Question:

I woke up this morning and looked out the window to what looked to be a very nice Turkey Day.  There was no wind, partly cloudy skies and it felt somewhat warm out.  I was really looking forward to a nice day on the river and thought I would lounge about the house for an hour or two before heading out.  I have found in the past that fishing early in the morning during this time of year is pretty much a waste.  The water is cold and the fish don’t seem to warm up until around 11 or 12 so I watched a little TV and farted around the house for a bit. Shortly after noon I gathered up my gear and proceeded to head down to the Gallatin.  The weather was very nice and I was already feeling warm in my fleece bibs, union suit, and sweats.  I stopped by the store and grabbed a couple of "Road Masters" (24 oz cans of beer) to stuff in the back of my vest along with a bag of chips and some summer sausage just in case I got the munchies while I was out.  Around 1 PM I arrived at the Gallatin and began to prepare myself for a day of fishing.  There was just a slight breeze and the sun darted in and out behind the clouds that were rolling in.  Off in the distance I could see the mountains and the scattered snow showers that were painting the top of the mountains white through the hazy veils of falling snow.  It is Thanksgiving Day and I was home. At first I was a bit unsure of what to tie on.  It has been awhile since I have had the pleasure to fish due to the commitments of the real world, but I ventured down to the river and started to examine what was going on.  There were a few midges flying around but absolutely no fish rising to them.  I decided on big and deep and strung up my rod and proceeded to make my way to the lifeblood of my soul.  As I stepped into the water and made my way up to my spots, I began to think about how thankful I am. I proceeded to fish and things were indeed slow.  There were absolutely no fish rising and I had not even tempted one fish during my first hour on the water.  I moved up to the next stretch which is another one of my favorite spots and changed flies.  No luck again and so I changed the dropper and missed one fish.  I moved up to the log jam area and ended up losing the dropper in the logs so I moved to the side channel and hit my favorite hole there.  As I sat there tying on new flies, I once again began to think about the things that I am thankful for this year.  As I finished tying on the flies, I pushed these thoughts out of my mind as I cast my flies into the current on the far side of the hole.  This hole is on a bend and is very deep.  There used to be a side channel that came in and made this a fork, but beavers have long since dammed up the channel that dumps in to part of the T which now makes this pool shaped like an upside down L.  I had tied on a black rubber legged stonefly nymph with an orange egg pattern dropper.  I missed one fish and ended up breaking the entire rig off on the remnants of the beaver dam. I sat on the bank and the sun darted behind the clouds and what was a breeze turned into a slight wind which was gaining in strength.  Snow began to fall and the steady hiss of the wind of the wind began to blow through the tall grass.  I kept eying the pool as the wind whispered "thhhhhhhhhherrrrrrre" in my ear.  I knew exactly what I had to do and tied on the new stonefly nymph and egg pattern and cast out into the far seam again.  I could feel the flies ticking the bottom and then there was the thump-thump of a fish taking one of the flies.  I set the hook and felt the solid resistance of a fish. This pool normally holds browns, but I saw the silver flash of a rainbow and played the fish on the latest addition to my fly rod arsenal.  Yes indeed!  The "Montana Trout Bum" came alive and transmitted ever move of the rainbow in a way that is hard to describe.  The rod seemed alive in my hands and transmitted feelings which seem to be lost in graphite rods.  I landed a fat 16" rainbow, bonked it on the head and put it on my stringer.  After thanking the fish, thanking whatever God(s) that may have been involved and just being thankful to be alive I sat on the bank and began to contemplate things.  I was no longer in a rush to fish so I took out one of the "Road Masters" from my vest, dug out the summer sausage and cut off a chunk to snack on. It is hard to put in words, but a relaxing calm came over me as I took stock of the last year.  I settled in for a deep period of introspect and began to list all the things that I am thankful for.  I am thankful to have my family and especially the most precious thing in my life, my daughter.  I am also thankful for the good friends that I have made, even those that can be a pain in the ass to deal with at times,  I am thankful to own a rod that was made by a friend which holds something very special that is hard to explain.  Zimbo mentioned such a feeling and I immediately understood what he was talking about when I read it, but I FELT it as I sat there on the bank.  I am thankful to the men and women in our armed forces, my brothers and sisters in arms, who are overseas defending our country and our way of life.  Most importantly I am thankful just to be alive and able to experience the beauty of the land I live in and a sport which connects me to the beauty every time I go out fishing.  Of all the shitty things that have happened to me this year, I could not remember many of them and the ones I did remember seemed very unimportant and paled in comparison to the all of the good that I often overlook.  I began to get a little cold as the wind started to penetrate the layers of clothing I was wearing and decided to finally get up and move on. I proceeded to fish another big pool with a strong current on the far side and a huge tail-out that forks into two channels.  The sun once again broke through the clouds and cast rays that shone from the heavens as beams of gold.  I quickly ripped out of my camera and snapped a couple of pictures and once again began fishing.  I ended up landing a 17" rainbow and proceeded to bonk that one over the head and cleaning it there too.  I was all set now that I had my Thanksgiving Day dinner.  I once again took up a position on the bank and just took in the scene. The sound of the running water never seems to fail in touching my soul and soothing my psyche.  As the sun began to drop below the horizon, I decided to call it a day after a few more casts and head home. I thought about things on the way home and am very happy with my life. The ups and downs will continue, but fishing has always been a constant in my life and seems to smooth out the rough edges.  I want to thank you all for being part of the fishing experience that helps smooth out those rough edges and hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. — Warren www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt

Response:

I’d been thinking what a nice Thanksgiving I’d had, and then I read your story and it got even better. Many thanks, Chas

…great tr snipped…

Response:

Of all the shitty things that have happened to me this year, I could not remember many of them and the ones I did remember seemed very unimportant and paled in comparison to the all of the good that I often overlook.

Mmm hmm. There seems to be 2 sorts of people – those for whom the bad things ultimately seem less important than the good, and those for whom the opposite is true.  What kind of person you are and how you live has a lot to do with which sort you are….

Response:

I woke up this morning and looked out the window to what looked to be a very nice Turkey Day.  

thanks for the time away…. I had to work Willi

Response:

I thought about things on the way home and am very happy with my life. The ups and downs will continue, but fishing has always been a constant in my life and seems to smooth out the rough edges.  I want to thank you all for being part of the fishing experience that helps smooth out those rough edges and hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Here’s to you and yours, Warren.

Response:

wonderful day and you gave me a chance to share in a bit of it. Many more to come for you, I hope…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I woke up this morning and looked out the window to what looked to be a very nice Turkey Day.  There was no wind, partly cloudy skies and it felt somewhat warm out.  I was really looking forward to a nice day on the river and thought I would lounge about the house for an hour or two before heading out.  I have found in the past that fishing early in the morning during this time of year is pretty much a waste.  The water is cold and the fish don’t seem to warm up until around 11 or 12 so I watched a little TV and farted around the house for a bit. Shortly after noon I gathered up my gear and proceeded to head down to the Gallatin.  The weather was very nice and I was already feeling warm in my fleece bibs, union suit, and sweats.  I stopped by the store and grabbed a couple of "Road Masters" (24 oz cans of beer) to stuff in the back of my vest along with a bag of chips and some summer sausage just in case I got the munchies while I was out.  Around 1 PM I arrived at the Gallatin and began to prepare myself for a day of fishing.  There was just a slight breeze and the sun darted in and out behind the clouds that were rolling in.  Off in the distance I could see the mountains and the scattered snow showers that were painting the top of the mountains white through the hazy veils of falling snow.  It is Thanksgiving Day and I was home. At first I was a bit unsure of what to tie on.  It has been awhile since I have had the pleasure to fish due to the commitments of the real world, but I ventured down to the river and started to examine what was going on.  There were a few midges flying around but absolutely no fish rising to them.  I decided on big and deep and strung up my rod and proceeded to make my way to the lifeblood of my soul.  As I stepped into the water and made my way up to my spots, I began to think about how thankful I am. I proceeded to fish and things were indeed slow.  There were absolutely no fish rising and I had not even tempted one fish during my first hour on the water.  I moved up to the next stretch which is another one of my favorite spots and changed flies.  No luck again and so I changed the dropper and missed one fish.  I moved up to the log jam area and ended up losing the dropper in the logs so I moved to the side channel and hit my favorite hole there.  As I sat there tying on new flies, I once again began to think about the things that I am thankful for this year.  As I finished tying on the flies, I pushed these thoughts out of my mind as I cast my flies into the current on the far side of the hole.  This hole is on a bend and is very deep.  There used to be a side channel that came in and made this a fork, but beavers have long since dammed up the channel that dumps in to part of the T which now makes this pool shaped like an upside down L.  I had tied on a black rubber legged stonefly nymph with an orange egg pattern dropper.  I missed one fish and ended up breaking the entire rig off on the remnants of the beaver dam. I sat on the bank and the sun darted behind the clouds and what was a breeze turned into a slight wind which was gaining in strength.  Snow began to fall and the steady hiss of the wind of the wind began to blow through the tall grass.  I kept eying the pool as the wind whispered "thhhhhhhhhherrrrrrre" in my ear.  I knew exactly what I had to do and tied on the new stonefly nymph and egg pattern and cast out into the far seam again.  I could feel the flies ticking the bottom and then there was the thump-thump of a fish taking one of the flies.  I set the hook and felt the solid resistance of a fish. This pool normally holds browns, but I saw the silver flash of a rainbow and played the fish on the latest addition to my fly rod arsenal.  Yes indeed!  The "Montana Trout Bum" came alive and transmitted ever move of the rainbow in a way that is hard to describe.  The rod seemed alive in my hands and transmitted feelings which seem to be lost in graphite rods.  I landed a fat 16" rainbow, bonked it on the head and put it on my stringer.  After thanking the fish, thanking whatever God(s) that may have been involved and just being thankful to be alive I sat on the bank and began to contemplate things.  I was no longer in a rush to fish so I took out one of the "Road Masters" from my vest, dug out the summer sausage and cut off a chunk to snack on. It is hard to put in words, but a relaxing calm came over me as I took stock of the last year.  I settled in for a deep period of introspect and began to list all the things that I am thankful for.  I am thankful to have my family and especially the most precious thing in my life, my daughter.  I am also thankful for the good friends that I have made, even those that can be a pain in the ass to deal with at times,  I am thankful to own a rod that was made by a friend which holds something very special that is hard to explain.  Zimbo mentioned such a feeling and I immediately understood what he was talking about when I read it, but I FELT it as I sat there on the bank.  I am thankful to the men and women in our armed forces, my brothers and sisters in arms, who are overseas defending our country and our way of life.  Most importantly I am thankful just to be alive and able to experience the beauty of the land I live in and a sport which connects me to the beauty every time I go out fishing.  Of all the shitty things that have happened to me this year, I could not remember many of them and the ones I did remember seemed very unimportant and paled in comparison to the all of the good that I often overlook.  I began to get a little cold as the wind started to penetrate the layers of clothing I was wearing and decided to finally get up and move on. I proceeded to fish another big pool with a strong current on the far side and a huge tail-out that forks into two channels.  The sun once again broke through the clouds and cast rays that shone from the heavens as beams of gold.  I quickly ripped out of my camera and snapped a couple of pictures and once again began fishing.  I ended up landing a 17" rainbow and proceeded to bonk that one over the head and cleaning it there too.  I was all set now that I had my Thanksgiving Day dinner.  I once again took up a position on the bank and just took in the scene. The sound of the running water never seems to fail in touching my soul and soothing my psyche.  As the sun began to drop below the horizon, I decided to call it a day after a few more casts and head home. I thought about things on the way home and am very happy with my life. The ups and downs will continue, but fishing has always been a constant in my life and seems to smooth out the rough edges.  I want to thank you all for being part of the fishing experience that helps smooth out those rough edges and hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. — Warren www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt

Response:

Question:

I’ll be going to Thompson Falls Montana within the nex t two weeks to pilot a logging helicopter.  We usually work from 5:30 am until about 3:00 PM, depending upon the winds.  This leaves me a lot of time to fly fish. Does anyone know a good place to fish for flies in and around Thompson Falls Montana? Mike

Response:

 Does anyone know a good place to fish for flies in and around Thompson Falls Montana? Mike

just build up a good body sweat and stand in the woods just about anywhere, and you’ll catch plenty of flies.  don’t believe that old honey/vinegar story. <G jeff (lord of the flies)

Response:

I’m heading out to SW Montana and Idaho in hopes of finding things in much better shape than the news has let on.  We’re planning on spending a few days in Yellowstone and then out to Henrys Fork.  I haven’t seen any fishing reports – anyone know how the fishing has been in that area?  Any information is appreciated. Thanks Scott

Response:

fished the missouri today. big browns! it is open we think all is well. there were lots of fires this summer that got in the way. check out the little blackfoot. primo west throat cut throat territory. littleblackfootriverretreat.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Water temperatures are fine on our side of the divide (high 50’s) and the rivers are NOT closed (except maybe the Missouri, haven’t heard whether they reopened that one or not). We have had cool weather and decent rain. The governor did lift the restrictions but we are still at level IV, which means NO campfires, stoves, etc. except in developed designated campgrounds. With more rain that will get better. Fishing should be fantastic although everybody and his uncle will be out there now that we can fish again (after a month of NO FISH). Have fun. — Tight Lines! Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana http://www.montana.com/dno/dno.htm 406-626-4022 I’m heading out to SW Montana and Idaho in hopes of finding things in much better shape than the news has let on.  We’re planning on spending a few days in Yellowstone and then out to Henrys Fork.  I haven’t seen any fishing reports – anyone know how the fishing has been in that area?  Any information is appreciated. Thanks Scott Montana opened a lot of closed land today. Some areas..Beaverhead County I believe are still closed. As for the rivers…everyone I have seen, except the Madison, are painfully low and as far as I know closed to fishing.  Even if they are open I would not fish them. We need more water, but more importantly we need cooler water temps. and that is happening…slowly.  The Madison was fishing just great last week.  Water temps. around 58-59 degrees…flow is near normal.  I heard the Beaverhead was looking good but very crowded…also heard the Henry’s Fork is fishing well.

