Question:

Frank: It was also while on his honeymoon.  What a kicker. Nice report GM.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Report included pictures, extra roffians, huge fish, a veritable reiding rainbow, booze, perseverance in the face of illness, food, culture, geography, deep fried gerbils (well, they coulda been there!)….    Excellent report.  Congrats on the big fish and nice to hear the little brother is finally working again.  Good on ya, both you and Clark.  Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

Frank: It was also while on his honeymoon.  What a kicker. Nice report GM.

Thanks Stan. Still wanna do a run to the Battenkill? — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

Thanks Stan. Still wanna do a run to the Battenkill?

I’m thinking it’s a bit late for this year – the trout season ended Oct. 28′th. I tried to get in a last day of warmwater fishing last Saturday in Otis and it snowed!  We didn’t even get our canoes in the water<g.  We could always try to hit the Swift or the Millers.

Response:

… We could always try to hit the Swift or the Millers.

um…stan, could you maybe hold off for a while?  i’m currently engaged in a conflict in which i’m getting my ass whipped pretty good… …where is the millers – mass.? jeff

Response:

Thanks Stan. Still wanna do a run to the Battenkill? I’m thinking it’s a bit late for this year – the trout season ended Oct. 28′th. I tried to get in a last day of warmwater fishing last Saturday in Otis and it snowed!  We didn’t even get our canoes in the water<g.  We could always try to hit the Swift or the Millers.

Millers/Swift sounds good. Is the FF Only section open yet? The NY State side of the Battenkill is still open. I don’t think it closes, or it does at the end of Nov. Or did regs change? — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

…where is the millers – mass.?

The Millers River is a small river flowing west just south of the New Hampshire border into the Connecticut.  It is a typical New England river in that it has been dammed and abused by mills for a couple hundred years. There are some beautiful stretches though, and Gary wrote a nice piece about it this summer concerning a seemingly impossible cast. –Stan

Response:

Millers/Swift sounds good. Is the FF Only section open yet? The NY State side of the Battenkill is still open. I don’t think it closes, or it does at the end of Nov. Or did regs change? — Gary

I’m not sure about the NY regs.  I think that parts of the Ausable, Schroon and Battenkill are open year-round.  The general regs trout season ends Oct. 15. The Swift is still closed upstream from the Rt. 9 bridge.  It was supposed to re-open on Nov. 1 but the latest scare this week made them postpone the opening until Nov. 7.  Downstream is still open as usual, and has had much heavier pressure than usual because of the closed section.

Response:

Thanks for the kind words Gary. I also can add some reasons for the lack of a photo of the big fish and the fault is squarely mine, though Gary is too much of a gentleman to indicate so. In the process of landing the fish the fly came free of the fish as often happens at the end of the battle. On this occasion though it was because the clumsy guide had stepped on the leader thus freeing the fish prior to Gary getting the camera out. It was impossible to hold such a fish unrestrained  she was a big powerful brown at least in excess of 10lbs, exact weight I could only guess at between 10 and 12 pounds. A fish Gary should be proud of and one I am gutted to have prevented a photo of. So I owe apologies for "screwing up" to Gary and the promise of being more diligent should he ever return. I for one hope you do Gary, you were a pleasure to fish with. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand. Firstly I am eternally grateful to him, as the poor bastard was sick as a dog. So sick as to get up at 3am the night before, drive about 50 miles to hospitalize himself, only to be too tired to make the hospital, sleep in the truck and he still made our date at 8:30am. I felt guilty all day until I gave him a drop o’ old Jameson’s and he felt better. So did I, when he reciprocated with a delicious sour mash of his choosing. We were in the Mt Cook vicinity (http://www.rockypond.com/mtcook.jpg), an area that has a look not unlike that of Three Rivers in Montana (wide, arid, surrounded by mountains, http://www.rockypond.com/scenery.jpg). The nearby Lake Tekapo, where we stayed, is spectacular with a deep azure color from the nearby glaciers (picture includes shot of your friend and humble narrator, http://www.rockypond.com/tekapo.jpg). The first stream (http://www.rockypond.com/firstriver.jpg) we visited was about 15 feet in width, slightly off color and cold. I admit that it did not look like much. Clark assured me it held big fish. Clark explained that Kiwi fishing is different from US or UK fishing in that there are fewer fish that are much larger. This was certainly bourn out this day. Being early season there was not much of any dry fly activity, which was slightly disappointing, so we nymphed all day. I pounded water for about an hour and eventually hooked up near a wooden bridge. At first I didn’t think it a large fish as he came towards me, but when he made a run upstream, I was in no doubt. Upstream was an old wooden bridge and as I applied pressure I will never forget the wave the fish created in the river as it turned. The fish was a brown about 26 inches in size, maybe 8lbs or so. It fought for 10 mins and we eventually tagged him at an undercut. After that we moved to a different river over the nearby Burke’s Pass. We stopped to review a fish that Clark had scouted the day before that was in a tough, nearly impossible position. Sitting in front of a bridge leg, with a brush accumulation behind him, in the current that itself broke both ways around the bridge was a good 10lb brown. He was spooked immediately, but twenty mins later after we had eaten lunch and got ready he was back. This time, from the river level, I was fairly sure with Clark’s help I could get something on his nose. There was a rocky braid in the river shy of the lie and I hunched down using it as cover. When I reached the braid I lay down flat and peaked up to get the bearing; Clark called the casts though. Too short, lifted too soon, etc. My fear was to let the fly go too long and catch the brush pile. I managed two good drifts to the fish which he ignored and then Clark chose the strategy that since the current was breaking, making dead drift impossible, a swimming nymph would work. Clark told me the nymph was akin to the Isonychia, which I have had great success with in the US. I cannot remember but I believe it was the first or second cast that he yelled "Strike!" To my surprise he was hooked (the fish, not Clark). What ensued was almost complete anarchy and what happened next transpired over a few minutes. I stood up and the fish took off upstream. Above the pool were some step-like rapids and white water, which the fish barreled through even though I had full power on the loaded rod. Impressive indeed. I managed to turn him and he came down the pool to the (those who are following this could guess this next bit) brush pile at the bridge. Once he was there I thought it was game over. I pulled and could feel nothing only dead weight. As I was upstream I knew I was applying pressure in the wrong direction (either that, or I was trying to pull a brush pile and bridge in my direction).  I had to get a more acute angle. Without thinking I jumped into the white water and crossed this extremely fast current. I never would have done this without the adrenalin rush I was now experiencing and as I had to wade downstream I think this was the only thing that saved me from a dunking. By now both Clark and I had fallen a few times due to the step sides of the loose moraine in the rivers. When I got across and was almost 180 degrees from him I was pleased to see the fish was still on and I had successfully moved him from the brush pile into the deep blue pool. This was a good sighting point and how beautiful he was: a big olive head and a body that was 30 inches at least. He came to my feet and I contemplated beaching him, until I fell once again and this time painfully. He was spooked and off downstream, where, to Clark’s credit he was waiting for the fish in the shallow waters. At this point we released him a little too fast for a photograph, but that did not matter to me. It was a good stalk and a good team effort for a righteous fish. We could only laugh and shake our heads at the marvel of that emotional deluge we call fly-fishing. I had the greatest feeling though I was in pain from the falls. I will add at this point it was becoming clear to me that another characteristic of Kiwi fishing is that the river size coupled with large fish size definitely put the odds in favor of the fish. I personally could learn a lot more about playing a large fish by fishing more down there. By now, it was mid afternoon and I had had two fish. Like I mentioned earlier, this is pretty typical. I managed another fish a few minutes later upstream, about 3lbs (http://www.rockypond.com/fish3.jpg). We worked another hour and then decided to move on. As we were on either side of a pass in these past two fish it was apparent that the weather here is strange. At the last river the sky became cloudy and snow was visible at higher elevations, but as we returned across Burke’s Pass again the sky cleared. We fished a fast deep stream in the hot sunshine (name escapes me now, but here’s pic, http://www.rockypond.com/stream3.jpg). Spent nearly two hours here with no luck though we covered a lot of water. The afternoon was getting late and we decided to hit a creek called Mary Burn (a lot of Scots settled NZ). This river was barely a trickle (http://www.rockypond.com/maryburn.jpg). Tannin stained almost like the Scottish or Irish streams are, but barely 5 feet wide. No way was I going to believe that there were anything but fingerlings in there. I hiked off a bit and came to an electrical cattle fence. As I walked up the soft bank I spooked a 22inch brown, which scared the living shit out of me. He nearly beached himself trying to get away. I cannot imagine how this tiny stream grew such enormous fish. In any case this was to be the closest encounter I would have to one of Mary Burn’s progeny. A wind had whipped up and was blowing about 25 knots. As you can imagine trying to hit a less than 1-foot target area in a 5-foot stream with this kind of wind required skills I have yet not acquired, nor maybe never will. Also the temperature was dropping and this wind bit cold. We decided to head off for somewhere sheltered. Sadly the weather did not get better and it was 39F (down about 30 degrees from 2 hours earlier) due to a cold front that had moved in. We decided to call it a day around 7pm I think. It was almost 12 hours fishing and it was the most enjoyable kind. Good fish, good water, good spirits and good conversations. And, yes, Clark Reid is a great guide and good company. Anyway I do thank him again for a great time. He may be able to explain better than I to ROFF as to why the streams are as they are. I think it is to do with a low pH, no environmental issues (NZ has NO fossil fuel or nuclear power plants – all Hydro). That evening, myself and my new wife drove outside of town in the clear, still sky of the new cold front we took in Crux, the Southern Cross (a lifelong dream) and the Clouds of Magellan; not to mentions the upside down Northern Constellations. For the rest of my travels I stopped at many, many streams and every one had big fish (sunglasses over lens to polarize, http://www.rockypond.com/feeder.jpg), even by the Angler’s Access parking areas. One stream looked like someone had surgically lifted the River Avon in Wiltshire and dropped it in the valley of the Eglinton River. I watched a fish work every few seconds and he was mine (strictly up-and-across, mind), but I was sans rod and reel and could only dream. Another series of small lakes held a good dozen two foot long trout that sipped away oblivious to the visitors and gave me a good treatise on the Brownian feeding manner of the still water trout. Sorry for the long report. Hope you enjoyed it.

… read more »

Response:

Great report.  Thanks for writing it up. bruce h

Response:

Great report, Gary. Good reading and excellent pictures. Very well done. George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

Response:

Report included pictures, extra roffians, huge fish, a veritable reiding rainbow, booze, perseverance in the face of illness, food, culture, geography, deep fried gerbils (well, they coulda been there!)….    Excellent report.  Congrats on the big fish and nice to hear the little brother is finally working again.  Good on ya, both you and Clark.  Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

really enjoyed your descriptions of the place & the fishing Mu

Response:

[great reportt snipped for brevity] Thanks for reading.

Thanks for writing! Steve

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

Great report snipped. Including pictures with your report was very appreciated. If find it interesting that the trout population is lower than here in the States but that there are more big fish. Willi

Response:

Sorry for the long report.

Uhhh…. don’t mention it.  Thanks.

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago <snip   Thanks for reading.

Thanks for writing.  Nice report. Kevin

Response:

Superb report, and I really enjoyed the excellent photos. It looks a lot like the Sawtooth and Stanley Basins, but the fish are a lot bigger. Is the area in runoff conditions now? BTW, I can’t believe you didn’t get a photo of that 30" brown. I’ll bet it flopped away before the camera was ready. Bruce Hopper and I are experts in that maneuver. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Superb report, and I really enjoyed the excellent photos. It looks a lot like the Sawtooth and Stanley Basins, but the fish are a lot bigger. Is the area in runoff conditions now?

It is supposed to be in runoff, but NZ had been in a drought situation for the past few years, so many rivers are dry and many are below average flows. Actually one picture I wish I had snapped was up on the lake of a boat ramp that was easily 150ft long and the lake itself was about 20ft beyond the *end* of the ramp. BTW, I can’t believe you didn’t get a photo of that 30" brown. I’ll bet it flopped away before the camera was ready. Bruce Hopper and I are experts in that maneuver.

LOL. You read it well.  Clark had a normal film camera and he was taking pics of the antics. Not sure if he actually caught it though. I certainly did not have time to get my camera out. — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

…and the goodness of this strange place is continued… thanks gary.  rw and you have raised the bar for trip reports with your illustrations, and i’ve enjoyed them a lot. jeff (off to wade the stagnant streams of the pitt county courthouse…)

Response:

jeff (off to wade the stagnant streams of the pitt county courthouse…)

        same same for your brother at the bar, little wayno, up into the wilds of surrey county, a lawless land if ever there were one… wayno  (but damn if those ol boys don’t grow some righteous ganga!)

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand. Firstly I am eternally grateful to him, as the poor bastard was sick as a dog. So sick as to get up at 3am the night before, drive about 50 miles to hospitalize himself, only to be too tired to make the hospital, sleep in the truck and he still made our date at 8:30am. I felt guilty all day until I gave him a drop o’ old Jameson’s and he felt better. So did I, when he reciprocated with a delicious sour mash of his choosing. We were in the Mt Cook vicinity (http://www.rockypond.com/mtcook.jpg), an area that has a look not unlike that of Three Rivers in Montana (wide, arid, surrounded by mountains, http://www.rockypond.com/scenery.jpg). The nearby Lake Tekapo, where we stayed, is spectacular with a deep azure color from the nearby glaciers (picture includes shot of your friend and humble narrator, http://www.rockypond.com/tekapo.jpg). The first stream (http://www.rockypond.com/firstriver.jpg) we visited was about 15 feet in width, slightly off color and cold. I admit that it did not look like much. Clark assured me it held big fish. Clark explained that Kiwi fishing is different from US or UK fishing in that there are fewer fish that are much larger. This was certainly bourn out this day. Being early season there was not much of any dry fly activity, which was slightly disappointing, so we nymphed all day. I pounded water for about an hour and eventually hooked up near a wooden bridge. At first I didn’t think it a large fish as he came towards me, but when he made a run upstream, I was in no doubt. Upstream was an old wooden bridge and as I applied pressure I will never forget the wave the fish created in the river as it turned. The fish was a brown about 26 inches in size, maybe 8lbs or so. It fought for 10 mins and we eventually tagged him at an undercut. After that we moved to a different river over the nearby Burke’s Pass. We stopped to review a fish that Clark had scouted the day before that was in a tough, nearly impossible position. Sitting in front of a bridge leg, with a brush accumulation behind him, in the current that itself broke both ways around the bridge was a good 10lb brown. He was spooked immediately, but twenty mins later after we had eaten lunch and got ready he was back. This time, from the river level, I was fairly sure with Clark’s help I could get something on his nose. There was a rocky braid in the river shy of the lie and I hunched down using it as cover. When I reached the braid I lay down flat and peaked up to get the bearing; Clark called the casts though. Too short, lifted too soon, etc. My fear was to let the fly go too long and catch the brush pile. I managed two good drifts to the fish which he ignored and then Clark chose the strategy that since the current was breaking, making dead drift impossible, a swimming nymph would work. Clark told me the nymph was akin to the Isonychia, which I have had great success with in the US. I cannot remember but I believe it was the first or second cast that he yelled "Strike!" To my surprise he was hooked (the fish, not Clark). What ensued was almost complete anarchy and what happened next transpired over a few minutes. I stood up and the fish took off upstream. Above the pool were some step-like rapids and white water, which the fish barreled through even though I had full power on the loaded rod. Impressive indeed. I managed to turn him and he came down the pool to the (those who are following this could guess this next bit) brush pile at the bridge. Once he was there I thought it was game over. I pulled and could feel nothing only dead weight. As I was upstream I knew I was applying pressure in the wrong direction (either that, or I was trying to pull a brush pile and bridge in my direction).  I had to get a more acute angle. Without thinking I jumped into the white water and crossed this extremely fast current. I never would have done this without the adrenalin rush I was now experiencing and as I had to wade downstream I think this was the only thing that saved me from a dunking. By now both Clark and I had fallen a few times due to the step sides of the loose moraine in the rivers. When I got across and was almost 180 degrees from him I was pleased to see the fish was still on and I had successfully moved him from the brush pile into the deep blue pool. This was a good sighting point and how beautiful he was: a big olive head and a body that was 30 inches at least. He came to my feet and I contemplated beaching him, until I fell once again and this time painfully. He was spooked and off downstream, where, to Clark’s credit he was waiting for the fish in the shallow waters. At this point we released him a little too fast for a photograph, but that did not matter to me. It was a good stalk and a good team effort for a righteous fish. We could only laugh and shake our heads at the marvel of that emotional deluge we call fly-fishing. I had the greatest feeling though I was in   pain from the falls. I will add at this point it was becoming clear to me that another characteristic of Kiwi fishing is that the river size coupled with large fish size definitely put the odds in favor of the fish. I personally could learn a lot more about playing a large fish by fishing more down there. By now, it was mid afternoon and I had had two fish. Like I mentioned earlier, this is pretty typical. I managed another fish a few minutes later upstream, about 3lbs   (http://www.rockypond.com/fish3.jpg). We worked another hour and then decided to move on. As we were on either side of a pass in these past two fish it was apparent that the weather here is strange. At the last river the sky became cloudy and snow was visible at higher elevations, but as we returned across Burke’s Pass again the sky cleared. We fished a fast deep stream in the hot sunshine (name escapes me now, but here’s pic, http://www.rockypond.com/stream3.jpg). Spent nearly two hours here with no luck though we covered a lot of water. The afternoon was getting late and we decided to hit a creek called Mary Burn (a lot of Scots settled NZ). This river was barely a trickle (http://www.rockypond.com/maryburn.jpg). Tannin stained almost like the Scottish or Irish streams are, but barely 5 feet wide. No way was I going to believe that there were anything but fingerlings in there. I hiked off a bit and came to an electrical cattle fence. As I walked up the soft bank I spooked a 22inch brown, which scared the living shit out of me. He nearly beached himself trying to get away. I cannot imagine how this tiny stream grew such enormous fish. In any case this was to be the closest encounter I would have to one of Mary Burn’s progeny. A wind had whipped up and was blowing about 25 knots. As you can imagine trying to hit a less than 1-foot target area in a 5-foot stream with this kind of wind required skills I have yet not acquired, nor maybe never will. Also the temperature was dropping and this wind bit cold. We decided to head off for somewhere sheltered. Sadly the weather did not get better and it was 39F (down about 30 degrees from 2 hours earlier) due to a cold front that had moved in. We decided to call it a day around 7pm I think. It was almost 12 hours fishing and it was the most enjoyable kind. Good fish, good water, good spirits and good conversations. And, yes, Clark Reid is a great guide and good company. Anyway I do thank him again for a great time. He may be able to explain better than I to ROFF as to why the streams are as they are. I think it is to do with a low pH, no environmental issues (NZ has NO fossil fuel or nuclear power plants – all Hydro). That evening, myself and my new wife drove outside of town in the clear, still sky of the new cold front we took in Crux, the Southern Cross (a lifelong dream) and the Clouds of Magellan; not to mentions the upside down Northern Constellations. For the rest of my travels I stopped at many, many streams and every one had big fish (sunglasses over lens to polarize, http://www.rockypond.com/feeder.jpg), even by the Angler’s Access parking areas. One stream looked like someone had surgically lifted the River Avon in Wiltshire and dropped it in the valley of the Eglinton River. I watched a fish work every few seconds and he was mine (strictly up-and-across, mind), but I was sans rod and reel and could only dream. Another series of small lakes held a good dozen two foot long trout that sipped away oblivious to the visitors and gave me a good treatise on the Brownian feeding manner of the still water trout. Sorry for the long report. Hope you enjoyed it. Visit NZ some time. The accommodation and car rental is reasonable. The steak and cheese pies and Sleights Old Dark are worth the trip in itself. Come on, don the DVT socks and do it. It’s only 12 hours from LA. Thanks for reading. Gary — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

Question:

Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above. Bill

Response:

Bill Smith" asks: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above.

Get a 1" long section of clear hose, slice it, place it on the rail or whatever and mount the 1" stainless flagpole atop it. -Bruce

Response:

Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above.

That’s gonna be a special order item. It’ll be cheaper to buy a larger flag pole. And while we’re on the subject of flags: The biggest mistake most people make is under-flagging their boats. The correct size flag is 1" of fly (length of the stripes) to 1′ of boat length. Since flags only come in 18" x 30", 24" x 36" etc…if your boat length falls ANYwhere in the middle, go UP to the next larger size, not down to the smaller one. IOW, the correct flag size for my 32′ boat is 24" x 36", not 18 x 30. Peggie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bill

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above. That’s gonna be a special order item. It’ll be cheaper to buy a larger flag pole. And while we’re on the subject of flags: The biggest mistake most people make is under-flagging their boats. The correct size flag is 1" of fly (length of the stripes) to 1′ of boat length. Since flags only come in 18" x 30", 24" x 36" etc…if your boat length falls ANYwhere in the middle, go UP to the next larger size, not down to the smaller one. IOW, the correct flag size for my 32′ boat is 24" x 36", not 18 x 30. Peggie Bill

Hmmmm. Maybe I need a stars and stripes fishing kite… — Harry Krause – - – - – - – - – - – - I’d love to, but I’m teaching my parrot to yodel.

Response:

Hi, A different way to get those strippers! Eh! — Regards and God Speed, Gary Gary W. Sandvik 309-676-0224 (fax)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above. That’s gonna be a special order item. It’ll be cheaper to buy a larger flag pole. And while we’re on the subject of flags: The biggest mistake most people make is under-flagging their boats. The correct size flag is 1" of fly (length of the stripes) to 1′ of boat length. Since flags only come in 18" x 30", 24" x 36" etc…if your boat length falls ANYwhere in the middle, go UP to the next larger size, not down to the smaller one. IOW, the correct flag size for my 32′ boat is 24" x 36", not 18 x 30. Peggie Bill Hmmmm. Maybe I need a stars and stripes fishing kite… — Harry Krause – - – - – - – - – - – - I’d love to, but I’m teaching my parrot to yodel.

Response:

Stripers! Eh! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, A different way to get those strippers! Eh! — Regards and God Speed, Gary Gary W. Sandvik 309-676-0224 (fax) Dumb question: Does anyone know where I can find stainless steel flagpole mounts in 3/4" dia.?  I can only find stainless in 1" and above. That’s gonna be a special order item. It’ll be cheaper to buy a larger flag pole. And while we’re on the subject of flags: The biggest mistake most people make is under-flagging their boats. The correct size flag is 1" of fly (length of the stripes) to 1′ of boat length. Since flags only come in 18" x 30", 24" x 36" etc…if your boat length falls ANYwhere in the middle, go UP to the next larger size, not down to the smaller one. IOW, the correct flag size for my 32′ boat is 24" x 36", not 18 x 30. Peggie Bill Hmmmm. Maybe I need a stars and stripes fishing kite… — Harry Krause – - – - – - – - – - – - I’d love to, but I’m teaching my parrot to yodel.

Response:

Hi, A different way to get those strippers! Eh! — Regards and God Speed, Gary

Strippers are easy to get; stripers are more difficult.

Response:

Question:

i saw a show on the knowledge network on Wednesday july 22 7pm.  the guy was fishing on a lake in the merrit Plateau.  Looking for the name of the lake.

Response:

i saw a show on the knowledge network on Wednesday july 22 7pm.  the guy was fishing on a lake in the merrit Plateau.  Looking for the name of the lake.

if it was the show where the guest was Brian Chan  the lake is Minnie Lake on the Douglas Lake Ranch – costs you $75 to $125 a day to fish. BTW I just came back from 4 days on Salmon Lake on the ranch and had a good time with rainbows to about 3lbs – most around 1.5 to 2 lbs on yellow Cary’s. Salmon is a good base camp to fish the other lakes on the ranch. you can camp or rent a cabin there and the fishing on Salmon is open to the public excepting a small boat launch fee. Ralph H

Response:

The Lake was Lumbaum Lake just a bit northeast (mostly east) of Merrit.  We held our regional Scout camp there last May (just after the turnover).  It’s a great spot but can be a real party lake with several forestry camp sites located all around the lake. The show wasn’t kidding about the large trout and how hard it was to get them.  When we were there a couple of days before the camp, the largest we saw (and the largest caught, by a first time fisherman no less <G) was about 14". Kent – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not sure of the lake probably Minnie but it was on the Douglas Lake Ranch: http://douglaslake.com/ Tell Carlos & Spencer we said Hi!! — <*))))< Paul Phillips Director of Operations Fintastic Fish Mounts http://www.fintastic.com/ i saw a show on the knowledge network on Wednesday july 22 7pm.  the guy was fishing on a lake in the merrit Plateau.  Looking for the name of the lake.

Signature!?! Damn it Jim, I’m a lurker not a liternary agent!!

Response:

The Lake was Lumbaum Lake just a bit northeast (mostly east) of Merrit.  

I believe the spelling is Lundbom pronounced Lund-bum. The show wasn’t kidding about the large trout and how hard it was to get them.

I’ve never fished Lundbom and decided not too after a few people said it was like steelheading –  if you hook a fish feel good about it. BTW Lundbom has a rich history – see Steve Raymond’s original edition of "Kamloops". The lake had excellent fishing for trout to 8lbs or so plus an excellent sedge hatch. However it was discovered and fishing quality declined rapidly. A proposal to make it an Artificial Fly Only lake was opposed by local gear fishermen. Instead the lake was managed as a quality fishery. Stocking has been greatly reduced and the lake is now known for holding small numbers of large trout where once it held good numbers of cooperative trout with plenty of fish in the 2 to 4 pound range and a few bigger ones, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Kent Not sure of the lake probably Minnie but it was on the Douglas Lake Ranch: http://douglaslake.com/ Tell Carlos & Spencer we said Hi!! — <*))))< Paul Phillips Director of Operations Fintastic Fish Mounts http://www.fintastic.com/ i saw a show on the knowledge network on Wednesday july 22 7pm.  the guy was fishing on a lake in the merrit Plateau.  Looking for the name of the lake. Signature!?! Damn it Jim, I’m a lurker not a liternary agent!!

Ralph H note spurious hyperbole, insults and ‘personal attacks’ made by the author are meant to honour "the Soul of Cicero" and are not intended as personal slights. Please don’t take offense as none is intended. remove "(take_this_out)" for email reply.

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Question:

Looking for sources of info and owner feedback on any aircraft along the lines of the Cessna 180; i.e., taildragger (not necessary, but an option if it is less expensive), good useful load, reasonable speed, 4-6 passenger, simple (no retracts, CS prop OK), IFR.  Usage would be flights from Minneapolis/St.Paul area to northern Minnesota and Canada, with occasional flights out west (Montana, Wyoming), Michigan, Arkansas, and the Carolinas.  Possible flight into grass and dirt strips.  Need good useful load because very few of my fishing buddies are under 200 lbs. each, and I want to fill as many seats plus gear as possible. Keith Miesel Other similar aircraft along these lines would be considered.  I’m just trying to identify my options.

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For carrying a planeload of 200-pounders, plus fishing gear (and I know how that can add up!), you may be looking for a Cessna 206. Great load carrying, plus a big door. The Cessna 180, while it will physically carry a big load, is (at least in the early years) not legal with big loads.  Check gross weight and useful load figures.  Aviation Consumer’s big, two-volume book set of airplane reports (can’t remember the name, and it’s at home) is worth every penny. Great detail on all the popular GA planes. — Tom Gresham, host http://www.guntalk.com (for Gun Talk Radio Show)

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A Cessna 185 will actually outlift a 206 on poundage, but the big door on the 206 makes for easier loading of gear.  My rule is, if you are carrying fannys, use a 185, if cargo, use a 206.  Rough fields also favor the 185. BTW, look at Kenmore Air Harbor’s STC for the 180…they have a 250 pound GW increase weight kit and  40 HP enhancement kit.  They call it a "Super 180". For carrying a planeload of 200-pounders, plus fishing gear (and I know how that can add up!), you may be looking for a Cessna 206. Great load carrying, plus a big door. The Cessna 180, while it will physically carry a big load, is (at least in the early years) not legal with big loads.  Check gross weight and useful load figures.  Aviation Consumer’s big, two-volume book set of airplane reports (can’t remember the name, and it’s at home) is worth every penny. Great detail on all the popular GA planes. — Tom Gresham, host http://www.guntalk.com (for Gun Talk Radio Show)

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Looking for sources of info and owner feedback on any aircraft along the lines of the Cessna 180; i.e., taildragger (not necessary, but an option if it is less expensive), good useful load, reasonable speed, 4-6 passenger, simple (no retracts, CS prop OK), IFR.  Usage would be flights from Minneapolis/St.Paul area to northern Minnesota and Canada, with occasional flights out west (Montana, Wyoming), Michigan, Arkansas, and the Carolinas.  Possible flight into grass and dirt strips.  Need good useful load because very few of my fishing buddies are under 200 lbs. each, and I want to fill as many seats plus gear as possible.

If you are serious about the 4-6 passengers in the 200+ lb category plus fishing gear, plus normal baggage then you are out of the 180/185/206 class of airplane. That kind of requirement is only going to be met by something like a Beaver or an AN-2! BTW the price range of the 180 is $60-85K, the 185 is $75-95K and the 206 will run you from $80-110K. A good Beaver will set you back $175K and the AN2 while cheap to buy is REAL expensive to operate, (in the 40GPH range + a lot of oil & maint). Then you have the problem with certification, insurance etc. Are you sure you want to do this? If you can pare your seat requirement down to a max of three passengers and you, then the 180 with little baggage or a 185 with a little more or a 206 with 5 seats and almost no baggage or fuel might get you by. Or….with a 180/185 or get everyone to a nearby spot on a commercial flight and ferry them over to the fishing hole in two or three loads. Or better yet….get a floatplane and have everyone fly to someplace close and take them to a REALLY good fishing hole! R Wood in Alaska

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Question:

Looking for used Sage rod in good condition. This is for me and is not a commercial venture. I love fly fishing and I want to have a nice rod. Used fishing reel of excellent quality also wanted. . email telephone number and name so I can contact you with questions, Thanks. Russ.

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Will be cruising the BVIs in Feb. Thought that some light surface fishing or fly fishing would be fun. Do i need a license? Any details you can help with on tackle etc.? Thanks

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Will be bare boating Feb. Thought that light spincasting or flyfishing might be fun. Any experience? Do I need a license? Will be using the Moorings. Do they supply any fishing gear?

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I would apperciate any info on stillwater flies and stillwater fishing.(the best flies and their artificial possibly??) I want to start fishing the mountain lakes up  in the cascades this summer in Oregon. THANKS-SO-MUCH!!!!!! Ron

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I would apperciate any info on stillwater flies and stillwater fishing.(the best flies and their artificial possibly??) I want to start fishing the mountain lakes up  in the cascades this summer in Oregon.

Rex Gerlach, Fly Fishing the Lakes (Winchester 1972) —  |          Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Rd., Carlsbad         |  |        Springs, Ont., Canada K0A 1K0; tel: (613) 822-0734       |  |  "What I’ve always liked about science is its independence from |  |  authority"–Ontario Science Centre (name on file) 10 July 1981 |

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I would apperciate any info on stillwater flies and stillwater fishing.(the best flies and their artificial possibly??) I want to start fishing the mountain lakes up  in the cascades this summer in Oregon. THANKS-SO-MUCH!!!!!!

For this region you should read Brian Chan’s  Stillwater flyfishing strategies from Frank Amato pubs.  He describes the bugs and life and flies and retrieves for each. Here’s my contribution: A large part of the trout diet in the rich alkaline lakes of the eastern slopes is made up of scuds (gammarus) and midges (chironomids).  I tie small nymphs entirely of maribou – I think the maribou moves well in the water on very slow retrieves. I can fish them on a sink line near the bottom to imitate the scuds with a few quick strips then stop for a few seconds.  Or I can imitate the chironomids nymphs by using a floating line and long leader, letting the fly sink well down then using a very slow twitch retrieve so the fly is moving up towards the surface. Vinnie Fluffy: Tail – 5-10 maribou ends. Body – same 5-10 maribou fibers, twisted together then wrapped up the shank as you would wool or dubbing. The fibers should make a soft fuzzy tapered body. Hackle/collar – optional – collar of peacock herl or maribou tips tied in. Try olive, brown, orange, grey or black. Prince Nymphs, Pheasant tails, and hare’s ears in sizes 12-18 all work well for me in these waters. Leechs are also very effective in east side lakes, best fished SLOWLY on intermediate lines.  This is a whole ‘nother science that I don’t have time to expound on now.  If you have the money you would learn priceless knowledge and guarantee future success by hiring guides Jay Fair of Susanville CA or Denny Richards of Klamath Falls OR for their advanced stillwater flies and techniques. BTW, try to resist the temptation to use less than 5 lb.tippet; you’ll regret it.  Point the rod straight down the line so you can really feel it directly and keep your drag loose. Mark Vinsel Visit my gallery: http://www.lanminds.com/local/vinnie/gallery.HTML

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Question:

Does anyone have infro. on fishing the Cumberland River below Wolfcreek Dam… Access, Flies to use and water coditions? Thanks Tom Becker Louisville,Ky

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Does anyone have infro. on fishing the Cumberland River below Wolfcreek Dam… Access, Flies to use and water coditions? Thanks Tom Becker Louisville,Ky

Tom, check with the nice folks at the Lac Loon flyfishing shop. Don Mclean, the owner, can give you info, point you to guide services or take you himself. He also has a lot of good equipment and supplies, all flyfishing. Your neighbor, Bob

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Question:

Mass. non-resident (7-day) is $16.50 Very close to Chelmsford pan-fish and some bass can be found on the Sudbury and Concord rivers. There is also some ocean blue-fishing done with salt fly rods but I know little about this. Regarding trout, nearest to Chelmsford is the Nissitissit River, fly-fishing only C&R. A bit further afield are the Cape ponds.  About an hour away is the fly-fishing only C&R on the Swift River and further still is the C&R section of the Deerfield.  The Swift and Deerfield drain the Quabbin and Fife Brook Dam repectively so the water temperatures will stay optimal throughout the summer – which is why they are the two best bets at this time of year. Stocking takes place near to (and in) Chelmsford but its all put-and-take, the fish can’t survive this long. I am not especially familiar with New Hampshire, but for the cost of a non-resident license I think you’d have better chances there. Chelmsford is just a few minutes from the border.

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When I worked in Chelmsford I used to fish Walden Pond a lot. Lots of brown trout, many of them big (biggest I’ve seen was a 12 lb. a guy got on bait) and big rainbows (to 7 lbs.) too, but this was many years ago (‘84). At the time I did best with Henryvilles, midges and muddlers fished deep and slow at night. Nine three streamers were good for rainbows too.                                                         jc

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Question:

Could someone please give me the subscription address (or phone #) to fly fisherman magazine? Also any other fly fishing publications that can be recommended would be appreciated. And as a final request, I would like the address or phone for some good mail order fly fishing companies.  Thanks a lot in advance, Brian D. Hadley            

Fly Fisherman PO Box 3474 Mount Morris Il 61054-9937 If you live in California a fairly recent publication that is very good is the California Fly Fisher. The subscription address is: California Fly Fisher PO Box 40429 San Francisco, Ca 94140 John

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 Could someone please give me the subscription address (or phone #) to fly fisherman magazine? Also any other fly fishing publications that can  be recommended would be appreciated. And as a final request, I would like  the address or phone for some good mail order fly fishing companies.   Thanks a lot in advance, Brian D. Hadley            

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