Question:

actually walt…i think marie changed pj…or was it vice versa?   also, wasn’t it soon after james macdonald roberts left your presence that you wrote that blazing binary rant and began tying wooly buggers on treble hooks??? jeff (in recovery at the "pamlico" wing of the Hebron Colony) …the power of the prince of pilsner has commanded the scene. pj,

pj, has been changed.  just a simple tasting of dahlwhinnie evolution and the logic of the wee one…sad, to see an icon in tears. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – waldo, the prince of pilsner

Response:

Any advice? Thanks, Jeff (aka – empty handed) Jeff, Go smaller with 20-26 midges if you’re fishing the dry.

        (altruistic dispensation of wisdom from the king of the kamloomps snipped) –Walt

        if i were you, old buddy, i would be forgetting about idyllic days on the stream, and start thinking about survival.  ’cause i can hear, off to the east, in a growing, ominous, rumble, the thunderous stride of (gulp!) ….pamlico jim hissownself!!!!!         say goodbye to marie, and shake hands with the devil. wayno, who knows whereof he speaketh

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any advice? Thanks, Jeff (aka – empty handed) Jeff, Go smaller with 20-26 midges if you’re fishing the dry.         (altruistic dispensation of wisdom from the king of the kamloomps snipped) –Walt         if i were you, old buddy, i would be forgetting about idyllic days on the stream, and start thinking about survival.  ’cause i can hear, off to the east, in a growing, ominous, rumble, the thunderous stride of (gulp!) ….pamlico jim hissownself!!!!!         say goodbye to marie, and shake hands with the devil. wayno, who knows whereof he speaketh

wayno…the power of the prince of pilsner has commanded the scene. pj, jm, and yours trully returned from a remarkable winter day astream… pj, has been changed.  just a simple tasting of dahlwhinnie evolution and the logic of the wee one…sad, to see an icon in tears. waldo, the prince of pilsner

Response:

It’s my first winter in the area and I’m having a really tough time getting anything to hit. Have fished the Davidson, South Mills, Jones Gap (Saluda River), multiple locations of the Green River, with every #12-18 fly that I have been able to tie or find. No luck, not even a strike… I’ve tried am and pm.  All of the same locations produced through the summer/late fall of this year. Any advice? Thanks, Jeff (aka – empty handed)

Response:

It’s my first winter in the area and I’m having a really tough time getting anything to hit. Have fished the Davidson, South Mills, Jones Gap (Saluda River), multiple locations of the Green River, with every #12-18 fly that I have been able to tie or find. No luck, not even a strike… I’ve tried am and pm.  All of the same locations produced through the summer/late fall of this year. Any advice? Thanks, Jeff (aka – empty handed)

Jeff, Go smaller with 20-26 midges if you’re fishing the dry. A rig that I use is to tie the midge about 18-30 inches behind a 16 or so para adams which helps me keep track of where the midge is. You’ll be surprised how many take the "indicator." However, you will have far more success nymphing in the winter months. This afternoon I actually caught two or three fish on the stimulator indicator which had a 18 bead head dropper. The bead head was deadly today with many fish caught and many fish missed, all-in-all, a fine day astream in the winter. –Walt — Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com For Book & Print Auctions: http://www.amazon.com/seller/mariebooks Blue Ridge Book Gallery: http://www.bibliofind.com/cgi-bin/texis.exe/s/search/dhome.html?id=33… P.O. Box 5112, Banner Elk, NC 28604

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (delicately snipped)        she had fallen in love, and she was grateful that it was in a beautiful place.        a. wayne harrison  examplage has paid off for you Wayno! Wayne To fish is human….To release Divine!    hart, you’ve been staying up late, reading asadi again.

wayno

Response:

romantic stuff snipped<

Damn, counselor; that was mighty fine.   Thanks. Joe F. p.s. "…before the winter took all this into custody"  *had* to be written by a lawyer.  

Response:

(Lovely story snipped) My God, counselor, there is hope for you yet.  No wonder I haven’t given up on you.  Well done. Dave

Response:

<snip

Response:

[deleted] hovering like the handheld trout.

I gotcher handheld trout… — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

Response:

Great story Wayno,  Thanks George Adams

Response:

I gotcher handheld trout…

ROFLMAO! That’s not trout!  That’s tuna! Warren

Response:

And then she realized that this wasn’t a once in a lifetime dream. No, she found out that you were going to spend three or four days a week and many weekends fishing and night after night after night reading fly fishing newsgroups and it was all over, right? Steve Zimmerman

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – wonderful story snipped

Response:

Nice piece of work Wayno.  I see someone has been telling you stories about me again.  You didn’t have to try and cover it up with that lawyer nonsense hehehehe Job well done.  One of the few treasures I have read in a long while. Warren

Response:

[a snippet of romance]    a. wayne harrison

Counsellor, you’ve outdone yourself. Peter

Response:

(delicately snipped)    she had fallen in love, and she was grateful that it was in a beautiful place.    a. wayne harrison

I see at last, all my careful instruction, tutoring, and examplage has paid off for you Wayno!  If you can just work in the glass of wine and sparkling fire in her eyes you will be close to graduation! — Wayne To fish is human….To release Divine! Before you buy.