Brian good to hear the water temps have dropped and the rivers ARE open.  A buddy of mne was doing some business out toward Superior so he checked out the river along the frontage road…he said it was boiling!  The cool weather and overcast skies sure help alot. Maybe this weekend I forget about selling trees and shrubs and head for the river!

Response:

Water temperatures are fine on our side of the divide (high 50’s) and the rivers are NOT closed (except maybe the Missouri, haven’t heard whether they reopened that one or not). We have had cool weather and decent rain. The governor did lift the restrictions but we are still at level IV, which means NO campfires, stoves, etc. except in developed designated campgrounds. With more rain that will get better. Fishing should be fantastic although everybody and his uncle will be out there now that we can fish again (after a month of NO FISH). Have fun. — Tight Lines! Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana http://www.montana.com/dno/dno.htm 406-626-4022

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m heading out to SW Montana and Idaho in hopes of finding things in much better shape than the news has let on.  We’re planning on spending a few days in Yellowstone and then out to Henrys Fork.  I haven’t seen any fishing reports – anyone know how the fishing has been in that area?  Any information is appreciated. Thanks Scott Montana opened a lot of closed land today. Some areas..Beaverhead County I believe are still closed. As for the rivers…everyone I have seen, except the Madison, are painfully low and as far as I know closed to fishing.  Even if they are open I would not fish them. We need more water, but more importantly we need cooler water temps. and that is happening…slowly.  The Madison was fishing just great last week.  Water temps. around 58-59 degrees…flow is near normal.  I heard the Beaverhead was looking good but very crowded…also heard the Henry’s Fork is fishing well.

Response:

I’m heading out to SW Montana and Idaho in hopes of finding things in much better shape than the news has let on.  We’re planning on spending a few days in Yellowstone and then out to Henrys Fork.  I haven’t seen any fishing reports – anyone know how the fishing has been in that area?  Any information is appreciated. Thanks Scott

Montana opened a lot of closed land today. Some areas..Beaverhead County I believe are still closed. As for the rivers…everyone I have seen, except the Madison, are painfully low and as far as I know closed to fishing.  Even if they are open I would not fish them. We need more water, but more importantly we need cooler water temps. and that is happening…slowly.  The Madison was fishing just great last week.  Water temps. around 58-59 degrees…flow is near normal.  I heard the Beaverhead was looking good but very crowded…also heard the Henry’s Fork is fishing well.

Response:

Question:

btw, here in nc, we call it the sidearm, m*****f*****g rhodo cast.

hee hee hee.  OK honest show of hands, who’s finally ripped off a rhodo branch that was getting in their way?? Regards, Jeff

Response:

Guilty! Cut it off, walk away and hope it doesn’t grow back before you return.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – btw, here in nc, we call it the sidearm, m*****f*****g rhodo cast. hee hee hee.  OK honest show of hands, who’s finally ripped off a rhodo branch that was getting in their way?? Regards, Jeff

Response:

Yea, I do that all the time.. it’s, uhh, on purpose, yea that’s it.. It’s amazing how well this works.. if I only had the ability to do this at will. My errant cast strung like a close line along the willows. I tried flipping the line off the willows and in the process, the fly dropped into the lie, the fish took, jumped the log and brok

– -Mark  –  Particle Salad/ Noom Room Studio  http://home.earthlink.net/~psalad  mp3 songs:  http://www.mp3.com/particlesalad

Response:

Some times we have to let the fish win — NOT!  Next time out, try a well weighted Dupont spinner.  Works every time.                     Frank Reid P.S. For those unfamiliar with the vernacular, a Dupont spinner is so-named because the pricipal manufacturer is the Dupont explosives division.  One can normally be obtained from "Crazy Lefty," the guy that works in the explosives bunker at your neighborhood rock quary for a small price. Warning:  an overuse of false casting while using one may be hazardous to your health. sportsmanship snipped – – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The fish is still there, I still try for it, but I think that’s the closest I’m going to get.

