Question:

they tend to be much more     durable than the store-bought variety, and cost about 50 cents apiece.     Home-made leaders cost me about a dime apiece, if that. I can tell that you haven’t bought store-bought leaders in quite a while.     Willi

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 I have been reading about the advantages/disadvantages of leader material. The author of the book I’m reading seemed to indicate that manufactured knotless leaders can have a variability in performance because of the way the leader is tapered.  Knotted leaders gives more control of the proportions on the leader formulas to ensure the taper is more accurate. Also, there is the flexibility of using different types of leader material to customize the leader to the fishing conditions.  Like using a stiffer leader material on the butt and middle sections and more supple material on the presentation end of the leader. He also gets into the types of knots and whether or not "hinging" occurs and what impact that has on the transfer of energy from the rod to the line to the fly. Is there a preference by you guys whether or not you tie your own leaders or go with the ready-made pre-tapered leaders? Thanks, Eric p.s.  Thanks for the response on the tippet post.  A lot of good info there.

Response:

I personally don’t really have a preference either way. I do find in some rivers where algae is a problem the need to constantly clear the knots on the leader of the weed or algae to be a pain, but  then I have to do that with the tippet knot anyway. In this day and age of convenience I find the range of tapered leaders now offered covers all of the fishing situations I do and it’s simple. I have a heavy piece of butt section needle knotted to the fly line, I attach a commercial leader to that and a tippet to the end of it and go fishing. Tying your own leaders can be fun, but I find the fun soon wears off. Umpqua have a phenomenal range of different leaders. check out their web site if you are interested, even if you don’t purchase your leaders their various different designs will give you some ideas for your own. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been reading about the advantages/disadvantages of leader material. The author of the book I’m reading seemed to indicate that manufactured knotless leaders can have a variability in performance because of the way the leader is tapered.  Knotted leaders gives more control of the proportions on the leader formulas to ensure the taper is more accurate. Also, there is the flexibility of using different types of leader material to customize the leader to the fishing conditions.  Like using a stiffer leader material on the butt and middle sections and more supple material on the presentation end of the leader. He also gets into the types of knots and whether or not "hinging" occurs and what impact that has on the transfer of energy from the rod to the line to the fly. Is there a preference by you guys whether or not you tie your own leaders or go with the ready-made pre-tapered leaders? Thanks, Eric p.s.  Thanks for the response on the tippet post.  A lot of good info there.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been reading about the advantages/disadvantages of leader material. The author of the book I’m reading seemed to indicate that manufactured knotless leaders can have a variability in performance because of the way the leader is tapered.  Knotted leaders gives more control of the proportions on the leader formulas to ensure the taper is more accurate. Also, there is the flexibility of using different types of leader material to customize the leader to the fishing conditions.  Like using a stiffer leader material on the butt and middle sections and more supple material on the presentation end of the leader. He also gets into the types of knots and whether or not "hinging" occurs and what impact that has on the transfer of energy from the rod to the line to the fly. Is there a preference by you guys whether or not you tie your own leaders or go with the ready-made pre-tapered leaders?

I almost always make my own because I think it’s easy and like you said I can use whatever material I want.  I can whip up a leader or fix one in a couple minutes out on the stream.  I don’t think there’s as much difference between some of these leader formulas as the creators imply, but still it’s nice to know you can quickly make changes to your leader once you know the basics of how they work and how to tie the knots.

Response:

In this day and age of convenience I find the range of tapered leaders now offered covers all of the fishing situations I do and it’s simple. I have a heavy piece of butt section needle knotted to the fly line, I attach a commercial leader to that and a tippet to the end of it and go fishing. Tying your own leaders can be fun, but I find the fun soon wears off.

Sounds like you’re tying your own leaders the way it is.  Borger’s Uni-body leader is no more complicated than that.

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[...] I don’t think there’s as much difference between some of these leader formulas as the creators imply…

        Agreed.  There are more variations in leader formulae than Heinz has pickles and ketchup.  :-)  I’ve been using the simple formula in Kreh’s and Sosin’s "Practical Fishing Knots", and for 90% of the fishing I do, it works about as well as anything.   but still it’s nice to know you can quickly make changes to your leader once you know the basics of how they work and how to tie the knots.