Response:

wayno, well, wow….. first drink is on me sat. waldo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –         she had listened with eyes that grew larger with each spoken image, as he tried to paint a picture of harper creek, his words matching the of the flow of the cellophane water, stretched in places to transparency, colored deep green and brown in the deeper reaches. they had known each other for exactly one week.  they sat across an oaken table in the bar where they had met:  the young lawyer, smitten with her like a stone from david’s sling, not yet dead, but brought far closer to life with the collision.; she, not yet twenty, a freshwoman, a first year student in a sleepy southern town.  lawyers could be heroes, then, and in a place like that, and she watched him watch her with a joy that she hoped was the stuff of dreams.         fishing for trout had become a subject of value for both of them.  she had asked him, earnestly, what are the things you love to do; he had said, fish for trout.  she asked why, and he said:  because they live in beautiful places.  it moved her nearly to tears, to know a man that could care more about where a thing lived than how to conquer it, or kill it.  for his part, it gave him something to give her.  something no one else had ever given her.  the end of her mountain drought.         so they drove together in search of the places and pictures he had described, with hearts quickening on first sight of the front range of the blue ridge, looking just like low, dark clouds, at first; then, rising with the loss of distance, gaining substance and losing mystery, they proclaimed the reality of the pictures.         it took a full hour of climbing in the car before they were inside those blue hills, no longer spectators.  and after that, the walking, nearly falling, downhill, towards the hushed rustle of flowing water, sounding like leaves in a far away wind. he knew the trip down was a tease, that each light step forward, gravity-aided, was a warning of the pain that waited at day’s end.  she only knew that she couldn’t wait to spend the best, or the rest, of this delicious day beside this magician, who painted pictures with words, and then made them real.         they reached the stream abruptly, the water strangely quiet where they made contact; a brief, sandy end to the trail signaled the edge of the water, reflecting every hint of light that sliced between the tree covered mountain shoulders.  she said, quickly, it’s just as you told me; he was validated by the water he loved.  he smiled as he prepared his gear, embarrassed at the clumsiness of early spring. it’s not like riding a bicycle, he thought; you never get over the excitement last felt months before, before the winter took all this into custody.  her eyes were blind to error, and she marveled at the movement of the rod and line, once joined, and at the lovely rythm of his arm and its inanimate extension, as alive as any flesh.         she never saw what convinced the fish to strike; it happened in an unexpected fashion, devoid of violence.  he lifted the rod, but the line refused to dance; it stopped, straightened, and began to arch toward the water, and something below the surface.  then, the surface shattered, and purest light broke the crystal tension; rose curved, twisted, and fell back into the shadowed stream.  it came to her dreamlike:  that was a fish; he has caught a fish that flies.  he waded towards her, reached beneath the wetness, and showed her the prize:  fierce, wide of eye, red blaze stretching from a black head to a rainbow’s end.  it’s a rainbow, he said; she almost replied arrogantly, of course it’s a rainbow, you fool, it’s surely more than a fish.  but she just said yes, i see.  he held the fish for a moment, and it hovered, confused, she thought.  the the lightning, and it found its place, away from them.         in her pack she had carried a lunch; that was her contribution to the trip, put together before they had shared the entrance to the blue, rolling hills, before she was washed in the knowledge of the importance of this discovery about trout, and this man who fished for them.  she opened it, and they ate, not speaking of the fish, or the fishing.  when she had half finished, he looked straight at her, and said, without asking, would you come here to me?  and she did, knowing the the memories that were forming even before they were lying together, naked, resting, hovering like the handheld trout.         she had fallen in love, and she was grateful that it was in a beautiful place.         a. wayne harrison

– 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:

Wayne, c’est un chef d’ouevre.  Magnifique mon frere (or should I say grand pere). Missing Hillary in Michigan, Mu

Response:

Counselor Now that’s a post worth reading and a thread worth building on. You’ve done it again. Congratilations. Dave

Response:

