Question:

A little update on some info.  I spoke to Jeffrey Cardenas (The Saltwater Angler, www.saltwaterangler.com) and they aren’t doing anything in Abacos currently, but this was suggested (with no comment, good or bad): www.abacoflyfish.com TC, R

LOL! My wife Googled that link up last week. One of the more glossy guide sites I’ve seen, but the prices are in line with the area from other stuff we’ve read… We’re planning on 10 days down there; I figure I’ll use a guide for a day or two and then see how I do on my own. From my admittedly limited experience, if you can see bonefish* the guide is just a boat driver. And the boat rental prices down there are very reasonable… * non-trivial, kinda like those dithered-to-death "stereo images", you either get it, or you utterly don’t. I was lucky and had no problem seeing the bones in Anegada, hopefully the water is as clear and the sand flats as clean in the Abacos… /daytripper (Now if I could just spring free to fish *this* month!)

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Fabulous place Fell and broke my thumb the day before I had 2 days booked with a guide called sawyer ( I Think) – fortunately he had 2 novices waiting to go and who took my cancellation – both had bones 5lb + Enjoy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The SO has proposed Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos for our annual island trip next April. She’s been seeing lots of positive bonefishing references so she figures it’s a lock for me to go along with her schemes We’d stay at the Green Turtle Club resort/marina, fwiw. http://www.greenturtleclub.com/ And I’m looking for anyone with any direct experience with the eastern Abaco islands, the Green Turtle Club, and more importantly, the fishing! Anyone out there ever been to this place? Anyone out there do any bonefishing in the Abacos Islands? Thanks for any feedback. /daytripper (got dem bonefishin’ jones

– Charles Reaves

Response:

From my admittedly limited experience, if you can see bonefish* the guide is just a boat driver. And the boat rental prices down there are very reasonable…

They are, but you need to know the area, tides, etc., to avoid a lot of fruitless searching, and avoid tide and wind situations.  Make sure to get charts and pay particular attention to wind and tide directions and tide times. * non-trivial, kinda like those dithered-to-death "stereo images", you either get it, or you utterly don’t. I was lucky and had no problem seeing the bones in Anegada, hopefully the water is as clear and the sand flats as clean in the Abacos…

It is at least as clear as the VI.  I once dropped a lighter off a dock in the Abacos, and it could be seen on the bottom (about 20 plus feet of water – I didn’t realize quite how deep until I got down there <G). I’ve got UW pics of palometa and bones are as clear as anything taken in a perfectly-maintained swimming pool. /daytripper (Now if I could just spring free to fish *this* month!)

Er, you might wanna wait to NEXT month or the spring…<G TC, R

Response:

From my admittedly limited experience, if you can see bonefish* the guide is just a boat driver. And the boat rental prices down there are very reasonable… They are, but you need to know the area, tides, etc., to avoid a lot of fruitless searching, and avoid tide and wind situations.  Make sure to get charts and pay particular attention to wind and tide directions and tide times.

That’s what the first couple of days out with the guide are for… I’ll order up charts, especially given the boat rental, I’ll have a gps and a tide table, and hopefully things will be clear enough after a couple of days out. Granted my shallow experience (<= feeble pun) but fishing for bones isn’t very high on the rocket science scale – there are a couple of key details about bones that quickly narrow down the places one should bother working, and after a few more web hits I’m starting to get the feel for how small and *close* together the Abacos are, so I’m reasonably confident that if there are fish to be had I’ll stumble onto ‘em before too long * non-trivial, kinda like those dithered-to-death "stereo images", you either get it, or you utterly don’t. I was lucky and had no problem seeing the bones in Anegada, hopefully the water is as clear and the sand flats as clean in the Abacos… It is at least as clear as the VI.  I once dropped a lighter off a dock in the Abacos, and it could be seen on the bottom (about 20 plus feet of water – I didn’t realize quite how deep until I got down there <G). I’ve got UW pics of palometa and bones are as clear as anything taken in a perfectly-maintained swimming pool.

Excellent! I might have to spring for an underwater digicam! More toys! /daytripper (Now if I could just spring free to fish *this* month!) Er, you might wanna wait to NEXT month or the spring…<G

end around here. /daytripper (A shrink could buy his next house on my tab…)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – From my admittedly limited experience, if you can see bonefish* the guide is just a boat driver. And the boat rental prices down there are very reasonable… They are, but you need to know the area, tides, etc., to avoid a lot of fruitless searching, and avoid tide and wind situations.  Make sure to get charts and pay particular attention to wind and tide directions and tide times. That’s what the first couple of days out with the guide are for… I’ll order up charts, especially given the boat rental, I’ll have a gps and a tide table, and hopefully things will be clear enough after a couple of days out.

Weeel, it’s not _quite_ that simple.  You’ve got the potential for 4 foot changes, and it isn’t just knowing where, it’s knowing when and where, and where the fish are moving.  The "no-boat" flats, of course, are easy (and there are a coupla-several miles of these at GTC), but with a bare boat, it can get tricky insofar as being where you want/need to be when.   You might consider renting a boat for one day, you and the wife going for a ride, and getting familiar with things.  Then get a guide for a couple of days, and rent again for a couple of days (or more – check on a weekly rate – if so, you can avoid ferry schedules altogether, weather depending).  Plus, while only natives can officially guide you, anyone can go fishing with you, and if you have boat access the entire trip, meeting a few folks from cruising boats might be productive.  And you might want to take a lighter setup for palometa, etc. (little permits, sorta like saltwater panfish) during bonefish lulls, and take some steel wire, etc. for barracuda (highly recommended for sport and dinner). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Granted my shallow experience (<= feeble pun) but fishing for bones isn’t very high on the rocket science scale – there are a couple of key details about bones that quickly narrow down the places one should bother working, and after a few more web hits I’m starting to get the feel for how small and *close* together the Abacos are, so I’m reasonably confident that if there are fish to be had I’ll stumble onto ‘em before too long * non-trivial, kinda like those dithered-to-death "stereo images", you either get it, or you utterly don’t. I was lucky and had no problem seeing the bones in Anegada, hopefully the water is as clear and the sand flats as clean in the Abacos… It is at least as clear as the VI.  I once dropped a lighter off a dock in the Abacos, and it could be seen on the bottom (about 20 plus feet of water – I didn’t realize quite how deep until I got down there <G). I’ve got UW pics of palometa and bones are as clear as anything taken in a perfectly-maintained swimming pool. Excellent! I might have to spring for an underwater digicam! More toys!

Fuji makes a disposable UW that actually works pretty good if you just want "quick and easy" – get them in the States.  Also, get a couple of decent but inexpensive masks and snorkels (also in the States) unless you are absolutely a "dry head."  And if you dive, DON’T take anything but Hawaiian slings (with extra tubing) – anything else is a no-no. TC, R

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That’s what the first couple of days out with the guide are for… I’ll order up charts, especially given the boat rental, I’ll have a gps and a tide table, and hopefully things will be clear enough after a couple of days out. Weeel, it’s not _quite_ that simple.  You’ve got the potential for 4 foot changes, and it isn’t just knowing where, it’s knowing when and where, and where the fish are moving.  The "no-boat" flats, of course, are easy (and there are a coupla-several miles of these at GTC), but with a bare boat, it can get tricky insofar as being where you want/need to be when.  

We’ll be getting the boat for the middle 7 days out of the 10 we’ll be there, looks like a 20-something foot Wellcraft CC with a 150 and t-top. Nice hefty boat – if it ends up high and dry at low tide it won’t be moved, that’s for sure. But we want to be able to roam freely for the duration, we usually take our own boat wherever we go on summer vacations, and it is usually at the center of the best times we have. I’ve been looking at satellite images of the area to the west of the reef through the island chain over to the big island and then on to the Marls, and it looks like flat water everywhere west of the reef would be the rule unless the weather is coming due north/south. You might consider renting a boat for one day, you and the wife going for a ride, and getting familiar with things.  Then get a guide for a couple of days, and rent again for a couple of days (or more – check on a weekly rate – if so, you can avoid ferry schedules altogether, weather depending).  Plus, while only natives can officially guide you, anyone can go fishing with you, and if you have boat access the entire trip, meeting a few folks from cruising boats might be productive.  And you might want to take a lighter setup for palometa, etc. (little permits, sorta like saltwater panfish) during bonefish lulls, and take some steel wire, etc. for barracuda (highly recommended for sport and dinner).

Are there any actual permits/licences one must obtain for fishing – either on foot or in a boat? That’s usually something I forget until the last day – so I’m getting a bit of a jump on things this time… /daytripper (might actually go fishing this weekend! Whoa!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That’s what the first couple of days out with the guide are for… I’ll order up charts, especially given the boat rental, I’ll have a gps and a tide table, and hopefully things will be clear enough after a couple of days out. Weeel, it’s not _quite_ that simple.  You’ve got the potential for 4 foot changes, and it isn’t just knowing where, it’s knowing when and where, and where the fish are moving.  The "no-boat" flats, of course, are easy (and there are a coupla-several miles of these at GTC), but with a bare boat, it can get tricky insofar as being where you want/need to be when.   We’ll be getting the boat for the middle 7 days out of the 10 we’ll be there, looks like a 20-something foot Wellcraft CC with a 150 and t-top. Nice hefty boat – if it ends up high and dry at low tide it won’t be moved, that’s for sure. But we want to be able to roam freely for the duration, we usually take our own boat wherever we go on summer vacations, and it is usually at the center of the best times we have.

Heck, with that, you don’t need to worry about no steekin’ ferries…plus, that’ll allow quite a variety of fishing – you might wish to take non-FFing tackle, as well. Are there any actual permits/licences one must obtain for fishing – either on foot or in a boat? That’s usually something I forget until the last day – so I’m getting a bit of a jump on things this time…

You get them at Customs, so you don’t have much of choice, unless you wanna fly over early to get one…<G.  Ask for a "sportfishing permit" – it’s around 20-25USD.  I don’t know the status of the boat you’re renting, and with a guide, or on a Bahamian charter, you don’t need one, but if I were in your shoes, I’d just get the thing and be done with it. Bahamian Customs and other LE bodies can be a weird thing for the first-time tourist, so don’t act amused or surprised at any, er, "simple ways."  Make sure you have a couple of hundred USD in tens and twenties for the various fees, "taxes," etc. (in and out for you both, and I don’t mean bribes – it just speeds things up to have smaller bills at the ready).  Up until recently, "Customs" at the MH airport was a card table with a very friendly guy who always told you that you had nothing to declare, in and out, and to enjoy your stay…<G.  The outers particularly, and the Bahamas in general, are pretty laid back when it comes to sensible tourists who obviously plan on spending money.  My father is there quite often, and the only "trouble" in all the years of our family going was that he was pickpocketed once in Nassau, realized it as it happened, tried to grab the guy, who ran.  He then had to catch up to some folks who also gave chase and caught the guy so they didn’t beat him senseless before the cops came.  They made the guy give back the wallet and apologize in between blows. TC, R – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -/daytripper (might actually go fishing this weekend! Whoa!

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I’ve done both, and am fairly familiar with out islands of the Bahamas. As to the Green Turtle Club itself, the food is good, the dockage reasonable, an we’ve had a good time when we’ve been.

We must have been there at different times. My trip 5 years ago provided horrible overcooked food at typical high prices for the area. Other dining options are limited except for a 3 mile golf cart ride to New Plymouth. On a good day the smoke from the dump goes out to sea while Brendle, the dive boat captain, will hit on anything with a skirt. My favorite place in the area is Hopetown and Elbow Cay with a little more to do and the variety to keep the trip interesting. Some cottage rentals offer an ocean view and a harbor view. I’ve never bonefished the area, but from what I’ve heard a good guide will be a big plus. A good plan is to rent a Boston Whaler and with Elbow Cay smack in the middle you can easily cover a good portion of the Abaco Sea. Marsh Harbor is just west with great diving down at Sandy Cay and an artist colony all the way south (Little Harbor?). Whatever you choose, enjoy the trip and post pics. Drew

Response:

I’ve done both, and am fairly familiar with out islands of the Bahamas. As to the Green Turtle Club itself, the food is good, the dockage reasonable, an we’ve had a good time when we’ve been. We must have been there at different times. My trip 5 years ago provided horrible overcooked food at typical high prices for the area. Other dining options are limited except for a 3 mile golf cart ride to New Plymouth. On a good day the smoke from the dump goes out to sea while Brendle, the dive boat captain, will hit on anything with a skirt.

Are you sure you aren’t thinking of the other "resort" there, the Bluff House?  Of course, as always, YMMV. My favorite place in the area is Hopetown and Elbow Cay with a little more to do and the variety to keep the trip interesting. Some cottage rentals offer an ocean view and a harbor view. I’ve never bonefished the area, but from what I’ve heard a good guide will be a big plus. A good plan is to rent a Boston Whaler and with Elbow Cay smack in the middle you can easily cover a good portion of the Abaco Sea. Marsh Harbor is just west with great diving down at Sandy Cay and an artist colony all the way south (Little Harbor?).

I would agree that basing at Marsh Harbour is _probably_ a better plan for most who are staying on land. TC, R – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Whatever you choose, enjoy the trip and post pics. Drew

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We usually do these trips in April, usually the first week after the "high season".

…and…in your case, that would be when? <g jeff

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We must have been there at different times. My trip 5 years ago provided horrible overcooked food at typical high prices for the area. Other dining options are limited except for a 3 mile golf cart ride to New Plymouth. On a good day the smoke from the dump goes out to sea while Brendle, the dive boat captain, will hit on anything with a skirt. Are you sure you aren’t thinking of the other "resort" there, the Bluff House?  Of course, as always, YMMV.

Nope. I’m speaking of the one right down on the water. Did eat at the Bluff House once, but it was their weekly BBQ. Not bad, but still the options are limited on that end of the cay IMO. Maybe we hit them on a bad week. My favorite place in the area is Hopetown and Elbow Cay with a little more to do and the variety to keep the trip interesting. Some cottage rentals offer an ocean view and a harbor view. I’ve never bonefished the area, but from what I’ve heard a good guide will be a big plus. A good plan is to rent a Boston Whaler and with Elbow Cay smack in the middle you can easily cover a good portion of the Abaco Sea. Marsh Harbor is just west with great diving down at Sandy Cay and an artist colony all the way south (Little Harbor?). I would agree that basing at Marsh Harbour is _probably_ a better plan for most who are staying on land.

But Marsh Harbor doesn’t give you the ocean and diving right off the beach. Hmm. ‘Bout time for another trip…. I’m out of 222s (a good pain reliever). Drew

Response:

A little update on some info.  I spoke to Jeffrey Cardenas (The Saltwater Angler, www.saltwaterangler.com) and they aren’t doing anything in Abacos currently, but this was suggested (with no comment, good or bad): www.abacoflyfish.com TC, R

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I would agree that basing at Marsh Harbour is _probably_ a better plan for most who are staying on land. But Marsh Harbor doesn’t give you the ocean and diving right off the beach. Hmm. ‘Bout time for another trip…. I’m out of 222s (a good pain reliever).

Well, maybe not like the cays, but Marsh Harbour, is, well, a harbor, so there’s plenty of water.  But as you point out, (land)basing from one of the cays limits you in other ways, sometimes not well-taken by those who wish varied activity over a 10-day trip.  From MN, you can easily get to just about anywhere in the Abacos via ferry for a, pardon the pun, day trip, and while Dave fishes, his wife can shop, tour, etc.  - IIRC, she isn’t a fisher?  IOW, from MH, you can just go wherever whatever the first ferry that happens to be handy is going and likely find something, but at the cays, you might have to plan, call/radio, and/or wait, and you can just about do/see all there is to do/see in GTC in about a day and a half if you wish to "go and do." Now, all that said, I would not recommend basing from Treasure Cay (or even bothering to go for more than a half-day) as, IMO, it’s like a mini-Freeport and likely to eventually screw up the immediate surrounding area of Abacos.  Hopefully, it’ll take it in the shorts again, and this time, they’ll tear the whole flockin’ place down and be done with it. As to the codeine pills, I don’t like ‘em or trust ‘em, but ‘tripper oughta love ‘em…<G.  I think you can get a lower-strength Tylenol 3 (Tylenol 2?) in the States with a prescription.  My father swears by them, but all they do for me is make me sleepy. TC, R – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Drew

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Well, maybe not like the cays, but Marsh Harbour, is, well, a harbor, so

To me, Hope Town is prettier with almost the same frequency of ferry service. Now, all that said, I would not recommend basing from Treasure Cay (or

Not even worth the time to even go there. As to the codeine pills, I don’t like ‘em or trust ‘em, but ‘tripper oughta love ‘em…<G.  I think you can get a lower-strength Tylenol 3

Codeine works different on different people. For those who may benefit it is legal to bring in 100 tablets per person. Drew

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, maybe not like the cays, but Marsh Harbour, is, well, a harbor, so To me, Hope Town is prettier with almost the same frequency of ferry service. Now, all that said, I would not recommend basing from Treasure Cay (or Not even worth the time to even go there. As to the codeine pills, I don’t like ‘em or trust ‘em, but ‘tripper oughta love ‘em…<G.  I think you can get a lower-strength Tylenol 3 Codeine works different on different people. For those who may benefit it is legal to bring in 100 tablets per person. Drew

I’m surrounded by lightweights!  ;-) From the years of suffering with that damaged disc that was cleaned up this spring I squirreled away enough stuff to whack a herd of rhinos for a week with a multi-colored hail of doses. MMMmmm…doses….! And none of it has that godawful liver-killing should-never-have-passed-muster-with-the-FDA Tylenol. /daytripper (Go big or go home: Oxycodone and Oxycontin rule!  ;-)

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We usually do these trips in April, usually the first week after the "high season". …and…in your case, that would be when? <g jeff

Well…um….that would be…er…well….hmmm…. /daytripper ("Quickly! To the laboratory!")

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The SO has proposed Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos for our annual island trip next April. She’s been seeing lots of positive bonefishing references so she figures it’s a lock for me to go along with her schemes We’d stay at the Green Turtle Club resort/marina, fwiw. http://www.greenturtleclub.com/ And I’m looking for anyone with any direct experience with the eastern Abaco islands, the Green Turtle Club, and more importantly, the fishing! Anyone out there ever been to this place? Anyone out there do any bonefishing in the Abacos Islands? Thanks for any feedback. /daytripper (got dem bonefishin’ jones

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Anyone out there ever been to this place? Anyone out there do any bonefishing in the Abacos Islands? Thanks for any feedback. /daytripper (got dem bonefishin’ jones

    a former law partner of mine has often visited his father’s "cottage" on green turtle cay.  i will try to check with him and report back. yfitons wayno

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Anyone out there ever been to this place? Anyone out there do any bonefishing in the Abacos Islands? Thanks for any feedback. /daytripper (got dem bonefishin’ jones    a former law partner of mine has often visited his father’s "cottage" on green turtle cay.  i will try to check with him and report back. yfitons wayno

Thanks mfitons!

