Question:

I mean to fish the Delaware, and maybe Esopus and Beaverkill if I can find time and space. There are supposed to be decent fly fishing waters in Dutchess Cty., NY and eastern CT. If so, what type of rod, line wgt, and so forth would be a good starting point. In the early season should I stay with smaller flies or bugs? -Ray

Response:

The West Branch is fairly big water.  To cover your bases here I think a good multi-piece 5 wt. in 9 ft. length would cover you.  For flys, match the size of the bugs on the water.  SIZE MATTERS! — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I mean to fish the Delaware, and maybe Esopus and Beaverkill if I can find time and space. There are supposed to be decent fly fishing waters in Dutchess Cty., NY and eastern CT. If so, what type of rod, line wgt, and so forth would be a good starting point. In the early season should I stay with smaller flies or bugs? -Ray

Response:

Question:

ps. I usually fish one nymph…two for variety when trying to figure out preference.  I have found two flies do not necessarily add up to more fish under clear conditions.  Attractor helps in faster or off color water. Two flies are a pain in the butt when nymphing…get hung in net.  I more frequently fish two flies when fishing dries…great for difficult drift indication.  I put them much farther apart than I do nymphs and the net is aggravation is proportionatly rare. Pet peeves…foul hookers, san juan shufflers, people fishing to spawners Scott

Response:

Pet peeves…foul hookers, san juan shufflers, people fishing to spawners

Speaking of San Juan shufflers. An aquaintance relayed to me that he was fishing in Cheeseman Canyon, a popular tailwater in Colorado. He ran into a guide that was shuffling at the head of a run and having his two clients fish immediately below him. Since it’s not illegal here in CO, he just made a couple of snide remarks as he passed by. Willi

Response:

Uh oh! Wolfgang

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I keep track of those "not hooked in mouth".  I break off very few fish.  I would count a foul hook in the mouth as not foul hooked. Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You can’t possibly know what your "foul hook-up" rate is when you’re using droppers, if we assume that Bruce’s theory is correct.

Response:

I keep track of those "not hooked in mouth".  I break off very few fish.  I would count a foul hook in the mouth as not foul hooked.

Could someone please translate that for me? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Bet I know the guide (not by name).  He no longer guides in the canyon past few years…but that’s another story, real ugly story. Past couple of years guides in Colorado have improved immeasurably. In fact with all my fishing I can think of no ‘bad guide behavior’ over past two years.  Just the opposite. Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Speaking of San Juan shufflers. An aquaintance relayed to me that he was fishing in Cheeseman Canyon, a popular tailwater in Colorado. He ran into a guide that was shuffling at the head of a run and having his two clients fish immediately below him. Since it’s not illegal here in CO, he just made a couple of snide remarks as he passed by. Willi

Response:

Another joke Steve. I hate "smiley faces" !!!!!

OK, I get it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Bet I know the guide (not by name).  He no longer guides in the canyon past few years…but that’s another story, real ugly story. Past couple of years guides in Colorado have improved immeasurably. In fact with all my fishing I can think of no ‘bad guide behavior’ over past two years.  Just the opposite.

This was a recent event. Willi

Response:

Uh oh! Wolfgang

Well, yeah, Uh oh! Scott’s finely tuned sensibilities would disqualify virtually all steelhead and salmon flyfishing, including those landlocked rainbows that pass for steelhead in the Great Lakes. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

What would those be? I had the feeling last week that my "bag of tricks" was severely wanting.

Have you tried skill yet? <g — Warren Findley www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt

Response:

What would those be? I had the feeling last week that my "bag of tricks" was severely wanting. Have you tried skill yet? <g

So did you finally catch any trout (not whitefish) in the Ashton tailwater? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

PS I agree with your later post, IT IS UNETHICAL

So what does that mean, Willi? Does it mean that you’ll henceforth and forevermore foreswear the use of dropper flies of any sort? I’ve seen you fish, many times, so I know that would be a radical departure from your customary practice. On the other hand, it might bring your hookup rate down to the reach of us mere mortals. Meanwhile, I’m reconsidering the wisdom of putting a little weight between the top fly and the dropper. It might improve the casting, but it might also adversely affect the hookups. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

You mentioned this was unethical in another post (if done on purpose I assume.)

It was a joke. Willi

Response:

RE stuff about snagging fish on dropper flies omitted. ssshhh. These are called secrets. You’re not supposed to talk about it. Do note however, that if you press the barbs down before casting, you can always long line a snagged fish by throwing it a loop of line….anytime you want. Note too that many fish get caught (on the dropper) because they ate the dropper fly, and not because they got snagged. Finally, I think it’s better not to talk about what’s ethical and not ethical. That’s a pandoras box better left alone.

Response:

Finally, I think it’s better not to talk about what’s ethical and not ethical. That’s a pandoras box better left alone.

Y’know, Sandy, I wasn’t the first person to bring it up. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

PS I agree with your later post, IT IS UNETHICAL So what does that mean, Willi? Does it mean that you’ll henceforth and forevermore foreswear the use of dropper flies of any sort? I’ve seen you fish, many times, so I know that would be a radical departure from your customary practice. On the other hand, it might bring your hookup rate down to the reach of us mere mortals. Meanwhile, I’m reconsidering the wisdom of putting a little weight between the top fly and the dropper. It might improve the casting, but it might also adversely affect the hookups.

Like I said to Jeff, I was just joking. However, we all know you carry lots of unethical techniques in your bag of tricks. I think weight between the top fly and dropper is often a good idea. As long as the weight is lighter than the weight above the top fly or is the only weight, casting is OK, not that it can ever be good flinging weight. Willi

Response:

An Alaskan technique is to slide a plastic trout egg like bead onto the line, locked into place with broken off toothpick (ala foam indicator). Bare hook on the line few inches below. I rarely ever set on flash, especially if I use two nymphs.  Too often the trout moves because the tippet bumps into him, and the set simply rips the hooks across (and into) his body.  Especially true (and tempting) when fishing trophy trout waters.  Worse if fishing to spawning trout.  Watched one guy hook 15 trout, 12 were foul hooked…made me sick. Catch & release can be compared to shooting dogs in the butt with a BB gun…YEAH, got another one.  This in mind I managed to keep foul hooks-ups down to @2% in trophy waters, land quickly, release ASAP.  Smallest feasible yarn indicator with a bead of bio-strike below (for under-water pointer…early detection…drift indication) provides significant extra sensitivity to strikes. See picks at http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/scottfromboulder/lst?.dir=/Fishing+Photo+A… (smallest trout is two feet long) My experience too is that most trout hook up on lower fly (has more natural, free drift).  Aware of the Alaskan salmon egg (bead) technique, I have watched for bottom fly hook-up locations…seems only a fraction are likely [slide-ups].  But certain that it happens. Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – While sitting around the campfire at Box Canyon campground at Henry’s Fork, Bruce told us about a fish he hooked when he saw it flash. We got to talking about how when this happens it makes you think about how many takes you miss because the indicator doesn’t move. Bruce made a comment I thought was interesting. I thought it was pretty perceptive. Detecting strikes while nymphing is affected by current speed and water depth. In most situations, I believe, the majority of takes are missed. Getting a proper drift is very difficult in many situations and maintaining enough contact throughout a drift in order to detect takes is usually impossible. At best, you only have a good drift and adequate contact during a short time during the drift. He said (I hope I’ve got this right) that he thought a large percentage of hookups on two-nymph dropper rigs are caused by the fish taking the top fly, thereby moving the indicator, causing the angler to set the hook, and then the tippet gets caught in the fish’s mouth and the dropper slides up to hook it. This makes a lot of sense to me for a few reasons. First of all, it explains those hookups on the dropper fly that get the fish outside the mouth in the lower jaw. Secondly, it explains why so many more hookups come on the dropper fly compared to the top fly (although there may be other reasons for that, as well). Finally, it explains hookups on fish that visibly take a dry fly, but end up hooked on the wet-fly dropper, which happens to me pretty often. I’ve never thought of this and have never heard anyone else bring it up. Although I think that the lower nymph, the one on the dropper, usually hooks more fish because it is deeper in the water column, Bruce’s observation makes alot of sense and fits in with my experience. I’ve also had takes to a dry result in hookups, in the mouth, on the dropper. I always figured the fish took the dropper on the way up to the dry, but Bruce’s explanation makes more sense. However, this doesn’t explain the fish I took at Henry’s that had both nymphs in its mouth. PS I agree with your later post, IT IS UNETHICAL Willi

Response:

See picks at http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/scottfromboulder/lst?.dir=/Fishing+Photo+A… (smallest trout is two feet long)

Beautiful fish. Did you get the Brown in Alaska too? Willi

Response:

Catch & release can be compared to shooting dogs in the butt with a BB gun…YEAH, got another one.  This in mind I managed to keep foul hooks-ups down to @2% in trophy waters, land quickly, release ASAP.  Smallest feasible yarn indicator with a bead of bio-strike below (for under-water pointer…early detection…drift indication) provides significant extra sensitivity to strikes.

You can’t possibly know what your "foul hook-up" rate is when you’re using droppers, if we assume that Bruce’s theory is correct. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Like I said to Jeff, I was just joking. However, we all know you carry lots of unethical techniques in your bag of tricks.

What would those be? I had the feeling last week that my "bag of tricks" was severely wanting. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Like I said to Jeff, I was just joking. However, we all know you carry lots of unethical techniques in your bag of tricks. What would those be? I had the feeling last week that my "bag of tricks" was severely wanting.

Another joke Steve. I hate "smiley faces" !!!!! Willi

Response:

While sitting around the campfire at Box Canyon campground at Henry’s Fork, Bruce told us about a fish he hooked when he saw it flash. We got to talking about how when this happens it makes you think about how many takes you miss because the indicator doesn’t move. Bruce made a comment I thought was interesting. He said (I hope I’ve got this right) that he thought a large percentage of hookups on two-nymph dropper rigs are caused by the fish taking the top fly, thereby moving the indicator, causing the angler to set the hook, and then the tippet gets caught in the fish’s mouth and the dropper slides up to hook it. This makes a lot of sense to me for a few reasons. First of all, it explains those hookups on the dropper fly that get the fish outside the mouth in the lower jaw. Secondly, it explains why so many more hookups come on the dropper fly compared to the top fly (although there may be other reasons for that, as well). Finally, it explains hookups on fish that visibly take a dry fly, but end up hooked on the wet-fly dropper, which happens to me pretty often. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

I forgot to mention that this is extremely unethical. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

While sitting around the campfire at Box Canyon campground at Henry’s Fork, Bruce told us about a fish he hooked when he saw it flash. We got to talking about how when this happens it makes you think about how many takes you miss because the indicator doesn’t move. Bruce made a comment I thought was interesting.

I thought it was pretty perceptive. Detecting strikes while nymphing is affected by current speed and water depth. In most situations, I believe, the majority of takes are missed. Getting a proper drift is very difficult in many situations and maintaining enough contact throughout a drift in order to detect takes is usually impossible. At best, you only have a good drift and adequate contact during a short time during the drift. He said (I hope I’ve got this right) that he thought a large percentage of hookups on two-nymph dropper rigs are caused by the fish taking the top fly, thereby moving the indicator, causing the angler to set the hook, and then the tippet gets caught in the fish’s mouth and the dropper slides up to hook it. This makes a lot of sense to me for a few reasons. First of all, it explains those hookups on the dropper fly that get the fish outside the mouth in the lower jaw. Secondly, it explains why so many more hookups come on the dropper fly compared to the top fly (although there may be other reasons for that, as well). Finally, it explains hookups on fish that visibly take a dry fly, but end up hooked on the wet-fly dropper, which happens to me pretty often.

I’ve never thought of this and have never heard anyone else bring it up. Although I think that the lower nymph, the one on the dropper, usually hooks more fish because it is deeper in the water column, Bruce’s observation makes alot of sense and fits in with my experience. I’ve also had takes to a dry result in hookups, in the mouth, on the dropper. I always figured the fish took the dropper on the way up to the dry, but Bruce’s explanation makes more sense. However, this doesn’t explain the fish I took at Henry’s that had both nymphs in its mouth. PS I agree with your later post, IT IS UNETHICAL Willi

Response:

He said (I hope I’ve got this right) that he thought a large percentage of hookups on two-nymph dropper rigs are caused by the fish taking the top fly, thereby moving the indicator, causing the angler to set the hook, and then the tippet gets caught in the fish’s mouth and the dropper slides up to hook it. This makes a lot of sense to me for a few reasons. First of all, it explains those hookups on the dropper fly that get the fish outside the mouth in the lower jaw. Secondly, it explains why so many more hookups come on the dropper fly compared to the top fly (although there may be other reasons for that, as well). Finally, it explains hookups on fish that visibly take a dry fly, but end up hooked on the wet-fly dropper, which happens to me pretty often.

The latter doesn’t happen to me very often, but as for the rest of it I find it totally believable.  I think all sorts of things might happen nymphing that we don’t completely understand.  That’s part of what I find fascinating about it You mentioned this was unethical in another post (if done on purpose I assume.)  Here’s another thing that’s unethical, but it increase my confidence in a sense.  Sometimes I simply snag a fish in a bottom fin or stomach when nymphing.  I don’t like it, but it tells me I was dead smack on top of a fish’s lie, and I was in tune to the most subtle "take".

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Question:

Oops!  I am sure glad that I am not required to understand the physics of fly casting in order to do it because if I was I would be in serious trouble. I try to keep it simple.  I fish, therefore I am. JK

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bloody hell John, I hope you mean grains !  I would not like to try casting a fly-line weighing over a pound !  (Especially not from Airflo !! 500 grams would be 7716 grains !!!! 350 grains = 22.5  grams or 0.8 oz. TL MC — "Where fishing is concerned, most anglers are basically manic excessives" http://www.mikeconnor.de I have had very good experiences fishing the their fast sinking line. The design is similar to the Teeny in that it has a running (intermediate) line attached to a shooting head.  The version I have is about 500 grms. My experience is that this weight business differs wildly between fly lines. The Cortland line I have which I think is a 350 feels like 650.

Response:

I have had very good experiences fishing the their fast sinking line.  The design is similar to the Teeny in that it has a running (intermediate) line attached to a shooting head.  The version I have is about 500 grms. My experience is that this weight business differs wildly between fly lines. The Cortland line I have which I think is a 350 feels like 650.

That’s interesting.  My Teeny 300 feels heavier than my Scientific Anglers Wet Cel 11 wt shooting head (nominally 330 grains – I haven’t weighed it because my scale is in storage in Michigan) on my 9 weight rod.  I’m not sure what it is.  IIRC Teeny’s prototypes were originally made by Sci Ang and might still be. (In fact, two years ago at a fly fishing show I asked a 3M rep all kinds of questions regarding splicing custom density compensated shooting heads and he sent me and assortment of 5 sinking fly lines that he had used for his research.  Three of them were 3M lines and two were Teenys).  Obviously the linear density of the Teeny line is greater since it’s 300 grains and 24 ft whereas the 11 wt Wet Cel is 330 grains over 30 feet.  The 11 wt is rated as a Type IV and not sure what the Teeny is.  The 11 wt is tapered and the Teeny is not. Airflo claims that their Depth Charge lines have the smallest diameter/grain weight ratio.  That might have something to do with your experiences. Mu, still searching for clues

Response:

Throw him in the river and he will come up with

a fish in his mouth.                                   Arabian proverb.<   When I was a kid, growing up in Youngstown OH, we used to say (about someone we considered lucky), "If he fell in the Mahoning River, he’d come out with a fish in his pocket."  The M. was dead as a doornail from steel mill pollution in those days.  

Response:

I have had very good experiences fishing the their fast sinking line.  The design is similar to the Teeny in that it has a running (intermediate) line attached to a shooting head.  The version I have is about 500 grms. My experience is that this weight business differs wildly between fly lines. The Cortland line I have which I think is a 350 feels like 650. My main concerns in these kinds of line are: 1. The most importand consideration is tangles.  I fish for striped bass off Cape Cod where the air temperature can vary from 95 degrees in summer to forty degrees in the fall.  I have found the Airflo to have the least tendency to tangle.  Since one of the main concerns in fishing fast sinking, shooting head lines is distance, this is a major concern.   I commonly have 70 feet of line to contend with when retrieving.  If the line tends to tangle you can find the day very frustrating and you can lose some nice fish if a tangle jams in your guides. 2. Finding the correct weight.  As noted above, I do not know how much the issue is actual weight and how much it is the way that weight is distributed but there is quite a range in the way these shooting head type lines feel to cast. I noticed on their web site that they are now guarranteeing their lines not to crack for five years. JK

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Ref other postings: Early airflo lines were terrible, not even much use as parcel string, came undone too easily. The modern ones are much better, quite usable in fact. Not as good as the best Cortland or Sci Anglers of course, but available here (uk) at competetive package prices. You gents in the US would balk at the prices we pay! Chris — Throw him in the river and he will come up with a fish in his mouth.                                                                 Arabian proverb. Where’s this river then? I hope its the Bow, Thompson or Vedder, which I aim to fish this summer.

Response:

Bloody hell John, I hope you mean grains !  I would not like to try casting a fly-line weighing over a pound !  (Especially not from Airflo !! 500 grams would be 7716 grains !!!! 350 grains = 22.5  grams or 0.8 oz. TL MC — "Where fishing is concerned, most anglers are basically manic excessives" http://www.mikeconnor.de – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have had very good experiences fishing the their fast sinking line.  The design is similar to the Teeny in that it has a running (intermediate) line attached to a shooting head.  The version I have is about 500 grms. My experience is that this weight business differs wildly between fly lines. The Cortland line I have which I think is a 350 feels like 650.

Response:

Hi Ref other postings: Early airflo lines were terrible, not even much use as parcel string, came undone too easily. The modern ones are much better, quite usable in fact. Not as good as the best Cortland or Sci Anglers of course, but available here (uk) at competetive package prices. You gents in the US would balk at the prices we pay! Chris — Throw him in the river and he will come up with a fish in his mouth.                                                                 Arabian proverb. Where’s this river then? I hope its the Bow, Thompson or Vedder, which I aim to fish this summer.

Response:

Hi Ref other postings: Early airflo lines were terrible, not even much use as parcel string, came undone too easily. The modern ones are much better, quite usable in fact. Not as good as the best Cortland or Sci Anglers of course, but available here (uk) at competetive package prices. You gents in the US would balk at the prices we pay! Chris — Throw him in the river and he will come up with a fish in his mouth. Arabian proverb. Where’s this river then? I hope its the Bow, Thompson or Vedder, which I aim to fish this summer.

I bought an Airflo line last year at a sporting goods store that was getting out of the fishing business.  This particular shop specializes in hunting/shooting and apparently wasn’t very successful selling to anglers.  The line had been reduced in price three times to a final selling price of only $20.  For that price, I figured I couldn’t go wrong–so I bought it.  It’s a DT5F in a light brown color and so far it seems to work as advertised…  I’m probably not a good enough caster to be critiquing fly lines, but I don’t have any complaints about the Airflo line I’ve got. Tom G always looking for a good deal

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Question:

I head into the hospital for ACL reconstruction of my left knee this morning and am out of business for the next 5 to 6 months.

I had my left knee done last October, the right one done in December and was on the water again in April. Had the lakes been open, I might have been fishing even sooner – the Doc told me a kickboat would be excellent  therapy. In any case,  good luck with the surgery. Regards, Dennis Smith Loveland, CO Dennis Smith Loveland, CO

Response:

Well it is time to hang up my fly rod for the year.  I head into the hospital for ACL reconstruction of my left knee this morning and am out of business for the next 5 to 6 months. Mike

 Mike, Here’s wishing you a successful visit to the hospital, and get over it quickly. Good luck. Regards from Wales. — Bill

Response:

Well it is time to hang up my fly rod for the year.  I head into the hospital for ACL reconstruction of my left knee this morning and am out of business for the next 5 to 6 months. Mike

– Mike, Good luck with your surgery and we’ll be sure to save some fish fer ya… –Walt

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Well it is time to hang up my fly rod for the year.  I head into the hospital for ACL reconstruction of my left knee this morning and am out of business for the next 5 to 6 months.  All of you flyfishing nuts will have to make sure and post your adventures to the newsgroup so that I can at least read about flyfishing. All was not lost for the year, I did get the opportunity to catch a 20 pound Rainbow Trout two weeks ago.  Definetly the highlight of my fishing life. Unfortunately, August was the wrong month to get the Gerrard’s in Kootenay Lake on a fly rod so will have to go back in April or May and attempt to get one. Have fun and enjoy the rest of your Summer! Mike

Mike: Sorry to hear about the knee problems. What kind of reconstruction are you having?  I had patellar graft reconstruction on my left knee 6 years ago and have been *extremely* happy with the result. You might even find that you could still get some fishing in this season.  By three months post-op, I was doing a lot of the things I wanted to, just being careful. Best of luck to you.  It is amazing what they can do to repair things these days. Bob

Response:

Well it is time to hang up my fly rod for the year.  I head into the hospital for ACL reconstruction of my left knee this morning and am out of business for the next 5 to 6 months.  All of you flyfishing nuts will have to make sure and post your adventures to the newsgroup so that I can at least read about flyfishing.   All was not lost for the year, I did get the opportunity to catch a 20 pound Rainbow Trout two weeks ago.  Definetly the highlight of my fishing life. Unfortunately, August was the wrong month to get the Gerrard’s in Kootenay Lake on a fly rod so will have to go back in April or May and attempt to get one. Have fun and enjoy the rest of your Summer! Mike

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Question:

Looking for a  good campsite on a lake or river for fly fishing for trout in Denali,AK.  Will backpack a short distance to campsite.  Are there any cabins on lakes or rivers in or close by Denali that offer good fly fishing?  Thanks for your help!

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Looking for a  good campsite on a lake or river for fly fishing for trout in Denali,AK.  Will backpack a short distance to campsite.  Are there any cabins on lakes or rivers in or close by Denali that offer good fly fishing?  Thanks for your help!

   I don’t guide in that area but when I was there several years ago I was told that some of the waters hold grayling but there are few if any trout in the park.

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Question:

My mother-in-law is moving to Superior, Montana (about sixty miles west of Missoula), and will be living right on the Clark Fork.  Am I right that this is a pretty good flyfishing river? (Please forgive my ignorance.) I figure that since I’ll be spending some time out there, I might as well take advantage of the fishing.  The thing is, though, I’ve never flyfished moving water and know very little about it. Years ago I used to do quite a bit of flyfishing in lakes in British Columbia, Canada.  And I used to tie all my own flies. I’d be obliged if someone might be able to answer a few questions for me regarding that stretch of river: First and foremost, what flies should I be tying and in what sizes? What kind of gear should I use?  (Double taper or weight forward line? Floating or sinking?  What weight?) Also, if anyone could recommed a book on flyfishing rivers and streams, particularly anything specific to Western Montana, I’d appreciate it. Thanks in advance for any help, Philip

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My mother-in-law is moving to Superior, Montana (about sixty miles west of Missoula), and will be living right on the Clark Fork.  Am I right that this is a pretty good flyfishing river? (Please forgive my ignorance.) I figure that since I’ll be spending some time out there, I might as well take advantage of the fishing.  The thing is, though, I’ve never flyfished moving water and know very little about it. Years ago I used to do quite a bit of flyfishing in lakes in British Columbia, Canada.  And I used to tie all my own flies. I’d be obliged if someone might be able to answer a few questions for me regarding that stretch of river: First and foremost, what flies should I be tying and in what sizes? What kind of gear should I use?  (Double taper or weight forward line? Floating or sinking?  What weight?) Also, if anyone could recommed a book on flyfishing rivers and streams, particularly anything specific to Western Montana, I’d appreciate it. Thanks in advance for any help, Philip

Yeah…it’s ok fishing.

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Question:

Has anybody flown into Dutch John airport in Utah? I want to fly there to fish the Green River. I would be flying from Jeffco (BJC) in Denver in a Piper Archer. Just curious about any wierd situations or oddities of the airport. Any info would be appreciated.

Response:

Has anybody flown into Dutch John airport in Utah? I want to fly there to fish the Green River. I would be flying from Jeffco (BJC) in Denver in a Piper Archer. Just curious about any wierd situations or oddities of the airport. Any info would be appreciated.

I fly in to Dutch John about twice a year to fish.  Elevation is 6500 feet, runway is 7000 feet.  Last time I was in there, it had a chip coat (where they put down heavy oil and roll in gravel) so it is relatively hard surface.  Runway is plenty wide, should be no problem.  The folks that run the FBO also rent rafts, and will take you down and put you in the water in the morning and pick you up at Little Hole is the evening. Some of the best fly fishing in the west.  YOu can stay at the Flaming Gorge Lodge (I think they will pick up at the airport) or you can camp over in the "ponderosas" on the south side of the strip.  Suggest you be very careful with fire over there especially later in the year, but its a beautiful place to camp …. plenty big. Your biggest hassle is getting over the Rockies, from there its all down hill.  Suggest via Meeker, Vernal or direct.  I fly over from SLC, takes about 45 minutes in my 172/180. Enjoy — (:<)  Things are more like they are today than they have ever been before !

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Question:

I want to get into fly fishing in the surf off of Southern California. Plan to use an 8 wt…..what is a good line to use? I was thinking something like the Teeny T-300….any advice? Thanks in advance.

Response:

I want to get into fly fishing in the surf off of Southern California. Plan to use an 8 wt…..what is a good line to use? I was thinking something like the Teeny T-300….any advice? Thanks in advance.

The T-300 is a great line.  I have a HiD "big game" Triangle Taper that I like alot.  The biggest issue is that as a beginner you will probably fish better with a sinktip, as controlling a full sinking line in the surf is not exactly easy.  It gets under your boots and around your legs much more frequently, and until you learn to handle it you are out of touch with your flies alot of the time.  If you already own the T-300 just learn to use it.  But if you also own a 13 to 20 foot high speed sinktip, you might want to use that until you get better at line handling. Phil

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I want to get into fly fishing in the surf off of Southern California. Plan to use an 8 wt…..what is a good line to use? I was thinking something like the Teeny T-300….any advice? Thanks in advance.

YOU WILL DO WELL with shooting heads.  In fact, better. Mr. G.

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that is what I call an excellent response. Thank you for being specific about lines and how to. bill

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that is what I call an excellent response. Thank you for being specific about lines and how to. bill

thorough indeed, but it is just one side of a very complex story.  If we are talking short (30 to 45 foot) casts PARALLEL to shore, which is what most beginners and many old timers will be doing in California (North and South), I would still contend that a beginner would be better served with a sinktip than a full sinking line or shooting taper.  As I stated earlier, I rely on full sinking lines, preferring them to Shooting Tapers, since changing line density isn’t important (fastest sink you have is all you need), and that and distance are the only advantages of the shooting taper over a full sinking line.  Line handling problems, the inability to make aerial mends, and finger cuts are all good arguments for avoiding shooting heads whenever possible.  By the way I do use shooting heads extensively for lakes, steelhead, shad, Jetties, rare occasions when I’m casting straight out, and rocky coastal shoreline so I don’t have a problem with them, I just restrict them to where they really shine.  I especially stand by my recommendation to stick with what you already own, rather than run out and buy the new rage thing. Phil

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Perhaps I should explain myself a little better: thorough indeed, but it is just one side of a very complex story.  If we are talking short (30 to 45 foot) casts PARALLEL to shore, which is what most beginners and many old timers will be doing in California (North and South), I would still contend that a beginner would be better served with a sinktip than a full sinking line or shooting taper.

The biggest reason for using a lead head is precisely because so much of the casting is PARALLEL to shore.  When casting parallel to shore you are putting the greatest amount of line against the wave action of the surf.  This is like casting directly across a current.  The current (wave action in the surf) exihibits the greatest influence on the line pushing it sideways and causing a belly in the line.  And of course the waves not only go in, they also ebb back out.  Little time is spent without motion in the surf. Floating line is the fattest and most susceptible to this action.  The good news is you can mend it, the bad news is you can’t mend it fast enough or well enough to compensate satisfactorily for the action unless there is a lot of time between waves.  The sink-tip is only slightly better because at least part of it sinks into the strike zone (sometimes as shallow as 1 1/2 ft, sometimes as deep as 6 to 8 feet or more).  The full sinking line sinks along the entire line which prohibits mending but gets the fly down better than the other two.  The fastest sinking line you have will work the best.   It will be the thinnest and least susceptible to the movement of the surf and you have to remember that salt water is more bouyant than freshwater.  Sinking lines don’t sink as fast in the salt.   The lead head allows you to use 300+ grains of weight in 24 ft of line (as opposed to ~210 grains for 30 feet an 8 wt.) and is much thinner than any sinking line.  More weight and less surface area allows the line to get down quicker and stay in the zone longer especially when casting PARALLEL to shore.  Again, a casting basket makes a world of difference in the frustration factor. Now the news about the expense of one of these lines is that you can make your own for less than $10 or buy one for $12 to $14.  Amnesia for a shooting line will set you back around $3.50.  If you opt for the flat beam running line, it will cost you $7. No more than $21 at the most.   If you don’t want to invest in an extra spool and backing, just remove your floating line from your current 8 or 9 wt. rig and tie on the running line and shooting head.   Probably won’t break the bank and will save you the frustration I went through using all of the lines I have mentioned. As I stated earlier, I rely on full sinking lines, preferring them to Shooting Tapers, since changing line density isn’t important (fastest sink you have is all you need), and that and distance are the only advantages of the shooting taper over a full sinking line.

Even forgetting about the distance, the comparison is not even close.  Even the fastest sinking full line won’t sink or track as well as the lead head.  Their diameter is too large and their weight too little. Bear in mind that the first 30 feet of an 8 wt. floating line weighs exactly the same as the first 30 feet of an 8 wt. type V sinking line.  Higher density lines just have the same weight in less space.  That’s what *density* is all about. Line handling problems,

Casting basket eases the tangle problem and will still keep your fly in the zone longer than full sinking lines even with the occaisional tangle. the inability to make aerial mends, and finger cuts are all good arguments for avoiding shooting heads whenever possible.

Type of line has *nothing* to do with aerial mends.  How and where you move the tip of the rod *after* you make the stop on the forward cast determines where the aerial mend goes, not whether or not it is a full sinking line or a shooting head.  "Aerial mend" means repositioning the the line *while* it is in the air. Finger cuts can be avoided by using saltwater tape or stripping guards on your stripping fingers.  White adhesive tape works OK if you can’t find the specific saltwater stuff.  I also use tape or stripping guards when using a floating line for bonefish.  Part of the problem with line cuts comes from the abrasive nature of the salt in the water.  The thinner running line does aggravate it, but the greater fishing success helps compensate for this. *SNIP* I especially stand by my recommendation to stick with what you already own, rather than run out and buy the new rage thing.

Using whatever you can absolutely beats not fishing, but using the right tool for the job makes a big difference.   Lead core lines have been around longer than modern fly lines, so I wouldn’t call them the "new rage thing".  Casting is the biggest problem most people have with lead heads and if you like I will give some suggestions in another post because this one is already way too long. I don’t mean to sound rude, but I see no reason why someone should go through all the hoops I did to arrive at this solution.  Nonetheless, do whatever you like to do, because you are the only one you have to please to enjoy this sport and you may like to use a different method.  I just think you should give this a try.                                        Hope this clarifies my statements a bit,                                                     Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools

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I want to get into fly fishing in the surf off of Southern California. Plan to use an 8 wt…..what is a good line to use? I was thinking something like the Teeny T-300….any advice? Thanks in advance.

Up in N. Cal one of the most popular lines for surf fishing is a lead head. This sounds scary, but actually works really well.  You can make your own or buy one from Orvis for $14.  I snagged one of the Orvis heads and then cut it back from 30 ft. to 24 ft. and put a loop on the end I cut off.  Works well on my 8 wt.  I use amnesia for the running line, but am going to try the flat beam running line ($7) that we just got in at the Orvis SF store.  Casting basket is a big help to control the running line.   The reason this works so well is that the lead core tracks far better than anything else in the surf.  Floating lines are real tough because the floating section gets whipped back and forth by the wave action so badly.  Same thing with sink tips.  Sometimes the full sinking lines work ok, but usually their cross-section is too big and gets pushed around by the waves too.  The thin lead core (I believe this is the 13gr. per foot version) sinks quickly in the more bouyant saltwater and stays in the trough or channel longer than other lines.  More time in the target area means more fish.  Not the most fun to cast, but not bad with some practice and very effective.                       Hope this helps,                               Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools

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Question:

The FISHING LOG is a Powerful Software Program for Windows 3.? or 95. It tracks every aspect of your fishing trips/sessions in great detail. It is colorful, extremely powerful and very user friendly. Keeps track of just about anything you can think of in Fresh Water or Salt. It is a large program of research quality but you can make it as simple or as detailed as you wish. Export data to other programs for analysis and charting. The best part is that if you download it yourself it is FREE. Registration has benefits but it is ready to go as is and you will probably agree with my wife that only a nut would give this away. Yes you CAN copy it onto diskettes and give it to your friends. If you dont they may not remain friendly. Just send me a Email for the ftp.site. I wont be bugging you for money. Unzips into about 7 megabytes. — *** Home of the Fishing Log ***

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Just send me a Email for the ftp.site. I wont be bugging you for money.

Hi Robert,        Please inform me of the ftp site.        As you can see I am from England, at the good old age of 60, I have just taken up fly fishing.        The wife and I + two grand sons do a lot of caravan/camping in the summer and a few of the small rivers in the Dales where we camp have brown trout and grayling in them.        Cheers,

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Will Email you later tonight. I know the feling well. Although I’ve been flyfishing all my life I never wrote anything like this before for free. Took me 2.5 months to do it ans some of the sessions were LOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGG! — *** Home of the Fishing Log ***

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The FISHING LOG is a Powerful Software Program for Windows 3.? or 95. It tracks every aspect of your fishing trips/sessions in Just send me a Email for the ftp.site. I wont be bugging you for money. Unzips into about 7 megabytes. — *** Home of the Fishing Log ***

Yes but I am fed up seeing 6 postings a week from you , set up a web site and leave us in peace. Chris Cox

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Question:

I’m new to fly fishing and would like to hear opinions on Putah since I plan to fish there this weekend. What should I use equipment wise, is there any literature I could read?. Also I’m looking for a club in the Davis area, since I’m thinking of moving up there in the near future. Any info would be much appreciated. Steve

Tiny nymphs with long, fine leaders are usually recomended.  Larger nymphs and buggers will also bring in some bows.  Use lots of lead for getting down into some very dramatic pockets behind submerged boulders.  Try putting in begind the Montecello dam.  Just below the dam is a bridge with parking just off the road.  Tough wading and finicky fish, but very nice spot.  Good luck. Lenny . .

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I’m new to fly fishing and would like to hear opinions on Putah since I plan to fish there this weekend. What should I use equipment wise, is there any literature I could read?. Also I’m looking for a club in the Davis area, since I’m thinking of moving up there in the near future. Any info would be much appreciated. Steve

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