Question:

The 2IC wandered into my office yesterday and noted that the 1IC was detained and wouldn’t be in for the rest of the day … I looked at my duffle bag (which contains accoutrements for annoying fish) looked back at the 2IC and said "I might make it to 3:30 this afternoon …" I didn’t – at 2:50 I teed up the pick-up and we were well on our way by 3:30.  How is it that roadwork crews unfailingly select peak hour to rip up roadways? Does it take them all day to find the road to be ripped up?  Is it their way of making sure the maximum number of rate payers "notice" them? If so, they do a mighty fine job of it. Bugger ‘em. I’d scoped out a pool and glide a few weeks ago that provided some terrific dry-fly fishing mid-morning and that’s where we were heading. It was a bit warm waiting to get through the council induced traffic snarl but the air-con worked well as always – we just opened the windows wider.  Actually the weather looked a bit stormy before we hit the Divide and the cool mountain air. A few spots of rain as we geared up was all the inclemency suffered and the clouds gradually dissipated as the afternoon wore on. As I said, I scoped this stream a few weeks ago, and you guessed it: nary a fish in places I found them previously.  We fished, peeked, snuck, and skulked around and through through some nice looking water only picking up the odd fish.  We weren’t moving fast enough for me though – I really wanted to see that pool and its tailout. Bugger – a couple of fish in side channels. We did our best … he to catch them, me to get a wriggle on.   Columns of midges a metre in diameter and some 3-5 metres high  were evident over some of the backwaters – how many insects in those columns?   They twisted and gyrated like huge schools of baitfish being rounded up by predators.  A combination of the fluky breeze and the midges’ urges drove the column to writhe, twist and seemingly eject adults at the base of the column. There lay a single predator waiting and sipping the evicted with unhurried confidence.  Those that escaped that vortex trickled out of the backwater and down stream past us and into a drop pool.  You have to get your rocks off quick if you’re a midge. At last! The pool. They rose. All of them.  They rose and we cast, and we cast and we cast.  Then the takes started – one, two, three – six or more  missed.  Bigger fly same pattern – its getting dark. _Somebody_ was fairing a little better and had one, the bounder was using a swing I noticed on his second.  Not an unreasonable tactic considering the number of caddis about.  Same dry fly, cast to the same fish, cast across and drawn as it approached a fishes position bought good solid takes and hook-ups.   Certainly my imaginings about the pool had more than been matched by the reality at least on this occasion. A  pleasant surprise and a lovely place to put a bend in a new rod. As for Caddis: to dead-drift or not: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler to suffer the rings and splashes of short takes, or to take arms against a battery of upstream dry-fly men and, by opposing, offend?  Yet by a swing we end the heart-ache and catch. Steve (humblest apologies to Bill … and any who got this far

Response:

…….(humblest apologies to Bill … and any who got this far

Yeah, well, billy’s on his own.  Besides, he understood the groundlings.  Nice stuff, Steve. Not sure exactly where you’re at.  I was almost enticed into a backpacking trip in the Blue Mountains a couple of years ago.  Any fish there? Wolfgang

Response:

Not sure exactly where you’re at.  I was almost enticed into a backpacking trip in the Blue Mountains a couple of years ago.  Any fish there?

It’s not my neck of the woods, but yes there are.  Small stream’s that you’d be used to, with populations of small browns and rainbows. The Cox’s River is rather larger and had (I haven’t heard much of it in the last few years) a significant rainbow run each winter (at least I think its winter).   Steve

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not sure exactly where you’re at.  I was almost enticed into a backpacking trip in the Blue Mountains a couple of years ago.  Any fish there? It’s not my neck of the woods, but yes there are.  Small stream’s that you’d be used to, with populations of small browns and rainbows. The Cox’s River is rather larger and had (I haven’t heard much of it in the last few years) a significant rainbow run each winter (at least I think its winter). Steve

Hm…….interesting.  One last questions then.  Ya’ll got any REAL beer down there?      :) Wolfgang

Response:

Hm…….interesting.  One last questions then.  Ya’ll got any REAL beer down there?      :)

Yep, you can also get Bud if you want it.   Steve

Response:

Question:

That’s what I usually do, too, but sometimes the tippet is too long and I just want a knot in the right place, and not to join two lines together. The Float Stop knot at http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page6-1.html that Guyz-N-Flyz pointed out looks perfect.

Ah that looks like a perfect knot then.  Good illustrations of knots too. Is this for deep water nymphing? bc. — I don’t care who you are, you are not walking on the water while I’m fishing.

Response:

http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page6-1.html

An alternative would be a uni-knot made with a spare length of fishing line.  The standard slip-bobber knot used by bait fisherman actually is a nail knot and one can purchase individually prepared knots wrapped around plastic tubes.  But since most fly anglers can tie nail knots it would seem ridiculous to pay $3 for a package of three knots. I’d recommend that you use dacron (12 lb is good) becasue mono on mono could cause your leader, expecially where it’s composed of lighter test material, to curl from the heat if you decide to slide the knot to a different position. One problem with dacron however is that since it’s much thicker in diamter than mono and the desired result is that the finished knot form a barrel around the mono, it may be difficult to prevent the mono from kinking as you form the dacron knot unless you can maintain tension on the mono while simultaneously tying the knot.  Or yould tie the stopper knot at a relatively thick/stiff section of your leader, then slide it down to the desired position and then just pull on the tag ends to tighten.  But really, why bother with all that? Personally I like to use weighted putty instead of split shot. Mu

Response:

rw, I use a triple surgeons knot to tie on my tippet and place the split shot just above that.  http://www.flyshop.com/Tactics/12-96Knots/surgeon.html

That’s what I usually do, too, but sometimes the tippet is too long and I just want a knot in the right place, and not to join two lines together. The Float Stop knot at http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page6-1.html that Guyz-N-Flyz pointed out looks perfect. BTW, I usually use a double surgeon’s knot, except when I’m joining fluorcarbon to regular mono, and then I use a triple. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

I would worry that the float stop knot would slip under the pressure from a split shot…  Wouldn’t a figure eight knot do the trick?  It won’t move, it will hold a split shot from sliding down, you can’t really expect to untie it, and the line strength is not reduced much.  I have used the figure eight as a stopper on ropes for years – never on fishing line.  On ropes there’s the advantage that it *is* pretty easily untied.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That’s what I usually do, too, but sometimes the tippet is too long and I just want a knot in the right place, and not to join two lines together. The Float Stop knot at http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page6-1.html that Guyz-N-Flyz pointed out looks perfect.

Response:

I’m looking for a knot that I’ve never seen described and that may not even exist. The situation is that you have a very long tippet or an unknotted leader, and you want to add some splitshot not too far above the fly. To keep the splitshot from slipping, you want a knot, but what knot can you tie into the mono that doesn’t weaken it substantially? It seems like there should be one, but I’ve never heard of it.

Um, maybe this is some new-fangled terminal tackle problem, but if I understand what you mean by "splitshot," why not just crimp it down? I suspect I’m not altogether sure of what you mean, however, because….  Why would you put "some" (as in several?) on a tippet? TC, R

Response:

Um, maybe this is some new-fangled terminal tackle problem, but if I understand what you mean by "splitshot," why not just crimp it down?

I don’t like to "crimp down" splitshot onto fine tippet (meaning crimp down HARD). I suspect I’m not altogether sure of what you mean, however, because….  Why would you put "some" (as in several?) on a tippet?

It’s common to vary the weight frequently. We were sure doing that on the San Juan. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

rw, I use a triple surgeons knot to tie on my tippet and place the split shot just above that.  http://www.flyshop.com/Tactics/12-96Knots/surgeon.html There is also a good article here on nymphing: http://web.utk.edu/~ldecuir/tu/96oct.htm Do a page search on Henry’s FAQ. Don’t know if that is what you are looking for. bc. — I don’t care who you are, you are not walking on the water while I’m fishing.

Response:

rw, That sounds like the "Running Half Tangle" to me.

That one I know! I can tie it with my eyes shut, and often do. I don’t need one of your fancy tools to help me with that knot, Ernie. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Check out the Float Stop knot at the site below. http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page6-1.html

All right! That’s exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, Opie. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

rw, That sounds like the "Running Half Tangle" to me.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m looking for a knot that I’ve never seen described and that may not even exist. The situation is that you have a very long tippet or an unknotted leader, and you want to add some splitshot not too far above the fly. To keep the splitshot from slipping, you want a knot, but what knot can you tie into the mono that doesn’t weaken it substantially? It seems like there should be one, but I’ve never heard of it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Check out the Float Stop knot at the site below. http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page6-1.html Opie  **Panhandling for a better tomorrow!**

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m looking for a knot that I’ve never seen described and that may not even exist. The situation is that you have a very long tippet or an unknotted leader, and you want to add some splitshot not too far above the fly. To keep the splitshot from slipping, you want a knot, but what knot can you tie into the mono that doesn’t weaken it substantially? It seems like there should be one, but I’ve never heard of it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

I’m looking for a knot that I’ve never seen described and that may not even exist. The situation is that you have a very long tippet or an unknotted leader, and you want to add some splitshot not too far above the fly. To keep the splitshot from slipping, you want a knot, but what knot can you tie into the mono that doesn’t weaken it substantially? It seems like there should be one, but I’ve never heard of it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

The situation is that you have a very long tippet or an unknotted leader, and you want to add some splitshot not too far above the fly. To keep the splitshot from slipping, you want a knot, but what knot can you tie into the mono that doesn’t weaken it substantially? It seems like there should be one, but I’ve never heard of it.

Just tie an additional piece of tippet to the end of your leader of same diameter as leader tippet using double surgeons or barrel knot and pinch the split over the knot. Good luck. Joel Axelrad

Response:

Question:

Does anyone know where fish spotting gets done around Australia? I know there are some in the Gulf in the prawn season.  And I seem
to recall a magazine article some years ago about tuna spotting
somewhere.  Does anyone know where else people fly for fishing
fleets, what aircraft they use, and what the work prospects are like in that industry?  Is it worth considering as an option for a newby CPL? — – Before you buy.

Response:

Harry may still be some tuna spotting out of Port Lincoln.  Usta use aerocommanders (i think) and one Cessna push pull job (although I think thats gone).   Flights of considerable duration ranging to the far west and into WA. regards Don – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone know where fish spotting gets done around Australia? I know there are some in the Gulf in the prawn season.  And I seem to recall a magazine article some years ago about tuna spotting somewhere.  Does anyone know where else people fly for fishing fleets, what aircraft they use, and what the work prospects are like in that industry?  Is it worth considering as an option for a newby CPL? — – Before you buy.

Response:

I have seen Aero Commanders and C337’s at Ceduna SA and pretty sure some at Pt Lincoln during a fuel stop. A local flies from Triabunna (East coast Tas) with a C180 for Mackerel (I think) for the fish farms in Tas. I think he may have spotted for Tuna as well. Maybe he’ll let us know? — Bernie Samms Kingston Beach Tasmania Australia Aero Club of Southern Tasmania   www.acst.com.au Prologic Pty Ltd                           www.prologic.com.au

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Harry may still be some tuna spotting out of Port Lincoln.  Usta use aerocommanders (i think) and one Cessna push pull job (although I think thats gone).   Flights of considerable duration ranging to the far west and into WA. regards Don Does anyone know where fish spotting gets done around Australia? I know there are some in the Gulf in the prawn season.  And I seem to recall a magazine article some years ago about tuna spotting somewhere.  Does anyone know where else people fly for fishing fleets, what aircraft they use, and what the work prospects are like in that industry?  Is it worth considering as an option for a newby CPL? — – Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

"John Beowulf" wrote… Well, I don’t know about that but last Sunday this kid was fishing in San Francisco Bay and caught, well uh, (gross alert) a human skull. Maby its the old bad boy of the teamsters!

What did he catch it on? –Steve

Response:

I think he was just dead weight, at the end of the line. PatK I thought using chum while fly fishing was considered unsporting??:) Lloyd Heilbrunn

* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Joe Fleischman writes: I think he’s in my son’s room under his bed.

Uhuh.  He  was found under Tammy Fay Baker’s make-up! Dave LaCourse

Response:

Dave LaCourse wrote Joe Fleischman writes: I think he’s in my son’s room under his bed. Uhuh.  He  was found under Tammy Fay Baker’s make-up!

The worst part is…he was buried alive! —                                                       -dnc-

Response:

Peter Charles wrote I’m not too sure Hoffa had any *chums*! — Opie     **Psychic To The Recently Deceased** but I’m sure he ended up as chum.

