John, I am headin’ down to Graham County in the morn to do some recon. I plan to fish as well. I may camp over night, and will most certainly look for some campgrounds close to the streams!
There’s a real nice one on Santeetlah, Tom Brown has the map coordinates, and the junction on Snowbird is good too – the porta potties had been nicely ventilated by shotguns last time I was there. <g — Charlie…
My most sincere apologies Wolfgang. I figured since you would be ridin’ into Graham County with me that you would be able to find our campsite without too much trouble? However, I had forgotten that you would be trippin’ all over yourself in that strapless evening gown of Satan. Op
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – John, I am headin’ down to Graham County in the morn to do some recon. I plan to fish as well. I may camp over night, and will most certainly look for some campgrounds close to the streams! I will let you know as soon as I return. Sure, you just go ahead and tell John! I think maybe I’ll just sleep in the middle of the road or something……that’s o.k. 
Wolfgang cup…….
There’s a real nice one on Santeetlah, Tom Brown has the map coordinates, and the junction on Snowbird is good too – the porta potties had been nicely ventilated by shotguns last time I was there. <g — Charlie…
I’m glad to here that the *outhouse* has already been ventilated, as I have already given decent gun owners a bad name, and don’t want to have to unload a clip on a defenseless shithouse. These campsites that you speak of, these are the one where the RealMen stay, right? Wolfgang will be accompanying me and he is easily frightened by things that go bump in the night. Consequently, I may have to sew some straps on to his evening gown, trip hazard and all that ya know (he ain’t got no breastys to hold up the gown). BTW, folks might want to bring along some blaze orange, as huntin’ season is in full swing in that neck of the woods. Sure hope I don’t give them bow hunters a bad name, when I show up with my bows and arrow? Op
These campsites that you speak of, these are the one where the RealMen stay, right?
The one on Santeetlah is ‘primitive’ – no outhouses nearby. It is really nice though, basically a small clearing maybe 10 yards off the road next to the stream. It looked like it has been used as a hunting camp, so it may be occupied – but I think it was early October when Tom and I first spotted it and there was nobody there (or even in the vicinity) then. — Charlie…
I know this may sound a little weird but how about a float tube anchored just outside of the "thermal boundary" line in your photo? Can you float down from above the fish and anchor before the "Upstream access point (or that rock sticking up from the stream)? I know this is a secret place and I’m not asking the exact location but is this pool on the Westfield? It looks familiar. I lived in MA for most of my life and fished the Deerfield, Westfield (main and west branches), and Millers and Swift quite a bit but haven’t been to any in the last year (I moved to NJ last year and some of my favorite Penna streams are now closer). Bill
I know this may sound a little weird but how about a float tube anchored just outside of the "thermal boundary" line in your photo? Can you float down from above the fish and anchor before the "Upstream access point (or that rock sticking up from the stream)? I know this is a secret place and I’m not asking the exact location but is this pool on the Westfield? It looks familiar. I lived in MA for most of my life and fished the Deerfield, Westfield (main and west branches), and Millers and Swift quite a bit but haven’t been to any in the last year (I moved to NJ last year and some of my favorite Penna streams are now closer). Bill
My most sincere apologies Wolfgang. I figured since you would be ridin’ into Graham County with me that you would be able to find our campsite without too much trouble?
Huh? Oh. Yeah……I knew that! Tell me again about the rabbits! However, I had forgotten that you would be trippin’ all over yourself in that strapless evening gown of Satan.
Sure, YOU try wading in pumps some time! :( Wolfgang please don’t squeeze the charmeuse
My most sincere apologies Wolfgang. I figured since you would be ridin’ into Graham County with me that you would be able to find our campsite without too much trouble? Huh? Oh. Yeah……I knew that! Tell me again about the rabbits!
Rabbits? Well, they are really big critters with huge ears and long trunks. They are very afraid of mice also! However, I had forgotten that you would be trippin’ all over yourself in that strapless evening gown of Satan. Sure, YOU try wading in pumps some time! :(
Pumps! You sissy-boy. Pumps aren’t for RealMen. RealMen wade in high-heels. Studded of course. Op – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wolfgang please don’t squeeze the charmeuse
To summarize then: 1. Shallow water 2. Complex current 3. No easy presentation 4. Tough wading What is the mend/cast combination best suited to these fish? I would restrict this to dry fly/emerger fishing, i.e. the challenge is to get the best float. No nymphs or streamers. I have a marked up picture here of the actual spot from Spring this year: http://www.rockypond.com/image.jpg
This is probably the coolest question that’s been posted here in a long time! p.s. Sorry, can’t help you 
Streamers/woolly buggers are always worth a try in tough currents, since fish are used to seeing bigger things like that move under their own power against currents.
Here’s what I would do….. Now you said (facing downstream) that to the right is a soft muddy bottom? Well, tie on a cone head wooly bugger. Cast down stream to the right of the rock that is showing…just as far as you can….mend to put your line to the left of the rock. Let the current carry your line and as much backing as needed downstream. Hauling back on your line, the current will straighten your line out and swing the bugger over to the left along the brush side..You may wish to wait a minute or two..to rest the water a bit. Then you can fish, retrieving your line in small strips, bouncing that rascal right along the bottom. I like a bugger with a dark green and rust colored tail with a dash of flash, rust medium chenille wrapped three times to give it body, ribbed with black hackle. Tungsten cone head on a long shanked hook….imitates a crayfish/crawdad very nicely. john
a kayak. john
John, I am headin’ down to Graham County in the morn to do some recon. I plan to fish as well. I may camp over night, and will most certainly look for some campgrounds close to the streams! I will let you know as soon as I return. Op
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – a kayak. john
Actually not really a poser, but perhaps a request for opinions. This is a problem that has been bothering me for a while and I guess I need a distraction this evening. On this Massachussets stream, which some here might know, there is this particular pool.
Remainder snipped How about a float tube? — Bob Weinberger – La Grande, OR
I’ve fished water like this anchored from a raft, but you’ve excluded that option. So getting into the sticks is really the only way to go if wading is out. Bow and arrow roll casts into slow water work. Up to you to place enough line out so the drift is right. If fish cruise, spend 90% of your time watching and 10% (or even less) casting and with the fly on the water. Looking down the gob of 4lb+ fish that has just taken something at your feet is almost more fun than catching it. Looking at the photo, there’s a lot of scrub around, you might like to try the ’splat’ of a terrestrial – a beetle is more than likely to worl in that spot. BTW: You didn’t exclude traditional wets/spiders … 
Enjoy your secret spot, Steve
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Actually not really a poser, but perhaps a request for opinions. This is a problem that has been bothering me for a while and I guess I need a distraction this evening. On this Massachussets stream, which some here might know, there is this particular pool. This river warms up very quickly in late spring and summer and holds nice smallmouth bass. However, a secret, as far as I can tell as I am the only one I ever see fish there, is that there are huge browns and rainbows that holdover. The trout concentrate in one section of the river. This is due to a feeder stream that provides thermal relief. Moreover, the trout can be seen feeding sideways or perpendicular to the river’s *overall* direction of flow. To fish from below is difficult because the bottom is muddy and unsafe, leaving the angler with a straight upstream cast. From upstream the bottom is better but the water is deep for wading and there is not much of a back cast/steeple cast. Straight down-and-in is just about do-able, but in general this spooks the fish. Roll cast is possible but the water is a slackish back eddy i.e. mending is difficult. A canoe or something would do it, allowing a large mend upstream, but none of the river beyond here is floatable, so let’s leave that out, just for shits. I confess that I have caught these fish, but only at dusk and only when there was enough garbage in the substrate to keep the fish interested and more forgiving…. my best was a 24" rainbow which is amazing for a Mass stream. To summarize then: 1. Shallow water 2. Complex current 3. No easy presentation 4. Tough wading What is the mend/cast combination best suited to these fish? I would restrict this to dry fly/emerger fishing, i.e. the challenge is to get the best float. No nymphs or streamers. From what I gather from your picture, the current in this area is like a
whirlpool. These areas are hard to get a good drift through them no matter how you approach them. Given your scenerio, I would go with a straight upstream cast using a reach to place the flyline to the right and out of the current. You could even place or mend the flyline onto the bank leaving the leader and tippet in the "zone". Using a long tippet would help give you a reasonable drift. Like you found, reduced light and tinted water makes the whole things easier. There are areas like this all around the Country. I call them transition zones: places where the the water conditions are changing from a cold water river to a warm water one. These areas will hold the largest trout in the entire river system because of the increased fertility and warmer temps. There are usually fewer trout, sometimes very few, but they are often very large. In many places these areas are ignored because they don’t look like trout rivers. Willi
John, I am headin’ down to Graham County in the morn to do some recon. I plan to fish as well. I may camp over night, and will most certainly look for some campgrounds close to the streams! I will let you know as soon as I return.
Sure, you just go ahead and tell John! I think maybe I’ll just sleep in the middle of the road or something……that’s o.k. Wolfgang cup…….
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – To summarize then: 1. Shallow water 2. Complex current 3. No easy presentation 4. Tough wading What is the mend/cast combination best suited to these fish? I would restrict this to dry fly/emerger fishing, i.e. the challenge is to get the best float. No nymphs or streamers. I have a marked up picture here of the actual spot from Spring this year: http://www.rockypond.com/image.jpg
Interesting photo. Maybe try dapping with a REALLY long rod? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/
Actually not really a poser, but perhaps a request for opinions. This is a problem that has been bothering me for a while and I guess I need a distraction this evening. On this Massachussets stream, which some here might know, there is this particular pool. This river warms up very quickly in late spring and summer and holds nice smallmouth bass. However, a secret, as far as I can tell as I am the only one I ever see fish there, is that there are huge browns and rainbows that holdover. The trout concentrate in one section of the river. This is due to a feeder stream that provides thermal relief. Moreover, the trout can be seen feeding sideways or perpendicular to the river’s *overall* direction of flow. To fish from below is difficult because the bottom is muddy and unsafe, leaving the angler with a straight upstream cast. From upstream the bottom is better but the water is deep for wading and there is not much of a back cast/steeple cast. Straight down-and-in is just about do-able, but in general this spooks the fish. Roll cast is possible but the water is a slackish back eddy i.e. mending is difficult. A canoe or something would do it, allowing a large mend upstream, but none of the river beyond here is floatable, so let’s leave that out, just for shits. I confess that I have caught these fish, but only at dusk and only when there was enough garbage in the substrate to keep the fish interested and more forgiving…. my best was a 24" rainbow which is amazing for a Mass stream. To summarize then: 1. Shallow water 2. Complex current 3. No easy presentation 4. Tough wading What is the mend/cast combination best suited to these fish? I would restrict this to dry fly/emerger fishing, i.e. the challenge is to get the best float. No nymphs or streamers. I have a marked up picture here of the actual spot from Spring this year: http://www.rockypond.com/image.jpg — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)
Great idea rw, except think of the following scene; – Attractive divorcee in slinky outfit with a cocktail at the Captain Cook Hotel to young rich good looking FF guy; – " Hey, it’s the last night of our trip and we got on so well together, I thought we could have dinner and get to know each other a little better". -Rich good looking FF guy; – "Gee, I’d sure like to do that, but maybe some othertime, leave your home number for me at reception, I’ve got to respool my Abel and get some flies ready, you know it’s high tide in 30 minutes – my last chance to get a really *big* bone!"
Well, SHE wants a big bone, too. If he’s not up to the task, too bad. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)
rw writes: If I were looking for a woman, which I’m not, I’d take dance classes.
Tap or ballet? <g Dave L.
Have you mentioned to her the Ennis Montana destination. Say around July 21st to the 31st? Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I advised her to book vacations at elite destination fishing resorts in Alaska, the Carribean, Christmas Island, Chile, and so on. I assured her that she’d have men (single and otherwise) falling all over her, <snip
… If I were looking for a woman, which I’m not, I’d take dance classes.
One of the world’s foremost experts in this field, our own Indian Joe, recommends the produce section of the grocery store as the best place to meet women. — Ken Fortenberry
<snipped some … Hey, by the end of our conversation I had her interested in bonefish!
and i thought vern had the january "asadi award" wrapped up… jeff
Well, SHE wants a big bone, too. If he’s not up to the task, too bad.
Hmmmm… Y’know I love this sport and all but that’s would not be too difficult a choice (panting). The fish will always be there but when her particular tide turns then it may never come back… I don’t thinks there’s a one here who would argue that fact… "MEN will do ANYTHING for sex (well withing reason)." I got that from a comedy routine… I dunno the actual commedian… — Michael Era
Hello, Chat with expert author Peter Kaminsky and learn the techniques you’ll need to know to land yourself a whopper! Whether you’re a novice or a veteran angler, "Fly Fishing For Dummies" offers sage advice for choosing the right kind of gear, finding out how and where to catch freshwater and saltwater fish, practicing the art of tying flies, and more. <http://www.dummies.com/community/chat/ Chat Channel: #dummies Chat Server: chat.talkcity.com Hope to see you there! Courtesy of the IDG Books Author Chat Series
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, Chat with expert author Peter Kaminsky and learn the techniques you’ll need to know to land yourself a whopper! Whether you’re a novice or a veteran angler, "Fly Fishing For Dummies" offers sage advice for choosing the right kind of gear, finding out how and where to catch freshwater and saltwater fish, practicing the art of tying flies, and more. <http://www.dummies.com/community/chat/ Chat Channel: #dummies Chat Server: chat.talkcity.com Hope to see you there! Courtesy of the IDG Books Author Chat Series
From the looks of many posts on this site, looks like you came to the right place. We make the insane ward look perfectly normal. Al Marlowe
I surf a lot of newsgroups because of varied interests: computers, boats, backpacking, motorcycles, science, and fishing. By far this NG has been the most enjoyable and informative. Flyfishers are definitely a unique group. Good fishing to all of you.
I surf a lot of newsgroups because of varied interests: computers, boats, backpacking, motorcycles, science, and fishing. By far this NG has been the most enjoyable and informative. Flyfishers are definitely a unique group. Good fishing to all of you.
I guess that just shows that it isn’t necessarily the topic that determines the quality of a newsgroup (though there are obvious exceptions) but the people that contribute to it. This group has more then it’s share of quality contributors. John Fereira Stop Unsolicited Commercial Email – Join CAUCE (http://www.cauce.org) Support HR 1748, the anti-spam bill.
I surf a lot of newsgroups because of varied interests: computers, boats, backpacking, motorcycles, science, and fishing. By far this NG has been the most enjoyable and informative. Flyfishers are definitely a unique group. Good fishing to all of you. Stick around – You might even learn to like fly fishing! Jon Porter
Jim Shearer writes: I am new to your news group and am enjoying a great deal. A lsot of info. so I will continue to be present. A little about myself: I have been tying flies for 46 years and have gone semi-commercial,planning on going commercial 100 % sometime in after I retire in July of 98. I losve going and tying for new flyfishers a conclaves and am always interested in new flies and materials. If you think you can learn all of this sport in 46 years FORGET IT. I hope to have a long and enjoyful career of fly fishing and tying for many years to come. Thanks for the group. Jim Shearer The Goofus Bug 6302 W 11 th Ct. kennewick,WA 99338 If no one has tried it and has time to read 100 plus messages a day try : We enjoy fly swaps and a lot of info.. So much info. per day I have to shut down the list from time to time to get time to tie flies. Enjoy.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Makunke writes: I have not heard any good reports about the types of wading staff that either fold or telescope. Does anyone have any good experiences with these types of wading staff? Kirk,’Fraid not. The problem is folding or telescoping back up after you’re done using the thing Kirk, another problem with Folstaff is storage. Should you keep it in your car year-round, unassembled, the bungee has a tendency to take a set, preventing future secure setup. A Folstaff, which relies upon friction, really locks up.
I have been happy with my Folstaff for the 10 years I’ve used it. I do not lubricate the joints as my expereince is they can vibrate loose in heavy currents. I tap them lightly with a rock when I need to fold it down. Perhaps inconvenient for some but it works fine for me. Ralph H replace "spamsucks" with direct for email reply.
I made a simple one for my wife. It was wood, about a meter and a half long with a rubber foot from a cane on the top end. She likes to lean on the end. The other end was fitted with a 1/2 inch copper coupling and cross pinned through the wood and copper with a brass rod to hold the coupling out by a couple of centimeters. The copper tube cut through moss and algae for a better purchase on slippery rocks. A loop of nylon with a stainless clip finished it off.
I have not heard any good reports about the types of wading staff that either fold or telescope. Does anyone have any good experiences with these types of wading staff? I have been happy with my Folstaff for the 10 years I’ve used it. I do not lubricate the joints as my expereince is they can vibrate loose in heavy currents. I tap them lightly with a rock when I need to fold it down. Perhaps inconvenient for some but it works fine for me. Ralph H
The folstaff flexes a little and didn’t feel as secure as an adjustable length carbide tipped cross-country ski pole. The basket is removeable. I set the height to just at the top of my waders so if my hand gets wet I know not to take that step. It reduces down short enough to fit in my fat multi-rod travel tube. Mark Vinsel — new web address: http://www.vinsel.com
I’ve taken to using a Folstaff and find it adequate if unaesthetic, although it’s certainly portable. Just keep the joints greased with a candle butt or you’ll never separate them. —
Greetings: I’m on my second Folstaff now. I like the larger version; the small one is a little too wosy to inspire my confidence in this contraption. When the joints get wet and hard to separate, I find that tapping….er,…OK, _whacking_ the thing on a dead tree trunk, (or fellow fly fisher who is catching more fish than you), will loosen up the joints if you kind of twist them off. (On the Folstaff, I mean…) :-) Cheers, and tight lines, -Mark
I find it a nuisance to carry a full length staff while hiking along a river/stream. I have not heard any good reports about the types of wading staff that either fold or telescope. Does anyone have any good experiences with these types of wading staff? Thanks, Kirk
Kirk, I bought the Orvis one since I didn
A news item in Seattle this week — Whirling Disease has come to Washington waters. The Grand Ronde River in the southeast corner of the state has been found to contain infected fish.
A news item in Seattle this week — Whirling Disease has come to Washington waters. The Grand Ronde River in the southeast corner of the state has been found to contain infected fish.
Hi This is certainly bad news. Unfortunately this disease will probably take a lot longer to get rid of than it took to get it; if ever. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 catalog) http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html
A news item in Seattle this week — Whirling Disease has come to Washington waters. The Grand Ronde River in the southeast corner of the state has been found to contain infected fish.
Does anyone know of any studies on the effects of WD on steelhead. I fear the worst, but I would be interested in any facts anyone may have? Lyman Lyman G. Hughes Dallas, TX Ennis, MT
I was very interested in this message, given any potential of this awful discease coming to Canada.
Several years ago–when the news about whirling disease first hit the Montana newstands, I remember feeling angry, and somewhat depressed… "here we go again," I thought: hominid over-popuation-polution run amok. suggested that the low rainbow numbers in Montana’s Madison river were more due to poor fish & game regulations than whirling disease. medicago was particularly critical of Dick Vincent, who is a local fish and game hero, for pioneering our "manage for wild trout" policy. medicago ventured the real reason for such low rainbow numbers was over-fishing and redd trompling during the spawing months in March and April. He also predicted that other river systems–that experience less intense fishing pressure than the Madison–would exhibit more resilient rainbow populations. I thought he was a fool. The jury is still out. But perhaps I (we) were the fools after all. Whirling disease has been found in many drainages in Montana now, and as far as I know, only the Madison has suffered such a catastrphic population loss. Perhaps the combination of over-fishing AND whirling disease is just too much for the rainbows to handle. Perhaps we all need to fish a little bit less. I’m not taking sides here, just raising a few questions….. —
A news item in Seattle this week — Whirling Disease has come to Washington waters. The Grand Ronde River in the southeast corner of the state has been found to contain infected fish.
I was very interested in this message, given any potential of this awful discease coming to Canada. Should anyone be aware of any accounts of this that can be substantiated (or along the border)I would like to know. Hopefully there will be no messages! Tight Lines Don Stokes Outdoor Columnist in Kingston Ont. area of CANADA
A news item in Seattle this week — Whirling Disease has come to Washington waters. The Grand Ronde River in the southeast corner of the state has been found to contain infected fish. This news really makes me sad. Beautiful country and absolutely
wonderful river – my favorite in eastern Washington. George is probably just as ticked, seeing as how this section of the G.R. is just a hop, skip and a jump from Asotin. Brett
I was very interested in this message, given any potential of this awful discease coming to Canada. Several years ago–when the news about whirling disease first hit the Montana newstands, I remember feeling angry, and somewhat depressed… "here we go again," I thought: hominid over-popuation-polution run amok.
Text Deleted… The jury is still out. But perhaps I (we) were the fools after all. Whirling disease has been found in many drainages in Montana now, and as far as I know, only the Madison has suffered such a catastrphic population loss. Perhaps the combination of over-fishing AND whirling disease is just too much for the rainbows to handle. Perhaps we all need to fish a little bit less. I’m not taking sides here, just raising a few questions….. —
In California we have had WD for decades. The Truckee River was where it was first noticed, over 40 years ago. If you go to that river you will see a lot of trout – rainbows and browns. One of my favorite places to fish in the Sierra mtns. has had WD for 18 years. It’s got a lot of trout. WD is a serious disease, and I hope the people involved continue to work towards a cure, but WD is not the end of fishing for trout. It’s not the doomsday disease some people make it out to be. Perhaps there are less trout than there would be without WD, but I still have fun and catch fish in WD positive waters. Darryl Hayashida
A news item in Seattle this week — Whirling Disease has come to Washington waters. The Grand Ronde River in Does anyone know of any studies on the effects of WD on steelhead. I fear the worst, but I would be interested in any facts anyone may
Hmmm, I was just wondering the same thing. The Grand Ronde has always had such a neat looking strain of steelhead, it would be sad to see them wiped out. -Burton
I fished at Lee’s Ferry last year in early May and it was pretty fun. All the action was under the water (Wooly Buggers worked for me). I fished with a Bill McBurney (local guide) and had a good day. The scenary is beautiful and quite unique. The movie Broken Arrow was filmed in and around Marble Canyon fyi.–Kevin
I’m planning a golf vacation in Scottsdale, Arizona in late March / early April and I wanted to take a few days and drive up near the Grand Canyon to do some fly fishing. I understand that Lee’s Ferry is a great river and that it’s only 4-5 hours from Scottsdale. Check out Dave Foster’s Lee’s Ferry report on the Arizona Fishing Page on the Net. email me if you can’t find it and I’ll send you the url. Dave’s
www.primenet.com/anglers/ . Unfortunately your timing to the area couldn’t be worse as there is a spike flow scheduled for a week or so starting the last week of March. Will likely be unfishable during this time. Sorry. The above mentioned web site gives more info on this. Joel McMillin
I’m planning a golf vacation in Scottsdale, Arizona in late March / early April and I wanted to take a few days and drive up near the Grand Canyon to do some fly fishing. I understand that Lee’s Ferry is a great river and that it’s only 4-5 hours from Scottsdale. How’s the river been fishing? Do you recommend a guide to get acquainted? What would expect the weather to be like? Are they accomodations, food, etc.. Also, are there fly shops with flies and other necessary gear? What’s the easiest way to get there? I assume just by driving straight north of Scottsdale by car. Thank you very much.
I’m planning a golf vacation in Scottsdale, Arizona in late March / early April and I wanted to take a few days and drive up near the Grand Canyon to do some fly fishing. I understand that Lee’s Ferry is a great river and that it’s only 4-5 hours from Scottsdale. How’s the river been fishing? Do you recommend a guide to get acquainted? What would expect the weather to be like? Are they accomodations, food, etc.. Also, are there fly shops with flies and other necessary gear? What’s the easiest way to get there? I assume just by driving straight north of Scottsdale by car.
Check out Dave Foster’s Lee’s Ferry report on the Arizona Fishing Page on the Net. email me if you can’t find it and I’ll send you the url. Dave’s chance to catch 10-20 16-20" fish in a day. Unfortunately there is only a small section of the river that can be fished without a boat, the boat being needed to get up stream to wade the gravel bars where most of the good fishing occurs. There are 2 good lodges with decent restaurants at very reasonable rates, Lee’s Ferry Lodge and Marble Canyon Lodge. There is a good fly shop at Lee’s Ferry Lodge. Good luck.
ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR A GOOD GUIDE FOR BONEFISH IN THE KEYS AROUND THE MARATHON AREA?? THANKS
Give a call to Capt. Geoff Colmes at 305-853-0741 or 305 451-8911. This guy works hard and will get you onto fish. Good luck! Clay
I’d suggest Captain Craig Brewer in Islamarado. I fished with him a couple of times for bones and tarpon. Excellent guide who really goes the extra mile to put you on the fish. Don’t have Craig’s number handy but I’m sure he’s listed. If you speak to him, please say hello from me and my fishing buddy Reed Guice. David Sheffield Los Angeles
Captain Craig Brewer is a very capable guide but a jerk. If you are not an accomplished caster, try someone else. He yelled at my 72-year-old father, a fly fisherman for 50 years, for casting to 1:00 rather than 2:00 .Brewer ruined our outing.
I would suggest u call Sandy Moret at Florida Keys Fly Fishing School in Islamorada. He can put u on a good guide. Tell him your experience level and type fish you want to try.. If this is ur first time in the salt I would suggest that u tell him u want to wade fish. Believe me it is much easier than fishing from a skiff the first time or two. U are not dependent on the guide getting the boat into a position for you. Also u are not going to be able to cast as far as u would like on the first trip. Above all practice ur double haul and practice in the wind. Good luck. Jack Schmitt Cumberland Transit Flyfishing Nashville, Tenn. A 30 Year veteran of the salt.
Captain Craig Brewer is a very capable guide but a jerk. If you are not an accomplished caster, try someone else. He yelled at my 72-year-old father, a fly fisherman for 50 years, for casting to 1:00 rather than 2:00 .Brewer ruined our outing.
With so many good guides in the Keys, there is just no good reason to fish with a horses ass. Try Bill Massey out of Islamorada. I fished with him the day before that hurricane hit Fla. in early June. He put me on several tarpon, but we couldn’t connect. When it became clear we couldn’t fish any of his best spots because of the high waves, wind and rain, he suggested that the best bet might be to face reality and call it a day after 3 hours. We settled on a reasonable fee. I appreciated not having a guide drive me around on a boat or have me cast to barren water all day just to make a buck.
Good words aboout Massey…he knows you’ll come back.. And he does put you on fish..Don’t anyone tell him this is on here….don’t want his head to swell
To All: I have an oppoutunity to go fly fishinh in Venezuela this coming spring. Would appreciate any information. I can’t seem to find anyone who has ever been there fishing.
Mason) writes: I have an oppoutunity to go fly fishinh in Venezuela this coming spring. Would appreciate any information. I can’t seem to find anyone who has ever been there fishing.
Where are you going in Venezuela? There’s everything from big-game saltwater to the Amazon basin to trout, but you must have some sort of destination in mind. If you’ll post your intentions I’ll try to give you some specific answers. I’ve fished all over Venezuela (even met my wife in the jungle there). Marshall Cutchin
I just got back from a two week vacation to the Bighorn & the Henry’s Fork. The fishing was great! The Bighorn: Running at twice the volume that I’ve ever fished it before. My objective was to put my girls into large rainbows and browns. With the high water there places for them to wade on the right side looking downstream were extremely difficult. BTW the volume flow was 6500 cfs. I took the girls out with Frank Johnson from the Bighorn Trout Shop the first day. The girls both caught Brown’s to 18 inches. The long line releases ran about 5:1, but they did great under difficult conditions. The nice gravel bars I expected them to be able to put them on were either four feet under water or completely washed out. Many of my favorite dry fly areas (side channels and backwaters were completely washed out, never to be seen again). Lets hear it for the DWR. Frank feels that in ten to twenty years of the current mismanagement the bighorn will be a nice smooth irrigation ditch with no character. The next two days I took the oars and really enjoyed myself. My twelve year old took a twenty-one inch rainbow male on the second day. The fishing was good but not what I really like (too much lead). Henry’s Fork (July 3 thru July 9): The weather turned cold and wet. Sleet, hail and snow at higher elevations. The only warm weather was on Thursday my last day. July 3: Fished the Fire Hole in wet cold weather. Lots of PMD’s comming off, but not profusely. Lot’s of small fish raising all over on the PMD’s. A few big fish were porposing regularily. Looking closer I noticed Baetis were hatching and the big guys were keyed into the size 18 & 20’s. I fished downstream with dry baetis emerger and had a ball with fish to 16 inches. Everyone else in my area was using the larger PMD’s and catching dinks. The rest of the trip I fished the Fork, concentrating on the Ranch. Great hatches and great dry fly fishing. At on point below the Osborn bridge there were five insect hatches in progress (micro caddis, evening caddis – size 18, large Caddis with speckled wings, PMD’s and Flav’s). The fish keyed into different hatches as the light conditions changed. I’ll get on my soap box for a second. The Fork is still a mighty sick river. Lot’s of silt and Brown Drakes in the Millionaires Pool area where I remember only gravel. Also a lot of the fish in the river a lake fish from the Res. that was drained last year. You know immediately when you have a river fish, they jump 3 or 4 times and take you into your backing immediately. The trout from the lake are much less robust. The increase in trout numbers is great for the outfitters, but I miss the quality. I missed having my clock cleaned by big trout on the Ranch, ripping line and rubbing me off in a weed bed. The trout have to win sometimes to make it interesting. My only regret was that I had to leave without a spinner fall. It was just too cold in the evenings, except for last Thursday. I spent a beautiful evening on the ranch waiting for spinners and had to settle for a Brown Drake hatch. The big trout were up for about thirty minutes before the White fish moved in and the trout were gone. It’s always fun to spend the evening in Church (The Ranch)! If you want some great guides for the Ranch I’d recommend Mate (The last name escapes me, if I ever knew it), who guides for Mike Lawson’s Henry’s Fork Anglers at last chance.
I forgot to mention that the area from the end of the Box to the Ranch was fishing great on drys (Caddis, PMD’s and Flav.’s). Fish to raisers, don’t just cover water.