Question:

I was running a board, njflyfishing.com and took it down recently to make it a bit more attractive to users passing through.  It’s now back up and I’m using the best (well what I think is the best) Bulletin board software (VBulletin).  Anyone care to give it a try?  I’d like to know what is missing and what I need to make it a more likeable place to visit.  There are no advertisements or popups, I’m not into this to make money, I’m into it because I enjoy flyfishing and computers. Thanks for your help www.njflyfishing.com —–=  Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News  =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!  Check out our new Unlimited Server. No Download or Time Limits! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers!  ==—–

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Ok, I know it was ugly..  I’ve done some work to it over the weekend. I’ll be adding photo’s, river conditions, hatch information, and other stuff.  anyone feel like contributing ?   I could use a board moderator or two although at the time being, there is not much to moderate. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was running a board, njflyfishing.com and took it down recently to make it a bit more attractive to users passing through.  It’s now back up and I’m using the best (well what I think is the best) Bulletin board software (VBulletin).  Anyone care to give it a try?  I’d like to know what is missing and what I need to make it a more likeable place to visit.  There are no advertisements or popups, I’m not into this to make money, I’m into it because I enjoy flyfishing and computers. Thanks for your help www.njflyfishing.com —–=  Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News  =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! Check out our new Unlimited Server. No Download or Time Limits! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers!  ==—–

—–=  Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News  =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!  Check out our new Unlimited Server. No Download or Time Limits! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers!  ==—–

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Question:

What size tippet are you using, and what knot are you using to tie on your fly?  I fish for bass and panfish with a 5X tippet and do fine (bluegill up to maybe 6 inches, bass to about 15 inches).  Used to lose a lot of flies before I switched from an improved clinch knot to a Duncan loop/Uniknot – since then I haven’t had problems with losing flies.  Hope this helps. — Bob Jarvis Mail address hacked to foil spammers! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Help, I am an intermediate fly fisherman who is used to catching pan fish.  Lately I have been doing a little better but am having trouble sacrificing my fly  to the God of fish.  Is there a good techniqe out there for running drag on a fairly light rig when catching a big fish.  I have been using the palm of my right hand to self adjust the drag once the fish is on but seem to have a heavy touch.  Any advice? thanks.

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Help, I am an intermediate fly fisherman who is used to catching pan fish.  Lately I have been doing a little better but am having trouble sacrificing my fly  to the God of fish.  Is there a good techniqe out there for running drag on a fairly light rig when catching a big fish.  I have been using the palm of my right hand to self adjust the drag once the fish is on but seem to have a heavy touch.  Any advice? thanks.

Hi Sky, I set the drag just heavy enough to keep the reel from back lashing or over running when I quickly pull some line off the reel. I then add more drag or resistance with my fingers on the fly line or use the rim control drag. I would then be sure that you have the right size tippet to match your fly size. Make sure that your leader/tippet is fresh and your knots are good. For #10, 12 & 14 dries I would use 5x tippet. For #16, 18 & 20 I would use 6x tippet.(7x later) For #8, 10 & 12 wet flies and nymphs I would use 3x tippet. For #14, 16 & 18 wet flies and nymphs I would use 4x tippet.(5x later) This is a chart I give to anglers that are just getting started. It is just for a rough guide and to get them thinking about using different size tippets with different size flies. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

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Breakoffs are the result of both reel drag and rod flex at the tip. A slower rod ie more flexible acts as a shock absorber to the fishes sudden movements and cushions the leader and light tippet. The drag is for breaking the fish’s runs (longer distance moves). I don’t know many fisherman that can use the old palm drag technique without just a little too much pressure just for a split secound that gives the fish your fly. Many reels have good drags like Lamson and Abel (and Cortland etc for the cheaper ones) I like the Bauer and other large arbor reels because their drag is the smoothest and most adjustable. I also have a Rhyle (sp?) which is resonably expensive and the drag is terrible. You keep having to reset it with a fish on. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Help, I am an intermediate fly fisherman who is used to catching pan fish. Lately I have been doing a little better but am having trouble sacrificing my fly  to the God of fish.  Is there a good techniqe out there for running drag on a fairly light rig when catching a big fish.  I have been using the palm of my right hand to self adjust the drag once the fish is on but seem to have a heavy touch.  Any advice? thanks.

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You’ll probably get  a response from TimW, Halfordian Golfer on this one… He’s the one that usually works in drag in this NG…. #:)#

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Help, I am an intermediate fly fisherman who is used to catching pan fish.  Lately I have been doing a little better but am having trouble sacrificing my fly  to the God of fish.  Is there a good techniqe out there for running drag on a fairly light rig when catching a big fish.  I have been using the palm of my right hand to self adjust the drag once the fish is on but seem to have a heavy touch.  Any advice? thanks.

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I am an intermediate fly fisherman who is used to catching pan fish.  Lately I have been doing a little better but am having trouble sacrificing my fly  to the God of fish.  Is there a good techniqe out there for running drag on a fairly light rig when catching a big fish.  I have been using the palm of my right hand to self adjust the drag once the fish is on but seem to have a heavy touch.  Any advice?

You are obviously holding harder than you need. Have a look at books on Pennsylvania fly fishing for trout, where tiny flies require light leaders, e.g. Ed Koch’s Fishing the Midge (1972).  There is a consensus there that even with big fish (say 5 lb.) the rod and guides provide about as much drag as the tippet can endure, depending on how high up you point the rod and how much the rod bends.  For this fishing, reel drag is minimal, i.e. just enough to prevent overrun. I.e. drag depends on the bend of the rod more than the resistance of the reel.  You even see this on salmon rivers where fish run 20 lb.  Reel drag setting is secondary to making the bend of the rod tire out the hooked fish. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Help, I am an intermediate fly fisherman who is used to catching pan fish.  Lately I have been doing a little better but am having trouble sacrificing my fly  to the God of fish.  Is there a good techniqe out there for running drag on a fairly light rig when catching a big fish.  I have been using the palm of my right hand to self adjust the drag once the fish is on but seem to have a heavy touch.  Any advice? thanks.

A top quality fly reel will have an excellent, working drag.  I use Penn International reels…great drag, great reel, expensive but worth it if you hook lots of big fish. — Don Jordan "The Real Indiana Jones" http://realindy.com

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Question:

I will be up in Bend, Oregon next week and will be trying to fish Hosmer Lake next Friday, May 15.  Any word on if the road will be open?  If so, what is the fishing like there at that time of year?  Any particular patterns that would be more effective than others?  Help would be

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Hosmer might still be snowed in. Try Black leech patterns if you can get in-mid-day or late afternoon best

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I will be up in Bend, Oregon next week and will be trying to fish Hosmer Lake next Friday, May 15.  Any word on if the road will be open?  If so, what is the fishing like there at that time of year?  Any particular patterns that would be more effective than others?  Help would be

Hi Tom, I have only fished it in August, but heard that they had great caddis hatches in June. Early on fish can be pretty hungry and stupid so a black wolly bugger or leech might get ‘em. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

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I will be up in Bend, Oregon next week and will be trying to fish Hosmer Lake next Friday, May 15.  Any word on if the road will be open?  If so, what is the fishing like there at that time of year?  Any particular patterns that would be more effective than others?  Help would be

Tom Last I heard it’s still snowed in.  A couple of guys tried to hike in with belly boats and didn’t make it. Jim Jones For e-mail reply replace spam with sns

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Question:

A friend has a decent two piece bamboo rod but the ferrules are damaged and he wants to replace the ferrules.  Any one have a suggestion on where these can be found?

Hi Steve, I think that Cortland bought out Rodon, rod building components, a while back and I think I got some good nickel silver ferrules from them for about $35 a set. Call me at 800/4000FLY and I’ll check in the catologs for you. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

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A friend has a decent two piece bamboo rod but the ferrules are damaged and he wants to replace the ferrules.  Any one have a suggestion on where these can be found?

Collected a couple of years ago…. 1.  in Toronto, famous rod builder Ted Knott 2.  Bruce Conner (Cane Rod FAQ) rx. Bailey Woods- Classic Sporting Enterprises, Box 1909, Fitch Hill Rd., Hyde Park, VT  05655    (802) 888-7859. I have found two sources for ferrules for cane [ bamboo] fods. On is from the Powell Rod company in Chico, Ca. You may reach them at 1-800- 782-7600 inside Ca. Outside Ca. call 1-800-228-0615. They can supply both Hard Chrome ferrules as well as the more expensive nickel silver ferrules. If you are looking to more closely restore the rod to original condition you might try Classic Sporting Enterprises Inc. Roaring Brook Rd. RD#3 Box 3 Barton, Vermont 05822. Their phone # is (802) 525 3623. 4.  I eventually bought odd ferrules directly from Orvis (Peter Brown, fishing manager) — 802 362-3750 or fax 802 362-3525 Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly If you’re looking for chrome-plated brass try Netcraft – (419) 472-8058 – FAX  -9826 They have 10/11 (64’s) pair on up to 24/25 (64’s). If you want nickel-silver ferules, try Dale Clemens – (610) 395-5119 – FAX 398-2580 or  Angler’s Workshop – (360) 225-9445  - FAX 225-8641. Also, take out a second on the house ($30-40 US). You also might try surfing over to URL — http://www.gorp.com/bamboo.htm  and ask for their latest "The Classic Chronicle" newsletter. They have new and used ferrules listed. Pick-up a couple of cane rods while you’re there. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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A friend has a decent two piece bamboo rod but the ferrules are damaged and he wants to replace the ferrules.  Any one have a suggestion on where these can be found? Steve           __                /          Steven Patterson, Ph.D.         / ..|       Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry        (_  |_)      University of Notre Dame       /            _   /  `   |        \/    | _        A Protestant dawg at a Catholic University     /_ || \_        ____)|_) _)  

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Question:

Hello. Can anyone provide the genus/species of a mayfly currently hatching here in Vermont. The fly is white, emerges at dusk in large groups, essentially immediately turns into a spinner and kind of "dances" an inch or so above the surface.  They are really common, and I’m sure this is a really basic question… but I’d like to know. thanks. john

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Can anyone provide the genus/species of a mayfly currently hatching here in Vermont. The fly is white, emerges at dusk in large groups, essentially immediately turns into a spinner and kind of "dances" an inch or so above the surface.  They are really common, and I’m sure this is a really basic question… but I’d like to know.

Perhaps Ephoron leukon.  It must be too late for Potamanthus. Photographs of both are probably in Swisher/Richards or Caucci/Nastasi. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Can anyone provide the genus/species of a mayfly currently hatching here in Vermont. The fly is white, emerges at dusk in large groups, essentially immediately turns into a spinner and kind of "dances" an inch or so above the surface.  They are really common, and I’m sure this is a really basic question… but I’d like to know.

John, It is the Ephoron leukon. James Ehlers Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

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 The fish key on those bad boys don’t they !  White seems to be a major trigger from my experience… — TimW Halfordian Golfer UNCLEJAMVT wrote in article – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Can anyone provide the genus/species of a mayfly currently hatching here in Vermont. The fly is white, emerges at dusk in large groups, essentially immediately turns into a spinner and kind of "dances" an inch or so above the surface.  They are really common, and I’m sure this is a really basic question… but I’d like to know. John, It is the Ephoron leukon. James Ehlers Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone provide the genus/species of a mayfly currently hatching here in Vermont. The fly is white, emerges at dusk in large groups, essentially immediately turns into a spinner and kind of "dances" an inch or so above the surface.  They are really common, and I’m sure this is a really basic question… but I’d like to know. John, It is the Ephoron leukon. James Ehlers Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

Hey there, Jim.  My son and I have been fishing the Winooski in the riffles above the tressle the last few days and when these white flies are out the place comes alive with "jumping" fish. We can dap, plunk cast, drag free float over these fish without a look. How do you sucessfully fish this "event"? BHB — Remove "send_no_spam_" from address for e-mail response. Barkley Bull =

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Hello. Can anyone provide the genus/species of a mayfly currently hatching here in Vermont. The fly is white, emerges at dusk in large groups, essentially immediately turns into a spinner and kind of "dances" an inch or so above the surface.

Dear John: Ephron Leukon: i.e. White Fly.  They were the 1st mayfly hatch documented in "the Colonies" by ole’ Tom J. himself Jason Beary

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  Hey there, Jim.  My son and I have been fishing the Winooski in the riffles above the tressle the last few days and when these white flies are out the place comes alive with "jumping" fish. We can dap, plunk cast, drag free float over these fish without a look. How do you sucessfully fish this "event"?

I don’t think the whitefly event is the only event going on.  The fish are definitely jumping up for the skittering egg layers, but there is also some emerger feeding for sure.  I don’t know it’s the same species or not.  The "dancing" egg-layer is definitely hard to imitate, but I’ve had some success with a White Wulff size 12 and 14.  In the riffles, the floats are pretty short anyway (before you get drag), so I guess it is kind of a dap and plunk.  I have had no success imitating the emerger event however.  Various wet flies have been working, but not during what seems to be a highly selective evening "event". For e-mail responses, remove the "Spam_Stopper_" from my return address before sending.

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Hey there, Jim.  My son and I have been fishing the Winooski in the riffles above the tressle the last few days and when these white flies are out the place comes alive with "jumping" fish. We can dap, plunk cast, drag free float over these fish without a look. How do you sucessfully fish this "event"?

White soft hackle….let swing and line tighten in the riffle….slowly(and I mean slowly) raise and lower the rod tip as if the emerger is trying to break the film, fails and tumbles back down.  Good luck. Interested to know how you do. James Ehlers Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

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Is that YOU there?? I’ve been down lower in the pools (and up higher by the rocks..). Nice to cyberly meet you.  I can get a fish or 2 to take on a white dry (a little smaller than natural), but only at the VERY beginning of the hatch. Later a spinner (white, same size) fished dry with a twitch or two can get a take. BUT, I also think the main event is subsurface.  I’m going to try chucking a nymph (tied with a lighter-colored fluffier wing case) upstream from the hatch, letting it go dead drift into the rises (leaps!) and then bring it to the surface right in front of the fish. john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Hey there, Jim.  My son and I have been fishing the Winooski in the riffles above the tressle the last few days and when these white flies are out the place comes alive with "jumping" fish. We can dap, plunk cast, drag free float over these fish without a look. How do you sucessfully fish this "event"? I don’t think the whitefly event is the only event going on.  The fish are definitely jumping up for the skittering egg layers, but there is also some emerger feeding for sure.  I don’t know it’s the same species or not.  The "dancing" egg-layer is definitely hard to imitate, but I’ve had some success with a White Wulff size 12 and 14.  In the riffles, the floats are pretty short anyway (before you get drag), so I guess it is kind of a dap and plunk.  I have had no success imitating the emerger event however.  Various wet flies have been working, but not during what seems to be a highly selective evening "event".

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SNIP . How do you sucessfully fish this "event"? White soft hackle….let swing and line tighten in the riffle….slowly(and I mean slowly) raise and lower the rod tip as if the emerger is trying to break the film, fails and tumbles back down.  Good luck. Interested to know how you do.

I think this is good advice. Ive been near the trestle several days this last week and these fish are either jumping clear and taking spinners 2-3" above the surface (exciting to watch) OR are working benaeth the surface. Dun or spinner floating are simply refused (at least in my experience). THis limits me, at least, to an emerger. BUT, If anyone knows how to keep a spinner 2" above the surface and never land it, Id like to take lessons!! john

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these fish are either jumping clear and taking spinners 2-3" above the surface (exciting to watch) OR are working benaeth the surface. Dun or spinner floating are simply refused (at least in my experience). THis limits me, at least, to an emerger. BUT, If anyone knows how to keep a spinner 2" above the surface and never land it, Id like to take lessons!!

Simple! Capture a half-dozen or so of the duns, and leash them to your fly using strands of hair. Chuck the whole rig out there and PRESTO!…your fly lifts off the surface. Tiny choke collars are helpful in case your team spooks. Try not to lose too many flies, or you’ll soon be bald. If you’re already bald, bring a hairy friend along. Don’t bring your S.O. or children, unless you think they’d look good bald. Best not attempted among bats, martins, swallows, etc. Best not attempted. *NOTE TO THE HUMOR-IMPARED, WHICH MAY INCLUDE ME* Sorry for the joke, but I couldn’t resist. I know there are folks out there trying to crack this hatch, and it can be a tough one, like many fall (i.e., low-flow) hatches. I don’t think it helps that the bright white naturals are *really* visible to the fish, making an imitation stand apart all the more. Try fishing faster water if possible. I used to fish this hatch on West Canada Creek near Herkimer NY, (featured in one of those gawd-damn magazines recently) and had *some* luck using a pure white parachute, although I did have my share of refusals. Of course, the fish I caught could have been hopped up on goofballs and not known any better;-) Dave

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 Cast into a bush ?  take david copperfield along with you ?  helium filled wing-pads ? telekenesis ?  Inquiring minds want to know !!! — TimW Halfordian Golfer FarAndFine wrote in article – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Ever hear of the "blow fly technique"?  Read Borgers ‘Presentation’ and you’ll learn how to kee a fly two feet above the water without ever landing it.  No kidding.

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Ever hear of the "blow fly technique"?  Read Borgers ‘Presentation’ and you’ll learn how to kee a fly two feet above the water without ever landing it.  No kidding.

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    Dave Best not attempted among bats, martins, swallows, etc. I almost caught a swallow once during a thick hatch of large Light Cahills.  My #12 was floating on a placid stretch, just getting to the point where a brown was rising, when a swallow swooped out of nowhere, picked it off the water, carried it about 10 feet downstream (past where the trout was, BTW), and dropped it.  I still wonder what it would have been like had that swallow hooked itself.  =8-O Cheers, — Dave Guertin

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  Dave Best not attempted among bats, martins, swallows, etc. I almost caught a swallow once during a thick hatch of large Light Cahills.  My #12 was floating on a placid stretch, just getting to the point where a brown was rising, when a swallow swooped out of nowhere, picked it off the water, carried it about 10 feet downstream (past where the trout was, BTW), and dropped it.  I still wonder what it would have been like had that swallow hooked itself.  =8-O Cheers,

      We were in the Pecos last weekend, my son was fishing the cowels pond at dusk. He had two "creatures" flying around him and following his casts. One finally caught the fly on the backstroke and he slammed it into the pond. He said he caught a bird but I got to looking at them fly around, short bodies, no tail. I told him thats not a bird, that’s a bat! "Whoa! I caught a Bat!" he said "That’s sweet!" BTW he was using a #12 elk hair caddis, bat bait!

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I caught a swallow on a #12 elk hair caddis near the Lyons bridge on the Madison about five years ago….  in the presence of a conservation officer for Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks.  

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The Ephoron hatch is impressive. I fished it several times this year with good success.  If you watch the duns emerge, you should notice that they struggle to get our of their shuck, do a little tumble, and than are in the air. The hatch starts slow, with flies flying close to the water surface.   Next you see the trout trying to take the fly in mid-air.  I have tried a almost presentation; make a few false casts low over the area you have seen a fish, than with your final cast stop the fly about 2 feet above the water and let it float to the surface.  The take is sometimes in the air and sometimes as the fly touches the water, or sometimes nothing—— them just as they get to the surface or as they struggle to get out of their shuck.  The pattern that has worked the best for me and my fishing buddy JM, is the Usual – size #14.  Also, try a emerger with a trailing shuck of Zelon, white dubbed body, and a short wing/thich thorax, the wing can be snowshoe rabbit or Zelon. JWTrout

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Question:

<snip If you guys would have me believing that, I could also walk on water.  Not so.

Hold on George, you are destroying perceptions I had here.  I thought that if I rubbed gink on the felt of my wading boots, I could walk on water 8^) Bruce….

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<snip If you guys would have me believing that, I could also walk on water.  Not so. Hold on George, you are destroying perceptions I had here.  I thought that if I rubbed gink on the felt of my wading boots, I could walk on water 8^) Bruce….

thinking clearly. I used to have two fishing hats.  The guys bought the one that said, ‘Gink Keeps It Up’ . . . while the gals bought the T-Shirts that said; "Xink Keeps it Down!" Take care Bruce. George

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I tying a bunch of dries right now and use Gink at the stream with good results. After the discussion about sprays and such I was wondering if it was a good idea to treat my flies with Gink now so they will be ready out of the box on the stream. How about treating the materials before tying?

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I tying a bunch of dries right now and use Gink at the stream with good results. After the discussion about sprays and such I was wondering if it was a good idea to treat my flies with Gink now so they will be ready out of the box on the stream. How about treating the materials before tying?

I prefer to treat my dries immediately after tying. Some writers have described using gink and simialr dressings as a ‘dubbing wax’ but I’m unaware of anyone  applying floatants to materials before tying the fly. Ralph H

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I tying a bunch of dries right now and use Gink at the stream with good results. After the discussion about sprays and such I was wondering if it was a good idea to treat my flies with Gink now so they will be ready out of the box on the stream. How about treating the materials before tying? I prefer to treat my dries immediately after tying. Some writers have described using gink and simialr dressings as a ‘dubbing wax’ but I’m unaware of anyone  applying floatants to materials before tying the fly. Ralph H

DEAR RALPH:  YOUR QUESTIONS are good ones.   First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream. HOWEVER!  (Let us use a ‘Light Cahill’ Dry Fly as an example).  You pick one up astream and you note it and its color.  You might even take a picture of it.  Now its time to tie the fly . . . to match the hatch. If you pick a yellow that matches the fly with ‘a dry’ material, it will be lighter than when it gets wet.  As a test, you want to take a little GINK and see how much darker that dry yellow will become IF and WHEN it becomes WET.  You, more likely than not will choose a lighter shade of yellow that will darken to the correct shade AFTER you get to your fishing hole. Understand? This is one of the neater features of using GINK AT the Fly Tying Table.  Just use it as a test for each shade of fly you’re going to tie and use it without exception for every fly pattern you’ll tie in your fishing life.  It is THAT important. Hope this hint increases your ‘Matching the Hatch’ stategies. Sincerely, George Gehrke (Gink Keeps It Up!)

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I use Nufly coat on my newly tied flies, and it works great. I think it must be like scotch guard, which I intend to try also. You must apply it to newly tied or purchased flies which have not been Gink’d yet, or else it doesn’t work as good. I also buy Albolene at the drug store ( it is used as a make-up remover cream) for about 5 bucks a quart to refill my floatant bottles. Learned that from Art Lee’s book "Fly fishing for trout on rivers and streams". It works as good as any floatant. Best is probably Orvis "Superfloat", it dries the flies and treats them with one application.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I tying a bunch of dries right now and use Gink at the stream with good results. After the discussion about sprays and such I was wondering if it was a good idea to treat my flies with Gink now so they will be ready out of the box on the stream. How about treating the materials before tying? I prefer to treat my dries immediately after tying. Some writers have described using gink and simialr dressings as a ‘dubbing wax’ but I’m unaware of anyone  applying floatants to materials before tying the fly. Ralph H DEAR RALPH:  YOUR QUESTIONS are good ones.   First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream. HOWEVER!  (Let us use a ‘Light Cahill’ Dry Fly as an example).  You pick one up astream and you note it and its color.  You might even take a picture of it.  Now its time to tie the fly . . . to match the hatch. If you pick a yellow that matches the fly with ‘a dry’ material, it will be lighter than when it gets wet.  As a test, you want to take a little GINK and see how much darker that dry yellow will become IF and WHEN it becomes WET.  You, more likely than not will choose a lighter shade of yellow that will darken to the correct shade AFTER you get to your fishing hole. Understand? This is one of the neater features of using GINK AT the Fly Tying Table.  Just use it as a test for each shade of fly you’re going to tie and use it without exception for every fly pattern you’ll tie in your fishing life.  It is THAT important. Hope this hint increases your ‘Matching the Hatch’ stategies. Sincerely, George Gehrke (Gink Keeps It Up!)

Understand! Ralph H

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George, Thanks for the match the hatch info.  This sounds like excellent advice, and I can’t wait to try it this spring. Vince

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First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream.

Why not? What is the reasoning behind this? Thanks, Jack – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream. Why not? What is the reasoning behind this?

Perhaps because George would rather you bought his World Famous/Can’t Be Beat/Patent Pending Miracle Dubbing Wax instead? ;^)

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First, Gink is not used as a dubbing wax and no, you don’t want to pre-treat your flies before you store them in your fly tying box.  Dress your flies astream. Why not? What is the reasoning behind this? Perhaps because George would rather you bought his World Famous/Can’t Be Beat/Patent Pending Miracle Dubbing Wax instead? ;^)

Its hard being great and humble at the same time.  Yah, sure.  If you guys would have me believing that, I could also walk on water.  Not so. Seriously, GINK is not a dubbing wax.  It is not thick enough to grab dubbing and  help spin it around a fine thread.  And, since Fly-Maker’s Wax IS designed to do just that with the same, wonderful, put a smile on your face, finger sticking good, a little dab will do you . . . efficency, why not go for the whole Enchalata? Sincerely, George Gehrke Mr. Dubbs?

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Question:

Sorry about the previous post – I am trying to get used to posting through Netscape and I am making a lot of mistakes. My question is this :         1. When I cast, my flyline and leader go out fine, but my tippet            often lands in jumbled mess. What might I be doing wrong? I                am using a 6wt rod, DT6F line, a 9ft 5X leader, and 5X tippet              (about 18 inches). I normally use size 14 or 16 nymphs and dry            flies. Thanks in advance for any help!

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        1. When I cast, my flyline and leader go out fine, but my tippet            often lands in jumbled mess. What might I be doing wrong? I                am using a 6wt rod, DT6F line, a 9ft 5X leader, and 5X tippet              (about 18 inches). I normally use size 14 or 16 nymphs and dry  

Check that leader is straight before you cast, i.e. pull it through your fingers (or a small piece of rubber) until straight. Leader design should be 40% (of length) stiff butt, 20% floppy tippet, remainder stepping down (say 0.016" to 0.008").  If in doubt, buy famous-brand knotted leaders, e.g. Orvis.  If you knot your own, you can customize fully. Excessive forward push on the casting stroke can cause fly to bounce back on loose loops of tippet (deliberately in some fishing situations.) — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Sorry about the previous post – I am trying to get used to posting through Netscape and I am making a lot of mistakes. My question is this :        1. When I cast, my flyline and leader go out fine, but my tippet           often lands in jumbled mess. What might I be doing wrong? I               am using a 6wt rod, DT6F line, a 9ft 5X leader, and 5X tippet             (about 18 inches). I normally use size 14 or 16 nymphs and dry           flies. Thanks in advance for any help!

Two thoughts Jeff:         1) Try using a heavier leader, some of the tapered variety are good.             This will provide stiffness, which aids the turn over of your             tippet. You can then add your tippet to the end of the leader.             It might be a good idea to use a 5′ leader at first, they are             easier to control, when you have mastered that then progress             to the 9′ leaded.         2) With seeing you cast its difficult to offer advice but a common             fault with  many casting techniques is that the angler casts at             the water rather than at eye level. If when you cast you aim at             the water then the fly line, leader and tippet are not given             sufficent time to turn over, resulting in your line landing in a             heap on the water. If you cast aiming at the horizon or eye level             this will give time for the turn over to be completed and your             tackle to land in a straight line. I hope they might prove to be of some help for you.         Tight lines                         Chris

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Question:

I can’t imagine fly fishing with a buzz in my head.  -AR christ almighty beer is not heroin, man… Beer is no heroin.  But fly fishing is no hardware fishing either.

true…flyfishing is much easier…

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t imagine fly fishing with a buzz in my head.  -AR christ almighty beer is not heroin, man… Beer is no heroin.  But fly fishing is no hardware fishing either. I hesitate to take aspirin before ff.  Want all my senses at 100%. That’s how you catch big fish. Cheers, -Ande Rychter

I wish I would have known that fishing without a buzz would improved my fishing back in the sixties.  I might have caught some real big ones. Don Kelly

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t imagine fly fishing with a buzz in my head.  -AR christ almighty beer is not heroin, man… Beer is no heroin.  But fly fishing is no hardware fishing either. I hesitate to take aspirin before ff.  Want all my senses at 100%. That’s how you catch big fish. Cheers, -Ande Rychter I wish I would have known that fishing without a buzz would improved my fishing back in the sixties.  I might have caught some real big ones.

Buzzes or Fish ? TimW

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Yes, the good old sixties. T Wigs.

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Why brake? Cheap tying materials.

T Wigs

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: Beer is no heroin.  But fly fishing is no hardware fishing either. : I hesitate to take aspirin before ff.  Want all my senses at 100%. : That’s how you catch big fish. No wonder I’m stuck in the 12 inch trout range.  I’ve been taking aspirin all these years! Thanks for the tip Ande. Coming back this way again this year? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Assistant professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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I can’t imagine fly fishing with a buzz in my head.  -AR christ almighty beer is not heroin, man…

If a couple of pulls on the bottle leave you too buzzed to fish then I wouldn’t touch the stuff at all ! "I brake for animals and speed up for PETA" Brian Di Carlo

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I can’t imagine fly fishing with a buzz in my head.  -AR christ almighty beer is not heroin, man…

Beer is no heroin.  But fly fishing is no hardware fishing either. I hesitate to take aspirin before ff.  Want all my senses at 100%. That’s how you catch big fish. Cheers, -Ande Rychter

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I can’t imagine fly fishing with a buzz in my head.  -AR

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I can’t imagine fly fishing with a buzz in my head.  -AR

christ almighty beer is not heroin, man…

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Question:

Greenstone lake, the first that you get to, seems to have a small brook trout population but there are so many others that it’s hardly worth fishing.

One of the funnier things I’ve seen while fishing happened here.  A couple of spin fisherman were fishing Greenstone and one hooked about a 6" brookie.  His buddy got the net, which had a handle about three feet long and a rim about 2 feet in diameter.  It was big enough to net salmon for god’s sake. Well, as he went to lift the trout out of the water, it fell through the webbing on the net.  I got a good chuckle to say the least.

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A friend was in at Saddlebag two weeks ago and said the ground was still fairly soggy…..alot of the High Country won’t be opened up this year at all, as fall/winter is beginning to happen already (last week it got down to 35 deg 3 nights straight at 6870 ft. elevation. As far as fishing, it’s been suprising how few trout are actually surface feeding this year in the Sierra (Ralph Cutter- can you shed some light on this and/or confirm/deny ??).   All I’m able to attribute it to is the lower than customary temperature of the water. There *are* hatches, although they are much later than usual, but the fish seeem to be ignoring them. The few that I’ve kept have been **PACKED** with nymphs, hoppers, ants and beetles, but not alot of "surface bugs". I indicator nymphed and worked a pair of ants (one flying, one hardshell) and picked up a few fish….but certainly nothing to boast about. Tried soft-hackele wets for hours with no takers..upstream, down and across and downstream…..started to curse Dave Huges and Sylvester Nemes below my breath, but decided that I’d save that for my third and likely final attempt at this "old New Style" of flyfishing. Don’t know if it would be worth the effort of canoeing and then trekking farther; I’ve heard Mammoth has been pretty good this year, you may want to give it a go instead!!

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At the end of September I’m thinking of heading up to Saddlebage Lake, canoeing accross and hiking around the Conness Lakes/Glacier are to fish for Goldens.  Has anyone been up there lately or at this time of year.  I know it’ll probabaly be a bit cold since its above 10,000 feet. What flies should I bring?  Nymphs, Caddis, Terresterals?  Any advice would be appreciated.  

I haven’t been up there in a few years but this is one of my favorite areas.  I also used a canoe to get across the lake and  then carried it up on the shore a bit and stashed my oars up by a tree a bit up the trail. Greenstone lake, the first that you get to, seems to have a small brook trout population but there are so many others that it’s hardly worth fishing.  The next lake (Wasco) is a little better and I’ve caught fish of a decent size.  Steelhead lake (the biggest in the basin) has been hit and miss for me.  Cascade lake, and the small lake in between it and Steelhead are both real good.  The shallows at the south end of the lake are teeming with brookies in the evening.  There is another small lake (Towser) that is supposed to be a Golden trout only lake and I’ve caught a couple real small ones in it.  Shamrock lake has been one of the best producers for brookies for me and it’s probably the prettiest in the basin.  To the South of Shamrock as you head up the hill there are a couple of other small lakes that are supposed to be Golden trout lakes but I’ve never found them.  At the top of the hill in the center of the basin is Z-lake.  I have caught more brookies in that lake then any of the other lakes.  Helen Lake and Odell have produced much for me and I believe that Odell is supposed to be a golden trout only lake as well. I haven’t fished Hummingbird but I hear it has a large brookie population, so much so that the fish are stunted. There are three lakes up above the waterfall below the glacier that are worth the hike only because they are so pretty.  The first one is almost a tourquiose color.  Unfortunately I was told that these lakes froze solid a few years ago and have not been restocked.  That was about five years ago so it may have changed. If the fish are hitting the surface I have had the best luck with grey hackle peacocks, grey hackle yellows, Sierra brite dots, and coachmens. If they are not,  various nymphs like GR hares ears, prince nymphs, Birds nests, pheasant tails, and a few emerger patterns all seem to work.   I fished all of these patterns with an ultralight spinning rod and a casting bubble.  For the grey hackles, etc, I filled the bubble half full of water and fished them wet just below the surface with a *very* slow retrieve.   For the nymphs I fill the bubble up all the way and then cast and count down several seconds before begining the retrieve. As is the case with any of the areas in the Sierra you should be prepared for any kind of weather.  I’ve been there twice in September when it has snowed.  One time a friend of mine and I drove up and camped at Tioga lake campground because we arrived too late in the day.  He got up the next morning and went out in my canoe on Tioga lake.  He paddled out about 100′ and decided it was too cold.  He knocked on my camper shell window and said that he had to come in and warm up.  We ended up driving around a bit because the heater wasn’t warming fast enough.  It was probably a good three hours before he felt normal again.  Hypothermia is a very real possibility this time of year and it’s nothing to fool around with.  If we had camped out the night before in the basin like we had planned it could have been *real* serious. — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems – Ithaca, NY

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At the end of September I’m thinking of heading up to Saddlebage Lake, canoeing accross and hiking around the Conness Lakes/Glacier are to fish for Goldens.  Has anyone been up there lately or at this time of year.  I know it’ll probabaly be a bit cold since its above 10,000 feet. What flies should I bring?  Nymphs, Caddis, Terresterals?  Any advice would be appreciated.   "Never get suckered into defending the cost of your fishing habit on a cost per pound basis.  It’ll only embarrass or depress you.  The only measurement that makes sense at all is the cost per cast…So, if you are long on effort and short on results, remember that the more you cast, the cheaper it gets."                                             -Tully Stroud Chris Anderson San Fransicko

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Question:

: I am planning a trip up to Montana to fish the Clarks Fork River.  I have : traveled past it many times.  I have no idea about fishing regulations, : favorable areas or fly patterns.  The area I am thinking of is around Missoula. Don’t just think Clark Fork River.  Just east of Missoula is Rock Creek.  Just north is the Jocko.  If you like BIG water, fish the Clark Fork.  If you like a small stream, do Rock Creek.  If you like real small, fish the Jocko.   The only problem with the Jocko is that it is on an Indian Reservation and requires a permit in addition to your fishing license. Check out a map.  There are many class rivers, all within an hour of Missoula.  Lots of great opportunities.  You don’t say when you will be there, but there are large stone fly in the Clark Fork.  I’m not sure what color since there was no hatch when I was there. Good Luck! Bob Moss Landing, Ca.

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Perhaps the stone fly you refer to is the Skualla stone fly. This is a big fly, about size 8 or 10, and the Clark Fork above Missoula has lots of them. They emerge in early May, and the adult if best imitated by a med. to dark olive stimulator.  There are not alot of other good size flies on the surface this time of year, so they can really get the fishes attention.  Not many people know about them since the hatch is during the "off season". However, the locals around the Missoula really get excited about this stonefly. The area between the confluence of the Blackfoot and the confluence of Rock Creek seems best.

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I am planning a trip up to Montana to fish the Clarks Fork River.  I have traveled past it many times.  I have no idea about fishing regulations, favorable areas or fly patterns.  The area I am thinking of is around Missoula.

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