Question:

I tried it this weekend.. Not that great and, actually, I thought it was unremarkable..  I’ll stick to Thomas Kemper Big Fat Tuba as my fav.. Ben Perhaps it lived up to its name? Wade

Surprisingly, yes..  IMO.. Ben

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ah, yes… Castle Creek!  A lovely little run of water with great fishing, but you have to fish it right.  Honestly, if you don’t really sneak up on the creek, you’ll catch nothing.  Even the vibration of footsteps will give the brookies a severe case of lockjaw.  If you’re still in the area, find Ditch Creek Campground, south of Deerfield Lake and fish the stream between the campground and the lake.  Same stealth approach applies here. Man, good memories of camping, fishing and general exploring in these parts in the early ’70s.  Wish I was there! Greg Please tell us you have a web cam set up in the area so we can watch this as it takes place.  Kinda reminds me of snipe hunting when I was a

kid. Sorry, no web cam, but I’m not pulling your leg on the "sneak up on ‘em" approach for these brookies…. You could stand way back and try to cast to them, but the streams are narrow enough with trees, brush and shrubs that you’ll leave a lot of hardware hanging in the trees before you put a fly in the water (or at least that’s my experience).  BTW, did a lot of snipe hunting as a kid, too! Greg

Response:

While were on the subject.  Does anyone know if Big Rock Brewery in Calgary is still brewing Grasshopper.  It’s a great wheat ale that I haven’t been able to find here in Seattle for a while. Rich

They do make the Grasshopper, and they are also located in Vancouver as well as Delta BC. Wade

Response:

Welcome to the world of Northwest and Mountain states beer.  Along with Moose drool you may also like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and Fat Tire Amber. While were on the subject.  Does anyone know if Big Rock Brewery in Calgary is still brewing Grasshopper.  It’s a great wheat ale that I haven’t been able to find here in Seattle for a while. Rich

Fat Tire Amber Ale is what I started out the trip with.  I bought it at Sam’s in Round Rock, Texas.  Good stuff. Bob, sitting in front of the Post Office, in Lead, SD

Response:

That’s a catchy name yuk. wade I tried it this weekend.. Not that great and, actually, I thought it was unremarkable..  I’ll stick to Thomas Kemper Big Fat Tuba as my fav.. Ben

Perhaps it lived up to its name? Wade

Response:

That’s a catchy name yuk. wade

I tried it this weekend.. Not that great and, actually, I thought it was unremarkable..  I’ll stick to Thomas Kemper Big Fat Tuba as my fav.. Ben

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02 snip Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings. ah, yes… Castle Creek!  A lovely little run of water with great fishing, but you have to fish it right.  Honestly, if you don’t really sneak up on the creek, you’ll catch nothing.  Even the vibration of footsteps will give the brookies a severe case of lockjaw.  If you’re still in the area, find Ditch Creek Campground, south of Deerfield Lake and fish the stream between the campground and the lake.  Same stealth approach applies here. Man, good memories of camping, fishing and general exploring in these parts in the early ’70s.  Wish I was there! Greg

So that’s what the matter was.  I wasn’t sneaky enough.  Well, let that be a lesson to me. Bob

Response:

And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff.   Not that it makes much difference Bob, but I think the fly was invented as a ‘Wooly Bugger’, not Booger.

If it is a 2 foot wide creek, chances are it has nothing bigger than 8 inch brookies.  A big bait would scare them off. LZ

Response:

Welcome to the world of Northwest and Mountain states beer.  Along with Moose drool you may also like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and Fat Tire Amber. While were on the subject.  Does anyone know if Big Rock Brewery in Calgary is still brewing Grasshopper.  It’s a great wheat ale that I haven’t been able to find here in Seattle for a while. Rich

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02 You know, as a matter of design, I’ve always disliked floor vents for heaters.  They’re a weak point in the floor, and they collect dirt and small dust bunnies that are hard to remove.  But after 2 hours wading up a cold stream in a pair of sneakers, it sure feels good to rest your blue toes right on top of that vent. Aaaaaahhhhhhh. Yeah, I know.  I have waders.  But I didn’t have them WITH me.  :o( Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings. And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff. Most of the fishing here is done on the lake.  You can see the big ones rising in the morning, flop and flash.  I need to find or fashion a light pontoon for the kayak, to make it more stable for fishing. Perhaps a yoke and a couple pieces of conduit, with inflatable bags on the ends.  I’m not able to search the web right now, but I’ll bet somebody already makes something like that. There are a couple of special purpose fishing platforms being used here that are small and light enough to be carried in an RV compartment.  One is the inner tube with straps and waders contraption, which strikes me as an elaborate way to drown.  More promising are the 6-8 foot pontoon boats, with oars, that skitter around out there like waterbugs. They are very light, all aluminum tubing and air.  Maybe 40 lbs.  I saw a smallish man lift one easily from the back of his pickup, carry it upside down over his head 40 or 50 feet down a hill, and set it lightly in the water.  It rides high on the pontoons, which are inflated bladders zipped up in sturdy rubberized nylon covers.  It would take a lot to poke a hole in one. The neat thing is the way they break down flat for storage.  The frame snaps together, the pontoons deflate and fold up, and the biggest single piece is maybe 2′ x 3′ x 6 inches.  You could store it under your bed.  They cost anywhere from $400-$800.  At that price you could sell it if you didn’t like it, and not lose much.  The one I looked at was sold by "Buck’s Bags".  I think they have a website. Of course if you’re going out on Lake Superior, you need a kayak.  Or an ocean liner.  I’d rather have my kayak for speed and exploring. But for just getting out on the reservoir and having a stable place to cast from, these things are the Cat’s Meow.  They’ll take a trolling motor and battery if you’re feeling lazy.  There’s even room for a small cooler of Moose Drool. O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business". Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings. And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff. Most of the fishing here is done on the lake.  You can see the big ones rising in the morning, flop and flash.  I need to find or fashion a light pontoon for the kayak, to make it more stable for fishing. Perhaps a yoke and a couple pieces of conduit, with inflatable bags on the ends.  I’m not able to search the web right now, but I’ll bet somebody already makes something like that. Bob

FWIW unless you’re flyfishing, I found that the following worked well on trout in small, shallow AZ Mountain streams: Light or ultralight spinning outfit with 2-lb monofilament and 1/16 oz spinners. Walk/fish upstream, and reel in the lure at – or slightly faster than – the speed the stream is carrying it toward you. When the trout didn’t want to bite Z-rays in AZ lakes, we switched to sliding sinkers with terminal tackle of a foot or two of 1-lb monofiliment with a 12 or 14 treble hook barely hidden in a wad of Velveeta cheese. — bill Theory don’t mean squat if it don’t work.

Response:

ah, yes… Castle Creek!  A lovely little run of water with great fishing, but you have to fish it right.  Honestly, if you don’t really sneak up on the creek, you’ll catch nothing.  Even the vibration of footsteps will give the brookies a severe case of lockjaw.  If you’re still in the area, find Ditch Creek Campground, south of Deerfield Lake and fish the stream between the campground and the lake.  Same stealth approach applies here. Man, good memories of camping, fishing and general exploring in these parts in the early ’70s.  Wish I was there! Greg

Please tell us you have a web cam set up in the area so we can watch this as it takes place.  Kinda reminds me of snipe hunting when I was a kid.

Response:

Check out www.bigskybrew.com for a list of items with Moose Drool  and others on them. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business". I saw this beer at the store the other day..  Was tempted to try it..  Catchy name..  Maybe I’ll give it a go and bring a 6 pack to the PNWCO so we can say we drank Moose Drool at the PNWCO.. <g Ben Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Response:

Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight.

Don’t they drool only when in rut? It could be pretty to other moose (meese?)

Response:

Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02

snip Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings.

ah, yes… Castle Creek!  A lovely little run of water with great fishing, but you have to fish it right.  Honestly, if you don’t really sneak up on the creek, you’ll catch nothing.  Even the vibration of footsteps will give the brookies a severe case of lockjaw.  If you’re still in the area, find Ditch Creek Campground, south of Deerfield Lake and fish the stream between the campground and the lake.  Same stealth approach applies here. Man, good memories of camping, fishing and general exploring in these parts in the early ’70s.  Wish I was there! Greg

Response:

And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff.

  Not that it makes much difference Bob, but I think the fly was invented as a ‘Wooly Bugger’, not Booger.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business". I saw this beer at the store the other day..  Was tempted to try it.. Catchy name..  Maybe I’ll give it a go and bring a 6 pack to the PNWCO so we can say we drank Moose Drool at the PNWCO.. <g Ben

That’s a catchy name yuk. wade

Response:

Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02 You know, as a matter of design, I’ve always disliked floor vents for heaters.  They’re a weak point in the floor, and they collect dirt and

<<some good story snipped Most of the fishing here is done on the lake.  You can see the big ones rising in the morning, flop and flash.  I need to find or fashion a light pontoon for the kayak, to make it more stable for fishing.

On the kayak stabilization, they are called Sponsons.  Don’t ask about them in the paddling newsgroups cause we had a Craig the hitch guy, type spamming the groups about how everyone needs these or they will die.  But for your application they are pretty much perfect.  You can even deflate them for the paddle home if you choose.  Search the web for "sponson" <<some more really good story snipped Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Snoball

Response:

O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business".

I saw this beer at the store the other day..  Was tempted to try it..  Catchy name..  Maybe I’ll give it a go and bring a 6 pack to the PNWCO so we can say we drank Moose Drool at the PNWCO.. <g Ben – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Response:

Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02 You know, as a matter of design, I’ve always disliked floor vents for heaters.  They’re a weak point in the floor, and they collect dirt and small dust bunnies that are hard to remove.  But after 2 hours wading up a cold stream in a pair of sneakers, it sure feels good to rest your blue toes right on top of that vent. Aaaaaahhhhhhh. Yeah, I know.  I have waders.  But I didn’t have them WITH me.  :o( Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings. And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff. Most of the fishing here is done on the lake.  You can see the big ones rising in the morning, flop and flash.  I need to find or fashion a light pontoon for the kayak, to make it more stable for fishing. Perhaps a yoke and a couple pieces of conduit, with inflatable bags on the ends.  I’m not able to search the web right now, but I’ll bet somebody already makes something like that. There are a couple of special purpose fishing platforms being used here that are small and light enough to be carried in an RV compartment.  One is the inner tube with straps and waders contraption, which strikes me as an elaborate way to drown.  More promising are the 6-8 foot pontoon boats, with oars, that skitter around out there like waterbugs. They are very light, all aluminum tubing and air.  Maybe 40 lbs.  I saw a smallish man lift one easily from the back of his pickup, carry it upside down over his head 40 or 50 feet down a hill, and set it lightly in the water.  It rides high on the pontoons, which are inflated bladders zipped up in sturdy rubberized nylon covers.  It would take a lot to poke a hole in one. The neat thing is the way they break down flat for storage.  The frame snaps together, the pontoons deflate and fold up, and the biggest single piece is maybe 2′ x 3′ x 6 inches.  You could store it under your bed.  They cost anywhere from $400-$800.  At that price you could sell it if you didn’t like it, and not lose much.  The one I looked at was sold by "Buck’s Bags".  I think they have a website. Of course if you’re going out on Lake Superior, you need a kayak.  Or an ocean liner.  I’d rather have my kayak for speed and exploring. But for just getting out on the reservoir and having a stable place to cast from, these things are the Cat’s Meow.  They’ll take a trolling motor and battery if you’re feeling lazy.  There’s even room for a small cooler of Moose Drool. O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business". Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Response:

Question:

Screw up good fly fishing.  Nothing worse in the outdoors than a FurWrap that can’t clean fish, dig worms or who can’t make a camp fire, cut or haul wood or who runs out of matches and then doesn’t know how to rub two sticks together, OR who doesn’t make a good pot of coffee.  A well trained FurWrap will deliver a cold bottle of beer streamside and not talk and drown out the sound of singing birds, but there is nothing worse if she doesn’t have a nice mixed drink to hand you when you arrive from a great day of fly fishing before she helps pull off your waders, hangs them up, runs your bath, gets in and soaps you down and later serves you a filet mignon, medium rare. Other than that, they don’t have many more uses or distractions worthy enough to bring them along unless they happen to be a good cribbage player. So tell us Frank?  Why? oh why, oh why this one? George Gehrke "shut up honey and deal"

Response:

<snipped a bunch of misogyny George Gehrke "shut up honey and deal"

George, If you’re still in Rochester you may want to stay there – indefinately. Your post may have been brought to the attention of the wife of a certain retired rod designer who lives not that far from you, and it may not be healthy for you to return home.  8) Bob Weinberger

Response:

Question:

I am wondering how anyone whom is quick to tout their educational achievements and command of the English language can justify the below quotes.  It also seems that the same poster is very quick to infer intellectual superiority often in the same post.  What level of higher education is needed before you become so proficient and diverse in the use of vulgarity?  In fact, is it not a contradiction to claim to be educated and to have to resort to vulgarity in writing and speech to convey rational thought? "Very notable was his distinction between coarseness and vulgarity, coarseness, revealing something; vulgarity, concealing something." Edward M. Foster I would like to thank Mike Connor for the following pearls of wisdom from his recent postings. "I do not go around sending badly spelled extremely ignorant and insulting posts to people I hardly know"  [I guess he knows everyone very well] "You are just a stupid ungrateful little troublemaking fucker" "you fucking numbskull." "Some of you really do seem preoccupied with spew and shit, and stuff like that." "Another intellectual cripple who wants to fight a war of intelligence. Read my lips sonny. Go and fuck yourself." "you insufferrable piece of  shit" "you are still a fucking idiot. As far as I recall, I never called you an asshole. I called you a nasty little shit." "Yet another nasty little shit reveals himself." "Do yourself a favour dickhead," "you are nothing more than a nasty little shit," "Another dumb shithead joins the pile." "What a nasty arrogant little shit you are." "You fucking arrogant shithead. Feeling left out?   Head for the shit-pile, all assholes welcome" "You really are a stupid bastard." "Most disappointing that having failed to shake the logic of my arguments, you resort to attacking me personally." J.G.

Response:

Fortenberry said all that stuff?

mercy! Mu

Response:

Fortenberry said all that stuff?

Response:

…….is it not a contradiction to claim to be educated and to have to resort to vulgarity in writing and speech to convey rational thought?

Huh? Wolfgang

Response:

—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– Hash: SHA1 I am wondering how anyone whom is quick to tout their educational achievements and command of the English language can justify the below quotes.

Pardon me, but I don’t think we’ve been introduced. Who the hell are you? Gentlemen, WHBT. – — "When the cruel apathy of time laughed in your face,  did you hear me say ‘each life has its place?" -Indigo Girls —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—– Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQE75jMCrpli/675/DERArOLAKD6E62/D2OqrWdkQFGH5fQCpZM33wCgtx7P kOZWWqehZuDEi3ckDoco080= =Vvj5 —–END PGP SIGNATURE—–

Response:

I would say he should be designated as "The Midnight Skulker" Strikes Again! Keep it a mystery Gooldy. Mr.G. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – —–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– Hash: SHA1 I am wondering how anyone whom is quick to tout their educational achievements and command of the English language can justify the below quotes. Pardon me, but I don’t think we’ve been introduced. Who the hell are you? Gentlemen, WHBT. – —

Response:

I am wondering how anyone whom is quick to tout their educational achievements and command of the English language can justify the below quotes

<SNIP "Most disappointing that having failed to shake the logic of my arguments, you resort to attacking me personally." J.G.

Well, the beauty of it is, I don

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – very nice indeed. the conditions you describe are mirrored here in the NC mountains at this time. one question willi, what do you grease the tippet with? With the atmosphere around here lately, I’m pretty sure you don’t want to know. Willi

i guess i should have been clearer….. a floatant or sinkant? …could care less about the brand names… walt — Walter G. Winter Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com Blue Ridge Book Gallery: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg.html

Response:

Autumn is my favorite time of the year in Colorado. The leaves are turning, the nights are cool but the days are warm, the tourists are gone, the rivers are low, clear and cool, and the fish are hungry.    (snip)    nice little vignette, troutmeister. wayno

It is a wonderful time of the year. Hopefully, Sir Louie and I will experience the same in a Grand River Autumn. Peter

Response:

Autumn is my favorite time of the year in Colorado. The leaves are turning, the nights are cool but the days are warm, the tourists are gone, the rivers are low, clear and cool, and the fish are hungry.

   Hungry and moody. I spent two hours yesterday afternoon on the river Willi and I call our home water. I was dazzled by the shimmering yellow aspen trees, and saddened by the feeling that another fine season of fishing is winding to a close. During my first hour on the water, I hooked 17 fine fish; every spot that looked like it may have EVER held a fish yielded one. About the time I started to feel like I was a pretty talented fisherman, the action ceased. I used every trick in the book to catch another five fish in two more hours. Sheesh.

Response:

Petah Charles writes: It is a wonderful time of the year. Hopefully, Sir Louie and I will experience the same in a Grand River Autumn. Peter

What?  You aren’t guarantying fine weather?  Well, if we get rained out (muddy waters and all), Joanne, Joanne and I will sit around a bottle of single malt and shoot the breeze. (Looking forward to it) Dave

Response:

i guess i should have been clearer….. a floatant or sinkant? …could care less about the brand names…

When fish have moved into shallow feeding areas and are feeding on small stuff ie midges, bwo’s etc. I use a floatant on the leader up until the last few inches. If there isn’t too much glare, you can follow the floating tippet and often see a flash from the fish taking the fly or see the tippet move with a take.  If there is too much glare, I’ll use a very small smear of florescent biostrike? (a putty like stuff)to give me something to follow. Takes are generally very subtle when fish are feeding on this small stuff. I use quill bodied flies quite a bit and if the quills are not coated with cement, they absorb water and sink well. Willi

Response:

Autumn’s soft, midday light that has lost its summer intensity, allows good fish to move into very shallow pockets of water with just enough current to hide them [snip] . Fights seem a bit more determined and the colors a bit more intense.

I drove over to your fine state a week ago for the first time, while I only fished the South Platte near Deckers and the eleven mile canyon, I managed to find a little solitude and hook some of your fine colorado fish with 20 and 22 BWO’s. I can’t tell you how great it was to be fishing again and while I’m sure there are better streams in CO than the So. Platte but for two days it was heaven to me. Great post and you are a lucky man to live in such a beautiful place. — Wayne Knight Expert in creating tailing loops and windknots Otherwise Fishless in Kansas Before you buy.

Response:

I like those warm days following a sub-freezing night when the fishing doesn’t start picking up until 11:00am, and then it’s over by 4:00pm. [good stuff snipped]

Great post, rw. Thanks for the imagery. You gotta love the crisp weather of the mountains in fall. –Steve

Response:

When fish have moved into shallow feeding areas and are feeding on small stuff ie midges, bwo’s etc. I use a floatant on the leader up until the last few inches. If there isn’t too much glare, you can follow the floating tippet and often see a flash from the fish taking the fly or see the tippet move with a take.  If there is too much glare, I’ll use a very small smear of florescent biostrike? (a putty like stuff)to give me something to follow. Takes are generally very subtle when fish are feeding on this small stuff. I use quill bodied flies quite a bit and if the quills are not coated with cement, they absorb water and sink well. Willi

gotcha….. I’ve tried floatant on my leaders and tippet for small midge fishing. I’m not sure if it helps or not but I do know that when I "mud" the tippet for emergers, very small nymphs, or wets I seem to get more takes. I also like to keep a tight line fishing this style with a little twitch every few seconds. Takes are generally sound with that style and for c/r the hook is usually in the mouth versus deeper in the throat or gills. I usually have a long leader/tippet, 12′ +, when fishing this way. report: for all you roffians headed’ this way, the delayed harvest rivers have been stocked for the fall/winter fishing. The Watauga is running low, we can’t seem to shake this drought. –Walt — Walter G. Winter Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com Blue Ridge Book Gallery: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg.html

Response:

The Watauga is running low, we can’t seem to shake this drought.

Supposed to rain this weekend up by Robbinsville (Forty effect I presume), maybe you’ll get some too. — Charlie…

Response:

I drove over to your fine state a week ago for the first time, while I only fished the South Platte near Deckers and the eleven mile canyon, I managed to find a little solitude and hook some of your fine colorado fish with 20 and 22 BWO’s. I can’t tell you how great it was to be fishing again and while I’m sure there are better streams in CO than the So. Platte but for two days it was heaven to me.

The Platte is/was a fine river. It holds many good fish. However, with its proximity to Denver and Colorado Springs it is the heaviest fished river in the state. The section around Deckers has the reputation of being a very difficult river, especially for people fishing it the first time. Congrats on having success. Willi

Response:

Autumn is my favorite time of the year in Colorado. The leaves are turning, the nights are cool but the days are warm, the tourists are gone, the rivers are low, clear and cool, and the fish are hungry. Autumn’s soft, midday light that has lost its summer intensity, allows good fish to move into very shallow pockets of water with just enough current to hide them.  Large fish wait in water barely deep enough to cover their backs to feed most efficiently on the small emerging bugs. A careless wade sends the fish shooting back into the pools leaving wakes of water in their path. A tiny fly on a long, light, greased leader is the key. A cast several feet above the lie lets the fly sink just enough to interest the fish. No weight, no indicator. Just a flash in the shallow water or the nudge of the floating tippet. Takes are hard and confident and the pressure from the strike sends the fish airborn. Fights seem a bit more determined and the colors a bit more intense. Willi

Response:

Autumn is my favorite time of the year in Colorado. The leaves are turning, the nights are cool but the days are warm, the tourists are gone, the rivers are low, clear and cool, and the fish are hungry.

    (snip)     nice little vignette, troutmeister. wayno

Response:

Autumn is my favorite time of the year in Colorado. The leaves are turning, the nights are cool but the days are warm, the tourists are gone, the rivers are low, clear and cool, and the fish are hungry.     (snip)     nice little vignette, troutmeister. wayno

very nice indeed. the conditions you describe are mirrored here in the NC mountains at this time. one question willi, what do you grease the tippet with? walt — Walter G. Winter Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com Blue Ridge Book Gallery: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg.html

Response:

Willie wrote;Autumn is my favorite time of the year in Colorado. The leaves are turning, the nights are cool but the days are warm, the tourists are gone, the rivers are low, clear and cool, and the fish are hungry.

This sounds like a fairy tale to me. I don’t think there will be an Autum in Texas this year…mabye in January. It is still in the mid 90’s and I have a hard time calling that Autumn. Big Dale

Response:

very nice indeed. the conditions you describe are mirrored here in the NC mountains at this time. one question willi, what do you grease the tippet with?

With the atmosphere around here lately, I’m pretty sure you don’t want to know. Willi

Response:

Autumn is my favorite time of the year in Colorado. The leaves are turning, the nights are cool but the days are warm, the tourists are gone, the rivers are low, clear and cool, and the fish are hungry.

That sounds like the Stanley area, Willi, but our Autumn probably comes earlier than yours. The good Autumn fishing here is at about 7000 feet. I like those warm days following a sub-freezing night when the fishing doesn’t start picking up until 11:00am, and then it’s over by 4:00pm. There are just enough hoppers to keep fish looking at the surface, but the serious fish-catching is done with common nymphs — the perfect setup for a "hopper/dropper" rig. The water is skinny and the fish are concentrated in holes. This is easy fishing, once you get there. I can roll out of bed late, build a fire, make coffee and bacon and eggs, and take my time planning the trip. Then I can come home in daylight. Perfect. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

one question willi, what do you grease the tippet with? With the atmosphere around here lately, I’m pretty sure you don’t want to know.

Red Mucilin works a lot better than G*** for greasing tippets. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Question:

The Sylvania Tract, a little west of Ironwood, has geat smallmouth fishing.  It is all canoe, catch and release, barbless hooks only, and if you stay in overnight, has only primitive camping.  It is possible to rent a canoe and go into Clark Lake in the morning, fish the day, and get out before dark.  It’s not that big a lake.  We fished in June and caught bass to 21 inches.  I expect if you do a search on Sylvania Tract you will quickly find info. good luck

Response:

I’m heading up to Ironwood, Michigan for a wedding in mid August.  Does anyone have any advice on some good fishing spots nearby?  Any type from fly-fishing for trout to trolling for walleye would be appreciated. Thanks, SB

Response:

I was up in that neck of the woods last summer and did some fly fishing in two general locations in that area. The Porcupine mountains are a few miles northeast from Ironwood. I didn’t catch too much there, but it sure is a pretty place with some beautiful vistas and backcountry. If you take Rt. 2 east to Watersmeet, you’ll come to the Ontonogon River. Easy to wade and full of cooperative brookies. I had great luck with small royal wolffs. When you buy your license, get a free copy of Michigan’s Inland Trout and Salmon Guide, which has maps of the whole state and its trout streams. Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m heading up to Ironwood, Michigan for a wedding in mid August.  Does anyone have any advice on some good fishing spots nearby?  Any type from fly-fishing for trout to trolling for walleye would be appreciated. Thanks, SB

Response:

I’m heading up to Ironwood, Michigan for a wedding in mid August.  Does anyone have any advice on some good fishing spots nearby?  Any type from fly-fishing for trout to trolling for walleye would be appreciated. Thanks, SB

    If you are daring and have a bit of cash book a charter out of the harbor about 45 min north of there (The name escapes me right now Black River Harbor???) .  The Salmon should be just offshore by then.  Otherwise you have world class musky and walleye waters about 30 minutes south in the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Wisconsin.  No Trolling allowed but this is world class water with many opportunties.  Clear and dark waters lie in the flowage and boat rentals as well as local info are available.  Night fishing may be the key for some really big fish by then.    As for trout streams the Montreal can yield some good catches late in the season if the water remains high enough and is only 15-20 minutes to the west.  Then you do have the Brule to the east, but personally I believe it is overrated and overfished. Good luck.  Both to you and the future wedded couple. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Question:

                            FLY FISHING BOOKS                                  FOR THE                                 SPORTSMAN * The American Sportsman Treasury, ‘71, by Knopf.  A collection of Fly Fishing and Hunting stories, with terrific art work and photos.  Chapters on fly fishing for Brown and Rainbow Trout, fly patterns that produce results, bamboo fly rods; and hunting white tail deer, woodcock, water foul, mountain sheep, grouse, etc. All written by famous authors, eg. Charles F. Waterman, Lee Wulff, Leonard M. Wright, Roderick Haig-Brown, William G. Sheldon and many others. An excellent book for the all around sportsman, and a way to reflect on the sporting heritage. * The Treasury of Angling, ‘63 by Koller.  A comprehensive history of angling, and the birth and growth of fly fishing. Chapters on angling in antiquity, early american angling, tackle, flies, entomology, Salmon, Trout, Bass, and other fresh water fish.  Terrific photos and art work.  Learn about the history of fly fishing and game fish, and gain a full sporting knowledge of the art of fly fishing. E-mail me if interested in these books, and I will e-mail cost info. JWTrout/2/11/96

Response:

Question:

writes:    A lot of people are touting the blood knot.

For more interesting reading on knots, including blood knots, try the current issue of FLY FISHERMEN where their test indicate that only two knots retain 100% line strength, given current tippet materials: the Palomar and the Trilene knot. Very interesting…

Response:

I gave up on the clinch and trilene this year because they kept pulling out on big fish, despite very cautious tying. I quit using them because I decided

Without commenting on which knots are best, let me point out that most break-offs will occur at a knot, no matter which knot you use.  The UIAA routinely tests mountaineering ropes, and this is common knowlege to such testing agencies.  It makes intuitive sense when you think about it: stress is concentrated at the bends in a knot. — -Wayne Trzyna

Response:

  A lot of people are touting the blood knot. Blood knots are not as good as they used to be! The newer multi polymer monofilaments are so hard and slick, the blood knot (and the clinch, inproved clinch, and Trilene knots) does not bite. We have a very sophisticated (read expensive) motor driven strain guage device that tests lines and knots to .01 pounds. 7 turn blood knots on Orvis SSS, Dai Riki, and Umpqua pull themselves apart at somewhere around 60-70% of the material breaking strength.

Ralph, I’ve abandoned the blood-knot alltogether because I’ve noticed an alarming decrease in strength in that connection with the new leader materials in recent years. I was beginning to fear that my own ability to tie the knot effectively had diminished, but your breaking strength measurements tell the real story. I now use the double-surgeon’s knot to connect the tapering segments of my leader and the double-surgeon’s loop-to-loop connection to attach tippets. Have you had the opportunity to measure the breaking strength of double-surgeons knots? Does the triple-surgeon’s provide significant additional strength? Thanks, Fred

Response:

  A lot of people are touting the blood knot. Blood knots are not as good as they used to be! The newer multi polymer monofilaments are so hard and slick, the blood knot (and the clinch, inproved clinch, and Trilene knots) does not bite. We have a very sophisticated (read expensive) motor driven strain guage device that tests lines and knots to .01 pounds. 7 turn blood knots on Orvis SSS, Dai Riki, and Umpqua pull themselves apart at somewhere around 60-70% of the material breaking strength.

I gave up on the clinch and trilene this year because they kept pulling out on big fish, despite very cautious tying. I quit using them because I decided that after all these years of using them I must have lost the ability to tie them properly ! I never suspected the mono may be a contributing factor. Used the non-slip mono loop all year and it worked pretty well for me. I use double surgeon’s loops to join tippet to butt (when I use a butt).                                                 jc

Response:

7 turn blood knots on Orvis SSS, Dai Riki, and Umpqua pull themselves apart at somewhere around 60-70% of the material breaking strength. Ralph,

Thanks for telling me the names of leader material to avoid when constructing tapered leaders. Ernie Harrison

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   A lot of people are touting the blood knot. Blood knots are not as good as they used to be! The newer multi polymer monofilaments are so hard and slick, the blood knot (and the clinch, inproved clinch, and Trilene knots) does not bite. We have a very sophisticated (read expensive) motor driven strain guage device that tests lines and knots to .01 pounds. 7 turn blood knots on Orvis SSS, Dai Riki, and Umpqua pull themselves apart at somewhere around 60-70% of the material breaking strength. I gave up on the clinch and trilene this year because they kept pulling out on big fish, despite very cautious tying. I quit using them because I decided that after all these years of using them I must have lost the ability to tie them properly ! I never suspected the mono may be a contributing factor. Used the non-slip mono loop all year and it worked pretty well for me. I use double surgeon’s loops to join tippet to butt (when I use a butt).                       jc

I’ve noticed the same thing with blood knots!  Thanks for the explanation.  I replaced the blood knot with the triple surgeons knot for any line/line connection.  According to a recent study, this line holds 100% of the weaker lines strength, wet or dry.  It’s simple to tie.  The only problem is that the any of the popular "double line through the eye" knots seem to be about the strongest, most durable knot I can find.  Anyone got a very strong, non-tightening loop knot as I fish for Stripers and like the free swing for the fly.  Most loops that I tie either slip or break and I’m looking for alternatives.  Most tippets I use are from 12-24lb Dai Rikki.  Thanks.     Tim —- "Just say no to bait"

Response:

Hi Dan! Thanks for the kind words regarding the slide show.         Re: blood knots. Your formula for X number of turns for X size tippet is rational.          We lubricate the line with KY jelly (it is water soluble unlike silicone) prior to drawing up the knots. Then we soak the line in water to a). remove the lubricant, and b) to test the wet strength of the line and knot. It defies common sense to depend on dry strength for fishing line; however, I’ve NEVER seen anyone else do it.          Wet testing demonstrates some pretty wierd changes in tippet diameter, static strength, dynamic strength, stretch, and abraision resistance. The fluorocarbon lines really shine when compared against standard nylon and multi polymer monofilaments.         You probably want to know what leaders I use?! Umpqua pre tapered leaders because I get them at cost. I replace the tippet section with Dai Rikki Velvet for normal (trout) conditions or with Dai Rikki Diver when I need abraision resistance (toothy critters or abraisive bottom structure).         Tight lines, Ralph —

Response:

   A lot of people are touting the blood knot. Blood knots are not as good as they used to be! The newer multi polymer monofilaments are so hard and slick, the blood knot (and the clinch, inproved clinch, and Trilene knots) does not bite. We have a very sophisticated (read expensive) motor driven strain guage device that tests lines and knots to .01 pounds. 7 turn blood knots on Orvis SSS, Dai Riki, and Umpqua pull themselves apart at somewhere around 60-70% of the material breaking strength.    Back to back uni- knots are excellent as are three turn surgeons knots. I still use blood knots on the heavier parts of my leader because the line is so strong there, someting up front is going to break even though the blood knots is not 100%. Blood knots look cool, sound neat as they click through the guides and don’t tend to catch as much gunk as other joining knots. In short I like ‘em alot but use them with with prejudice.    The strongest loop knot for attaching flies is the monofilamnet loop knot as seen in Kreh’s new knot book. Lefty claims the uni-knot is weak, but our machine says it consistently tests 90-100%. In practice it’s easy to tie and doesn’t take up as mucj material as the monofilament loop knot. Its big disadvantage is that the loop cinches up where the monofilament loop knot is permanent.    tight knots! Ralph —

Response:

Question:

I routinely got "compression leaks" in the feet of my waders.  I switched to boot foot waders.  I’m not sure what to do about these leaks due to the the neoprene getting compressed to the point that the inner and outer skin touch each other.  I also would be interested in how to deal with these besides throwing them out.  Also how do you prevent the feet from getting compressed? Bill A.

