremely powerful and very user friendly. Keeps track of just about anything you can think of in Fresh Water or Salt. It is a large program of research quality but you can just keep up the sections YOU wish. Export data to other programs for analysis, printing  and charting. The best part is that if you download it yourself it is FREE. Mind that the last characters in the WWW address are all UPPERCASE!                 Bob Sheedy                Master Angler http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/~sheedyr/FISHING.HTM

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The FISHING LOG is a Powerful Software Program for Windows  It tracks every aspect of your fishing trips/sessions in great detail. It is colorful, extremely powerful and very user friendly. Keeps track of just about anything you can think of in Fresh Water or Salt. It is a large program of research quality but you can just keep up the sections YOU wish. Export data to other programs for analysis, printing  and charting. The best part is that if you download it yourself it is FREE. Mind that the last characters in the WWW address are all UPPERCASE!                  Bob Sheedy                 Master Angler http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/~sheedyr/FISHING.HTM

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Question:

Does anyone know anything about fly fishing for stripers and blues at Rye Playland (or anywhere else in Westchester County for that matter)?  I live in the area and would appreciate any info.  thanks —   floete

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If you live there you already know you need a boat…. If that is no problem then you will find very good fishing from Scotch caps as far east as you want to run. The best times for me were on a dropping tide near the caps or a high tide just about everywhere else. Clousers work well, poppers when blues are around and big deceivers too. Watch for fire worm hatch in June/July. For Playland the breakwall was good. Use a sinking tip and have fun ! "The true angler is always content to fish alone" Brian Di Carlo

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Question:

I am thinking about going to St. Croix in the Virgin Islands for a week of Contra dancing and was wondering about flyfishing there.  Anyone know anything about what might be there?  E-Mail  Gitfish   Thanks

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I have fished bonefish in the VI, but up on Virgin Gorda

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I understand from your earlier message that you have fished for bonefish on Virgin Gorda.  I’m planning a trip that way next summer and am interested in knowing more about your experience.  I understand that there is good fishing on Anegada but was not aware of the opportunities at Virgin Gorda.  Is the fishing good?  Are a boat and guide essential?  Are guided trips available from Virgin Gorda?  

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I’m new to this sport and love it!  Wonder where I can go for some good fishing that is in close proximity to home (Bryan, Texas)?  I’d like to be able to get there pretty quick and still spend a couple  hours after work fishing.  Any advice?   Also, I’m going to be down near Corpus Christi in July, any suggestions there?   Thanks in advance for the advice! Mark Klemm

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I’m new to this sport and love it!  Wonder where I can go for some good fishing that is in close proximity to home (Bryan, Texas)?  I’d like to be able to get there pretty quick and still spend a couple  hours after work fishing.  Any advice?   Also, I’m going to be down near Corpus Christi in July, any suggestions there?   Thanks in advance for the advice! Mark Klemm

Mark, almost any place that has fish, you can fly fish.  Don’t think that it is restricted to trout.  If you want to fish for trout however, try the Guadalupe where it comes out of Canyon(?) Dam.  That area is stocked, and is currently getting good press about the success of the program. Also, you can fly fish the same Guadalupe for bass. Small streamers are best, however even large wooly buggers and mariboo steamers will work…..   Dee Crabtree DeeCrab*ibm.net

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