Ironic.  He started out as king.  I knew a morphological change occurred in the life cycle, but I didn’t think a species change was part of the deal. —                                                       -dnc-

Response:

Nope.. concrete waders. That’s where Orvis got the idea for their ‘Bulletproof’ wader series. Herman  Hoffa was pardoned by Nixon in 1971 and disappeared in 1975. wet wading? — Rusty Hook Laramie, Wyo Before you buy.

– Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

I know this is away off topic but—.Saw am movie last night about the life of Jimmy Hoffa.Now I am not a student of American history north or south but I was alive and kicking during the Hoffa years.Am I correct in thinking that Hoffa was dead long before Nixon became president so could not have been pardoned by aforementioned president?

Well, I don’t know about that but last Sunday this kid was fishing in San Francisco Bay and caught, well uh, (gross alert) a human skull.  Maby its the old bad boy of the teamsters! -John

Response:

I know this is away off topic but—.Saw am movie last night about the life of Jimmy Hoffa.Now I am not a student of American history north or south but I was alive and kicking during the Hoffa years.Am I correct in thinking that Hoffa was dead long before Nixon became president so could not have been pardoned by aforementioned president?

Response:

Am I correct in thinking that Hoffa was dead long before Nixon became president so could not have been pardoned by aforementioned president?

No. Hoffa was pardoned by Nixon in 1971 and disappeared in 1975. — Charlie…

Response:

No. Hoffa was pardoned by Nixon in 1971 and disappeared in 1975.

I think he’s in my son’s room under his bed. Joe F.

Response:

 Hoffa was pardoned by Nixon in 1971 and disappeared in 1975.

wet wading? — Rusty Hook Laramie, Wyo Before you buy.

Response:

I thought using chum while fly fishing was considered unsporting??:) Lloyd Heilbrunn

Response:

I’m not too sure Hoffa had any *chums*! — Opie     **Psychic To The Recently Deceased**

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I thought using chum while fly fishing was considered unsporting??:) Lloyd Heilbrunn

Response:

I’m not too sure Hoffa had any *chums*! — Opie     **Psychic To The Recently Deceased**

but I’m sure he ended up as chum. Peter

Response:

I know this is away off topic but—.Saw am movie last night about the life of Jimmy Hoffa.Now I am not a student of American history north or south but I was alive and kicking during the Hoffa years.Am I correct in thinking that Hoffa was dead long before Nixon became president so could not have been pardoned by aforementioned president?

Was that the movie starring Jack Nicholson as Jimmy Hoffa? Excellent. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Question:

1996 Astro 15 footer 90 HP mercury outboard motorguide RF trolling motor custom cover custom trailor.                                $7995.00 Call Tom Bauer 1-908-686-2800

Response:

Hi Guys, I just started coming to this news group in addition to the fly fishing newsgroups I subscribe to.  I was once such a hard core bass fisherman that I never went fishing without my boat.  Now I do both stream and lake fishing with my first love being fishing for bass and preferably with a fly rod. Being on this group is great!  However, I am surprised at the amount of advertising showing up here.  Is this a valid forum for advertising your used fishing gear? Pete

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 1996 Astro 15 footer 90 HP mercury outboard motorguide RF trolling motor custom cover custom trailor.                                $7995.00 Call Tom Bauer 1-908-686-2800

Response:

I believe personal gear is ok.  Trying to pass off comercial for personal is a no no. Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Guys, I just started coming to this news group in addition to the fly fishing newsgroups I subscribe to.  I was once such a hard core bass fisherman that I never went fishing without my boat.  Now I do both stream and lake fishing with my first love being fishing for bass and preferably with a fly rod. Being on this group is great!  However, I am surprised at the amount of advertising showing up here.  Is this a valid forum for advertising your used fishing gear? Pete 1996 Astro 15 footer 90 HP mercury outboard motorguide RF trolling motor custom cover custom trailor.                                $7995.00 Call Tom Bauer 1-908-686-2800

Response:

The Guidelines allows posting of personal advertisements, as long as the subject specifies ‘For Sale.’ — Go fishing. And may your fish be as big as your tales!    Columbia SC, Lake Murray

Response:

Thanks. Pete

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Guidelines allows posting of personal advertisements, as long as the subject specifies ‘For Sale.’ — Go fishing. And may your fish be as big as your tales!    Columbia SC, Lake Murray

Response:

Question:

Could you *really* get lead poisoning from crimping split shot with your teeth? Bryce

Over time, yup. Peter

Response:

No, but you could get a hernia in your hemostat. — Ernie Harrison Fly Fishing Books, Blood Knot Machine Wading Boots, Making Rods, Fly Tying Box Go to:  http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you’re worried about lead poisoning, crimp it hard with your hemostats. Works for me.Pete C Could you *really* get lead poisoning from crimping split shot with your teeth? Bryce

Response:

The lead paint was a problem because kids actually eat the paint. Lead is not soluable so unless you inadvertantly swallow the shot its probably a low level problem. The one exception I see is if you get some lead caught in your teeth. Lead is soft and it could stick to a filling or crevas in you teeth and later come off when your chewing food. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Could you *really* get lead poisoning from crimping split shot with your teeth? Bryce I don’t know.  Better safe than sorry. Pete C Young children have been known to contract lead poisoning from gnawing objects painted with lead based paint( in the old days!) — Bill

Response:

Change brands of shot.  Some are harder than others and definitely stay on better.

Response:

Don’t cast. Stalk. — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "Guilt replaced the creel…"

Response:

Try running the leader through the split twice before crimping.  This does put a wrap on the outside of the shot that may be subject to wear.  I have also used figure 8 knots on thick leader to prevent sliding.  That knot is relatively easy to undo. William Buchman

Response:

I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks. Brian

Brian Putting the other smart-assed answers aside, I’ll assume you’ve done all the usual things.  Probably you are overhead casting, perhaps some fasle casting, and putting some effort into it to avoid clipping your ears.  Since the splitshot loads up the rod more, the whole contraption is now arriving at the end of the cast with some violence, sending your splitshot into the opposite bank at just under mach one. So instead of high powered overhead casts, use a gentle lob with a big open loop, a flick or a roll.  I usually allow my line to pull out straight downstream at the end of the drift, then pull gently toward the point upstream that I’m casting to.  A little flick and the line just rolls out without any fuss.  My 9 1/2′ seven wt. is the only rod I’ll use a conventional small loop, overhead cast with splitshot, as it has enough length and muscle to keep the line up without any extra effort on my part.   Instead of all sorts of fancy replacements and gimmicks; stop false casting, slow down your delivery, open up the loop and let the rod work.  Stepping down to a lighter or slower rod may help too. Peter

Response:

Tie a knot over the split and make sure the knot is over the back side of the split and not along the crimp seam. If its on the seam it will open up the crimp and you lose another shot. You will never lose a shot this way. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks. Brian

Response:

Scrap the paper off of those "twister ties" that come on loaves of bread……use them for sinker action…..I love ‘em. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks. Brian

Response:

Don’t cast. Stalk. — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "Guilt replaced the creel…"

Don’t cast. Plop! Mr. G. "Guilt replaced Catch and Kill with Catch & Release" ; ) "cast, drift . . . cast . . . drift . . .?" Is this nymph going to work or not Tim?

Response:

Pinch shot onto line and see if that helps. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks. Brian

Response:

I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks. Brian

Hi Brian, Sometimes the problem is squeezing them on to tight, especially if you’re using lead shot.  The lead shot is a lot softer than the "lead free" stuff and if you’re using either your teeth (not good – lead is poison you know), or forceps to close the split and you squeeze too hard, it opens up the back part of the split and the shot slips all over the place.   I usually put the split shot on the line and squeeze it with my fingers just hard enough to hold it.  Then I will take my forceps and squeeze it shut from the back of the shot, not from the split side.  I watch the split close and when it meets and compresses slightly I *stop* squeezing.  This way you close the back of the split securely and you can see if you’ve overtightened it.  It rarely moves with this technique.  However, as Peter and "another damn guide", both pointed out excessive forceful false casting may knock it loose anyway. Use water-loading as much as possible instead of false casts when fishing nymphs with shot (easier to do, and fewerangles). I’ve also used the "wrap it through twice" trick that William Buchman suggested, especially on soft BB shot and it works well.  I always expect it to break where it’s wrapped around the shot and it never does.  I’m still nervous about doing that, but it does stop it from slipping.                       Hope this helps,                              Dan Dan Gracia Orvis

Response:

Put it between two molars and bite down.  It’s always worked for me. Later,     – Ken

Lucky bugger, I haven’t got two molars:-I — Bill

Response:

I have two molars Bill, but they don’t meet. — Ernie Harrison Fly Fishing Books, Blood Knot Machine Wading Boots, Making Rods, Fly Tying Box Go to:  http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Put it between two molars and bite down.  It’s always worked for me. Later,     – Ken Lucky bugger, I haven’t got two molars:-I — Bill

Response:

If you’re worried about lead poisoning, crimp it hard with your hemostats. Works for me. Pete C

Response:

If you’re worried about lead poisoning, crimp it hard with your hemostats. Works for me.Pete C

Could you *really* get lead poisoning from crimping split shot with your teeth? Bryce

Response:

Could you *really* get lead poisoning from crimping split shot with your teeth? Bryce

I don’t know.  Better safe than sorry. Pete C

Response:

Could you *really* get lead poisoning from crimping split shot with your teeth? Bryce I don’t know.  Better safe than sorry. Pete C

Young children have been known to contract lead poisoning from gnawing objects painted with lead based paint( in the old days!) — Bill

Response:

first pinch with your hemostats/pliers then try reducing the force of an number of your false casts DryFly Another Damn Giude – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks. Brian

Response:

I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks.

Um, you *are* crimping them closed, aren’t you?

Response:

no problem! Do  not use split shot.  Use twist ons.  Trust me the way to go if ya gotta get down.

Response:

I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks. Um, you *are* crimping them closed, aren’t you?

Maybe God is telling him to use dry flies. — something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks. Brian

_______ Brian, you should learn to tie your own leaders.  Go andbuy yourself a complete set of hard and soft Maxima Leader Material in clear mono. Order a bottle of Knot-Perfect from me for $3 which I will absorb shipping charges and labor/handling, etc.  A deal, I assure you. Use Knot-Perfect on each knot and at the tippet knot, use them as stoppers for your lead. There are other ways, but for nymphing, and/or lead flat/wire at knots, you will be much better off then using tapered leaders.  Tapered, single strand leaders take a lot of mobility and tricks away from you. Reconsider:  - or – shall we all revisit "Hand Tied Leaders" (?) I love making them. See: http://www.gink.com Place an  order and I’ll include a surprise.  I sort of am able to do things other employees can’t.  I’m the President. Mr. G.

Response:

I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks. Brian

Response:

I’ve bought cheap split shot, I’ve bought expensive split shot but no mater what I try the damn things inevitably fall off (or slip down to the fly.)  I also tried tying on a dropper line with a small knot to keep the split shot from sliding off but, of course, it slid off.  Anyone else have this problem and a solution.  Thanks.

Put it between two molars and bite down.  It’s always worked for me. Later,      - Ken — Not speaking for anyone but myself

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Question:

How do you get 21 hours of fuel into an Aztec?  I’m not familiar with the type, but at an avg fuel burn of 8-10 GPH – we’re talking about 168-210 gals. Where would you put it all?  Another question springs to mind – how do you add oil in flight? I’ve seen club aircraft burn as much as a 1/2 qt/hr. The sump would be bone dry after 21 hrs with no additional oil.

The Aztec would burn considerably more than 8-10 GPH.  Probably closer to 25 GPH.  So we are talking about over 500 gallons.  The Aztec is a rather slow twin with a pair of 250 HP flat engines.  It is Pipers upscale Apache, just as the Beech Baron is the high power version of the Travelair. John

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Well Jon Johanson has done it both ways (make that crossed the Pacific … ) in an RV-4 during his round the world trips. Check out his Web site at http://www.mag-net.educ.monash.edu.au/saaa/head.html.

This link doesn’t work for me?

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I have this fantasy of flying to one of them deserted SP islands (Robinson Crusoe Syndrome).  Has anyone tried this in a single engine airplane, is this feasible at all?  Which route would one take? Thanks, James

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Check out http://www.calle.com/aviation/airports.cgi Allows you to specify departure, destination, range and speed, and displays a nice table and map of the results. Lots of material for dream flights… BTW you probably don’t want a totally deserted island; food, water, fuel, runway and women should be minimum requirements (the website allows you to specify 2 out of these 5 Eric – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have this fantasy of flying to one of them deserted SP islands (Robinson Crusoe Syndrome).  Has anyone tried this in a single engine airplane, is this feasible at all?  Which route would one take? Thanks, James

Response:

I have this fantasy of flying to one of them deserted SP islands (Robinson Crusoe Syndrome).  Has anyone tried this in a single engine airplane, is this feasible at all?  Which route would one take? Thanks, James

I think someone tried this in a twin.  Her name was Amelia something….. Sorrry, it was too easy to pass on  :-) Jeff Oslick

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I have this fantasy of flying to one of them deserted SP islands (Robinson Crusoe Syndrome).  Has anyone tried this in a single engine airplane, is this feasible at all?  Which route would one take? Thanks, James

Da Plane, Boss, Da Plane! (sorry, just couldn’t help myself) John Galban====N4BQ (PA28-180)

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I have this fantasy of flying to one of them deserted SP islands (Robinson Crusoe Syndrome).  Has anyone tried this in a single engine airplane, is this feasible at all?  Which route would one take? Thanks, James

James, It is most certainly feasible and is done all the time. Wether done single engine or twin is really no consideration. In some respects, a single may be better than a twin because in a twin you need to carry much more fuel to feed two engines. That second engine does not give you any more chances to remain airborne, if one should fail, until such a time that you are back down to normal weights. During the early phases of the flight you would be so heavy with fuel that one engine could not possibly keep you in the air. The two longest legs are Oakland to Honolulu 2100 NM and from there you have another long leg, either HNL to Majuro, Marshall Islands, or HNL to Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati, the latter one being a good stop, but almost again as far as OAK-HNL. After that you can choose your legs more easily and they are considerably shorter. Reinhard

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I don’t know what you are flying but when flying my instructors Turbo Aztec, six full grown american people and topped off I can hold 15,000 on one engine, well, or as long as my leg holds out. cg It is most certainly feasible and is done all the time. Wether done single engine or twin is really no consideration. In some respects, a single may be better than a twin because in a twin you need to carry much more fuel to feed two engines. That second engine does not give you any more chances to remain airborne, if one should fail, until such a time that you are back down to normal weights. During the early phases of the flight you would be so heavy with fuel that one engine could not possibly keep you in the air. Reinhard

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I don’t know what you are flying but when flying my instructors Turbo Aztec, six full grown american people and topped off I can hold 15,000 on one engine, well, or as long as my leg holds out. cg It is most certainly feasible and is done all the time. Wether done single engine or twin is really no consideration. In some respects, a single may be better than a twin because in a twin you need to carry much more fuel to feed two engines. That second engine does not give you any more chances to remain airborne, if one should fail, until such a time that you are back down to normal weights. During the early phases of the flight you would be so heavy with fuel that one engine could not possibly keep you in the air. Reinhard

First off, I would have to see that to believe it. Secondly, to fly OAK-HNL in a Turbo Aztec (14 hrs plus 3 hrs reserve), you would carry a lot more weight in fuel than the load you described here. Reinhard

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I have this fantasy of flying to one of them deserted SP islands (Robinson Crusoe Syndrome).  Has anyone tried this in a single engine airplane, is this feasible at all?  Which route would one take? Thanks, James The two longest legs are Oakland to Honolulu 2100 NM and from there you have another long leg, either HNL to Majuro, Marshall Islands, or HNL to Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati, the latter one being a good stop, but almost again as far as OAK-HNL. After that you can choose your legs more easily and they are considerably shorter.

You could also go up to Alaska, across and down through Russia, over to Japan and then on to the South Pacific.  It is a much longer journey, but no 2000 mile over water legs. (I wonder how far the jump to Palau would be, I’ve always wanted to go there…) Brian

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First off, I would have to see that to believe it. Secondly, to fly OAK-HNL in a Turbo Aztec (14 hrs plus 3 hrs reserve), you would carry a lot more weight in fuel than the load you described here. Reinhard I only show from OAK to PHNL to be 2089 nm that would only be about 10 hrs in the air.

My rounded off 2100 NM was only a paltry 11 NM off from your very accurate 2089!! well within range 300 gal, 1800 lbs, but you would not be flying  more than 5 hours on one engine. cg

It is quite obvious to me that you are an armchair pilot who has never done anything like this before. Your numbers are all wrong, and I hope for your sake that you never try it. You would most certainly get your feet wet. It took me 13 hours in a Baron 58 and 15 in a Twin Bonanza. Your turbos in that Aztec would most likely do very little if anything for you since westbound to HNL most frequently you need to stay at 10K or below lest you catch the prevailing westerlies which are very strong at altitude. So you would do well to get 150K over the water. Reinhard

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I only show from OAK to PHNL to be 2089 nm that would only be about 10 hrs in the air. well within range 300 gal, 1800 lbs, but you would not be flying  more than 5 hours on one engine.   cg First off, I would have to see that to believe it. Secondly, to fly OAK-HNL in a Turbo Aztec (14 hrs plus 3 hrs reserve), you would carry a lot more weight in fuel than the load you described here. Reinhard

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First off, I would have to see that to believe it. Secondly, to fly OAK-HNL in a Turbo Aztec (14 hrs plus 3 hrs reserve), you would carry a lot more weight in fuel than the load you described here. Reinhard

I thought for IFR you only needed 45 min reserve.  – Doug  -  Kingfisher plans are here…Now, about that Garage… …cruising between 150 to 200 miles per hour… Greater cruising speeds are possible, but the size of the earth does not warrent greater speeds. -Igor Sikorsky in 1934

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It doesn’t matter a great deal what the legal reserve is.  Winds over the Pacific on that flight are usually against you.  If you go high at all to minimize fuel consumption the head winds increase.  The Aztec is NOT a fast airplane for its fuel consumption.   To fly that leg without considerably MORE than a 45 minute reserve, is to seriously invite wet feet.  The 3  hour reserve is not bad.  The 14 hours is quite optimistic, in my opinion.  I think I would use something like 18 hours for flight planning purposes in an Aztec.  Then I would add another three hours for reserve.  That looks like about 21 hours of fuel. I think you could get it in, but not without some pretty special ferry tanks!   John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – First off, I would have to see that to believe it. Secondly, to fly OAK-HNL in a Turbo Aztec (14 hrs plus 3 hrs reserve), you would carry a lot more weight in fuel than the load you described here. Reinhard I thought for IFR you only needed 45 min reserve.  – Doug  -  Kingfisher plans are here…Now, about that Garage… …cruising between 150 to 200 miles per hour… Greater cruising speeds are possible, but the size of the earth does not warrent greater speeds. -Igor Sikorsky in 1934

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OK, so its been done before in factory planes, how about homebuilts?  I am considering the KR2, which has an advertised range of 1600sm, can this be extended with additional tanks to the 2100nm required to fly to HNL? James – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have this fantasy of flying to one of them deserted SP islands (Robinson Crusoe Syndrome).  Has anyone tried this in a single engine airplane, is this feasible at all?  Which route would one take? Thanks, James James, It is most certainly feasible and is done all the time. Wether done single engine or twin is really no consideration. In some respects, a single may be better than a twin because in a twin you need to carry much more fuel to feed two engines. That second engine does not give you any more chances to remain airborne, if one should fail, until such a time that you are back down to normal weights. During the early phases of the flight you would be so heavy with fuel that one engine could not possibly keep you in the air. The two longest legs are Oakland to Honolulu 2100 NM and from there you have another long leg, either HNL to Majuro, Marshall Islands, or HNL to Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati, the latter one being a good stop, but almost again as far as OAK-HNL. After that you can choose your legs more easily and they are considerably shorter. Reinhard

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What is the availability of av-gas in Russia. I hear that it’s non-existant. D.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think I would use something like 18 hours for flight planning purposes in an Aztec.  Then I would add another three hours for reserve.  That looks like about 21 hours of fuel. I think you could get it in, but not without some pretty special ferry tanks! How do you get 21 hours of fuel into an Aztec?  I’m not familiar with the type, but at an avg fuel burn of 8-10 GPH – we’re talking about 168-210 gals. Where would you put it all?  Another question springs to mind – how do you add oil in flight? I’ve seen club aircraft burn as much as a 1/2 qt/hr. The sump would be bone dry after 21 hrs with no additional oil. If you stay below 10k feet, you will frequently find winds that are not too bad. You often find about 10 knots of help down low.. Under no circumstances would I start out with ANY headwind on that leg. Then you could make HNL in about 14-15 hrs in an Aztec. Taking a Baron to Fiji last year, I flew at 6K feet to HNL and did quite well. (13 hrs.) Fitting all that fuel into the plane is really not so difficult. There are professional tanking outfits that install ferry tanks in the cabin in a day. You are certainly correct when you adress the oil issue. It is absolutely essential that you know the oil consumption of your engines. And there is also a way to rig an oil replenishing setup to that you can add oil in flight. Reinhard

Reinhard is exactly right.  You notice in the original post that I did mention that it would take some fancy ferry tanks to get the fuel in! When my airplane flew across the Atlantic from Brazil to Cornwall, they added a special fancy ferry tank.  A 50 gallon drum on chocks where the back seat goes, with a wobble pump to pump fuel up into the wing tank. They recommended that you run the wing tank down to less than a quarter full before pumping fuel up to it.  They said watch the gauges so you do not overfill it and pump fuel overboard.   The also recommended the long distance power setting of 1800 RPM and 23 inches of manifold pressure.  That was supposed to get the fuel consumption down to 14.7 gallons per hour.  That gave a little over eight hours in the air.  At that power setting, you get 100 knots! Still wouldn’t make Honolulu! John

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No idea about a KR2, but you might want to read Sport Aviation (past few issues) and look for the 2 part round the world story by the author and Burt Rutan, who flew their Long EZ’s around the world. Very informative (and nice pictures – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, so its been done before in factory planes, how about homebuilts?  I am considering the KR2, which has an advertised range of 1600sm, can this be extended with additional tanks to the 2100nm required to fly to HNL? James

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, so its been done before in factory planes, how about homebuilts?  I am considering the KR2, which has an advertised range of 1600sm, can this be extended with additional tanks to the 2100nm required to fly to HNL? James Well Jon Johanson has done it both ways (make that crossed the Pacific … ) in an RV-4 during his round the world trips. Check out his Web site at http://www.mag-net.educ.monash.edu.au/saaa/head.html. He has also published his autobio called "Aiming High", Wakefield Press, South Australia, ISBN 1 86254 424 7. Highly recommended reading for anyone building their own plane.

James, You are considering a monumental task here ol chap, this sought of feat requires a hell of a lot of homework and I would suggest you’re really stretching it in a KR-2. With a large amount of retro-fitting you could possibly carry out this adventure, however the stakes are extremely high! I would also endorse the above, ie read Jon Johannson’s book and while your doing that bare a thought for the planning both technically and enroute that goes into these voyages. You may also wish to contact the "Mick & Dick" of "Round the World Friendship Tour":- Sport Aviation Feb edition Pg 76. For a start, unless you’ve got heaps of "Bucks" behind you, just go build your A/C and enjoy flying it around the "States". Whilst I’ll admit, I don’t have an intermit knowledge of the KR-2 and its weight & balance etc, it is only small by any standards. Its payload excess does not go down well with the number crunching required when you consider such additions as fuel, extra redundancy systems req’d, and ESPECIALLY CONSIDER ENGINE RELIABLITY etc, etc. To say the least, 18 plus hours is a long time to spend in the close confines of a KR-2 cockpit, surrounded by custom built ferry tanks around your ears. I have two buddies that were involved in Ferry Flights across the Pacific in their younger days. One of them did get his feet wet mid Pacific (1200 Nm from nowhere & at night) when the nut on the Alternator pulley worked its way loose. Lucky for him he had spotted a fishing boat a couple of hours before and was able to back track and relocate it. All be it, he was now down to torch and compass. That was in a brand new production A/C as well. Glenn now does his long transcontinental flights the same way I do, the only way:-In style at 43,000 ft. James, whilst your challenge is a commendable one, the golden rule is to keep your feet dry. Best way to do that is travel the South Pacific the same way most of us do, In a 747, 767 etc, and don’t forget you can have the added advantage of sipping champagne or other adult beverages!! If you’re considering going on from HNL to other South Pacific destinations, then you have a hole heap more challenges in front of you. Regards Ray (Just my 2 cents worth) J.

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My tongue was firmly in cheek.  I don’t fly VFR without at least 1 hour reserve. — Doug  -  Kingfisher plans are here…Now, about that Garage… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It doesn’t matter a great deal what the legal reserve is.  Winds over the Pacific on that flight are usually against you.  If you go high at all to minimize fuel consumption the head winds increase.  The Aztec is NOT a fast airplane for its fuel consumption.   To fly that leg without considerably MORE than a 45 minute reserve, is to seriously invite wet feet.  The 3  hour reserve is not bad.  The 14 hours is quite optimistic, in my opinion.  I think I would use something like 18 hours for flight planning purposes in an Aztec.  Then I would add another three hours for reserve.  That looks like about 21 hours of fuel. I think you could get it in, but not without some pretty special ferry tanks!   John I thought for IFR you only needed 45 min reserve.  – Doug  -  Kingfisher plans are here…Now, about that Garage… …cruising between 150 to 200 miles per hour… Greater cruising speeds are possible, but the size of the earth does not warrent greater speeds. -Igor Sikorsky in 1934

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OK, so its been done before in factory planes, how about homebuilts?  I am considering the KR2, which has an advertised range of 1600sm, can this be extended with additional tanks to the 2100nm required to fly to HNL? James

Well Jon Johanson has done it both ways (make that crossed the Pacific … ) in an RV-4 during his round the world trips. Check out his Web site at http://www.mag-net.educ.monash.edu.au/saaa/head.html. He has also published his autobio called "Aiming High", Wakefield Press, South Australia, ISBN 1 86254 424 7. Highly recommended reading for anyone building their own plane. Rgds JD   …… I’d rather be flying ….. John Duncan M.C.N.E.  PPL(A)  J.P.  AOPA(Aust)#42745 EAA#548147 J & J Network Services Pty Ltd P.O. Box 109 Minto N.S.W. 2566 Australia

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I think I would use something like 18 hours for flight planning purposes in an Aztec.  Then I would add another three hours for reserve.  That looks like about 21 hours of fuel. I think you could get it in, but not without some pretty special ferry tanks! How do you get 21 hours of fuel into an Aztec?  I’m not familiar with the type, but at an avg fuel burn of 8-10 GPH – we’re talking about 168-210 gals. Where would you put it all?  Another question springs to mind – how do you add oil in flight? I’ve seen club aircraft burn as much as a 1/2 qt/hr. The sump would be bone dry after 21 hrs with no additional oil.

If you stay below 10k feet, you will frequently find winds that are not too bad. You often find about 10 knots of help down low.. Under no circumstances would I start out with ANY headwind on that leg. Then you could make HNL in about 14-15 hrs in an Aztec. Taking a Baron to Fiji last year, I flew at 6K feet to HNL and did quite well. (13 hrs.) Fitting all that fuel into the plane is really not so difficult. There are professional tanking outfits that install ferry tanks in the cabin in a day. You are certainly correct when you adress the oil issue. It is absolutely essential that you know the oil consumption of your engines. And there is also a way to rig an oil replenishing setup to that you can add oil in flight. Reinhard

Response:

It doesn’t matter a great deal what the legal reserve is.  Winds over the Pacific on that flight are usually against you.  If you go high at all to minimize fuel consumption the head winds increase.  The Aztec is NOT a fast airplane for its fuel consumption.   To fly that leg without considerably MORE than a 45 minute reserve, is to seriously invite wet feet.  The 3  hour reserve is not bad.  The 14 hours is quite optimistic, in my opinion.  I think I would use something like 18 hours for flight planning purposes in an Aztec.  Then I would add another three hours for reserve.  That looks like about 21 hours of fuel. I think you could get it in, but not without some pretty special ferry tanks!  

How do you get 21 hours of fuel into an Aztec?  I’m not familiar with the type, but at an avg fuel burn of 8-10 GPH – we’re talking about 168-210 gals. Where would you put it all?  Another question springs to mind – how do you add oil in flight? I’ve seen club aircraft burn as much as a 1/2 qt/hr. The sump would be bone dry after 21 hrs with no additional oil.

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What did you assume that I would try it without any  preflight planning?? cg It is quite obvious to me that you are an armchair pilot who has never done anything like this before. Your numbers are all wrong, and I hope for your sake that you never try it. You would most certainly get your feet wet. It took me 13 hours in a Baron 58 and 15 in a Twin Bonanza. Your turbos in that Aztec would most likely do very little if anything for you since westbound to HNL most frequently you need to stay at 10K or below lest you catch the prevailing westerlies which are very strong at altitude. So you would do well to get 150K over the water. Reinhard

Response:

First off, I would have to see that to believe it. Secondly, to fly OAK-HNL in a Turbo Aztec (14 hrs plus 3 hrs reserve), you would carry a lot more weight in fuel than the load you described here. Reinhard I thought for IFR you only needed 45 min reserve.  – Doug  -  

Surely you jest, Doug. Kidding aside, the special flight permit that you get for the overload condition and he temporary fuel tank installation requires you calculate in a 3 hour reserve on transoceanic flights. Things can happen while on such a long flight; the forecast winds can turn out different, you might have equipment problems that cause you to burn more fuel for less airspeed than you had planned, etc. I have had several a couple of occasions when I was glad for the extra fuel. Remember, there is only one time when you can have too much fuel: when you are on fire. Reinhard

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Question:

One approach, although rather unconventional, would be to turn down all the cork handles on all your rods. Then take a meat cleaver and cut off your fingers at the first digit.  This should make the turn-downed handles work fine. Of course, you’ll have to re-learn the art of tying the fly to tippet. For a professional job, I think you’re going to have to remove the guides. Unless you don’t mind wrapping the handle with the fisherman’s friend, masking tape. Good luck.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When my daughter was rather small, I turned down the handle of a rod to fit her hand. I assumed that I would sell the rod or pass it on to another small child when she outgrew it. She’s bigger now, and before I give the rod up, I would like to find out whether anyone has successfully added material to a cork handle. I don’t want to get into removing all the guides, which is the only way I know to get new cork onto a rod. Any ideas? Thanks, Allen

Allen, You could remove the remaining cork and the wraps for the winding check. Move the winding check up the shaft (out of the way). Then add new corks rings that have been cut in half. Don’t align all the cuts in-a-line from ring to ring. Turn to the rough final shape and patch the cut marks. If done correctly – the cuts will looksomewhat  like the normal filled-in marks on a cork grip. Then sand to the final shape. Move the winding check back and rewrap. Don Burns Wishful collector of Gillums and Dickersons – Owner of Montague, H-I and Heddons

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  Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly   One approach, although rather unconventional, would be to turn down all   the cork handles on all your rods. Then take a meat cleaver and cut off   your fingers at the first digit.  This should make the turn-downed handles   work fine. Of course, you’ll have to re-learn the art of tying the fly to   tippet.

You _CLEARLY_ win the "tip of the month" for this one.  I’m still laughing. Can’t think of an appropriate prize… maybe a knife sharpener. 3 Cheers,         -tony — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html email: replace the "this_address_is_wrong" with "tgades"

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When my daughter was rather small, I turned down the handle of a rod to fit her hand. I assumed that I would sell the rod or pass it on to another small child when she outgrew it. She’s bigger now, and before I give the rod up, I would like to find out whether anyone has successfully added material to a cork handle. I don’t want to get into removing all the guides, which is the only way I know to get new cork onto a rod. Any ideas? Thanks, Allen

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When my daughter was rather small, I turned down the handle of a rod to fit her hand. I assumed that I would sell the rod or pass it on to another small child when she outgrew it. She’s bigger now, and before I give the rod up, I would like to find out whether anyone has successfully added material to a cork handle. I don’t want to get into removing all the guides, which is the only way I know to get new cork onto a rod.

Possibly mountain bike handlebar wrap or noeprene strips.  not classy but potentially light and very comfortable. See next weeks SPAM: "NeoGrip !! Revolutionary Grip Material" — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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When my daughter was rather small, I turned down the handle of a rod to fit her hand. I assumed that I would sell the rod or pass it on to another small child when she outgrew it. She’s bigger now, and before I give the rod up, I would like to find out whether anyone has successfully added material to a cork handle. I don’t want to get into removing all the guides, which is the only way I know to get new cork onto a rod. Any ideas? Thanks, Allen

This may be a silly idea, and may not work at all, but then again, , If you have a decent bicycle shop in town, stop on by and check out their selection of handlebar tape. There is at least one decent quality natural cork tape out there, and a wrap of that might just do the trick. Worth lookin into anyway. luv chipper

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Question:

Anyone have any advice for the Great Falls, Montana are in mid-September. Places to fish, good guides, hatches, good shops.  Equipment to take. Thanks in advance. John Woodling Sacramento, CA

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Anyone have any advice for the Great Falls, Montana are in mid-September. Places to fish, good guides, hatches, good shops.  Equipment to take. Thanks in advance.

Hi John, The Great Falls area should be great in September.  I recommend the Sun River (have to look for access locations) and the Missouri River.  Caddis and Trico’s are the name of the game at that time of the year.   The way I like to fish the Missouri is to float from Holter Dam to Craig and finish by early afternoon.  Then go back and make an evening float from Holter Dam to Wolf Creek Access.  By the way, several friends have advise that a Henryville Caddis (tied with my new Perfect Cut Wings) worked well during a Trico hatch.  Sounds crazy but it was working. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeaman, MT (96 catalog)

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Question:

I was just talking to someone else about these little buggers.  In my local the most popular pattern is the bastardized Wooley B, the Egg Sucking Leach.  Outside of it’s outstanding name, and the fact no one has ever seen a leach with an egg in it’s maw, it has caught on and works fabulously for salmon, big char and rainbows in sizes 8 to 2 tied on streamer hooks.  During a long winter of giving tying classes and tying too many flys, I tied one on a 96840 #12.  It looked so good I tied a coulple of dozen before all the ice was off the first lake I was wondering why I never though to do it before.  Give this a try.

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The strangest pattern I’ve seen imitated pellet fish food.  Great on stocked streams on opening day. -Bob

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 . . . I occasionally come across an empty corn can left along the banks. It is apparently one of the rednecks’ favorite baits.  Libby’s brand is the standard. I’ve never seen any other brand.

        Actually, I prefer Nibblets…                 T O D D . . .

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When I was a kid,my fishing buddy inherited his grandfather’s fly rods and flies.  In one of the fly boxes were 4 quarter inch long eigth inch dowels tied on a #12.  They were labelled as opening day and post stocking "flies".  Apparently they looked just like the hatchery pellets the stockies were fed.  Maybe that’s what the cigarette butts look like too. Crashjibe

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 . . . I occasionally come across an empty corn can left along the banks. It is apparently one of the rednecks’ favorite baits.  Libby’s brand is the standard. I’ve never seen any other brand.         Actually, I prefer Nibblets…                 T O D D . . .

Nibblets seems to be the favorite on the Clinch in TN too! (what an exciting topic of conversation  :*D)   A sunny day,      a box of midges,         and a wandering stream…   Man, this MUST be heaven!   <    Steve Kulpa    <<

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The most insane pattern I’ve come accross is a cigarette butt imitation.  A friend of mine tied one after occasionally comming accross them in trout stomachs.  I’m not sure if trout take this as a caddis case or whether they are nicotine junkies, but i’ve seen him catch a few fish on it too.   Cheers Olaf

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I need to go fishing! I think I am going out of my mind. I have been tying flys for the past month now, but I think I started to early with it. Tying is starting to make things worse because now I want to go out and use them. I live in CA and river trout season doesn’t start until the saturday before may. Also there has been a lot of snow in the mountains here and it isn’t going to clear up for a long time. Does anyone know how to overcome the insanity? Because of all the time I have had tying I played around with some different patterens and I invented my own. It is a cross between a stonefly Nymph and a damselfly Nymph. It is tyed on a size 8 hook with black thread and has a gold bead head. Tail: bunch of black hackle tips. Body: olive dubing. Rib: thin red copper wire. Thorax: bronze peacock herls tyed larger than the bead. Hackle: before the peacock put three or four turns of black cock hackle behind the bead. Trim the hackle so they point down, then tie in the peacock. I call this pattern the bead head green thing. I had no particular bug in mind when I tyed it but I think it might work. Please give me some input on it. If you can go fishing now, tie one up and give it a try, then  tell me how it worked. TimFLYFISH P.S. If you have any Patterns of your own I would like to give them a try.

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regarding insane patterns. Iwas in a fly shop in Asheville, NC called Hunter Banks one day last year shooting the breeze, and the subject of ridiculous patterns came up. The owner, with a twinkle in his eye, pulled out his latest pattern: The Corn Fly. It is tied with yellow poly and looks just like a kernal of Libby’s finest. Back in the blue ridge mountains, even on well known FF only waters, I occasionally come across an empty corn can left along the banks. It is apparently one of the rednecks’ favorite baits.  Libby’s brand is the standard. I’ve never seen any other brand. The fly, incidentally, was tied as a joke. They don’t sell them.  People think egg flies, san juan worms, etc are flies, so what the hell, its not much of a stretch, I guess. Dale Owens

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