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

Response:

Question:

Hi Jeff, Marc, Fishtales – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – of regulars there from your area.  And, many of them flyfish. later, Jeff I’m new at fly fishing and have know idea where to go. if you do please let me know. The Canal is not full of to many fish. — Let’s Talk Fish! Big Fish! New Canadian Fishing Newsgroup Is Here! Jeff Goddard, Ottawa, Ont. Canada

Response:

I’m new at fly fishing and have know idea where to go. if you do please let me know. The Canal is not full of to many fish.

Response:

Try the newsgroup can.rec.fishing  if you don’t get answer there or can’t get to the group let me know. You may have to get your internet provider to place that group on their newsgroups listing. — <*))))< Paul Phillips Director of Operations Fintastic Fish Mounts http://www.fintastic.com/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m new at fly fishing and have know idea where to go. if you do please let me know. The Canal is not full of to many fish.

Response:

of regulars there from your area.  And, many of them flyfish.         later,                 Jeff I’m new at fly fishing and have know idea where to go. if you do please let me know. The Canal is not full of to many fish.

– Let’s Talk Fish! Big Fish! New Canadian Fishing Newsgroup Is Here! Jeff Goddard, Ottawa, Ont. Canada

Response:

Question:

I live in Eastern Mass. and am looking for a good spot for Flyfishing. Any recommendations?

Response:

I live in Eastern Mass. and am looking for a good spot for Flyfishing. Any recommendations?

Try Walden and White pond for trout The Mystics for bass and pikerel. Any river off the North shore for stripers and bluefish Email me for more specifics Bubba B

Response:

Question:

I am going to have 3 or 4 days in No. Ark/So. Mo to kill in mid June.   Can anyone recomend a guide service?  Hope to find some big browns! Thanks, KNACK Whitehouse, TX

Response:

Check with Dale Fulton at Blue Ribbon Flies in Mountain Home, Ark. Also, check out Andy McMinn’s Arkansas fly fishing page at: http://kanweb.com/fly/ It’s full of information. Good Luck! Steve Rosenblum

Response:

I am going to have 3 or 4 days in No. Ark/So. Mo to kill in mid June.

Sandra,         Used to guide in Ark.   Here’s a list of guides and phone numbers that will give you the best available in that area. SHOPS:           Blue Ribbon Flies – Dale Fulton – (501)or(870) 425-0447         P.J.’s Resort (501) 499-7500         Wapsi Fly (a wholesaler) – ask for T.L. – (501) 425-9500 GUIDES:         John Gulley 501-499-7517         Bob Snyder      499-4287         Dwayne Hada     452-3559 (The Woodsman – Ft. Smith)         Sandra, the best way to be assured of catching large browns is to night fish, since they are primarily nocturnal feeders. Be sure to have plenty of Gink for your large dries and Xink for the huge nymphs required for those record browns.          John Gulley is a pro at night fishing and can definitely put you on some big fish if the time  is right when you go up there.  Be sure to ask about water conditions and generating schedules for that time of year when you call.  I’ve know and fished with John since the mid 70’s but have been out of contact with him for about ten years.  John, a seasoned guide, is rather drole and deliberate in his manner.         Dwayne Hada, also a personal friend of mine, guides all over that area.  I don’t know about Dwayne’s experience with brown trout per-se’. However, Dwayne, a former high school art teacher, is very personable and well mannered. Have Fun – Wendell Hise Snake River – Hell’s Canyon Gink keeps it up – Xink puts it down!

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi group I’ll probably get "blasted" by folks in the group but regarding ice in your rod guides: Has anyone tried PAM vegetable cooking spray? I’ve used it for several years and have at least convinced myself less ice forms in the guides. It does make the rod and line kind of greasy so I wash the rod and line when I get home from a trip and treat the fly line with a line conditioner. Yes, I also place the rod in the water to melt the ice however I think less ice forms using the PAM approach. Now I wonder if the fish like the butter flavor better or the olive oil flavor? (grin) — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

stockers like the butter flavour while wild fish go for olive oil! 8^) Ralph H

Response:

Hi group I’ll probably get "blasted" by folks in the group but regarding ice in your rod guides: Has anyone tried PAM vegetable cooking spray? I’ve used it for several years and have at least convinced myself less ice forms in the guides. It does make the rod and line kind of greasy so I wash the rod and line when I get home from a trip and treat the fly line with a line conditioner. Yes, I also place the rod in the water to melt the ice however I think less ice forms using the PAM approach. Now I wonder if the fish like the butter flavor better or the olive oil flavor? (grin) — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

Response:

: Hi group : I’ll probably get "blasted" by folks in the group but regarding ice in : your rod guides: Has anyone tried PAM vegetable cooking spray? I’ve used : it for several years and have at least convinced myself less ice forms in : the guides. It does make the rod and line kind of greasy so I wash the : rod and line when I get home from a trip and treat the fly line with a : line conditioner. Why not?  It makes sense that the oil would displace the water some so that ice would not form and build up as quickly. It should not hurt the line, although the oil will make it pick up dirt more quickly. Try Dynaglide!  I am looking at a can of it right now, and it CAN be sprayed directly onto the flyline!  It may work out better than Pam. : Yes, I also place the rod in the water to melt the ice however I think : less ice forms using the PAM approach. : Now I wonder if the fish like the butter flavor better or the olive oil : flavor? (grin) This fisherman likes the olive oil flavor better!  A good way cook trout is to spray it with Pam and grill it directly over coals, or a gas grill. Very tasty, and no skillet to clean! — Jon Porter

Response:

Now I wonder if the fish like the butter flavor better or the olive oil flavor? (grin)

Al: From all indications the fish like the "butter" flavor the best! roflmao Joe

Response:

I’ll probably get "blasted" by folks in the group but regarding ice in your rod guides: Has anyone tried PAM vegetable cooking spray?

Living and fishing near the Great Lakes, ice in the guides is sort of a way of life (those seasons where I can actually FISH during the winter – unlike this year ). The only really effective solution we have found to icing guides is to build rods with oversized guides and tiptops. It certainly does not prevent the icing, but it dramatically increases the number of casts we can make before de-icing is required. My friends and I have tried all sorts of things to prevent icing, and none have really been worth the bother (or the risk to our tackle). The change to our tackle has made the bigget difference (especially the tiptop and stripping guides). Bob Petti Endwell, NY

Response:

Question:

1. What significance does water color/clarity have for fishing strategy?   Also, is water level important on a particular stream?

Changes in colour/clarity may be more important than default colour/clarity.  Usual folklore is that FF success declines when a spate river is growing muddy and improves as it gets clearer.  But fish are adapted to the default environment (and can live all the time in permanently clouded water, as you find in clay/limestone regions.) Similarly, rising or falling water levels probably matter more than default levels.  The changes are important since they enlarge or reduce living space for both fish and their prey. The simplest tactic is to fish upstream as far as possible, to reduce the chances of the trout’s seeing you first. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

Dear Anglers: I’m a newbie to the sport and I have enjoyed it very much so far.  Haven’t caught anything yet, but my casting is improving tremendously with regular practice (though I have to admit that it’s a hell of a lot more fun practicing on the water than in the grass at the park like everyone recommends).  Now, I have a couple of questions for the experts: 1. What significance does water color/clarity have for fishing strategy?   Also, is water level important on a particular stream?

Hi Anthony Usually water clarity & level does affect fishing.  What you need to decide is what the norm is and go from there.  Water that is dirty after a storm may put the fishing off.  On the other hand if the fish have been suffering from water that is shallow and too warm, raising off colored water may very well improve fishing. Another very important consideration is water temperature in relation to the species of fish you are interested in.  Trout like cooler water than bass as an example. 2. I’ve read of fly fishers using Clouser minnows or streamers in the riffles, and other dry flies and such in slow moving/calm water.  Do you change your fly every few minutes as you are fishing your way down a stream or do you hit the riffles and then come back for the eddys and slow spots?

I do not change my fly every few minutes but instead decide what I want to fish — streamer, dry, or nymph — and do so.  I base my decision on what seems to be happening on the water at any given time.  If the fish are actively feeding I determine what they are eating and try to match that.  I often fish two flies when fish are feeding on or near the surface — a dry and an emerger of whatever species is hatching.   If nothing is happening on the water I usually fish nymphs or a nymph/streamer combination.  To fish the combo I tie a nymph on my tippet,then tie an additional piece of tippet to the bend of the nymph’s hook and tie on a streamer.  This rig will look like a small fish chasing a nymph and can be real effective.  Cast it quartering up-stream and let it dead drift as long as the current will allow.  Then let it swing accross current until it is downstream from you. Then repeat the process. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

Response:

I’m a newbie to the sport … 1. What significance does water color/clarity have for fishing strategy? Also, is water level important on a particular stream?

Colour/clarity is siginificant, as is water level.  The impact and degree of these varies widely.  A normally clear stream which is suddenly high and muddy after a big rain will be mostly unfishable, until it starts to clear.  It can still be FFed, though with a big weighted nymph or wet fly.  (The fish still need to eat.) 2. I’ve read of fly fishers using Clouser minnows or streamers in the riffles, and other dry flies and such in slow moving/calm water.  Do you change your fly every few minutes as you are fishing your way down a stream or do you hit the riffles and then come back for the eddys and slow spots?

Basically, NO.  That is, don’t complicate things.  If you want to use a dry fly, then use a dry fly.  If you want to use a streamer (such as Clouser minnow), then do that.  For starters, use a big nymph, or maybe an attractor wet fly.  Cast across and let the fly swing downstream.  When it gets straight down below you, strip in line, a few inches at a time, and repeat.  The areas that you want to concentrate on are the seams (where the fast water makes a noticable line against the slower stuff) and around visible structure like rocks.  You can do the same with an attractor dry fly.  I know it’s BIG HERESY, but you can cast across, and let the fly swing down in the current.  Try to minimize, and eventually eliminate drag (the wake produced by the fly being pulled across the water by the line/leader).  Again, concentrate on the seams and visible structure. Don’t worry about big long casts.  Unless you fish some huge river like the Missouri, most of your casts will probably be less than 30 or 40 feet.  Focus on not slapping the line, not dropping your backcast too low, and such. When you get comfortable with this basic stuff, then you might try "strategies" like fishing nymphs downstream, and working your way down the river for several hundred yards, then coming back up with a dry, this time casting in the "proper" upstream method. Then there’s matching the hatch and all that, which will eventually come. To answer your basic question, most of us DO NOT do as you pictured: dry fly this yard and a half of water, wet fly that, nymph another couple of feet, streamer across there, back to a dry, then another streamer.  We pretty much focus on one strategy/concept/idea/dream and K.I.S.S. Hope that helps, see you OUT THERE. — Bob Lundy IWFFC Mississauga, ON, Canada **new**     http://home.ican.net/~rlundy/

Response:

[rip !] 1. What significance does water color/clarity have for fishing strategy? Also, is water level important on a particular stream?

I love it when the water goes off color.   I whip out my big flies and my 3X.  I am a bit of a heretic because I relish the highest, muddiest part of runoff.  No people and I nail big trout my friend.  I do not seek perfect conditions ever in my fishing, I simply try to see that perfection which is always there.   2. I’ve read of fly fishers using Clouser minnows or streamers in the riffles, and other dry flies and such in slow moving/calm water.  Do you change your fly every few minutes as you are fishing your way down a stream or do you hit the riffles and then come back for the eddys and slow spots?

Good question.  The answer is, only if one or the other is not producing.   If you’re catchin’ ‘em in the tail outs or riffles, you ain’t be movin’ down to the pockets, will ya ? TimW

Response:

Dear Anglers: I’m a newbie to the sport and I have enjoyed it very much so far.  Haven’t caught anything yet, but my casting is improving tremendously with regular practice (though I have to admit that it’s a hell of a lot more fun practicing on the water than in the grass at the park like everyone recommends).  Now, I have a couple of questions for the experts: 1. What significance does water color/clarity have for fishing strategy?   Also, is water level important on a particular stream? 2. I’ve read of fly fishers using Clouser minnows or streamers in the riffles, and other dry flies and such in slow moving/calm water.  Do you change your fly every few minutes as you are fishing your way down a stream or do you hit the riffles and then come back for the eddys and slow spots? Thanks in advance, — Anthony J. Petrella University of Pittsburgh Department of Mechanical Engineering

Response:

: runoff.  No people and I nail big trout my friend.  I do not seek : perfect conditions ever in my fishing, I simply try to see that perfection : which is always there.   Tim Walker, demonstrating that he is actually the roff Buddha. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

*SNIP* The worst caster in the world is going to catch more fish then (boy, is this going to cause a rumpus) an olympic gold medal caster (if there was one) if they can make their fly float more naturally while it’s on the water.

Only true if the worst caster in the world can get it to land delicately on target.  If you can’t get your fly to the target, everything else is a moot point.   But, you’re right, it doesn’t have to look pretty it just has to work. The thing you  may find out is that it’s a lot easier to consistently put the fly on the  target if your casting is good. I agree totally with your comment on drift.  In real estate it’s "location, location, location"  IMO in fly fishing it’s "presentation, presentation, presentation".                                                            Dan Dan Gracia                                                               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:

I’m no expert, but have caught a few trout over the years, so I can only tell you what I’m most comfortable with and what works for me. And, I’ll just be addressing dry flies. 1- if the water is very high fast and dirty I don’t bother. If it’s high fast and clear, well…. I’ll get to that in a sec. 2- I fish mostly attractors, and, worry about matching a hatch only if we’re in the middle of a major hatch period. Of course I’ll give a hopper or some such a chance later in the season. 3- I fish and travel UP and cross stream, fishing ahead of myself and letting the fly float down past me. 4- a good cast is all very well and good, and looks impressive as hell to somebody watching from the shore, but, the fish could care less about a cast as long as the fly dosn’t slam down on the water and you don’t lay your line right over the fish. The worst caster in the world is going to catch more fish then (boy, is this going to cause a rumpus) an olympic gold medal caster (if there was one) if they can make their fly float more naturally while it’s on the water. Lolo Mt.

Response:

Question:

I’ll be staying up at Moosehead the week of the 28th. (Not the best time of year, I know.) I’d appreciate any  recommendations for stream or pond fishing in the area. Thanks, Jim — Opinions expressed are my own, and not those of D&B Software.

Response:

I’ll be staying up at Moosehead the week of the 28th. (Not the best time of year, I know.) I’d appreciate any  recommendations for stream or pond fishing in the area. Thanks, Jim — Opinions expressed are my own, and not those of D&B Software.

Try the East Outlet and the Roach River. Wilson Pond, Secret Pond, Big Squaw, and Rum Pond. Ask Danny Legere at the Maine Guide Fly Shop what’s working and where. He’ll be a big help. Bill Reg. ME Master Guide Lic. NYS Guide — Bill Fling                     Tel. (315) 298-3044 SALMON RIVER ANGLERS LODGE     FAX  (315) 298-2619 P.O. Box 353                   Rt. 13, Rome Road Pulaski, NY 13142-0353   ‘SALMON RIVER/LAKE ONTARIO SPORTFISHING REPORTS’             ‘http://www.salmon-river.com’

Response:

Question:

Yes, REAL hand-tied. Saw an article a few years back about a company in Scotland with a room of ladies tying without vises. Maybe traditional in the Islands? mayfly

Hand-tied flies, what about it? As far as I know Hardys famous flies were all hand-tied. Tying without a vise is going through some sort of renaissance.

Response:

(LinerLock) writes: My wife gave the video "Lee Wulff on the Beaverkill" to me for Christmas. Mr. Wulff was in his 80’s when the video was shot.  In it, he ties four flies, all without a vise.  I believe that one was a Royal Wulff in size 18.  My impression is that he tied all of his flies without a vise.  Of course, I don’t think that they were as pretty as the ones you reference on ESPN.

You can see a smple of how this is done in Darrell Martin’s book Fly Tying Methods on page 253, chapter 30 "Sans-Vise Tying". You can also see how to tie atlantic salmon flies without a vise in the book How To Dress Salmon Flies by T.E. Pryce-Tannat (originally published in 1914) or Salmon Flies by George Kelson (originally published in 1895). both are currently available in reprint.                                            Dan Dan Gracia                                                               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:

Lee tied all of his flies in his hands.  In the early 70’s, he and Joan gave a clinic for the old Garcia Company.  After dinner their 12-year old tied a #12 Royal Wulff in  his fingers. It can be done.  Grasp the hook between the thumb and third finger of the left hand.  Use the index and middle finger to position material.  Half hitch after tying each part of the fly.  It seems to be easier without a bobbin. A vise is faster, and mistakes are easier to correct.  I suspect Lee’s in-hand tied flies were all part of the mystique he created for himself.

Response:

My wife gave the video "Lee Wulff on the Beaverkill" to me for Christmas. Mr. Wulff was in his 80’s when the video was shot.  In it, he ties four flies, all without a vise.  I believe that one was a Royal Wulff in size 18.  My impression is that he tied all of his flies without a vise.  Of course, I don’t think that they were as pretty as the ones you reference on ESPN. Johnny Johnson

Perhaps the best tyer to eschew a vice was an Idahoan named Bing Lemke.  Mr. Lemke passed on a few years ago.  Mr. Lemke had hands that looked like he worked in a slaughter house, they were big and rough with deep wrinkles.  But Bing’s fame came from the extended body may flies he tied on size 28 and 32 hooks.  Yes sizes 28 and 32.   Yes he used no vice.  The hooks were specially provided to him by Mustad — I think they were model 540K, but I could be wrong.  The flies were beautiful and the photos I have seen show six or eight flies lined up on a match stick.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) Bing never was featured on ESPN.

Response:

(Spin4trout) writes: The employees weren’t using a vise, just their hands while tying. Now

that’s a skill. My wife gave the video "Lee Wulff on the Beaverkill" to me for Christmas. Mr. Wulff was in his 80’s when the video was shot.  In it, he ties four flies, all without a vise.  I believe that one was a Royal Wulff in size 18.  My impression is that he tied all of his flies without a vise.  Of course, I don’t think that they were as pretty as the ones you reference on ESPN. Johnny Johnson

Response:

Did any of you catch the recent ESPN FF show about salmon fishing in Ireland. They showed a company making REAL hand-tied flies. The employees weren’t using a vise, just their hands while tying. Now that’s a skill. Don Burns

Yes, REAL hand-tied. Saw an article a few years back about a company in Scotland with a room of ladies tying without vises. Maybe traditional in the Islands? mayfly

Response:

Question:

: Does anyone know who makes Cabella Fish Eagle fly rods I was watching a video by Stu Apte on Saltwater Fly fishing and he mentioned in passing that Cabella’s rods were built by G Loomis. Any Confirmations? Rodney Singapore

Response:

 This reel was almost certainly made by the Sth company in Argentina.  It was identical in design and even carried the same symbols but a different label. Cannot speak for the new reels included in packages except to say that the new cassette fly reel looks surprisingly like the Sth cassette reels (just a guess).  

Yes, this would make sense because STH makes Loomis reels and the head STH engineer Roberto Sacconi is a friend of Gary Loomis. Loomis claims to be a real believer in the STH system. Cal — Fishin Buddy  o <<     o  |           These opinions are offered by weight  <     <  o       <J           provocative content may have occurred      <<       <<                    during shipping and handling.

Response:

J.Vogel) says: Does anyone know who makes Cabella Fish Eagle fly rods I think the conclusions reached on the net include the following: Cabela uses rod blanks from G. Loomis to manufacture its fly rods.  We never decided who actually makes the rods but seemed to agree that they are of good quality and reasonable for the $$. My own experience supports this claim.  The outfit that I have included the Fish Eagle II rod and an MCD reel.  This reel was almost certainly made by the Sth company in Argentina.  It was identical in design and even carried the same symbols but a different label. Cannot speak for the new reels included in packages except to say that the new cassette fly reel looks surprisingly like the Sth cassette reels (just a guess).  I believe you also asked a question about who makes the Cabelas reel (in another post)…this reply may answer that.  If you are asking about spinning reels, we have discussed this and never reached an answer. Hope this helps.  Scott Maitland

Response:

Question:

I am planning a trip to Padre Island sometime in Sept. I want to wade and fish for RED (big red) fish and speckle trout around this area. Any recommendation on where to fish and what kind of fly to use ? I have a canoe. Should I take it with me ? Is the water in the Laguna Madre too rough for canoeing ? Thank in advance for your input, Mr T.

Response:

Uh…return mail bounced so… The Original Message follows: Received: by universe.digex.net id AA26238 Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing In rec.outdoors.fishing you write: I am planning a trip to Padre Island sometime in Sept. I want to wade and fish for RED (big red) fish and speckle trout around this area. Any recommendation on where to fish and what kind of fly to use ? I have a canoe. Should I take it with me ? Is the water in the Laguna Madre too rough for canoeing ?

You don’t say which part of PI you’re heading to and, from your question on canoeing, I assume that you’ve never seen the bays.  So, let me give you a few (hopefully) helpful hints.  First, typically the LM is not too rough to canoe in—it’s just too darn big!  The fish have a whole bunch of area to potentially be in at any given time, so your job will be to cover some water and look for favorable conditions.  The three most important things defining “favorable” are: (1) Bait, (2) Bait, and (3) Bait.  You *must* find where the bait are: it’s no guarantee that fish are there, but if there’s no bait there will almost certainly be no fish. Secondly, I have been in situations where a flyrod would’ve been the best choice, but I feel that those situations are extremely rare and specific.  If you are wading deeper water with no algae growth and if you are searching for fish, use some other tackle choice.  OTOH, if you are in a situation where you are surrounded by feeding reds that are tailing and are in shallow flats, say up against a grass line, or are laying under some sort of algae growth (I was in such a situation 2 weeks ago in the Port O’Connor area) then by God a fly rod can be darn handy! OK, enough of that.  Back to the canoe.  If you’re not sure of the area, and I suspect that you are not, I would suggest something that will get you around better than a canoe—maybe a Jetski, or some such thing.  If you’re heading to Port Isabel, well I can offer a couple of suggestions that you can drive to (i.e. they are accessible by land) and that you can wade directly. cheers, (and good luck) john P.S. Remember: The fishing is *always* good, sometimes the *catching* is not.

Response: