This year we’re going to France to do some Fly-fishing. Does anybody has some experience in Bourgondie, Avergne, Midi-Pyrenes (or other places) thanks, martin
Hey Martin, have a look at the following WebPages. The first two are for fishing only, Union Nationale pour la P
No, you all can bring those teeny little eastern ethics into any bar you like over here, but the girls are likely to laugh at them. :) mind…..um……them ain’t girls! Wolfgang see, ya gotta kinda hold em upsi……well, never mind
Ah, so you *have* been in a bar out here. Hard to believe, I know, but those *were* the girls that held you upside down. JR
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No, you all can bring those teeny little eastern ethics into any bar you like over here, but the girls are likely to laugh at them. :) mind…..um……them ain’t girls! Wolfgang see, ya gotta kinda hold em upsi……well, never mind Ah, so you *have* been in a bar out here. Hard to believe, I know, but those *were* the girls that held you upside down.
Oh, I’ve been in quite a few bars out there. Never been held upside down. And no, those ain’t girls…..some day we’ll explain the bother. Wolfgang wouldn’t be ethical
…… cuz then he could never never no no uh uh uh venture into a bar west of omaha on accounta then he’d get beat up by a couple dozen cowboys with REALLY BIG ethics…….yup, uh huh. :)
No, you all can bring those teeny little eastern ethics into any bar you like over here, but the girls are likely to laugh at them. :) JR
…… cuz then he could never never no no uh uh uh venture into a bar west of omaha on accounta then he’d get beat up by a couple dozen cowboys with REALLY BIG ethics…….yup, uh huh. :) No, you all can bring those teeny little eastern ethics into any bar you like over here, but the girls are likely to laugh at them. :)
mind…..um……them ain’t girls! Wolfgang see, ya gotta kinda hold em upsi……well, never mind
yellow foam spider was the ticket. After about six months of fishing almost exclusively with nymphs I had forgotten how fun it is to see a fish rise from the depths to take a fly on the surface.
I am glad you had some fun with the panfish flies. Since I am auch a slut about catching bluegill from the surface, I most often start with the yellow foam spider. I seldom am able to catch catfish with a fly, but they are a hell of a lot of fun when they do take the fly. I use head cement on the ghost minnow and I think the smell of it puts the catfish off. Richard Hart who came up with the pattern gives it a spray with Cortland’s Mayfly Scent when he fishes these flies for catfish or carp. As far as I am concerned the flies accomplished their purpose…I could almost see the smile on your face from here. That is what bluegill are all about. Big Dale
As far as I am concerned the flies accomplished their purpose…I could almost see the smile on your face from here.
So far I have caught brown trout, smallmouth and bream on your flies (that I won at the raffle(s)). No catfish yet, but plenty of smiles for me too. — Charlie…
The bluegill are just finishing the spawn season at the pond and the aggressive males linger in groups at the edges of the beds waiting for something to happen. Loitering like teenagers at the mall, I guess.
Hokey smokes they’re early down there! Bluegills won’t be spawning here for another month or so. I am SO jealous!! Wolfgang assuming that the gills were actually QUITE finished spawning cuz on accounta he would hate to think that steve would fish em on the redds cuz then he could never never no no uh uh uh venture into a bar west of omaha on accounta then he’d get beat up by a couple dozen cowboys with REALLY BIG ethics…….yup, uh huh. :)
[deleted] Good points. I actually did try a couple of casts with the smaller fly first, but had no luck so decided to get serious and pull out something I thought would have a chance.
…like stink bait or a 3/0 snagging hook… — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer
Good points. I actually did try a couple of casts with the smaller fly first, but had no luck so decided to get serious and pull out something I thought would have a chance.
Seems to me like catfish or bullhead on a fly would be pretty darn tough fishin’. The most artificial thing I ever caught one on was a plastic worm. But I’m no catfish commonsewer.
Just a thought…I think it would have been better if you left the smaller fly on. A small fly won’t "spook" him and if it’s right near his nose he might just suck it in to see if it is food. If you were lazin’ around and not actively eating, a big mac might not seem interesting, but if someone passes a candy dish you’ll probably grab a couple…
Good points. I actually did try a couple of casts with the smaller fly first, but had no luck so decided to get serious and pull out something I thought would have a chance. –Steve
About two weeks ago or so, Big Dale sent me a box of his hand-tied bass and panfish flies. I thanked him when they arrived, but I had a lingering feeling that I wouldn’t be doing him or his flies justice until I fished with them. The weather and my schedule finally cooperated yesterday afternoon and I finally made it over to my neighborhood pond for a couple of hours. There was quite a bit of wind and I had inadvertently left the reel I was planning to use at home meaning I had nothing but a 4wt line to go with the 5wt rod I brought. Casting was tough but what the heck I was fishing. I tried a couple different fly patterns from Dale’s Box, starting with a Mylar Minnow, changing to a Cap Spider, and finally settling on a yellow foam spider when I didn’t seem to be catching anything beneath the surface. Despite the wind (or perhaps *because of* the wind), the yellow foam spider was the ticket. After about six months of fishing almost exclusively with nymphs I had forgotten how fun it is to see a fish rise from the depths to take a fly on the surface. The bluegill are just finishing the spawn season at the pond and the aggressive males linger in groups at the edges of the beds waiting for something to happen. Loitering like teenagers at the mall, I guess. I caught quite a few fish as I made my way around the pond. After a while I added a LaFontaine’ Twist nymph as a dropper, which seemed to decidedly increase the interest of the bass. All was going well despite the wind and the contorted casting until I happened upon a VERY large catfish sunning himself at the edge of the water. (OK, I don’t know for a fact that it was trying to get sun but it was just lying there in six inches of water with no apparent interest in eating). My heart started pounding, my mouth went dry and I was consumed by a case of MFS (monster fish syndrome). Suddenly, my only intention was to find a way to catch that monster catfish. Hands shaking, I clipped off the dropper and tried to find something in Big Dale’s box that would catch a catfish. I chose a gray and white Ghost Minnow, placed it perfectly on the first cast and slowly stripped the fly past the bigcat’s nose. The catfish slowly turned, ignored the fly, and swam into the depths of the pond. I spent the next fifteen minutes in a pathetic attempt to convince that catfish to comeback and show some interest in me. I should have known better. I knew I wasn’t going to interest that catfish. And I knew that once I started trying to catch it I was going to end up empty-handed and that the leisurely enjoyment of catching half-pound bluegill and bass would be gone. Though perhaps not as profound as the story of Ahab and Moby Dick, there’s a life lesson in there somewhere. Telling me to enjoy the things I have in life, to be happy with my lot and to leave the never-to-be-caught catfish well enough alone. –Steve
Has anyone out there in cyber space had any experience fishing in Alaska. What I am looking for is a place that has a lodge setting. All I want do do is fish, not camp , cook , or clean. I have had a lot of experience doing this in Canada. But the fishing has to be great. If you have a recommandation please give a address and Tele #. Thanks — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.
I have fished out of one lodge for 3 or 4 trips now. They are a budget deal. Accomodations are spartan but quite adequate. Anything with hot showers and a warm bed is great at the end of a long, rainy day on the stream. The owners are good people and the travel arrangements are very easy as they are located right on the airport, about 30′ from the Alaska Airlines terminal. Fishing is drive out and vehicles are part of the package. Fly out is available and we did have to use it last year as the fishing got slow. One guided day is part of our package. You can do it on your own after that or buy more guide time. If you are not using a guide you clean your own fish. We go in early Sept. for Silvers (Coho), fish the streams on foot using fly rods with a baitcaster rigged with spoons as backup. Seldom use the baitcaster anymore but always take it. If you would like more info I can email a sheet I did for others.
I’ve attended two of last three Denver shows (‘95 & ‘97). It’s going be a tough call as to which trade show to attend for 1998; Denver or Salt Lake….Attending both can stretch a small budget. I’m passing to see how this whole political matter shakes out. I received letters from both Orvis & Umpqua indicating they will not attend EITHER show. The lists I’ve received about both shows’ attendees shows a heavier representation of the major rod companies at Salt Lake City Show. My feeling is more people are favoring Salt Lake.
I’d say that Orvis doesn’t need to attend. They have a huge network of shops, and lodges, and strong mail order operation. They hardly need to do another show. Umpquah, I’m not so sure about. While they still seem to be the number one supplier of flies, I can help but wonder about their solvency in the present market. For instance, they used to have a web presence of sorts at flyfishers.com. They now seem to be doing their site inhouse and it’s a real stinker. A company like umpqua would be expected to leave such work to pros – highly paid ones – to ensure the highest quality. Look at The winston and orvis sites – these are very well done sites and did not come cheap. What’s up with Umpqua? A little trouble in paradise? </c
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve attended two of last three Denver shows (‘95 & ‘97). It’s going be a tough call as to which trade show to attend for 1998; Denver or Salt Lake….Attending both can stretch a small budget. I’m passing to see how this whole political matter shakes out. I received letters from both Orvis & Umpqua indicating they will not attend EITHER show. The lists I’ve received about both shows’ attendees shows a heavier representation of the major rod companies at Salt Lake City Show. My feeling is more people are favoring Salt Lake. I’d say that Orvis doesn’t need to attend. They have a huge network of shops, and lodges, and strong mail order operation. They hardly need to do another show. Umpquah, I’m not so sure about. While they still seem to be the number one supplier of flies, I can help but wonder about their solvency in the present market. For instance, they used to have a web presence of sorts at flyfishers.com. They now seem to be doing their site inhouse and it’s a real stinker. A company like umpqua would be expected to leave such work to pros – highly paid ones – to ensure the highest quality. Look at The winston and orvis sites – these are very well done sites and did not come cheap. What’s up with Umpqua? A little trouble in paradise? </c
Yes, it’s my understanding they’ve been bought out. John Popp in Sanford Fl.
Jon—You’re correct, Umpqua has been purchased by an investment group. I’m sure their main focus is ROI & Dennis Black is happily retired. I looked for the hard copy letter they sent to their accounts in making the official anouncement about 5-6 months ago …but couldn’t find it to relay the name of the group. This is what’s been going on in the industry the last few years; Sage, Scott, Powell etc. to name a few. Some of the groups are knowldgeable about the industry & some don’t seem to be that well intuned. Nevertheless they’re business people & put in place execs who are business oriented…which is the way it should be if the focus is ROI. Ideally, they should be both flyfishng savy & business keen. Just like everything else…mergers, buy-outs downsizing etc…maybe the industry needs this movement to stay healthy. As for the two shows; I feel there’s a lot of politics, money & super-egos involved. It’ll be interesting to observe what transpires. But I feel the small, independent fly shop is put in a difficult decision mode. CyberFly
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <snip Umpquah, I’m not so sure about. While they still seem to be the number one supplier of flies, I can help but wonder about their solvency in the present market. For instance, they used to have a web presence of sorts at flyfishers.com. They now seem to be doing their site inhouse and it’s a real stinker. A company like umpqua would be expected to leave such work to pros – highly paid ones – to ensure the highest quality. Look at The winston and orvis sites – these are very well done sites and did not come cheap. What’s up with Umpqua? A little trouble in paradise? </c Yes, it’s my understanding they’ve been bought out. John Popp in Sanford Fl.
Really? Who, I wonder? If true,it’s not too much of a surprise. UFM has been plagued with all sorts of internal trouble for years. The principals may have had enough and packed it in.
Cyberfly — You raise an excellent question about the future of the business side of flyfishing. It doesn’t seem likely that the "industry" can support two shows. I was surprised to learn that some of the most respected pros in the business are going to the Salt Lake show. I think this is just one more sign that the business side of flyfishing is in for some major shakeups in the immediate future. It’ll be interesting to watch. One of the things I wish for is a company to come along that offers an excellent lightweight saltwater flyrod for $200. BobE. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve attended two of last three Denver shows (‘95 & ‘97). It’s going be a tough call as to which trade show to attend for 1998; Denver or Salt Lake….Attending both can stretch a small budget. I’m passing to see how this whole political matter shakes out. I received letters from both Orvis & Umpqua indicating they will not attend EITHER show. The lists I’ve received about both shows’ attendees shows a heavier representation of the major rod companies at Salt Lake City Show. My feeling is more people are favoring Salt Lake. CyberFly
I’ve attended two of last three Denver shows (‘95 & ‘97). It’s going be a tough call as to which trade show to attend for 1998; Denver or Salt Lake….Attending both can stretch a small budget. I’m passing to see how this whole political matter shakes out. I received letters from both Orvis & Umpqua indicating they will not attend EITHER show. The lists I’ve received about both shows’ attendees shows a heavier representation of the major rod companies at Salt Lake City Show. My feeling is more people are favoring Salt Lake. CyberFly
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
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
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
<< An Orvis bobber. Peter
Indicator’ pretty good Pete. Pete, wait until George sees my new Orvis Zebra line. He’ll plop that scrawny ass of his down on a rock and probably will never get up! <G I have decided that I *will* show up in full Orvis mufi. I am having trouble trying to rent an Orvis Jeep, however. Dave PS: Gladys, get the man a few drams of the old Grouse — he looks pale behind the gills!
Pete, wait until George sees my new Orvis Zebra line. He’ll plop that scrawny ass of his down on a rock and probably will never get up! <G I have decided that I *will* show up in full Orvis mufi. I am having trouble trying to rent an Orvis Jeep, however.
I don’t think they make Orvis Jeeps anymore, but one of their catalogs had some D90’s in it so I should be in good shape<g. — Charlie…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – << An Orvis bobber. Peter Indicator’ pretty good Pete. Pete, wait until George sees my new Orvis Zebra line. He’ll plop that scrawny ass of his down on a rock and probably will never get up! <G I have decided that I *will* show up in full Orvis mufi. I am having trouble trying to rent an Orvis Jeep, however. Dave PS: Gladys, get the man a few drams of the old Grouse — he looks pale behind the gills!
—
Want the finest flyfishing experience of your life? Little Grizzly Creek Ranch, Walden, Colorado, features outstanding new accommodations, gourmet food, fine wine, hosted bar, 7 miles of private streams at the headwaters of the North Platte, five varieties of trout, guides and instruction, all for one price. Check out our home page at: brochure. Reservations are being accepted for July, August and September or 1997.
Want the finest flyfishing experience of your life? Little Grizzly Creek Ranch, Walden, Colorado, features outstanding new accommodations, gourmet food, fine wine, hosted bar, 7 miles of private streams at the headwaters of the North Platte, five varieties of trout, guides and instruction, all for one price. Check out our home page at: brochure. Reservations are being accepted for July, August and September or 1997.
and when you’re done over there, come on over and we’ll murder some stockers and rip the tops off some homebrews. TimW Never a fee to my ‘clients’
I’ve fished the Newport area several times, both from a boat and from shore. Two suggestions: 1) contact The Saltwater Edge (Orvis dealer in Newport). They are very helpful. 2) Get a copy of "Striper Moon" by J. Kenney Abrames. It’s got a lot of Newport-area intelligence. Good luck!
I fish the Newport area often, what infor do you need?
Do you know where abouts you plan on fishing?
Try contacting The Saltwater Edge. http://www.saltwateredge.com
I have been scouting from Pawcatuck R. to Westport R. nothing yet. Any day now the fishing fleet should be picking them up in their offshore drift nets. I will check with them this week. rec. outdoors outdoor adventure
Plan to fly fish striped bass this spring in Newport,RI.Any pointer-advice?
Would be interested, too. Can you forward messages you get? Thanks in advance, Thomas
Plan to fly fish striped bass this spring in Newport,RI.Any pointer-advice?
: : or, a newbie is, in the words of Howell Raines in his epic "Fly fishing : : through the midlife crisis", an advocate of the "Redneck Way". : I might be wrong, though and I would like to hear opinions about the : book. Does Raines know anything about fish?
Rick- I have to confess that I did not like the book. Actually struggled to make it to the end. If I wanted to read a New York Times political editorial, I would have bought the newspaper. I wasn’t expecting a book "about flyfishing", but I wasn’t looking for a political diatribe either. And it wasn’t just the political point of view; I thought he came across as a whiner. What finally got me the most, however, was the statement he makes in describing his one trip west to fish (actually, I suspect it was his only trip out of the Washington Beltway up to that point in time). He says that the great rivers of Wyoming are the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone! Then he says that the Snake is "glorious, but "becomes really great when it crosses into Idaho and becomes two rivers; the Idaho Snake and the Henry’s Fork" (close paraphrase). Give me a break! All these rivers (except the Snake and Henry’s Fork) are, of course, primarily Montana rivers. Even though the Madison and Yellowstone originate in Yellowstone Park and the Gallatin may have headwaters in Wyoming, no one ever says "Let’s go to Wyoming to fish the famous Gallatin and Madison, etc. " Moreover, the Snake doesn’t go from Wyoming to Idaho to "become" anything. I wrote to Raines and told him he needed a geography lesson. He sent back a letter saying that he had gotten the information from a book that I have never heard of and have never been able to find in any flyshop or library. BTW, Raines was in Montana fishing the Madison (that great Wyoming river) with his girlfriend a week or so ago. I asked one of his guides whether he was a good flyfisherman and he said that is girlfriend is pretty good. Perhaps the name of his book should have been Flyfishing Through the Midlife Crisis With a New Girlfriend. If you look at the book as the story of a boy growing up and his relationship with his father, and if Raines had kept it at that without trying to make it a political statement, the book might have been worth reading (overlooking the geographical gaffs). That’s my opinion, but I have talked to others (and read views expressed on this newsgroup from folks) who liked the book. That’s one of the great things about books, everyone reads them and sees something different. Lyman Hughes Ennis, MT Dallas, TX
It was obvious Raines had limited experience on the water and that he was cashing in on the post "A River Runs Through It" period. It didn’t seem like I was going to get much from the book. I might be wrong, though and I would like to hear opinions about the book. Does Raines know anything about fish? —
Sure, Raines rode the wave on ARRTI, and about every guide, rod company, line company, magazine publisher, fly fishing "celebrity", and clothing manufacturer in the business. Does he know anything about fish? Well, methinks he does! Maybe not as much as some people, but, the book is about a man learning to fly fish as he goes through his mid-life crisis. He doesn’t have to know alot. He isn’t trying to teach any fly fishing tactics, or how to present a drag free drift. For my money, it is a lot better than anything Gierach has done, and I have read all of his books. I think his perspective as fly fishing as an important hobby, rather than the way he makes his living is refreshing in a world of all too many professional fishermen. It is a good book, but it leans heavily on politics. If you are a conservative, you might not like to read about a liberal reporters opinions on the Reagan-Bush years. But it also weaves fish stories into every facet of life, much as we do in this group Daren C. Valentine
: : or, a newbie is, in the words of Howell Raines in his epic "Fly fishing : : through the midlife crisis", an advocate of the "Redneck Way". : I might be wrong, though and I would like to hear opinions about the : book. Does Raines know anything about fish? I read the book, and liked it…mostly because I was raised in the "Redneck Way". I doubt that Raines knows much about fly fishing. He was raised to catch and kill as many fish as possible, using big hooks, strong line, stiff bait casting rods, and things like worms and chicken livers. So was I. That’s the "Redneck Way". He took up fly fishing and learned that good company, beautiful water, and the quiet elegance of our sport is more important than catching fish. These things help you be at peace with the world, rather than in competition with it, which is important when facing the reality of our individual mortality. "Keeping the black dog (death) at bay" is how he phrased it. I doubt that he knew much about fly fishing…other than how it helped him face death. But that’s something, isn’t it? — Laboratory for Applied Logic Dept. of Computer Science University of Idaho www: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster
Per the previous discussions, many of us still believe Cutts are for 1) Newbies who don’t know how to fish well 2) Guides, who can easily give their clients a 50 fish day, or 3) those too lazy or disinterested to learn Entomology and like sz. 10 attractor flies. Cutts have their place, but generally, when other species are available, not with serious fly fisherman who like the challenge Cutts do not offer.
: Per the previous discussions, many of us still believe Cutts are for 1) : Newbies who don’t know how to fish well 2) Guides, who can easily give : their clients a 50 fish day, or 3) those too lazy or disinterested to : learn Entomology and like sz. 10 attractor flies. Cutts have their place, : but generally, when other species are available, not with serious fly : fisherman who like the challenge Cutts do not offer. Well, this is a provocative post. Please explain to me how you avoid those "pesky" cutthroats. Perhaps move to a less clean river where they have died off? I disagree with you. A large fish is a large fish. All large fish have survived more than a year or two and are frequently the brightest in that stretch of the river. Admittedly, a bright trout is barely smart enough to host a popular television talk show, but it is a competitive world in the stream and the craftier fish eat better than the Rikki Lakes of the river. I fish often in a couple of rivers that have mixed cutt and bow populations. I’ve never noticed that the bows could be found in the better locations. In fact, it is usually the big cutts that are in the best locations and occasionally I find a bow. My experience is that bows seem to do a lot more bottom hunting than surface activity. I prefer surface activity. I would love to hear your reasons behind your opinions. And I would be happy to host you on a river so you could show me some of the fine points of selective fishing and entomology. I’ll tell you what. I’ll buy you a beer for every bow you catch and you buy me a beer for every cutt you catch. Deal? Rick — T. Rick Fletcher – http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Assistant professor of chemistry | That’s Idaho, not Iowa. | These University of Idaho | Upper Left Hand Corner. | opinions Moscow, ID 83844-2343 | No, I don’t grow potatoes. | are mine.
Rick: I don’t know if John is going to take you up or not, but sure sounds good to me. However, at one beer per fish, the fishing better be slow or I won’t make it for long. Be fun trying though. Seriously, on the cutthroat discussion. Where cutts are native, they’re a mighty important fish to me. I don’t know whether they’re the smartest fish in the world — I’ve had mixed experiences with them as I’ve had with every other species of trout. But they are native to many waters and beautiful fish. With over a half-century under my belt, I’m not exactly a newbie and certainly not a guide — at least a professional one. Still feel like a newbie, though — at least on my better days. And I sure don’t want to lose that feeling — ever. Dick Hubbard
The Sea-Run Cutts that I have been catching will stand up to any rainbow of the same size. I caught about a 14 incher last night that jump more than once to show us his size and made my reel scream like every fly-fisherman wants. Hearing that reel go tells me that these Cutthroat where a blast.
I’ve been hesitant to weigh in on this, since I’m a newbie and fish primarilly in wild cutt territory. But… I caught my first real (ie non-trivial) cutt a few weeks ago: 18 inches and fat. I knew it was a big fish from the moment it took the fly. But it didn’t FIGHT. It just PULLED a while, then turned over and laid there. I was expected a second rush after he turned over, but it never came. The fish drifted aimlessly into the net. I was disappointed. On the other hand, it was a beautiful fish, caught in a beautiful river, on a fly I tied myself, on a rod I built myself. So it wasn’t a total loss. — Laboratory for Applied Logic Dept. of Computer Science University of Idaho www: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster
: I’ve been hesitant to weigh in on this, since I’m a newbie and fish : primarilly in wild cutt territory. But… : On the other hand, it was a beautiful fish, caught in a beautiful river, : on a fly I tied myself, on a rod I built myself. So it wasn’t a total : loss. This is a newbie? He ties his own flies, builds his own rods, and catches 18+ inch fish. What constitutes a newbie? : — : Laboratory for Applied Logic Dept. of Computer Science : University of Idaho www: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster Charley
I was disappointed. — Laboratory for Applied Logic Dept. of Computer Science University of Idaho www: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster
I too am a little hesitant to wade into this discussion. (The pun was intended.) First, James I can’t believe that you would complain about catching an 18" fish. I wish I had your problems. Second, I lived in West Yellowstone for 4 years. I used to visit the Park regularly and have fished a number of the rivers and lakes throughout. I have fished at times where the Yellowstone Cutthroat could be caught on just about anything. It’s as if the fish just wanted to eat and didn’t care what type of bug it was eating. Then there have been even more times when the fish would not even look at a fly. I’d empty my box trying to find that magic pattern. So, to those of you who have the 40 fish days on Slough Creek, count your lucky stars and be thankful. Because those days don’t come often enough. -Bill IBM, Boulder, CO
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | : I’ve been hesitant to weigh in on this, since I’m a newbie and fish | : primarilly in wild cutt territory. But… | | : On the other hand, it was a beautiful fish, caught in a beautiful river, | : on a fly I tied myself, on a rod I built myself. So it wasn’t a total | : loss. | | This is a newbie? He ties his own flies, builds his own rods, and | catches 18+ inch fish. What constitutes a newbie? | | Charley I also consider myself to be a "Newbie", even though I tie my own flies, built my own rod, and have landed an 18" trout. My flies are very nice, my rod is flawless, but my technique and knowledge are incomplete. Many people are good craftsmen (women too), and get lucky with the trout on occasion, but just aren’t experts yet. I suppose though, for the sake of general discussion, that "Newbies" should be defined as: Those who are beginning to learn how to flyfish, have not yet built or tied any equipment, and have never landed anything bigger than their foot.
"Newbies" are anybody who realizes that they still have something to learn about flyfishing! Tim
Those who are beginning to learn how to flyfish, have not yet built or tied any equipment, and have never landed anything bigger than their foot.
I’m a newbie, having converted to FF in both sweet and salt water in the past year, but I *have* caught something bigger than my foot. (Striped bass are bigger than trout, what can I say?).
Weighing back in…… I consider a newbie anyone who requires context before data. Put another way, if I can tell someone to use a PT nymph with a twist retrieve and let it go at that, this is not a newbie. When I get a puzzled expression and have to add, "A beadhead PT is a brown nymph with a gold beadhead and a twist retrieve is bringing it back with just a hand twist– a few inches at a time", that’s a newbie. When a newbie starts feeling comfortable with the terminology and contributes his/her own observations to the discussion, they have graduated to ??. Something between expert or master and newbie. Why does it matter? Well, it doesn’t. Except, if I know that a person isn’t a newbie, I can dump a lot more information in a brief encounter streamside, because I don’t have to be care- full to get into enough detail. Course, regional knowledge is the achilles heal of this argument. I’ve met many anglers new to an area I’m familiar with who require detail on the geography even though they are approaching expert on the culture of fly fishing. God, I love a purely philosophical argument every now and then! Charley
: | : I’ve been hesitant to weigh in on this, since I’m a newbie … : | This is a newbie? He ties his own flies, builds his own rods, and : | catches 18+ inch fish. What constitutes a newbie? : I suppose though, for the sake of general discussion, that "Newbies" should : be defined as: Those who are beginning to learn how to flyfish, have not yet : built or tied any equipment, and have never landed anything bigger than their : foot. Fair question. Here’s what I had in mind: I’ve been fishing for less than two years, and have been on the stream for less than 30 days total (only four days on a GOOD stream). Unfortunately, I’m kinda neurotic. So I jumped into the sport with both feet: tied leaders, tied flies, and built a rod. At least I didn’t quit my job and leave my wife and kids to fish every day…though the thought has crossed my mind. — Laboratory for Applied Logic Dept. of Computer Science University of Idaho www: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster
Another thought… A "newbie" is a nymphal fisherman, hiding under a rock fully aware that he or she is ugly as sin an likely to be eaten up if he or she strays too far into the current of modern fly fishing (a "PT"??? what the hell’s that???) Eventually, we emerge and shed our clumsy shucks—those bad habits we accumulated in our solitude. It’s kinda painful, but we make a public display of our pretty new stuff right there on the surface (wanna see my rod?) for all to see. But we’re still a little wet (behind the ears), so we need a little time to dry off. Then we gracefully transform into something magnificent, rising in the light with beauty and grace (it takes my breath away to see Doug Swisher approach, cast to, and land a big rainbow on a video tape…with I could do that). We acheive union with the stream, the trout, and the insects for a brief time…teaching some others what we know if we’re fortunate. Then, after what seems only a day, we die. — Laboratory for Applied Logic Dept. of Computer Science University of Idaho www: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster
Another thought…gawd this is a rich thread… A newbie is someone who casts a big royal coachman or wooly worm into the water…anywhere…while watching the line and rod: "Concentrate! Wait for the backcast to straighten out! Damn, need to cast a little farther! Quick, re-cast that sucker!" A more eperienced person is more careful with fly and presentation: "Let’s see, a puddle cast with a PMD just behind that big rock should do the trick. There it goes!" The expert: "What a lovely day. I’ll catch THAT big fish over there, then THAT one. This fly seems about right. There." All the while instictively stalking the fish from just the right place, eyes on the fish, with a plan for fishing the whole pool or run unconciously ready to execute. — Laboratory for Applied Logic Dept. of Computer Science University of Idaho www: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster
Pondering the "NEWBIE" While "Newbies" can, and often do ask frustrating questions, use incorrect terminology, and make blunders that "experts" have long forgotten as being building blocks in their own education . . . these "Newbies" have a zest, a fresh outlook, and a keen wonder about their endeavor that I have found is sometimes missing in the outlook of "so-called experts." I have a friend and mentor who is a retired doctor, now one of the best fly-tiers and guides in the surrounding five state region. Doc is one of those rare "experts" who gets more excited by my accomplishments than in his own personal fishing achievements. It is a delight to be with him on a stream, and see his excitement for me, as if he was the one who had just stalked that rising rainbow and landed him. Yes, I’m a "Newbie," and I believe that Doc gets a real kick out of looking at fly fishing thru my eyes . . . maybe he’s reliving some of those old "first time" accomplishments. I’m old enough now to know that being a "Newbie" is nothing to be ashamed of, in fact, it’s a treat to be constantly enjoying the newness of each first time successful endeavor. I haven’t felt this excited about any hobby or sport . . . well, I can’t remember how long its been. So, I for one relish this "Newbiness"! It’s exhilirating! And to have an "Expert" like Doc to share this "newness" with makes it twice as much fun. "Newbies Forever!" Bob Vorel
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | : I’ve been hesitant to weigh in on this, since I’m a newbie and fish | : primarilly in wild cutt territory. But… | | : On the other hand, it was a beautiful fish, caught in a beautiful river, | : on a fly I tied myself, on a rod I built myself. So it wasn’t a total | : loss. | | This is a newbie? He ties his own flies, builds his own rods, and | catches 18+ inch fish. What constitutes a newbie? | | Charley I also consider myself to be a "Newbie", even though I tie my own flies, built my own rod, and have landed an 18" trout. My flies are very nice, my rod is flawless, but my technique and knowledge are incomplete. Many people are good craftsmen (women too), and get lucky with the trout on occasion, but just aren’t experts yet. I suppose though, for the sake of general discussion, that "Newbies" should be defined as: Those who are beginning to learn how to flyfish, have not yet built or tied any equipment, and have never landed anything bigger than their foot. Therefore, Mr.Foster and I should consider ourselves to have graduated from Flyfishing school. Now if we can just get a job… Erik Sutton Gresham, Oregon
A" newbie" is a person that flyfishes that thinks he has to use a 500$ graphite rod,Orvis everything, a 1,000$ vise to tye, and a Jeep.They also tend to think that knowledgable anglers and flyfishing shop staff and/or guides owe them their lifelong earned knowledge for free. A "beginning angler" is a person that takes the time to learn and trys to help their more experienced peers any way he can to try to learn about this resource.He cares about the rivers and lakes.He cares about the fish and their habitat.This is a philosophy of a way of life for him.He respects his teachers even after he has perhaps exceeded their ability,if only because he wouldn’t have had they not taught them. I learned to tye under the tuteledge of a great commercial tyer/guide,I still consider myself his student- –after 20 years–and give him all the respect he deserves even though we don’t see eye to eye on a great many issues anymore.I still consider him a great spirit just for having gave me this great gift. We go 2,3 ,or 4 years without seeing one another even though we live miles apart but when we do its almost like close blood relatives caring for each other.I would do anything for that man if he needed to help. This is what it seems a great many "newbies"have forgotten or don’t understand.That this is a philosophy of life, not a meat chasing quest for the biggest fish or the most fish.Or I am better than you. I can no longer tye or fish due to injuries sustained in Alaska,and it occurs to me that a great many of you "flyfisherman" today can’t either.Oh sure, you can cast and you can be on the river.But your not fishing,your competing with your demons and your egos and other people just like you. "That mans name"is Bob Sheirholtz. very truly, Davy
A newbie as a person who still thinks that Flyfishing is about catching fish. or, a newbie is, in the words of Howell Raines in his epic "Fly fishing through the midlife crisis", an advocate of the "Redneck Way". Mike Ray
: A newbie as a person who still thinks that Flyfishing is about catching : fish. I think you lost me here. If fishing is not about catching fish…what the hell is it about? Granted, it is great to be smack dab in the middle of a beautiful place…but fishing is much more fun when one catches fish. Isn’t it? : or, a newbie is, in the words of Howell Raines in his epic "Fly fishing : through the midlife crisis", an advocate of the "Redneck Way". OK, now I got you. You are under the influence of this fishing "master". I admit I have not read his book, but for good reason. I watched an hour of television when Charlie Rose, who can pull information from people as easily as Powerbait falls from a bass fishermans pocket, interviewed Raines and tried to talk fishing. It was obvious Raines had limited experience on the water and that he was cashing in on the post "A River Runs Through It" period. It didn’t seem like I was going to get much from the book. I might be wrong, though and I would like to hear opinions about the book. Does Raines know anything about fish? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher – http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Assistant professor of chemistry | That’s Idaho, not Iowa. | These University of Idaho | Upper Left Hand Corner. | opinions Moscow, ID 83844-2343 | No, I don’t grow potatoes. | are mine.
and have never landed anything bigger than their foot.< I think this is unfair….. I hve been flyfishing for 30 years, and I seldom catch trout as large as my foot (which is only an 11-D, BTW). This is because I live in PA, and fish wild trout waters where there are only one or two fish the size of my foot in the entire watershed….. I have caught many pale stockies as big as both my feet, however…..:)
I must concur, and let me add that the best fishing I have ever done was in a stream 6 to 8 feet wide. The most beautiful Cutthroats and no people. Couldn’t have asked for a better day. And I would say I could be happy never catching fish bigger than my foot if all my days could be on pristine streams. -Eric
"Newbies" are anybody who realizes that they still have something to learn about flyfishing! Tim
I guess that covers just about everybody
; Another thought…gawd this is a rich thread… ; ; A newbie is someone who casts a big royal coachman or wooly worm into ; the water…anywhere…while watching the line and rod: "Concentrate! ; Wait for the backcast to straighten out! Damn, need to cast a little ; farther! Quick, re-cast that sucker!" ; ; A more eperienced person is more careful with fly and presentation: ; "Let’s see, a puddle cast with a PMD just behind that big rock should do ; the trick. There it goes!" ; ; The expert: "What a lovely day. I’ll catch THAT big fish over there, ; then THAT one. This fly seems about right. There." All the while ; instictively stalking the fish from just the right place, eyes on the ; fish, with a plan for fishing the whole pool or run unconciously ready ; to execute. The master: "What a lovely day." — archer — Archer Sully Stop Casting Porosity
: A "newbie" is a nymphal fisherman, hiding under a rock fully aware that : he or she is ugly as sin an likely to be eaten up if he or she strays : too far into the current of modern fly fishing (a "PT"??? what the : hell’s that???) [snip] Sooo… I guess you are saying you are like a San Juan Worm? Nothing but an orange piece of fluff… — Rick T. Rick Fletcher – http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Assistant professor of chemistry | That’s Idaho, not Iowa. | These University of Idaho | Upper Left Hand Corner. | opinions Moscow, ID 83844-2343 | No, I don’t grow potatoes. | are mine.
"Newbies" are anybody who realizes that they still have something to learn about flyfishing! Tim
"What I do know is that I don’t know…." Every fly I tie, every cast I make, every fish I hook and every landing I perform is a new and different experience from the previous. Isn’t it experience (learning) that provides us with knowledge? If I ever reach the point of all knowing, my interest will fade. God take me when that happens. Have fun TEM