Question:

"John Kowalski" and others have asked me for the Steelhead Clouser Fly Pattern I used to fish on this trip.  I sent him a slightly different pattern than I actually used.  Here is the pattern as used, your mileage may vary: Steelhead Clouser Flat Wing Tube Fly. Tube: 1/2 of a plastic hollow Q-tip with the swabs removed (One end will be rough to hold the swab — use this end for the hook keeper/holder) Hook Holder: Light Blue small hobby gas engine fuel line (like for RC airplanes)- I used permanent markers to cover the light blue to match the body Thread: Black Body: Ultra-Chenille purple, pink or chartreuse wrapped with silver wire Eyes: Painted Dumbbell Eyes (Red) Wing: Black Bucktail (or Black Fishhair/Ultrahair) wrap this back a 1/2" from the dumbbell eyes for a flatter wing appearance Bottom Wing: White Bucktail (or White Fishhair/Ultrahair) mixed with a few Purple Flashabou or Krystal Flash or your favorite matching body color Hook: Your favorite steelhead hook including small shank hooks and circle hooks Chris "Padishar Creel" Fanning

Response:

I just got home and wanted to share my fishing experiences.  I have been Steelhead fishing the last two days at a river I cannot reveal, since a friend was my guide and asked me not to share the location, but he did not say I couldn’t share the experience… I hooked 30+ Steelhead and landed 22 over the past two days.  I have NEVER had such success in my entire life!  I caught every single fish on the Steelhead Clouser Tube Fly in black, white and purple…However, I admit any good pattern would have seemed to worked…my buddy used the Purple Peril and a couple of his own designs, although I out fished him 2 to 1 (advantage to the Spey Rod — I was able to cover considerably more water than he could with is 8wt single-hander)…The recent rains in the Pacific NW is moving fish and it looks like a banner year… Padishar Creel…Only hit myself in the head with a fly 4 times in the last 2 days…a record…:)

Response:

Wow, that sounds great.  Let me know if you need a drift boat trip for the exchange of that spot. Hillsboro, OR

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just got home and wanted to share my fishing experiences.  I have been Steelhead fishing the last two days at a river I cannot reveal, since a friend was my guide and asked me not to share the location, but he did not say I couldn’t share the experience… I hooked 30+ Steelhead and landed 22 over the past two days.  I have NEVER had such success in my entire life!  I caught every single fish on the Steelhead Clouser Tube Fly in black, white and purple…However, I admit any good pattern would have seemed to worked…my buddy used the Purple Peril and a couple of his own designs, although I out fished him 2 to 1 (advantage to the Spey Rod — I was able to cover considerably more water than he could with is 8wt single-hander)…The recent rains in the Pacific NW is moving fish and it looks like a banner year… Padishar Creel…Only hit myself in the head with a fly 4 times in the last 2 days…a record…:)

Response:

An outstanding trip Chris. I’d sure like to find some of that action.  Had one day like that last year, you can never forget it. Chas

..  Great TR clipped …

Response:

"Randy Kane" attempted to tempt me with a nice drift boat trip for the secret to the spot. Randy, I would love to accept your generous and tempting offer and I always enjoy fishin’ with new fly fisherman, however, even though my ethics can be strained, I am hopeful to be invited again on combination trip of upland game bird hunting and fly fishing with the friend who just made my trip of a lifetime. Sorry, Padishar Creel

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I just got home and wanted to share my fishing experiences.  I have been Steelhead fishing the last two days at a river I cannot reveal, since a friend was my guide and asked me not to share the location, but he did not say I couldn’t share the experience… I hooked 30+ Steelhead and landed 22 over the past two days.  I have NEVER had such success in my entire life!  I caught every single fish on the Steelhead Clouser Tube Fly in black, white and purple…However, I admit any good pattern would have seemed to worked…my buddy used the Purple Peril and a couple of his own designs, although I out fished him 2 to 1 (advantage to the Spey Rod — I was able to cover considerably more water than he could with is 8wt single-hander)…The recent rains in the Pacific NW is moving fish and it looks like a banner year… Padishar Creel…Only hit myself in the head with a fly 4 times in the last 2 days…a record…:)

Only four times – try harder, OK? and about the trip – Spey rods rule!!! hope you’re not getting whacked by the crappy weather out your way Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Peter, Could you share the pattern for your Clouser Tube Fly pattern with me?  I tried to e=mail yo through the link on the web page you list and it came

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just got home and wanted to share my fishing experiences.  I have been Steelhead fishing the last two days at a river I cannot reveal, since a friend was my guide and asked me not to share the location, but he did not say I couldn’t share the experience… I hooked 30+ Steelhead and landed 22 over the past two days.  I have NEVER had such success in my entire life!  I caught every single fish on the Steelhead Clouser Tube Fly in black, white and purple…However, I admit any good pattern would have seemed to worked…my buddy used the Purple Peril and a couple of his own designs, although I out fished him 2 to 1 (advantage to the Spey Rod — I was able to cover considerably more water than he could with is 8wt single-hander)…The recent rains in the Pacific NW is moving fish and it looks like a banner year… Padishar Creel…Only hit myself in the head with a fly 4 times in the last 2 days…a record…:) Only four times – try harder, OK? and about the trip – Spey rods rule!!! hope you’re not getting whacked by the crappy weather out your way Peter Visit The Streamer Page at

http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

Peter, Could you share the pattern for your Clouser Tube Fly pattern with me?  I tried to e=mail yo through the link on the web page you list and it came

That pattern belongs to Chris, perhaps he can put it up for you. Tested the mail function on my page – seems to be OK. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

I’m sorry but I don’t know Chris.  Do you have his email? thanks

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Peter, Could you share the pattern for your Clouser Tube Fly pattern with me?  I tried to e=mail yo through the link on the web page you list and it came That pattern belongs to Chris, perhaps he can put it up for you. Tested the mail function on my page – seems to be OK. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at

http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

I’m sorry but I don’t know Chris.  Do you have his email? thanks

You must have missed the lead post in this thread as Chris got it started – it was his trip and his fly.  I picked his email off of that HTH Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Yes, I found it immediately after the last post. Thanks, JFK

I’m sorry but I don’t know Chris.  Do you have his email? thanks You must have missed the lead post in this thread as Chris got it started – it was his trip and his fly.  I picked his email off of that HTH Peter Visit The Streamer Page at

http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

Question:

Mike The standard I use is how do my flies compare to commercially tired ones in trout getting . They do just as well . Lou – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve never seen any fly patterns that "cheat" like that but the trout, who are  the ultimate judges of such things, don’t seen to mind my shortcuts and take my flies. Am I breaking some unwritten law? I’m not a tier, myself, but it seems to me that it doesn’t matter. You tie flies, and the trout eat them. If there’s a problem, I fail to see it. — "Armchair warriors often fail, and we’ve been  poisoned by these fairy tales" -Don Henley

Response:

The standard I use is how do my flies compare to commercially tired ones in trout getting . They do just as well .

Lord have mercy, Lou!  If that was my standard, I’d be too damn depressed to carry on.  I compare to the bare hook.  My flies almost always do better than a bare hook. JR

Response:

John LOL Lou

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The standard I use is how do my flies compare to commercially tired ones in trout getting . They do just as well . Lord have mercy, Lou!  If that was my standard, I’d be too damn depressed to carry on.  I compare to the bare hook.  My flies almost always do better than a bare hook. JR

Response:

The standard I use is how do my flies compare to commercially tired ones in trout getting . They do just as well .

Commercial flies are as a general rule of poor quality, and inferior effectiveness. There are doubtless considerable numbers of positive examples to the contrary, but I have not seen many of them. If your flies work, which they obviously do, then they are excellent.  You might well be able to improve on them if you give the matter some thought, but comparing them to commercial flies, or various "standards" is not likely to be of much help in this endeavour, apart from using them as negative examples, or for your general edification. TL MC

Response:

Mike Here to learn and maybe share. I’m new to fly tying and realize that I have allot to learn.  For now I’m just finding my way… Lou

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The standard I use is how do my flies compare to commercially tired ones in trout getting . They do just as well . Commercial flies are as a general rule of poor quality, and inferior effectiveness. There are doubtless considerable numbers of positive examples to the contrary, but I have not seen many of them. If your flies work, which they obviously do, then they are excellent.  You might well be able to improve on them if you give the matter some thought, but comparing them to commercial flies, or various "standards" is not likely to be of much help in this endeavour, apart from using them as negative examples, or for your general edification. TL MC

Response:

Mike Here to learn and maybe share. I’m new to fly tying and realize that I have allot to learn.  For now I’m just finding my way… Lou

Exactly why we are all here, and of course to enjoy ourselves. If you have questions, ask away. Somebody on here will invariably know the answer, or even several.  Just as long as you are not going to Antarctica fishing for killer whales, and need info on the best methods and flies! TL MC

Response:

Mike Hiya Most of my fishing is close to home. I’m up on the Keeweenaw Peninsula and mostly fly fish  small rivers and  for trout. Lou

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mike Here to learn and maybe share. I’m new to fly tying and realize that I have allot to learn.  For now I’m just finding my way… Lou Exactly why we are all here, and of course to enjoy ourselves. If you have questions, ask away. Somebody on here will invariably know the answer, or even several.  Just as long as you are not going to Antarctica fishing for killer whales, and need info on the best methods and flies! TL MC

Response:

Mike Hiya Most of my fishing is close to home. I’m up on the Keeweenaw Peninsula and mostly fly fish  small rivers and  for trout. Lou

I know nothing at all about it, I have never heard the name, and I would not have known it even existed but for your post. Rest assured, somebody here will either know it, or know of it, and will be able and willing to assist if necessary. As a "newbie", you may, along with some others, be rather confused at the goings-on on here at present. Just ignore them, all things must pass.  It will not affect your participation in th

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For the rest of us, our heaven resides a little higher. Milwaukee ? — Ken Fortenberry OK, way f*****g higher!  I *was* trying to be nice.  If you like it, you ain’t there. Peter

OOPS, left off the smiley face. just kidding. Peter

Response:

And those discriminating beer drinkers were using it to wash down their SPAM sandwiches no doubt.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anybody notice the little slice of heaven inserted into the Vikings/Rams game ? There they were, at THE source, row after row of Budweiser longnecks making their way toward the homes of discriminating beer drinkers the world over. Be still my beating heart. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

OK, way f*****g higher!  I *was* trying to be nice.  If you like it, you ain’t there. Ah you must of been thinking about Coors Light then

No, no no no no! The Sweet Green Death from Golden is NOT heavenly! It’d better not be! If Coors is divine, then I’m becoming a satanist! Opt out == cop-out. What’s so hard to understand?

Response:

No, no no no no! The Sweet Green Death from Golden is NOT heavenly! It’d better not be! If Coors is divine, then I’m becoming a satanist!

But mixed with a little V8 juice, they make great red beers and that is about all it is good for. bc. — ROFF is like a herd of performing elephants with diarrhea — massive, difficult to redirect, awe-inspiring, entertaining, and a source of mind-boggling amounts of excrement when you least expect it."

Response:

But mixed with a little V8 juice, they make great red beers and that is about all it is good for.

When red beer sounds appealing in the am it generally means you went over the limit the previous night, and you’d better check your shorts for spots too<g. — Charlie…

Response:

says… <Snipped Here’s where I get lost. Unfortunately I have yet to develop the proper appreciation for beer. I’ve been gamely tasting when offered and I have done this from many parts of the world. I have tasted stuff that folks claim is "WONDERFUL" and others that people have claimed "Tastes like Horse Piss" (Although the mind boggles at how they can make that comparison…). I don’t get it. I mean, I like to think I do have taste buds. A nice juicy medium rare Ruth Chris Sirloin with Crispy Onions sets the saliva a flowin and anticipation running. Or, how about a nice tall cool glass of lemonade on a hot day? I can’t understand the flavor or beer…. I’ve drunk all manner of concoction and I can say that some I like and some I hate, but beer? They all taste roughly the same… (With the exception of Bitters and Guiness {More a chowder than a beer}) What am I missing? I read all about posts of guys who’ll come back from a long hot trip out on the waters and then heartily slake their thirst on their favorite brews. Me? I’d be quite happy with a Coke or a Sprite… Heck I’d take water over beer. Aside from the temperature of the beer the flavors are… Well lets just say all I taste is the high level of Carbonation and I do sense the alchohol. I do have a VERY sensitive taste for alchohol. I can taste it in baking and cooking. Specially stuff with wine as a base. In some cases I can get a buzz eating that stuff. It may be something specific to my physiology but I never could enjoy the drinking as much as others. Highballs and cocktails I can taste due to the other flavors involved. Wines are the same way. Hard Liquor? More the quality of the beverage. A scotch seems to turn to smoke that just flows smoothly down leaving a burning trail and a sudden onslaught of dizziness. A whisky has a "smoky" flavor and some oak barrel stuff definitely has a flavor all it’s own (along with the deluge of alchohol!) So what should I bee looking for in beer other than the burp chaser? — Michael Era

Question:

I posted in too much haste, I was just too excited about his possibilities. I am afraid I was too insulting.  I did not mean to imply that he wasn’t already famous. I will use it no matter what he calls it although I would have to think about it if it was "Missed-Bass Knot".  I have too many reminders of that now. AL

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah, Al, but who’s going to want to tie a lure on with a knot called "Missed-a-Bass knot?"  :-))  Shawn, you gotta use your real name on this if you want to become famous. Warren1 Here’s your chance to become famous!  Heck, just reading your note I can see some possiblities. AL "Missed-a-Bass" wrote I came up with my own version of the Pitzen, just ’cause I’m a putz [PUTZIE] and couldn’t remember what snip So what is my modified Pitzen called? It holds up wonderfully…I couldn’t have thought this up myself…where’s Rodney when you need him! Shawn [SHAWNNY] snip

Response:

It’s all good AL. I can take it…been there, done that. — Early to Bed, Early to Rise… Fish all Day, Make up Lies. Shawn

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I posted in too much haste, I was just too excited about his possibilities. I am afraid I was too insulting.  I did not mean to imply that he wasn’t already famous. I will use it no matter what he calls it although I would have to think about it if it was "Missed-Bass Knot".  I have too many reminders of that now. AL Yeah, Al, but who’s going to want to tie a lure on with a knot called "Missed-a-Bass knot?"  :-))  Shawn, you gotta use your real name on this if you want to become famous. Warren1 Here’s your chance to become famous!  Heck, just reading your note I can see some possiblities. AL "Missed-a-Bass" wrote I came up with my own version of the Pitzen, just ’cause I’m a putz [PUTZIE] and couldn’t remember what snip So what is my modified Pitzen called? It holds up wonderfully…I couldn’t have thought this up myself…where’s Rodney when you need him! Shawn [SHAWNNY] snip

Response:

You’ve got a point there ol’ W1 but maybe I should take this opportunity to explain my screen name. I’m always taking the brunt of fishing jokes/tales, yet those that mock me ask advice. Hence "Missed-A-Bass" (say it fast 3 times.. sounds like Mr. Bass don’t ya think?) I think that’s called an Al-go-rhythm.    LMAO! — Early to Bed, Early to Rise… Fish all Day, Make up Lies. Shawn

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah, Al, but who’s going to want to tie a lure on with a knot called "Missed-a-Bass knot?"  :-))  Shawn, you gotta use your real name on this if you want to become famous. Warren1 Here’s your chance to become famous!  Heck, just reading your note I can see some possiblities. AL "Missed-a-Bass" wrote I came up with my own version of the Pitzen, just ’cause I’m a putz [PUTZIE] and couldn’t remember what snip So what is my modified Pitzen called? It holds up wonderfully…I couldn’t have thought this up myself…where’s Rodney when you need him! Shawn [SHAWNNY] snip

Response:

Here’s your chance to become famous!  Heck, just reading your note I can see some possiblities. AL "Missed-a-Bass" wrote I came up with my own version of the Pitzen, just ’cause I’m a putz

[PUTZIE] and couldn’t remember what snip So what is my modified Pitzen called? It holds up wonderfully…I couldn’t have thought this up myself…where’s Rodney when you need him! Shawn [SHAWNNY]

snip

Response:

Yeah, Al, but who’s going to want to tie a lure on with a knot called "Missed-a-Bass knot?"  :-))  Shawn, you gotta use your real name on this if you want to become famous. Warren1

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here’s your chance to become famous!  Heck, just reading your note I can see some possiblities. AL "Missed-a-Bass" wrote I came up with my own version of the Pitzen, just ’cause I’m a putz [PUTZIE] and couldn’t remember what snip So what is my modified Pitzen called? It holds up wonderfully…I couldn’t have thought this up myself…where’s Rodney when you need him! Shawn [SHAWNNY] snip

Response:

If you want to do more "research’ [Bob, you will find your description given there by one of the posters] on this go to:  http://www.sport-fish-info.com/wwwboard/messages/9012.html One thing you will find they are as confused as we can become on this board. I suspect it is as CA Bill states it is currently called San Diego Knot when it is doubled but it is still in my opinion a variance of a Pitzen Knot which no one on that board seems to have a hint of either.  I am sorry I can’t find my notes on the history of this knot but Pitzen was a long ago German fisher that the credit I saw was given to him for devising this knot. The variations of this knot are used by Tuna fishers on the West Coast, for one, and they are well convinced that this is basically a good, reliable, and strong knot, no matter the variance in tying it. If I ever find my ‘brain’ for the history of  the Pitzen Knot I will post, but don’t hold your breath. I also use a  loop knot as a companion to the Pitzen Knot because I remove or do not use split rings for attaching line to lure.  I use the Buffer Loop Knot for quick and easy tie of a Loop or for confidence I use the Rapala Loop, however,  I have made mistakes tying the Rapala Loop and the lure came loose.  Hence, the trade off in getting too complicated in knot tying techniques. AL

Al, after thinking about it a few minutes and looking at the link Shawn provided [a link to Pitzen Knot, AL] I realized you are right.  Might dub

it the double Pitzen knot, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – until Tony claims the right to name it himself. snip

Response:

Al, after thinking about it a few minutes and looking at the link Shawn provided, I realized you are right.  Might dub it the double Pitzen knot, until Tony claims the right to name it himself. Have never had one break off, unless I forgot to retie between trips and the line had deteriorated.  Because of the doubled line and its cinching power, it slips less than any other knot I have used on spinnerbaits. —    Go Fishing.  And may your fish be as big as your tales.    Columbia, SC  Lake Murray

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bob, I understood your description.  I like the feature that the doubled eye line is incorporated into the knot and the standing line.  Might be easier to understand for those familiar with tying the Pitzen Knot which is what I use. Jamie,   The Pitzen Knot strength is allegedly close to a 100% line strength. AL .snip I have tried to explain his knot, but it apparently is not clear, and I have the graphic skills of a snail. I think I’ll try out the Pitzen next, and check out the Uni for loop knots.

Response:

the Pitzen Knot I will post, but don’t hold your breath.

OK, Overcame my tunnel vision,  Jamie probably saw this!  It is at the bottom of the sites description that he posted. "The Pitzen knot, Invented by Edgar Pitzenbauer of Germany is easy to tie with a little practice, and results in a knot the [sic] retains 95-100% of the tippet’s rated strength as opposed to 65% for a Clinch knot.  The Pitzen knot is also smaller by about 40%" AL

Response:

Ya know it’s a funny thing….while driving today I was thinking of the Pitzen knot. Back 2-3 years ago when I was learning to tie fishing knots I came up with my own version of the Pitzen, just ’cause I’m a putz and couldn’t remember what the heck I was doing. The only difference is I would run the tag through the hook eye one more time, just before threading it through the original loop, then snug it up. Once I learned the Palomar I forgot everything else. So what is my modified Pitzen called? It holds up wonderfully…I couldn’t have thought this up myself…where’s Rodney when you need him! — Early to Bed, Early to Rise… Fish all Day, Make up Lies. Shawn

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Al, after thinking about it a few minutes and looking at the link Shawn provided, I realized you are right.  Might dub it the double Pitzen knot, until Tony claims the right to name it himself. Have never had one break off, unless I forgot to retie between trips and the line had deteriorated.  Because of the doubled line and its cinching power, it slips less than any other knot I have used on spinnerbaits. —    Go Fishing.  And may your fish be as big as your tales.    Columbia, SC  Lake Murray Bob, I understood your description.  I like the feature that the doubled eye line is incorporated into the knot and the standing line.  Might be easier to understand for those familiar with tying the Pitzen Knot which is what I use. Jamie,   The Pitzen Knot strength is allegedly close to a 100% line strength. AL .snip I have tried to explain his knot, but it apparently is not clear, and I have the graphic skills of a snail. I think I’ll try out the Pitzen next, and check out the Uni for loop knots.

Response:

The San Diego knot is similar, but you run the line through the loop by the eye first, before the one at the top. Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And for those of you who would like to see the Pitzen knot, try this… www.agron.missouri.edu/flyfishing/pitzen.html — Early to Bed, Early to Rise… Fish all Day, Make up Lies. Shawn Bob, I understood your description.  I like the feature that the doubled eye line is incorporated into the knot and the standing line.  Might be easier to understand for those familiar with tying the Pitzen Knot which is what I use. Jamie,   The Pitzen Knot strength is allegedly close to a 100% line strength. AL .snip I have tried to explain his knot, but it apparently is not clear, and I have the graphic skills of a snail. I think I’ll try out the Pitzen next, and check out the Uni for loop knots.

Response:

Bob, I understood your description.  I like the feature that the doubled eye line is incorporated into the knot and the standing line.  Might be easier to understand for those familiar with tying the Pitzen Knot which is what I use. Jamie,   The Pitzen Knot strength is allegedly close to a 100% line strength. AL

.snip I have tried to explain his knot, but it apparently is not clear, and I have the graphic skills of a snail. I think I’ll try out the Pitzen next, and check out the Uni for loop

knots.

Response:

And for those of you who would like to see the Pitzen knot, try this… www.agron.missouri.edu/flyfishing/pitzen.html — Early to Bed, Early to Rise… Fish all Day, Make up Lies. Shawn

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bob, I understood your description.  I like the feature that the doubled eye line is incorporated into the knot and the standing line.  Might be easier to understand for those familiar with tying the Pitzen Knot which is what I use. Jamie,   The Pitzen Knot strength is allegedly close to a 100% line strength. AL .snip I have tried to explain his knot, but it apparently is not clear, and I have the graphic skills of a snail. I think I’ll try out the Pitzen next, and check out the Uni for loop knots.

Response:

I was just reading the knot thread from mid-March, and I’ve got some more questions. I wanted to know if there’s a resource that has some real statistics on breaking strength of different knots (and also considerations as to their appropriateness with different # test monos). Also, I conducted a little experiment with knot comparisons: I had two key-ring sized split-rings, and I tied two different knots on each side (8# test). I yanked them apart until something gave. I only compared the Trilene, Palomar, Improved Clinch, and Rapala (loop). My informal (and unrecorded) findings of order of strength, highest to lowest. *Trilene *Palomar (usually was beaten by the Trilene) *Improved Clinch (pretty low breaking strength) *Rapala (very low breaking strengh, ughh.. it’s what I’ve been using on jerkbaits, topwaters, etc.) I think I’ll try out the Pitzen next, and check out the Uni for loop knots.  ALSO, I regularly hit the search engines, and ask the group, about once every two months: Does anyone have a picture of how to tie the Jimmy Houston Knot (supposed to be very close to 100% knot strength)? (Hint: the picture in "Caught Me a Big ‘Un…" is incomplete, so please don’t tell me to look there, unless you can tell me the missing step). Thanks a bunch, Jamie

Response:

Jamie, the short answer is all line manufacturers have a machine to test their lines with different knots.  From this, you would assume that they recommend knots that work best with their line. Just haven’t seen a line manufacturer mention Tony Bean’s knot, which is the strongest knot I have used. Help me here, TNBass, after you get back from the TN Classic.  Tony is a Tennessee small-mouth guide and is reputed to have won many tournaments.  Do you know how to contact him?  I have tried to explain his knot, but it apparently is not clear, and I have the graphic skills of a snail. —    Go Fishing.  And may your fish be as big as your tales.    Columbia, SC  Lake Murray

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was just reading the knot thread from mid-March, and I’ve got some more questions. I wanted to know if there’s a resource that has some real statistics on breaking strength of different knots (and also considerations as to their appropriateness with different # test monos). Also, I conducted a little experiment with knot comparisons: I had two key-ring sized split-rings, and I tied two different knots on each side (8# test). I yanked them apart until something gave. I only compared the Trilene, Palomar, Improved Clinch, and Rapala (loop). My informal (and unrecorded) findings of order of strength, highest to lowest. *Trilene *Palomar (usually was beaten by the Trilene) *Improved Clinch (pretty low breaking strength) *Rapala (very low breaking strengh, ughh.. it’s what I’ve been using on jerkbaits, topwaters, etc.) I think I’ll try out the Pitzen next, and check out the Uni for loop knots.  ALSO, I regularly hit the search engines, and ask the group, about once every two months: Does anyone have a picture of how to tie the Jimmy Houston Knot (supposed to be very close to 100% knot strength)? (Hint: the picture in "Caught Me a Big ‘Un…" is incomplete, so please don’t tell me to look there, unless you can tell me the missing step). Thanks a bunch, Jamie

Response:

Question:

If you start a fire for the womanly thing still in bed, it tends to postpone the fishing !

For newlyweds, maybe.  For me, if I try something at 5 in the morning, she says, "Will you get the hell out of here and go fishing?" Kevin

Response:

If you start a fire for the womanly thing still in bed, it tends to postpone the fishing !

That’s when you play fireman on the fly Guy

Response:

Jeff Connelly writes: Oh man, I saw the bathroom in your place.  You guys are complaining? For those who weren’t there, I won’t say how big the bathroom was, but I’ll just say it had a FOYER, which itself was bigger than my entire bathroom.  In *my* cabin, I had 2 twin beds that Benee and I had to push together to share bodily warmth, and she had to crawl over the top of me to get to the bathroom.  Hey wait… guess I had it OK. <g  All of these camps are crooked; they have settled over the years so that doors and windows have been "modified" so that they are functional.

[snipped] Just a nit, but the cabins don’t really "settle" in the sense that they sink. Quite the opposite, in fact: the cabins rest on a sets of small concrete pads, and these pads get heaved up during the multitude of freeze and thaw cycles in late winter/early spring. Some pads get heaved higher than others, hence the tilt. It’s a never ending battle with winter up there… On the up-side, if you can still make your way to the bathroom and back without falling over, you can have another drink! /daytripper

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……the cabins don’t really "settle" in the sense that they sink. Quite the opposite, in fact: the cabins rest on a sets of small concrete pads, and these pads get heaved up during the multitude of freeze and thaw cycles in late winter/early spring. Some pads get heaved higher than others, hence the tilt…..

Amen.  I build decks and gazebos and suchlike critters.  While I’m digging holes for the footings customers will frequently ask how deep they need to be to hold up the deck or something along those lines. It’s often difficult to make them understand that the purpose of deep footings is to hold it DOWN.  Sorta like trying to explain why the new millennium started some time in March about four years ago.    :)

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Jeff Connelly writes: It was my type of place, and I knew it would be.  The question was – would Benee like it?  So we compromised, went fishing at a semi-rustic lodge for 3 days, then stayed in "nice" bed and breakfasts for 3 days. The ironic thing is that the B&Bs weren’t that nice, and she ended up liking Lakewood more.