        she had listened with eyes that grew larger with each spoken image, as he tried to paint a picture of harper creek, his words matching the of the flow of the cellophane water, stretched in places to transparency, colored deep green and brown in the deeper reaches. they had known each other for exactly one week.  they sat across an oaken table in the bar where they had met:  the young lawyer, smitten with her like a stone from david’s sling, not yet dead, but brought far closer to life with the collision.; she, not yet twenty, a freshwoman, a first year student in a sleepy southern town.  lawyers could be heroes, then, and in a place like that, and she watched him watch her with a joy that she hoped was the stuff of dreams.         fishing for trout had become a subject of value for both of them.  she had asked him, earnestly, what are the things you love to do; he had said, fish for trout.  she asked why, and he said:  because they live in beautiful places.  it moved her nearly to tears, to know a man that could care more about where a thing lived than how to conquer it, or kill it.  for his part, it gave him something to give her.  something no one else had ever given her.  the end of her mountain drought.         so they drove together in search of the places and pictures he had described, with hearts quickening on first sight of the front range of the blue ridge, looking just like low, dark clouds, at first; then, rising with the loss of distance, gaining substance and losing mystery, they proclaimed the reality of the pictures.         it took a full hour of climbing in the car before they were inside those blue hills, no longer spectators.  and after that, the walking, nearly falling, downhill, towards the hushed rustle of flowing water, sounding like leaves in a far away wind. he knew the trip down was a tease, that each light step forward, gravity-aided, was a warning of the pain that waited at day’s end.  she only knew that she couldn’t wait to spend the best, or the rest, of this delicious day beside this magician, who painted pictures with words, and then made them real.           they reached the stream abruptly, the water strangely quiet where they made contact; a brief, sandy end to the trail signaled the edge of the water, reflecting every hint of light that sliced between the tree covered mountain shoulders.  she said, quickly, it’s just as you told me; he was validated by the water he loved.  he smiled as he prepared his gear, embarrassed at the clumsiness of early spring. it’s not like riding a bicycle, he thought; you never get over the excitement last felt months before, before the winter took all this into custody.  her eyes were blind to error, and she marveled at the movement of the rod and line, once joined, and at the lovely rythm of his arm and its inanimate extension, as alive as any flesh.         she never saw what convinced the fish to strike; it happened in an unexpected fashion, devoid of violence.  he lifted the rod, but the line refused to dance; it stopped, straightened, and began to arch toward the water, and something below the surface.  then, the surface shattered, and purest light broke the crystal tension; rose curved, twisted, and fell back into the shadowed stream.  it came to her dreamlike:  that was a fish; he has caught a fish that flies.  he waded towards her, reached beneath the wetness, and showed her the prize:  fierce, wide of eye, red blaze stretching from a black head to a rainbow’s end.  it’s a rainbow, he said; she almost replied arrogantly, of course it’s a rainbow, you fool, it’s surely more than a fish.  but she just said yes, i see.  he held the fish for a moment, and it hovered, confused, she thought.  the the lightning, and it found its place, away from them.         in her pack she had carried a lunch; that was her contribution to the trip, put together before they had shared the entrance to the blue, rolling hills, before she was washed in the knowledge of the importance of this discovery about trout, and this man who fished for them.  she opened it, and they ate, not speaking of the fish, or the fishing.  when she had half finished, he looked straight at her, and said, without asking, would you come here to me?  and she did, knowing the the memories that were forming even before they were lying together, naked, resting, hovering like the handheld trout.         she had fallen in love, and she was grateful that it was in a beautiful place.         a. wayne harrison

Response:

In the movie Primary Colors, a roman a clef about Bill and Hillary and Co. on the campaign trail, the actress who played Hillary (Emma Thompson) was bored to tears by a campaign contributor who just talked about flyfishing all night long. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

…         she had fallen in love, and she was grateful that it was in a beautiful place.

That’s the finest piece of fiction, without capitalization, that I’ve ever read. Thanks, Wayno. — Ken Fortenberry- hoping e.e. cummings never wrote fiction Illini 3 – Tar Heels 1

Response:

Question:

Hi Shaun, here’s a trick I learned that works for me….take the male ferrule of each section and lay it along side your nose while twisting it and rubbing it back and forth a few times.  The natural oil in your skin will lube the ferrules sufficiently.  Also, if you have problems taking it apart after setting the sections really tight, put the rod behind your legs with a firm grip on the section to be pulled apart, then spread your knees apart, thereby letting your leg muscles do the work.  I keep a non-skid piece of rubber matting in my vest to help get a grip on the rod when it wants to be stubborn.  I have the same rod as you and all this works for me. Regards,

Guys: I’ve got the same rod, same problems, same solution.  Good advice.  One little detail:  When you use your legs to separate the rod, place your hands, and grip the rod on the OUTSIDE of your knees.  I know this seems really obvious, but I actually saw someone attempt it the other way. Oh, and one other piece of advice: If you live in blackfly country, and you use Deet products, make sure you don’t rub deet from your nose crease  onto the rod.  I’m guessing you’d end up with a one-piece rod. brent

Response:

I have a St. Croix 8.5′ 5wt 4pc travel rod and I’m having some trouble taking the sections apart.  Is there a standard method for lubricating the joints of rods? Also, I find the action of this rod superb if I jam the sections in pretty hard (hence the problem!), but pretty sluggish if not.  Am I doing anything wrong?  Should I go to a 6wt line? Appreciate any help. Shaun

  Rub the male end with parafin. Many rods load well with a line size higher than spec. It’s a matter of choice. I’d give it a try if you’re not satisfied with the action with a #5 line. Raalph H

Response:

If you want to try 6wt line you might check out hookhack.com . Under specials this month they list a Climax double taper line that is 5wt on one end and 6wt on the other.                                                                   Doug Campbell – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Many rods load well with a line size higher than spec. It’s a matter of choice. I’d give it a try if you’re not satisfied with the action with a #5 line. Raalph H

Response:

I assume you are talking about graphite rods.   A friend uses a little bow string wax which make the rod easier to take apart but also prevents wear from putting the rods together and taking them apart so often

Response:

Hi, A friend uses a little bow string wax which make the rod easier to take apart but also prevents wear from putting the rods together and taking them apart so often

PMFJI, but I learned a trick while fishing in MT a few years back. Just lay the male part of the rod against your cheek next to your nose and below your eye.  Now twist the rod to wipe the oil from your skin onto the rod.  That has always worked for me. Best, Bill

Response:

My spouse, Rachel (a/k/a "she who must be obeyed"), asked me what i was doing…told her i had logged on a newsgroup of flyfishermen and was reading discussions about "jungle cock capes", "joint lubrication", and "nymphs"…i’m sure you know what she said next… jeff (now with cyber nanny filter in full operation)

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Shaun, here’s a trick I learned that works for me….take the male ferrule of each section and lay it along side your nose while twisting it and rubbing it back and forth a few times.  The natural oil in your skin will lube the ferrules sufficiently.  Also, if you have problems taking it apart after setting the sections really tight, put the rod behind your legs with a firm grip on the section to be pulled apart, then spread your knees apart, thereby letting your leg muscles do the work.  I keep a non-skid piece of rubber matting in my vest to help get a grip on the rod when it wants to be stubborn.  I have the same rod as you and all this works for me. Regards, Guys: I’ve got the same rod, same problems, same solution.  Good advice.  One little detail:  When you use your legs to separate the rod, place your hands, and grip the rod on the OUTSIDE of your knees.  I know this seems really obvious, but I actually saw someone attempt it the other way. Oh, and one other piece of advice: If you live in blackfly country, and you use Deet products, make sure you don’t rub deet from your nose crease  onto the rod.  I’m guessing you’d end up with a one-piece rod. brent

Hi Guys, I took Mike Maxwell Speycasting course and the 3pc or 4 pc rods are hard to take apart. What Mr. Maxwell recommends is white candle wax on the male end and line the ferrule a 1/4 turn offset, then twist it in alignment. This eliminates taping your ferrules with electrical tape. After fishing all day the rod get worked pretty hard, the ferrule does not come apart very easy, so he recommends cooling your rod under tap water or in the river and untwist the opposite way you turn to put it on. Believe me it works, after a friend just about put his shoulder out pulling it apart and nearly tearing the guides off, I told him to put under the garden hose and it came apart with no problem. Note: Make sure the female end is clean, with no grit or sand or it will dig into the male end and destroy you rod.

Response:

Don’t use nose oil, it is acidic and will corrode the metal ferrules.  Other products such as candle wax or silicone grease will not destroy the metal, and are often recommended by the manufacture.  A collector I used to know, said he could tell the rods that had been nose oiled and showed the resultant corroded metal ferrules.

Response:

I have a St. Croix 8.5′ 5wt 4pc travel rod and I’m having some trouble taking the sections apart.  Is there a standard method for lubricating the joints of rods? Also, I find the action of this rod superb if I jam the sections in pretty hard (hence the problem!), but pretty sluggish if not.  Am I doing anything wrong?  Should I go to a 6wt line? Appreciate any help. Shaun

What you need is a bottle of Gehrke’s Slink, the best damn joint lubricator money can buy. Once you’ve tried this you’ll never use parafin again. It’s a little more expensive at $5 a bottle, but it will make your rod feel like a brand new top-of-the-line Sage. — something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

well might as well put my two cents in. Rub the male ends on your nose or forhead, seriously the little bit of oil from your skin is just enough to do the trick. And pull the sections apart by placing them behind your knees and hold them tight and spread your legs slightly and they should pull apart without twisting them off.An older gentleman showed me this trick on a bamboo rod i have that i’m afraid of breaking and they wrere on there good jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If this a graphite rod, then rub a candle on the male end of the ferrule to give a thin coat of wax once every 3 months or so, and the joint will be good shape. I have a St. Croix 8.5′ 5wt 4pc travel rod and I’m having some trouble taking the sections apart.  Is there a standard method for lubricating the joints of rods? Also, I find the action of this rod superb if I jam the sections in pretty hard (hence the problem!), but pretty sluggish if not.  Am I doing anything wrong?  Should I go to a 6wt line? Appreciate any help. Shaun

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – well might as well put my two cents in. Rub the male ends on your nose or forhead, seriously the little bit of oil from your skin is just enough to do the trick. And pull the sections apart by placing them behind your knees and hold them tight and spread your legs slightly and they should pull apart without twisting them off.An older gentleman showed me this trick on a bamboo rod i have that i’m afraid of breaking and they wrere on there good jim If this a graphite rod, then rub a candle on the male end of the ferrule to give a thin coat of wax once every 3 months or so, and the joint will be good shape. I have a St. Croix 8.5′ 5wt 4pc travel rod and I’m having some trouble taking the sections apart.  Is there a standard method for lubricating the joints of rods? Also, I find the action of this rod superb if I jam the sections in pretty hard (hence the problem!), but pretty sluggish if not.  Am I doing anything wrong?  Should I go to a 6wt line? Appreciate any help. Shaun

_______  Everyone has failed "Ferrules 201"  (Lubrication Course) The Metallics of Nickel Silver dictates that the metal itself is its own best lubricant and smoothness of inserting (this sounds sexy) is determined by polish and/or the micro finish that is put on with a finish of 1500 Grit. What everyone needs to do is keep their male and female parts of their ferrules clean.  Grit and grime are your worst enemy excepting of course, yourselves for not keeping your male and female parts clean. Keep all lubricants off of your ferrules altogether.  It is dirt that wears ferrules out and it is dirt that makes them stick together and difficult to take apart.  If this occurs, use a cotton swab and a little ivory (a very mild, neural PHfactor soap to lean out your female ferrules) soap.  This product does not affect any of the varnish, epoxy, or thread finishes.  The female ferrule has a plug inside, so no solutions will get into the end of your fly rod inside and swell or rot bamboo woods over time.  The same holds true with graphite fly rod ferrules in that graphite is its own best lubricant. You don’t want to try and help fly rods to come apart.  It they fly apart while fly fishing, you may  have very dirty ferrules and you are not getting an airtight fit.  Or!  Your ferrules may be worn out and need replacing. This is the end of ‘rod joint lubrication 201.’ Any questions? — Mr. G.

