Question:

All, I have a stripping guide and a top guide where the inner ring is made of the mineral Agate. I had planned to use these with a split cane blank, but on closer inspection i found the top guide damaged. There’s a small piece missing in the Agate ring. My question is: Do any of you know if there’s a company that manufactures these kind of guides today? — Any help appreciated. / Roger Daytime engineer Lifetime flyfisherman If you feel like it, visit http://home.bip.net/angler/ for info on flyfishing in Sweden

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All, I have a stripping guide and a top guide where the inner ring is made of the mineral Agate. My question is: Do any of you know if there’s a company that manufactures these kind of guides today?

If You master japanese, http://www.bluedun.net/RodBuilding-Guides.htm   ( http://babelfish.altavista.com/ for translation) http://www.snakeguides.com/ , maybe more comprehensible. Always a start! Stefan

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I get all my rodbuilding stugff from www.AnglersWarehouse.com They definitely have what you want. Be prepared to pay a lot for agates! Pete Collin

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My question is: Do any of you know if there’s a company that manufactures these kind of guides today?

     I know of several sources for the agate stripper guides, but I haven’t seen new agate tiptops around. After reading your post, I went down and looked through my own stash of rod parts, and every agate tiptop I have is cracked and unusable, so unless you’re working on a restoration, you might not want to use one. Agate strippers otoh can last a very long time if properly cared for; they are available at Angler’s Workshop, among other places. I recently spent an afternoon pawing through the parts bins at Rick’s Rods in Denver, and I think they’d have used or nos agate tiptops.

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Question:

Wednesday, Day Four of the Clave <snipped Dave

Thanks Dave.  Great TR. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

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Great reports Dave. I enjoyed every one. Darin

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Wednesday, Day Four of the Clave

<snipped excellent TR I was waiting for the last TR in this series, but each one was poetic, concise, and informative. Thanks for taking the time to write them for us unfortunates that missed the party. Hopefully, next year. . . — TL, Tim

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Well you ole pirate had a good time did ye?? TR were fantastic read them all. No pirates in bvd siteings this time around?? Have a good trip to Lakewood .                    Handyman Mike           Standing in a river waving a stick

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"Dave LaCourse" wrpte //great report snipped// Let’s do it again next year.  I won’t worry about snow and cold weather, and I’ll rent a Toyota. Eat your heart out, Ken.  You missed a good one. Thanks, Warren, Paul, John, and Jeffie. Dave

Marvelous reports, Dave. I enjoyed reading them and have filed them away in case I ever get out there. Bob

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Thanks for the great set of reports Dave.

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Rock Trout writes:

<snip Hey, "Bouncer".  LOL.  He probably got you confused with Bruiser. Thanks, new friend, for all that you did to make it a great clave.  I learned a lot by being in your boat for two days.   I need your address so I can send the flag.  Montana or Colorado? Send it by e-mail to Get rid of the pirate. Dave

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Wednesday, Day Four of the Clave …….

Terrific reports Dave.  Glad you all had a good time…. and that the forces of law and order were not unduly taxed this time round…. ROFFians must be getting old . BTW, does anyone know a free news server that gets ROFF and allows posting?  The ones I’ve tried so far are good for one or the other, but not both. JR

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BTW, does anyone know a free news server that gets ROFF and allows posting?  The ones I’ve tried so far are good for one or the other, but not both.

news.cis.dfn.de does. (Go to http://news.cis.dfn.de/ to sign up). — Charlie…

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Snip: Thanks a bunch for the whole series of reports. I wish I could have joined you all this year. Big Dale

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Snip: Thanks a bunch for the whole series of reports. I wish I could have joined you all this year.

Wish you could have been there too BD. Guess what, I won your flies again (3rd time so far!). I gave some to IJ for his bream ponds, and we will each put them to good use. — Charlie…

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BTW, does anyone know a free news server that gets ROFF and allows posting?  The ones I’ve tried so far are good for one or the other, but not both. news.cis.dfn.de does. (Go to http://news.cis.dfn.de/ to sign up).

That is the one I use. However, it does not get any of the binary groups. So if you want to see the pretty pictures of the big Brook Trout that the guys have posted you’ll have to find another way. FWIW, Russell

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again (3rd time so far!). I gave some to IJ for his bream ponds, and we will each put them to good use. —

I guess next time I should cut out the middleman and just mail them to you. Hope you have been catching a bunch of bluegill with them. Big Dale

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Snip: Thanks a bunch for the whole series of reports. I wish I could have joined you all this year.

Make sure Indian Joe doesn’t keep the painting you won in the raffle!

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That is the one I use. However, it does not get any of the binary groups. So if you want to see the pretty pictures of the big Brook Trout that the guys have posted you’ll have to find another way.

Tera News (http://www.teranews.com/) gets binaries and allows posting. There’s a small one time fee to sign up and after that it’s free, but I haven’t found it to be that reliable – at least at that service level. There are other subscription rats that might be better. — Charlie…

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again (3rd time so far!). I gave some to IJ for his bream ponds, and we will each put them to good use. — I guess next time I should cut out the middleman and just mail them to you. Hope you have been catching a bunch of bluegill with them.

Maybe that would be easier. <g When they announced what the next prize was going to be and I heard they were your flies, I just automatically got up and, sure enough, my number was drawn. — Charlie…

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Snip: Thanks a bunch for the whole series of reports. I wish I could have joined you all this year. Make sure Indian Joe doesn’t keep the painting you won in the raffle!

Indian Joe replies–Will get the painting to Big Dale as promised–how about telling him some background of this artwork. Hope the frame Dale uses will hide the pinholes it has developed  when attached to my wall while awaiting shipment.

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Great reports Dave. I enjoyed every one. Darin

Darin, where were you this year?

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Rock Trout writes: <snip Hey, "Bouncer".  LOL.  He probably got you confused with Bruiser. Thanks, new friend, for all that you did to make it a great clave.  I learned a lot by being in your boat for two days.   I need your address so I can send the flag.  Montana or Colorado? Send it by e-mail to Get rid of the pirate. Dave

With these reports, if they ever do HF again, most of ROFF will show up. Great job, old boy – see ya in a few weeks. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

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Wednesday, Day Four of the Clave My last day at the clave was spent alone.  Jeffie, Charlie, and Joe invited me to fish the Madison, but I had chores to do.  I would arrive home on Thursday and my wife’s birthday is on Friday.  I needed to buy some gifts.  I went to West Yellowstone to shop. Upon returning to the HF area, out of curiosity, I stopped at the dam.  There was a drift boat and several guys wading at the pool directly below the dam.  I parked in the put-in area and fished upstream.  I immediately got into a nice bow of about 16 inches, using a fly Bruiser had tied for me.  I fished for about an hour and landed another bow before leaving for lunch.   After lunch I found an easy trail down to the Box Canyon, much better than the shear drop at the camp ground.  It was tough wading because of a strong current and slippery rocks.  I threw all the "favorites" without a strike, managing to lose several flies to rocks, and Bruisers special home brew to a tree!  Damn! I remember Warren saying that a yellow stone fly works well in this water. Fortunately I had *one*.   Within minutes I had a nice bow on, and then another.  But, the current was getting to me.  So, rather than do a complete Full Reid with a half twist, I carefully waded ashore and returned to my car.   The water where Paul Morrison first put in for our first float seemed like a good spot to fish.  So, I drove to the put-in and fished for another hour or so, releasing a couple of whitefish and one bow.  It was a pretty good day considering I had no intention of fishing when I left the cabin. Some observations and conclusions: 1.      The Isuzu Trooper ain’t a very good suv.   Dan’l called it the Excuse You Pooper. <G 2.      The roads in Idaho and Montana are very well maintained and can handle the posted high speeds (65 in Idaho, 70 in Montana).  However, the rumble strips in Idaho are very close to the edge.  If you fall asleep and the car runs over the strip, you will have just enough time to open your eyes before you hit the trees!  <G 3.      There are no children in Last Chance. 4.      I never got to fish with Warren, RW, Bruiser, or Willi.  Perhaps next time.   5.      Paul Morrison and his wife Tammy are fun people.  Tammy is an absolute sweetheart.  These two kids are in love!  I would have been lost without them. Paul is a great boatman and got Charlie, Joe and me into some nice fish. 6.      John Hightower is a very talented man, easy going, and easy to like. He handled his handmade boat with ease (or so it seemed).  His wife Linda is a sweetheart, can handle a fairly big land yacht, and makes wonderful coffee. Let’s do it again next year.  I won’t worry about snow and cold weather, and I’ll rent a Toyota. Eat your heart out, Ken.  You missed a good one. Thanks, Warren, Paul, John, and Jeffie. Dave

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Question:

Do not learn to cast. Very bad. Too much like work. Learn to draw pretty pictures. ….take a deep breath, assume the lotus position and let your mind begin to wander and then to wonder…if necessary, use the ancient relics and the secret blend of herbs to attain a sated state of complete relaxation… While sitting…grasp the rod. Hold it. Feel it. Become one with it. …. Learn how to gently coax line from the tip. Learn to move the line to different places. Use as little motion as possible in order to not molest or in any way raise your pulse rate. Your breathing should become deeper and slower as you bond with your rod. Start off with small strokes. Gently teasing and calling….calling…. Learn, seek the way to keep the line in the air…..slowly….how to keep it in the air with the least energy expenditure…..can you make it straight.? Can you, with a flick of the wrist, a flex of your forearm, make the line go straight out in front of you?  Can you make it then go straight out in back of you? Can you keep the ess curves out of your line? Can you keep the line flat and straight, curving only to change from forwards to backwards?  Can you feel the line so softly and tenderly tugging and pulling – yearning to be free of the rod and thus of it’s master? repeat……this is my rod. There are many like it, but this one is mine…… john

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asadi wrote… repeat……this is my rod. There are many like it, but this one is mine……

My rod is my best friend, it is my life.  I must master it as I must master my life.  Without me my rod is useless, without my rod I am useless.  I must cast my rod true.  I must cast better than my friend who is trying to outfish me.  I must catch fish before he outfishes me.  I will.   Before God I swear this creed.  My rod and myself are defenders of our rivers.  We are the masters of the trout.  We are the saviors of fish.   So be it.  Until there are no fishless days but catching.   Amen. — Warren (amazed at how memories from 10+ years ago can flood your mind as fresh as if the events just happened….) PS – This is my rod and this is my gun.  This is for fishing, this is for fun….. Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt

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Do not learn to cast. Very bad. Too much like work. Learn to draw pretty pictures. …

        (etherial wisdom snipped) john

        i knew it would only be a matter of time before you got these techhies on the right path, john.         it must be tough being the only bodhisattva on roff. your friend in the old north state wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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… the secret blend of herbs to attain a sated state of complete relaxation…

Yeah, that’s the part I like about fishing with you, John. I just gotta remember to tie on the fly BEFORE I toke the secret herb. — Ken Fortenberry

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Hello asadi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do not learn to cast. Very bad. Too much like work. Learn to draw pretty pictures. ….take a deep breath, assume the lotus position and let your mind begin to wander and then to wonder…if necessary, use the ancient relics and the secret blend of herbs to attain a sated state of complete relaxation… While sitting…grasp the rod. Hold it. Feel it. Become one with it. …. Learn how to gently coax line from the tip. Learn to move the line to different places. Use as little motion as possible in order to not molest or in any way raise your pulse rate. Your breathing should become deeper and slower as you bond with your rod. Start off with small strokes. Gently teasing and calling….calling…. Learn, seek the way to keep the line in the air…..slowly….how to keep it in the air with the least energy expenditure…..can you make it straight.? Can you, with a flick of the wrist, a flex of your forearm, make the line go straight out in front of you?  Can you make it then go straight out in back of you? Can you keep the ess curves out of your line? Can you keep the line flat and straight, curving only to change from forwards to backwards?  Can you feel the line so softly and tenderly tugging and pulling – yearning to be free of the rod and thus of it’s master? repeat……this is my rod. There are many like it, but this one is mine…… john

Never had a dirty phone call and this is my first erotic newsgroup post……or did I just read it wrong <G May your Yin and Yang be in harmony always, and your Ch’i flow freely. — Don’t Worry, Be Happy! IRC Sandyb in #Rabble uk3.arcnet.vapor.com port:6667 Sandy (http://www.ftscotland.co.uk)   (Replace noway with sandy to email)

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asadi [held it in a *real* long time then] posted…. Learn, seek the way to keep the line in the air

yes…young grasshooker …..slowly….how to keep it in the air with the least energy

expenditure….. yes…i can see it now…master bong lit can you make it straight.?

yes…ho wang…but for the fleeting flap of a single gnats nad… Can you, with a flick of the wrist, a flex of your forearm, make the line go straight out in front of you?

yes…huk lo…but then it will stay there forever (sometimes even with a mighty samurai pull) Can you make it then go straight out in back of you?

yes…far flung…I think I am ready…can I try to snatch the splitshot from your palm ? Can you keep the ess curves out of your line?

yes…but I can’t keep the fuk ng knots from my 5x… — The Halfordian Golfer

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 Very bad. Too much like work. Some days it does feel that way.  Feel it. Become one with it. …. When I bring to mind my favorite places, most of them are places that for some reason or another, are more likely to give me one of those special days. On these days, "you" can get lost in the experience and all is right with the world. I’ve only had these sort of days when I was fishing alone. When I bring other people to these places, the trips are often disappointing because their "specialness" isn’t because of exceptional fish catching. Willi PS Before I once again get accused of not having a sense of humor, I DID see the humor in John’s post.

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Question:

BTW, why not include the arbor knot? You have to attach the backing to the spool somehow. Yeah, but the guys at Orvis do that one.

They probably tie your needle knots, too. How many other people in ROFF have been streamside with a supposedly experienced flyfisherman who, when it came time to tie on a leader, had no idea how to do it? The clinch knot and nail knot both can be replaced by the Uni knot if you like.

But EVERY knot can be replaced by the clinch knot. Just ask Wayno if he ever reappears. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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How many other people in ROFF have been streamside with a supposedly experienced flyfisherman who, when it came time to tie on a leader, had no idea how to do it?

This has happened to me numerous times.  Also, many people apparently change their ( looped ),leaders at an amazing rate, because they are unable to even tie tippet on.   If you have enough time and money I don

Question:

Hello all; Looking for recommendations for a good smallmouth streams in the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania area.  I will be in the Hatboro/Philadelphia area on business Thursday and plan on a little fly fishing Thursday night and Friday.  I will be wading.  Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Joe

Response:

A decent smallie area is the Perkiomen watershed park at routes 73 and 29 just outside of Collegeville (its in Schwenksville to be technical). Another area is the Evansburg park area on Germantown Pike. I can give you better directions if either sound appealing. Ron

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all; Looking for recommendations for a good smallmouth streams in the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania area.  I will be in the Hatboro/Philadelphia area on business Thursday and plan on a little fly fishing Thursday night and Friday.  I will be wading.  Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Joe

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Question:

I will be in Salida Co next week for a day or two.  Iam interested in fishing a bit. Any suggestions would be appreciated;  best locations, flys to try, local contacts.  Thanks in advance for your help.  james mahan

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I will be in Salida Co next week for a day or two.  Iam interested in fishing a bit. Any suggestions would be appreciated;  best locations, flys to try, local contacts.  Thanks in advance for your help. james mahan

I would suggest the South Platte near Deckers.  It’s less than an hour from there and is supposedly fishing great.  I haven’t fished there in a while, but that would be my favorite place near Salida.  There is a fly shop in Deckers that can probably let you know what the fish are taking.  Wildcat

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Question:

Hi  I would like to know what licenses I need for flyfishing in Finnmark, Norway??

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Hi  I would like to know what licenses I need for flyfishing in Finnmark, Norway??

Try this URL: http://www.flyshop.no — Esa Niemel

Question:

I am starting to stealhead fish this winter and need to know what the best fly would be.  I fish in the B.C. area.

Hi Guy, I don’t know if there is a best fly or not rather they may very well be favorite fly. For me my favorite steelhead fly is the green butt skunk. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 materials catalog) http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

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I am starting to stealhead fish this winter and need to know what the best fly would be.  I fish in the B.C. area.

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I am starting to stealhead fish this winter and need to know what the best fly would be.  I fish in the B.C. area.

 The Popsicle’s  are  great fly patterns . This may sound weird but I like to throw a Purple Muddler (wt). I have not fished B.C. , but I would not be surprised if most patterns that work here in Cal./Oregan/Washington would produce in BC . I’m affraid that FF’ing for SH in my neck of the woods is kaput. We are  in a major flood stage and will be blown out for weeks, months. Oh well… back to the bench….   Harry

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The best fly is the one that the fish are taking at that particular day, time, and body of water.  Fishing conditions can change instantly during winter fishing season on the West Coast.  You will need a variety of patterns from bright and flashy to dark and subdued.  Steelhead fishing is a challenging prospect.   Good Luck Jeff

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I am starting to stealhead fish this winter and need to know what the best fly would be.  I fish in the B.C. area.

Trey Combs, in his book "Steelhead Fishing and Flies" gives3 lists of flies for BC streams. Karl Mausser’s list (for the Kispiox, Babine, Bulkley and Morice Rivers, all Skeena tributaries) is:         1. Kispiox Special         2. Sack Fly (a Burlap with an orange hackle tail)         3. Black Beauty         4. Skykomish Sunrise         5. McLeod Ugly Bucktail         6. Royal Coachman A Morice and Bulkley guide lists these as favorites:         1. Van Luven         2. Wooly Worm         3. Burlap         4. Stillaguamish Sunrise         5. Orange Optic         7. Skykomish Sunrise A Northwest fly seller gives this list as their top ten over a 37 year period:         1. Skunk         2. Royal Coachman Bucktail         3. Umpqua Special         4. Kalama Special         5. Skykomish Sunrise         6. Fall Favorite         7. Golden Demon         8. Spruce         9. Thor         10. Silver Hilton A couple of other good performing flies are Purple Peril and Green Butted Skunk. Tight Lines, -Burton

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The best fly of course is the one that is in the river on the end of your line. For a start, check out either of Trey Combs books ( eg. Steelhead Flyfishing and Flys) from your local library. My favorite fly is a Brad’s Brat (bright fly) or a Purple Peril (dark). Bart Phillips

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Question:

  Different flies are useful for different seasons. Does anybody know what flies are better during the different seasons.   I live in central Ontario and am just starting out.  Any help would be appreciated.                Thanks…Blayne

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ALL SEASON…U USE ANYTHING  U WANT..AND, I LL CATCH AND RELEASE MORE FISH….GOOD LUCK ANYWAY!!!  Different flies are useful for different seasons. Does anybody know   what flies are better during the different seasons.    I live in central Ontario and am just starting out.  Any help would be   appreciated.                 Thanks…Blayne

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 Different flies are useful for different seasons. Does anybody know what flies are better during the different seasons.  I live in central Ontario and am just starting out.  Any help would be appreciated.               Thanks…Blayne

Hi Blayne, I’m going to present an extremely short and generalized list on a large and complicated subject. Midges: All year Stoneflies: Spring Mayflies: Spring and Fall Caddisflies: Spring through Fall As the year progresses, fish progressively smaller flies. These are ideas that can and will be disputed, but as generalizations go, I think they each carry a kernel of truth. I hope this helps,   Alan.   Alan Barnard   Kiene’s Fly Shop   Sacramento, California   WWW Fly Tyer   http://www.ns.net/~barnard

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Different flies are useful for different seasons. Does anybody know what flies are better during the different seasons.  I live in central Ontario and am just starting out.  Any help would be appreciated.               Thanks…Blayne Hi Blayne, I’m going to present an extremely short and generalized list on a large and complicated subject. Midges: All year Stoneflies: Spring Mayflies: Spring and Fall Caddisflies: Spring through Fall As the year progresses, fish progressively smaller flies. These are ideas that can and will be disputed, but as generalizations go, I think they each carry a kernel of truth. I hope this helps,   Alan.

Hi Alan, Best stated short course I’ve seen. I hope you don’t mind if I reference it from time to time. Good job. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (new 96 catalog)

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Question:

  I want to know if there are any good flyfishing at good prices in Montana, Idaho, Orgen, and my state Washington.

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HI. i was just going to leave a message to the whole newsgroug about Montana Fly  Fishing at my Dude Ranch Hawley Mountain  near McLeod, Mt on the Boulder River. You can call 406-932-5791 or E-Mail me your address and I ll send you a Brochure. See my Message under GONE FISHING TO MONTANA. BBlewett

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