Question:

I recall that a couple years back, the slang for "cool" or "really great" was "fly". Gives "fly fishing" a whole new cachet, dontcha think? — "If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic" — Harry S. Truman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  I’m new too the sport of "Fly"

Response:

            I’m new too the sport of "Fly", but an avid fisherman back on the East Coast. Will be out  around Col. Springs in early October.

The South Platte is legendary. I fished Eleven Mile canyon when I was out in CoSprings on business last year at this time and it is absolutely, unbelievably gorgeous. Plus I even caught a few fish. It is about 1.5 hours from the town as I recall. I don’t know how it compares to other stretches of the river as far as productivity goes, but I cannot imagine a more jaw-dropping locale than the 11-Mile stretch. –Steve

Response:

Folks,             I’m new too the sport of "Fly", but an avid fisherman back on the East Coast. Will be out  around Col. Springs in early October. Was wondering if there is any appreciable Fly fishing in this part of the State? I have seen folks fishing in and around Breakenridge, Gunnison (sp?), and Vail on a previous bike trip. How does Col. Springs stack up to these places and the rest of the state for that matter? Thanks in advance for any and all info Dan

Response:

Question:

 What’s he do?   He hands his rod to my son to play it.   Ya gotta love a guy who would do that for a kid.

A story worth reading to the last full stop, just for this bit. Thanks Joe. — Bill http://www.graigroad.demon.co.uk

Response:

The end of the shad run is near, and my buddy was heading up to Deer Creek for the evening, so I lobbied SWMBO for a few hours of freedom after work. It helped that I still hadn’t given Craig his birthday present from two months ago.   So I got home from work, grilled a few burgers, and had a quick dinner with the family unit before bolting for the river. My son had a lot of homework to do for school, but I was willing to cut him a little slack on that if he PROMISED to do it quickly and neatly on our return.   (He did.)   All of my stuff was already in the trunk, and I grabbed his waders and rod and we were gone. We got there about an hour before sunset, usually a good time for the action to pick up.   The best hole above the bridge was pretty crowded with about a half dozen anglers, but as we suited up, an old guy headed for shore, leaving us a decent space just upstream from my buddy.   This time, I had rigged both rods.   My son was going to fish on his own. I gave him a quick lesson on how to strip in the sink tip and shoot it out again on the cast, and he managed to reach a useful level of mastery in a short time.   I think it helped a lot that the fly line gives such visible and instant feedback when you screw up.   It didn’t take him long to see what a good cast looked like, even if it took him longer to do it more frequently.   Not waiting long enough on the back cast was his most chronic problem. I fished just upstream from him and caught a decent fish early, but it became clear that the run was about played out.   I never hooked another one, and neither my buddy or his guest caught anything in the hour and a half we were there.   But as darkness approached, my son got a good hit that surprised the heck out of him.  He managed to set the hook, but the calm (really) advice of dad wasn’t enough, and he lost it.   Still, it was another of those great moments of discovery for him. Now, standing in the middle of the river and casting into the deeper channel against the far shore was obviously unproductive, but that’s still where the fish were, so we persisted.   Except my son.   He says, "can I fish the other way?" and I figure, why not.   He turns around, casts back toward shore, and hooks up on the first cast.   Damned cool.   He lost that one too, but he felt smarter than the rest of us for hooking it. In closing, I’ll add a story about why my fishing buddy is a good friend of mine.   We’d been there for an hour and a half, with little or no action. Cast, drift, cast again.   Nothing.   It was especially tough for my buddy, because he was just upstream from the guy in the honey hole who was catching fish after fish.   So when I went ashore to the car to get something, I left my son out there next to Craig.   And, after an hour an a half of catching nothing, Craig finally hooks one.   What’s he do?   He hands his rod to my son to play it.   Ya gotta love a guy who would do that for a kid. Joe F.

Response:

NEAT-O!!! — Wayne To fish is human….To release Divine! Before you buy.

Response:

The end of the shad run is near, and my buddy was heading up to Deer Creek for the evening, so I lobbied SWMBO for a few hours of freedom after work.

    (great story snipped)   And, after an hour an a half of catching nothing, Craig finally hooks one.   What’s he do?   He hands his rod to my son to play it.   Ya gotta love a guy who would do that for a kid.

    my best friend would have done just the opposite.  when your boy made his offside hookup, pamlico jim would have torn the rod from the kid’s hand and yelled for him to keep the hell out of the way until he had the fish in hand.  but, ya gotta love him, too; he will shoot your ass if you don’t. you will meet him at the clave. wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Joe F.

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Question:

I will be going to a conference in Hilton Head at the end of April, and am interested in staying an extra day or two to try some fly fishing.  Anyone have any good experiences with guides or di-it-yourself tips. Thanks, Clint

Response:

There’s a new book "Saltwater Angler’s Guide to The Southeast" from Wilderness Adventures that may help you. http://www.wildadv.com Good Luck! Bill Cunningham

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Question:

That says it all George, that says it all…… well done. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – _____  In the world of fly fishing, which R.O.F.F. really is basically about, the subjects involved in this world that really belongs to trout, waver like some kind of stellar magnetic field.  First you feel it and then you don’t.  Some plunge into black holes or abyss’s never seeming to be able to return to the art form again. Not that long ago, back in January the journey began.  With nothing but the promises offered by roff and the dares, I stood up to be counted . . . and I performed the dance of a monkey on strings.  I listened, I pouted, I reprimanded, I took and applied all sorts of advice that to this day are in the signature of each BastardBamboo.   I had stated that Bamboo Fly Rods were much too expensive for the common layman to afford.  I said that there were more people without a bamboo fly rod then those who had them and that, in my opinion ~ this was wrong.  I said, I could make a bamboo fly rod for only $150 (not including tax we overlooked at the time) that the majority COULD afford.  $300 plus excise was the goal.  That goal is alive and active. The promise has been kept. There are still the expensive fly rods ranging from well over this low, lowest commercial price to a range that touches $7,000.  Charges of between $1,000 to $3,000 is still unmoved.  This is good and these fly rods are certainly worth it to those that can afford them. No matter what, there are those who are watching the Bastard project in abstract interest.  When they ‘think’ there is money involved, they will enter this challenge thinking they can do it better then I.  The result, I promise, because of my willingness to try will be a drastic down spiral in Bamboo Retail Prices. Now, we all realize there are many that would love to see me fail.  So? I’ve failed before.  I have lots of experience in that arena.  Win or lose, this is going to end up being a win/win result for all of fly fishing in the entire world.  Wait and see.  The day may very well arrive when some of you will be fishing a "Sapphire Fly Rod,"  or a "Sweet Thing Fly Rod" or a "Presidential Fly Rod," but you will all be wrong.  No matter what, every one of them will really be "A Bastard Fly Rod."  I was there first.  I will always be there. Mr. G.

Response:

[dribble snipped]

A short note on the fine art of sarcasm: dribble:   To move a basketball down the floor by bouncing it repeatedly on that floor while walking or running.  May also be done while standing in one spot. dribble:  To allow saliva to escape from one’s pie hole while dribbling a basketball….or not. The nonsense which you accuse George of disseminating and which is also exemplified by endless repetition of SPAM SPAM SPAM…….is DRIVEL!!

Response:

_____  In the world of fly fishing, which R.O.F.F. really is basically about, the subjects involved in this world that really belongs to trout, waver like some kind of stellar magnetic field.  First you feel it and then you don’t.  Some plunge into black holes or abyss’s never seeming to be able to return to the art form again. Not that long ago, back in January the journey began.  With nothing but the promises offered by roff and the dares, I stood up to be counted . . . and I performed the dance of a monkey on strings.  I listened, I pouted, I reprimanded, I took and applied all sorts of advice that to this day are in the signature of each BastardBamboo.   I had stated that Bamboo Fly Rods were much too expensive for the common layman to afford.  I said that there were more people without a bamboo fly rod then those who had them and that, in my opinion ~ this was wrong.  I said, I could make a bamboo fly rod for only $150 (not including tax we overlooked at the time) that the majority COULD afford.  $300 plus excise was the goal.  That goal is alive and active. The promise has been kept. There are still the expensive fly rods ranging from well over this low, lowest commercial price to a range that touches $7,000.  Charges of between $1,000 to $3,000 is still unmoved.  This is good and these fly rods are certainly worth it to those that can afford them. No matter what, there are those who are watching the Bastard project in abstract interest.  When they ‘think’ there is money involved, they will enter this challenge thinking they can do it better then I.  The result, I promise, because of my willingness to try will be a drastic down spiral in Bamboo Retail Prices. Now, we all realize there are many that would love to see me fail.  So? I’ve failed before.  I have lots of experience in that arena.  Win or lose, this is going to end up being a win/win result for all of fly fishing in the entire world.  Wait and see.  The day may very well arrive when some of you will be fishing a "Sapphire Fly Rod,"  or a "Sweet Thing Fly Rod" or a "Presidential Fly Rod," but you will all be wrong.  No matter what, every one of them will really be "A Bastard Fly Rod."  I was there first.  I will always be there. Mr. G.

Response:

[dribble snipped] Mr. G.

SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM AND MORE SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM

Response:

Jeff has the right idea.

[The rantings of a pompous old windbag snipped] Mr. G.

SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM AND MORE SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM

Response:

BTW, I used nothing but Albolene at the Fall Ball.   In the words of George G, "It works!" Louie

Just out of curiousity, how well did it work? Better? Didn’t notice any difference?  Can you say without any bias that it works on par or better than what I use already? There are several products out there that work, some better than others.  I am always open to one of the "better than others."  Until I find a better, I will continue using what I am currently using. Warren Remember, men will come and men will go, but the streams and mountains go on forever. -Bob Carmichael

Response:

Warren F: <<BTW, I used nothing but Albolene at the Fall Ball.   In the words of George G, "It works!" Louie

Just out of curiousity, how well did it work? Better? Didn’t notice any difference?  Can you say without any bias that it works on par or better than what I use already? I am not a great proponent of floatants.  I like drying crystals and was just recently introduced to amadou, but on occasion I do use a floatant.  I have had a jar of Albolene for a couple of years and have used it off and on.  It works as well as *anything* I have tried.  Use very little of it (sound familiar?) and it does the job well. Louie

Response:

There are several products out there that work, some better than others.  I am always open to one of the "better than others."  Until I find a better, I will continue using what I am currently using.

Warren; Over the last fifteen years I have fished with many people.  When I lived in central Wisconsin some years ago there were 15 or 20 I fished with on a more or less regular basis.  Among us we tried every brand of floatant that any of us ever heard of and a great many home made concoctions as well.  Eventually everyone I knew used Albolene exclusively.  There were and are a number of others that seems to work about as well but none were found to be better and nothing except a few of the bathroom chemistry projects could touch Albolene for price. One other factor to consider:  Albolene is marketed as a skin cream, makeup remover, etc.  In our litigious society I suspect the manufacturers have taken some care to formulate a product that’s relatively safe to handle.  No telling what’s in some of the commercial floatants out there. Keep your bug on the meniscus!

Response:

Question:

I am looking for a copy of Fly Rod and Reel Magazine – The May / June Issue. If anyone has it, and can scan the article written by the PETA President about the future of Fly Fishing. I have heard about the article and would like to read it. Thanks, Mike

Response:

I am looking for a copy of Fly Rod and Reel Magazine – The May / June Issue.

I wouldn’t believe anything I read in Fly Rod & Reel magazine. Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

I am looking for a copy of Fly Rod and Reel Magazine – The May / June Issue. If anyone has it, and can scan the article written by the PETA President about the future of Fly Fishing. I have heard about the article and would like to read it.

… as if anyone cares – their predictions of the future would be as reliable as T-Bone’s. RalphH

Response:

[deleted] I wouldn’t believe anything I read in Fly Rod & Reel magazine.

The advertisements are real. I pinched myself and they were still there. — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

Response:

I am looking for a copy of Fly Rod and Reel Magazine – The May / June Issue. If anyone has it, and can scan the article written by the PETA President about the future of Fly Fishing. I have heard about the article and would like to read it.

It was not an article, it was a couple of paragraphs embedded in several other commentaries. Do not have a scanner sorry but try sending an email to Wayne Knight (remove nospam to respond via mail) Expert in the creation of  wind knots and tailing loops.

Response:

Question:

The fishing inside the park was great when was there.  I saw two others fishing in a week. Lots of little Brookies. Crystal clear feeder brooks. Didn’t crawl way up into the high country so can’t say about that, and the only water of any size is paralleled by the main park road. Lots of easy access but you are kind of in a fish bowl as half of New Jersey drives by. But again the fishing was great.  Seem to remember some interesting water back in off the Cade’s Cove area. Don’t know why you would need a guide, just decent maps. The town itself and "Dollywood" could use a good cleaning out with a flame thrower. A real indictment of private sector greed and Babbitry. Or on the positive thinking side, it "offers many entertaining and shopping adventures" for the non-fishers in your party.  The park itself is magnificent. Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone help me in finding out how the fly fishings is in the Gatlinburg / Jackson Mnt. area is and the names of the streams and possibly good references on some guides !!!         there are plenty places in gatlinburg to provide you with the style of fishing you deserve.  and if you don’t find the answer there, drive east to cherokee, n.c., and they will fix you right up. Try old smoky outfitters in Gatlinburg, The creel in Knoxville and The Little river outfitters in Townsend. I know the old smoky outfitters are online at http://thesmokies.com/oldsmoky_outfitters/

Response:

Can anyone help me in finding out how the fly fishings is in the Gatlinburg / Jackson Mnt. area is and the names of the streams and possibly good references on some guides !!!

Response:

Can anyone help me in finding out how the fly fishings is in the Gatlinburg / Jackson Mnt. area is and the names of the streams and possibly good references on some guides !!!

        there are plenty places in gatlinburg to provide you with the style of fishing you deserve.  and if you don’t find the answer there, drive east to cherokee, n.c., and they will fix you right up.

Response:

Can anyone help me in finding out how the fly fishings is in the Gatlinburg / Jackson Mnt. area is and the names of the streams and possibly good references on some guides !!!         there are plenty places in gatlinburg to provide you with the style of fishing you deserve.  and if you don’t find the answer there, drive east to cherokee, n.c., and they will fix you right up.

Try old smoky outfitters in Gatlinburg, The creel in Knoxville and The Little river outfitters in Townsend. I know the old smoky outfitters are online at http://thesmokies.com/oldsmoky_outfitters/

Response:

Question:

Where could I find pictures about waders, wading in water, rubbersuits, divers gasmasks, divers in gasmasks,…

Just when I thought the group was getting a little dull…

Response:

Where could I find pictures about waders, wading in water, rubbersuits, divers gasmasks, divers in gasmasks,…

Response:

Where could I find pictures about waders, wading in water, rubbersuits, divers gasmasks, divers in gasmasks,… Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly,alt.sex.watersports,alt.sex.fetish.wet-and-messy

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ries.pictures.erotica.fetish.diapers,alt.binaries.erotica.fetish.wet-and-me ssy Xref: newsbf05.news.aol.com rec.outdoors.fishing.fly:59045 alt.sex.watersports:18881 alt.sex.fetish.wet-and-messy:21012 alt.sex.fetish.watersports:32381 alt.sex.anal:71431 alt.magazines.pornographic:16175 alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.fetish.leather:14035 alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.fetish.latex:20645 alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.fetish.hair:22140 alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.fetish.feet:45135 alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.fetish.diapers:5545 alt.binaries.erotica.fetish.wet-and-messy:3599

Wow! The only thing missing is: alt.rec.fishing.tying.myself.in.a.knot.while.trying.to.cast

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Question:

Subj:  Upriver or Downriver casting? I’m a very beginner fly fisherman and I would appreciate it if someone could enlighten me as to the best way to approach casting in a river. Should I start up stream and cast down stream or start down stream and cast up stream. I assume that if I start up stream and cast down stream that I would continue to work the river moving slowly down stream. Could someone please make this clear to me? Thank you very much in advance!!! TCC

Response:

Subj:  Upriver or Downriver casting? I’m a very beginner fly fisherman and I would appreciate it if someone could enlighten me as to the best way to approach casting in a river. Should I start up stream and cast down stream or start down stream and cast up stream. I assume that if I start up stream and cast down stream that I would continue to work the river moving slowly down stream. Could someone please make this clear to me?

Both ways are very acceptible and mastering good drifts on all compass points is a rewarding challenge. My only advise is: 1) learn a stealthful approach, you can get closer usually from downstream, but you would be amazed at fish pointing downstream because the current has eddied. 2) cast a short, light, controlled line with as long a tippet as you can stand. Good fishing. TimW

Response:

With this thread, I am reminded of 2 things. 1) The Colonel 2) Sgt. York 1.  In "Streamers" by the late great Col. Joseph Bates.  He describes a     ‘fan’ approach to covering waters.  You cast a short line in a fanned     arc, increasing the line length with each pass to avoid spooking fish.     Same with an upstream cast.  Start short and only count on a good drift     the length of the leader + any curve or reach put into it.  Increase the     length of the cast each time. 2.  In Sgt. York, the deadeye would pick off the krauts in the back of the formation.     Like shooting turkeys, so that the ones in front would not become alarmed. Good fishing my friends. TimW

Response:

Todd- When casting to a sighted trout, cast towards a spot a couple feet to the left or right of the fish and a several feet above the fish.  Just before the fly hits the water, give your rod a slight jerk to the left if the fish is to the right, to the right if the fish is left.  This will keep your line off the fish and the fly in his feeding lane.

What do should you do when casting to a blind trout? Mike in PDX "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                           Tom McGuane

Response:

Thank you everyone for your tremendous help! I coudn’t have done it without you all. This is a letter I cc’d to a bunch of you who e-mailed me so I’ll just post it in its entirety here on the board. I’ll be sure to try out your casting suggestions in the future. Thanks again! Thanks once again for your fishing advice! I got one! The trout was about a foot long so I was quite pleased. After trying to tackle a fast-moving section of the river (with no success), I decided to check on a quiet pool that I knew about upriver. The pool occurs at an elbow in the river where the river suddenly drops to about 15 feet deep. While the surface appears smooth, the water is actually moving at a nice pace through the curve. At the corner of the elbow, a small jut occurs where the water is totally calm. I noticed some swirling in the quiet spot just off the moving water and then a little blip at the surface which looked like it might have been a fish surfacing. As luck would have it, I made a very nice cast which landing softly in the middle of the pool. Just as the dry fly landed and sat on the surface the trout took it! It was very exciting since this is my first fish taken fly fishing. I decided to let him go. Maybe I’ll meet him again next year! Thanks for your help, it really did make a difference. TCC Todd Cranston-Cuebas

Response:

: When fishing upstream, always work upstream.  I always walk the bank of a : river to scope out an area I would like to fish, then drop into the river : below the area and fish upstream.  IMHO, if I spook fish from their holding : pattern, they move towards the center of the river or deeper, thus not : spooking fish above. A good way to see how fish react to the fisherman is to watch a friend stalk the fish while you sit on the bank.  I have seen fish run upstream this way smack into other fish. This gets them excited and makes them spooky. I have also learned that if the fish is left alone for a while, it may return to it’s origional location.  And then I have also fish do just what you described. Jon Porter

Response:

…The best bet is to be sneaky, and stalk the fish just as if you were hunting them.

I’ve always thought fly fishing was more like hunting than fishing. -AR

Response:

I’m a very beginner fly fisherman and I would appreciate it if someone could enlighten me as to the best way to approach casting in a river. Should I start up stream and cast down stream or start down stream and cast up stream.

For total beginners: 1.  Don’t wade unless you must.  If so, 2.  First wade downstream, fishing across the current with a wet fly or nymph.  The water’s tension on the line will help you control it. 3.  Then wade upstream, with a dry (floating) fly, casting 45 degrees upstream.  When you see a fish rise, cast one yard above it, beginning a bit short to be on the safe side.   Don’t cast straight upstream, unless it is unavoidable;  you don’t want the fish to see your line, and it’s harder to keep control of the line the faster it drifts toward you. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Subj:  Upriver or Downriver casting? I’m a very beginner fly fisherman and I would appreciate it if someone could enlighten me as to the best way to approach casting in a river. Should I start up stream and cast down stream or start down stream and cast up stream. I assume that if I start up stream and cast down stream that I would continue to work the river moving slowly down stream. Could someone please make this clear to me? Thank you very much in advance!!! TCC

I would think a new FF’er would have better luck with casting dry’s upstream (easier to get a proper drift) and wets cross or down stream. Once you get your confidence up then experimentation is the best part of the sport (IMHO). Steve

Response:

snip The only thing that still baffles me a bit about casting upstream is the thought of casting _above_ and _over_ the fish in lay. Would this scare a trout? I assume that I must cast above the fish and let the fly drift over it _without_ casting my line over its head. Are all of these assumptions correct?