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well now… this sounds like an opportunity for several of us with SOs(note the lack of apostrophe) to get some SO approval… so, when will you and your wife be sponsoring this vacation a/k/a excuse for bonefishing? jeff (who knows somebody who knows somebody thats got an abacos spot) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The SO has proposed Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos for our annual island trip next April. She’s been seeing lots of positive bonefishing references so she figures it’s a lock for me to go along with her schemes We’d stay at the Green Turtle Club resort/marina, fwiw. http://www.greenturtleclub.com/ And I’m looking for anyone with any direct experience with the eastern Abaco islands, the Green Turtle Club, and more importantly, the fishing! Anyone out there ever been to this place? Anyone out there do any bonefishing in the Abacos Islands? Thanks for any feedback. /daytripper (got dem bonefishin’ jones

Response:

The SO has proposed Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos for our annual island trip next April. She’s been seeing lots of positive bonefishing references so she figures it’s a lock for me to go along with her schemes We’d stay at the Green Turtle Club resort/marina, fwiw. http://www.greenturtleclub.com/ And I’m looking for anyone with any direct experience with the eastern Abaco islands, the Green Turtle Club, and more importantly, the fishing! Anyone out there ever been to this place? Anyone out there do any bonefishing in the Abacos Islands? Thanks for any feedback.

I’ve done both, and am fairly familiar with out islands of the Bahamas. As to the Green Turtle Club itself, the food is good, the dockage reasonable, an we’ve had a good time when we’ve been.  I glanced at the site, and I’d say it’s pretty representative – in fact, I think I have some pictures taken in the dining room and patio area, and they look a lot like those on the site.   Really, it depends on what you want.  If you want moderate isolation, Green Turtle is fairly so, but not ridiculously so.  If you want a little more to do, and don’t want a boat, you could stay at Marsh Harbour and ferry to the Cays (Green Turtle has a ferry service from MH to GTC, and there are plenty of ferry services around the Abacos). Also, GTC has several other accommodation options, such as cottages and houses, that I see in a newspaper from earlier in the year. The outers are a little different from the "tourist" island areas like Freeport and Nassau, and, IMO, are like no other area in the world.  You have yachts (and I mean YACHTS) that cruise the area, but it is all pretty casual and laid-back.  If you want more info on the area, drop me an email.   IMO, the best deal going in places like the Abacos, USVI/BVI, etc. is to rent a boat (pref. sail, but a trawler if you must) and cruise the islands.  The general area is easy sailing (although you must pay attention to tide times) with lots of areas to visit, dive, fish, party, or whatever.  Room rates run 200.00-plus USD a day, plus taxes, additional charges, meal plans, etc., and for about the same money, you can get a boat – of course, YMMV.  If you are interested, Moorings has a location in MH, or check any of the boating/sailing mags like Motorboating & Sailing, Yachting, Sailing, etc. TC, R PS – FWIW, the members of certain yacht clubs get discounts at many of the clubs in the Bahamas, or at least reciprocation, and that may be worth looking into, if applicable for you. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -/daytripper (got dem bonefishin’ jones

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The SO has proposed Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos for our annual island trip next April. She’s been seeing lots of positive bonefishing references so she figures it’s a lock for me to go along with her schemes We’d stay at the Green Turtle Club resort/marina, fwiw. http://www.greenturtleclub.com/ And I’m looking for anyone with any direct experience with the eastern Abaco islands, the Green Turtle Club, and more importantly, the fishing! Anyone out there ever been to this place? Anyone out there do any bonefishing in the Abacos Islands? Thanks for any feedback. /daytripper (got dem bonefishin’ jones well now… this sounds like an opportunity for several of us with SOs(note the lack of apostrophe) to get some SO approval… so, when will you and your wife be sponsoring this vacation a/k/a excuse for bonefishing? jeff (who knows somebody who knows somebody thats got an abacos spot)

We usually do these trips in April, usually the first week after the "high season". We’re still shopping around the Abacos but I think Herself has seen enough to make her "half" of the decision… /daytripper (that would be the big half, of course

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The SO has proposed Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos for our annual island trip next April. She’s been seeing lots of positive bonefishing references so she figures it’s a lock for me to go along with her schemes We’d stay at the Green Turtle Club resort/marina, fwiw. http://www.greenturtleclub.com/ And I’m looking for anyone with any direct experience with the eastern Abaco islands, the Green Turtle Club, and more importantly, the fishing! Anyone out there ever been to this place? Anyone out there do any bonefishing in the Abacos Islands? Thanks for any feedback. I’ve done both, and am fairly familiar with out islands of the Bahamas. As to the Green Turtle Club itself, the food is good, the dockage reasonable, an we’ve had a good time when we’ve been.  I glanced at the site, and I’d say it’s pretty representative – in fact, I think I have some pictures taken in the dining room and patio area, and they look a lot like those on the site.   Really, it depends on what you want.  If you want moderate isolation, Green Turtle is fairly so, but not ridiculously so.  If you want a little more to do, and don’t want a boat, you could stay at Marsh Harbour and ferry to the Cays (Green Turtle has a ferry service from MH to GTC, and there are plenty of ferry services around the Abacos). Also, GTC has several other accommodation options, such as cottages and houses, that I see in a newspaper from earlier in the year. The outers are a little different from the "tourist" island areas like Freeport and Nassau, and, IMO, are like no other area in the world.  You have yachts (and I mean YACHTS) that cruise the area, but it is all pretty casual and laid-back.  If you want more info on the area, drop me an email.   IMO, the best deal going in places like the Abacos, USVI/BVI, etc. is to rent a boat (pref. sail, but a trawler if you must) and cruise the islands.  The general area is easy sailing (although you must pay attention to tide times) with lots of areas to visit, dive, fish, party, or whatever.  Room rates run 200.00-plus USD a day, plus taxes, additional charges, meal plans, etc., and for about the same money, you can get a boat – of course, YMMV.  If you are interested, Moorings has a location in MH, or check any of the boating/sailing mags like Motorboating & Sailing, Yachting, Sailing, etc. TC, R PS – FWIW, the members of certain yacht clubs get discounts at many of the clubs in the Bahamas, or at least reciprocation, and that may be worth looking into, if applicable for you. /daytripper (got dem bonefishin’ jones

"I wouldn’t join a yagt…yauht….BOAT club that would have me as a member!" <attributable_to_someone_noteworthy_I_am_soooo_sure Thanks for the start, Richard. My wife and I enjoyed the heck out of Anegada, population under 100 and which I’d call "severely isolated", compared to Green Turtle Cay – which looks to be fairly teeming with humanity and is a short boat ride to a whole lot of touristy stuff by comparison. But if the fishing is good enough I’ll put up with a lot We had considered the Tiamo resort on south Andros, but someone or something put the wife onto this place, hence the grape vine initiative… I’m not sure that the spousal unit is ready for a week and a half on a boat, though the idea has it’s intrigue. She’s done day sails on schooners and didn’t go green, so there’s a possibility she’ll surprise me. I shall bounce it off Herself and note her first reaction (the only one that counts I plan on at least renting a boat, hopefully a center console in the 20 foot range while we’re wherever we’re going to be. I’ve looked at the rates and they seem more than reasonable ("Wait’ll you see the boat, though!" We had also considered a different place closer to the Marls on the western side of Abaco, but my wife read that the guides that work out of the eastern cays can scoot over to the Marls quickly enough. The scale of these islands escapes me,  seems much smaller than I had imagined. Again, thanks for the feedback, if you have more on the GTC thing I’d appreciate it (as email if you prefer). /daytripper

Response:

Question:

OH NO  don’t ask the boner to whup it out. —  Don Thompson Another of the Thompson Boys

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You might ask one our regulars to show you his "maps". TL MC — "Where fishing is concerned, most anglers are basically manic excessives" http://www.mikeconnor.de

Response:

I here the Brown Trout are good there. Especially in the river when the treatment plants overflow. It must suck living in Ohio!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi –    I worked in Utah for about 8 months last year, and got interested/started in fly fishing – then I got transferred to Cincinnati…  So now that I’m in Ohio – any suggestions as to where I should go to fly fish?  Not a lot of mountain strams around here…    Thanks!      Brian

Response:

Look I’m really sorry, but the law is the law….no trailer trash allowed. You can however visit for no more than a two weeks period…. john

Response:

<Seemingly excellent advice snipped look for a book, ’smallmouth strategies for the fly rod’ by will ryan……a good place to start. get a gazetteer with county maps….get a kayak…

You might ask one our regulars to show you his "maps". TL MC — "Where fishing is concerned, most anglers are basically manic excessives" http://www.mikeconnor.de

Response:

Mouse imitations. —  Don Thompson

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I love bass too, John.  But I’m new to fly fishing.  What type of flies do you use for smallmouth?     Brian

Response:

yes, and popper and muddlers but, my all time favorite is wooly buggers. tied in various colors, white , yellow purple etc.  Now you would use a cone head wooly.  Soon, a bead head….during the spring feed and spawn  a wooly with no weight.  then a bead head, going to a cone head in the hot summer. Tie them with an upturned barb so you can fish over the bottom and over brush. I like them with a little flashabou in them and my favorite is a brown and dark red and dirty rusty red and  dark green color to imitate crayfish. Or any mixture of those colors… Any place you can get in the water on the Miami is good, any of the ohio tributaries…Brush Creek…little Miami…Scioto, Hocking , Ceasars creek…. basically, if it flows all year and doesn’t freeze solid in the winter it has smallmouth… look for a book, ’smallmouth strategies for the fly rod’ by will ryan……a good place to start. get a gazetteer with county maps….get a kayak… john

Response:

Lake Ere steelhead. Smallmouth bass in all state waters..walleye, saugeye….white bass runs….we even have a couple of trout streams,,,,but I don’t bother with them very much unless I am jonesin’ real bad.  smallmouth rules in Ohio. john……Dayton

Response:

I love bass too, John.  But I’m new to fly fishing.  What type of flies do you use for smallmouth?     Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Lake Ere steelhead. Smallmouth bass in all state waters..walleye, saugeye….white bass runs….we even have a couple of trout streams,,,,but I don’t bother with them very much unless I am jonesin’ real bad.  smallmouth rules in Ohio. john……Dayton

Response:

Thank’s, Harry – a much more useful suggestion

than Idaho or Michigan (are those suburbs of Cincinnati or something?)…  

I *think* Idaho is a small town in KY (either that or a woman’s name and profession) but Michiscum (also known as "Meatchicken") is up north somewhere.  <g

Response:

Hi –    I worked in Utah for about 8 months last year, and got interested/started in fly fishing – then I got transferred to Cincinnati…  So now that I’m in Ohio – any suggestions as to where I should go to fly fish?  Not a lot of mountain strams around here…    Thanks!      Brian

Response:

Hi –    I worked in Utah for about 8 months last year, and got interested/started in fly fishing – then I got transferred to Cincinnati…  So now that I’m in Ohio – any suggestions as to where I should go to fly fish?  Not a lot of mountain strams around here…    Thanks!      Brian

If you want mountain streams go to Montana, but stop short of Idaho, please. Seriously, I’ve read that there are pretty decent runs of "landlocked rainbow trout", aka "faux steelhead", in Ohio, in the streams that feed Lake Erie. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Hi –    I worked in Utah for about 8 months last year, and got interested/started in fly fishing – then I got transferred to Cincinnati…  So now that I’m in Ohio – any suggestions as to where I should go to fly fish?  Not a lot of mountain strams around here…    Thanks!      Brian

Try Michigan…

Response:

Brian writes: So now that I’m in Ohio – any suggestions as to where I should go to fly fish?

Take a look at – http://www.flyshop.com/Centers/Midwest/7-98Mad/index.html

Response:

Thank’s, Harry – a much more useful suggestion than Idaho or Michigan (are those suburbs of Cincinnati or something?)…    Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Brian writes: So now that I’m in Ohio – any suggestions as to where I should go to fly fish? Take a look at – http://www.flyshop.com/Centers/Midwest/7-98Mad/index.html

Response:

Question:

Rizuto’s has a breakfast, the burgers at the Sportsman are legendary lunch, but what’s for dinner ? — Ken Fortenberry- and what does the wine list look like

Response:

Rizuto’s has a breakfast, the burgers at the Sportsman are legendary lunch, but what’s for dinner ?

Basically, more burgers at the Sportsman…There ain’t anything else in town as I recall… /daytripper (Blessedly, they’re darn good burgers…)

Response:

Sportsman for dinner.  I just can’t eat that much at lunch.  San Juan Subs is closed for the winter but i hope they’ll make us a few sandwiches if they’re around.  Abe’s has a restaurant and we can drive to Aztec for pizza one night.  Bring groceries for lunch or just a power bar – the days are so short. bruce h

  Any B-B-Q grills around?? Snoop — —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

Whatever goes with Carpbum’s Pondwater Red.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Rizuto’s has a breakfast, the burgers at the Sportsman are legendary lunch, but what’s for dinner ?

Response:

Sportsman for dinner.  I just can’t eat that much at lunch.  San Juan Subs is closed for the winter but i hope they’ll make us a few sandwiches if they’re around.  Abe’s has a restaurant and we can drive to Aztec for pizza one night.  Bring groceries for lunch or just a power bar – the days are so short. I guess we can fish at night.  Unfortunately, we’ll have a full moon.

Someone bring a cooler, and you can pick up sandwiches/chips/beer at the little grocery store next door to the Sportsman. I didn’t know Abe’s had a restaurant, we always ate at the Sportsman. /daytripper

Response:

We can log in to ROFF and get our fill of Spam.

Take it with you, RW, and then you won’t even need to bother to log in. –Steve

Response:

Rizuto’s has a breakfast, the burgers at the Sportsman are legendary lunch, but what’s for dinner ? Basically, more burgers at the Sportsman…There ain’t anything else in town as I recall…

We can log in to ROFF and get our fill of Spam. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Sportsman for dinner.  I just can’t eat that much at lunch.  San Juan Subs is closed for the winter but i hope they’ll make us a few sandwiches if they’re around.  Abe’s has a restaurant and we can drive to Aztec for pizza one night.  Bring groceries for lunch or just a power bar – the days are so short. I guess we can fish at night.  Unfortunately, we’ll have a full moon. bruce h Before you buy.

Response:

Ken, When I was there last, I would make myself a sandwich and eat it about mid- day for lunch.  Breakfast was at Abes and Dinner was at Sportsman Inn.  We could always decide on driving to Aztec and get a steak one night. bc. — Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. -Benjamin Franklin

Response:

Ken, At least one night we should caravan over to Aztec and eat at the Aztec Cafe. Very full family type menu. Bob in El Paso – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Rizuto’s has a breakfast, the burgers at the Sportsman are legendary lunch, but what’s for dinner ? — Ken Fortenberry- and what does the wine list look like

Response:

Someone bring a cooler,  <snip

  Boy, there’s an idea I never thought of:)   I guess I’m going to have to rent a trailer so we can bring some fishing stuff.  Between Charlie’s 3-4 cases of home brew and a few cases of vintage Old Milwaukeem for me, we won’t have any room for fishing stuff in the Jeep. Snoop — —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

Robert W. Jones writes: Ken, At least one night we should caravan over to Aztec and eat at the Aztec Cafe. Very full family type menu. Bob in El Paso

Shotgun! Dave L. Dave LaCourse

Response:

Rizuto’s has a breakfast, the burgers at the Sportsman are legendary lunch, but what’s for dinner ?

If this is an invitation to cook for us, I wouldn’t pass up a chance to eat one of your meals. I’d even be willing to bring the fixings. However, I don’t believe there are any cooking facilities available. Willi

Response:

… but what’s for dinner ? If this is an invitation to cook for us, I wouldn’t pass up a chance to eat one of your meals. I’d even be willing to bring the fixings. However, I don’t believe there are any cooking facilities available.

That wasn’t really the intent, I was just curious. Being mainly vegetarian, a steady diet of hamburgers, no matter how well dressed, would plug me up just as effectively as stuffing a stopper up my arse. And the last thing you guys want at a ‘Clave is for me to be full of shit. — Ken Fortenberry- set up like a bowling pin

Response:

That wasn’t really the intent, I was just curious. Being mainly vegetarian, a steady diet of hamburgers, no matter how well dressed, would plug me up just as effectively as stuffing a stopper up my arse. Ken Fortenberry- set up like a bowling pin

  Cool!  Then we could have a pool on when you explode!  You’re bunking several cabins away from us, right? Snoop — —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

  Cool!  Then we could have a pool on when you explode!  You’re bunking several cabins away from us, right?

What, didn’t Charlie tell you ? The San Juan ‘Clave Committee, meeting in closed session, decided that the Old Milwaukee drinker and the Budweiser drinker had to bunk together. Buncha friggin’ beer snobs if you ask me, but it’s you and me Snoop, we be roomies ! I’ll bring the Eminem CD’s. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

 Being mainly vegetarian, a steady diet of hamburgers, no matter how well dressed, would plug me up just as effectively as stuffing a stopper up my arse. And the last thing you guys want at a ‘Clave is for me to be full of shit.

I believe an extra bowl of chile will clear that problem right up. Kevin and so will a Bud or two.

Response:

I’ll bring the Eminem CD’s.

  And I’ll bring a couple of sticks of dynamite, one for each ear! Snoop — —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

: to Aztec for pizza one night.  Bring groceries for lunch or just a : power bar – the days are so short. Absolutely. To leave the river for 2 hours for lunch is nuts. Besides, you’ll probably lose your parking place ) JonCook. — Are you a r.o.f.f. newbie? Then see http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/~jcook/ROFF/

Response:

OK, a few more bits of info and opinion. 1.  I’ll check on the grills, snoop, and if they don’t have one i’ll toss a gas grill in my truck before i pick up RW.  I’ll drop Warren an email also and find out your exact musical preferences for 2 am. 2.  My vote for the Aztec Cafe is Monday night the 11th, that way we can have everybody (we’re meeting Dave L at the T Hole parking lot at 12:30 sharp sunday). 3.  Ken, if you just make sure there’s chile on your burger, you won’t have any problems, zimbo’s right.  What’s the old expression "like buckshot through a ?" 4.  If you have any flyfishing videos or any of the following FILMS, bring them.  Rizuto’s has VCRs in the rooms:  1. Raising Arizona  2. Caddyshack  3.  There’s Something About Mary  4.  The Life of Brian 5.  You guys would not believe the amount of work to do on my new old house before this trip – it’ll be right down to the wire.  Didn’t help myself by fishing a spring creek/irrigation ditch near my house for three hrs yesterday afternoon. Really looking forward to seeing everyone and of course the fishing. bruce h Before you buy.

Response:

3.  Ken, if you just make sure there’s chile on your burger, you won’t have any problems, zimbo’s right.  What’s the old expression "like buckshot through a ?"

Correction.  Kevin V’s right.  Sorry Kevin. Before you buy.

Response:

Just spoke with Rizuto’s – they have no grills.  They’re ok with us grilling in the parking lot, we just need to make sure to use their big sink for cleanup and not the sinks in our rooms. I’ll bring a grill along.  It’ll be one of those weber types – i have a bunch of charcoal also. bruce h Before you buy.