        I think that’s the beauty of tying your own.  You can tweak your leader to the conditions and the characteristics of the fly you’re using and refine the presentation to what you need.  Sometimes this can really pay off.  Of course, other times, the leader configuration doesn’t matter a whit. Todd

Response:

Perhaps so, so but in reality, that is the correct way to use store bought leaders with the butt section bit being the only real optional part. Tippet should always be added pretty much. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In this day and age of convenience I find the range of tapered leaders now offered covers all of the fishing situations I do and it’s simple. I have a heavy piece of butt section needle knotted to the fly line, I attach a commercial leader to that and a tippet to the end of it and go fishing. Tying your own leaders can be fun, but I find the fun soon wears off. Sounds like you’re tying your own leaders the way it is.  Borger’s Uni-body leader is no more complicated than that.

Response:

I have been reading about the advantages/disadvantages of leader material. The author of the book I’m reading seemed to indicate that manufactured knotless leaders can have a variability in performance because of the way the leader is tapered.  Knotted leaders gives more control of the proportions on the leader formulas to ensure the taper is more accurate. Also, there is the flexibility of using different types of leader material to customize the leader to the fishing conditions.  Like using a stiffer leader material on the butt and middle sections and more supple material on the presentation end of the leader.

I prefer tying my own because a) it can get you back into rising fish faster, and b) the flexibility you mention above. He also gets into the types of knots and whether or not "hinging" occurs and what impact that has on the transfer of energy from the rod to the line to the fly.

I haven’t noticed any hinging with the double surgeon’s knot, and I think the presentation is comparable either way. I’m sure some strength is lost, as it is with any knot, but I haven’t lost any more fish with the hand-tied than with the store-bought. — TL, Tim

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Slightly off topic, but what book are you reading? Jim Ray

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been reading about the advantages/disadvantages of leader material. The author of the book I’m reading seemed to indicate that manufactured knotless leaders can have a variability in performance because of the way the leader is tapered.  Knotted leaders gives more control of the proportions on the leader formulas to ensure the taper is more accurate. Also, there is the flexibility of using different types of leader material to customize the leader to the fishing conditions.  Like using a stiffer leader material on the butt and middle sections and more supple material on the presentation end of the leader. He also gets into the types of knots and whether or not "hinging" occurs and what impact that has on the transfer of energy from the rod to the line to the fly. Is there a preference by you guys whether or not you tie your own leaders or go with the ready-made pre-tapered leaders? Thanks, Eric p.s.  Thanks for the response on the tippet post.  A lot of good info there.

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Is there a preference by you guys whether or not you tie your own leaders or go with the ready-made pre-tapered leaders?

I find the disadvantages of knots in leaders too great for dry fly fishing (viz. bits of flimsy mono catching on the knots.) I use a tapered leader tapered to a heavier weight – say four pounds – then tie a tippet of a lighter weight – say three pounds – maybe two or three feet. And then there’s a couple of feet of heavy mono attached to the line, with a loop in it. Keep cutting the tippet down till there’s no more, then add another. L

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The book is titled "Drag-Free Drift Leader Design and Presentation Techniques for Fly Fishing" by Joseph A. Kissane.  There’s an associated CD Rom that does leader calculations by Steven B. Schweitzer.  He’s cofounder of the Global Flyfisher website.  The book is actually pretty good.  The author is an engineer so it’s written in a technical writing style and is very detailed in parts.  Sometimes I feel like I’m reading a physics textbook. I’m an analyst by profession so I like to understand things. Sometimes I think it’s better not knowing whether my leader is hinging or not.  Like one guy posted on the Leaders & Tippet thread  that goes something like this: "I just tie it that way and it works.  Don’t know why." I think that’s all that counts. Eric

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Slightly off topic, but what book are you reading? Jim Ray I have been reading about the advantages/disadvantages of leader material. The author of the book I’m reading seemed to indicate that manufactured knotless leaders can have a variability in performance because of the way the leader is tapered.  Knotted leaders gives more control of the proportions on the leader formulas to ensure the taper is more accurate. Also, there is the flexibility of using different types of leader material to customize the leader to the fishing conditions.  Like using a stiffer leader material on the butt and middle sections and more supple material on the presentation end of the leader. He also gets into the types of knots and whether or not "hinging" occurs and what impact that has on the transfer of energy from the rod to the line to the fly. Is there a preference by you guys whether or not you tie your own leaders or go with the ready-made pre-tapered leaders? Thanks, Eric p.s.  Thanks for the response on the tippet post.  A lot of good info there.

Response:

Hi Eric, I would say that today that about 90% of the fly fishers use knotless tapered leaders for trout. Why? Well, probably the same reason about 90% of the fly fishers buy flies? They don’t have the time or the skill. Actually, many anglers use knotless leaders for trout because they don’t want all those knots for stuff to catch on. Lots of very sophisticated fly fishers use tapered knotless leader, but they modify them a bit. Years ago we all tied our own leaders because the only ones you could buy were not too good. I still tie my own leaders for steelhead and salt water. I think everyone that wants to tie their own leaders, tie their own flies and build their own rods should do so because it is fun and can be very educational. After you tie your own knotted leaders and play with them to see how they work, you can use knotless tapered leaders and do some adjusting on them to get them to work just fine. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been reading about the advantages/disadvantages of leader material. The author of the book I’m reading seemed to indicate that manufactured knotless leaders can have a variability in performance because of the way the leader is tapered.  Knotted leaders gives more control of the proportions on the leader formulas to ensure the taper is more accurate. Also, there is the flexibility of using different types of leader material to customize the leader to the fishing conditions.  Like using a stiffer leader material on the butt and middle sections and more supple material on the presentation end of the leader. He also gets into the types of knots and whether or not "hinging" occurs and what impact that has on the transfer of energy from the rod to the line to the fly. Is there a preference by you guys whether or not you tie your own leaders or go with the ready-made pre-tapered leaders? Thanks, Eric p.s.  Thanks for the response on the tippet post.  A lot of good info there.

Response:

Hi Eric, I would say that today that about 90% of the fly fishers use knotless tapered leaders for trout. Why? Well, probably the same reason about 90% of the fly fishers buy flies? They don’t have the time or the skill. Actually, many anglers use knotless leaders for trout because they don’t want all those knots for stuff to catch on…

I used knotless leaders for the first year or two that I fly fished, and they worked well enough, but I think my own leaders work even better. Having stuff catch on the knots is a minor to nonexistent "problem," or at least it is in the places I normally fish. When it does happen, removing the moss or whatever is pretty quick and simple. It only takes a few minutes to make a leader from scratch, and these leaders have, IMO, several important advantages. I can give it exactly the taper I want, I can use different kinds of monofilament in different parts of the leader (stiffer at the butt, softer at the tippet, for instance), and when rebuilding the leader at streamside, I know exactly where I am in the taper by following the knots. The toughest part is learning to tie a good blood knot, and it only takes a few leaders to get the hang of that. I tie my own flies for similar reasons. I can use exactly which materials I want, and modify or create patterns as I see fit,  they tend to be much more durable than the store-bought variety, and cost about 50 cents apiece. Home-made leaders cost me about a dime apiece, if that. — Rusty Hook Laramie, Wyoming

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Hi Eric, I would say that today that about 90% of the fly fishers use knotless tapered leaders for trout. Why? Well, probably the same reason about 90% of the fly fishers buy flies? They don’t have the time or the skill.

What a "Right On" remark to make.  Great! Actually, many anglers use knotless leaders for trout because they don’t want all those knots for stuff to catch on.

Not, IMHO, anything but a cop out reason.  Doesn’t hold water because it is "The Fly" which must be kept clean at all times.   After you tie your own knotted leaders and play with them to see how they work, you can use knotless tapered leaders and do some adjusting on them to get them to work just fine.

Bill?  I really think you’re a savvy kind of shop owner and the majority of your advice is super.  But I have to say this about tapered leaders.  From Brand to Brand, there is nothing as consistant in fly fishing than the consistant inconsistant tapers of tapered leaders. The ONLY WAY to be assured of a sharp turn over and absolute control for the SERIOUS fly fisherman is to tie their own, or better put, roll their own leaders.  It is rare that anything catches knots in hand tied leaders, not unless the water is full of dissideous moss and junk and even then, a tapered leader still  has a minimum of two or three knots involved. I truely dislike tapered leaders because they are heat melted from a single large diameter butt section and pulled to a longer taper, not unlike pulling warm bubble gum out of one’s mouth.  No two strings or pull are the same. Never! I take my fly fishing much too seriously not to tie my own.  It is an art form just like fly tying.  Why would anyone deny themselves of this pleasure when it comes to "The Ways of a Trout?"  I just can’t fathom the mind set that uses tapered leaders. George Gehrke "who always rolls his own" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Hi Bill, I haven’t tried tying my own leaders yet but would like to. The knots in the leader seem to be the biggest drawback.  When I went with guide on Henry’s Fork, he set up "our rig" with a set up he tied himself.  I wished I had paid closer attention to what he had done.  We had a full day of great fishing and even for us rookies we could make decent casts (albeit not very far casts).  I buy the pre-made leaders and tie a tippet on the end.  They work well enough but the presentation is poor about half the time.  I’ve tinkered with cutting off certain parts and adding tippet where I think it might work better.  This trial and error approach does not always produce great results. I don’t get out as often as I like so I like to make the best of it when I do. I mostly fish high mountain lakes and as you probably know conditions can change rather quickly. If the day starts out warm and sunny, the leader has some nice flex to it.  Have the sun go behind the clouds and the wind kick up the leader gets stiff and my tippet will wrap around it like a rope on a tether ball pole.   Of course, that’s when the fishing starts to get hot and I’m there with a mess on the end of my fly line. Thanks, Eric

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Question:

Not being a fish I can’t say for certain but… Just because the fly in you hand looks to the angler like the fly that is hatching doesn’t mean that the fish sees it the same. I bet that there was something that the fish saw that was different enough that it ignored the imitation and went after the real thing. The caddis was something familiar but without something to compare it to. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Took the recently acquired 2 wt. out to my favorite stream yesterday for some mid summer midging.  When I arrived, I observed trout feeding on the surface but couldn’t see what they were feeding on.  When I got on the water I saw tiny, cream colored insects hatching and flying off the waters surface.  This is exactly what I had hoped for.  I was prepared with a handy selection of cream colored midges ranging in size from 20-24 and was eager to use the 2wt. in this setting.  After watching my presentations be ignored for over 45 minutes in every size category,  I  decided that if I was going to fish dry and not catch anything, I may as well fish with something I could darn well see. So, I tied on a size 16 elk hair caddis and on the first cast was hooked onto a nice rainbow.  I proceeded to catch 3 more bows in a 30 minute span.  Much to my dismay, the skies had turned dark and the boomers were signaling that I should exit the stream. I still can’t figure it out…..there was absolutely nothing on the water the size of the caddis I was fishing.  In fact, it looked like a darn freighter among canoes where the hatch is concerned. Could it be that it was just so big and juicy looking the fish couldn’t turn it away?  Ideas, thoughts welcome and appreciated.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On some heavily fished waters, especially where the fish are highly educated, this technique is not quite as successful, as the fish are often simply too wary, but it will still work often enough.  Tactics for use on specific waters vary, but one thing is certain, now matter how wary a fish becomes, it has to eat to survive, and if you find the right fly in this case, and present it properly, you will invariably be successful. In my experience, and in that of many others, as is well documented in the literature, you may catch at least ninety percent of the trout you find on any reasonable fly,  correctly served.  The other ten per cent will prove more difficult, and may require other more specific prescriptions. Often this ten per cent includes the larger fish. They got large because they are naturally more wary than their brethren, or because they live in "impossible" places, which can not be reached suitably with a fly.  In some cases, most especially with some big browns, the fish are almost entirely piscivorous, and a normal dry fly or nymph is seldom taken.  A streamer or a large bug like a hopper may prove useful for such fish.  Or even something like a large woolly bugger, fished deep near a known lie. Or it may be necessary to fish for them at night.  These fish rarely have anything but fish in their stomachs. An inspection of the stomach contents of practically any trout, will invariably show that the fish has taken all sorts of things, ( the piscivorous fish excluded of course ),  even when a specific hatch is in progress, and though these insects ( often the nymphs especially), may dominate, there are always other insects in there as well. This is also one reason why even more or less hopeless anglers, using awful technique and equipment , terrible presentation, and more than likely lousy flies as well, still manage to catch a few fish. None of the above applies to sea-trout or salmon, or indeed to other anadromous fish which normally cease to feed in fresh water.  They do not take the flies in order to survive, and indeed in many cases can not digest them properly anyway.  Here it is basically a case of finding a fly which will annoy them enough to grab it, or for some other reason, reflex, feeding memory etc etc. There is no way to know why these fish take a fly at all. Logical considerations, as in the case of normal freshwater fish, do not apply here. Just a few thoughts on the matter. TL MC — "If you have tried everything you know, and nothing works, then perhaps it is time to accept that you don

Question:

Well I headed up to one of my favorite hex ponds yesterday to do some dry fly hexing. We arrived at the pond with high winds. So I headed down the pond in my old indian brand fiberglass canoe, semi basket case but light and good to fish from. It’s been heavily repaired with fiberglass to make it seaworty but it is so much stealtier than my aluminum.  There were a few hex’s starting to pop up here and there and a few fish rising to them so I prayed for a respite from the howling Maine winds. It was not to be. First thing, on my third cast I broke my "new" HI Lucky ace off at the top ferrule on the mid section, somebody (me) apparently did a piss poor replacement job. Not to be discouraged I paddled all the way back to the landing to get a replacement. Whereon I discovered that the owner of one of the two camps on the pond bragging about how he had coerced the State into stocking Splake ( a bastard hybred of a brookie and a lake trout) to "control" the smelt population. Great, this dub is trying to kill off the feed that makes this pond grow mega slab sided brookies, seemed like a duh to me. Now we’ve got camp owners playing at fisheries management…of course he’s happy to troll up a few splake and claims there are no big schools of smelt anymore on his fish finder…I’m happy for him….rather than argue the topic I just paddled back down the pond to fish. Anyway I managed a couple of 12-14" brookies on my hex pattern when I heard this awful cracking and moaning coming from the seat of my canoe. the %$^#* seat was splitting in half – time for a diet I decided anyway the darn thing sank an inch or two but didn’t part the way completely. Finally as dark came on the wind picked up even more so I beached the canoe for the night. Then it began to rain, and rain, and rain you get the idea. this morning the wind was still howling so we drove down to the West Branch of the Penoboscot river to fish for salmon. the rubber hatch was on (rafters) and the water was high and colored, at least some of it from the heavy overnight rains. I had one hit nymphing and managed to yank the fly out of the fishes mouth and into the tree behind me where I ended up leaving it. Hit another good pool downstream in time to watch another angler manage a decent landlock, caught a freaking chub and went back to camp for lunch. My pond was now covered in 2-3 foot white caps so I bagged it and came home instead of praying to the ghods of calm sunsets. Driving out we got pounded by a mega thunderstorm so the decision to leave was probably ok. On the way out I saw a large black bear, and the usual assortment of moose, a bald eagle, a couple of red tailed hawks, a ton of rabbits and some partridge, good wildlife viewing trip anyway. Tierd and weary, 6 hours later, I arrived home to find my latest ebay treasure, a shakespear 1305B in 9 foot in a gigantic plano plastic case (destined to go into the yard sale pile). It’s missing an eye and while dubbing with it the reel seat came apart because the pin is missing…sometimes I should stay home, go to the dump and mow the lawn…naw that’s no fun… so anyway kids the hex’s are on up in Baxter country but the weather was not conducive to the frenzied evening rise to same…at least for me this weekend. Flyfish — dave’s homepage madness http://www.ctel.net/~brooktrout flyfishing in Maine and more

Response:

Thanks for the nice report anyway. These reports make one wish one was fishing, remind one of the mishaps which inevitably occur, sometimes leaving fond memories, and sometimes swollen feet or similar, but they are all extremely interesting. TL MC — "In order to know what is possible one must constantly attempt the impossible" http://www.mikeconnor.de

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well I headed up to one of my favorite hex ponds yesterday to do some dry

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Question:

  I’ve been fishing in the Florida Keys.  There is a boat called "Main Attraction" in Marathon.  Capt. Morris is the owner/operator.  Have always had good luck fishing with him.  Good guy and productive fisherman.

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Strike Zone Charters in Big Pine Key is the only one I go with.  305-872-9863

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I have a listing of guides for Monroe County/the Keys that have web pages. The list is at < http://inshore.com/f-guides.html#Monroe . You might want to visit a few of the sites for more information on trips, rates, etc. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I’m looking for a game fishing charter in the Florida Keys. Has anybody got any recomendations ?? Cheers Justin

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Hi I’m looking for a game fishing charter in the Florida Keys. Has anybody got any recomendations ?? Cheers Justin

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Hiya Justin, Check out www.met-fl.org This site has a page of links to guides in the Keys and around S. Fla. These guides are some, but not all of the best guides. Most on the list have or guided people who have IGFA records. Good luck, let us know when and how you do. Do you know Stu Cawker"Capt. Asparagus" Hi I’m looking for a game fishing charter in the Florida Keys. Has anybody got any recomendations ?? Cheers Justin

– Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish, goes home through the alley. Anonymous http://fish-n-net.com/

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Question:

<<I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Martin, welcome to the world of fly fishing.  I hope you find it as enjoyable as many of us do (Okay, I admit it, I am a fly fishing junkie!).  It sounds like you are off to a good start and that you are paying attention to the teaching aids you have purchased. There are probably three bits of wisdom I can pass on to you.   #1.  You have to put your time in with fly fishing.  The more time you spend on the water, the better you will be. #2.  Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  Even the best fly fisherman occasionally turns his line into a rats nest or loses a fish.   #3.  Don’t be concerned with the ignorant who believe that you can’t catch fish on a fly.   Given enough time and practice, you will be able to outfish them and will have a lot more fun doing it! Have fun! Mike

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Hi Martin,  Be sure and take time to enjoy this learning phase of your fly-fishing career. Many is the time I’ve wished I could go back and start again. There is no joy like your first nymph-caught trout in a river or your first fish of any kind or method. Enjoy the learning and welcome to the ranks. Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now. My loop control is so-so.  Sometimes I’ll get a perfect cast, othertimes the line splashes down on the water in a pile.  Gotta work on that.

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Good for you. You’ll find fly fishing to be an art while you friends "just go fishing". And, look at it this way, you were on the water and they weren’t.  You caught a fish that day and they didn’t.  You have accomplished something new and exicting and they didn’t. Have fun with it and it’ll treat you good. Bob Moss Landing, Ca. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now. My loop control is so-so.  Sometimes I’ll get a perfect cast, othertimes the line splashes down on the water in a pile.  Gotta work on that.

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Hi Martin, Wellcome to the world of flyfishing. Indeed you made a good start. If I can help you by sending some flies to you let me know what pattern(s) you’d like to have and I’ll see what I can fix for you! Hans van der Stroom -snip- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now.

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Don’t give up. The eventual payoff is well worth the effort, though it will take some time. Keep on practicing, find a good fly shop, patronize it and learn what you can from the owner. If you have a friend who can show you some things you will be way ahead, else read and get some videos. Consider a guide too.  Some day you will leave the bait fishermen in the dust, and the quality of the flyfishing experience can’t be beat, IMHO. Rick

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish."

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I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now. My loop control is so-so.  Sometimes I’ll get a perfect cast, othertimes the line splashes down on the water in a pile.  Gotta work on that.

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Here’s a link that may provide you with the information you’re looking for. http://www.fedflyfishers.org/club_list.html#pa —                                                       -dnc- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking for a fly fishing club in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area with a good percentage of women anglers or a women’s club.  My wife is learning and would like to meet other female ff’s.

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We’ve got you covered!  http://www.halcyon.com/wffn/clubs.htm Nationwide clubs listings (Canada too).

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I am looking for a fly fishing club in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area with a good percentage of women anglers or a women’s club.  My wife is learning and would like to meet other female ff’s.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Want to fly fish Idaho in July. Dont know where to go.Any suggestions?Dry and nymph fishing. I would go to Silver Creek, about 45 min. southeast of Ketchum/Sun Valley. It is a spring creek and is very special. I would stop in Silver Creek Outfitters in Ketchum and get some good flies for that time period. Ask them what time of day to fish which flies. You will need a #3, #4 or soft #5 rod with a floating line. They usually have a Trico spinner fall in the morning starting somewhere around 8 am and ending well before noon depending on the weather. The mid-day is pretty tough, but 5/6pm ’til dark should be another good period. Many anglers stop by this area on the annual pilgrimage to Montana. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

There is also a little-known spring creek on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation about 10 miles north of Pocatello, Idaho. you need a tribal permit, which last I knew was $10.00/day. This is a sizable piece of water which flows into American Falls Reservoir. Very prolific Pale Morning Dun hatches (Ephemerella Infrequens) mostly size 16 also E. Doddsi size 18. Educated fish along with masking hatches etc. good challenge. Not far out of the way if a person is at Silver Creek, about 3 hours drive. Jim Nelson

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: I would go to Silver Creek, about 45 min. southeast of Ketchum/Sun Valley. It is : a spring creek and is very special. I would stop in Silver Creek Outfitters in : Ketchum and get some good flies for that time period. Ask them what time of day : to fish which flies. You will need a #3, #4 or soft #5 rod with a floating line. I believe there is now a Silver Creek Outfitters down by the creek, on the road to Ketchum.  It might be something else, but I seem to recall it is Silver Creek Outfitters. — 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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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Want to fly fish Idaho in July. Dont know where to go.Any suggestions?Dry and nymph fishing. I would go to Silver Creek, about 45 min. southeast of Ketchum/Sun Valley. It is a spring creek and is very special. I would stop in Silver Creek Outfitters in Ketchum and get some good flies for that time period. Ask them what time of day to fish which flies. You will need a #3, #4 or soft #5 rod with a floating line. They usually have a Trico spinner fall in the morning starting somewhere around 8 am and ending well before noon depending on the weather. The mid-day is pretty tough, but 5/6pm ’til dark should be another good period. Many anglers stop by this area on the annual pilgrimage to Montana. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY There is also a little-known spring creek on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation about 10 miles north of Pocatello, Idaho. you need a tribal permit, which last I knew was $10.00/day. This is a sizable piece of water which flows into American Falls Reservoir. Very prolific Pale Morning Dun hatches (Ephemerella Infrequens) mostly size 16 also E. Doddsi size 18. Educated fish along with masking hatches etc. good challenge. Not far out of the way if a person is at Silver Creek, about 3 hours drive. Jim NelsonEvery river is going to be raging until August or September.  Put your

trip off until then or look to fish the lakes, ie. Henry’s lake Guy

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Want to fly fish Idaho in July. Dont know where to go.Any suggestions?Dry and nymph fishing. I would go to Silver Creek, about 45 min. southeast of Ketchum/Sun Valley. It is a spring creek and is very special. I would stop in Silver Creek Outfitters in Ketchum and get some good flies for that time period. Ask them what time of day to fish which flies. You will need a #3, #4 or soft #5 rod with a floating line. They usually have a Trico spinner fall in the morning starting somewhere around 8 am and ending well before noon depending on the weather. The mid-day is pretty tough, but 5/6pm ’til dark should be another good period. Many anglers stop by this area on the annual pilgrimage to Montana. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY There is also a little-known spring creek on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation about 10 miles north of Pocatello, Idaho. you need a tribal permit, which last I knew was $10.00/day. This is a sizable piece of water which flows into American Falls Reservoir. Very prolific Pale Morning Dun hatches (Ephemerella Infrequens) mostly size 16 also E. Doddsi size 18. Educated fish along with masking hatches etc. good challenge. Not far out of the way if a person is at Silver Creek, about 3 hours drive. Jim NelsonEvery river is going to be raging until August or September.  Put your trip off until then or look to fish the lakes, ie. Henry’s lake Guy

 In most cases the high water doesn’t have a large effect on the spring creeks. The spring creeks on the Fort Hall reservation do rise and become somewhat off-color, but they do remain fishable.  I was told, since my earlier post, that the tribe is now limiting the number of permits sold, and that all the available season permits have been sold. I don’t know this for sure, nor do I know if daily permits are still available. Before a person came here to fish it would be prudent to call the Fort Hall Tribal headquarters and find out. Jim N.

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Want to fly fish Idaho in July. Dont know where to go.Any suggestions?Dry and nymph fishing.

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: Want to fly fish Idaho in July. Dont know where to go.Any suggestions?Dry : and nymph fishing. Which part… it’s a big state.  And like night and day. — 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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Robert, I’m going out in July…I plan to go to the Big Wood River & Silver Creek in the south central part of Idaho.  Never been exactly there, but I’ve read a couple of favorable things about the area and it looks like a good destination.  Most of my 13 day trip is in Montana, but this looks a good diversion.   Ray Palmer

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Want to fly fish Idaho in July. Dont know where to go.Any suggestions?Dry and nymph fishing.

I would go to Silver Creek, about 45 min. southeast of Ketchum/Sun Valley. It is a spring creek and is very special. I would stop in Silver Creek Outfitters in Ketchum and get some good flies for that time period. Ask them what time of day to fish which flies. You will need a #3, #4 or soft #5 rod with a floating line. They usually have a Trico spinner fall in the morning starting somewhere around 8 am and ending well before noon depending on the weather. The mid-day is pretty tough, but 5/6pm ’til dark should be another good period. Many anglers stop by this area on the annual pilgrimage to Montana. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

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Question:

The Angler’s Lie is at 3510 Lee Highway in Arlington, VA. They claim to be only 7 minutes from the White House!  Since I don’t live in the White House it really never mattered too much to me.  Call and someone will give you directions, from the White House or wherever. Phone (703) 527-2524 Have fun, John

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Call Scotty Wolf at Wolf’s Fly Shop in Ellicott City, right up Rt. 29.  He is one of the best around. Ralph Curd

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Try the Anglers Lie, 3510 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA. 703 527 2524. Great selection of fly tying materials etc. They only deal in fly fishing.

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I am looking for a good fly shp in Alexandria VA Can anyone give a few recommendations ? Thanks   Richard Lewis

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Richard, You are in luck.  One of the best flyshops in the area is in Alexandria. The Angler’s Lie is on Lee highway 10 minutes from the White House.  They are in the phonebook.  Huge selection on tying materials.  Enjoy!