Todd- When casting to a sighted trout, cast towards a spot a couple feet to the left or right of the fish and a several feet above the fish.  Just before the fly hits the water, give your rod a slight jerk to the left if the fish is to the right, to the right if the fish is left.  This will keep your line off the fish and the fly in his feeding lane. Also, if I decide to cast dry flies upstream, after I’ve fished out the area within reach, I should move to a new location downstream? Is this correct? My assumption is that any trout I might have scared would head away from me heading upstream thereby scaring fish away or making them hesitant in that direction. Do have this this right or am I thinking about this in the wrong way?

When fishing upstream, always work upstream.  I always walk the bank of a river to scope out an area I would like to fish, then drop into the river below the area and fish upstream.  IMHO, if I spook fish from their holding pattern, they move towards the center of the river or deeper, thus not spooking fish above. Bob Crossley — Bob Crossley

Response:

TimW Thank you for your reply. The only thing that still baffles me a bit about casting upstream is the thought of casting _above_ and _over_ the fish in lay. Would this scare a trout? I assume that I must cast above the fish and let the fly drift over it _without_ casting my line over its head. Are all of these assumptions correct? Also, if I decide to cast dry flies upstream, after I’ve fished out the area within reach, I should move to a new location downstream? Is this correct? My assumption is that any trout I might have scared would head away from me heading upstream thereby scaring fish away or making them hesitant in that direction. Do have this this right or am I thinking about this in the wrong way? Thanks! TCC Todd Cranston-Cuebas

Response:

WOO HOO!  This can cause quite a few arguments!  :) : The only thing that still baffles me a bit about casting upstream is the : thought of casting _above_ and _over_ the fish in lay. Would this scare a : trout? I assume that I must cast above the fish and let the fly drift over : it _without_ casting my line over its head. Are all of these assumptions : correct? Yes. IF you line a trout (lay the line on top of it) it will gennerally spook and run away from you. The idea is to cast upstream at an angle so the the fly comes in from the side of the fish. The only part to drift over the fish would be the leader. This is the old "traditional" dry fly approach. By using this method, you are coming up on the fish from behind. They face upstream all the time because that is where the food comes from. : Also, if I decide to cast dry flies upstream, after I’ve fished out the : area within reach, I should move to a new location downstream? Is this : correct? My assumption is that any trout I might have scared would head : away from me heading upstream thereby scaring fish away or making them : hesitant in that direction. Do have this this right or am I thinking about : this in the wrong way? If the fish is spooked, it will usually run away from you. If you are fishing upstream, then the fish will run upstream, and vice-versa. And it’s movement could make the other fish that it runs past spooky. The real trouble with fishing downstream is that we tend to cause the water to cloud up when we walk in it. That may put the fish. So the old upstream approach remains popular.  But rules are made to be broken, and I have had some of my best fishing by casting downstream. The best bet is to be sneaky, and stalk the fish just as if you were hunting them. Jon Porter

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Question:

I have updated my homepages with more fly patterns, info about the 20th Canadian Fly Fishing Forum, and links to TU and the Credit Valley Conservation Authority.  Have fun. Bob Lundy IWFFC Mississauga, ON

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I have updated my homepages with more fly patterns, info about the 20th Canadian Fly Fishing Forum, and links to TU and the Credit Valley Conservation Authority.  Have fun. Bob Lundy IWFFC Mississauga, ON

brendan

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I have updated my homepages with more fly patterns, info about the 20th Canadian Fly Fishing Forum, and links to TU and the Credit Valley Conservation Authority.  Have fun. Bob Lundy IWFFC Mississauga, ON

Sounds great, I’d like to visit. What is the URL? I rented a table at the IWFFC convention a few years ago and enjoyed meeting everyone. Anne Harnack http://home.earthlink.net/~ecoedit/flyprints.htm

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I have updated my homepages with more fly patterns, info about the 20th Canadian Fly Fishing Forum, and links to TU and the Credit Valley Conservation Authority.  Have fun. Bob Lundy IWFFC Mississauga, ON

Bob: What is your site’s address? Stefan M. http://rampages.onramp.net/~smarc

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Ever have one of those days when you find out later you’ve had just too much coffee?  I clearly left off my URL on an earlier post:    http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/rlundy/ Sorry about that… Bob Lundy IWFFC Mississauga, ON

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                                                                    The thing that got me was that i read Lyman Hugh’s response, when he stated that he was always disappointed to see them on the end of the line.  My question is, if the fish fight well (which they really do), and if they aren’t too ugly (which, in my book, they’re not), then why the disappointmentR?

A)…..white fish can’t jump! B)…..they fight hard for few moments, and then poop out, perhaps        because their mouths are so small, so they run out of oxygen        faster. C)…..they’re good smoked, a delicacy, in fact. Because of their        oily flesh, they take the smoke better. (But they’re hard to        keep lit). —

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I’m pretty sure you are now talking about 2 different species of fish. The whitefish in Montana looks a lot like a grayling/sucker, relatively long and thin.  The Great Lakes whitefish, a delicacy, is a chunky, somewhat oily fish that is a high-priced restaurant meal, commercially netted.  I have caught them in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, rising at dusk to the white may flies that come in August.  They are usually broiled with paprika, andthe fillets are delicious. Whitefish are sought after up here in Ontario. You guys don’t know what

you’re missing. They fillet great and are also stuffed/baked. They must be good ifthey are sold commeircially here but I get mine thru the ice on Simcoe andwould rank them behind crappie and walleye in terms of tastiness They – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -will also hit minnows and jigs. — Richard Park    

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Well, I ditched work for the afternoon yesterday and ventured out upon the local waters and managed to catch my first brown trout (2 of ‘em, actually — I’m a novice ffisherman).  I also caught a mountain whitefish.  I’ve caught a couple of whitefish now.  The fishing proclamation calls them gamefish here in Utah, but to my knowledge, most fishermen treat them as trash fish.

Jay, I’ve caught mountain whitefish and a couple of species of lake w’fish. They taste just fine. Despite the scales, they’re salmonids (as are grayling). The mountain species lives in substantially the same waters as trout, eats almost the same stuff, and fights quite respectably. Unfortunately, there is a perception on some waters that fish fall into one of two categories (trout & trash). Sad — 3798 Woodland Drive     voice: (604) 368-9315 Trail, BC               data:  (604) 368-9341

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inhis posting on whitefish, Jay stated The fishing proclamation calls them gamefish here in Utah, but to my knowledge, most fishermen treat them as trash fish. Does anyone know if whitefish are edible?  (Well, of *course* they’re edible, but does anybody purposely fish for them and take them home for supper?)

     Whitefish are excellent eating, and they are truly wonderful smoked, which is easy to do. There is a good article and recipe in the latest issue of Big Sky Journal. Whitefish are best eaten when caught in the colder weather months, i.e. November through April.       In addition, whitefish provide some pretty good sport to any Ffisher with an open mind. They take dry flies, love nymphs, and fight respectably. They are NOT a trash fish. The term Trash Fish usually conjures up images of fish species that take over sections of river that become either too warm or too polluted to sustain hte more desireable game fish.  Also, trash fish are often accused, either rightly or wrongly,  of having a negative impact on trout or other gamefish populations, which is certainly not the case with Whitefish.      Whitefish, require the same pristine river conditions that trout do. Chances are that a river that can no longer sustain breeding trout populations can’t sustain whitefish either. They too are an indicator species for water quality. Finally they are a member of the overall family of which trout are also members, like second or third cousins, so they cant be all bad!  I wish trout fishermen who catch them would stop throwing them on the banks to die needlessly, and either return them to the rivers or take them home and make use out of them Dale Owens

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Well, Me and my girlfriend caught a couple on accident while fishing for crappie.  We took it home, and filleted them.  We froze them and then took them out of the freezer to thaw.  The thawed for a while (we went somewhere that weekend), and when we came back, they were ruined.  They filleted real nicely and had a lot of boneless meat to them, so They would not be a problem to try them and see if they are any good.  I hear they are good smoked.  We hear about them all the time in our hunting and fishing news, they are active about the same time the other fishes are spawning (they eat eggs).  People catch them on whitefish flies (what are whitefish flies), and also with a maggot on the fly.  This did not answer the question, but had to say my piece.

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Whitefish are sought after up here in Ontario. You guys don’t know what you’re missing. They fillet great and are also stuffed/baked. They must be good if they are sold commeircially here but I get mine thru the ice on Simcoe and would rank them behind crappie and walleye in terms of tastiness They will also hit minnows and jigs. — Richard Park    

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.. would not be a problem to try them and see if they are any good.  I hear they are good smoked. …

I really like them smoked (although a lot of bones, but I don’t mind) … Peter

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Jay  Clibern writes:

"The fishing proclamation calls them gamefish here in Utah, but to my knowledge, most fishermen treat them as trash fish. Does anyone know if whitefish are edible?  (Well, of *course* they’re edible, but does anybody purposely fish for them and take them home for supper?)" Jay – As ugly as they are, they are edible – smoked is the only way that I know of.  I can’t say I am a big fan, but lots of folks like them.  If you fish around Ennis, MT on the Madison, you can take 4 or 5 (or fewer) whitefish into the Resvedts Meat market, give them a fish and a dollar for each fish, and they will give you an already smoked whitefish. A big surprise to me is the fact that the whitefish is part of the trout family.  Hard to believe.  I don’t like whitefish (could you tell?), and to me nothing is as frustration as thinking you ahve a big trout on the line only to see that slimey rubber lipped head appear.  But that’s ony one man’s opinion. Lyman Hughes Ennis, MT Dallas, TX                                               Dallas, TX                                               Ennis, MT

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The round whitefish is another Great Lakes species. Locally they are called "Menominee." I catch them off Michigan piers in October to freeze up. In 1994 I fished as late as after Christmas. They bite on a single poached salmon egg on the bottom. They are timid biters and the real trick is to know when they are after the bait. My family considers them delicious. Incidently, nobody fishes for them on the Wisconsin side of the lake. Wisconsin comercial fishermen net them but I’ve never seen anyone fishing for them in the Michigan manner.

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you are correct about the Lake witefishes.  But the mountain whitefish of the Rockies and the Truckee drainage in California/Nevada ( The answer to a trivia question about distribution of Western Salomids before coming of the european )  are a completely different case then the  whitefish of the Great Lakes.        The Mountain Whitefish, otherwise Known as Salmo ( as they are a salmonid )  Carpi, have been extending their range.  It seams that with all the "progress"  and the wonderful benefit that strip mining brings to the landscape and the stream.  That the Mountain Whitefish is able to withstand the rapid changes in its environment, better then the trout.

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I think that all the answers to the original note follow pretty much what I have read and heard about Whitefish.  I have just one other thought.  I am a catch-and-releaser, mainly because I really don’t like trout that much.  But that’s another story.  I have caught a zillion whitefish in Montana and Wyoming and I can truly say that in most cases I didn’t know they were whitefish until I got them up close in the stream.  That says that they gave me the fight I was looking for and if you don’t keep the fish, what difference does it make if it isn’t a trout but gives you pleasure in catching it?  I’ll have to admit I’m always a little disappointed when I see it’s not a trout since I came to catch trout.  But – accept the fun of the catch and the fight and enjoy the experience. John B. in Mpls..

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Re: white fish-Not to rehash other wf remarks, but … they do fight well and taste great! Have caught them in Madison fried them for breakfast and grilled them. Meat is white and chunky. I caught 16 last year on dry files in about 30 minutes. Way to tell if guy down stream has a wf, the rod tip will jiggle up and down and trout have more steady bend. I got ‘em, turned away from crowd to release them, still in water and everyone thought I was catching trout!!! Was fun.

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