Of course she did.  It was probably…..well, never mind.  I’m starting to sounds like wayno.  She’s a great gal and I’m glad she enjoyed it. And, don’t forget to have your stove ready for a fire when you arise at 4 a.m.  <g I got up at 5 one morning to go fishing.  As you pointed out to me later, the manly thing to do would have been to start the fire for the womanly thing still in bed.  It’ll happen next time

You are learning, kid. Dave the Bottom Dwelling Pirate (after George’s latest, I am so happy that he chose to describe me with those words…)

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Day Tripper: Just a nit, but the cabins don’t really "settle" in the sense that they sink. Quite the opposite, in fact: the cabins rest on a sets of small concrete pads, and these pads get heaved up during the multitude of freeze and thaw cycles in late winter/early spring. Some pads get heaved higher than others, hence the tilt. It’s a never ending battle with winter up there…

The concrete pads are recent — the past ten years or so.  They used rocks and cedar posts before that — but, as you say, it is a never ending battle because of the harsh winters. Dave

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well, boys, it’s been told, and i’ll never do a bit to improve on the reports about the maine clave…but, damn, ya’ll shoulda been there. it was a time to know, and a better memory is yet to be made.

Ya, go ahead, rub our nose in it. As i mentionned, i would have been, even if none of you know me. Hand four those dat read these lines (grammatically), I wont mind if sumone corect me english, and i know it will make sum of you feel bitter, sorry better. Once again, excuse my french and Vive le Qu

Question:

Journal Entry October 19, 1999     New Brooklyn Lake is adjacent to New Brooklyn County Park. The park has a small pond on it that recently had a dock added. As a matter of fact I am certain that the dock had just been recently completed. I stopped by today to just look over the pond. The leave have begun to fall and they are starting to clutter the waters surface. It was a strange dichotomy as the water was dead calm and the riotous colors of the fall foliage was a stark contrast to the mysterious dark waters.     I also stopped by New Brooklyn Lake. This is just around the bend from the pond at the park. It was kind of odd that I even made this trip today as I was fully intending to try to find the large body of water by Penbryn. That did not pan out but I did get to do some good exploring in the area…     At the end I just headed for known waters. There are always a lot of duck and geese at the lake. This day was no exception. I had to walk past flocks of them to get to the water. I noticed one other fellow fishing the lake today. He was simply using spinning gear and tossing some various lures to the edge of the weed beds and working them across the water but he did not look like he had any luck.     I came with the full intent to work on my steeple casting but I ended up doing more roll casting practice and standard casting. The nice things about this place is that there are some areas with wonderful casting room. But there are also lots of challenging casting areas!     This was a very good day as I caught another hitherto un-caught fish. Today I add the pickrel to my list of captured fish. I caught in on an olive grizzly wolly bugger and he was a neat fish! I managed to bring him in but he was rather slimy and managed to break free before I could photograph him! And he had the temerity to take my fly too! I just have to collect the materials to tie that one and I’ll tie a few myself!     Other than that though it was very slow and the water quite cold! I think I am nearing the end of the wading season unless I am on the beach! For photo’s visit my fishing site and look at Spots 2 Fish and you can see the various snapshots. — Michael Era

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   Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing,alt.fishing,rec.outdoors.fishing.bass,rec.outdoors.fis hing.saltwater,rec.outdoors.fishing.fly    Organization: Fishinternet Australia    http://www.ozemail.com.au/~stevedw/fishing/wwlinks.html BE WARNED: This link crashes my version of Netscape Gold 3.0 every time I try it. -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html NOTICE: DO NOT ADD MY NAME TO _ANY_ MAILING LISTS.  

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If you have a Fishing related web page and would like to have it included in one of the largest lists of related web pages then send the URL. First check the list at either, http://www.ozemail.com.au/~stevedw/fishing/wwlinks.html http://www.ozemail.com.au/~stevedw/fishing/wwcharters.html and if you dont find your page then forward the URL to the editor for inclusion. A reciprocal link to Fishinternet Australia at the following URL is requested to have your site listed. The URL being, http://www.fishnet.com.au — Phone Mobile 0417 343 242 Webmaster Fishinternet Australia               www.fishnet.com.au Web Design GET Netted Australia    www.fishnet.com.au/Netted.html Winner 1996 Telstra Australian Internet Awards – Best Sports Site

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Question:

The Atlantic FLy Fishing School, Brookfield, Nova Scotia,  is sponsoring a BASIC fly tying course — Instructor Joie Coe owner of "The Fly Box" Beginning  January 12th. 1997 for 7 Sundays.   2 pm to 4:30 pm Cost $45.00 per person Register early  - 902 673-2590

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: Just a thought – anybody thought of an on-line course, via Webs and : e-mail? : Again just a thought from someone too far away and too poor to fly to the : Nova Scotia site. I don’t know what could be done via the Web that is not already beign done with books and video tape. It would be just as effective (or not?) I have learned from my students that there is nothing like first hand instruction to clear up the problems that they are having trying to learn to tie or cast. Jon Porter

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Just a thought – anybody thought of an on-line course, via Webs and e-mail? Again just a thought from someone too far away and too poor to fly to the Nova Scotia site. B. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Atlantic FLy Fishing School, Brookfield, Nova Scotia,  is sponsoring a BASIC fly tying course — Instructor Joie Coe owner of "The Fly Box" Beginning  January 12th. 1997 for 7 Sundays.   2 pm to 4:30 pm Cost $45.00 per person Register early  - 902 673-2590

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I agree Jon. Someone asked me about this recently as well. Al Beatty’s VFS article on Wonder Wings is an excellent example of what can be done for an individual pattern but I don’t think a course including such things as basic thread handling procedures would work very well. Paul Marriner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Just a thought – anybody thought of an on-line course, via Webs and : e-mail? : Again just a thought from someone too far away and too poor to fly to the : Nova Scotia site. I don’t know what could be done via the Web that is not already beign done with books and video tape. It would be just as effective (or not?) I have learned from my students that there is nothing like first hand instruction to clear up the problems that they are having trying to learn to tie or cast. Jon Porter

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Then again, Jon, maybe we just need to think outside the box.  I heard an ‘expert’ on computer learning speaking on Public Radio the other night.  His pitch was that the www and computer based instructional materials will only be effective if they DO NOT try to recreate traditional methods of teaching, just on a computer. The idea seemed to be along the lines of folks (particularly kids) learn best when they are free to follow their interests to natural conclusion.  With appropriate links and without attempts to ‘route’ the user, the computer lends itself to this paradigm.  Just make sure one link is to the ‘thread control’ module!  :^) Charley – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Just a thought – anybody thought of an on-line course, via Webs and : e-mail? : Again just a thought from someone too far away and too poor to fly to the : Nova Scotia site. I don’t know what could be done via the Web that is not already beign done with books and video tape. It would be just as effective (or not?) I have learned from my students that there is nothing like first hand instruction to clear up the problems that they are having trying to learn to tie or cast. Jon Porter

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: Then again, Jon, maybe we just need to think outside the box.  I : heard an ‘expert’ on computer learning speaking on Public Radio : the other night.  His pitch was that the www and computer based : instructional materials will only be effective if they DO NOT : try to recreate traditional methods of teaching, just on a computer. : The idea seemed to be along the lines of folks (particularly kids) : learn best when they are free to follow their interests to natural : conclusion.  With appropriate links and without attempts to ‘route’ : the user, the computer lends itself to this paradigm.  Just make : sure one link is to the ‘thread control’ module!  :^) Pushing buttons on a keyboard is different from the manipulations required to tie a decent, long lasting fly. Yes, it could be learned by trial and error, but I think that it is cheaper to get instruction, than to pay for wasted materials. Could just let em learn to drive from a book. Why have the other gut sitting in the seat next to em?  Less screaming that way. Jon Porter

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Question:

I’ve got my pole. I’ve got my flies.  I don’t have line. I found a good reference that describes the different types of fly line, but not leaders and backing(?). What is the material for leaders?  How long? How to attach to the fly line? The text also mentioned a backing line. What is it?  How much do I use? How do I attach it to the fly line? I was thinking about learning on blue gills.  Good/ Bad idea? Thanks in advance for all replies! Ed K.

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In case  you haven’t received a reply on line, leaders, etc…Your rod should have a line weight marked some where just above the cork grip. Might be #6 or some such. You’ll need a line matched to that number. The leaders are made of monofiliment. You need one about 7 1/2 feet with a stength of about 6 pound test for sunfish. To the tip of the mono, add about 2 feet of tippet material (mono) with a barrel or double surgeon’s knot. I’d go to a flyfishing store for more help or buy the L.L. Bean Beginners Guide To Flyfishing," written by Dave Whitlock. Sunfish are great to learn on and fish for forever!!

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Question:

Would the guy that posted about the Saltwater flyfishing trip for rockfish in the kelp beds off of Santa Cruz please followup with a valid email address?  I tried responding via email but it bounced.  I’m interested in the Livermore Flyfishers group that was mentioned. — John Fereira Pleasanton, CA

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That’s a numeral one after my name. Kent McCammon Lightwave Systems Engineer Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Just another crash dummy on the information superhighway

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