Question:

I am thinking of a weeks fishing in the Fernie area some time between July 15 and August 15.  In terms of dry fly fishing, what is the best time to go? What bugs?  Will snow pack be an issue in terms of timing? JK

Response:

From my limited experience (one trip), the  later in your time period, the better for dry fly fishing. Plat

Response:

your timing looks good for a steady diet of dryfly action. patterns to bring:

gr drakes #12,14. stimulators orange, yellow large. rubber leg stones. hoppers later in Aug. if you require guide service click to www.bcangling.com best rates garaunteed. if you come in July, there are some trophy Rainbow lakes not too far away and the sedge hatch may still be happening. tls, pk.

Response:

Question:

Hello, Chat with expert author Peter Kaminsky and learn the techniques you’ll need to know to land yourself a whopper! Whether you’re a novice or a veteran angler, "Fly Fishing For Dummies" offers sage advice for choosing the right kind of gear, finding out how and where to catch freshwater and saltwater fish, practicing the art of tying flies, and more. <http://www.dummies.com/community/chat/ Chat Channel: #dummies Chat Server: chat.talkcity.com Hope to see you there! Courtesy of the IDG Books Author Chat Series

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, Chat with expert author Peter Kaminsky and learn the techniques you’ll need to know to land yourself a whopper! Whether you’re a novice or a veteran angler, "Fly Fishing For Dummies" offers sage advice for choosing the right kind of gear, finding out how and where to catch freshwater and saltwater fish, practicing the art of tying flies, and more. <http://www.dummies.com/community/chat/ Chat Channel: #dummies Chat Server: chat.talkcity.com Hope to see you there! Courtesy of the IDG Books Author Chat Series

From the looks of many posts on this site, looks like you came to the right place. We make the insane ward look perfectly normal. Al Marlowe

Response:

Question:

I tried the Demo and it is a lot like Trophy Bass. Since I own Trophy Bass and enjoy it I think I would definitely enjoy Trophy Rivers. I haven’t ordered it as of yet but I probably will before too long. It’s a fun way to spend an evening when you’re tired of tying flies <Grin – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Has any one tried the Trophy rivers fly fishing game?

Response:

I tried the demo and was very impressed.  The Trophy Bass I & II games are supposed to be terriffic.  I was always hoping they would release a fly fishing cyber-angling (that’s their term) game. Enjoy, Josh I think the release day of the game is today, November 21. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –    Has any one tried the Trophy rivers fly fishing game?  

Response:

It’s a fun way to spend an evening when you’re tired of tying flies <Grin

How could you ever get tired of tying flies? Bryce

Response:

Question:

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit One thing I did find a problem was trying to stay orientated relative to the wind. The tendency was to rotate until I was head on to the wind. I was in a round bucks bag tube. Would a small droque help to keep you side on to the wind.

I use an oval Caddis float tube, and have occasion to run into the wind in the afternoons on the Sierra lakes I frequent.  A couple of years ago I picked up a nylon anchor bag, that comes with several fathoms of 3/8′ nylon rope.  It’s really changed the way I fish lakes. The bag allows me to determine how much weight I need to use depending upon the strength of the wind, but I’ve found that 2-3 fist sized rocks will usually do the job.  Even with rocks, the bag will fit into a pocket on my tube, so I needn’t drag it around as I travel.  If the wind is lighter than anticipated, I drop a rock, and if it picks up, I’m never very far from shore where I can grab another. I’ve attached a one-handed snap-swivel to the rope, and that makes it easy to change the attachment point to different d-rings on the tube, because the attachment point inevitably ends up upwind, although it’s not too difficult to maintain a casting position facing in any direction, once I’m anchored. My fishing buddy, an ex-swabby, says that for any given depth, the anchor line should be increased as the wind increases.  He gave me some sort of naval term for it, which I disremember, but a longer line helps the anchor hold better in heavier winds.  See illustration below. [Image] Many is the time I’ll anchor out in the middle of a lake, and cast upwind.  I’ll let the wind move my fly and I find that this method puts my fly over lots of fish.  When I want to move, I just pull the thing off the bottom, and either kick to a new location, or let the wind take me.  At first I worried that I wouldn’t know when the anchor hit bottom, but I find there’s no mistaking it. Tubing changed the way I fish lakes, and the anchor has changed the way I tube. Anglerboy — Trout fear me, Women want me. http://www.midtown.net/~angler/ Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <HTML

