Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to this sport and am puzzled by the practice of tieing 2 ft. of tippet to a leader then cutting the tippet ever shorter as you change flies. Why not just put 2 ft. of tippet "leader" on each fly, with a loop on the other end and engage it to a loop in the end of the leader?  Is the disturbance of two intertwined loops 2 ft. from the fly any greater than a surgeon’s knot?  Will the intertwined loops break? Ken (to reply via email remove "zz" from address) Intertwined loops "will" have a tendancy to cut each other.

Learn to use a palomar knot.  They are easier and faster to tie than the clinch and improved clinch knots, and stronger too.  The only setback is that the line must go through the eye of the hook twice, which can be rather tricky on some smaller flies.  I’ve often wondered why more people don’t use this knot. TimeRanger is absolutely correct: intertwined loops WILL cut each other under stress.  When pulled they will effectively form a kink in each loop which will be MUCH weaker than the surrounding line.  They’ll hold up just fine until you’ve got a fish or a snag and then you’ll lose both fly and tippet material. Tom Before you buy.

Response:

Learn to use a palomar knot.  They are easier and faster to tie than the clinch and improved clinch knots, and stronger too.  The only setback is that the line must go through the eye of the hook twice, which can be rather tricky on some smaller flies.  I’ve often wondered why more people don’t use this knot.

I don’t really think there’s anything special about the palomar knot, or the turle knot, other than the fact they specifically call for going through the eye twice.  You can tie other basic knots by going through the eye twice.  The clinch knot works fine for example.  Put the line through the eye, then over (or under, depending on up or down eye) the shank just behind the eye, then back through the eye.  Art Lee called it the Tweed Clinch I think.  I found it works just fine with the uniknot as well.  Makes a cool knot. Regards, Jeff

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I don’t really think there’s anything special about the palomar knot, or the turle knot, other than the fact they specifically call for going through the eye twice.  ……  What makes it quite special for me is that it is one  of the very few knots that I can tie reasonably quickly  without wearing my reading glasses.  greg.

What are the smallest hook-size flies that you use? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

I am new to this sport and am puzzled by the practice of tieing 2 ft. of tippet to a leader then cutting the tippet ever shorter as you change flies. Why not just put 2 ft. of tippet "leader" on each fly, with a loop on the other end and engage it to a loop in the end of the leader?  Is the disturbance of two intertwined loops 2 ft. from the fly any greater than a surgeon’s knot?  Will the intertwined loops break? Ken (to reply via email remove "zz" from address)

LOL…I almost could get a headache thinking about it! I assume that if you’re new to the sport you probably don’t have a lot of flies (yet!).   I probably take several thousand with me on a trip, and am carrying up to several hundred at any one time (including the various sizes).   It’s not unusual for me to have thirty or forty drying on my vest by the end of a day.   Where are all those leaders going to go?  They sure won’t fit into the small fly boxes that I carry, and the leaders flapping around while the flies are drying on my vest might get a bit bothersome. Tippet size:  though tippet size is generally determined by fly size, at times you may want to go down (spooky fish in crystal water) or up (monsters breaking off, and not selective about tippet size).   Would you have extras tied to take care of any eventuallity? Line memory:  you probably already are having to run the tippet through your fingers on ocassion, to get out the loops.   If you have tight little coils of tippet attached to the flies for any length of time – say a few months – you’re likely to see that problem increased many-fold.   If you don’t coil the line, you’ll have to have some sort of 2′ long fly box for the leaders to stay straight. Casting problems: back when I started, we tied our own leaders, using different sized leader material, graduating down to smaller sizes, for good ‘turn over.’   All the knots in the leader made for some interesting tangles, at times, especially in windy conditions.  The invention of the one-piece tapered leader was quite a boon for many of us.  Now you want to start adding more loops and knots? But go ahead and try it and get back to the board with your results. Who knows, you might find a solution that will be the next big step in fly fishing.  After all, they laughed at Orville and Wilbur, too… Best of luck. Max Before you buy.

Response:

I am new to this sport and am puzzled by the practice of tieing 2 ft. of tippet to a leader then cutting the tippet ever shorter as you change flies. Why not just put 2 ft. of tippet "leader" on each fly, with a loop on the other end and engage it to a loop in the end of the leader?  Is the disturbance of two intertwined loops 2 ft. from the fly any greater than a surgeon’s knot?  Will the intertwined loops break? Ken (to reply via email remove "zz" from address)

Response:

I am new to this sport and am puzzled by the practice of tieing 2 ft. of tippet to a leader then cutting the tippet ever shorter as you change flies. Why not just put 2 ft. of tippet "leader" on each fly, with a loop on the other end and engage it to a loop in the end of the leader?  Is the disturbance of two intertwined loops 2 ft. from the fly any greater than a surgeon’s knot?  Will the intertwined loops break? Ken (to reply via email remove "zz" from address)

Your idea will work just fine.  Probably the best knot to use is Lefty Kreh’s nonslip loop – it is plenty strong for what you are suggesting. The joined loops have never spooked fish in my experience.  Just let me warn you that it won’t be quite as efficient as you might think.  Even loops cut and weaken after awhile, so you will need to retie your loop every now and then.  Retying the loop will eat up quite a bit of leader, and putting tippet on all those flies will sure put a dent in that $9 roll of fluorocarbon  (sp?). If you do give this procedure a try I would recommend (for most western dry fly/nymph applications) using about a 7 1/2 leader tapered to 2X, and then looping in about a 2-3 foot piece of either 3X or 4X. I still use this procedure sometimes myself, but in general I am content just to tie the water knot (4 turn surgeons knot).   The connection is strong, clean, and simple, and efforts to prolong leader life are pretty well doomed from the start.  If you go ahead and try your procedure for a while, I would really like to hear how it goes for you. John.

Response:

I am new to this sport and am puzzled by the practice of tieing 2 ft. of tippet to a leader then cutting the tippet ever shorter as you change flies. Why not just put 2 ft. of tippet "leader" on each fly, with a loop on the other end and engage it to a loop in the end of the leader?  Is the disturbance of two intertwined loops 2 ft. from the fly any greater than a surgeon’s knot?  Will the intertwined loops break?

Ignoring for a moment the fact that the typical flyfisherman may carry hundreds of flies, people won’t do this because it requires foresight. How many times have you guys been furiously changing flies to cast to a rising fish, and you find out that the fly you want to use has a little knot of tippet in the eye? Either that, or the barb isn’t bent down. Or the hook isn’t sharp. Whatever, it’s precious seconds lost. A rational angler would make sure all his flies were ready to go before he hits the stream. I just snip off the old fly and toss it back in the box in whatever condition it’s in. Actually, Ken, since you’re new to the sport I expect it takes you quite awhile to tie surgeon’s knots and clinch knots (or whatever you use). With practice you’ll get much faster. That’s actually a big step, because as you get faster the idea of changing flies and tippets won’t be as loathesome, so you’ll experiment more and probably catch more fish. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

I am new to this sport and am puzzled by the practice of tieing 2 ft. of tippet to a leader then cutting the tippet ever shorter as you change flies. Why not just put 2 ft. of tippet "leader" on each fly, with a loop on the other end and engage it to a loop in the end of the leader?  Is the disturbance of two intertwined loops 2 ft. from the fly any greater than a surgeon’s knot?  Will the intertwined loops break? Ken (to reply via email remove "zz" from address)

Intertwined loops "will" have a tendancy to cut each other.  

Response:

I am new to this sport and am puzzled by the practice of tieing 2 ft. of tippet to a leader then cutting the tippet ever shorter as you change flies. Why not just put 2 ft. of tippet "leader" on each fly, with a loop on the other end and engage it to a loop in the end of the leader?  Is the disturbance of two intertwined loops 2 ft. from the fly any greater than a surgeon’s knot?  Will the intertwined loops break? Ken

Ken, you have just re-invented the snelled hook!  This is the way they actually did it in the old days, back before somebody had the bright idea to put eyes on the hooks.  Of course, the snell was made of gut, which you had to soak with water the day before you went fishing to soften it up, along with your leaders. To see the weakness of this system, consider the fact that the average fly fisherman accumulates flies in his or her fly vest at a rate of approximately 400 per year (after a few years they will start to breed on their own.)  Just think about having to manage all those thousands of bits of string.  I would almost be afraid to open up one of my fly boxes. Kevin

Response:

Because the number of flys carried would cause a massive snarl of tippet. If interested, there is however an answer to the delima. There is on the market a small clip that is so light it floats. tieing it with a loop permits flys to properly oriet themselves and saves tippet tying. You can purchase them at some fly shops or from the Cabelas catalog. John Popp

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to this sport and am puzzled by the practice of tieing 2 ft. of tippet to a leader then cutting the tippet ever shorter as you change flies. Why not just put 2 ft. of tippet "leader" on each fly, with a loop on the other end and engage it to a loop in the end of the leader?  Is the disturbance of two intertwined loops 2 ft. from the fly any greater than a surgeon’s knot?  Will the intertwined loops break? Ken (to reply via email remove "zz" from address)

Response:

Question:

I cannot find a serial number on this engine but need to know what the proper float setting is. It is a two cylinder engine with single carb. The carb has the plunger type choke set-up, maybe this will help identify it. Any help here will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Fishing East Central Florida and Flyfishing Pages

Response:

I cannot find a serial number on this engine but need to know what the proper float setting is. It is a two cylinder engine with single carb. The carb has the plunger type choke set-up, maybe this will help identify it. Any help here will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Without seeing the carb design, my vague, general answer for float settings would be: Float height – Hold carb upside down and make the float parallel with the bowl mounting surface.   Float drop – Low… but not touching the bottom of the bowl.   If it’s some other odd-ball design, or if you are unsure of how to do it, a service manual would come in very handy.   Also remember, that if you do something wrong that causes a lean condition, a rebuilt powerhead costs a lot more than having a shop check the carb out. Mike Seiler

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Question:

It looks like I’ll be in Switzerland next August. I was thinking that this might be a chance to try some European flyfishing. Anyone have suggestions about what would be good that time of year? It doesn’t have to be near Switzerland. This is a free trip, so I can afford to splurge on extra travel.