Response:

Lunchtime is when the temps get warm. Good time to fish. Days are going to be very short and the mornings cold. Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : to Aztec for pizza one night.  Bring groceries for lunch or just a : power bar – the days are so short. Absolutely. To leave the river for 2 hours for lunch is nuts. Besides, you’ll probably lose your parking place ) JonCook. — Are you a r.o.f.f. newbie? Then see http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/~jcook/ROFF/

Response:

… 4.  If you have any flyfishing videos or any of the following FILMS, bring them.  Rizuto’s has VCRs in the rooms:  1. Raising Arizona  … 4.  The Life of Brian

…these 2 selections alone indicate you to be a gentleman of exceedingly fine and discriminating taste… you, sir, are encouraged and welcome to attend any and all of the carolina peasants’ gatherings to stalk the wiley trout. …   Really looking forward to seeing everyone …disabuse yourself of this notion immediately…i’ve seen several of them, and even eaten their cooking.  if you are a reasonably tolerant person, with reasonable expectations and less-than-discriminating vision, and you carry a roll of toilet paper with you…well, at least you’ll enjoy the fishing… <GGG. jeff (i juana baby, hy…)

Response:

Question:

No, not the muskie lure.  Over the years I’ve read many posts here extolling the virtues of spinner baits.  I never much liked them, preferring crankbaits, body baits and soft plastics. However, this year I decided to give them a serious try.  In deep dark water I have thrown a black/red with heavy single Colorado blade.  In the spring I was using a silver plated double willow leaf with pumpkinseed colored skirt.  Muddy, post-rain storm conditions on the river I switch to a chartreuse buzzbait.   Over the tops of slop and lily pads.  OK, I like them.  I’ve had good success with spinnerbaits all season. The coup de grace came yesterday. I was standing up on top of the boat, one foot on the gunwhale and one on the dashboard of my friend’s boat.  I had my wide brimmed hat and wrap around polarized sunglasses.  I was fly casting and wanted a high vantage point.  My friend told me that if I damaged his dashboard I’d be crawling back to shore on my hands.  Anyway, it was really slow going.  Suddenly I spotted a large isolated fish cruising in just inches of water.  It was well camouflaged and even with my glasses I could only pick out the silhouette of its dark back.  I wasn’t sure if it was a bass or some other fish.  I turned to my other friend and told him where the fish was.  He threw a chartreuse and white buzzbait just perfectly – ahead of and to the side of the fish in such a way that once retrieved it moves across the field of vision of the fish but also away from the fish, appropriate prey behavior.  The fish changed course once it saw the lure and slowly followed but wouldn’t take.  Finally he stopped retrieving and while it dropped, I saw the mouth opening and the silicone skirt disappear.  "He’s got it! Set the hook!" I yelled and the fish was on.  It was well over five pounds.  The whole episode was very exciting but it all happened so perfectly that we were left speechless for a few moments.  I put away my fly rod and picked up my casting rod which already had a spinner bait attached.  I soon caught a smallish pike. OK, so that was only one incident but it capped off a couple of weeks of good fishing with spinnerbaits and I have gained much more confidence in them.  I still don’t use spoons or jigs too often.   Mu

Response:

Excellent story, thanks for sharing. — Early to Bed, Early to Rise…    Fish all Day, Make up Lies    Shawn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No, not the muskie lure.  Over the years I’ve read many posts here extolling the virtues of spinner baits.  I never much liked them, preferring crankbaits, body baits and soft plastics. However, this year I decided to give them a serious try.  In deep dark water I have thrown a black/red with heavy single Colorado blade.  In the spring I was using a silver plated double willow leaf with pumpkinseed colored skirt.  Muddy, post-rain storm conditions on the river I switch to a chartreuse buzzbait. Over the tops of slop and lily pads.  OK, I like them.  I’ve had good success with spinnerbaits all season. The coup de grace came yesterday. I was standing up on top of the boat, one foot on the gunwhale and one on the dashboard of my friend’s boat.  I had my wide brimmed hat and wrap around polarized sunglasses.  I was fly casting and wanted a high vantage point.  My friend told me that if I damaged his dashboard I’d be crawling back to shore on my hands.  Anyway, it was really slow going.  Suddenly I spotted a large isolated fish cruising in just inches of water.  It was well camouflaged and even with my glasses I could only pick out the silhouette of its dark back.  I wasn’t sure if it was a bass or some other fish.  I turned to my other friend and told him where the fish was.  He threw a chartreuse and white buzzbait just perfectly – ahead of and to the side of the fish in such a way that once retrieved it moves across the field of vision of the fish but also away from the fish, appropriate prey behavior.  The fish changed course once it saw the lure and slowly followed but wouldn’t take.  Finally he stopped retrieving and while it dropped, I saw the mouth opening and the silicone skirt disappear.  "He’s got it! Set the hook!" I yelled and the fish was on.  It was well over five pounds.  The whole episode was very exciting but it all happened so perfectly that we were left speechless for a few moments.  I put away my fly rod and picked up my casting rod which already had a spinner bait attached.  I soon caught a smallish pike. OK, so that was only one incident but it capped off a couple of weeks of good fishing with spinnerbaits and I have gained much more confidence in them.  I still don’t use spoons or jigs too often. Mu

Response:

Mu, I got into spinner baits last year, blame it on Warren. Recently, my oldest son and I was out.  I picked up one of my rods pretied with a spinner bait.  He fishes mostly with natural looking lures, and gave me a odd look.  "You catch things on that?", he asked. When you think about it, a spinner bait looks nothing like what the Beauties normally forage on.  Can’t imagine what ran through the mind of the person who invented the first one! On my second cast, I hooked into a nice 2+ pound beauty.  "Sometimes," I said! —    Go Fishing.  And may your fish be as big as your tales.    Columbia, SC  Lake Murray – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No, not the muskie lure.  Over the years I’ve read many posts here extolling the virtues of spinner baits.  I never much liked them, preferring crankbaits, body baits and soft plastics. However, this year I decided to give them a serious try.  In deep dark water I have thrown a black/red with heavy single Colorado blade.  In the spring I was using a silver plated double willow leaf with pumpkinseed colored skirt.  Muddy, post-rain storm conditions on the river I switch to a chartreuse buzzbait. Over the tops of slop and lily pads.  OK, I like them.  I’ve had good success with spinnerbaits all season. The coup de grace came yesterday. I was standing up on top of the boat, one foot on the gunwhale and one on the dashboard of my friend’s boat.  I had my wide brimmed hat and wrap around polarized sunglasses.  I was fly casting and wanted a high vantage point.  My friend told me that if I damaged his dashboard I’d be crawling back to shore on my hands.  Anyway, it was really slow going.  Suddenly I spotted a large isolated fish cruising in just inches of water.  It was well camouflaged and even with my glasses I could only pick out the silhouette of its dark back.  I wasn’t sure if it was a bass or some other fish.  I turned to my other friend and told him where the fish was.  He threw a chartreuse and white buzzbait just perfectly – ahead of and to the side of the fish in such a way that once retrieved it moves across the field of vision of the fish but also away from the fish, appropriate prey behavior.  The fish changed course once it saw the lure and slowly followed but wouldn’t take.  Finally he stopped retrieving and while it dropped, I saw the mouth opening and the silicone skirt disappear.  "He’s got it! Set the hook!" I yelled and the fish was on.  It was well over five pounds.  The whole episode was very exciting but it all happened so perfectly that we were left speechless for a few moments.  I put away my fly rod and picked up my casting rod which already had a spinner bait attached.  I soon caught a smallish pike. OK, so that was only one incident but it capped off a couple of weeks of good fishing with spinnerbaits and I have gained much more confidence in them.  I still don’t use spoons or jigs too often. Mu

Response:

I flat-out love spinnerbaits and fish them every chance I get. They are easy to use, extremely versatile, they seldom snag and they really catch fish. Interesting how the more I use them and the more things I try, the more I catch on them. I have probably used spinnerbaits about every way they can be used, except with a float (and that will probably happen someday). One of my favorite ways to use spinnerbaits is rapidly coming upon us; summertime deep water patterns. I particularly enjoy catching fish deep with my spinnerbaits while my boatmates are trying to unhang their crankbaits, and then rubbing it in as I land a nice one and promptly go back after another. A great method here is to jig a 3/8 oz. to 1/2 oz. crawfish-colored spinnerbait with a single small ( #3 Oklahoma or #5 Indiana) nickel blade, which I fish with a swift lift of 2′ to 4′ and follow with a slow controlled drop where the strikes take place. It can often be deadly and is always fun. — ~Bob Rickard Vote early and often this November; the country you save may be your own.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mu, I got into spinner baits last year, blame it on Warren. Recently, my oldest son and I was out.  I picked up one of my rods pretied with a spinner bait.  He fishes mostly with natural looking lures, and gave me a odd look.  "You catch things on that?", he asked. When you think about it, a spinner bait looks nothing like what the Beauties normally forage on.  Can’t imagine what ran through the mind of the person who invented the first one! On my second cast, I hooked into a nice 2+ pound beauty.  "Sometimes," I said! —    Go Fishing.  And may your fish be as big as your tales.    Columbia, SC  Lake Murray No, not the muskie lure.  Over the years I’ve read many posts here extolling the virtues of spinner baits.  I never much liked them, preferring crankbaits, body baits and soft plastics. However, this year I decided to give them a serious try.  In deep dark water I have thrown a black/red with heavy single Colorado blade.  In the spring I was using a silver plated double willow leaf with pumpkinseed colored skirt.  Muddy, post-rain storm conditions on the river I switch to a chartreuse buzzbait. Over the tops of slop and lily pads.  OK, I like them.  I’ve had good success with spinnerbaits all season. The coup de grace came yesterday. I was standing up on top of the boat, one foot on the gunwhale and one on the dashboard of my friend’s boat.  I had my wide brimmed hat and wrap around polarized sunglasses.  I was fly casting and wanted a high vantage point.  My friend told me that if I damaged his dashboard I’d be crawling back to shore on my hands.  Anyway, it was really slow going.  Suddenly I spotted a large isolated fish cruising in just inches of water.  It was well camouflaged and even with my glasses I could only pick out the silhouette of its dark back.  I wasn’t sure if it was a bass or some other fish.  I turned to my other friend and told him where the fish was.  He threw a chartreuse and white buzzbait just perfectly – ahead of and to the side of the fish in such a way that once retrieved it moves across the field of vision of the fish but also away from the fish, appropriate prey behavior.  The fish changed course once it saw the lure and slowly followed but wouldn’t take.  Finally he stopped retrieving and while it dropped, I saw the mouth opening and the silicone skirt disappear. "He’s got it! Set the hook!" I yelled and the fish was on.  It was well over five pounds.  The whole episode was very exciting but it all happened so perfectly that we were left speechless for a few moments.  I put away my fly rod and picked up my casting rod which already had a spinner bait attached.  I soon caught a smallish pike. OK, so that was only one incident but it capped off a couple of weeks of good fishing with spinnerbaits and I have gained much more confidence in them.  I still don’t use spoons or jigs too often. Mu