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Question:

I have two $69.00 caddis tubes that I use for striped bass fly fishing here in CA.. My 8 year old daughter and 10 year old son have no problems at all using them as neither do I. I find the lighter and less expensive the better…One of the responses to you mentioned being "pee" friendly either way you still have wadders on. good luck.  

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One thing to consider is where you will be using the tube or pontoon boat.  I have used both and when conditions permit a pontoon boat is easier to fish from for the reasons others have listed, but I often enjoy backpacking into lakes, and my tube weighs far less than a pontoon boat, which would be too cumbersome for such a trip.  Good luck with your decision.

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There is a pontoon boat that addresses the needs of the backpacker and the river fisherman. Try the Supercat. —                    "One Fish is Worth a Thousand Lies"                             http://Flyfish.Com

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There is a pontoon boat that addresses the needs of the backpacker and the river fisherman. Try the Supercat.

I just tried out a Supercat yesterday and it was great. I’ll be ordering one soon. I guess I shouldn’t have bought that float tube a couple of weeks ago. Brad

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Hello, I am going to make a purchase of either a float tube, or a pontoon float. If you have had experience in any of the above, I sure would like to hear your opinion as the database of information is pretty scarce. If you have a pontoon float, how are they in the wind?  U shape verses V shape verses Round?  How about brand names, general price, etc, good or bad? Sure would appreciate your input. Thanks. Mike

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I just replaced my tube with a JW Outfitters Kingfisher 4 pontoon.  I like it alot better because 1) casting is much easier, 2) sight-fishing is much better, 3) it is faster and more manuverable, 4) ingress-egress MUCH nicer, 5) it is certainly more pee-friendly, and 6) it is lighter.  As to the wind, not a problem.  You can kick out real easily.

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Pontoon boat more comfortable, drier, covers more area. But nothying like fightinhg  a big fish from a float tube. if you gert a flaoat tube-go u or v -boat design only.

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Hello, I am going to make a purchase of either a float tube, or a pontoon float. If you have had experience in any of the above, I sure would like to hear your opinion as the database of information is pretty scarce. If you have a pontoon float, how are they in the wind?  U shape verses V shape verses Round?  How about brand names, general price, etc, good or bad? Sure would appreciate your input. Thanks.

Hi Mike I’ve had a lot of experience with float tubes and pontoon boats.  The float tube will cost you less than a pontoon boat (tube = $100 or so, pontoon = $400 – $1600 or so) Personally I would use a pontoon boat over a float tube no matter what the cost difference is.  After I reached the age of 45 whenever I got my crotch in cold water it was an immediate trip to the bank for a nature call.  Also as I got older staying warm in a tube became a problem.  Also I never felt comfortable floating a river in a tube although I’ve done quite a bit of it.   In the wind you can kick your heart out in a tube and progress on you way very slowly.  With a pontoon craft you can kick and row at the same time and really scoot.  My wife and I use our boats here in Montana on streams like the Big Horn.  When we float through a section that is particularly productive, we pull over to the soft side of the river and kick and row our way back up stream to the top end of the pool and float through it again.  I’ve had my craft in rapid up to grade #3 and did not feel in jeopardy (I have had a lot of experience in white water so that could be part of the reason).  By the way I’m in the fly fishing business but do not sell pontoon boats. For what it’s worth, that’s my belief.  I’m sure you will get other responces with different oppinions.  Which ever way you go, ENJOY! Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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Went out this morning to get the news paper and noticed a photo of opening day on the cold waters at Bennit Springs State Park, near Lebanon, MO. Didn’t look like there were any Fly Fishermen there, but they were shoulder to shoulder, standing on top of a dam (facing up stream), 40 yards upstream (facing downstream) and at the bottom of the dam (facing down stream). They looked like black birds sitting on a wire. WheeU! Now I know why I like to fly fish! I saw this sorta thing in Homer, Alaska, with folks fishing (draging) for silver salmon. Fun to watch, but couldn’t do it my self. I guess when you are cooped up all winter long and don’t tie flies you’ll do anything to eat trout short of buying it in the grocery store. Bob — Bob San Jose, Ca

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But in Virginia, the courts just decided that much of the Jackson River is "private" property because it was part of an original grant from the king of England.  Given that much or most of Virginia falls under the same type of grant, there will not be much left to fish on. I don’t mind paying rod fees to fish on private property, but when it comes to good ole Virginie, it is going to become absolutely ridiculous. I thought our ancestors fought a revolution to get away from this type of oppression. Dave Benjamin

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