<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITEOne thing I did find a problem was trying to stay orientated relative to <BRthe wind. The tendency was to rotate until I was head on to the wind. I <BRwas in a round bucks bag tube. <PWould a small droque help to keep you side on to the wind.</BLOCKQUOTE I use an oval Caddis float tube, and have occasion to run into the wind in the afternoons on the Sierra lakes I frequent.&nbsp; A couple of years ago I picked up a nylon anchor bag, that comes with several fathoms of 3/8′ nylon rope.&nbsp; It’s really changed the way I fish lakes. <PThe bag allows me to determine how much weight I need to use depending upon the strength of the wind, but I’ve found that 2-3 fist sized rocks will usually do the job.&nbsp; Even with rocks, the bag will fit into a pocket on my tube, so I needn’t drag it around as I travel.&nbsp; If the wind is lighter than anticipated, I drop a rock, and if it picks up, I’m never very far from shore where I can grab another. <PI’ve attached a one-handed snap-swivel to the rope, and that makes it easy to change the attachment point to different d-rings on the tube, because the attachment point inevitably ends up upwind, although it’s not too difficult to maintain a casting position facing in any direction, once I’m anchored. <PMy fishing buddy, an ex-swabby, says that for any given depth, the anchor line should be increased as the wind increases.&nbsp; He gave me some sort of naval term for it, which I disremember, but a longer line helps the anchor hold better in heavier winds.&nbsp; See illustration below. <PMany is the time I’ll anchor out in the middle of a lake, and cast upwind.&nbsp; I’ll let the wind move my fly and I find that this method puts my fly over lots of fish.&nbsp; When I want to move, I just pull the thing off the bottom, and either kick to a new location, or let the wind take me.&nbsp; At first I worried that I wouldn’t know when the anchor hit bottom, but I find there’s no mistaking it. <PTubing changed the way I fish lakes, and the anchor has changed the way I tube. <PAnglerboy <P– <BRTrout fear me, <BRWomen want me. <BR<A HREF="http://www.midtown.net/~angler/"http://www.midtown.net/~angler/</A <BR&nbsp;</HTML Content-Type: image/jpeg Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Disposition: inline; filename="C:tempnsmailRA.jpeg" <encoded_portion_removed RRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFAH/2Q==

Response:

Dave I have been float tubeing now for 3 years, Although I don’t profess to being an expert I will gladly share with you my thoughts on the technique. No doubt other float tubers will have there own ideas, Inparticular the anglers that fish running waters. With regards to the techniqe I find that a  most satisfactory method to fish is a slow figure of eight but be careful of the all too common takes on the lift. When float tubeing I normally fish with two flies, Some anglers fish with one some with two it,s really what you feel most comfortable with. But bearing in mind you have not got the same luxury of extendable landing nets. This thought should hopefully help you with your selection of leader length. From what I have witnessed rod lengths again vary from angler to angler from say 9′ to 11′,  Again I’m talking still waters. River anglers may go down to 7′ or 8′, I personally use a 101/2′ rod which I find quite adequate. With referance to casting, As with any type of fly fishing you still have to load the rod. Again this depends on individual skills, Having said that many fish I have found are caught short lineing. Retrieving options are as varied as boat or bank angling, My advise on this would be to use them all. On the matter of loseing your rod whilst unhooking a fish or maybe having a sandwich, beer, ect. Most float tubes have two Velcro straps at the front of the tube to secure your rod. Additional tips. 1) Walk into the water backwards when launching. 2) Wear a bouyancy aid. 3) Tie your flippers to your ankles, (Individually of coarse). 4) Don’t drink too much fluid if you have a weak bladder, This can be most embarrassing but you can always blame it on leeking waders. 5) Observe all the safety guidlines set down by The Health and Safety Executive, Details can be obtained from The British Float Tube Association (See below). The British Float Tube Association Secretary Andre’ Russell 24 Merton Avenue, Syston, Leicester. LE7 2JP. Tel: 0116-260-6924. Hope this helps, Let us know how you get on. Tight lines. Tony Connor : Next week I am going float tubeing for the first time on a still water : and I need help with the answers to a few questions. : : What techniques are recommended. : : How many Flies do I fish, I will be using either an 8foot or 9 foot rod. : : In fact what is the best rod length. : : How long a leader. : : How far do I cast, do use enough line to load the rod from pickup or do : I cast further. : : Do I retieve or use loch style with a hang before a simple up and out : recast. : : How do I stop the rod falling into the water and sinking into the depths : when I change flies or land a fish, do I keep it attached to the tube. : : Any more tips. : : Dave Bolt : UK :

Response:

Dave I have been float tubeing now for 3 years, Although I don’t profess to being an expert I will gladly share with you my thoughts on the technique. No doubt other float tubers will have there own ideas, Inparticular the anglers that fish running waters. With regards to the techniqe I find that a  most satisfactory method to fish is a slow figure of eight but be careful of the all too common takes on the lift. When float tubeing I normally fish with two flies, Some anglers fish with one some with two it,s really what you feel most comfortable with. But bearing in mind you have not got the same luxury of extendable landing nets. This thought should hopefully help you with your selection of leader length. From what I have witnessed rod lengths again vary from angler to angler from say 9′ to 11′,  Again I’m talking still waters. River anglers may go down to 7′ or 8′, I personally use a 101/2′ rod which I find quite adequate. With referance to casting, As with any type of fly fishing you still have to load the rod. Again this depends on individual skills, Having said that many fish I have found are caught short lineing. Retrieving options are as varied as boat or bank angling, My advise on this would be to use them all. On the matter of loseing your rod whilst unhooking a fish or maybe having a sandwich, beer, ect. Most float tubes have two Velcro straps at the front of the tube to secure your rod. Additional tips. 1) Walk into the water backwards when launching. 2) Wear a bouyancy aid. 3) Tie your flippers to your ankles, (Individually of coarse). 4) Don’t drink too much fluid if you have a weak bladder, This can be most embarrassing but you can always blame it on leeking waders. 5) Observe all the safety guidlines set down by The Health and Safety Executive, Details can be obtained from The British Float Tube Association (See below). The British Float Tube Association Secretary Andre’ Russell 24 Merton Avenue, Syston, Leicester. LE7 2JP. Tel: 0116-260-6924. Hope this helps, Let us know how you get on. Tight lines. Tony Connor U.K. Lancashire. : Next week I am going float tubeing for the first time on a still water : and I need help with the answers to a few questions. : : What techniques are recommended. : : How many Flies do I fish, I will be using either an 8foot or 9 foot rod. : : In fact what is the best rod length. : : How long a leader. : : How far do I cast, do use enough line to load the rod from pickup or do : I cast further. : : Do I retieve or use loch style with a hang before a simple up and out : recast. : : How do I stop the rod falling into the water and sinking into the depths : when I change flies or land a fish, do I keep it attached to the tube. : : Any more tips. : : Dave Bolt : UK :

Response:

: One thing I did find a problem was trying to stay orientated relative to : the wind. The tendency was to rotate until I was head on to the wind. I : was in a round bucks bag tube. : I find the wind to be a real pain in the rear, and would be interested : in hearing about any type of anchor used by other belly boaters.  On a big : lake it is hard to maintain a steady position or to determine how fast : your fly is dragging due to the wind. The best way that I have to deal with the wind is to keep at my back. This allows me to slowly kick so that I can maintain postion and steer the tube back into the position I want. It does not take much effrot to do this, and I can stay "put" in any wind that I can cast in. Of course, this is not always possible with some spots that I want to fish. Then, I’ll drift like I would in a canoe and paddle back to drift again. And remember, whitecaps breaking over your casting apron is nature’s way of telling you to knock off the foolishness and head for shore. ;- — Jon Porter

Response:

Sue wants to know, will a big fish tow you round the water. Should we get in some water skiing practice

We have a local lake that the ODF&W (Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife) puts the spawned out hatchery steelhead into each year.  A friend of mine hooked one last spring and spent two hours with it towing him around the lake.  He couldn’t do a thing about it.  And, he ended up taking the fish home for a few meals. — Tight Threads,         Charley Renn         Corvallis, OR

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Next week I am going float tubeing for the first time on a still water and I need help with the answers to a few questions. What techniques are recommended. How many Flies do I fish, I will be using either an 8foot or 9 foot rod. At once? One or more up to as many as you can handle. In fact what is the best rod length. Generally longer is better in a tube as you are so close to the water. How long a leader. for a surface presentation 12 feet is about average for sinking lines 5 or 6 feet is averge . How far do I cast, do use enough line to load the rod from pickup or do I cast further. however far away the fish are. You should be able to get closer to fish and hence cast a shorter line. Do I retieve or use loch style with a hang before a simple up and out recast. How do I stop the rod falling into the water and sinking into the depths when I change flies or land a fish, do I keep it attached to the tube. I stick the reel end of the rod sort of into my lap or between my knees. Many tubes have velcro bits on either side of the stripping apron lay your rod across these and fasten with the velcro before you start fiddling with fly boxes and cutting leaders Any more tips. Take a piss before you go out and take some water (NO BEER!) with you. I’ve had problems with leg cramps brought on by lack of fuids. Dave Bolt UK Ralph H

 I second the idea to take a piss before you enter the water!!! HEHEHE. Looks kinda silly kicking to the shore only to urinate all over your waders because you can’t pull em down fast enogh…

Response:

Next week I am going float tubeing for the first time on a still water and I need help with the answers to a few questions.

Just a couple general pointers. 1. Wear a lfe vest. 2. Scout the area and find a nice flat, firm bottom on which to enter. 3. Make sure you’re familiar with your tube. Think about how you’d get out in a problem. 4. Inflate it properly. Not too much and not too little. 5. Keep it close to shore – real close –  until you’re comfortable, and understand your ability. 6. Pee before you begin. 7. Narrow down your  tackle to the bear minimum. 8. Consider doing it on a small body of water on a calm day. Every spring, after a long winter of no physical activity, I get leg cramps my first time or two out. Keep it slow, stop and rest as soon as a cramp begins. Good luck, John Nesselrode Shawnee, KS

Response:

Next week I am going float tubeing for the first time on a still water and I need help with the answers to a few questions. What techniques are recommended. How many Flies do I fish, I will be using either an 8foot or 9 foot rod. In fact what is the best rod length. How long a leader. How far do I cast, do use enough line to load the rod from pickup or do I cast further. Do I retieve or use loch style with a hang before a simple up and out recast. How do I stop the rod falling into the water and sinking into the depths when I change flies or land a fish, do I keep it attached to the tube. Any more tips. Dave Bolt UK

Response:

Next week I am going float tubeing for the first time on a still water and I need help with the answers to a few questions. What techniques are recommended. How many Flies do I fish, I will be using either an 8foot or 9 foot rod.

At once? One or more up to as many as you can handle. In fact what is the best rod length.

Generally longer is better in a tube as you are so close to the water. How long a leader.

for a surface presentation 12 feet is about average for sinking lines 5 or 6 feet is averge . How far do I cast, do use enough line to load the rod from pickup or do I cast further.

however far away the fish are. You should be able to get closer to fish and hence cast a shorter line. Do I retieve or use loch style with a hang before a simple up and out recast. How do I stop the rod falling into the water and sinking into the depths when I change flies or land a fish, do I keep it attached to the tube.

I stick the reel end of the rod sort of into my lap or between my knees. Many tubes have velcro bits on either side of the stripping apron lay your rod across these and fasten with the velcro before you start fiddling with fly boxes and cutting leaders Any more tips.

Take a piss before you go out and take some water (NO BEER!) with you. I’ve had problems with leg cramps brought on by lack of fuids. Dave Bolt UK

Ralph H

Response:

Question:

.. the problem is with the fonts in netscape … it seems to pick up a wierd font when setting it up.. especially the earlier netscapes. go into the fonts list and find the offending font and get rid of it, netscape then picks another … – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – keyboarded:

Question:

May be ordered from Blu Ribbon Flies in W. Yellowstone.                         Mike in PDX                "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                                            Tom McGuane

Response:

You can find it here and there. Check with Donegals and Castle Arms. Also, Hunters sells some silk floss. I use guderbrod’s (sp) silk. It’s inexpesive ($2-2.5 per spool) and does the job just fine. Charles (Chuck) Abbott      The MITRE Corporation "There is not a single blackfly in the Adirondacks. All are married and have large families." Henry Wells

Response:

Dave Hughes mentions this as the best body material for soft hackles.  Does anyone know a mail order source for this rare stuff?

National Feather-Craft in St. Louis carries the silk in a variety of colors and is a large mail order house so it is easy to have them ship to you. For soft hackle flies you most likely want the silk thread (Gosmer) as opposed to the silk floss (stout). You can reach National Feather-Craft at 800-659-1707.

Response:

 I’m trying to tie size 20-26 midge drys. I can’t find hackle any smaller than 20 on even the most primium grade necks. I am now using darlone and other synthetic materials. What does everyone else use? Also I’d like help in how to tie the synthetics to look like a palmered hackle. I always get something that looks like an elk caddis and not a hackle that goes completely around the fly.

I have the same problem.  I have heard that using half a "normal" hackle in a dubbing loop has the right effect in that it alows you to choose the hackle length, but to date I haven’t tried it.  I can see it being tough to get all the hackle fibres to lie in the same direction doing this however. If you try it, let me know how you get on Russ ps have you tried Darrel Martin’s "Micropatterns" book for ideas ?

Response:

Hoffman. Although, I understand your dilema. It’s ver difficult to size hackle on these small ones.

Response:

Hey, if there is anyone out there who loves to fly fish and has the time to chat a little bit with me about fly fishing, PLEASE send me an E-mail. I am senior at the University of Oregon who started to fly fish last Spring. Fly fishing in my number one priority in life right now and I want to be out there in the rivers as much as I can when the season starts. I really don’t know that many people that fly fish around here so it is kind of frustrating not to have anyone to talk with about flies, rods, fish etc. Thanks, Marcelo

Response:

 I’m trying to tie size 20-26 midge drys. I can’t find hackle any smaller than 20 on even the most primium grade necks. I am now using darlone and other synthetic materials. What does everyone else use? Also I’d like help in how to tie the synthetics to look like a palmered hackle. I always get something that looks like an elk caddis and not a hackle that goes completely around the fly.

Response:

Also I’d like help in how to tie the synthetics to look like a palmered hackle. I always get something that looks like an elk caddis and not a hackle that goes completely around the fly.

You could try a dubbing loop, but on a size 26 fly, that might not be practical. Try ostrich herl. Have you tried CDC? Bob Petti Endwell, NY

Response:

Dave Hughes talks a lot about using Pearsall’s Gossamer silk thread for tying wets, especially soft hackles.  Does anyone know a mail order source for this stuff? — Jim Benenson                 Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA "To protect your rivers, protect your mountains"       Emperor Yu of China, circa 1600 B.C.

Response:

Actually it has nothing to do with fishing…it refers to the thin thread of sanity that kept Jim Pearsall attached to this earth.

Response:

Question:

I am interested in learning more about flyfishing for stripers in fresh water.  I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like any information that pertains to fishing the SF bay delta area as well.   I would like to know of good books to read and local quides to contact Thanks Stu Booth

Response:

Good places for stripers in the SF area are Franks Tract in the Delta; you will need a boat, and the O’Neill Forebay of San Luis Reservoir which is accessible by canoe, float tube or boat.  The O’Neill is right at the intersection of Rte. 152 and I-5 near Los Banos jsut as you come down out of the Pacheco Pass into the Central Valley.  Although I haven’t caught one yet, there are reported to be a nice population of big stripers in this small lake. There are also stripers to be found in the main reservoir too, but it is a much more formidable piece of water. Pick up a copy of California Fly Fisher.  There are always ads for guides for striper fishing the bay and Franks tract in the back. Good luck–Crashjibe

Response: