Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When using large plugs for pike, or any other spinning gear, single barbless hooks Large single hooks have a larger gape than trebles and are more likely to hook the fish.  Large single hooks however typically are made of thicker wire than trebles so they might have a tougher time penetrating the fish’s *lips*.  If you replace the trebles with singles they must be appropriately sized so as not to turn the plug out of balance.  I saw a good tip in a fishing newspaper once.  In order not to alter the balance of a plug but also to minimize damage to fish and angler, one fisherman bent two out of the three hooks on all his trebles inwards so that they looked like extreme circle hooks.  Those two would not be able to hook fish nor human. Mu

I use single, fine wire, straight eyed  hooks, on double split rings ( so that they hang right! ), and I crimp a piece of lead to the shank, so that they weigh the same as the trebles.  It is sometimes a good idea to experiment with weight on various plugs and spinners, one may improve the action on some, quite considerably. TL MC

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<SNIP Here’s one maybe you have thought about. If you are standing in fast water and you do not want to let the slack line float below, why is that when you hold the loops in your hand they always tangle up? You would think you are holding the loops in an organized way, yet they end up as a spaghetti when you go to cast. What do you do? — Gary M

You must hold the loops in a specific way.  Use wide loops and ensure that they are  placed in order in your hand and held lightly, to prevent one loop going over another. Do not twist the loops when retrieving. ( This is quite difficult to do). If your line suffers much from memory, this will not work anyway, as the loops will tend to form figure eights, and this will cause a tangle when the line is shot, or released. In this case, you should use "figure of eight" storage to start with. This may sound silly, but if you hold the line in your left hand in loose SMALL! figure of eights, in a bunch, it will not tangle when shot. This technique is common among English reservoir anglers. You can shoot line from your hand, if you observe the above. It is best to practice a bit before you do it. The amount of line you can hold in this way is also limited. It is more difficult to do with backing, but not impossible, it depends to a large extent on the backing. In such situations, it is invariably much easier to use a line tray. TL MC

Response:

When using large plugs for pike, or any other spinning gear, single barbless hooks

Large single hooks have a larger gape than trebles and are more likely to hook the fish.  Large single hooks however typically are made of thicker wire than trebles so they might have a tougher time penetrating the fish’s *lips*.  If you replace the trebles with singles they must be appropriately sized so as not to turn the plug out of balance.  I saw a good tip in a fishing newspaper once.  In order not to alter the balance of a plug but also to minimize damage to fish and angler, one fisherman bent two out of the three hooks on all his trebles inwards so that they looked like extreme circle hooks.  Those two would not be able to hook fish nor human. Mu

Response:

Since you effectively twist the line 180 degrees for each loop that you make, small loops would make the problem worse. I

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So far I’ve got a couple dozen elk hair caddis in various colors, sizes 18-14; a couple dozen pt nymphs in 18-14; another dozen pt with bead chain eyes in 14, a dozen grhe in in 16-18 and another dozen bead heads in 14; a dozen brassies in 16-18; a dozen various colored soft hackle grouse in 16; a dozen pickett pins in 8; half a dozen each of mickey finns, little rainbow trout, black nosed dace, and another nameless concoction of my own, all in bucktail size 8, a half dozen little rainbow trout in size 8 thunder creek style; and the first of what will eventually be three dozen pass lakes (a dozen of which was promised long ago to a tarheel barrister).  I also have a thousand or so miscellaneous leftovers from nearly twenty years of tying.  I’m happy to say that I threw out about two hundred of the latter in the last few days and am making significant progress toward jettisoning the rest. I have yet to tie up a supply of woolly buggers, woolly worms, scuds, all the mayflies (which I detest), especially including a bunch of sulfurs (o.k., I DID pay a little bit of attention), and a whole bunch of other stuff I can’t remember at the moment. I’m willing…nay, eager, to listen to any recommendations.  How will you be armed? Wolfgang

Not that I’m an expert on Penns Creek, but I recommend checking out Tom L’s fly list if you haven’t already.  Your nymph list sounds right on, and I bet your streamers will work too if you find the fish and get deep.  I got skunked nymphing the first few days because I didn’t understand limestone creeks (way different that what I’m used to).  I have been assured by the dedicated bottom scrapers that nymphing does work and this year I expect to try it at least once… For dries, make sure you have an assortment of march brown, gray fox and sulphurs.  I did OK with showshoe hare wings and comparadums last year.  The sulphurs on Penns come in at least three colors, about size 16, from pale yellow (almost cream) to bright orange.  The fish weren’t too picky about exact color.  I’ll also have a bunch of sulphur, tan and rusty spinners. The march browns are big – size 12.  I lost the link to Tom’s page, but I copied his fly pictures at: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~sgula/penns/index.html Hope that helps. –Stan

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Still trying to get my schedule changed so I can work Friday night and have Saturday off. If nothing else maybe I could get up there and fish for a few hour’s late Saturday. Anybody fishing on Sunday?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Taking inventory after our early March adventure, Joel and I have both discovered that we have some toes left which weren’t frozen off up on the Prairie, so we plan to go up again and finish the job on the weekend of April 6-7.  A couple of other people have already expressed interest.  The plan is simply to meet at Champs in Merrill for breakfast on Saturday morning and then head out to the stream.  Unless we hear otherwise, let’s plan to meet at 7:30 or so and take it from there.  Information about accommodations, directions, etc. is available by looking through the archives for threads about the "Prairie" about a month ago, or I can email particulars for anyone who needs the information. Come one, come all. Wolfgang

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not that I’m an expert on Penns Creek, but I recommend checking out Tom L’s fly list if you haven’t already.  Your nymph list sounds right on, and I bet your streamers will work too if you find the fish and get deep.  I got skunked nymphing the first few days because I didn’t understand limestone creeks (way different that what I’m used to).  I have been assured by the dedicated bottom scrapers that nymphing does work and this year I expect to try it at least once… For dries, make sure you have an assortment of march brown, gray fox and sulphurs.  I did OK with showshoe hare wings and comparadums last year. The sulphurs on Penns come in at least three colors, about size 16, from pale yellow (almost cream) to bright orange.  The fish weren’t too picky about exact color.  I’ll also have a bunch of sulphur, tan and rusty spinners. The march browns are big – size 12.  I lost the link to Tom’s page, but I copied his fly pictures at: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~sgula/penns/index.html Hope that helps.

Thanks, Stan.  With about 45 days to go I do believe I’ll be able to tie up everything I’ll need.   Um…….in case I don’t though, just how many is in a "bunch" of sulphur, tan and rusty spinners?       Wolfgang willing to trade

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re: Penns flies Thanks, Stan.  With about 45 days to go I do believe I’ll be able to tie up everything I’ll need.   Um…….in case I don’t though, just how many is in a "bunch" of sulphur, tan and rusty spinners?       Wolfgang willing to trade

I only tie 6 of anything.  And then I bring enough material to make more as needed.  My traveling buddy Jim has maybe the best stocked flyboxes in the universe (‘infinitely’ more flies than anybody needs – and I’m sure Frank and Scooter will back me up on that) and I’m adept at borrowing<g. I’m a real minimalist – I use PT nymphs (unbeaded), variations on soft hackles, EHC, Usuals and comparaduns in a variety of colors, and polypro spinners.  Plus several hundred hooks, too many spools of thread, and feathers and furs from a multitude of creatures.  Viiox for my knees, tequila for what’s left of my brain cells, and I’m all set. FWIW – I never saw a spinner fall last year and didn’t use a single spinner, but Tom and Mike Makela insisted there would be a march brown spinner fall…  We saw them hovering, but they never fell. –Stan

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Still trying to get my schedule changed so I can work Friday night and have Saturday off. If nothing else maybe I could get up there and fish for a few hour’s late Saturday. Anybody fishing on Sunday?

Joel informs me that he is, and I plan to as well. Wolfgang

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re: Penns flies I only tie 6 of anything.  And then I bring enough material to make more as needed.  My traveling buddy Jim has maybe the best stocked flyboxes in the universe (‘infinitely’ more flies than anybody needs – and I’m sure Frank and Scooter will back me up on that) and I’m adept at borrowing<g.

Well, I’m not opposes to proxy borrowing, if it comes to that. I’m a real minimalist – I use PT nymphs (unbeaded), variations on soft hackles, EHC, Usuals and comparaduns in a variety of colors, and polypro spinners.  Plus several hundred hooks, too many spools of thread, and feathers and furs from a multitude of creatures.  Viiox for my knees, tequila for what’s left of my brain cells, and I’m all set.

One of the most interesting things about fly fishing, to my mind, is the fact that those of us who tie generally spend untold hours and dollars to tie ever more patterns and then go out and fish with the same half dozen or so as always.  I will almost certainly use ehc, pt and grhe nymphs, and pass FWIW – I never saw a spinner fall last year and didn’t use a single spinner, but Tom and Mike Makela insisted there would be a march brown spinner fall…  We saw them hovering, but they never fell.

Need to bring a shotgun…..with VERY small shot!        :) Wolfgang

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 I will almost certainly use ehc, pt and grhe nymphs, and pass

and those’ll do just fine…of course, til they don’t, because that waldo-like bastard next to you is catching them on a red squirrel’s butt with a chenile wipe, and you’ve tried every motherfukkin fly in your box, but that waldocackle won’t quit and even carp are eatin what he’s got, and… and…well, tie em all… everything you know…tie it… and bring some extra for your friends…with some spare boots…studded only… jeff

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 I will almost certainly use ehc, pt and grhe nymphs, and pass and those’ll do just fine…of course, til they don’t, because that waldo-like bastard next to you is catching them on a red squirrel’s butt with a chenile wipe, and you’ve tried every motherfukkin fly in your box, but that waldocackle won’t quit and even carp are eatin what he’s got, and… and…well, tie em all… everything you know…tie it… and bring some extra for your friends…with some spare boots…studded only…

Yes, we are familiar with the evilwaldobastard and are taking measures to deal with it.  We intend to get it very drunk on cheap cheesehead beer and steal all of it’s things. Sorry, but the stud will be wearing the boots, not vice versa. Wolfgang

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  I will almost certainly use ehc, pt and grhe nymphs, and pass and those’ll do just fine…of course, til they don’t, because that waldo-like bastard next to you is catching them on a red squirrel’s butt with a chenile wipe, and you’ve tried every motherfukkin fly in your box, but that waldocackle won’t quit and even carp are eatin what he’s got, and… and…well, tie em all… everything you know…tie it… and bring some extra for your friends…with some spare boots…studded only… Yes, we are familiar with the evilwaldobastard and are taking measures to deal with it.  We intend to get it very drunk on cheap cheesehead beer and steal all of it’s things. Sorry, but the stud will be wearing the boots, not vice versa. Wolfgang

so what footwear you gonna wear? evilwaldobastard…. catchy <g

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Whoever tied the flies on the blue thingie site below is an excellent fly tier.   Well done! George Gehrke "who will kill for some snowshoe hare) just a little piece? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For dries, make sure you have an assortment of march brown, gray fox and sulphurs.  I did OK with showshoe hare wings and comparadums last year. The sulphurs on Penns come in at least three colors, about size 16, from pale yellow (almost cream) to bright orange.  The fish weren’t too picky about exact color.  I’ll also have a bunch of sulphur, tan and rusty spinners. The march browns are big – size 12.  I lost the link to Tom’s page, but I copied his fly pictures at: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~sgula/penns/index.html Hope that helps. –Stan

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Whoever tied the flies on the blue thingie site below is an excellent fly tier.   Well done! George Gehrke The march browns are big – size 12.  I lost the link to Tom’s page, but I copied his fly pictures at: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~sgula/penns/index.html

For the record, these are all by Tom Littleton.

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Whoever tied the flies on the blue thingie site below is an excellent fly tier.   Well done! George Gehrke The march browns are big – size 12.  I lost the link to Tom’s page, but I copied his fly pictures at: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~sgula/penns/index.html For the record, these are all by Tom Littleton.

Thanks, Stan.  I am especially appreciative of the fact his fly tying signature is to not over dress.  It’s hard to hold back when dubbing.  I also am keen on the hackle job Tom does.  Not many know how to do it as well.  Well done Tom and Again, thanks, Stan – George

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Taking inventory after our early March adventure, Joel and I have both discovered that we have some toes left which weren’t frozen off up on the Prairie, so we plan to go up again and finish the job on the weekend of April 6-7.  A couple of other people have already expressed interest.  The plan is simply to meet at Champs in Merrill for breakfast on Saturday morning and then head out to the stream.  Unless we hear otherwise, let’s plan to meet at 7:30 or so and take it from there.  Information about accommodations, directions, etc. is available by looking through the archives for threads about the "Prairie" about a month ago, or I can email particulars for anyone who needs the information. Come one, come all. Wolfgang

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Taking inventory after our early March adventure, Joel and I have both discovered that we have some toes left which weren’t frozen off up on the Prairie, so we plan to go up again and finish the job on the weekend of April 6-7.  A couple of other people have already expressed interest.  The plan is simply to meet at Champs in Merrill for breakfast on Saturday morning and then head out to the stream.  Unless we hear otherwise, let’s plan to meet at 7:30 or so and take it from there.  Information about accommodations, directions, etc. is available by looking through the archives for threads about the "Prairie" about a month ago, or I can email particulars for anyone who needs the information. Come one, come all. Wolfgang

The pack ice is out and all the polar bears have wandered north following the caribou. They should be crossing the U.P. border by the 6th, so there should be no concern about large predators. Stoneflies (the little ones) will probably be on the trouts menu. Just a note: tthe Prairie is only open for the early season from Hwy J downstream. Still about 10 miles of good trout water. G.Cleveland

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The pack ice is out and all the polar bears have wandered north following the caribou. They should be crossing the U.P. border by the 6th, so there should be no concern about large predators. Stoneflies (the little ones) will probably be on the trouts menu. Just a note: tthe Prairie is only open for the early season from Hwy J downstream. Still about 10 miles of good trout water.

You got any favorite patterns for the little stones? Wolfgang who has got a great start on penn’s flies and can now spare a bit of time for other matters.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The pack ice is out and all the polar bears have wandered north following the caribou. They should be crossing the U.P. border by the 6th, so there should be no concern about large predators. Stoneflies (the little ones) will probably be on the trouts menu. Just a note: tthe Prairie is only open for the early season from Hwy J downstream. Still about 10 miles of good trout water. You got any favorite patterns for the little stones? Wolfgang who has got a great start on penn’s flies and can now spare a bit of time for other matters.

Nothing special. I’m a generic fly kind of guy. A Dark Hares Ear Nymph in  a size 16 hook works for me. Muskrat nymphs also are good, as are Zug Bugs. If the air temps get up in the 50s having a few #22 BWOs would probably be a good idea. See y’all at Champs. G.Cleveland

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Wolfgang who has got a great start on penn’s flies and can now spare a bit of time for other matters.

What are you tying? Willi

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You got any favorite patterns for the little stones? Wolfgang who has got a great start on penn’s flies and can now spare a bit of time for other matters. Nothing special. I’m a generic fly kind of guy. A Dark Hares Ear Nymph in  a size 16 hook works for me. Muskrat nymphs also are good, as are Zug Bugs. If the air temps get up in the 50s having a few #22 BWOs would probably be a good idea. See y’all at Champs.

Excellent.  Thanks George.  Breakfast is on me. Wolfgang

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Wolfgang who has got a great start on penn’s flies and can now spare a bit of time for other matters. What are you tying?

Well, I’ll begin by confessing that I haven’t paid a whole lot of attention to what others have been saying I SHOULD be tying…more adventurous that way, don’tcha know.   So far I’ve got a couple dozen elk hair caddis in various colors, sizes 18-14; a couple dozen pt nymphs in 18-14; another dozen pt with bead chain eyes in 14, a dozen grhe in in 16-18 and another dozen bead heads in 14; a dozen brassies in 16-18; a dozen various colored soft hackle grouse in 16; a dozen pickett pins in 8; half a dozen each of mickey finns, little rainbow trout, black nosed dace, and another nameless concoction of my own, all in bucktail size 8, a half dozen little rainbow trout in size 8 thunder creek style; and the first of what will eventually be three dozen pass lakes (a dozen of which was promised long ago to a tarheel barrister).  I also have a thousand or so miscellaneous leftovers from nearly twenty years of tying.  I’m happy to say that I threw out about two hundred of the latter in the last few days and am making significant progress toward jettisoning the rest. I have yet to tie up a supply of woolly buggers, woolly worms, scuds, all the mayflies (which I detest), especially including a bunch of sulfurs (o.k., I DID pay a little bit of attention), and a whole bunch of other stuff I can’t remember at the moment. I’m willing…nay, eager, to listen to any recommendations.  How will you be armed? Wolfgang

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Question:

Wife and I just returned from 2 days of albie fishing, our first try at this species. Wow is this ever fun! The fish were breaking in good numbers in and near the Beaufort inlet, and we had over 10 fish on with 4 of those brought in, including a 17 pounder. I have never seen a fish take line like these, it is just astounding. 100 ft of fly line and 150 feet of backing disappearing in a flash. I got my knuckles rapped by the reel handle so many times, you think I would learn! It’s sobering how fast my fly casting "skills" left me when confronted by a pod of breaking fish 40 feet off the bow. "Why the hell isn’t the line shooting? Oh, I am forgetting to let go." We were fortunate to have perfect weather, too. This was a terrific experience, and we will defnitely be back! Peter G. Aitken

Response:

Wife and I just returned from 2 days of albie fishing, our first try at this species. Wow is this ever fun! The fish were breaking in good numbers in and near the Beaufort inlet, and we had over 10 fish on with 4 of those brought in, including a 17 pounder. I have never seen a fish take line like these, it is just astounding. 100 ft of fly line and 150 feet of backing disappearing in a flash. I got my knuckles rapped by the reel handle so many times, you think I would learn! It’s sobering how fast my fly casting "skills" left me when confronted by a pod of breaking fish 40 feet off the bow. "Why the hell isn’t the line shooting? Oh, I am forgetting to let go." We were fortunate to have perfect weather, too. This was a terrific experience, and we will defnitely be back! Peter G. Aitken

From my limited experience with False Albacore (really a Skipjack Tuna, I believe), you were either very lucky, extremely good, or both if you landed 4 of them with only 250′ of line.  A 17-pound False Albacore probably feels like a jet ski on the end of your line.  What type of leader/tippet material were you using? For those unfamiliar with these ’small’ tuna, consider this:  they can swim at speeds over 60 mph!  Your equipment (can you say disc drag?) had better be up to the task. I once witnessed a lady who hooked one on an old spinning reel from one of the fishing piers in Nags Head.  The fish took off and the reel’s drag had this horrible sound to it.  That horrible sound began changing pitch after about half of her line was out and the drag eventually siezed up.  The rod bent over and the line snapped.  Most of the regulars were howling with laughter.  Her boyfriend, one of the regulars, took some serious ribbing that day. Sounds like a great trip!  Thanks for the report. Tom G Before you buy.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wife and I just returned from 2 days of albie fishing, our first try at this species. Wow is this ever fun! The fish were breaking in good numbers in and near the Beaufort inlet, and we had over 10 fish on with 4 of those brought in, including a 17 pounder. I have never seen a fish take line like these, it is just astounding. 100 ft of fly line and 150 feet of backing disappearing in a flash. I got my knuckles rapped by the reel handle so many times, you think I would learn! It’s sobering how fast my fly casting "skills" left me when confronted by a pod of breaking fish 40 feet off the bow. "Why the hell isn’t the line shooting? Oh, I am forgetting to let go." We were fortunate to have perfect weather, too. This was a terrific experience, and we will defnitely be back! Peter G. Aitken From my limited experience with False Albacore (really a Skipjack Tuna, I believe), you were either very lucky, extremely good, or both if you landed 4 of them with only 250′ of line.  A 17-pound False Albacore probably feels like a jet ski on the end of your line.  What type of leader/tippet material were you using? For those unfamiliar with these ’small’ tuna, consider this:  they can swim at speeds over 60 mph!  Your equipment (can you say disc drag?) had better be up to the task. I once witnessed a lady who hooked one on an old spinning reel from one of the fishing piers in Nags Head.  The fish took off and the reel’s drag had this horrible sound to it.  That horrible sound began changing pitch after about half of her line was out and the drag eventually siezed up.  The rod bent over and the line snapped.  Most of the regulars were howling with laughter.  Her boyfriend, one of the regulars, took some serious ribbing that day. Sounds like a great trip!  Thanks for the report. Tom G

I may be underestimating the amount of line that went out – it was a lot! I was using a 6 ft tapered leader and a tippet of 12 lb mono, 3 or so feet long. Caught some on a gray/white Clauser, one on a popper. Peter G. Aitken

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Question:

I will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for anything.  I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National Park, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai Peninsula and Prince William sound region.  Rivers that I can hike to and fish would be ideal.  Is there anyone who has been to that region that might have any information about what there is to fish for and where I could access the best spots on rivers. Tight lines, Brent

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I will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for anything.  I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National Park, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai Peninsula and Prince William sound region.  Rivers that I can hike to and fish would be ideal.  Is there anyone who has been to that region that might have any information about what there is to fish for and where I could access the best spots on rivers. Tight lines, Brent

You are hiking the entire Kenai and Prince Williams Sound. Are you sure you have a map that shows a scale? Anyway, I would be more worried about my boots then the fishing.  Walt in Juneau, AK.

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I apologize for the confusion.  These are general areas that I am considering.  I only plan on going to Denali for a week and then one other specific place for a week.  I would love some input as to which areas would give me the best opportunities for good hiking and GREAT fishing in July.  I would want to fish for trout or salmon.  (I’m not picky). Any response would be helpful. Thanks, Brent – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for anything.  I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National Park, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai Peninsula and Prince William sound region.  Rivers that I can hike to and fish would be ideal.  Is there anyone who has been to that region that might have any information about what there is to fish for and where I could access the best spots on rivers. Tight lines, Brent You are hiking the entire Kenai and Prince Williams Sound. Are you sure you have a map that shows a scale? Anyway, I would be more worried about my boots then the fishing.  Walt in Juneau, AK.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for anything.  I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National Park, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai Peninsula and Prince William sound region.  Rivers that I can hike to and fish would be ideal.  Is there anyone who has been to that region that might have any information about what there is to fish for and where I could access the best spots on rivers. Tight lines, Brent You are hiking the entire Kenai and Prince Williams Sound. Are you sure you have a map that shows a scale? Anyway, I would be more worried about my boots then the fishing.  Walt in Juneau, AK. Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en" <html &nbsp; <blockquote TYPE=CITEI will be going to Alaska this summer and would like to fly fish for <branything.&nbsp; I am an avid hiker and will be hiking in Denali National <brPark, the Wrangell-st.elias National Park as well as the entire Kenai <brPeninsula and Prince William sound region.&nbsp; Rivers that I can hike to <brand fish would be ideal.&nbsp; Is there anyone who has been to that region <brthat might have any information about what there is to fish for and <brwhere I could access the best spots on rivers. <pTight lines, <pBrent</blockquote You are hiking the <ientire Kenai and Prince Williams Sound.</i Are you sure you have a map that shows a scale? Anyway, I would be more worried about my boots then the fishing.&nbsp; Walt in Juneau, AK.</html At Denali call Glacier Expeditions toll Free 1-877-880-9045 they kn

Before you buy.

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Question:

There are two schools of thought on this: !.  Too many guides restrict the rod’s action. 2. Too few guides allow the line to drag against the rod when it flexes. Take your pick. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail GO TO http://users.ccnet.com/~emh FOR TRAVEL TIE BOX PLANS Hi there! I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use? Jarkko —

—                                             |    Jarkko Karvinen                            |    Student of biochemistry                    |  E. coli happens  University of Turku, Finland               |    tel. +358 (0)2 3338059                        |

— – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use?<BR The general rule of thumb is one guide for every foot plus the stripper, so 8 is the general rule of thumb.  One thing you might try is to tape the guides on with both the spacing for the 9 guides and the 8 guides and them string a line trhough them and see how the rod flexes.  Basically, the more guides the more friction.  But fewer is not better either – find a hapy medium by flexing the rod with line through the guides and make sure there are no dead spotsor places where the line touches the rod. Or – you might try calling St Croix.  I bet they would give you the guide spacing they use on the factory rod. Al Manchester, NH

      I know you are not the original poster but he may read this. I have an 8′ 8wt, a 7′6" 3wt and a 6′6" 5wt. The question gave me food for thought so I counted the guides on each, they all have 8, stripper included. with the exception of stripper and tip-top are all snake guides, all are factory. I also looked up the guide kits all are 8 guide.                                                              John Popp                                                           in Sanford Fl.

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I know you are not the original poster but he may read this. Ihave an 8′

8wt, a 7′6" 3wt and a 6′6" 5wt. The question gave me food forthought so I counted the guides on each, they all have 8, stripperincluded. with the exception of stripper and tip-top are all snakeguides, all are factory. I also looked up the guide kits all are 8guide. I don’t doubt that all your rods in various lengths have the same amount of gudes.  This is a subjuect that is debated as much as anythng in fly fishing. As I said "the general rule of thumb" is one per foot plus a stripper guide. Many manufacturers leave a guide or two off to save money, some rods cast better with fewer or more guides. There are a couple of ways to determine guide spacing.  Clemens and Anglers Work Shop as well as some otheres I would guess sell a tool that will allow you to test the spacing of the guides with the rod under load.  There is a program that Cane rod builders use that was written by Wayne Catanach that calculates the spacing based on the number of guides you choose and the placement of the stripper guide.  Several books list guide placement charts as well, and Blue Ridge Rod Company includes a very good one in their catalog. I personally have always used the 1 guide per foot plus the stripper for my rods.   In Skip Morris’s book "The Custon Graphite Rod" and in Handcrafting Custom Graphite Fly Rods" by L.A. Garcia, this is the information that they provide, although the spacings are a bit different and Skip Morris provides some good insight as to the actuual placement of guides based on the rod and the fishermam it is intended for, as well as some general guide lines for placement of guides on soft and fast action rods.  It is interesting reading. The mark of a true custom rod may be going to the extra step of testing the guide placement with the rod under stress.  I have done this a few times but the standard guide placements on the graphite rods I have built have all been so close that I dont worry about it any more. It’s an interesting debate for rod builders.  Could you tell me where you looked up the guide kits for these rods?  Might just be a catalog I am missing:))))) Al Manchester, NH

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Hi there! I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use? Jarkko —                                             |    Jarkko Karvinen                            |    Student of biochemistry                    |  E. coli happens  University of Turku, Finland               |    tel. +358 (0)2 3338059                     |

Response:

I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2

different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use?<BR The general rule of thumb is one guide for every foot plus the stripper, so 8 is the general rule of thumb.  One thing you might try is to tape the guides on with both the spacing for the 9 guides and the 8 guides and them string a line trhough them and see how the rod flexes.  Basically, the more guides the more friction.  But fewer is not better either – find a hapy medium by flexing the rod with line through the guides and make sure there are no dead spotsor places where the line touches the rod. Or – you might try calling St Croix.  I bet they would give you the guide spacing they use on the factory rod. Al Manchester, NH

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Hi there! I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use? Jarkko

I don’t know how prevelent St Croix rods are in Finland, but your best bet would probably be to find an assembled rod from the manufacturer and copy their guided size and placement. There are some rod shop owners on this group, maybe one of them can measure it for you if you can’t find the rod in your area. Good luck,      - Ken

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Hi there! I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use?

Jarkko, here’s the spacing (and 7 Fuji guides) that I use on a 7ft fly rod. Note that the last (8mm2) is a 2-footed guide, the rest are single foot guides, and the measurements are in inches starting from the tip. If I recall, I got these recommendations from L.G. Custom Tackle (G. Loomis dealer and custom rod builder) many years ago. IMHO I think 9 guides is way too many for anything under 8′. I prefer the single footed Hardloy or SIC Fuji’s to the traditional snake guides which allow the line to slap against the blank. 7′ – 4(6mm), 9(6mm), 15(6mm), 22(7mm), 30(7mm), 40(8mm), 52(8mm2) Now you have 3 choices David E. Malone All opinions expressed are my own.

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Question:

I just wanted to pass on this information. I posted here about two weeks ago that I was selling a Bantam Curado reel and received an e-mail from a man by the name of Warren Hansen.  He claimed that he was interested and made me a good offer to buy the reel.  He suggested that we agree on a day, and send the payment check and reel in the mail.  I was wary of this because I didn’t know if I could trust him.  When I e-mailed him saying I would send it C.O.D. thru UPS so that he couldn’t get the reel until he paid, I never heard back from him.  I can only assume that he had no intention of paying me since he bailed out as soon as I suggest a method thatwould force him to pay me.  Just letting you know in case this guy is doing this to other people.

   I’d be reluctant to slander the guy based on the scenario you’ve presented. I wouldn’t go for a UPS COD deal either. No one is home to receive and pay for the merchandise. When I’ve bought/sold stuff on the net the technique was to send the merchandise on receipt of a check or MO. In that case the buyer is at risk, but I’ve never had any problems. — Charlie   Newark, DE To reply by email please remove antispam "TY" from address.

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snip previous post Good point George, Does anyone know if it’s possible to open the package and check the contents before accepting shipment?  This is still assuming UPS COD as the method of transaction.  Is COD payment always in cash? Leny

As far as UPS goes, you can’t open it until you accept it.  UPS accepts checks. — Mark Cahill For E-mail remove the _Remove_This from the reply to address. http://www.geocities.com/Baja/3297/fishing.htm Mark Cahill’s Fishing New Engand -Daily Fishing News http://www.reel-time.com/ The Internet Journal of Saltwater Fly Fishing – Metropolitan Boston Regional Editor

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You were right to be wary. Never do business where the transaction can be costly to you. You made a very good suggestion on how to do it right. However, you should have posted a message describing what happened, leaving out the name. Informing others is useful but wrongly accusing (a suspect he certainly is) an individual is not.                         Cal– ****To reply e-mail remove the "_Remove_This " from the return address. ***** There is always free cheese in a mousetrap.

Nope…still a potential problem.  You are assuming that the seller really has something to sell.  UPS could show up (with a box full of rocks) and collect my cash…then who got cheated?  A con could work either way. Actually, in the original post, there was another unsubstantiated (how’s that for an engineer?) allegation: "He’s doing this to others." (paraphrased).  How does Noah know that? Just a little fodder for thought. George B.

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Please refrain from using profanity to get your point across.  Children read these postings.

Please be advised. If kids are anywhere near the usenet there are far worse things then swear words.  alt.fishing is mighty close to alt.f***ing in my news group list. I have not set up my account on my home system for this very reason.   TimW

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Nope…still a potential problem.  You are assuming that the seller really has something to sell.  UPS could show up (with a box full of rocks) and collect my cash…then who got cheated?  A con could work either way. ……snip……. George B.

Good point George, Does anyone know if it’s possible to open the package and check the contents before accepting shipment?  This is still assuming UPS COD as the method of transaction.  Is COD payment always in cash? Leny

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What is the new group?  Is there a rec.outdoors.fishing.fly.vulgar? -Mark Vinsel In article – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you can’t stand this….then don’t read any of the posting in the New group!!!      And I bet you are encouraging your kids to use vulgarity all the time IF YOU ARE EVER IN DOUBT…….CALL SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU     Steve, Please refrain from using profanity to get your point across.  Children read these postings. Neil McNerney yeah, so if you keep it clean here odds are that they will never hear that kind of talk.

–   new web address:  http://www.vinsel.com

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: Please refrain from using profanity to get your point across.  Children : read these postings. No shit.

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Please refrain from using profanity to get your point across.  Children read these postings. Please be advised. If kids are anywhere near the usenet there are far worse things then swear words.  alt.fishing is mighty close to alt.f***ing in my news group list. TimW

This whole issue of profanity is not to protect the children from learning words they’re going to learn anyway it’s a matter of decency and setting an example.   The more examples children see, especially of those they look up to, the more they are going to repeat the behavior in the examples. They WILL learn those words.  Their behavior with regard to those words will be taught by us. Set a good example. gamma Daniels                                    / /                                   ((o o))                            —oOOo-(Y)<-oOOo— University Computing Services   <`)))<      <`)))<  71533,1011 University of Southern California      <`)))<      <`)))< I love the smell of baitfish in the morning.  Smells like… Saturday!!

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Being of Irish extraction ( 1/2 by blood), I can peel wallpaper with a good cussing but this is not the place for it. — Michael J Barnett

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   ,())))),  ,()))))))),.      huh, huh, huh, huh                       ,—,,,_  ()))))))//((     Hey, Beavis, the guy                    (         )) (\( ))( (/)     said there shouldn’t                   (            ) /(          \     be any cussing on this                 (            ) //       _       newsgroup.                             (_(_((((     ) //    /       /                                         (    ,    )   (.  .      /                                          |   /   )   ) (,     |    ,)                         Yeah. heh, heh.     | /    (   )     ^/^   /                          Well, I don’t       (.(.)    S  )            /                          think there should   /_       )   (-<-) /                           be any sermons    /__)   ^   /      –  /                            in this newsgroup.   /____/    |     __ /                             heh, heh, heh, heh   )______   |      |  |                                                           |  (          )                                                  (          )  |_|AC//DC|_|                                                  |_| MTV  |_|  | |      | |                                                  | |      | |

Response:

You were right to be wary. Never do business where the transaction can be costly to you. You made a very good suggestion on how to do it right. However, you should have posted a message describing what happened, leaving out the name. Informing others is useful but wrongly accusing (a suspect he certainly is) an individual is not.                         Cal– ****To reply e-mail remove the "_Remove_This " from the return address. ***** There is always free cheese in a mousetrap.

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If you can’t stand this….then don’t read any of the posting in the New group!!!      And I bet you are encouraging your kids to use vulgarity all the time IF YOU ARE EVER IN DOUBT…….CALL SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU     – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Steve, Please refrain from using profanity to get your point across.  Children read these postings. Neil McNerney yeah, so if you keep it clean here odds are that they will never hear that kind of talk.

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Some people just don’t know any better as that is the way they were brough up and live now. — Kent Prescott  D.A.V. & Mr. Mom  Remove the # before replying. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Being of Irish extraction ( 1/2 by blood), I can peel wallpaper with a good cussing but this is not the place for it. — Michael J Barnett

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Please refrain from letting your children read these postings.  Some people use profanity to get their point across.

Profanity is tasteless in newsgroups. Its also a waste of good profanity. Profanity should be saved up for when you lose a good fish. stev — stev_ix_netcom_com is a fake. Sorry, Im tired of all the crap I get in the mail.    

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The scary part is the guy posting with an "EDU" domain has the worst grammar.  Quit reading the news groups and study your freshman English homework. Of course, you could be an engineering student and then we would understand. — Michael J Barnett

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"Mama told me not to come…" Three Dog Night.

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Neil, Please refrain from letting your children read these postings.  Some people use profanity to get their point across.

Yeah, gawddammit! </c

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Profanity is tasteless in newsgroups. Its also a waste of good profanity. Profanity should be saved up for when you lose a good fish. stev

That’s right!!

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Noah- I guess it pays to be a little cautious but my experience has been very different than yours.   I have sold three reels to different people in the past two years.  In each case I insisted on sending them the reel first so they could evaluate and see that it was to their satisfaction. In each case I received a perfectly good check by return mail.   I corresponded with each of these people by e-mail and simply chose to trust the honesty of my fellow man.  I am not saying I would make the same decision in every case.  But after corresponding with each of these people that was the decision I made. It worked out well for me. Michael To reply please remove "nospam" from my address. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just wanted to pass on this information. I posted here about two weeks ago that I was selling a Bantam Curado reel and received an e-mail from a man by the name of Warren Hansen.  He claimed that he was interested and made me a good offer to buy the reel.  He suggested that we agree on a day, and send the payment check and reel in the mail.  I was wary of this because I didn’t know if I could trust him.  When I e-mailed him saying I would send it C.O.D. thru UPS so that he couldn’t get the reel until he paid, I never heard back from him.  I can only assume that he had no intention of paying me since he bailed out as soon as I suggest a method thatwould force him to pay me.  Just letting you know in case this guy is doing this to other people.                                                         -Noah Rollins                                                          http://grove.ufl.edu/~noahr                              "Should we, or should we not,                        follow the advice of the galactically stupid?"                           -Tom Cruise, "A Few Good Men"

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Steve, Please refrain from using profanity to get your point across.  Children read these postings. Neil McNerney

yeah, so if you keep it clean here odds are that they will never hear that kind of talk.

Response:

You are a little, little man. Noah. People back out on deals all the time — a shame, but that’s doing business on the internet. He did not cheat you. You did not lose your reel….Why slander someone senselessly? For all you know, the poor SOB is in a hospital, after a car wreck, and it’s just taking him a long time to reply to your COD arrangement, since he’s having to type with a golf-pencil taped to his fucking TONGUE!

 Uh, Steve… I think maybe you are getting a little carried away here. Noah was just trying to help.  Maybe you should lay off the Mountain Dew??

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : ….. I can only assume that he had no : intention of paying me since he bailed out as soon as I suggest a method : thatwould force him to pay me.  Just letting you know in case this guy is : doing this to other people. You are a little, little man. Noah. People back out on deals all the time — a shame, but that’s doing business on the internet. He did not cheat you. You did not lose your reel….Why slander someone senselessly? For all you know, the poor SOB is in a hospital, after a car wreck, and it’s just taking him a long time to reply to your COD arrangement, since he’s having to type with a golf-pencil taped to his fucking TONGUE!

Steve, Please refrain from using profanity to get your point across.  Children read these postings. Neil McNerney

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  Please refrain from using profanity to get your point across.  Children   read these postings.   Neil McNerney

Neil, Please refrain from letting your children read these postings.  Some people use profanity to get their point across. -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html email: replace the "this_address_is_wrong" with "tgades"

Response:

I just wanted to pass on this information. I posted here about two weeks ago that I was selling a Bantam Curado reel and received an e-mail from a man by the name of Warren Hansen.  He claimed that he was interested and made me a good offer to buy the reel.  He suggested that we agree on a day, and send the payment check and reel in the mail.  I was wary of this because I didn’t know if I could trust him.  When I e-mailed him saying I would send it C.O.D. thru UPS so that he couldn’t get the reel until he paid, I never heard back from him.  I can only assume that he had no intention of paying me since he bailed out as soon as I suggest a method thatwould force him to pay me.  Just letting you know in case this guy is doing this to other people.                                                         -Noah Rollins                                                          http://grove.ufl.edu/~noahr                              "Should we, or should we not,                        follow the advice of the galactically stupid?"                           -Tom Cruise, "A Few Good Men"

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: ….. I can only assume that he had no : intention of paying me since he bailed out as soon as I suggest a method : thatwould force him to pay me.  Just letting you know in case this guy is : doing this to other people. You are a little, little man. Noah. People back out on deals all the time — a shame, but that’s doing business on the internet. He did not cheat you. You did not lose your reel….Why slander someone senselessly? For all you know, the poor SOB is in a hospital, after a car wreck, and it’s just taking him a long time to reply to your COD arrangement, since he’s having to type with a golf-pencil taped to his fucking TONGUE!

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Question:

Hey fisherfolks! I will be going fishing for steelhead for the first time on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan in mid-November. I would like to tie some flies before I go. I realize that I can buy them from a local fly shop, but it is always more fun to catch a fish on fly that I have tied myself. Can anyone point me to a good source for tying instructions for great lakes steelhead flies? Thanks! Steve Rosenblum Ann Arbor, MI

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Hey fisherfolks! I will be going fishing for steelhead for the first time on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan in mid-November. I would like to tie some flies before I go. I realize that I can buy them from a local fly shop, but it is always more fun to catch a fish on fly that I have tied myself. Can anyone point me to a good source for tying instructions for great lakes steelhead flies? Thanks! Steve Rosenblum Ann Arbor, MI

Purple yarn eggs.  They work sweet.

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I’ve never seen anyone use anything but yarn.  Orange and/or chartreuse in small egg patterns.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey fisherfolks! I will be going fishing for steelhead for the first time on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan in mid-November. I would like to tie some flies before I go. I realize that I can buy them from a local fly shop, but it is always more fun to catch a fish on fly that I have tied myself. Can anyone point me to a good source for tying instructions for great lakes steelhead flies? Thanks! Steve Rosenblum Ann Arbor, MI Purple yarn eggs.  They work sweet.

PURCHASE "Flies for Steelhead" by Dick kStewart and Farrow Allen.  Full retail is a nickle short of $35.  It is an excellent book and exactly what you’re looking for Steve. Michigan Steelhead waters are usually very low and slow regarding current.  Concentrate on light wire Partidge Hooks.  And yes, they are also expensive but it beats spending your money in a bar. You don’t have much time left to get going on this fly tying business as Mid-November will be here before you know it.  You’re asking a lot, so I kid you not on EXACTLY what book to get.  Don’t be surprised, since the book is not over 3/8 inch thick or slightly over 1/4 inch.  It is packed with nothing but Steelhead patterns.  A must, for your library if you are a serious fly tyer.  (This is spelled two ways, ‘Tyer & Tier’) Again, don’t forget your GINK.  It will skate your flies with a vengence! George Gehrke/Mr. Gink

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If you want to buy a book check out Fly Fishing for Great Lakes Steelhead,  The fly patterns are not as good as a book on just flies but it’s got load of info on other places in other states to fish. I find that an egg with a Nymph Dropper works better than anything else. (ham and eggs as we call it).  Tie on an egg fly (size 6-10, if fish move out of the way of your fly drop down in size) and then 8-20 inches of tippet tied of eye or shank of egg hook to a PM Caddis or Greem Rock worm (Rycaphelia) (don’t flame my lack of correct spelling).  Or try Kaufmann Stones Black or Golden (6-10). Egg Sucking Leeches in black olive or purple,  Green Butt Skunks,  and just about anything buggy or nymph looking on a stout hook. Position yourself slightly upstream, quarter your cast slightly upstream, use enough weight to ‘tick’ along the bottom and hope they inhale your fly while they are yawining or something.  Good  Luck T. Frank BUFF – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hey fisherfolks! I will be going fishing for steelhead for the first time on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan in mid-November. I would like to tie some flies before I go. I realize that I can buy them from a local fly shop, but it is always more fun to catch a fish on fly that I have tied myself. Can anyone point me to a good source for tying instructions for great lakes steelhead flies? Thanks! Steve Rosenblum Ann Arbor, MI

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I’ve never seen anyone use anything but yarn.  Orange and/or chartreuse in small egg patterns.

Didn’t catch the first article here but I think I ge tthe jist of the question.  My adivce is to visit the salmon river homepage at http://www.salmon-river.com. Not only is it a great page for anyone who fly fishes the great lakes tribs it has an entire section on flys to use for salmon and trout.  My personal favorite for fresh run steelhead is a frammus pattern (orange body with chartruse wing or just the opposite).  This fly satisfies all the criteria ( ie.  easy to tie, cheap to tie and very effective fished on both a dead drift and a swing ). Easy and cheap are important because you tend to loose alot of flies.  Remember in the cold water if your not ticking the bottom your probably not fishing deep enough.   For steelhead who have been holding over in the stream a while ( Late Fall/Winter time )I try and use dark nymphs ( gray or brown are my favorites ) in around a size 10. Good Luck, PCR

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Hey fisherfolks! I will be going fishing for steelhead for the first time on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan in mid-November. I would like to tie some flies before I go. I realize that I can buy them from a local fly shop, but it is always more fun to catch a fish on fly that I have tied myself. Can anyone point me to a good source for tying instructions for great lakes steelhead flies? Thanks! Steve Rosenblum Ann Arbor, MI

Steve, Try tying Glow Bugs or Egg patterns in a variety of colors: I use a size 6 or 8 hook and try them pretty small, (a little larger that a real egg). I feel this is the best winter pattern. Colors to tie-up: white, pink salmon egg light orange orange pink red They are fast easy and effective. Try the little Manistee when you are in the area. Also contact Frank Lendzion at the Wellston Inn, Wellston, MI. 616-848-4163. Tell him I sent you. He is a guide in the area that could be a valuable source of information. Since it is your first time on new water, I suggest you hire someone to get you started and you help you get into fish. Tighten ‘em up, then release them Tom Steele

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey fisherfolks! I will be going fishing for steelhead for the first time on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan in mid-November. I would like to tie some flies before I go. I realize that I can buy them from a local fly shop, but it is always more fun to catch a fish on fly that I have tied myself. Can anyone point me to a good source for tying instructions for great lakes steelhead flies? Thanks! Steve Rosenblum Ann Arbor, MI Purple yarn eggs.  They work sweet.

If you can tie a wooley bugger, You’ve mastered the great lakes steelhead fly.  Black, Black, BLack…. Beyond the wooley bugger, egg sucking leeches are most likely my best fly.  THe type we (ontario) use is a black wooley buger with a colored head.  Chartreuse is the best in the fall, but also stock pink, orange, and some "milk" colours.  Size 8 and 10… Also stoneflies, I make a modified Kaufmann’s using raffia folded for the wingcase instead of turkey.  Pheasent Tails in traditional and black work welll, try varing the the color of the thorax..  Same for the stones.   Chartreuse or red works well. Some guys have been doing o.k. with eggs and double egg or spermflies lately.. As for rigging… You will need lots of lead!!!, and flies for that matter.  If your not loosing flies your not in the right spot.  I use a good size float indicator.  However, instead of buying those expensive ones, go to a walleye or hardware trout shop and by some rig floats, a few tooth picks and you set.. Ian

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Question:

Any recommendations for best time of year for Cuba and best camp for bonefish please Many thanks — Charles Reaves

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Hi Charles, May is prime time in the Caribbean for this type of flats fishing. Take a look at this article: http://flyfishing.about.com/library/ffm/cuba/aacuba.htm There is only one operation in the cays south of Cuba and it is an Italian company, Jardinas. It is compared to the Florida Keys 50 years ago. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any recommendations for best time of year for Cuba and best camp for bonefish please Many thanks — Charles Reaves

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I am looking for information –  guides, places, tips… for a fall trip to Cuba.  Any thoughts or help will be much appreciated. Capt. Joe Evans, Annapolis, Md.

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I am always looking for items with "trout" on them.  Notecards, art, household items, novelties, etc.  If anyone knows any interesting websites, stores, etc., with "trout" gifts for sale, please email me. Thanx.

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I used to fish Cuba until the U.S. Customs Department shut us down.  You had better check with them before trying a trip.   Dealing with Cuba and spending money in their country can be thought of as a traitorist act in their eyes.  Ace

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try ORvis

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James Prosek, Trout, an illustrated histroy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – try ORvis

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Question:

Does anyone have any experiance with them? I am in the process of building a Thomas and Thomas 8wt 3 piece and I was thinking about what guides to use. You say T&T doesnt make those blanks? Yeah I know, but a buddy of mine pulled a few strings and it is going to be a special item. Anyway, I need some advice on the Titanium Nitride guides, are they worth the money? Are the a pain in the ass the put on? Any problems? Thanks….. -Mike

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Does anyone have any experiance with them? I am in the process of building a Thomas and Thomas 8wt 3 piece and I was thinking about what guides to use. You say T&T doesnt make those blanks? Yeah I know, but a buddy of mine pulled a few strings and it is going to be a special item. Anyway, I need some advice on the Titanium Nitride guides, are they worth the money? Are the a pain in the ass the put on? Any problems? Thanks….. -Mike

I put a set of PacBay TN guides on an 8 weight I built on a Powell blank. Aesthetically very nice, the the finish is now wearing off the tip (after 4 yrs.). I can’t really tell you I noticed a big performance difference, not like going from snake guides to single foot SICs. They are more corrosion resistant, though IMO if you clean your rod properly this shouldn’t be a huge deal. They go on the same as any guide :- I think if I were to build myself a real top of the line designer rod I’d use TN guides as well a TN reelseat (Clemens and Orvis have them) because I think they look pretty slick. There are many brands of TN guides now, you want to check as many as possible. The cheaper ones may wear off faster. I believe one of the saltwater ff mags had a review on titanium components a few months ago. I’ll try to find it tonite…                                                 jc

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   any experiance with them? I am in the process of  building a Thomas and Thomas 8wt 3 piece and I was thinking about what  guides to use.  Anyway, I need some advice on the Titanium Nitride guides, are they worth  the money? Are the a pain in the ass the put on? Any problems?  Thanks…..  -Mike  Hi  If your design includes gold hardware; reelseat, guides, tiptop, etc.  you’ll get a beauty of a rod. I use T/N stuff on my rods and notice  appreciative stares from others.  Haven’t got any bad news about ‘em either. – six years later.  –  Thanks,  J.P.Erwin – System Tech – Network Surveilance  Views expressed here are MINE – nobody else dares to open their yap!

Hello Mike,  I used TN guides on a Sage RPL I did last year.  I used the guides along with a gold Powell reel seat and got a nice look.  The gold appearance is not that gaudy.  I’m hoping for good durability. Jeff

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Does anyone have any experiance with them? I am in the process of building a Thomas and Thomas 8wt 3 piece and I was thinking about what guides to use. You say T&T doesnt make those blanks? Yeah I know, but a buddy of mine pulled a few strings and it is going to be a special item. Anyway, I need some advice on the Titanium Nitride guides, are they worth the money? Are the a pain in the ass the put on? Any problems? Thanks….. -Mike There is also a black TN guide set (at least I think it is TN) that is

really hard and looks good.  I use them for the stealth factor.  Have em on two rods and they appear to be pretty good.  Have only used them for about a season at this point, but they got hard use.  No grooving to date, unlike the set they replaced.

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If TiN coating is used as a wear preventative on so many drills, reamers and carbide metal cutting tools, I would think it would be an excellent finish for guides.

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: -Mike There is also a black TN guide set (at least I think it is TN) that is : really hard and looks good.  I use them for the stealth factor.  Have em What exactly is the stealth factor?  Are we now involved in all out war? In order to combat the fisherman with radar and motors on their float tubes, the trout have established hidden "listening posts" to detect the presence of fisherman topside?   Titanium nitride has a low radar cross section, so the stealthy fisherman goes undetected? Just wondering.

First, I lied.  They’re not TiN, they are DLC guides from Hopkins and Holloway.  They’re still good. By stealth factor, I mean that they are black, so they reflect less light and thus spook fewer fish.   Now, I do have composite wrapping on the drift boat to keep the radar signature down…

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I’m looking for any comparisons between the Sage RPL in 4 and 5 weight and the Orvis PM 10 in 4 and 5 weight. If you’ve tried either one or both, give me your thoughts on what they do best, advantages, disadvantages and any other thoughts. I’ll be trying them both real soon to build up from the blank.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : -Mike There is also a black TN guide set (at least I think it is TN) that is : really hard and looks good.  I use them for the stealth factor.  Have em What exactly is the stealth factor?  Are we now involved in all out war? In order to combat the fisherman with radar and motors on their float tubes, the trout have established hidden "listening posts" to detect the presence of fisherman topside?   Titanium nitride has a low radar cross section, so the stealthy fisherman goes undetected? Just wondering. First, I lied.  They’re not TiN, they are DLC guides from Hopkins and Holloway.  They’re still good. By stealth factor, I mean that they are black, so they reflect less light and thus spook fewer fish.   Now, I do have composite wrapping on the drift boat to keep the radar signature down…

May I suggest an inflatable for total stealth ? As far as low reflection guides go, I had pretty good luck with the Perfection ‘EZ Flow’. Oversized and a nice grey color. Think I gotta do something about my chartreuse fishing hat though…

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First, I lied.  They’re not TiN, they are DLC guides from Hopkins and Holloway.  They’re still good. By stealth factor, I mean that they are black, so they reflect less light and thus spook fewer fish. Now, I do have composite wrapping on the drift boat to keep the radar signature down… May I suggest an inflatable for total stealth ? As far as low reflection guides go, I had pretty good luck with the Perfection ‘EZ Flow’. Oversized and a nice grey color. Think I gotta do something about my chartreuse fishing hat though…

I hope those aren’t the same grey guides I got some time back form Anglers Workshop.  They were supposed to be teflon coated and real slick.  Well, they were, until they got all grooved up.  They were way soft.  That’s why I got the DLC guides I referred to.   Bear in mind I’m tough on guides.  I fish from a boat most of the time, and sand and grit gets all over the line.  A better recipe for destroying guides could not be found.

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I’m looking for any comparisons between the Sage RPL in 4 and 5 weight and the Orvis PM 10 in 4 and 5 weight. If you’ve tried either one or both, give me your thoughts on what they do best, advantages, disadvantages and any other thoughts. I’ll be trying them both real soon to build up from the blank.

Kevin, I built an Orvis PM10 4pc 4wt last year, and unfortunately I’ve been pretty disappointed with it’s performance. The rod throws nice tight loops for casts out to about 60′ (using a Cortland 444 Lazerline WF4W) but for anything beyond 60′ the rod just feels overloaded and "mushy" (i.e. not crisp). I also built an Orvis PM10 4pc 8wt and can throw it about 90′ before the same "mushy" feeling sets in, so I’m sure that some of my impression is biased by the lighter line weight. I’m now in the process of building a GLoomis IMX 4pc 5wt and have great hopes for it. The rod feels *much* stiffer throug- out it’s length than do any of the Orvis rods I’ve built, but I’m reserving final judgement until I’ve had a chance to finish the project and get the rod out to the local casting ponds. Unfortunately, I have no experience with the Sage RPL in 4 and 5 wt, so I really can’t give any feedback on that series. Best of luck with whatever you decide, Fred

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – First, I lied.  They’re not TiN, they are DLC guides from Hopkins and Holloway.  They’re still good. By stealth factor, I mean that they are black, so they reflect less light and thus spook fewer fish. Now, I do have composite wrapping on the drift boat to keep the radar signature down… May I suggest an inflatable for total stealth ? As far as low reflection guides go, I had pretty good luck with the Perfection ‘EZ Flow’. Oversized and a nice grey color. Think I gotta do something about my chartreuse fishing hat though… I hope those aren’t the same grey guides I got some time back form Anglers Workshop.  They were supposed to be teflon coated and real slick.  Well, they were, until they got all grooved up.  They were way soft.  That’s why I got the DLC guides I referred to.   Bear in mind I’m tough on guides.  I fish from a boat most of the time, and sand and grit gets all over the line.  A better recipe for destroying guides could not be found.

Hmm, I’ll have to check them. If they’re teflon coated I didn’t know it when I bought them :- Mine were on a Fisher 10 wgt. used mostly on surf and jetties in N.E., like you I’m rough on tackle (the rod is now broken . I originally had SICs on the rod, but switched to snakes to accomodate the heavy heads I like to throw. On my other rods, my black PacBays on my 11 weight have held up extremely well, fishing surf 3-4 times/week May- Oct. for 2 years. My PacBay TNs have begun to wear after about 4 years. The SICs, though ugly, have held up well for me too. Also, the single foot takes less time to wrap, which is important for me this time ‘cos I have to build the rod between the screams/needs/etc. of a 3 mo. old ! Fast is good, ja. I tend to cycle through rods pretty fast, slipping on jetties, etc. tends to beat them up good, so often the guides don’t get a chance to wear out !                                                         jc

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: I’m looking for any comparisons between the Sage RPL in 4 and 5 weight : and the Orvis PM 10 in 4 and 5 weight. If you’ve tried either one or : both, give me your thoughts on what they do best, advantages, : disadvantages and any other thoughts. I’ll be trying them both real soon : to build up from the blank. Hi Kevin,    I read a follow on post about the Orvis PM 10 and thought I’d mention my thoughts about the RPL (and the LLB) series. I have a 586 RPL and a 790 RPL and love them both. They are what the RPL stands for: Reserve Power Line. Wonderful line throwers. Now on the other hand, My wife has a 4711 LLB and I have just finished a 490 LLB and they are too soft for my arm. I have great difficulty casting with them. My wife, however, wouldn’t give her’s up. It is light and does a great job for her.    Two of my daugherts also have 586 RPL(s) and they swear by them. It is a very easy rod to cast. lukn4fish — Bob San Jose, Ca

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I’m looking for any comparisons between the Sage RPL in 4 and 5 weight and the Orvis PM 10 in 4 and 5 weight. If you’ve tried either one or both, give me your thoughts on what they do best, advantages, disadvantages and any other thoughts. I’ll be trying them both real soon to build up from the blank.

Hi Kevin, I have cast and fished with both the Sage and Orvis 5wt. rods you mentioned. The RPL in my opinion is the all around better of the two.  Both are very fine rods; However,  the Sage has more backbone and will throw a tighter loop.  The chioce is yours as to which rod is better for you.  I prefer a very fast rod.  Some people like to have a slightly slower,  softer rod.  The fast action of the RPL is somewhat unforgiving when you use light tippets. I suggest that you fish with both before purchasing.  A day on the stream with a rod will give you much more information than casting one or the other at a fly shop. Good luck,  let me know what you think of both. Bryan Bonds White River Anglers http://www.ipa.net/~bbonds Fayetteville,  Ar

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I’m looking for any comparisons between the Sage RPL in 4 and 5 weight and the Orvis PM 10 in 4 and 5 weight. If you’ve tried either one or both, give me your thoughts on what they do best, advantages, disadvantages and any other thoughts. I’ll be trying them both real soon to build up from the blank.

Hi Kevin, I’ve tried both before buying the PM-10 9′ 5wt 2 pce. Depending on your preferences in a rod both are very nice rods. The RPL is a somewhat stiffer rod, very nice casting (even beyond 75′) but when you hook a moderate sized trout the PM-10 gives you more pleasure. Recently I bought a Sage LL 590-3 instead of the PM-10. Its casting is about in between the RPL and the PM-10. Above all it gives a lot more fun when playing a moderate sized trout. Finally : When distance is your main goal, buy a RPL 590 or even better SP+ 590. when performance is your goal, buy PM-10, LL 590 (3) or SP 590 (3). Succes,  Ger.

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Kevin, I can’t speak about the Orvis– However, I have fished with a Sage RPL 8ft for a 4 for many years.  I have fished the West Branch of the Ausable to the Madison.  I have never been disapointed with the rod.  I’ve caught everything from  bluegills to landlocked salmon with it and it has been a pleasure.  Tight loops, distance,  and when needed a delicate feel. I also own two Orvis Rods.  A green mountain and a far and fine.  Neither of these rods are worth the money I spent on them.  They hang on my wall while I fish with my Sage rods. In my opinion there is no comparison.  Fish with the Sage! Mike

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You should try these rods yourself and see which ones cast best for you.  We all have different casting styles and preferences.

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I’m looking for any comparisons between the Sage RPL in 4 and 5 weight and the Orvis PM 10 in 4 and 5 weight. If you’ve tried either one or both, give me your thoughts on what they do best, advantages, disadvantages and any other thoughts. I’ll be trying them both real soon to build up from the blank.

Kevin, Can’t help with the Sage rods, but can speak form experience about the PM-10’s.  I personally fish with the PM-10 865-4 (8 1/2 ft. 5 wt. 4 pc.) and the rod fits me perfectly. I love it.  The tip is very delicate and the rod loads and casts easily up close as well as having plenty of power to boom out the entire line if I need to. As you cast more and more line, the rod very smoothly and predictably flexes farther and farther down the blank with no sudden stops or hinges.  It became available this year in a 9ft. version for a little better line control, but I still like the 8 1/2ft.  We use the PM10 905 in our fly fishing schools and it is also superb.  Same light tip with plenty of power but I prefer the way the 4 pc. casts over the 2pc.  One of those things about buying top quality shoes and they’re all good, but this one’s really comfortable.  The PM10 904 is a little smoother IMHO than the 905 but doesn’t have as much power.  If  you

Question:

I understand from my lunch buddies that when House Speaker Newt Gingrich was in New Hampshire this past weekend he was looking for a moose but got an earful from a fly fisherman.   Anyone know the story?

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who cares ?

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 who cares ?

One thing I can say for the Fly Fishermen I know.. They are for the most part ‘Blunt’. My hat’s off to the Flyman who told the news exactly what he thought about Newt. Newt… Hummmm! Wonder what you could catch with a Newt on a hook? Tight Lines Mike

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writes:  who cares ? Newt. Newt… Hummmm! Wonder what you could catch with a Newt on a hook?

Snags and bottom-feeders. — -Wayne Trzyna

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writes:  who cares ? One thing I can say for the Fly Fishermen I know.. They are for the most part ‘Blunt’. My hat’s off to the Flyman who told the news exactly what he thought about Newt. Newt… Hummmm! Wonder what you could catch with a Newt on a hook? Tight Lines Mike

Don’t know, but I caught a newt with an Ausable Wulff in a mountain pond a few weeks back!

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Newt may not be the smoothest of characters but he is finally being honest with our tax dollar.

When you no longer have any place to fish, because the esteemed Mr Gingrich has sold off all the public lands, you’ll recognize him for what he is: a self-serving, evil man. — -Wayne Trzyna

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Newt may not be the smoothest of  characters but he is finally being honest with our tax dollar.  When you no longer have any place to fish, because the esteemed Mr Gingrich  has sold off all the public lands, you’ll recognize him for what he is:  a self-serving, evil man.  –  -Wayne Trzyna

Wayne, are you discribing Newt or Rush? It’s not the selling of Public Lands that concern me as much as a possible roll-back of the clean air act that will effect both Public and Private Fisheries. Misha

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Firstly, I "genuflect" to no one, especially an elected official.  He’s a public servant and it’s his job to listen to what the public has to say (whether it be rude, offensive, foul or whatever).  Putting up with the public and criticism goes along with the territory. Secondly, if elected officials were "pistol whipped" and "hog tied" each time they said something off color, there would be a lot of congressmen and presidents with sore heads, wrists and ankles. Jim Davis Philadelphia, PA Temple University Why don’t you girls take this CRAP to the proper forum…this isn’t the place for petty politics.

Moreover, it isn’t the place for sexist comments.  Have some respect, Donald. Jim Davis Philadelphia, PA Temple University

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what was said

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Face it,  if we are going to "hog tie", Hillbilly Bill would only have stumps remaining for extremities!!  Mr. Newt may not be the smoothest of characters but he is finally being honest with our tax dollar.    We may not all agree with the decisions being made concerning the environment but more can be done on a grass roots level to maintain our rivers than anything our now bankrupt Uncle Sam could or can ever do!

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Wait a minute. A Pinko-Liberal Vermonter flyfisher, who is afraid of the truth, trashed Newt? Tell me the story! I gotta hear it? Does Newt flyfish? Or throw grenades into hatcheries?

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 Wait a minute. A Pinko-Liberal Vermonter flyfisher, who is afraid of the  truth, trashed Newt? Tell me the story! I gotta hear it? Does Newt  flyfish? Or throw grenades into hatcheries?

Grenades into the Hatcheries is more like it.. A Pinko-Liberal Misha

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Hummmm! Wonder what you could catch with a Newt on a hook? Tight Lines Mike Don’t know, but I caught a newt with an Ausable Wulff in a mountain pond a few weeks back!

I hope this time you forgot about catch and release. I expect that Gingrich was looking to dynamite some trout, before anyone could complain about his PAC donors dumping cyanide-laced mine tailings in the creek.  Anybody who can make Bob Dole appear a decent human being by comparison IS all bad. Catch and do the right thing,                                 Phil Holt

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The "puke" in the river should have kept his mouth shut and showed some respect!   Well put. I agree that everybody should genuflect in the presence of elected officials, even if we did not elect them. It should make no difference to me that Gingrich helped pass HR 961, believes that water pollution is a problem invented in a liberal Washington D.C. think tank, and wants to roll back environmental legislation so that corporate America can steward public lands. That Puke should be hog-tied and pistol-whipped for disrespecting an elected official. db

db, Firstly, I "genuflect" to no one, especially an elected official.  He’s a public servant and it’s his job to listen to what the public has to say (whether it be rude, offensive, foul or whatever).  Putting up with the public and criticism goes along with the territory. Secondly, if elected officials were "pistol whipped" and "hog tied" each time they said something off color, there would be a lot of congressmen and presidents with sore heads, wrists and ankles. Jim Davis Philadelphia, PA Temple University

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the fisherman expressed his displeasure with Newt.  He stated that Newt is mean spirited.  He also stated that the water he was fishing in would be poluted soon if the the "clean water" standards proposed by Newt’s buddies is passed.  Sounds fair to me.      Newt was a gentleman.  His response " He obviously is not from new Hampshire.  I hope that he catches some fish."      He was a teacher from Vermont.

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: I understand from my lunch buddies that when House Speaker Newt Gingrich : was in New Hampshire this past weekend he was looking for a moose but got : an earful from a fly fisherman.   Anyone know the story?    He was a Pinko-Liberal teacher from Vermont who’s afraid of the TRUTH.   Tallyho !   Alphs Kilo

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I think the puke was on the bank, not in the river…..

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The "puke" in the river should have kept his mouth shut and showed some respect!  

Well put. I agree that everybody should genuflect in the presence of elected officials, even if we did not elect them. It should make no difference to me that Gingrich helped pass HR 961, believes that water pollution is a problem invented in a liberal Washington D.C. think tank, and wants to roll back environmental legislation so that corporate America can steward public lands. That Puke should be hog-tied and pistol-whipped for disrespecting an elected official. db

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I care.  Newt was instrumental in pushing HR961, the Dirty Water Bill through the house.  He needed an earfull and more……

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All this talk of newt makes me dis-in-Gingriched… Dan Foster

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The "puke" in the river should have kept his mouth shut and showed some respect!  

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The "puke" in the river should have kept his mouth shut and showed some respect!  

Hey…isn’t that what America’s all about. Free speech. From what I read from the excerpts of this encounter, he wasn’t obscene or demeaning. He just told it like it was. When we write our congressional representatives, we wonder if our message is getting through. Well on this day his voice was certainly heard!

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The "puke" in the river should have kept his mouth shut and showed some respect!   Hey…isn’t that what America’s all about. Free speech. From what I read from the excerpts of this encounter, he wasn’t obscene or demeaning. He just told it like it was. When we write our congressional representatives, we wonder if our message is getting through. Well on this day his voice was certainly heard!

Did the guy get out of the river to say it, or is yelling over water better ?   Harry

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 who cares ? One thing I can say for the Fly Fishermen I know.. They are for the most part ‘Blunt’. My hat’s off to the Flyman who told the news exactly what he thought about Newt. Newt… Hummmm! Wonder what you could catch with a Newt on a hook?

I believe this event happened up on the Androscoggin in Errol, between the Gauge House pool (below the Errol Dam) and the Rt 26 bridge (one of my favorite stretches to spend an afternoon going after ‘bows, browns, and landlockers). The honors went to a  flyfisher from Vermont (figures – it surely wouldn’t have been anyone from Cow Hampster – who’d likely not bother to stop fishing long enough to give a Newt the time of day ;^)… When I read this story I couldn’t help but smile… <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < Digital Equipment Corp.    Alpha Server Engineering  < <           "Read this and nobody gets hurt"           < <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

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 Don’t know, but I caught a newt with an Ausable Wulff in a mountain  pond a few weeks back!

You should have placed him on a hook. You may not have caught anything, but the satisfaction of putting Newt on a hook would have been worth it.;-) But then Newts are a protected species isn’t it? Tight Lines Misha

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