Response:

Question:

 ___  Snipped notice: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Also of major importance is the petroleum industry price increases which will be impacting fly fishing more than everyone realizes in the immediate future.  That will include increases in plastic parts found in the trade, to waders, shoes, fly boxes, you name it.  There is also a stunning increase in the price of cork.  This will increase the price of all fishing poles of any kind that has cork handles in them later this year.  Cork trees cannot keep up with the demand in Portugal.  I think there may now be a move to find a substitute material such as balsa wood, or even a synthetic that is acceptable by the public.  I only wonder what the fly fishing industry would accept without arguing or screaming about weight?  On one hand, we don’t like artificial materials on Bamboo Fly Rods and on the other, my choice would be prone to try Balsa wood because of its nice color and lighter weight.  THIS, I would like others to put their minds too and help us come up with some answers or possible solutions. As it stands right now, it looks like a $10 increase per cork fishing rod handle!  This is outrageous. This is a public service announcement which other manufacturers are not giving the public a chance to respond or help out with. Any ideas out there? — George Gehrke http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

– Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – _____ Price increases will go into effect next week.  Bamboo items included.  We will honor all previous orders at the introductory prices we started off with in ROFF.  This notice in ROFF is in all fairness not a spam because the company was born in ROFF from challenges and dares initiated here. That aside, the venture is a success and this is the end of our efforts to maintain the barest of profit margins which will continue for only this week. Monday will be a new day and our Bamboo Fly Rod Prices will reflect a more realistic Ayn Rand perspective. Also of major importance is the petroleum industry price increases which will be impacting fly fishing more than everyone realizes in the immediate future.  That will include increases in plastic parts found in the trade, to waders, shoes, fly boxes, you name it.  There is also a stunning increase in the price of cork.  This will increase the price of all fishing poles of any kind that has cork handles in them later this year.  Cork trees cannot keep up with the demand in Portugal.  I think there may now be a move to find a substitute material such as balsa wood, or even a synthetic that is acceptable by the public.  I only wonder what the fly fishing industry would accept without arguing or screaming about weight?  On one hand, we don’t like artificial materials on Bamboo Fly Rods and on the other, my choice would be prone to try Balsa wood because of its nice color and lighter weight.  THIS, I would like others to put their minds too and help us come up with some answers or possible solutions. As it stands right now, it looks like a $10 increase per cork fishing rod handle!  This is outrageous. This is a public service announcement which other manufacturers are not giving the public a chance to respond or help out with. Any ideas out there? — George Gehrke http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

– Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

_____ Price increases will go into effect next week.  Bamboo items included.  We will honor all previous orders at the introductory prices we started off with in ROFF.  This notice in ROFF is in all fairness not a spam because the company was born in ROFF from challenges and dares initiated here. That aside, the venture is a success and this is the end of our efforts to maintain the barest of profit margins which will continue for only this week.   Monday will be a new day and our Bamboo Fly Rod Prices will reflect a more realistic Ayn Rand perspective. Also of major importance is the petroleum industry price increases which will be impacting fly fishing more than everyone realizes in the immediate future.  That will include increases in plastic parts found in the trade, to waders, shoes, fly boxes, you name it.  There is also a stunning increase in the price of cork.  This will increase the price of all fishing poles of any kind that has cork handles in them later this year.  Cork trees cannot keep up with the demand in Portugal.  I think there may now be a move to find a substitute material such as balsa wood, or even a synthetic that is acceptable by the public.  I only wonder what the fly fishing industry would accept without arguing or screaming about weight?  On one hand, we don’t like artificial materials on Bamboo Fly Rods and on the other, my choice would be prone to try Balsa wood because of its nice color and lighter weight.  THIS, I would like others to put their minds too and help us come up with some answers or possible solutions.   As it stands right now, it looks like a $10 increase per cork fishing rod handle!  This is outrageous. This is a public service announcement which no other manufacturers are not giving the public a chance to respond or help out with. Any ideas out there? — George Gehrke http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

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Question:

Would anybody know any good places to go fly fishing in the western half of Maine.  If you could e-mail me any place at all it would be really appreciated.  Thanks…

 Hi Mark.  Bingham area is in Northwestern Maine.  We have many small remote ponds, terrific rivers including the Kennebec and the Dead Rivers, and Wyman Lake.  Check out www.pinegrovelodge.com!  Good luck fishing!

Response:

Hi Mike Hit the Rangeley Lakes Region. In fact give Ray Miller a shout at region and he’ll set you straight. One of his favorite streamers is a Blue Smelt casting streamer. He had me tie him a couple dozen last summer. http://www.kynd.com/~ronmcq/index.html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Would anybody know any good places to go fly fishing in the western half of Maine.  If you could e-mail me any place at all it would be really appreciated.  Thanks…

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Would anybody know any good places to go fly fishing in the western half of Maine.  If you could e-mail me any place at all it would be really appreciated.  Thanks…

Response:

Mark, There is some terrific fly fishing in western Maine. My top picks in priority order are: 1. Rapid River 2. Big Magalloway river above lake Parmachene 3. Kennebago River 4. Rangeley River 5. Cupsuptic river Toss in a tripto Quimby pond and you have a great trip. tight lines, Gerry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Would anybody know any good places to go fly fishing in the western half of Maine.  If you could e-mail me any place at all it would be really appreciated.  Thanks…

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Question:

I normally would not get involved in this type of discussion but I would like to add that Dan used the words "in his opinion" which he has a right to state.  There are many who have a different opinion.  Being curious I got out my Fly Casting With Lefty Kreh  and looked at the pictures of Lefty casting.  He is using a down locking reel seat and his hand is half way off the grip and against the reel.  Of course Lefty is definitely not an orthodox caster, but if it is good enough for him it is good enough for me. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Keep up the good work,  Thos. I second that. Tom Hackmann. I agree also. Jason Schwartz .Well, it’s agreed then. The "ayes" have it. Dan can stay. We’re such a congenial group aren’t we? Dennis Loveland, CO

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OOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!! Me 2 Dan! Larry #:)#

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We’re such a congenial group aren’t we?

Well, no. But this sure is one heck of a love-fest you’re all having, ain’t it? ;^) /dave (hang in there Dan. this’ll all be over in another day or two)

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I am compelled to also respond….. Thanks for being part of this Group!!

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I must admit that I would have made some dumb (and expensive) equipment decisions without his advice!  I really appreciate it. Jay Kidwell, Ph.D. (Psychology) Instinctive Archery Insights http://w3.goodnews.net/~jkidwell/

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<<: Well, no. But this sure is one heck of a love-fest you’re all having, ain’t : it? ;^) Maybe so… but I still hate that investigator guy. Dan is an Atlantic Salmon. The "investigator guy" is a sucker. Dave LaCourse

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: We’re such a congenial group aren’t we? : Well, no. But this sure is one heck of a love-fest you’re all having, ain’t : it? ;^) Maybe so… but I still hate that investigator guy. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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<<: Well, no. But this sure is one heck of a love-fest you’re all having, ain’t : it? ;^) Maybe so… but I still hate that investigator guy. Dan is an Atlantic Salmon. The "investigator guy" is a sucker. Dave LaCourse

Response:

Hi all, I’m moving to Vermont and have to pack up my computer today.  I will be offline until the first week of August.  So, if you send me e-mail or ask questions of me and I don’t answer, I’m not ignoring you, I’m just "in transit".  Talk to you again when I get there.                         Good fishing,                               Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools Mt. Shasta Fly Fishing Schools http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi all, I’m moving to Vermont and have to pack up my computer today.  I will be offline until the first week of August.  So, if you send me e-mail or ask questions of me and I don’t answer, I’m not ignoring you, I’m just "in transit".  Talk to you again when I get there.                        Good fishing,                              Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools Mt. Shasta Fly Fishing Schools http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish

No, no! don’t go off line Dan… who can we all adore now? Seriously, good luck with the move, hope it goes smoothly.   Hurry back. — Stuart Nuttall (Replace ‘nospam’ with ‘warboyz’ to reply by e-mail)

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<<No, no! don’t go off line Dan… who can we all adore now? There’s always George. d;0)

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I am compelled to also respond….. Thanks for being part of this Group!!

        yep, i’ll have to say that every newsgroup needs at least one d. gracia, or a bill kleine, to balance the relentless efforts of louts like chaz and me.         a. wayne harrison

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   yep, i’ll have to say that every newsgroup needs at least one d. gracia, or a bill kleine, to balance the relentless efforts of louts like chaz and me.

…and let’s not forget Timbo! As if we could :^) Dennis Loveland, CO

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What a sappy freekin’ thread…jeezus…virtual male bonding for christ’s sake… Have a good move Dan-o…. — TimW – Halfordian Golfer Guilt replaced the creel…

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      yep, i’ll have to say that every newsgroup needs at least one d. gracia, or a bill kleine, to balance the relentless efforts of louts like chaz and me.       a. wayne harrison

Well said Wayne, a very gracious comment, don’t forget Mr. Walker – he who calls the NG to heel over important conservation matters. — Bill

Response:

Some posters have been complaining that you contribute nothing but thinly veiled spam to this group.  I vehemently disagree.  I find your advice is sound and apropos.  I believe that most roffers understand that you (like everyone else) have a particular perspective and even a few biases.  I also believe that most roffers admire the balance you bring to your posts; you do not insist that the universe revolves around Mt. Shasta, and you are quick to admit the virtues of non Orvis equipment. Keep up the good work, Thos.

Response:

Some posters have been complaining that you contribute nothing but thinly veiled spam to this group.  I vehemently disagree.  I find your advice is sound and apropos.  I believe that most roffers understand that you (like everyone else) have a particular perspective and even a few biases.  I also believe that most roffers admire the balance you bring to your posts; you do not insist that the universe revolves around Mt. Shasta, and you are quick to admit the virtues of non Orvis equipment. Keep up the good work, Thos.

I second that. Tom Hackmann.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some posters have been complaining that you contribute nothing but thinly veiled spam to this group.  I vehemently disagree.  I find your advice is sound and apropos.  I believe that most roffers understand that you (like everyone else) have a particular perspective and even a few biases.  I also believe that most roffers admire the balance you bring to your posts; you do not insist that the universe revolves around Mt. Shasta, and you are quick to admit the virtues of non Orvis equipment. Keep up the good work, Thos. I second that. Tom Hackmann.

I agree also. Jason Schwartz

Response:

Keep up the good work,  Thos. I second that. Tom Hackmann. I agree also. Jason Schwartz .Well, it’s agreed then. The "ayes" have it. Dan can stay.

We’re such a congenial group aren’t we? Dennis Loveland, CO

Response:

Dan makes every effort to avoid spamming. He consistently gives sensible advice in response to not-so-sensible questions. -Doug Easton – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some posters have been complaining that you contribute nothing but thinly veiled spam to this group.  I vehemently disagree.  I find your advice is sound and apropos.  I believe that most roffers understand that you (like everyone else) have a particular perspective and even a few biases.  I also believe that most roffers admire the balance you bring to your posts; you do not insist that the universe revolves around Mt. Shasta, and you are quick to admit the virtues of non Orvis equipment. Keep up the good work, Thos. I second that. Tom Hackmann.

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sharks are a totally insignificant part of boating and yet you pasting these exclusively in boating newsgroups.  Perhaps the folks in some of the natural history or hydrosciences would be more interested. I have to disagree. As both a sailor and scuba diver (planning an extended cruise in the Pacific) shark awareness is key. If I spent my life in fear of everything that was a 10 million to 1 shot I would just crawl under my bed and hide. Quite true. Agree 100% – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn more about those risks. And frankly, for cruisers in the Pacific the odds of coming into direct contact with sharks seems much higher than 10,000,000:1. Knowing how to deal with them when you encounter them can help prevent the incident from becoming life threatening. Ignoring the issue does not help. J. OK, I’ll say it again.  The postings do little if anything to describe any form of action, avoidance or deterrence that can be applied.  This particular thread was started with an account of Miss Australia of 1950 losing an arm to a shark.  They are simply sensationalism with little content other than "isn’t it terrible"

Ahem! Was she Miss Aussie before or after the incident?

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Food for thought: There are millions of sharks eaten by humans for every human eaten by a shark!

Response:

This is why "shark bites man" is better news material than "man bites shark". But I also fail to understand why the sensational takes precedence ofer the sensible. — Anders Svensson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Food for thought: There are millions of sharks eaten by humans for every human eaten by a shark!

Response:

This guy is crossing posting to several newsgroups and receiving complaints in each.  He is trying to sell some sort of shark repellent that doesn’t always work, but it provides psychological support in an attack because it might work. I sell a magic bracelet that does exactly the same thing at a fraction of the cost. Bob

It is amazing to see how interested you are in all of my postings(as it would been easy for you to skip over them as soon as you saw my email address associated with them, but you didn’t). Guess what? You are wrong again as I have nothing to do with the sales/marketing of either technology at the moment. How  do you know what the SharkPOD can do(other then from accessing the Web site below)? You surely have never tested the SharkPOD before, have you? How do you know what the Australian technology can do as you have never tested that technology before either(I had heard that it is working very well with baited sharks off Australia as I am waiting to get hold of a prototype to use myself)? You sure have a lot to say when you have probably never even seen a shark underwater before(except for on your television). What’s the matter? Afraid that an effective shark repellent will take away the market share that your "magical bracelet" currently exploits? Regards, Jim Morris http://starbulletin.com/97/12/22/features/index.html

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sharks are a totally insignificant part of boating and yet you pasting these exclusively in boating newsgroups.  Perhaps the folks in some of the natural history or hydrosciences would be more interested. I have to disagree. As both a sailor and scuba diver (planning an extended cruise in the Pacific) shark awareness is key. If I spent my life in fear of everything that was a 10 million to 1 shot I would just crawl under my bed and hide. Quite true. Agree 100% – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn more about those risks. And frankly, for cruisers in the Pacific the odds of coming into direct contact with sharks seems much higher than 10,000,000:1. Knowing how to deal with them when you encounter them can help prevent the incident from becoming life threatening. Ignoring the issue does not help. J. OK, I’ll say it again.  The postings do little if anything to describe any form of action, avoidance or deterrence that can be applied.  This particular thread was started with an account of Miss Australia of 1950 losing an arm to a shark.  They are simply sensationalism with little content other than "isn’t it terrible" Ahem! Was she Miss Aussie before or after the incident?

For anyone who believes that the threat from sharks should not be considered as a possibility when in a survival situation(depending on the venue), I refer you to the book, ADRIFT, which was written by Steve Callahan(who is now a writer/editor with CRUISING WORLD magazine). Mr. Callahan was adrift in a life raft(after his sailboat hit what he thought was a whale)for seventy plus days and was hounded by sharks! Mr. Callahan’s ordeal took place in the Atlantic/Caribbean and is eloquently described in his book, ADRIFT. For another example in the Pacific, what about the USS Indianapolis disaster where survivors of the initial sinking(the Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine)were ravaged by sharks as they floated in the ocean hopefully awaiting rescue? Please try to observe Memorial Day in some way. Best wishes, Jim Morris http://starbulletin.com/97/12/22/features/index.html

Response:

Food for thought: There are millions of sharks eaten by humans for every human eaten by a shark!

And good food they are….

Response:

Food for thought: There are millions of sharks eaten by humans for every human eaten by a shark! And good food they are….

Yes, but this is very small consolation to those humans. john

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I may not worry at all at 10 million to 1, but I have a personal rule of never trying anything that has less than a one in 10 thousand chance of resulting in death or permanent disability.

…is life sorta a bore?

Response:

Sharks are a totally insignificant part of boating and yet you pasting these exclusively in boating newsgroups.  Perhaps the folks in some of the natural history or hydrosciences would be more interested.

I have to disagree. As both a sailor and scuba diver (planning an extended cruise in the Pacific) shark awareness is key. If I spent my life in fear of everything that was a 10 million to 1 shot I would just crawl under my bed and hide.

Quite true. Agree 100% – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn more about those risks. And frankly, for cruisers in the Pacific the odds of coming into direct contact with sharks seems much higher than 10,000,000:1. Knowing how to deal with them when you encounter them can help prevent the incident from becoming life threatening. Ignoring the issue does not help. J.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sharks are a totally insignificant part of boating and yet you pasting these exclusively in boating newsgroups.  Perhaps the folks in some of the natural history or hydrosciences would be more interested. I have to disagree. As both a sailor and scuba diver (planning an extended cruise in the Pacific) shark awareness is key. If I spent my life in fear of everything that was a 10 million to 1 shot I would just crawl under my bed and hide. Quite true. Agree 100% – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn more about those risks. And frankly, for cruisers in the Pacific the odds of coming into direct contact with sharks seems much higher than 10,000,000:1. Knowing how to deal with them when you encounter them can help prevent the incident from becoming life threatening. Ignoring the issue does not help. J.

OK, I’ll say it again.  The postings do little if anything to describe any form of action, avoidance or deterrence that can be applied.  This particular thread was started with an account of Miss Australia of 1950 losing an arm to a shark.  They are simply sensationalism with little content other than "isn’t it terrible"

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sharks are a totally insignificant part of boating and yet you pasting these exclusively in boating newsgroups.  Perhaps the folks in some of the natural history or hydrosciences would be more interested. I have to disagree. As both a sailor and scuba diver (planning an extended cruise in the Pacific) shark awareness is key. If I spent my life in fear of everything that was a 10 million to 1 shot I would just crawl under my bed and hide. Quite true. Agree 100% – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn more about those risks. And frankly, for cruisers in the Pacific the odds of coming into direct contact with sharks seems much higher than 10,000,000:1. Knowing how to deal with them when you encounter them can help prevent the incident from becoming life threatening. Ignoring the issue does not help. J. OK, I’ll say it again.  The postings do little if anything to describe any form of action, avoidance or deterrence that can be applied.  This particular thread was started with an account of Miss Australia of 1950 losing an arm to a shark.  They are simply sensationalism with little content other than "isn’t it terrible" Ahem! Was she Miss Aussie before or after the incident? For anyone who believes that the threat from sharks should not be considered as a possibility when in a survival situation(depending on the venue), I refer you to the book, ADRIFT, which was written by Steve Callahan(who is now a writer/editor with CRUISING WORLD magazine). Mr. Callahan was adrift in a life raft(after his sailboat hit what he thought was a whale)for seventy plus days and was hounded by sharks! Mr. Callahan’s ordeal took place in the Atlantic/Caribbean and is eloquently described in his book, ADRIFT. For another example in the Pacific, what about the USS Indianapolis disaster where survivors of the initial sinking(the Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine)were ravaged by sharks as they floated in the ocean hopefully awaiting rescue?

I know that sharks exist, I know that shars bite. I read ADRIFT.  I know that sharks can be a threat. When are you going to add something that goes beyond the above.

Response:

If I spent my life in fear of everything that was a 10 million to 1 shot I would just crawl under my bed and hide.

Interesting…  I enjoyed the post anyways.  What are the actual chances of being attacked by a shark in:         1) known infested areas         2) the open ocean         3) worldwide I may not worry at all at 10 million to 1, but I have a personal rule of never trying anything that has less than a one in 10 thousand chance of resulting in death or permanent disability.

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<snip Is there some other newsgroup in which this would be more appropriate? Sharks are a totally insignificant part of boating and yet you pasting these exclusively in boating newsgroups.  Perhaps the folks in some of the natural history or hydrosciences would be more interested. If I spent my life in fear of everything that was a 10 million to 1 shot I would just crawl under my bed and hide. Since you are posting via dejanews from an earthlink account, I suspect this is some sort of bizarre troll.

Response:

I am based in Los Angeles but had heard about that awful attack on the couple hanging on the anchor line where the gentleman pushed his newly-wed wife out of the way, and he was taken himself off of Australia. Hi Jim As much as I would love to help you with information I would be unable to put you in touch with the lady in question.  The reasons being in the past twelve months she has re-married and also had her first child a month ago. I really think she now has her tramatic experience behind her and is trying to get on with things.

That was a very harrowing experience for her, and I can understand how she would want for it to be behind her. However, your friend can take comfort in knowing that her husband really loved her in doing what he did for her. I did a shark dive last year at Nassau, Bahamas with a lady by the name of Heather Boswell. Before Heather attempted to do a shark dive with me for the NBC WEEKEND TODAY show(which was televised throughout the USA on July 13th, 1997), Heather had been attacked by a five meter plus white shark while she was swimming on the ocean surface over a hundred miles offshore of Chile. Heather was swimming with some friends in calm seas off of a NOAA research vessel that they were crewing on. A friend was videotaping them all in the water(and captured the attack on video in the process)when a huge dorsal fin appeared(Heather later indicated that it looked to be at least a meter tall above the water as it approached her). The shark started attacking a gentleman who was sitting upon some type of surfboard. He managed to drive it away by apparently poking the shark in the eye. The shark then turned its attention to Heather who was nearby in the water. Rescuers were trying to reach Heather in an inflatable boat which was dispatched from the larger NOAA vessel. They actually had a hold of her before the shark started to attack Heather. However, because of the sunscreen lotion that Heather was wearing, she slipped through the arms of the one of the rescuers, and the shark grabbed her leg and started to take her down into the depths. It was at that point that Heather felt sure she was going to die according to what she told me and NBC. She just wasn’t sure if she should intake water to drown herself or simply let the shark continue to eat her and die that way. Amazingly, the shark returned Heather to the surface at which point the rescuers were able to grab her again. However, this time the rescuers were in a "tug-of-war" with the shark, and Heather was the "rope". Heather heard a "popping sound"(thinking that her leg was being dislocated)as she broke free. However, once inside the boat, Heather looked down and saw that her leg had been bitten off at mid-thigh(Heather lost a lot of blood and almost died via exsanguination/shock). Meanwhile, the shark must have been very hungry as it started to attack another lady who was desperately trying to pull herself out of the water (using netting which was thrown over the side of the NOAA vessel). However, the lady was overweight and was having a very difficult time getting herself out of the water. At that time, a high-powered rifle was finally deployed to drive the shark away. It is assumed that the shark was killed, but this is not known for sure. I am all for the conservation of shark species worldwide. However, the above situation was an obvious exception. Over a year after the above attack, Heather showed amazing courage by accepting an invitation to shark dive with me in the Bahamas for the NBC WEEKEND TODAY television program. However, once the sharks appeared on scene with us at Nassau, Heather requested to discontinue the dive(understandably so). Nonetheless, her courage for even attempting the dive and the positive attitude that she radiates in her daily life are inspiration to us all. Eco continues about diver(newly-wed couple)who was killed by a white shark off of Australia: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One of the US talkback shows contacted her some time back (they were doing a show on tragic widows) and offered to fly her over to appear but she clearly had no desire to go through the events again.  Understandably so. I do not have any clearer details of the attack except what I posted.  The attack happened at Byron Bay which is considered out of the usual territory of a white pointer (it was in warm water up north).  The attack was quick. They saw it on the bottom, her husband pushed her and by the time she managed to turn around she only felt the force of the sharks tail. I’ve forgotton the exact size but from what I can remember it was the max. for the species.  A fishing boat did later hook it, it was longer than the boat, and it dragged the boat for miles, it regurgitated some stomach contents and broke free. There was talk of it being a sick/rogue shark due to its location. I am most interested to see if such electronic shark repellent technology could have prevented the above attack. I was the first to test the SharkPOD in the USA(off the coast of Los Angeles for the Discovery Channel, "Next Step" television program which is to be broadcast internationally if it hasn’t been already-it has already been broadcast twice throughout the USA. Ron and Valerie Taylor were the first to test the SharkPOD in Australia. I had met them both in Singapore during the ADEC dive equipment trade show where the SharkPOD was first being released commercially. You’ve met Ron and Val Taylor !!!  Now they are shark lovers extraordinaire !!!!   That Val Taylor is one brave lady.  Amazingly dedicated couple.

Yes, I had met both of them and have been in touch with them via email from time to time. I am a fan of their work as well. For more detail on my SharkPOD testing, please access the Honolulu Star- Bulletin Newspaper article which I had appeared in throughout the Hawaiian Islands on December 22, 1997: http://starbulletin.com/97/12/22/features/index.html Sounds really exciting !   I remember seeing a show where they were investigating using  some sort of sonar "wall" instead of netting.   IE; transmitter placed and one point – receiver at other end further down the coastline to prevent sharks entering the swimming area.  They were testing the concept with some sort of sonar wand that repelled the sharks. It was tricky stuff as the shark had to get close enough for them to prod it with the want but it was trying to ascertain whether the idea would work.  Do you know of any developments with this??

Not really. But will look into it for you. I am all for anything that helps the sharks and other sea creatures.  Our shark nets over here are marine animal death traps.

Me too. Did you see my earlier post on how the shark netting program in South Africa was being reduced because of budget cuts to the Natal Sharks Board (which supervises the netting program there)? The Star-Bulletin article was mostly accurate. However, the SharkPOD is not a "sonic" device as the article mistakenly depicts in the opening paragraph. Instead, the SharkPOD emits a continuous, cocooning electrical field which is intended to protect from possible shark attack. I will soon be using another electronic shark repellent technology which is currently being developed in Australia(by another manufacturer)and is being billed as an even more effective electronic repellent than the SharkPOD. I will be using this Australian technology with tiger and grey reef sharks throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Also with tiger, bull and lemon sharks in the Bahamas. And with great white sharks off of Dyer Island, South Africa. Thank you for providing your information.  It was very interesting.  I have been lucky enough to encounter sharks while diving – something one doesn’t forget in a hurry !!

Agreed! Look forward to email exchanging with you again..

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Question:

I’ll be in Montana the first full week of August.  How is the Madison around Ennis Lake fishing?  What should I tie?

Response:

I’ll be in Montana the first full week of August.  How is the Madison around Ennis Lake fishing?  What should I tie?

Hi Davis Family The Madison has been fishing great!  Hoppers (#8) and caddis (EHC #12 – #20 light and dark) are the name of the game and will continue on into August.  Besure to have plenty Bead Head Nymphs, Serendipities (spelling?), attractors (Humpies & Wulffs #12 – #18),etc. Have a good trip. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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Question:

Green line sounds like a Cortland model.  Good luck.

Response:

: It’s mine.  I lost it in 1993.  Please drop it in the mail and I’ll send : you the postage by return mail.  Thanks. : Rick Nice try Rick, I suppose my story will get a similar response!

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Don’t laugh I’m serious. I have a 7′ fly rod that I found at a drainage ditch a few years back. I had not used it until recently and have found that I really enjoy fly fishing. The reel is aluminum and it has some green line that looks like a nylon mesh with a plastic coating and a metal loop at the end to tie leader. However, it is starting to show signs of wear. I have looked for replacement line at some local stores but nothing seems comparable in weight and consistency of the green line. Does anyone have any ideas as to what kind of line this is and where I might be able to get more? Also, I have read quite a bit of posts in this group about equipment, but, not much on fly selection and presentation. What are some of the more successful flys and presentations for trout in small streams? Thanks in advance for your theories, suggestions and knowledge.

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