Response:

Neoprene compression is a problem because you stand on them all the time, and when neoprene gets compressed flat, it usually leaks.  Most companies who still use neoprene soles make them 5 mils thick to compensate for this and make them last longer.  Many of these companies will replace the foot on your waders for around $60.  Orvis uses Hypalon foam on the feet which is s foam version of the same stuff Zodiac boats are made out of, doesn’t need the extra bulk, and doesn’t suffer from this compression problem.  In fact that is the biggest reason they can offer their 4 year warranty on their waders without eating a bunch of waders.  Many other companies have followed suit, and from personal experience I highly recommend waders with Hypalon soles.  Keep repairing yours as long as is practical, but next time get waders with Hypalon soles for more durability. Dan Gracia Schools Coordinator Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

Response:

Bill, Waders with serious compression leaks in the feet can only be salvaged by sending them back to the manufacturer to have the foot portion of the wader replaced.  If you choose not to go this route, consider recycling the old waders before you throw them out.  With a razor knife you can cut up portions of the old waders to make gravel guards, knee pads, a butt pad, mouse pads for all your family…  Your question regarding prevention of compression leaks prompted me to examine the feet of my own waders. I’m 230 lbs (lots of compression!) and found some areas showing compression on 3 year old waders.  Without knowing what brand of wader you have or how often you use them, I’m not sure how to answer your question regarding prevention of compression.  I do know that all neoprene materials are not equal and the better materials are more resistant to compression.   Best wishes, Clay

Response:

:  Also how do you prevent the : feet from getting compressed? : Bill A. Bill,  Fill your pockets with helium before heading off to     your favorite pool.  That should reduce the compression on both your wader feet and your socks! :^) Charley

Response:

Are you suggesting loosing a few pounds might help? Bill A.

Response:

: Are you suggesting loosing a few pounds might help? : Bill A. Heaven’s, No, Bill.  Compensating, that’s the key.  Loosing weight has no glamour of tinkering.  Contriving to counter the weight is THE way to go! Charley

Response:

: How about this.. instead of losing weight, or injecting helium, perhaps : why not cutt off your feet?  If you do this, then there will be no : compression on the soles… of course, this would lead to other problesm, : is guess. : edwin aguilar You could also just walk on your hands…..course, you may have to hold your breath while casting with your, er, ah, ….. foot, yeah, your foot! Charley

Response:

  Contriving to counter the weight is THE way to go! Charley

I AGREE. How about this.. instead of losing weight, or injecting helium, perhaps why not cutt off your feet?  If you do this, then there will be no compression on the soles… of course, this would lead to other problesm, is guess. edwin aguilar

Response:

Thanks, Robert Yee

Response:

        Coat the effected area with Simms Seal. This is a brown or blue urethane water-based emulsion with dries so fast you can use the waders in a matter of minutes. It also adheres to the neoprene extremely well and stops leaks.

Response:

Would appreciate suggestions on how to, and what material to use, in repairingneoprene waders that have developed a small leak in the toe, appears to be a Thanks, Robert Yee

A product called ‘Aquaseal’ was recommended to me at a local tackle shop (Mel Cotton’s in San Jose).  I used it to seal up a rather large hole in the sole of my neoprene waders.  It works really well — dries up as a thick, clear rubbery seal that appears perhaps tougher than the neoprene skin itself.  Works wonders!  (Takes probably 8-12 hours or so to dry). J Smith Sunnyvale, CA

Response:

Question:

Help!!! Still searching for a few good flyfishing books. Just general manuals on casting, equipment,what to look for in a stream,etc.  This is for an academic library for students who are budding flyfisherpeople. (we have a small lake on campus with bass and bluegill in it). We have a few old copies of Izak Walton’s Complete angler in the Rare book section but we need some that are a little more modern. Any help greatly appreciated!

Response:

: Help!!! Still searching for a few good flyfishing books. Just general manuals : on casting, equipment,what to look for in a stream,etc.  This is for a nSome good books are Guide to Aquatic Trout Foods by Dave Whitlock, Advanced stratagies for selective Trout by Doug Swisher, and the Curtis Creek Manifesto.

Response:

Question:

     I thought it might be fun if we could share some significant fishing experiences from childhood.  The following one is as vivid in my mind as the day it happened.      When I was about 8 years old my family was camping at Red Haw State Park near Chariton, Iowa.  I was a master at catching bluegill and bullheads by this time, but like most boys this age I wanted to catch a bass like a real man.  I had a Zebco 202 and a cheap fiberglass rod and a bullfrog pattern Heddon Lucky 13 surface lure.  I walked down the steeply sloping trail under huge overhanging oak trees to the waters edge and began making long casts out into a narrow cove of Red Haw Lake. After several casts the surface errupted around my lure.  I started cranking like mad against the drag as the fish pulled line off my reel.  Then the fish made a spectacular head shaking jump and the lure flew from his mouth.  Looking back I would guess the fish was 3-5 pounds.  I was left on the bank with my heart pounding and nothing to take back to camp but a story.   But from that day forth I was not just a fisherman.  I was a BASS FISHERMAN.     In the next couple of years I discovered the Mepps squirrel tail spinner, floating Rapala, Beetlespin, and Mister Twister grub, which were all a little easier to handle on light tackle.  I caught a lot of small bass on these, but was always hoping to hook another one like the one I lost on that Lucky 13.       What about you?  Got a story to tell?

Response:

        [great story deleted]    What about you?  Got a story to tell?

Yep.  I was about 10 years old and a reasonably accomplished stream fisherman at the time.  We were fishing the St. Joe River in N. Idaho with my brother and his family.   All Denny could talk about was the big fish they catch in Lake Crowley (Calif) and was pretty cocky about fishing the next day. Denny is about 15 yrs. older and lived in Calif. at the time.  Early the next morning dad dropped us off to cover different stretches of the river and planned to meet later in the morning.   I had a great day catching and releasing cutthroat in the 12" to 14" range when I hooked what I thought was a monster.  I battled this fish for 20 minutes and finally landed him as the line broke.  He was spent and I was still able to get him on the bank.  The fish was a huge cutthroat that weighed about 3 lbs.  Biggest I ever saw in the St. Joe. We met later and Denny had 2 12" fish and he announced that fishing was terrible.  I held up my fish and politely disagreed.  He barely spoke to me the rest of his visit.  At least he wasn’t quite so cocky and rarely talked about the big fish in Crowley.  I remember this vividly because he usually outfishes me in any other visit I remember. Terry — Terry Turner              My body is mostly water so I fish.                   503-685-3649              by mowing the lawn. *****Opinions here are my own and not necessarily the views of Tektronix****

Response:

   Back I guess about 1965 my brother Bob an I spent a lot of weekends fishing at my uncle’s cabin on Long lake located in northern Wisconsin. I remember one day when we were fishing from shore for bluegills when Bob decided to catch a frog and hook it thru the back and put on a big bobber. I remember watching the frog swimming and pulling this big bobber around. All of a sudden the bobber disappeared under the water, and Bob started reeling his zebco 202 like mad. This fish had his pole bent in a "u" and it seemed all he could do is hang on to it. Then his reel jammed up and he could’nt reel any more line in, so he starts backing up off the narrow shore into the woods in order to land this fish. I stayed next to the water and waited for him to get the fish to shore. After a little while he managed to pull this ~10lb northern pike into the shallows and I jumped on it pinning it down with our (small) net. I remember calling to Bob to come help and he was far enough back into the woods he couldn’t see what he had landed. I still don’t think my folks or Aunt and Uncle belived the story we told, but we had the fish to show.   8^)

Response:

 When I was fifteen, my folks decided that we should leave Tennessee for a month and visit my grandparents in Oregon. Being a group of rabid anglers, we set off one day to fish the Williamson river during one of its famous salmon fly hatches. I had never seen a trout over 1 1/2 lbs before, but that day I hooked a 5-6 lb Rainbow on a Rooster Tail spinner. I fought him to exhaustion, lunged for him with my hands. Cradling him like a baby, I rolled onto the bank with my prize only to find myself staring at the boots of some Orvis clad goober from Californication.  He immediately  said, "Anybody can catch’em on those damn spinners; I hope you’re gonna let him go." This jackass with his misguided purism had burst the bubble of my greatest catch of all time. He has gone down in our family lore as "the preacher."  Today, I am a dedicated catch and release fly fisherman but, because of this experience I will never tell somebody else that he "ain’t fishing right." By the way, I took the fish home and boy was it tasty. Cal in troutless Indiana

Response:

Cal in troutless Indiana

        TROUTLESS Indiana????   I just spent 8 weekends chasing         Skamania acrobats all over the Mich City area.  WOW.         THen there is the fall steel head run and the winter         steelhead run then the spring steelhead run, then the         even FROM Indiana (mostly to).

Response:

Cal in troutless Indiana    TROUTLESS Indiana????   I just spent 8 weekends chasing    Skamania acrobats all over the Mich City area.  WOW.    THen there is the fall steel head run and the winter    steelhead run then the spring steelhead run, then the    even FROM Indiana (mostly to).

SCUSE ME, Cal in troutless Southern Indiana PS Actually I tried some winter steelie action on Trail creek but couldn’t make it work. Please drop me a line and tell me about your exploits

Response:

As a young boy, growing up in the state of Vermont, I was fortunate enough to have a father that took me fishing with him. We often fished some of the larger rivers and lakes of the state, but more typically it was a trip to one of the local brooks to catch a limit of "brookies".  The brookies were usually caught by approaching the shallow brook on your hands and knees to avoid being spotted, by flipping your worm into the pool in the exact location to miss the alders, by watching the fish dart out from the cover of the bank to take your worm and then timing the "snap" at the right time to flip your trophy of 9 inches out of the water.  My most rememorable fish was a lunker of 13.5" that I flipped onto the shore and caught with my hands as I slid along the muddy shore of the brook face first. Today I live in an area where brook trout and most other native trout no longer exist.  It is not uncommon for people to have $25,000 worth of equipment to try to catch the biggest of the biggest fish. I love to fish and have caught fish of all sizes with all of the latest and greatest techniques and equipment.  But to this day, when asked about my most memorable fish, I will not refer to a 30 lb. Salmon, a 6 lb. Walleye, or a 5 lb. Bass.  I will refer to that brookie I caught with my dad in the hills of Vermont. — These views do not represent those of Eastman Kodak Co.

Response: