Question:

I find that after about six dozen fish that they chew about half the head off the fly. I would like it to be durable enough to last for a full morning’s fishing.

That’s easy, go up to Dodge City and fish with Wayne Knight – the fly will last a year or more<g. — Charlie…

Response:

Willi wonders: Does any one here fish these patterns? I have tied a handful up, primarily the green(summer season) and orange(later evening) colors to see if they had special attractive characteristics for the stated periods of use. I can’t say that I fished them with top confidence, as I share your suspicion of general color theories. Anyway, they caught some fish, but didn’t knock my socks off.                               Tom Littleton

The waters he fished them on are pretty large turbulent waters. I don’t know what the exact area is like where he tested them but it is a large river. There areas of my local waters where I was going to try them are the deeper runs and the pocket water stretches. I’ll try to fish them with SOME confidence. Last fall I was in central/western Wyoming and had a couple days to fish. I stopped in a shop for some information. Since it was fall, the shop owner hadn’t had much business and seemed glad to have someone to talk to. We talked about quite a few things and he gave me some information that, I felt he wouldn’t normally give. It being fall in the Rockies, hatches were limited to sporadic caddis and BWO’s in about a size 20. The olives, he said, brought up the good fish. I asked him what he used and he showed me a large stimulator type fly that was very bright and flashy. The fly was tied on a number 14 stimulator hook which translated into a fly about the size of a normal size 10. I looked at him with some skepticism but bought a couple and went out. The section of river he sent me to carried alot of water even during the low flows typical in the Fall. The area was a series of deep strong runs, filled with large boulders.  I caught a few fish in the morning, then about 11 o’clock the Olives started popping up. I saw occasional rises and switched to a typical Olive imitation tied in a size eighteen. I caught a couple of smaller Browns on the current edges and continued to see an occasional surface feeding trout. The fish that were rising seemed to be smaller fish. I switched over to the fly that the shop owner recommended and I caught a number of sizable fish that came up off the bottom is the heavy current. My guess is that the better trout were feeding on the active and emerging nymphs but weren’t willing to come to the surface through the strong current for such a small fly. The larger attractor pattern, made the trip worthwhile. This isn’t a perfect example of his approach but it is the type of situation where a fly having certain exaggerated visual cues might work well. Willi

Response:

Willi wonders: Does any one here fish these patterns?

I have tied a handful up, primarily the green(summer season) and orange(later evening) colors to see if they had special attractive characteristics for the stated periods of use. I can’t say that I fished them with top confidence, as I share your suspicion of general color theories. Anyway, they caught some fish, but didn’t knock my socks off.                               Tom Littleton

Response:

with a series of flies designed by Gary LaFontaine that he calls his Double Wing series.

I have not experimented with the Double Wing series, but I have been using the Airheadfor several years now with great success, but unlike Gary, do not find it very durable. When I use it on the bedding bluegills I find that after about six dozen fish that they chew about half the head off the fly. I would like it to be durable enough to last for a full morning’s fishing. Big Dale

Response:

Willi, Did you every get the email I sent to you (aka "Rusty Hook")?  Anyway, if you didn’t, here it is again: I’ll probably head up to the Yellowstone area for my vacation, preferably during the clave, but it won’t be due to poor fishing conditions around here. I’ll just be ready for something different by August.

Come on by Stanley this summer, Willi, and we’ll fish for wild cutthroats in places so beautiful they’ll make you eyes bleed. I’ll warn you, though. You’ll have to exert yourself to get there. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Each year I come up with a few things that I’m interested in checking out streamside. This year, I’m looking to get a feel for streamer fishing, fishing a "cast" of wets and I’m thinking about experimenting with a series of flies designed by Gary LaFontaine that he calls his Double Wing series. Although I’m not much of a believer of a "right" fly or the importance of color overall, this series of flies is based on studies done by him using underwater divers to record the reactions of trout to certain colors and aspects of flies. The Double Wing series was a result of this study in terms of the "ideal" attractor pattern. He recommends certain color combinations for different light situations. Although Brooks, if I remember right, did some underwater observations, as far as I know, LaFontaine was the only person to study, from an underwater prospective and in a systematic manner, the reactions of trout to a number of variables of a fly’s construction. Does any one here fish these patterns? Any comments? Willi

Response:

Question:

OK, I’m mostly a catch and release fisherman except for panfish, but I saw an article in an old flyfishing magazine that asked this question… What if you are fishing in a Gold Medal, C & R only trout stream and you catch a trout, bring it in, and it dies on you right in your hands? The author debates throwing it into the bushes or just letting it float down the river, but since it’s Gold Medal Water there is usually a crowd or wardens around and he’d get busted. He suggested making believe he was "reviving" the fish and digging a hole in the mud and putting some rocks on top of it.  He also made an observation that there seems to be a lot more rockpiles on Catch & Release waters than there used to be. I didn’t get to see the next issue to find out what the readers responses were, but it makes you think…. Dan Dow here http://www.angelfire.com/mac/dandow/kingfisher/homepage is my homepage… PS—found in Fly Rod & Reel Nov/Dec 1997

Response:

OK, I’m mostly a catch and release fisherman except for panfish, but I saw an article in an old flyfishing magazine that asked this question…

Well, Dan the Man, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum here in the past, and I have no doubt that a Deja search of past ROFF posts for "C&R" will more than answer your question. My short opinion?   If the law says C&R, you’d better R.   There are, of course, more layers to be discussed, like why didn’t you bring it in fast enough to revive it?   Is it a foolish waste of a good fish to not eat it?   Blah, blah, blah, etc.   We been there, we done that. HTH, Joe F.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, I’m mostly a catch and release fisherman except for panfish, but I saw an article in an old flyfishing magazine that asked this question… What if you are fishing in a Gold Medal, C & R only trout stream and you catch a trout, bring it in, and it dies on you right in your hands? The author debates throwing it into the bushes or just letting it float down the river, but since it’s Gold Medal Water there is usually a crowd or wardens around and he’d get busted. He suggested making believe he was "reviving" the fish and digging a hole in the mud and putting some rocks on top of it.  He also made an observation that there seems to be a lot more rockpiles on Catch & Release waters than there used to be. I didn’t get to see the next issue to find out what the readers responses were, but it makes you think…. Dan Dow here http://www.angelfire.com/mac/dandow/kingfisher/homepage is my homepage… PS—found in Fly Rod & Reel Nov/Dec 1997

_____  Japanese always carry a razor sharp knife.  The rock piles are empty bottles of Soy Sauce. — Mr.Gink "the saga continues"   http://www.gink.com/

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, I’m mostly a catch and release fisherman except for panfish, but I saw an article in an old flyfishing magazine that asked this question… Well, Dan the Man, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum here in the past, and I have no doubt that a Deja search of past ROFF posts for "C&R" will more than answer your question. My short opinion?   If the law says C&R, you’d better R.   There are, of course, more layers to be discussed, like why didn’t you bring it in fast enough to revive it?   Is it a foolish waste of a good fish to not eat it?   Blah, blah, blah, etc.   We been there, we done that. HTH, Joe F.

OTOH, you could ask the question in the political thread which candidate should be C&R’d and which one should be C&K’d.  That way all the bullshit could be contained in one thread.  Neat, eh? Peter = always striving to be helpful

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Question:

I am going to take a few days off and head up to Colorado to teach my brother how to flyfish.  And maybe drink a little Oban or Talisker. Can someone recommend a good place to go fishing?  Thanks for any clue cookies tossed this way. bc. — Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. -Benjamin Franklin

Response:

I fish several places when working in Denver. Always check in with the fly shop; located in Silverthorne; Cutthroat anglers; 888-876-8818; see ‘em at www.fishcolorado.com Good, knowledgable guys, Trapper, Andrew, Jimmy. I think the South Platte and Arkansas are fishing really well. Also Blue, Colorado and Williams Fork. Call the shop. They’re only an hour and 15 west of Denver. All interstate. If you speak with them, mention my name and convey my best regards to them. Tight Lines, Phil Joffe, Raleigh, NC

Response:

<snipped Thanks for the advice Phil – I’ll visit the website and forward this information to my brother. bc. — Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. -Benjamin Franklin

Response:

Question:

I am looking to move to Bend and would love to hear about rivers and boatin in the area…John

Response:

John, There are a couple of good oregon books: Soggy Sneakers and Oregon River Tours. Bend is a pretty place, lots of great fly fishing nearby (my fav. hobby). As far as boating rivers: The Deschutes river is nearby, it actually flows through bend (the upper section), but the lower section is the one most often boated.  It is probably the most popular rafting river in oregon.  The river has 5 or 6 class IV rapids and a couple of falls that are pretty much unrunable (unless you’re one of those crazy guys I see on tv).  The river also has a myriad of class 1 through 3 rapids.  The floatable section is close to 90 miles long.  However it is conviently broken by access points into two three day floats, with a couple of one day floats possible as well. The river gets very heavy traffic however.  In the middle of july, expect to count up to two dozen rafts in each direction.  Midweek brings much smaller crowds.  The Rangers have done a really good job discouraging the drunken Frat House parties, thus everyone is pretty pleasant. You also have access (2 or three hour drive) to the Rogue River.  It’s a scenic river with limited entry in the summer.  It is amazing! Since I raft and driftboat, I don’t have experience with smaller boats in Oregon. However, I think that other rivers close to bend may well accomodated kayaks. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking to move to Bend and would love to hear about rivers and boatin in the area…John

Response:

Question:

Agree that the Sage discovery rules on the $200 price point. St Croix the way to go on the $100 level. Great rods, great company. Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mark, Just pick a winner?  The only way I know to proceed from here is for you to cast all these rods? The next catagory is the $200+ range with the Sage DS2 being at the front of I’ve decided on a 6 weight fly rod to start and I’m wondering what you all feel about the below choices I’m espcially interested in the Bass Pro White River, the Cabela’s Fish Eagle, and the Reddington Red.fly:  Those are my "high three" based on what I know so far. Bass Pro  Hobbs Creek $69.95 Bass Pro White River Classic $99.95 Cabela’s Sweetwater $85.00 Cabela’s Fish Eagle $99.99 St. Croix Pro Graphite $85.00 Reddington Red.fly $75.00 Coutland CL $99.95 — "The number of job openings for Philosopher-Kings is  limited in the late 20th Century." – Dr. Megabyte Tuba Playing Technocrat in Winchester, VA    KD4HRI

Response:

Hi Mark, Just pick a winner?  The only way I know to proceed from here is for you to cast all these rods? The next catagory is the $200+ range with the Sage DS2 being at the front of – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve decided on a 6 weight fly rod to start and I’m wondering what you all feel about the below choices I’m espcially interested in the Bass Pro White River, the Cabela’s Fish Eagle, and the Reddington Red.fly:  Those are my "high three" based on what I know so far. Bass Pro  Hobbs Creek $69.95 Bass Pro White River Classic $99.95 Cabela’s Sweetwater $85.00 Cabela’s Fish Eagle $99.99 St. Croix Pro Graphite $85.00 Reddington Red.fly $75.00 Coutland CL $99.95 — "The number of job openings for Philosopher-Kings is  limited in the late 20th Century." – Dr. Megabyte Tuba Playing Technocrat in Winchester, VA    KD4HRI

Response:

Asadi, Just a quick story to share about flyrods, channel cats and kids.  My daughter was with me at a pond and she was catching pan fish and bass using a soft Orvis (Flea) 6′6" 4 wt rod.  Out of nowhere, a thirty-inch cat fish rose and took the fly, he was hooked in the corner of his mouth in the grissle. Her and her brother ‘fought’ this fish starting around 6 pm.  She was 12 and he was 14.  It gets dark in the summer around 9:30pm.  They took turns as they tired.   I went and got the pickup so we would have lights.  Fortunately, the pond wasn’t so big that when he ran, the fish run out of pond before the kids ran out of backing.  Eventually, they tired the fish enough that Dad could wade out and place the net under him.  It was 10:30pm. A few pictures and the fish was released.  That is what memories are made of. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just bought my first graphite the other day.  A Cortland CL, 5/6 weight, 8′6"……. <<snipped Personally, fishing a lot out of a kayak, and considering the usual circumstances I run into..occassional carp and channel cat..if I could afford a rod for every occasion I believe a 7/8 would be my choice for

Response:

The Reddington Red Start took best overall rod a few years ago.  I haven’t heard much about them since Orvis bought them.  Priced at a $100 they were considered a very good buy. Ernie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m curious if others have any opinions on the Reddingtons and their comparative quality.  I have a 5/6 wt Red.Start and a 9wt Red.Fly.  The fly shop owner talked me into a Red.Fly even though he could have easily talked me into a Red.Start at the time (and probably knew it). I’m too much of a novice at this to offer an opinion on comparitive quality especially since the only thing I’ve ever known is Reddington.  But I will say I’ve never had a problem with their warranty.  I snapped the tip on the Red.Start walking out to a pond one time and the fly shop let me swap it out with them the very next day (though I’ve since learned some fly shops want you to deal with Reddington directly). But certainly interested in any unbiased opinions on the relative quality of Reddington.  I was definitely going to buy my son a cheaper Cabela rod and reel though (until I’m sure he’s going to enjoy it). Thank you, Shawn

Response:

I’m curious if others have any opinions on the Reddingtons and their comparative quality.  I have a 5/6 wt Red.Start and a 9wt Red.Fly.  The fly shop owner talked me into a Red.Fly even though he could have easily talked me into a Red.Start at the time (and probably knew it). I’m too much of a novice at this to offer an opinion on comparitive quality especially since the only thing I’ve ever known is Reddington.  But I will say I’ve never had a problem with their warranty.  I snapped the tip on the Red.Start walking out to a pond one time and the fly shop let me swap it out with them the very next day (though I’ve since learned some fly shops want you to deal with Reddington directly). But certainly interested in any unbiased opinions on the relative quality of Reddington.  I was definitely going to buy my son a cheaper Cabela rod and reel though (until I’m sure he’s going to enjoy it). Thank you, Shawn

Response:

Mark E. Sunderlin Winchester, VA

Mark, Haul yourself down to the Fly Fishing show in College Park Maryland this weekend.  Try the rods, pick the one which works best for you. Catch the seminar on Saturday at 10:00. Harry Murray’s talk on smallmouth fishing. — Wayne To fish is human….To release Divine! Before you buy.

Response:

I just bought my first graphite the other day.  A Cortland CL, 5/6 weight, 8′6"……. I’ve used primarily glass rods, and do primarily smallmouth fishing as that is the dominate fish in my area. The rather sensitive, delicate nature of graphite is taking some getting used to, at times I think I would have done well with a 7/8 weight as far as smallmouth goes but I was trying to get a rod I could also use for trout. Personally, fishing a lot out of a kayak, and considering the usual circumstances I run into..occassional carp and channel cat..if I could afford a rod for every occasion I believe a 7/8 would be my choice for With glass I found my 7/8/9 wieghts to be too much for how I prefer to fish, smallmouth in the riverwise, but these graphites are a whole different story. FWIW I found a book "Smallmouth Strategies for the Fly Rod" by Ryan to be – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’ve decided on a 6 weight fly rod to start and I’m wondering what you all feel about the below choices I’m espcially interested in the Bass Pro White River, the Cabela’s Fish Eagle, and the Reddington Red.fly:  Those are my "high three" based on what I know so far. Bass Pro  Hobbs Creek $69.95 Bass Pro White River Classic $99.95 Cabela’s Sweetwater $85.00 Cabela’s Fish Eagle $99.99 St. Croix Pro Graphite $85.00 Reddington Red.fly $75.00 Coutland CL $99.95 — "The number of job openings for Philosopher-Kings is limited in the late 20th Century." – Dr. Megabyte Tuba Playing Technocrat in Winchester, VA    KD4HRI

Response:

Bass Pro  Hobbs Creek                      $69.95 Bass Pro White River Classic               $99.95 Cabela’s Sweetwater                        $85.00 Cabela’s Fish Eagle                        $99.99 St. Croix Pro Graphite                     $85.00 Reddington Red.fly                 $75.00 Coutland CL                                $99.95

The Sweetwater owned by a friend of mine seemed rather stiff.  The St. Croix at least has a decent warranty and is limber enough for lobbing clousers or split shot.  I would recommend it.  Have no experience with the other rods you mentioned. Mu

Response:

I’ve decided on a 6 weight fly rod to start and I’m wondering what you all feel about the below choices I’m espcially interested in the Bass Pro White River, the Cabela’s Fish Eagle, and the Reddington Red.fly:  Those are my "high three" based on what I know so far. Bass Pro  Hobbs Creek                   $69.95 Bass Pro White River Classic            $99.95 Cabela’s Sweetwater                     $85.00 Cabela’s Fish Eagle                     $99.99 St. Croix Pro Graphite                  $85.00 Reddington Red.fly                      $75.00 Coutland CL                             $99.95 — "The number of job openings for Philosopher-Kings is  limited in the late 20th Century." – Dr. Megabyte Tuba Playing Technocrat in Winchester, VA    KD4HRI

Response:

Question:

There does not seem to be much interest in old flies and I’m wondering if anyone knows of a fly fishing museum that I could give them to. I have over 600 trout flies of at least 40+ varities that are 75+ years old. Most of them are tied directly to a 4" gut leader with loop tied at the end. The flies with gut leaders are stored in either in their original packets from Wm. Mills & Sons or in a pigskin leather bound flat fly files (so they are flat). The flies with steel eyes are stored in boxes and are much newer (possibly 50

Question:

Great Post!! I had the advantage of learning an appreciation of nature & fishing from my father at an early age. Although he wasn’t a fly fisherman & we fished for bass, musky, northerns etc, he had a love of wilderness & we shared some wonderful times together. Since leaving my father’s home some thirty years ago & moving to Colorado, I’ve evolved into a fly fisherman through alot of reading, trial & error, and countless hours on the stream. The way I fish today, is very different from the fishing I did with my father, but it is firmly rooted in the appreciation of fish, water & nature I learned from him.   I flyfish in my own way, that is more restrictive than George’s "one" definition. But this is FOR ME. I don’t define flyfishing for others by how I fish.  I would probably be considered to be following the "Art Form.". For me, when things are "right", the pleasure is viseral, elementary & fundamental & may or may not involve catching fish. However, flaming, belittling other people’s ideas or ways of doing things, & self rightuous preachings do not advances one’s cause. In fact the opposite is the result. Like most things, flyfishing is personnal & individual. There are no rules except for those you choose to follow. There is no one right way. Willi

Response:

I never used a strike indicator until about two years ago.  My eyes are deteriorating because of diabetes and I have trouble seeing my leader/line.  I put on a piece of yarn I got from my wife (Lefty’s idea), and was amazed at the strikes I was able to detect.

  I limit the use of strike indicators for those times of day when I would otherwise be unable to see my leader, so I guess i’m as unethical as Dave. Anybody who uses anything to aid his visual capacity must be unethical; I demand that all of you unethical polaroid user/abusers turn yourselves in at once.                                     Charlie

Response:

William Loehman writes:

<<…..However, flaming, belittling other people’s ideas or ways of doing things, & self rightuous preachings do not advances one’s cause. In fact the opposite is the result. A couple of great posts, especially the above.  I learned to fly fish in the 40s from my mom and dad, on the Deerfield, the Westfield, and the Farmington rivers.  We did not have most of the "neat" things available to fly fishermen today.  We didn’t have zingers  or nippers.   And, we didn’t have strike indicators OR Gink.  The flames I have seen on ROFF must come in jest, because if you approve of one innovation (Gink for instance) but disapprove of another (strike indicators, for instance), then you are surely a hypocrite of the first order.   I never used a strike indicator until about two years ago.  My eyes are deteriorating because of diabetes and I have trouble seeing my leader/line.  I put on a piece of yarn I got from my wife (Lefty’s idea), and was amazed at the strikes I was able to detect.  It was as if a was a boy in the 40s, fishing a wet fly!   I also sometimes use the things when fishing a dry, for I find it difficult to see my #16 caddis in fast water.  However, they do affect the drift in a negative way.  Orvis’ Quick Site orange butt leaders are also helpful for me to see the fly. Fly fishing has always been a visceral thing with me (and probably with most other folk also!).  And, it has always been a solitary venture.  You may "go" with a fishing buddy or two, but once you make your first cast, you are "alone".  If I need something to help me continue fly fishing (strike indicators), I will use it and I could shive a git what some narrow-minded bigoted people think of it.   And if you come upon me on a stream and call me "lazy" or "ignorant" or "stupid", well, you will be in a helluva lot of trouble. Dave LaCourse

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Great Post!! I had the advantage of learning an appreciation of nature & fishing from my father at an early age. Although he wasn’t a fly fisherman & we fished for bass, musky, northerns etc, he had a love of wilderness & we shared some wonderful times together. Since leaving my father’s home some thirty years ago & moving to Colorado, I’ve evolved into a fly fisherman through alot of reading, trial & error, and countless hours on the stream. The way I fish today, is very different from the fishing I did with my father, but it is firmly rooted in the appreciation of fish, water & nature I learned from him. I flyfish in my own way, that is more restrictive than George’s "one" definition. But this is FOR ME. I don’t define flyfishing for others by how I fish.  I would probably be considered to be following the "Art Form.". For me, when things are "right", the pleasure is viseral, elementary & fundamental & may or may not involve catching fish. However, flaming, belittling other people’s ideas or ways of doing things, & self rightuous preachings do not advances one’s cause. In fact the opposite is the result. Like most things, flyfishing is personnal & individual. There are no rules except for those you choose to follow. There is no one right way. Willi

Somebody finally said "it all" about our sport. Congratulations Willi, you’ve really got a handle on it. Jim

Response:

I’m neither a red neck nor a yuppie, but somewhere in between. I didn’t get started in all this by some movie. I learned long ago on a river in my youth, the hard way. Many fish outings and many lessons over those early years. Today the upstarts buy a ticket at the window and get on the ride. Instantly you have a "Fly fisherman in a can." In gulp they take it all in without ever getting the true taste. They seem to acquire and possess the knowledge of several life times and doing it at hyper speed. Has Fly Fishing become a pastime that resembles a brothel in comparison? I guess most of us want the real genuine thing regardless of the amount of effort that we put forth. For some, the need is so great for success that the real elementary lessons are never really encountered. Today you can have any thing you want as long as you can pay for it. To hell with it if you have to earn it. Another example is that you can buy your way to the summit of Mt. Everest without ever having to work or earn a place on a real team. Somewhere the "Art Form of Fly Fishing" was taken over by the Science form. What does that mean? Every element has been reduced to the science matter of increasing the catch. Why, and to what end do we need the numbers? Our children have petting Zoos, do we need them too? For a number of years I was away from fly fishing, spending my time climbing and sailing. There you had to be a participant and be real to get from one place the next. You had to perform on your own merits and deficiencies and overcome your short comings. Yes, the real art form comes from within. But the science has reduced Fly Fishing to an action vs. reaction, to an event to a counter-event and so on. All the elements have been broken down to their parts to be studied and be reproduced. Blindness comes in many forms. I choose not to be one of the ones looking over the elephant. What George speaks of is the art form and trying to maintain some semblance of the true heritage. Some places are just not mente to be fished. Sort of like peeing on hallow ground. Could the heritage of fly fishing be lost in only one generation? The old-timers while not gods do have much to offer. Do we set them aside, all for the achievements for scientific end? I would rather learn form an old-timer than take the shortcut route via the scientific method. But as time moves on, new meets old and a blending occurs. Hopefully without the distortion of where we came from and adding a price tag to it. My ten year-old son summed it up the other day, "Dad, you know this is the best Sunday school that you take me to." He sees the true art form for what it is and the meaning of being skunked. He will spend more time watching and asking questions than actually fishing. He will keep a fish and throw some back for next time. He hates truck trout and the ones scared by others. We have more to learn from them than is truly realized. But is the evil metastasis occurring before our very eyes? For me its the real thing or sometimes a little hair on the palms. The store bought knowledge you can get it at the edge of most towns in Nevada. — Doug Knight                           metalfab<atefaxinc.com Junk e-mail, solicitation, sales, products and services gladly accepted at $500.00 per mailing and billed directly to your ISP. Evil flames $1,000.00 per mailing.

Response:

Question:

I have a South Bend bamboo 9′ rod( 2-tips) with only the markings of 57-9′ on it. Can anyone tell me what the 57 means and what weight the rod is. Thanks,

Response:

I have a South Bend bamboo 9′ rod( 2-tips) with only the markings of 57-9′ on it. Can anyone tell me what the 57 means and what weight the rod is. Thanks,

From my limited knowledge, I belive the 57 refers to the rod’s taper and quality ranking within the South Bend family of rods. The 57 was a low to medium priced rod with South Bend’s Bass Action  (fast action). If there are no marking or decals on the rod itself (possibly removed in a prior refinish), its difficult to determine much more. — Visit Dave Teffeteller’s Fly Fishing Guides page http://www.olfart.com

Response:

The "57" indicates that is, in-fact, a model 57 and the 9, well, you guessed it, it’s a 9 footer!  The 57 was a "bass action" rod and was at the low end of the South Bend line. With a little more info such as reelseat type, grip type, ferrule type and wrap color the date of the rod could be narrowed down a bit. Dave

Response:

I have a South Bend bamboo 9′ rod( 2-tips) with only the markings of 57-9′ on it. Can anyone tell me what the 57 means and what weight the rod is. Thanks,

The "57" refers to the model number (Model 57).  I would guess that it would take a 7 or 8 weight line. –Rich

Response:

In regards to the South Bend 57-9. It was their lowest quality level rod. It should cast a 7 or 8 weight line well and is worth about $50.00.

Response:

In regards to the South Bend 57-9. It was their lowest quality level rod. It should cast a 7 or 8 weight line well and is worth about $50.00.

I have a 59 -9′ Southbend Bamboo Rod (was my Dad’s) /w Pfluger reel, I would like to restore it.  I have both tips.  some  snake guides are missing.   any info?????

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writes: In regards to the South Bend 57-9. It was their lowest quality level rod. It should cast a 7 or 8 weight line well and is worth about $50.00. I have a 59 -9′ Southbend Bamboo Rod (was my Dad’s) /w Pfluger reel, I would like to restore it.  I have both tips.  some  snake guides are missing.   any info?????

Buy a copy of Michael Sinclair’s "Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook" for $25.00 (US) – ISBN #1-882418-11-5 As for Snake guides, Try to find Perfection snakes, they’ll match the originals, but I’ve been told that Perfection has converted over to a new mfg. process and has had delivery problems. Order an Angler’s Workshop catalog for a good selection of silk thread, both Godebrod and YLI (sold as Angler’s brand). A.W. # — (360) 225-9445 Don B. PS – I’m looking for smaller size Perfection guides (smaller than #2’s) if anyone has them for sale – please e-mail me.

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     I just inherited a South Bend bamboo rod, rod #323, 9′ length. The rod has a cloth bag, and is a three-piece with an extra tip section.  Can anybody give me an idea how old the rod is, what the rod might be worth, and  what line weight might be best?     A couple of the ferrules are loose, but other than that everything seems fine.  Can I just epoxy the ferrules, or should I give the rod a more thorough refinishing? Ed Heist College Station, TX (140 miles northeast of one of several Guadalupe Rivers)

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     I just inherited a South Bend bamboo rod, rod #323, 9′ length. The rod has a cloth bag, and is a three-piece with an extra tip section.  Can anybody give me an idea how old the rod is, what the rod might be worth, and  what line weight might be best?    A couple of the ferrules are loose, but other than that everything seems fine.  Can I just epoxy the ferrules, or should I give the rod a more thorough refinishing? Ed Heist College Station, TX (140 miles northeast of one of several Guadalupe Rivers)

Ed, Try this url:    http://www.gorp.com/bamboo.htm     Also, buy a copy of Michael Sinclair’s "Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook" a great book for do-it-yourself production bamboo rod restorations. If you try to remove the ferrules, look for small pins holding them on! Don

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Question:

Hello,   How can I find out more about flyfishing rivers in Middle Tn.?

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Hello,  How can I find out more about flyfishing rivers in Middle Tn.?

Hi Kevin You will probably get an answer from someone on this newgroup.  However if you do not don’t dispair, call the Federation of Fly Fishers and ask about a club in your area.  Get the contact info from the FFF and call the club contact person (usually the president).  From there you can get information, join the club, make new fishing friends, etc. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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Question:

Will be traveling in the vicinity of Greeneville, TN the 3rd week of June.  Will be introducing by father-in-law to fly fishing and would appreciate some help in locating areas that might be productive.  We’ll be visiting from California and would be happy to sway info on local hot spots. Thanks in advance.

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TRY GATLINBURG AREA FOR SOME GREAT FLY FISHIND—GREENBRIAR AREA …CADES COVE….ELKMONT….HAD SOME GREAT HATCHES…GOOD FISHING!!!!!

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Yes, Elkmont is a good spot.  Caught some nice browns there on a delta wing caddis, with olive body.  Nice fish!   A sunny day,      a box of midges,         and a wandering stream…   Man, this MUST be heaven!   <    Steve Kulpa    <<

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