August is not exactly the best time for fishing here, but whatever, drop me a mail a little before the time and I will arrange something. Do it at least a month or so beforehand, and I will try and organise a license and everything for you if you would like to have a go here in Germany. I will try and send you some info on Switzerland as well. Your best bet for reasonable fishing is probably Austria. Tight lines ! MC

Response:

It looks like I’ll be in Switzerland next August. I was thinking that this might be a chance to try some European flyfishing. Anyone have suggestions about what would be good that time of year? It doesn’t have to be near Switzerland. This is a free trip, so I can afford to splurge on extra travel. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

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Question:

Tom , My friend your singing to The Choir .   Harry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – :  #17-Outlaw all types of fishing in any of the river so reclamied. : After all it’s about the fish …right? You bet, Harry. I’m with you on that one. Rather than proposing to make it pure C+R, why not have a 1-weekend season? Hunting seems to work rather well like that. If the fish can handle pure C+R, they can handle some harvest. Why bias the policy against the vast majority of fishermen who like to keep some fish? : : 15.) Bill nations with an exorbitant military service fee for resolving their : wars with our military. This huge windfall of trillions of dollars would fund : the government. clean up the environment/save the wild fish and lower our : taxes. Should this be taken as "I’m not willing to pay for it myself"? Of course, sending a bill doesn’t mean you actually collect money. Do you *really* think we’d reap a "windfall"? No, if they have the money, rather than pay us, they’d keep that money and raise their own army. Then we’d be back to square one. It is in our own interest for these nations to not keep large standing armies. That’s what gives us the title "superpower". If a country had the money to build a strong military, it probably would not need US aid to protect itself from other nations. For example, England would not need US intervention in the foreseeable future, but Kosovo will. Meanwhile, the US spent over a billion dollars on Kosovo and we never see that money again. The US will end up fighting over there again without compensation because of Milosevic or some other tyrant and we will spend billions of dollars to try to solve a problem that will never be solved without 50 or more years of commitment. As far as I am concerned, the US environmental problems are more important than Kosovo. Congress whines "a Billion dollars has been spent on the salmon in the last 20 years….", but is a happy camper whenever we blow billions of dollars in a few weeks to try to rectify a problem that has existed for 1000’s of years in the false hope that we can make things better in a month of bombing when the Serbs and Kosovars have been intolerant of each other for hundreds, if not thousands of years. A few years of peacekeeping will not make things better and the US will spend more on Kosovo, a place more than 3000 miles away from America than it will on fixing our environmental problems in the next few years. When was Kosovo a part of the US? Is it the 51st state? It is wrong for the government to spend more money on Kosovo than it does for many states. I bet the people of Wyoming are pleased that the citizens of Kosovo get more Wyoming taxpayer dollars than the people of Wyoming. If Kosovo wants our help, they better pay their share of the taxes. Whenever Americans need improvements or protection, Americans pay their government for those services. Why should another nation who uses our Governement to solve their problems be absolved from paying for the services that they used? Anyways, the *real* question is how much are *you* willing to have *your* taxes increase to fund all of your points?  If you are not willing to pay for it yourself, then it’s all just hot air. no, I am willing to pay my taxes even with an increase, but the government should be efficient with the money it collects from taxpayers. It is not right for the government to spend billions of dollars on the problems of other nations while we have so many problems at home to solve. If the government is going to spend money on other nations, the government should demand payment for services rendered. I pay to fish by buying a license and that money is used to manage fisheries. My payment pays for the management services provided by my state. Why should the military be any different? If a country has a problem that has to be resolved by the military and they ask for our help, that US military aid should be paid for by the country that is asking for our help. What’s wrong with paying for services delivered? It’s ridiculous to let our tax dollars be spent without demanding compensation for what has been done. Spend the money on the salmon/steelhead, forests, waterways, educational system, infrastructure and technology instead of throwing money into a fire. Tom JonCook.

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Are there any other rivers in the lower 48 states that a summer Steelhead will take a fly on the surface?   I’ve had many days of ten fish on the Deschutes river in Oregon skating fly’s on the surface for Steelhead.  Wonder why they take a fly on the surface on the Deschutes, and not on other rivers? — Sharp Hooks, Pat Holdzit Fishing Products Inc. http://www.holdzit.com Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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At the right time and place they’ll take a dry on any water.

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I believe wild fish come to the surface more readily than planted fish. I know that Bill McMillan swears by surface fishing for steal head in his book Dry Line Fishing For Pacific Steelhead.

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I believe wild fish come to the surface more readily than planted fish. I know that Bill McMillan swears by surface fishing for steal head in his book Dry Line Fishing For Pacific Steelhead.

Hi All, There are two ways to dry fly fish for steelhead. Waking or skating dry flies and dead drifting dry flies. We met an old English angler on the Bulkley River in B.C. who said that the only tasteful way was to dead drift dries. I think wild fish are preferable. Sun off the water and 60 degree water temperater also can help. You are looking for water that is less than 10 feet deep, moving at a medium speed and with a pretty smooth surface. Maybe late September, early October? There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found.

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There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found.

Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever? — something bogus to avoid spam)

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says… There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found. Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever?

Excessive commercial fishing pressure, improperly designed dams, water pollution, destruction of habitat and improperly managed sport fisheries….. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text — something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

If you catch enough steelhead, the nonsense about a difference between hatchery and wild fish becomes obvious.  I have always found steelhead come up for dries best in the tail of a pool, usually on a side.  Probably just less water overhead and that they usually are found in this area at the start and end of the day which probably means they have not been disturbed for some time.  If you spot a fish in such a location, a little skate when the fly is about 2 foot above the fish’s lie helps. Fred – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I believe wild fish come to the surface more readily than planted fish. I know that Bill McMillan swears by surface fishing for steal head in his book Dry Line Fishing For Pacific Steelhead.

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There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found. Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever? — something bogus to avoid spam)

I started fishing steelhead in the 60s in northern California. It was still pretty good fishing then, but the older guys really saw it in it’s ‘hay days’. I have fished with an old group of anglers that fished for them heavily from the end of W W II till just recently. Mostly, they are too old to wade and secondly in the last 10 years they have lost interest. We still have a pretty strong younger group that travel up and down the northwest coast of North America. I have listened to them tell the stories of fishing 50 years ago on the great un-damed rivers of North America. The mighty Russian, Eel, Trinity, Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua and on up through Oregon, Washington and the great rivers of British Columbia. It is a crime what we let happen to our great rivers. We mostly wipped out the wild steelhead in the 1900s. Bad logging, too many dams, de-watering and agriculture have lead to the loss of habitate for the might ‘Iron Head’. Commercial netting up north in BC is to blame also. If they could just start working on some of the good rivers that are left we could save some wild steelhead stocks. I have been thinking about this for the last 10 years. Take a few rivers and turn them back to wild rivers with no hatchery fish. Close them for 10 years and build back up a good population. No logging on the drainage. No dams. No more roads. Steelhead should all be wild and all be catch and release. If you have caught wild steelhead on a fly rod with a floating line and dry or unweighted steelhead fly, you can understand this kind of thinking. Hell, if you caught a wild steelhead on any kind of tackle you would understand. Rather than complain all the time, we should try to save what is left.

Response:

says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found. Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever? — something bogus to avoid spam) I started fishing steelhead in the 60s in northern California. It was still pretty good fishing then, but the older guys really saw it in it’s ‘hay days’. I have fished with an old group of anglers that fished for them heavily from the end of W W II till just recently. Mostly, they are too old to wade and secondly in the last 10 years they have lost interest. We still have a pretty strong younger group that travel up and down the northwest coast of North America. I have listened to them tell the stories of fishing 50 years ago on the great un-damed rivers of North America. The mighty Russian, Eel, Trinity, Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua and on up through Oregon, Washington and the great rivers of British Columbia. It is a crime what we let happen to our great rivers. We mostly wipped out the wild steelhead in the 1900s. Bad logging, too many dams, de-watering and agriculture have lead to the loss of habitate for the might ‘Iron Head’. Commercial netting up north in BC is to blame also. If they could just start working on some of the good rivers that are left we could save some wild steelhead stocks. I have been thinking about this for the last 10 years. Take a few rivers and turn them back to wild rivers with no hatchery fish. Close them for 10 years and build back up a good population. No logging on the drainage. No dams. No more roads. Steelhead should all be wild and all be catch and release. If you have caught wild steelhead on a fly rod with a floating line and dry or unweighted steelhead fly, you can understand this kind of thinking. Hell, if you caught a wild steelhead on any kind of tackle you would understand. Rather than complain all the time, we should try to save what is left.

I think the steelhead and salmon could come back to historic proportions if the following things were done: 1.) All remaining undammed rivers are allowed to flow freely for eternity. 2.) Cities built near spawning habitat should be forced stop all development     near the spawning habitat. 3.) Ban commercial fishing for coldwater fish in the sea or freshwater. Catch     and Release only for wild stocks and certain hatchery stocks should be     maintained to create fisheries for the average angler while saving the     wild fish with prudent management. Seafood farming (the planting and     raising of seafood)would be implemented instead of commercial fishing. 4.) Train and pay former commercial fishermen to help study and protect the         fish stocks.     5.) Create tree farms for necessary lumber and ban logging in pristine         forests. Hire loggers to log the tree farms and use their expertise to             assist in the reclaimation of logged forests. Train loggers to fight         forest fires, maintain national parks and use their forestry skills             /training to help wilderness areas. 6.) retrofit all amenable dams with fish ladders to allow fish migration. 7.) breach all dams that cannot be retrofitted to help the salmon/steelhead         migrations. 8.) All hatchery plantings be restricted to planting native river stocks only     and augmenting the hatchery stock by a yearly infusion of native river.     stocks. 9.) Ban all logging, development and restrict access in sensitive areas. 10.) Reward organizations and industrial firms by giving huge tax breaks to companies that actively seek to help the environment by complying with the environmental regulations. 11.) Punish (15,000% tax rate)all firms that show wanton disregard for the environment by heavy taxation. 12.) Punish firms that try to leave the US in effort to circumvent the rules with a 20,000% tax rate. 13.) Punish (100,000% tax rate) rogue firms that try to lay off workers to offset financial punishments due to environmental callousness and ineptitude. 14.) after implementation of rules 10-13, all firms will be in compliance as it will be unprofitable to intentionally pollute. 15.) Bill nations with an exorbitant military service fee for resolving their wars with our military. This huge windfall of trillions of dollars would fund the government. clean up the environment/save the wild fish and lower our taxes. 16.) With the 15 rules above, the salmon, steelhead and other wild stocks would be saved, fisheries for the average angler would exist, the environment would be cleaner, the old growth forest would remain, wars would cease, loggers would still be employed, development would be carefully controlled, taxes would be lower, the military would be superpowerful/well funded and we would have enough money to enhance America’s future and resolve many of our problems.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – :  #17-Outlaw all types of fishing in any of the river so reclamied. : After all it’s about the fish …right? You bet, Harry. I’m with you on that one. Rather than proposing to make it pure C+R, why not have a 1-weekend season? Hunting seems to work rather well like that. If the fish can handle pure C+R, they can handle some harvest. Why bias the policy against the vast majority of fishermen who like to keep some fish? : : 15.) Bill nations with an exorbitant military service fee for resolving their : wars with our military. This huge windfall of trillions of dollars would fund : the government. clean up the environment/save the wild fish and lower our : taxes. Should this be taken as "I’m not willing to pay for it myself"? Of course, sending a bill doesn’t mean you actually collect money. Do you *really* think we’d reap a "windfall"? No, if they have the money, rather than pay us, they’d keep that money and raise their own army. Then we’d be back to square one. It is in our own interest for these nations to not keep large standing armies. That’s what gives us the title "superpower".

If a country had the money to build a strong military, it probably would not need US aid to protect itself from other nations. For example, England would not need US intervention in the foreseeable future, but Kosovo will. Meanwhile, the US spent over a billion dollars on Kosovo and we never see that money again. The US will end up fighting over there again without compensation because of Milosevic or some other tyrant and we will spend billions of dollars to try to solve a problem that will never be solved without 50 or more years of commitment. As far as I am concerned, the US environmental problems are more important than Kosovo. Congress whines "a Billion dollars has been spent on the salmon in the last 20 years….", but is a happy camper whenever we blow billions of dollars in a few weeks to try to rectify a problem that has existed for 1000’s of years in the false hope that we can make things better in a month of bombing when the Serbs and Kosovars have been intolerant of each other for hundreds, if not thousands of years. A few years of peacekeeping will not make things better and the US will spend more on Kosovo, a place more than 3000 miles away from America than it will on fixing our environmental problems in the next few years. When was Kosovo a part of the US? Is it the 51st state? It is wrong for the government to spend more money on Kosovo than it does for many states. I bet the people of Wyoming are pleased that the citizens of Kosovo get more Wyoming taxpayer dollars than the people of Wyoming. If Kosovo wants our help, they better pay their share of the taxes. Whenever Americans need improvements or protection, Americans pay their government for those services. Why should another nation who uses our Governement to solve their problems be absolved from paying for the services that they used? Anyways, the *real* question is how much are *you* willing to have *your* taxes increase to fund all of your points?  If you are not willing to pay for it yourself, then it’s all just hot air.

no, I am willing to pay my taxes even with an increase, but the government should be efficient with the money it collects from taxpayers. It is not right for the government to spend billions of dollars on the problems of other nations while we have so many problems at home to solve. If the government is going to spend money on other nations, the government should demand payment for services rendered. I pay to fish by buying a license and that money is used to manage fisheries. My payment pays for the management services provided by my state. Why should the military be any different? If a country has a problem that has to be resolved by the military and they ask for our help, that US military aid should be paid for by the country that is asking for our help. What’s wrong with paying for services delivered? It’s ridiculous to let our tax dollars be spent without demanding compensation for what has been done. Spend the money on the salmon/steelhead, forests, waterways, educational system, infrastructure and technology instead of throwing money into a fire. Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -JonCook.

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 #17-Outlaw all types of fishing in any of the river so reclamied. After all it’s about the fish …right? HM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – says… There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found. Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever? — something bogus to avoid spam) I started fishing steelhead in the 60s in northern California. It was still pretty good fishing then, but the older guys really saw it in it’s ‘hay days’. I have fished with an old group of anglers that fished for them heavily from the end of W W II till just recently. Mostly, they are too old to wade and secondly in the last 10 years they have lost interest. We still have a pretty strong younger group that travel up and down the northwest coast of North America. I have listened to them tell the stories of fishing 50 years ago on the great un-damed rivers of North America. The mighty Russian, Eel, Trinity, Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua and on up through Oregon, Washington and the great rivers of British Columbia. It is a crime what we let happen to our great rivers. We mostly wipped out the wild steelhead in the 1900s. Bad logging, too many dams, de-watering and agriculture have lead to the loss of habitate for the might ‘Iron Head’. Commercial netting up north in BC is to blame also. If they could just start working on some of the good rivers that are left we could save some wild steelhead stocks. I have been thinking about this for the last 10 years. Take a few rivers and turn them back to wild rivers with no hatchery fish. Close them for 10 years and build back up a good population. No logging on the drainage. No dams. No more roads. Steelhead should all be wild and all be catch and release. If you have caught wild steelhead on a fly rod with a floating line and dry or unweighted steelhead fly, you can understand this kind of thinking. Hell, if you caught a wild steelhead on any kind of tackle you would understand. Rather than complain all the time, we should try to save what is left. I think the steelhead and salmon could come back to historic proportions if the following things were done: 1.) All remaining undammed rivers are allowed to flow freely for eternity. 2.) Cities built near spawning habitat should be forced stop all development    near the spawning habitat. 3.) Ban commercial fishing for coldwater fish in the sea or freshwater. Catch    and Release only for wild stocks and certain hatchery stocks should be    maintained to create fisheries for the average angler while saving the    wild fish with prudent management. Seafood farming (the planting and    raising of seafood)would be implemented instead of commercial fishing. 4.) Train and pay former commercial fishermen to help study and protect the         fish stocks.         5.) Create tree farms for necessary lumber and ban logging in pristine         forests. Hire loggers to log the tree farms and use their expertise to             assist in the reclaimation of logged forests. Train loggers to fight         forest fires, maintain national parks and use their forestry skills             /training to help wilderness areas. 6.) retrofit all amenable dams with fish ladders to allow fish migration. 7.) breach all dams that cannot be retrofitted to help the salmon/steelhead         migrations. 8.) All hatchery plantings be restricted to planting native river stocks only     and augmenting the hatchery stock by a yearly infusion of native river.    stocks. 9.) Ban all logging, development and restrict access in sensitive areas. 10.) Reward organizations and industrial firms by giving huge tax breaks to companies that actively seek to help the environment by complying with the environmental regulations. 11.) Punish (15,000% tax rate)all firms that show wanton disregard for the environment by heavy taxation. 12.) Punish firms that try to leave the US in effort to circumvent the rules with a 20,000% tax rate. 13.) Punish (100,000% tax rate) rogue firms that try to lay off workers to offset financial punishments due to environmental callousness and ineptitude. 14.) after implementation of rules 10-13, all firms will be in compliance as it will be unprofitable to intentionally pollute. 15.) Bill nations with an exorbitant military service fee for resolving their wars with our military. This huge windfall of trillions of dollars would fund the government. clean up the environment/save the wild fish and lower our taxes. 16.) With the 15 rules above, the salmon, steelhead and other wild stocks would be saved, fisheries for the average angler would exist, the environment would be cleaner, the old growth forest would remain, wars would cease, loggers would still be employed, development would be carefully controlled, taxes would be lower, the military would be superpowerful/well funded and we would have enough money to enhance America’s future and resolve many of our problems.

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Question:

Thanks for the responeses, Jeff

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Maybe you can help me,     My Dad just got a fly rod from a friend whose father recently died.  He would like to use it but does not want to if it is potientially valuable. It is a split bamboo, ~6′6".  Printed on it is "GOLDEN BAMBOO"  "MADE IN JAPAN"  and signed "L.M. Dixon"  Any ideas about it? Thanks, Jeff

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Historically, Japanese Rods have not been treated well in the collectors market. They were made with much less care and dedication to detail than most USA or UK rods. Being somewhat familiar with the "market", I would suggest you get another opinion and then go fish the rod if it is still in good enough condition.  The Japanese are very active these days buying USA made rods, both older and new. Tight lines. DSW

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Dixon was not a very valuable rod in term of it’s collectability;Just becuase it’s bamboo doesn’t mean it’s valuable. In fact, most old bamboo rods are down right worthless then, and they are worthless now. One indication of quality of rod quality is to count the number of guides and look at the quality of ferrules. In the old days, the value of the bamboo rod were primarily determined by the quality and quantity of it’s hardware, not the bamboo blank itself, which could be worth next to nothing. It sound strange, but true. If the rod is in good shape, you may just wish to use it as is or, if you have the inclination, refinish with new poly varnish and rewrap new modern guides for modern fly lines etc… My first refinishing effort was on a old Dixon I picked up for next to nothing. I re-corked , re-coat with modern poly varnish and replaced all the guides with bigger one for modern fly lines, and you would not believe how the rod turned out. What’s more, it taught me alot about bamboo rod refinishing and it  gave me insights into later refinishing and restoration efforts of other more valuable rods. To me, that Dixon was priceless. These refinishing efforts can be teach you alot  about – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Maybe you can help me,    My Dad just got a fly rod from a friend whose father recently died.  He would like to use it but does not want to if it is potientially valuable. It is a split bamboo, ~6′6".  Printed on it is "GOLDEN BAMBOO"  "MADE IN JAPAN"  and signed "L.M. Dixon"  Any ideas about it? Thanks, Jeff

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_______  Like a spring Caddis Fly that will soon have gone through it’s complete metamorphosis, I am slowly becoming a BAMBOO GEEK.  The study of cane never leaves my thoughts.  I have cut a short piece and split it.  I fondle it and carry it with me everywhere I go.  It is thick.  It is hard and sharp of edge and the sample holds a molecular world I know little of . . . yet my imagination travels inside it, inbetween all its molecules.  Cured long ago, this yellow stick from the far Orient, has found a home.  It speaks to me in a way better then words. So it is, inanimate in all respects, but a spirit of promise radiates from it like radium from plain rock, as it sits here, infecting me.  I am drawn to the mysteries of Tonkin. I am sure of it, in my mind, on this adventure, that the very first fly rod I will make will be as good as the last one I will ever make in my life.  I have been thinking about #1 for thousands of hours and for many months.  No, I haven’t ever done this before, but it matters not because my whole life has been dressed in the clothing’s of the great outdoors. How could it not be so?  I seldom do things badly in my life except I did piss on my own leg in a Mountain’s Wind Storm, once. I have it in my heart, that if someone doesn’t purchase #1 by the time I build it, I may donate it to a Museum.   I will put a high price on it as a collector’s item and that will be that.  I will let history judge the wisdom of it all years into the future, when people such as you and I are long dead nd gone, and another generation of Bastard Fly Rod Artists will pass on a legacy long since into high serial numbers.  One day, some one will visit the A Museum of Fly Fishing and see the #1 Bastard Fly Rod and they may ask just one question.  "I wish I could have been there to buy it when they had the chance,"  and we will giggle ourselves into eternity, while fly fishing one of God’s trout streams. Mr. G. i was never a man of hindsight  http://www.gink.com

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_______  Like a spring Caddis Fly that will soon have gone through it’s complete metamorphosis, I am slowly becoming a BAMBOO GEEK.  The study of cane never leaves my thoughts.  I have cut a short piece and split it.  I fondle it and carry it with me everywhere I go.  It is thick.  It is hard and sharp of edge and the sample holds a molecular world I know little of . . . yet.  Cured long ago, this yellow stick from the far Orient, has found a home.  It speaks to me in a way better then words. So it is, inanimate in all respects, but a spirit of promise radiates from it like radium from a plain rock, as it sits here – infecting me, just sitting there. I am drawn by the mystery of Tonkin Cane. I have it in my mind, on this adventure, that the very first fly rod I make will be the best fly rod I will ever make in my life.  I have been thinking about #1 for thousands of hours and for many months.  No, I haven’t ever done this thing before, but it matters not because my whole life  is now dressed in Bamboo.  How could it not be so?  I’ve never done anything badly in my life except piss on my own leg in a wind storm, once. I have it in my heart, that if someone doesn’t purchase #1 by the time I build it, I will donate this first Bastard of my dreams to The American Museum of Fly Fishing.  I will put a high price on it as a collector’s item and that will be that.  I will let history judge the wisdom of it all years into the future, when people such as you and I are long dead and gone, and another generation of Bastard Fly Rod Artists will pass on a legacy long since into high serial numbers.  One day, some one will visit the American Museum of Fly Fishing and see the #1 Bastard Fly Rod I have in my mind and heart and they may ask just one question.  "I wish I could have been there to buy it when I had the chance,"  and I will turn over in my grave giggling myself into eternity. I told you so. Mr. G. i was never a man of hindsight —

Question:

Does anybody know of any good trout streams or rivers in central Michigan. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Looking to go camping in this area and would like to fly fishing. Thanks,                Tim

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Does anybody know of any good trout streams or rivers in central Michigan. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Looking to go camping in this area and would like to fly fishing.

Look for guidebooks by Huggler or Linseman or Hendrickson with "Michigan" in the title. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Does anybody know of any good trout streams or rivers in central Michigan. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Looking to go camping in this area and would like to fly fishing. Thanks,                Tim

How far are you from Grayling?  That seems to be the "CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE" for flyfishing around here.

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I’m located in South Bend, IN which would be 4-5 hours. Let me know more about Grayling fishing sites. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anybody know of any good trout streams or rivers in central Michigan. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Looking to go camping in this area and would like to fly fishing. Thanks,                Tim How far are you from Grayling?  That seems to be the "CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE" for flyfishing around here.

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Question:

Thought you all might be interested in a new Fly Fishing Loop of websites. The loop is just getting started, but already has been well received. It’s called the: Fly Fishing Loop Located at: http://homepage.interaccess.com/~tsteele/FlyFishingLoop/ Any fly fishing related website can be in the Loop. This can include, personal home pages, commercial websites (such as a manufacturers with products or services that are fly fishing related), fly tying sites, fly fishing clubs, organizations, links pages, fly fishing publications or periodicals, fly fishing guides, fly fishing shops etc. If it is fly fishing related and has a website, it can be in the Loop. You can get more information, and sign-up online. It takes about 2 mins. Everything you need to be in the Loop will be emailed to you automatically, after you sign-up. I hope that will take a moment to visit the Loop’s home page. The loop is devoted to fly fishing and all things related to the pursuit of fish on a fly. It needs your support. Website that are in the Loop will get increased traffic from the Loop. Visitors to the Loop will be interested in one thing…Fly Fishing. For commercial sites and those in the trade, the benfits are obvious, you get exposure to a specific audience of FF visitors to the Loop. Personal sites, organizations and clubs will get increased website exposure in the Loop, and can use the loop to get their word out, to the right audience as well! The Loop also benfits from the diversity and range of content that the various members have on their sites. Throught the Loop you can navigate all member sites, easily. I hope you will consider joining the loop. Tight lines and light leaders, Thomas Steele The Steelhead Site http://steelheadsite.com

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Thought you all might be interested in a new Fly Fishing Loop of websites. The loop is just getting started, but already has been well received. It’s called the: Fly Fishing Loop Located at: http://homepage.interaccess.com/~tsteele/FlyFishingLoop/

Hi, Just tried and got no connection. Could you verify that the above is correct. Thanks. Michael — Mit der Dummheit kampfen Gotter selbst vergebens -Schiller-

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Just tried and got no connection. Could you verify that the above is correct.

Works for me … must have been server trouble. Looks very cool and is a neat concept. Thomas Steele The Steelhead Site

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  Given the Spiral of Death this ng has been in for a while, I  can only attribute it to    CABIN FEVER <<<   First of the year no less.   I  suggest we all run from our keyboards screaming some " PC" epithet and dive into the snow or at least in the freezer outside. Return  to your bench and tye  a dozen #22 Royal Humpys and call it a day.  All references to anatomical parts or functions, should be spoken, face down into the snow in a civil tone. Use of Prosaic & White Label with sensory depravation devices is frowned upon, but not forbidden. Remember that not long ago there was a good PMD hatch,that you just missed and the Sun was high and warm, and the river felt cool. We will be back there soon, Britt slang or no .   Harry "Only hundred and ten dozen more… shit"

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Hi Harry I agree with your "take" on the situation. The next thing we know someone with starting talking about Rush Limbaugh or Larry King and go bouncing in another direction. I like you "face down in the snow" idea, that would sure bring me up short. Speaking of which, I have about 14" of snow to shovel off the driveway, I guess I better get started. Darn! Other topic: You state at your signature "Only hundred and ten dozen more…" Are you a commercial tier? If you are I certainly understand you statement. Gretchen and I are winding down on an order for 350 dozen Royal Wulffs – only 27 more dozen to go. And then we have about another 800 to go. Oh well, Montana winter are long and we have plenty of time. Happy Holidays. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 materials catalog) http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

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Question:

Hi I need some help.  Does anyone know where i can find some flyfishing clip art?  I neeed it for our TU newsletter.  Please e-mail me at Thanks for the help. Jamie Hart

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I need some help.  Does anyone know where i can find some flyfishing clip art?  I neeed it for our TU newsletter.  Please e-mail me at

I need same type of info.  I e-mailed this type of request to TU national over a month ago and haven’t heard anything from them. Please post a reply to the Newsgroup. Tight Lines, Gerry

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I need some help.  Does anyone know where i can find some flyfishing clip art?  I neeed it for our TU newsletter.  Please e-mail me at Thanks for the help. Jamie Hart  Get a life!!!!

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Question:

Could someone please provide me with the phone number of a fly fishing shop in either Bolder or Estes Park, Colorado?  I will be in boulder on business for four days next week and would like to try to fish all day Sunday.  I am tentatively planning on fishing the Big Thompson river all day Sunday. Thanks in advance. David Burba Intel Corp (602) 554-8763 (Wk)

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Dave, St Vrain Anglers, in Longmont. (303) 651-6061 They are located one block west of Main street on 4th st. (Main st is really US 287) near the corner of 4th and Terry. Another place you might consider fishing, if you have the time, is the Larimie river, south of Woods Landing.  It takes about 2 hours to get there, but there’s plenty of public water, plenty of 10 – 14 inch rainbows and brookies, and it’s a splended drive, up over Deadman Pass. —    Bill Oliver

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Dave Writes: Could someone please provide me with the phone number of a fly fishing shop in either Bolder or Estes Park, Colorado?  I will be in boulder on business for four days next week and would like to try to fish all day Sunday.  I am tentatively planning on fishing the Big Thompson river all day Sunday.

Dave the shop is called the Estes Angler: Phone 303-586-2110 The part owner is Don Darling. Last time I was up there, it was the only full service fly shop.       __*                              /                             /    From the Float Tube of Elmer Meiler                            /     Somewhere on the Pond of OZ                        0 /o                      __[]__                     (______)_____

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Could someone please provide me with the phone number of a fly fishing shop in either Bolder or Estes Park, Colorado?  I will be in boulder on business for four days next week and would like to try to fish all day Sunday.  I am tentatively planning on fishing the Big Thompson river all day Sunday. Thanks in advance. David Burba

Here’s a couple:      Front Range Anglers (Boulder) (303) 494-1375      An Orvis Shop       (Boulder) (303) 442-6204 For fishing the Thomson, I’d recommend at least talking with Dale from St. Vrain Anglers in Longmont (12-15 miles northeast of Bldr…)  That seems to be more his neck of the woods… Gotta warn you though, like Montana, the fishin’ here is extremely poor. Has something to do with Califorians……  ;-) -PWM — Nat’l Center for Atmos Research    voice:  (303) 497-1293 Scientific Computing Division    

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