Response:

I first noticed it out of the corner of my eye, a dimple under some overhanging willows. <good story snipped

Ah, the old willow cast.   Thanks for a good one. Joe F.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I first noticed it out of the corner of my eye, a dimple under some overhanging willows. Looking closer, I saw the steady, patterned rise of a fish.  I moved into position down and across from the fish and surveyed the situation. The fish was feeding in some very shallow water and was protected by dense willows above and a log protruding from the bank just upstream from his lie. I thought that maybe a side arm cast would keep the fly low enough to clear the willows and somehow land in the small slow water feeding area behind the log. I cast, snagged the willow, broke off my fly and put down the fish. Each time there were surface feeding fish about, I would find this fish methodically sipping in his hole. For awhile, I tried to come up with something new each time I passed his lie. I tried downstream casts, but the current would either push my fly past the small area where he fed or pile it up and snag the log. During hopper season, I tried skipping a hopper into his lie but caught willows and bark. I tried my crude imitations of pile casts and curve casts but the drift would never bring the fly into his feeding lane. I bushwhacked through the thick willows on the bank where he fed, hoping to try dapping, but long before I got into position, he was put down. When I reached out to extricate the flies I had lost in the willows from my past futile attempts, I was tempted to do some trimming but that didn’t seem too sporting. I had tried everything I could think of to get a fly to this fish. I probably could have somehow swung a streamer or nymph under the log and taken the fish, but it was a consistent, steady surface feeder and I was determined to meet it on these terms. I felt the side arm cast I first tried came the closest to getting the fly where it needed to be. Each time I passed its lie I would give it a shot. I mostly caught willows, but once in a while I would get a cast in where it belonged but the current always grabbed the tippet, dragged the fly and put down the fish. After each failure, I would go upstream to a shallow run to catch a couple easy fish to appease myself. One day, after fishing the run and getting ready to head home, I looked downstream noticed the fish was again rising. I was probably 40 feet away. I have trouble hitting an area the size of a Buick at this distance, much less one the size of a pie pan lying under some willows, but what the hell, one last cast. I hauled my three weight and let a cast go. My errant cast strung like a close line along the willows. I tried flipping the line off the willows and in the process, the fly dropped into the lie, the fish took, jumped the log and broke me off. The fish is still there, I still try for it, but I think that’s the closest I’m going to get. Willi

a nice read…thanks.  btw, here in nc, we call it the sidearm, m*****f*****g rhodo cast. to make it even more challenging, as if the bizarre twists of the branches and leaves aren’t enough, at certain times of the year, the rhodos have a sticky substance at the flower heads of the branches which is stronger than any commercial glue.  put your fly or leader in it and it’s generally easier just to cut the tippet. jeff

Response:

I first noticed it out of the corner of my eye, a dimple under some overhanging willows. Looking closer, I saw the steady, patterned rise of a fish.  I moved into position down and across from the fish and surveyed the situation. The fish was feeding in some very shallow water and was protected by dense willows above and a log protruding from the bank just upstream from his lie. I thought that maybe a side arm cast would keep the fly low enough to clear the willows and somehow land in the small slow water feeding area behind the log. I cast, snagged the willow, broke off my fly and put down the fish. Each time there were surface feeding fish about, I would find this fish methodically sipping in his hole. For awhile, I tried to come up with something new each time I passed his lie. I tried downstream casts, but the current would either push my fly past the small area where he fed or pile it up and snag the log. During hopper season, I tried skipping a hopper into his lie but caught willows and bark. I tried my crude imitations of pile casts and curve casts but the drift would never bring the fly into his feeding lane. I bushwhacked through the thick willows on the bank where he fed, hoping to try dapping, but long before I got into position, he was put down. When I reached out to extricate the flies I had lost in the willows from my past futile attempts, I was tempted to do some trimming but that didn’t seem too sporting. I had tried everything I could think of to get a fly to this fish. I probably could have somehow swung a streamer or nymph under the log and taken the fish, but it was a consistent, steady surface feeder and I was determined to meet it on these terms. I felt the side arm cast I first tried came the closest to getting the fly where it needed to be. Each time I passed its lie I would give it a shot. I mostly caught willows, but once in a while I would get a cast in where it belonged but the current always grabbed the tippet, dragged the fly and put down the fish. After each failure, I would go upstream to a shallow run to catch a couple easy fish to appease myself. One day, after fishing the run and getting ready to head home, I looked downstream noticed the fish was again rising. I was probably 40 feet away. I have trouble hitting an area the size of a Buick at this distance, much less one the size of a pie pan lying under some willows, but what the hell, one last cast. I hauled my three weight and let a cast go. My errant cast strung like a close line along the willows. I tried flipping the line off the willows and in the process, the fly dropped into the lie, the fish took, jumped the log and broke me off. The fish is still there, I still try for it, but I think that’s the closest I’m going to get. Willi

Response:

Question:

Build your first one starting with a blank.  You might look at and research http://www.gink.com/shopcart/products/gehrke_rods_2.html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have made a decision. I will attempt to build my own bamboo rod! There I said it, it’s official. Now where do I start? I found one site by Bruce Conner. Very informative and inspiring. Some of the other sites seemed to lean toward substantial investments of tools. Bruce briefly describes home made and common tools that will do the job. For those of you that make your own rods, think back. What do you wish you had known then, what you know now? Where can I be pointed. Realize I have absolutely nothing, no knowledge or tools. Green as they come. Thanks boys, Jamie Here is Bruce’s site. http://kalypso.cybercom.net/~bconner/index.html?57,11

Response:

I have made a decision. I will attempt to build my own bamboo rod! There I said it, it’s official. Now where do I start? I found one site by Bruce Conner. Very informative and inspiring. Some of the other sites seemed to lean toward substantial investments of tools. Bruce briefly describes home made and common tools that will do the job. For those of you that make your own rods, think back. What do you wish you had known then, what you know now? Where can I be pointed. Realize I have absolutely nothing, no knowledge or tools. Green as they come. Thanks boys, Jamie Here is Bruce’s site. http://kalypso.cybercom.net/~bconner/index.html?57,11

Response:

Jamie, Welcome to the addiction that is bamboo.  Like all other things fly fishing, once you’ve got the bug, it’s hard to shake.  I myself have been into this thing for about nine months now and, although I haven’t built a rod yet, have found it to be a rewarding and challenging pastime.  One thing that helps is to have a lot of patience and, at times, persistence. I feel that, like fly fishing or tying, you certainly can make some considerable monetary investments when getting into this hobby.  And there is nothing wrong with those purchases if your budget allows.  But that certainly doesn’t need to be the case if you are working with a limited budget.  There is a wealth of information on the internet and in books on building your own tools and equipment, as well as info about building the rods themselves.  Certainly Bruce’s site is a _great_ starting point.  I think that it was one of the first sites I came across, if not the first. Another site that I have found very helpful is the Rodmakers’ listserve site: http://www.canerod.com/rodmakers/ .  It’s packed with helpful information.  Especially the listserve archives.  If you have any questions on a bamboo rodbuilding topic, check the archive first, it’s probably in there.  You will probably want to join the mailing list as well.  There is a link on the site. I would also recommend checking out some of the many helpful books that are out there.  You don’t even have to buy them, if you can find them in your local library.  A library near me has a copy of Everett Garrison’s book, although I’m starting to realize that this it a stroke of luck.  But you will probably end up buying one anyway: it’s a good thing to have on hand. I have read the Garrison book (_very_ detailed, but tends to be a bit anal), and I own the George Maurer book, which is excellent.  Another very good book that I have read is the one by Wayne Cattanach.  He also has videos to accompany the book, which are fun to watch. You also might want to check around and see if there are any builders near you.  You might be surprised. I think the most helpful advice I can give you as far as equipment goes is this:  if you can afford a set of planing forms, BUY THEM!  Don’t get me wrong, it is possible to build your own.  There is an excellent site by a Thomas Penrose that gives detailed instructions on doing so: http://www.geocities.com/penr0295/forms.htm .  I am building my own forms based on these plans.  But be warned, this is the part that requires a lot of patience and persistence.  Plus it’s not a whole lot of fun.  On the plus side, I have learned some things about metalworking.  But if you can afford it, buy a set.  There are people out there offering them for around $350, which isn’t too bad at all considering the amount of work it takes to build them. Anyway, good luck!  If you have any questions (and I’m sure you will) post them to the Rodmakers’ listserve.  Or drop me an email.  I’d be glad to offer what limited knowledge I can. HTH. Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have made a decision. I will attempt to build my own bamboo rod!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Another site that I have found very helpful is the Rodmakers’ listserve site: http://www.canerod.com/rodmakers/ .  It’s packed with helpful information.  Especially the listserve archives.  If you have any questions on a bamboo rodbuilding topic, check the archive first, it’s probably in there.  You will probably want to join the mailing list as well.  There is a link on the site. I think the most helpful advice I can give you as far as equipment goes is this:  if you can afford a set of planing forms, BUY THEM!  Don’t get me wrong, it is possible to build your own.  There is an excellent site by a Thomas Penrose that gives detailed instructions on doing so: http://www.geocities.com/penr0295/forms.htm .  I am building my own forms based on these plans.  But be warned, this is the part that requires a lot of patience and persistence.  Plus it’s not a whole lot of fun.  On the plus side, I have learned some things about metalworking.  But if you can afford it, buy a set.  There are people out there offering them for around $350, which isn’t too bad at all considering the amount of work it takes to build them.

Jamie, Keith gives you some good tips here. These are two excellent resources. The Penrose page is really good on certain aspects of the process.  I think the best thing to get up to speed is to read the ENTIRE archives on the rodmakers site. It took me about a month of going at it off and on but it will give you the history of a lot that is going on with the listserve now and will answer a lot of questions better than in the books (but will not answer all- so get the books). You will be way more knowledgeable at the end of that and will be able to make a lot of informed decisions about how you want to approach it, what to buy and what to make, etc. etc. Also, be sure to print out any part of the archives that strikes you as useful as you go through it and start a notebook. This will help when you remember a great tip but can’t find it with the archives search engine (Frank Stetzer’s page). Good luck. Jon

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have made a decision. I will attempt to build my own bamboo rod! There I said it, it’s official. Now where do I start? I found one site by Bruce Conner. Very informative and inspiring. Some of the other sites seemed to lean toward substantial investments of tools. Bruce briefly describes home made and common tools that will do the job. For those of you that make your own rods, think back. What do you wish you had known then, what you know now? Where can I be pointed. Realize I have absolutely nothing, no knowledge or tools. Green as they come. Thanks boys, Jamie Here is Bruce’s site. http://kalypso.cybercom.net/~bconner/index.html?57,11

Jamie, http://www.teleport.com/~gord/canelink.shtml This will get you started. Kiyu

Response:

Question:

Hi gang,   I’m fishing this area while on vacation next week. I’d be glad to hear any advice from people who know the area. I’m looking to catch trout, not planning to keep any, and hope to get some photos of some nice ones. Jerry

Response:

Check out the thread "Michigan Flyfishing Spots For Vacation" George Adams

Response:

Try http://www.troutbums.com/.

Response:

Question:

Dear Friends, I will be in western Quebec near La Verendrey (sp?) Park north of Maniwaki in mid July.  I would love to read your suggestions for flies for smallmouth, brook trout, pike.  Any information will be well received. Thanks so much. Sandford

Response:

I will be in western Quebec near La Verendrey (sp?) Park north of Maniwaki in mid July.  I would love to read your suggestions for flies for smallmouth, brook trout, pike.  Any information will be well received.

Most fishing up there seems to be done from boats with bait or hard lures rather than with flies or afoot. Bass and brookies are seldom selective. For bass, all you need is 3 types: — dry fly or popper, — darkish streamer e.g. Muddler Minnow, — bright streamer e.g. Mickey Finn. In smaller sizes, brookies also take MM and MF avidly.  Brookies seem unselective about dry flies, but it would be prudent to carry a variety of sizes, say 10 to 20, including good floaters and high-visibility flies for rough water (preferred by brookies.) — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

Question:

Hello,   How can I find out more about flyfishing rivers in Middle Tn.?

Response:

Hello,  How can I find out more about flyfishing rivers in Middle Tn.?

Hi Kevin You will probably get an answer from someone on this newgroup.  However if you do not don’t dispair, call the Federation of Fly Fishers and ask about a club in your area.  Get the contact info from the FFF and call the club contact person (usually the president).  From there you can get information, join the club, make new fishing friends, etc. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

Response:

Question:

Hi, thanks for the response.  Is there any flats fishing in Costa Rica? I’m interested in a trip in 1997 .  Please e mail if possible. — Tim Ackerman "Everyone Lives Downstream"

Response:

Hi, thanks for the response.  Is there any flats fishing in Costa Rica? I’m interested in a trip in 1997 .  Please e mail if possible. — Tim Ackerman "Everyone Lives Downstream"

Hi Tim, I believe that the east side is jungle rivers running to the ocean with tarpon and snook and the west coast is blue water with bill fish, dorado and wahoo. Lots of flats in other eastern Central American coasts. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

Response:

Question:

Fly fishing for Bass on the Kanawha River near Charleston, West Virginia is a trip.. Something not for the typical Fisherman. Now the water is up and very muddy, but when it go back down, I’ll let everyone know how the Fishing is…. Misha

Response:

very muddy, but when it go back down, I’ll let everyone know how the Fishing is….

Yes please!  I especially like that strech just before Rt. 60 goes up into the mountains.  (would that be Gauly Bridge? ) Bob

Response:

Question:

I made a nice find on a low-cost fly-tying storage box.  I bought a Flambeau 22060 toolbox that has six sliding drawers each about 12 by 8 inches.  Two are 3 inches deep and the others 2 inches deep.  The box opens on one side with a fold down panel.  The box is marketed for hand tools so the cost is resonable at $45.  For people with lots of hackes you will need a separate cedar box for storage of those large items.  Compared to nice wooden boxes and cordura/plastic fly tying boxes($100 to 300) this is a cost-effective solution I wanted to share. Question: does anyone have a mail-order source for Lamson reels that have good prices. Kent

Response:

I made a nice find on a low-cost fly-tying storage box.  I bought a Flambeau 22060 toolbox that has six sliding drawers each about 12 by 8 inches.  Two are 3 inches deep and the others 2 inches deep.  The box opens on one side with a fold down panel.  The box is marketed for hand tools so the cost is resonable at $45.  For people with lots of hackes you will need a separate cedar box for storage of those large items.  Compared to nice wooden boxes and cordura/plastic fly tying boxes($100 to 300) this is a cost-effective solution I wanted to share.

When I was growing up, my Dad had a room with bookshelves filled with 1-gallon glass jars (from commercial kitchen quantities of mayonaise, mustard, ketchup, relish…) filled with cured necks, elk and deer body fur, dyed deer tails, polar bear fur, calves tails, squirrel tails, peacock eyes, yarns, etc.  He had friends who hunted and fished and he would trade flies he tied for furs and feathers they got hunting.  Also, it used to get us kids upset because we could never pass a roadkill without Dad wanting to get out and cut the tail or something.  His collection has dwindled over the years but the idea of using glass bottles to see everything on the shelves is very appealing.  The closed jars keep out bugs and seal in the smell of all the cured flesh, fur and feathers. Dad kept his threads in wooden cigar boxes labeled by color.  He had a boxes for white, black, brown, and misc. colored threads. Each spool had its own bobbin that he hand made from old coat hangers (back when they were of sufficient guage to be worth anything).  He bought head cement in quart tins and poured it, a small amount at a time, to a baby food jar and applied it with a needle stuck eye-end-in to a small piece of wood.   His hackle pliers were made from a coat hanger as well.  He decided on the length of wire needed, flattened out the ends and bent it appropriately.  He then glued two small, thin pieces of rubber (from an old gasket he found) inside the gripping faces for the dual purpose of a better grip on large hackles and to be gentle on delicate hackles.  They worked like a charm. Except for his Universal vice, most of his tools were hand made. Flytying doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition.  A little imagination and craftsmanship is all that is needed.   These days he’s sometimes too slow to react to a rise but he’s still the best fly tier I know of.  I’d rather fish his flies than anyone else’s.   If you don’t lose them in the bushes or in the mouth of that big one you tried to force out of some fast water, you can fish the same fly all day.  Too many times I’ve had to switch flies because one I bought in a shop became unraveled in the mouth of the first trout to hit it. — Steve Hammond                            * ^ // * /     Scientific Computing Division             /* /  _][     National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO     ______

Response:

[Original orticle deleted] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -When I was growing up, my Dad had a room with bookshelves filled with 1-gallon glass jars (from commercial kitchen quantities of mayonaise, mustard, ketchup, relish…) filled with cured necks, elk and deer body fur, dyed deer tails, polar bear fur, calves tails, squirrel tails, peacock eyes, yarns, etc.  He had friends who hunted and fished and he would trade flies he tied for furs and feathers they got hunting.  Also, it used to get us kids upset because we could never pass a roadkill without Dad wanting to get out and cut the tail or something.  His collection has dwindled over the years but the idea of using glass bottles to see everything on the shelves is very appealing.  The closed jars keep out bugs and seal in the smell of all the cured flesh, fur and feathers. Dad kept his threads in wooden cigar boxes labeled by color.  He had a boxes for white, black, brown, and misc. colored threads. Each spool had its own bobbin that he hand made from old coat hangers (back when they were of sufficient guage to be worth anything).  He bought head cement in quart tins and poured it, a small amount at a time, to a baby food jar and applied it with a needle stuck eye-end-in to a small piece of wood.   His hackle pliers were made from a coat hanger as well.  He decided on the length of wire needed, flattened out the ends and bent it appropriately.  He then glued two small, thin pieces of rubber (from an old gasket he found) inside the gripping faces for the dual purpose of a better grip on large hackles and to be gentle on delicate hackles.  They worked like a charm. Except for his Universal vice, most of his tools were hand made. Flytying doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition.  A little imagination and craftsmanship is all that is needed.   These days he’s sometimes too slow to react to a rise but he’s still the best fly tier I know of.  I’d rather fish his flies than anyone else’s.   If you don’t lose them in the bushes or in the mouth of that big one you tried to force out of some fast water, you can fish the same fly all day.  Too many times I’ve had to switch flies because one I bought in a shop became unraveled in the mouth of the first trout to hit it.

Wonderful and wonderfully written rememberance of a classic fly tier! No fishing father could hope for better than this kind of education for and memory from his son.  Well said Steve! — Steve Hammond                            * ^ // * /     Scientific Computing Division                 /* /  _][     National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO     ______

Dr. James B. Comly (Jim)        Physicist, Artificial Intelligence 1 River Road                    Phone: (518)387-5920 Schenectady, NY 12301           Fax:   (518)387-6845

Response: