Question:

In San Francisco, some years back, a woman was arrested because she had a live hand grenade in her purse. There was a fishing line leading from her belt to the pin, so that if someone snatched her purse, it would shortly explode, killing the purse snatcher. While I do not feel too bad about the purse snatcher, as the police pointed out, there might be considerable carnage among innocent bystanders. I don’t remember what the legal outcome of the case was, probably an "illegal possession" charge. Boyd — "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." (Ellen Parr- author) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just to support an earlier statement… see men leave the privates alone…… Mike A Purse-Snatcher’s Worse Nightmare? ROME (Reuters) – Being caught and surrounded by an entire rugby team may just be one of a purse-snatcher’s worst nightmares. And yet, it happened for real to a man who snatched a woman’s purse in the northern Italian city of Bologna. The snatching happened close to a hotel where Serie A teams Benetton Treviso and Fly Flot Cavisano were about to hold a news conference. The pickpocket was spotted by two Benetton team members who ran after him, Italy’s Rugby Federation said in a statement. The two — Andrea Gritti and Massimiliano Perziano — are both full internationals. Lock forward Gritti is two meters tall and weighs an imposing 107 kg while winger Perziano is one of the quickest players in the country. The purse-snatcher, followed by the two players, sought refuge in a kindergarten, which was quickly surrounded by the whole Benetton team. The man was arrested a few minutes later by police. Benetton Treviso and Fly Flot Cavisano are due to play the decisive game for the Serie A championship title on Saturday. All opinions expressed are mine unless otherwise noted. Copyright

Question:

If I were the judge I’ld dismiss the first three and sentence you to tying two dozen EHK dry flies and one years probation on 4, 5 and 6. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Gentlemen, It has been brought to my attention that I may have commited numerous and severe crimes against the sport of fly fishing during my attendance at the Maine Clave. In my current state of poor health I have little recollection of the events of last week (although I hope in due time that my memory will unfade) so I cannot confirm nor deny these allegations. However, it seems that I have been charged with using the following: (1) a plastic fly rod (2) a disc drag fly reel (3) a landing net (4) one–sometimes even two–foam strike indicators (5) one–sometimes even two–splitshot (6) one–sometimes even two–nymphs, beadhead no less As I have no memory of these heinous alleged indescretions, I plan to plead an "I-have-no-recollection-of-that-incident-your-honor" defense. However, just because that line of defense has worked wonderfully for U.S. Presidents past and present does give me confidence. Therefore, gentlemen, I ask you to please, *please* stand up in my defense and deny these ugly charges. yr obt svt –Steve

Response:

Gentlemen, It has been brought to my attention that I may have commited numerous and severe crimes against the sport of fly fishing during my attendance at the Maine Clave.

        let’s just say the dynamite cap incident will remain "our little secret"… wayno

Response:

I wasn’t even there and want to go on record as stating you’re likely guilty as hell.  I want a special procecutor appointed!  Reno?! — Wayne To fish is human….To release Divine! Before you buy.

Response:

Steve Zimmerman writes: (1) a plastic fly rod (2) a disc drag fly reel (3) a landing net (4) one–sometimes even two–foam strike indicators (5) one–sometimes even two–splitshot (6) one–sometimes even two–nymphs, beadhead no less

 (1) I saw a wooden fly rod and a graphite one also.  No plastic. (2)  Drag reels are fine. (3)  Landing nets are fine as long as it has the net like you used.  The nylon rope ones you see in Wally World suck. (4)  Nothing wrong with using a strike indicator. (5)  Try to keep it to one split shot.  It works better. (6)  If you know what nymph to use, you don’t need two.  I told you what nymph to use.  Case closed!  <g Dave

Response:

Paul Goodwin writes: If I were the judge I’ld dismiss the first three and sentence you to tying two dozen EHK dry flies and one years probation on 4, 5 and 6.

ROFLMAO.  I seem to remember you with two of those sticky foam strike indicators, a giant grasshopper (also a strike indicator), and two of the biggest and uggliest weighted nymphs I’ve ever seen. <g Dave LaCourse

Response:

I tried nymphing but I didn’t inhale.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Paul Goodwin writes: If I were the judge I’ld dismiss the first three and sentence you to tying two dozen EHK dry flies and one years probation on 4, 5 and 6. ROFLMAO.  I seem to remember you with two of those sticky foam strike indicators, a giant grasshopper (also a strike indicator), and two of the biggest and uggliest weighted nymphs I’ve ever seen. <g Dave LaCourse

Response:

I tried nymphing but I didn’t inhale.

neither did any of the fish.  :) Peter

Response:

[allegations snipped] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(1) a plastic fly rod (2) a disc drag fly reel (3) a landing net (4) one–sometimes even two–foam strike indicators (5) one–sometimes even two–splitshot (6) one–sometimes even two–nymphs, beadhead no less Therefore, gentlemen, I ask you to please, *please* stand up in my defense and deny these ugly charges. yr obt svt –Steve

I am willing to stand as a character reference for you however you should be warned that should you ever travel to Canada, this list of charges will no doubt result in you being assigned to the "dangerous offender" category and the sentence will probably be life – nymphing first current for suckers. (ask Louie for help – he’s good at it.) Peter

Response:

Peter Charles: I am willing to stand as a character reference for you however you should be warned that should you ever travel to Canada, this list of charges will no doubt result in you being assigned to the "dangerous offender" category and the sentence will probably be life – nymphing first current for suckers. (ask Louie for help – he’s good at it.) Peter

LOL.  That is the first one I have caught in any of the currents.  They are quite prevalent in wing dam pool.  They must move down the currents preparing to go into pondy for the winter. Louie

Response:

Gentlemen, It has been brought to my attention that I may have commited numerous and severe crimes against the sport of fly fishing during my attendance at the Maine Clave. In my current state of poor health I have little recollection of the events of last week (although I hope in due time that my memory will unfade) so I cannot confirm nor deny these allegations. However, it seems that I have been charged with using the following: (1) a plastic fly rod (2) a disc drag fly reel (3) a landing net (4) one–sometimes even two–foam strike indicators (5) one–sometimes even two–splitshot (6) one–sometimes even two–nymphs, beadhead no less As I have no memory of these heinous alleged indescretions, I plan to plead an "I-have-no-recollection-of-that-incident-your-honor" defense. However, just because that line of defense has worked wonderfully for U.S. Presidents past and present does give me confidence. Therefore, gentlemen, I ask you to please, *please* stand up in my defense and deny these ugly charges. yr obt svt –Steve

Response:

Question:

0] : Vision is very important in flyfishing. : …. : I wear "progressive" bifocals for everyday getting around, but at 8", my : knot-tying distance, I can see best with no glasses at all. That’s why I : find it most convenvient to wear single-prescription (not bifocal) : glasses for fishing. They’re securely fastened around my head with a : strap. I just drop them to my chest to tie knots or extract hooks from fish. : I wear contact lenses for one and only one activity — playing tennis. : They’re just perfect for that, but they’d be awful for fishing. I can’t : see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair : of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact : lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading : glasses. Why bother? : — rw to be ornery, I’ll disagree with you. I wear contacts for about -4 diopter nearsightedness and am in my 50’s, so I have about the same problem as you. I prefer the hard contacts because they pretty much take out some considerable astigmatism I would otherwise have. My solution is to use your items (2) and (3) combined in one package which is sold as "Fisherman’s Bifocals"–polarized window glass on top and clear +3 diopter magnifiers in the bottom. Which brings up a point, that for knot tying, hook threading etc., what’s needed is considerably more magnification than is wanted for comfortable reading, in my case about +2. Mike — Michael McGuire                     Hewlett Packard Laboratories  (remove x’s from email if not      Palo Alto, CA 94303-0971   a spammer) Phone: (650)-857-5491              

Response:

I wear contact lenses for one and only one activity — playing tennis. They’re just perfect for that, but they’d be awful for fishing. I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother?

        hell fire, i am in complete accord.  before i’d go through all that song and dance just to tie on an adams, i’d just go back to the cabin, drink about half a fifth of absolut, and forget about the fishin. wayno

Response:

Tripper: Exactly my situation.  I just ordered my first pair of bifocals last week, but ordered my new polarized sunglasses in single vision.  I have a flip focal on my hat that works great for knot tying.  Before I got it I was always having to take off my lenses to tie knots and last season I had to clean the bottom-of-the-canoe gunk from them a few times (fortunately never dropped them in a stream yet). I don’t bother flipping the flip-focals though – I find they are too distracting to have on a brim in the flipped-up state, and since I use a wide brimmed hat, not a baseball type hat, I just have them pinned on the back brim and rotate the whole hat when I need the magnifiers. I get a lot of curious looks from people who wonder why I have lenses on the back of my hat. –Stan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill.

Response:

My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk.

With my prescription, the lenses would be an inch thick at the edges of ‘wide-field’ glasses. — Charlie…

Response:

aw heck, you fellas with bad eyesight obviously haven’t heard of the pj prescription. pj’s eyesight for tying a knot is abysmal, or so he claims…so, whoever happens to be "lucky" enough to fish with him is conscripted to tie on his flies.  I’ve witnessed Peter Charles submit to the pj selective service on Snowbird Creek, even tied on a dropper as i recall…ain’t no more powerful prescription out there. jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother? That’s basically what I use and, to me, it’s worth the bother just for the additional peripheral vision. I can read ‘normal’ sized print without reading glasses, but that’s right at my limit. I’ve been wearing glasses since third grade (44 years) and I plain do *not* like bifocals, especially for climbing over/under things and wading. I guess it’s just a matter of what you consider the bother is; to me distorted peripheral vision is more of a bother than an extra pair of glasses. Well, here’s a third take. I’ve been nearsighted enough to need glasses to drive since high school. And now that I’m almost half as old as Louie ;^) I’m starting to have trouble threading flies (I can read books without trouble – just can’t find the damned eye with the tippet without a struggle). And I won’t risk my eyes to any potential  injury/infection/whatever by using contact lenses. My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk. /daytripper

Response:

My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk.

        plus, having spent a full day with you on hazel creek,  i can testify that they do a helluva job as a stand-in for a groucho disguise. wayno

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, here’s a third take. I’ve been nearsighted enough to need glasses to drive since high school. And now that I’m almost half as old as Louie ;^) I’m starting to have trouble threading flies (I can read books without trouble – just can’t find the damned eye with the tippet without a struggle). And I won’t risk my eyes to any potential  injury/infection/whatever by using contact lenses. My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk. /daytripper

Yep.  That’s exactly what I use.  Sometimes, I interpose Orvis sunglasses with the built-in magnifiers but contacts I will never use. All of my hats have a flip down magnifier attached. Tom — Tom Brown The Signal Group Wake Forest, NC HEATHEN, n. A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel.                – Ambrose Bierce: The Devil’s Dictionary

Response:

My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk.    plus, having spent a full day with you on hazel creek,  i can testify that they do a helluva job as a stand-in for a groucho disguise.

Hell, with my beak, ’stache, and dark eyebrows,  I *am* Groucho! /daytripper ("Say the secret word and I’ll kick your Roe-Ann County arse!" ;^)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother? That’s basically what I use and, to me, it’s worth the bother just for the additional peripheral vision. I can read ‘normal’ sized print without reading glasses, but that’s right at my limit. I’ve been wearing glasses since third grade (44 years) and I plain do *not* like bifocals, especially for climbing over/under things and wading. I guess it’s just a matter of what you consider the bother is; to me distorted peripheral vision is more of a bother than an extra pair of glasses.

Well, here’s a third take. I’ve been nearsighted enough to need glasses to drive since high school. And now that I’m almost half as old as Louie ;^) I’m starting to have trouble threading flies (I can read books without trouble – just can’t find the damned eye with the tippet without a struggle). And I won’t risk my eyes to any potential  injury/infection/whatever by using contact lenses. My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk. /daytripper

Response:

I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother?

That’s basically what I use and, to me, it’s worth the bother just for the additional peripheral vision. I can read ‘normal’ sized print without reading glasses, but that’s right at my limit. I’ve been wearing glasses since third grade (44 years) and I plain do *not* like bifocals, especially for climbing over/under things and wading. I guess it’s just a matter of what you consider the bother is; to me distorted peripheral vision is more of a bother than an extra pair of glasses. — Charlie…

Response:

Vision is very important in flyfishing. The flyfisherman not only has to see tiny flies far away in sometimes turbulent water against the glare of the sun, but he has to thread spiderweb-like tippets through the eyes of those tiny flies, and then tie intricate knots. It’s pretty hard for people with impaired vision to cope with the demands of flyfishing, especially as we get older. People who are nearsighted can’t see things far away; people who are farsighted can’t see things close up. If you’re nearsighted you need a negative correction; if you’re far sighted you need a positive correction. Nearsightedness often starts at an early age (4th grade for me), but nearly everyone becomes farsighted with advancing age, as the lenses loses flexibility and the means to change focal length, so nearsighted people eventually need bifocals. I wear "progressive" bifocals for everyday getting around, but at 8", my knot-tying distance, I can see best with no glasses at all. That’s why I find it most convenvient to wear single-prescription (not bifocal) glasses for fishing. They’re securely fastened around my head with a strap. I just drop them to my chest to tie knots or extract hooks from fish. I wear contact lenses for one and only one activity — playing tennis. They’re just perfect for that, but they’d be awful for fishing. I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Question:

I would also ask you and the others that would read this thread (because I know that the hard core guys will read it)  what is the one casting hint to give a flyfisherman. (I.E. in golf "Keep your damn head down")

"Aim for the water"

Response:

Water Who said anything about water damnit!!!!  You guys never sid anything about that.  Does this mean i have to start all over again.  Water!!!!!! That stuff is wet and can be cold!

Response:

Mike, You da man

My pleasure sir, glad you enjoyed it. The single most effective tip I could give anybody that would actually be of any use, is  "Do not break your wrist".  This is probably the single most widespread cause of casting faults generally. However, as you so politely requested, and praise, even when wildly exaggerated, ( you could have left Homer out ! ), inspires me to almost superhuman efforts, here goes: When learning how to cast a fly, you will soon cast with grace and pride, if you keep your wrist stiff, and your elbow tucked tight to your side, the muscles in your shoulder should do all the necessary work, keep your movements smooth and gentle, don’t overpower or jerk. Don’t wave your arm about, just move your forearm normally straight up and down, to start your cast, your line keep tight, and your rod level with the ground your casting hand should never go above your  shoulder height Your back cast should be straight behind, a small loop high and tight. The forward cast is just the same, a smooth and gentle easy throw, and the rod tip should not deviate from its path, and the line not drop below, the arc the tip describes, until at last you flick and  gently follow through practise this quite simple cast at first, until it

Question:

Is there any spey rod manufacturer? Most manufacturer call them two handed rods, but they don’t respond to true speycasting, they are too stiff. Are there any soft action two handed rods out there? Does ST.CRIOX make a spey or two handed rod? Remove the * in the e-mail address, this is for SPAM.

Response:

  Is there any spey rod manufacturer? Most manufacturer call them two   handed rods, but they don’t respond to true speycasting, they are too   stiff.

How do you know this?  Have you tried any of these rods to which you refer.  I fish with a friend of mine who uses a sage 1015-3 (a very stiff rod) and he can spey cast like mad – and he can throw sink tips on the end of a double taper with ease.  I think it is a myth to say that you can’t spey cast with a stiffer rod – it’s just not how they used to do it on the river spey because they didn’t have materials to make stiff rods.  Are there any soft action two handed rods out   there? Does ST.CRIOX make a spey or two handed rod?

Yes.  Try the Sage 9140-4.  It is a soft rod, and the rod that I happen to use (and love).  St. Croix makes a pretty nice rod though it seems quite heavy to me – it is reasonably priced though. From your questions, it sounds like you need to get down to a decent shop and put your hands on some rods.  All the talk in the world on this group isn’t going to help. Once again: GO to a decent shop and try some out.  If you live in the Seattle, WA area, I can recommend some places. -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html NOTICE: DO NOT ADD MY NAME TO _ANY_ MAILING LISTS.  

Response:

Is there any spey rod manufacturer? Most manufacturer call them two handed rods, but they don’t respond to true speycasting, they are too stiff. Are there any soft action two handed rods out there? Does ST.CRIOX make a spey or two handed rod? Remove the * in the e-mail address, this is for SPAM.

try Winston Rods at www.winstonrods.com also Hardy and Bruce and Walker, two English makers have a reputation for making so called true spey rods but you might have a problem sourcing those rods to try. Hardy rods were once popular here in Canada but are now hard to come by as are B&W’s. Some Sage rods are of that type but I don’t know the specifics Ralph H note spurious hyperbole, insults and ‘personal attacks’ made by the author are meant to honour "the Soul of Cicero" and are not intended as personal slights. Please don’t take offense as none is intended. remove "(take_this_out)" for email reply.

Response:

  Is there any spey rod manufacturer? Most manufacturer call them two   handed rods, but they don’t respond to true speycasting, they are too   stiff. How do you know this?  Have you tried any of these rods to which you refer.  I fish with a friend of mine who uses a sage 1015-3 (a very stiff rod) and he can spey cast like mad – and he can throw sink tips on the end of a double taper with ease.  I think it is a myth to say that you can’t spey cast with a stiffer rod – it’s just not how they used to do it on the river spey because they didn’t have materials to make stiff rods.

since I’ve been interested in Speycasting I’ve heard that there are 2 kinds of double handed rods –  stiff rods for overhead casting and speyrods. I think Mike Maxwell of Vancouver BC and author of "The Art and Science of Speyfishing" coined the term ‘true speyrod’ – to describe his own line of rods I believe.  Other ‘experts’ such as Ehor Boyanowski and the late Roger Turner have said and written much the same thing According to Maxwell ‘true speyrods’ display a compound flex when speycasting (which is something like but not the same as roll casting) like a stylized S but with a big curve at the butt and a small curve at the tip. According to Maxwell stiff rods can’t do this and speycasts can only be ‘approximated’. Turner and Boyanowski have said much the same thing – but as they like Mr Shoalseeker and myself are Vancouver area boys like Maxwell could be we’ve just all been exposed to the same dogma – anyone else have any experience with this particularly in Great Britain and Scandanavia? From your questions, it sounds like you need to get down to a decent shop and put your hands on some rods.  All the talk in the world on this group isn’t going to help.

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

Response:

This is from an article in "Fisherman’s Handbook" from 1977 which seems relevant to this discussion. Carbon fibre rods were just available when this was written. "Most salmon fly rods today have an action which may be felt through from the heavy tip to the butt. A tip with this fairly rigid action is required because of the need to "mend" the line or straighten it out. This need arises when the strength of the current varies at different points across the stream and the line is pulled into a bow shape as it is carried downstream. this in turn carries the fly back across the flow at an unnatural angle, making it unacceptable to the salmon. The fisherman must then roll the line to mend it as the bow not only presents the fly unfavourably but also lessens the effectiveness of a strike should there be, by any odd chance, a take. A heavy tipped rod enables a weighty length of double tapered line to be lifted off the water and mended with reasonable ease." The article also points out that before carbon fibre, built cane with spliced joints was the favoured choice as it resisted the twisting force better exerted by Spey casting. — Regards Peter (Remove "nospam"to email)

<snip  : :According to Maxwell stiff rods can’t do this and speycasts can only be :’approximated’. Turner and Boyanowski have said much the same thing – :but as they like Mr Shoalseeker and myself are Vancouver area boys like :Maxwell could be we’ve just all been exposed to the same dogma – : :anyone else have any experience with this particularly in Great Britain :and Scandanavia?

Response:

A good spey caster can easily adjust the speed of the casting stroke and use any rod to their advantage.  This distinction between "over head rods" and "true spey rods" is also not particularly useful. In addition to casting characteristics, one should consider what kind of fishing he/she is going to do with a rod. I fish for steelhead in medium to big rivers, and I like to fish lazily. I hate to repeat shooting and striping line. I just roll/Spey cast long line (to me, at least, 70 feet or so) and swing the fly. Step down and repeat the process. It is so easy and efficient. (Effective? I am not sure because I hook steelhead every 30 hours or so.) For this kind of fishing, a slow rod gives me a peaceful feeling. I can enjoy more the surrounding as well as fishing.

- this pretty much agrees with what Maxwell says about stiff overhead rods vs slow rods; they are easier to spey cast and less tiresome to use through the day…. Ralph H note spurious hyperbole, insults and ‘personal attacks’ made by the author are meant to honour "the Soul of Cicero" and are not intended as personal slights. Please don’t take offense as none is intended. remove "(take_this_out)" for email reply.

Response:

Buy a spey rod from the home of spey casting (Scotland). Esthectically gorgeous, designed and built by reknowned cane rod builder David Norwich. David Norwich Icon Composites Hillside Works, Fountainhall, Nr. Galashiels,  TD1 2SU, Scotland from the USA dial 011 441  578 760 310 – Ken

Is there any spey rod manufacturer? Most manufacturer call them two handed

rods, but they don’t – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -respond to true speycasting, they are too stiff. Are there any soft action two handed rods out there? Does ST.CRIOX make a spey or two handed rod? Remove the * in the e-mail address, this is for SPAM.

Response:

A good spey caster can easily adjust the speed of the casting stroke and use any rod to their advantage.  This distinction between "over head rods" and "true spey rods" is also not particularly useful.  What IS useful is going to a decent shop where you can try (with the guidance of a knowledgable speycaster) several rods which span the range of actions.

I totally agree. If Spey casting is redirected roll casting, as I understand, it can be performed equally well with either fast "overhead/European-style" rods or slow "traditional Spey" rods. You just have to adjust your tempo of casting to the characteristics of a particular rods. I have used a G. Loomis’ very stiff and jerky IMX 8/9 weight 15 footer and a Winston’s soft and smooth 10 weight 15 footer. I prefer the Winston because it is just a joy to roll/Spey cast with it. I would say it is more forgiving. However, I could do with the Loomis everything I can do with the Winston. Actually, I could do at least two thing better with the Loomis than with the Winston. The Loomis could lift more line more easily than the Winston. And it is fun to overhead cast with the Loomis. I could cast further with the Loomis, too. In addition to casting characteristics, one should consider what kind of fishing he/she is going to do with a rod. I fish for steelhead in medium to big rivers, and I like to fish lazily. I hate to repeat shooting and striping line. I just roll/Spey cast long line (to me, at least, 70 feet or so) and swing the fly. Step down and repeat the process. It is so easy and efficient. (Effective? I am not sure because I hook steelhead every 30 hours or so.) For this kind of fishing, a slow rod gives me a peaceful feeling. I can enjoy more the surrounding as well as fishing. — Shinji Unno                     Karaoke Party in Seattle, WA, USA? Also a steelhead fly fisher               http://www.sbkaraoke.com

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     Is there any spey rod manufacturer? Most manufacturer call them two     handed rods, but they don’t respond to true speycasting, they are too     stiff.   How do you know this?  Have you tried any of these rods to which you   refer.  I fish with a friend of mine who uses a sage 1015-3 (a very stiff   rod) and he can spey cast like mad – and he can throw sink tips   on the end of a double taper with ease.  I think it is a myth to say   that you can’t spey cast with a stiffer rod – it’s just not how they   used to do it on the river spey because they didn’t have materials to   make stiff rods.   since I’ve been interested in Speycasting I’ve heard that there are   2 kinds of double handed rods –  stiff rods for overhead casting and   speyrods. I think Mike Maxwell of Vancouver BC and author of "The Art and   Science of Speyfishing" coined the term ‘true speyrod’ – to describe   his own line of rods I believe.  

I’m quite familiar with the dogma, but I’ll stick by my statements. Note however, that I own a sage 9140-4 – the softest spey rod they make.  Partly out of luck, and partly I prefer the slower action.  As I say, my fishing buddy uses a 9150-3 – a very stiff stick – and casts a beautiful and tremendous line.  I don’t know what the hell it means to "only approximate a true spey cast" – nor can I possibly understand how such a notion is useful (especially to a beginner trying to find a new rod). A good spey caster can easily adjust the speed of the casting stroke and use any rod to their advantage.  This distinction between "over head rods" and "true spey rods" is also not particularly useful.  What IS useful is going to a decent shop where you can try (with the guidance of a knowledgable speycaster) several rods which span the range of actions.   Seriously, there is no better advice available than that contained in the previous sentence. As I say, I’d be happy to suggest a shop in the Seattle area. -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html NOTICE: DO NOT ADD MY NAME TO _ANY_ MAILING LISTS.  

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Question:

I recently heard the strippers are being caught off the beach in New Jersey?  Can that be true.  I am in Delaware and I figure if N.J. has them we should also, but no one tries for them.  Help!! crit

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on feb 22, critter writes: I recently heard the strippers are being caught off the beach in New Jersey?  Can that be true.  I am in Delaware and I figure if N.J. has them we should also, but no one tries for them.  Help!! crit

I’ve heard the same,     I heard that a 50 pounder was taken, but I just had a brain freeze and I can’t rember where it was. I also heard that there’s been some taken in the back bays.  A guy I fish with in the fall says he’s been getting strippers all winter (in a spot that I won’t disclose, cause he’ll fillet me, but i’ll tell you that it’s south of AC) I also heard a rumor that someone is building a pier at that power plant at the pay bridge on rt 9 (another brain freeze, I can’t remember the name of the power plant) anyhow thats a good spot for stippers. I’m going tuesday to the sea isle/avalon area,  I’ll start in the back, then I’ll work the jettys.  I’ll post if I do anything. KV

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May check out your spelling…Although catching "strippers" could be fun, your wife or girlfriend might get annoyed! says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I recently heard the strippers are being caught off the beach in New Jersey?  Can that be true.  I am in Delaware and I figure if N.J. has them we should also, but no one tries for them.  Help!! crit

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Stripers are normally caught in the surf.  Strippers are normally seen in sleezy clubs while drinking beer after a hard day of fishing. Curtis H. Nugent, M.P.S. Junior Warden New Providence Lodge F&AM, Nr. 128 Maryville, Tennessee, USA

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I recently heard the strippers are being caught off the beach in New Jersey?  Can that be true.  I am in Delaware and I figure if N.J. has them we should also, but no one tries for them.  Help!! crit

Check out WWW.BettyandNicks.com  They are a bait and tackle shop in Seaside, NJ and put out a nice web site.  They’ve been know to exagerate just a wee bit.   No many people are fishing for them in Jersey either! The Spring bite will start in a few weeks. Lenny

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There have been scattered reports all winter of a few schoolie sized bass being taken form the NJ surf. We’ve been lucky that we’ve had a relatively mild winter and the water temperatures never really got too cold. A friend of mine has also been doing fairly well the schoolie sized bass to 21 inches in the lower Hudson River. Myself I really wont actively start fishing for stripers til the middle of April in the Shrewsbury River,the south side of Raritan Bay and off the tip of Sandy Hook

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aCTUALLY, I HAVE DONE IT IN mASSACHUSETTS AND IT IS EASY, IF THERE IS NOT A LOT OF WIND. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO FISH BLOCK ISLAND IN THE  FALL AND THEY SLAY THEM WITH FLIES FROM MYSTIC BAY FLY COMPANY.  CALL ME IF I CAN BY OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE.                                            NEVILLE CUTTING                                            CUTTING LOOSE FISHING                                           EXPEDITIONS                                            800-533-4746

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Question:

A friend of mine is looking for a second hand two handed fishing rod for salmon. Does anyone know where he can get one? Thanx Ed

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I have a G. Loomis IMX FR1808/9 (15 feet 8-9 weight) for sale. It has been used for 2 years and in a good shape. I am asking $250.00. A friend of mine is looking for a second hand two handed fishing rod for salmon. Does anyone know where he can get one? Thanx Ed

– Shinji Unno                     Karaoke Party in Seattle, WA, USA? Also a steelhead fly fisher               http://www.sbkaraoke.com

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A friend of mine is looking for a second hand two handed fishing rod for salmon. Does anyone know where he can get one? Thanx Ed

– Ed, You may try to advertise at http://www.capricorn.se/begagnat.html (swedish commercial site, second-hand sall/buy is a free service). The text is in swedish but I think you can easily work out the translation to dutch… description with what to buy, with name, phone number and E-Mail address (if any). – Tord Remove _spamblock_ for E-Mail reply

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Question:

I have recently moved to Sydney (Australia) and would love to hear where there is good flyfishing reasonably close by (eg: up to half a day’s drive away). I would appreciate hearing other fisho’s thoughts. Thanks! Mat

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I have recently moved to Sydney (Australia) and would love to hear where there is good flyfishing reasonably close by (eg: up to half a day’s drive away). I would appreciate hearing other fisho’s thoughts. Thanks! Mat

G’day Mat, You should have a go at Lithgow (Lyell dam), Wallerawang (Lake Wallace), Mudgee (Windamere dam) or best of all Oberon (Oberon dam). These are all reasonably close to Sydney out via the Great Western Hwy. If fishing in lakes is not your style, I believe that there is some good ffishing in the Coxs & Turon Rivers (as well as the many other creeks and rivers in the area) – but I haven’t tried these, yet. Phil

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Question:

        Can anyone offer any suggestions of fly-in camping-fishing-hunting-etc. locations?  Looking for get-away weekend stuff for my son and I  to try.   NC, SC, VA areas most appealing, but any would be of interest. Gene

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Ocracoke NC and Cherry Springs state park PA are two of our favorites. – Rod Farlee

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Question:

I operate a Cortland Pro Shop and Stock over 300 DIFFERENT Cortland Fly Lines. I also build custom rods and have lots of other neat stuff.  If I can help out anyone with anything let me know. George E. Hoskin/Hoskin Enterprises RFD 1, Box 841 West Bath, Maine 04530 1-207-443-6064 1-800-244-7744

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