Question:

  Hi everyone, just thought I’d introduce myself.  I’ve been lurking for a while and this group seems to be a pretty good bunch of guys (and gals).  I’ve learned quite a bit.  I’m a newbie fly fisherman (only been out once in horrible windy conditions).  I’ll be fishing the Upper Deerfield this weekend.  Does anyone familiar with the river have any suggestions regarding fly selection this time of year, useful tips, etc. that might enable a poor newbie to catch a few trout?  I’m aware of the dam, water levels, etc.  I was thinking of getting a guide for a day, but it’s kind of expensive.  TYIA for the help, and I hope to contribute to the group in the future.  Tom Zebrowski

Greetings, Tom. I’ve not fished the area, but there’s a pretty decent map and hatch information at this website: http://tinyurl.com/20mq According to this information, it looks like you should be fishing midge imitations #20 or smaller. I’ve had a bit of success lately in Southern Mass. with small, white spinner patterns and Griffiths Gnat for dry flies, and #16 and smaller nymphs. — TL, Tim

Response:

  Hi George, thanks for the welcome.  I’ll be fishing the two catch and release areas below the Fife Brook Dam.  I should have been more specific.  Are you familiar with that area?  Regards, Tom

Response:

Welcome to the group, Tom. If , by Upper Deerfield, you mean the Vermont section below Searsburg Dam, I have never fished it, so I can’t be of much help. I only know a few people who have fished that area, and they regarded it as overrated. Good luck, anyway, and please submit a TR. George Adams "All good fishermen stay young until they die, for fishing is the only dream of youth that doth not grow stale with age."                                                           —- J.W Muller

Response:

  Hi everyone, just thought I’d introduce myself.  I’ve been lurking for a while and this group seems to be a pretty good bunch of guys (and gals).  I’ve learned quite a bit.  I’m a newbie fly fisherman (only been out once in horrible windy conditions).  I’ll be fishing the Upper Deerfield this weekend.  Does anyone familiar with the river have any suggestions regarding fly selection this time of year, useful tips, etc. that might enable a poor newbie to catch a few trout?  I’m aware of the dam, water levels, etc.  I was thinking of getting a guide for a day, but it’s kind of expensive.  TYIA for the help, and I hope to contribute to the group in the future.  Tom Zebrowski

Response:

Question:

Someone was kind enough to inform me that they thought that my site was commercial. I am not selling any rods, and the forum is for others to use. I am sorry if violated the ROFB charter. I will not post again to the group. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have updated my site designed around collecting, fishing, and repair of bamboo and fiberglass fly rods. I have new articles, stories, photos, and information. The forum is a good source of information about the above topics, and there is a board to get a free appraisal as well as a board to list classic tackle that you have for sale or you wish to buy, which is also free. You can visit the site at  http://www.clarksrods.com Hope you enjoy the site. Regards Clark

Response:

I have updated my site designed around collecting, fishing, and repair of bamboo and fiberglass fly rods. I have new articles, stories, photos, and information. The forum is a good source of information about the above topics, and there is a board to get a free appraisal as well as a board to list classic tackle that you have for sale or you wish to buy, which is also free. You can visit the site at  http://www.clarksrods.com Hope you enjoy the site. Regards Clark

Response:

And your site is a commercial site, all ads are prohibited according to the r.o.f.b. charter — ~~~~ The RodMaker (aka) The Shadow

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have updated my site designed around collecting, fishing, and repair of bamboo and fiberglass fly rods. I have new articles, stories, photos, and information. The forum is a good source of information about the above topics, and there is a board to get a free appraisal as well as a board to list classic tackle that you have for sale or you wish to buy, which is also free. You can visit the site at  http://www.clarksrods.com Hope you enjoy the site. Regards Clark

Response:

Question:

Are there such things as clear polarised glasses. All the ones I’ve seen are tinted which defeats the purpose on a darkish day. Or can you get you existing perscription glasses coated with a polarizing layer?

I asked my optomitrist (sp?) exactly that and he said, "No." — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Are there such things as clear polarised glasses. All the ones I’ve seen are tinted which defeats the purpose on a darkish day. Or can you get you existing perscription glasses coated with a polarizing layer? Ari Ari Bert 083 232 9903 Gaelle Bert 083 236 5308 Flyfishing Corner www.troutfishing.co.za +27 11 447 7230 Cnr Craddock & Tyrwhitt Street, Rosebank (Behind Std Bank)

Response:

Are there such things as clear polarised glasses. All the ones I’ve seen are tinted which defeats the purpose on a darkish day. Or can you get you existing perscription glasses coated with a polarizing layer? Ari

if not you might want to try a pair w/ photochromatic lenses (they lighten and darken depending on the conditions).  i have a pair and they work great in the northwest, and we have our share of dark and gloomy days where the only reason for wearing glasses is because of that large fly tearing past our head <G. chris

Response:

From my experience in photography and applying some intuitive reasoning, a polarizing lens with no additional shading will be at a minimum around 50% gray.  This is so because the lens filters out light significantly outside the polarizing plane of the lens. I believe you can order prescription polarized lenses with no additional tint.  At least you used to be able to because I have a pair (with glass lenses) that I bought 20 years ago. Ken (to reply via email remove "zz" from address)

Response:

Are there such things as clear polarised glasses. All the ones I’ve seen are tinted which defeats the purpose on a darkish day. Or can you get you existing perscription glasses coated with a polarizing layer?

I use amber colored lenses.  Don’t know how much light they actually block but it must be considerably less than the other colors as they give the illusion of brightening while cutting down on glare….at least in strong light.  At dusk the true darkening effect is more noticeable, but still less than darker colors.

Response:

Quite by chance I discovered a very interesting little trick.  I use the clip-on/flip-up type of polarised lenses, and these are often only available in either amber or green, and are quite heavily tinted.  I use the amber ones usually, as the contrast is better. I have several pairs, as I like them for driving etc as well as fishing.  I left a pair of these lying on the dashboard of my car for several weeks, with the back of the lenses uppermost, and when I came to use them again, I discovered that the dark tint had more or less disappeared, but the polarising effect had not. Apparently the strong sunlight had bleached the colour out, without damaging the polarising properties.  I have now done this purposely with several sets, and one can reduce the tint quite considerably, in fact a couple of sets are almost clear, but still polarise. This is very useful indeed, especially in dark weather, or in the evening, when the normal lenses block too much light. Might be worth a try for anyone wishing to reduce the tint in such lenses. The lenses are plastic by the way. TL MC — "In order to know what is possible one must constantly attempt the impossible" http://www.mikeconnor.de

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are there such things as clear polarised glasses. All the ones I’ve seen are tinted which defeats the purpose on a darkish day. Or can you get you existing perscription glasses coated with a polarizing layer? I use amber colored lenses.  Don’t know how much light they actually block but it must be considerably less than the other colors as they give the illusion of brightening while cutting down on glare….at least in strong light.  At dusk the true darkening effect is more noticeable, but still less than darker colors.

Response:

Are there such things as clear polarised glasses. All the ones I’ve seen are tinted which defeats the purpose on a darkish day. Or can you get you existing perscription glasses coated with a polarizing layer?

I don’t know if you’ll find this helpful or not, but I personally can’t stomach sunglasses over $100.  I bought a pair from Stren (www.basspro.com maybe?) that cost around $35 and come with 2 interchangeable polarized lenses.  The tan/amber color are much better in lower light conditions than the gray color. Regards, Jeff

Response:

I’m not sure i understand very well what you say Ken, (I’m french and sometime i misinterpret some things) so if i say the same thing as you in different words please pardon me. But my background is also in photography. Polarizing glass can be completely clear with no tint at all! But nonetheless there will be an impression of shading because of the re-orientation of the light rays, but the effect won’t be exactly like shading, it’s more like more intense color. Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

Are there such things as clear polarised glasses. All the ones I’ve seen are tinted which defeats the purpose on a darkish day. Or can you get you existing perscription glasses coated with a polarizing layer?

As others have point out, the maximu theoretical transmission of a polarizing film for unpolarized light is 50%. That is because the component of the wrong polarization, approximately 50% of the light present has to be absorbe. Polaroid Corporation, and presumably other film suppliers make several different kinds of polarizers for different puposes. The maximum real transmission possible is about 35%. Sunglass manufacturers use what they think will sell. Several years ago, I was able to find some clipons that were about 35% transmissive at the local 99

Question:

Really nice fly shop in Schroon Lake. Friendly, helpful shopkeeper. Adirondacks is God’s country. One warning, get repellent… the blackflies are big and hungry. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am planning a trip to New York’s Adirondacks this July and wonder if anyone had info on fishing in the area.  I have never been there but understand there are tons of rivers.  I’ll be in the Old Forge area near the Moose River (just west of Raquette Lake).  Any info on fly shops, public access to rivers and the hatches I might expect to see in late July would be appreciated. Thanks. Steve

Response:

I am planning a trip to New York’s Adirondacks this July and wonder if anyone had info on fishing in the area.  I have never been there but understand there are tons of rivers.  I’ll be in the Old Forge area near the Moose River (just west of Raquette Lake).  Any info on fly shops, public access to rivers and the hatches I might expect to see in late July would be appreciated. Thanks. Steve

Response:

Question:

I just got back from the White river,fished nymphs,midges,and sow bugs, caught some fish.I fished an olive wooley bugger tied sparce size10 and caught MANY fish!

Response:

april, is there any dryfly fishing at that time.   Are there any place I can go to wade (I’m assuming that the white river isn’t a good place to wade from my father-in-law’s description). How about Big browns and streamers?

I have never fished the area in April, but the White can be a good river to wade depending on how much water is being released from the dam at Bull Shoals.Dale Fulton runs Blue Ribbon Flies in Mountain Home. He would be a fantastic point of contact because he is extremely knowledgable. His E-mail is like most other rivers in that sometimes dry flies work and sometimes they don’t. I prefer to fish with soft hackles so that is what I use a lot. A local pattern known as the Red Ass has done real well for me.I always take some small olive woolly buggers as well. Some people use carcass flies as well due to the turbines. Hope this helps a bit and you have a great time Big Dale

Response:

Chris wrote;My spring break is coming up and I was thinking about heading down to the White River in the Ozark’s of Arkansaw.. Any comments on this area from the group? Are there good places to camp down there? I always enjoy tne Mountain Home area: There is a great state park on the White River  just below thaedam at Bull Shoals. The Sow Bug Roundup is March 19 and 20th in Mountain Home. Enjoy spring break. Don’t forget that the Norfolk river has more sow bugs than any other place on earth.

Ok, where are good flyfishing waters.  I’ll be down there in april, is there any dryfly fishing at that time.   Are there any place I can go to wade (I’m assuming that the white river isn’t a good place to wade from my father-in-law’s description). How about Big browns and streamers?

Response:

Ok, where are good flyfishing waters.  I’ll be down there in april, is there any dryfly fishing at that time.

There is rarely any dry fly fishing on the White or the North Fork. I’ve heard rumors of an occasional caddis hatch. Are there any place I can go to wade (I’m assuming that the white river isn’t a good place to wade from my father-in-law’s description).

Your father-in-law is correct. The generators at the Bull Shoals Dam are alleged to have a schedule, (check at the fly shop in Mountain Home), but in my experience anytime somebody in Oklahoma turns on their air conditioner the siren goes off and the riffle you were fishing is very quickly under 4 feet of water. DANGEROUS wading. I suggest the North Fork River for wading. Sow bugs. Sow bugs. Sow bugs. How about Big browns and streamers?

If that’s your cup of tea you’ll probably need a boat to float the White. Many outfitters and guides in the area, few that cater to flyfisherman. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, where are good flyfishing waters.  I’ll be down there in april, is there any dryfly fishing at that time. There is rarely any dry fly fishing on the White or the North Fork. I’ve heard rumors of an occasional caddis hatch. Are there any place I can go to wade (I’m assuming that the white river isn’t a good place to wade from my father-in-law’s description). Your father-in-law is correct. The generators at the Bull Shoals Dam are alleged to have a schedule, (check at the fly shop in Mountain Home), but in my experience anytime somebody in Oklahoma turns on their air conditioner the siren goes off and the riffle you were fishing is very quickly under 4 feet of water. DANGEROUS wading. I suggest the North Fork River for wading. Sow bugs. Sow bugs. Sow bugs. How about Big browns and streamers? If that’s your cup of tea you’ll probably need a boat to float the White. Many outfitters and guides in the area, few that cater to flyfisherman. — Ken Fortenberry

Don’t forget the Yuk Bugs…..the browns love em’ at night… Greg H.

Response:

Chris wrote;My spring break is coming up and I was thinking about heading down to the White River in the Ozark’s of Arkansaw.. Any comments on this area from the group? Are there good places to camp down there?

I always enjoy tne Mountain Home area: There is a great state park on the White River  just below thaedam at Bull Shoals. The Sow Bug Roundup is March 19 and 20th in Mountain Home. Enjoy spring break. Don’t forget that the Norfolk river has more sow bugs than any other place on earth. Big Dale

Response:

My spring break is coming up and I was thinking about heading down to the White River in the Ozark’s of Arkansaw.. Any comments on this area from the group? Are there good places to camp down there?

Response:

Question:

Does anyone have a web address for fly fishing screen savers or wallpaper?

Response:

Try http://www.webshots.com Does anyone have a web address for fly fishing screen savers or wallpaper?

– Steve Vaughn Kodak Park Health, Safety & Environmental Services Eastman Kodak Company – http://www.kodak.com Phone: (716)722-4744 Fax:   (716)722-3695

Response:

www.webshots.com Great site…and worth purchasing as you can set up your own screensavers from scanned photos…or copied photos etc. Barry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone have a web address for fly fishing screen savers or wallpaper?

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While this may not be flyfising, but there is a free fish screensaver at www.download.com called mopyfish you can get. Here is  the brief descrition:                  The HP MOPy Fish (Piscenus                  Mopei Floataneus) lives on your                  desktop in its own aquarium, soothing                  your mind with its calming nature. Its                  movements are based on actual fish                  for realism. The HP MOPy Fish will                  develop its own unique personality,                  depending on how you treat it: It will                  perish if neglected and prosper with                  proper care.                  Minimum requirements:                  Windows 95/NT I have not tried this screensaver myself… JT – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone have a web address for fly fishing screen savers or wallpaper?

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Question:

About a month ago I asked for info about fishing in N. Georgia.  The response was very good and I thank everyone.   Well, we just got back from the trip to Ga., and I have to tell ya, if I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it.  I discovered the Chatooga River, infamous for being the river where "Deliverence" was filmed.  What an absolutely beautiful piece of water!  I thought I was back in New England.  Fast, cold (61), free stone, clear trout water. There was a hatch of very small caddis, but didn’t see too many rises.  In NE I use a cased caddis fly called the Strawman; just spun deer hair trimmed short.  Gink it up so it floats.  Ga trout like it too.  Only had two days on the Chatooga, but managed a couple of nice browns (10-14 in) down-stream from the Rt 76 bridge.  Caught a few small rainbows downstream and upstream from the Rt 28 bridge.  Great river.  I also tried the Chatahootchi ( The Hootch) below Buford Dam.  Super cold – like 53; no hatches.  But lotsa fog!  Dragged a nymph or two, and lobbed a few streamers, but got zilch.  The rocks on this river are the slimiest, most slippery I’ve ever encountered!  I checked out the Hootch above the lake (iat next trip.  Also, I’d like to try the Chatooga just below the NC border.  Anyone know how to get there? The roads in Georgia are also terrific, and gas was $1.07 a gallon (it’s $1.50 here in Mass)!  Georgia’s not NH or Maine, but it’s great!   Good drifts, Dave LaCourse

Response:

[snip] The rocks on this river are the slimiest, most slippery I’ve ever encountered!

You don’t even want to ask what that slick stuff is! Also, I’d like to try the Chatooga just below the NC border.  Anyone know how to get there?

Go east from the river on Hwy 28 .  Hwy 107 will enter from the left. Take 107 north until you pass the state park on the right.  Start looking for the sign on the left for Burrells Ford road.  It’s a couple of miles down this road to the river.  When you get to the river the NC state line is about 4-4 1/2 miles upstream.  This part of the river is mainly brown trout water and is not stocked.  A good trail goes upstream on the east (South Carolina) side of the river. You can fish on the South Carolina side of the river with a Georgia license, just don’t go up any feeder streams.  As an alternate go west from the river on hwy 28.  Take the first gravel road to the right. That will bring you in to the opposite side of Burrells Ford. The roads in Georgia are also terrific, and gas was $1.07 a gallon (it’s $1.50 here in Mass)!  Georgia’s not NH or Maine, but it’s great!  

We don’t tax gas heavy but did you check the price of beer and cigs? Got to make those sinners pay! See ya, John Johnson Atlanta, GA

Response:

Question:

If your going to fish Crowley in a tube, it would be criminal not to fish the Green Banks area.  Although at times it seems that you could walk bank to bank on the ‘tubers without getting you feet wet, this is a hot area of the lake.  Since the access roads are all unmaked dirt roads, you need to get directions from one of the local sproting goods stores.  I can get there but I can’t tell you how to get there. I have fished this area effectively using a sink tip line with an olive damsel fly nymph and olive woolybuggers in late June and July.  A word of warning, when the wind kicks up get off the lake.  It can be brutal. Good Luck, Dctr Trout

Response:

Where is Crowley Lake?

Response:

Where is Crowley Lake?

Crowley Lake is in Mono County, California. It is about a ten minute drive from the Mammoth Lakes Resort area. If you find Reno, Nevada on the map, follow Hwy 395 South-East approximately 180 miles.

Response:

Have you tried Tim Alper’s lunker pond yet?  His designer Rainbow’s are big.

Response:

I am looking for some advice on fishing Crowley Lake from a float tube.   I have fished the surrounding area (Hot Creek, Mammoth Lakes, Rush Creek, etc.), but I have always hesitated to fish Crowley because I hear you need a float tube to fish it right.  Well, now I have the tube and would love to get some tips on catching the Browns and Rainbows that everyone rants and raves about. I am planning trips in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.  I know the Olive Matuka is a famous Crowley fly, but maybe there are others???  Also, I will be looking the ‘tote the tube’ to any promising lakes within a day hike. Thanks in advance for any help, Matt Riley

Response:

I am looking for some advice on fishing Crowley Lake from a float tube…

I have tried tubing Crowley near the marina and also off of Benton Crossing Road.  Haven’t hooked any of the big trout but was pretty amazed at the thick soup of hatching bugs – no wonder the trout grow. One trip we hit into a school of Sacramento Perch.  Locals said they were the best eating fish of all; we were camping so we kept quite a few (no limit) and filleted them and fried them up in a beer/bisquick batter and I wholeheartedly agree. Delicious! Before we cooked them a trout purist friend of a friend was pouting because we hadn’t caught trout, said he didn’t want any, then later, OK well lemme try a little bit, then another and he ended up eating about ten of them himself. There are lots of other lakes worth tubing, up any of the roads that go west from 395 in the Bishop area.  Last year a writer to this list caught 6 and 10 lb. brown trout on dry flies at North lake. I think especially with all the water, this year should be good for the east side sierra lakes. I like this area as much for the scenery, and when the mountains still have snow on the it is best. mark Vinsel Visit my gallery: http://www.lanminds.com/local/vinnie/gallery.HTML

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Went smallmouthing this past wednesday on a little creek here. We did pretty good. I really wasn’t expecting to do that well, actually I didn’t expect to catch any. But we landed four nice fish. This was the latest I’ve ever fished for smallmouth.. The temperature was in in the forties and the water was up a little, but was running clear. I guess that constitutes a good day.. KEG I used to go to school at EKU in Richmond.  We used to go smallmouth fishing over by Georgetown quite often.  I can’t remember the name of the creeks right now, but we almost always did really well.  Poppers and streamers seemed to work best for us.  If the water was up too high they were unwadeable.  I remember lots of bank structure that held plenty of fish. I remember one creek that I75 crosses over right next to Lexington Let me know what creeks you are fishing, I did a lot of roaming around and flyfishing over there up until about four years ago. I now live in Oregon, the fishing does NOT suck!!!                                               -Quint

Sorry about the delay Quint.. I sent some mail to you but it got returned for some reason.. See if you can spot these.. I’ll try to keep it short, sometimes I go on about smallmouthing.. Elkhorn River — this is probably the river you fished in Georgetown. One of the forks runs right through the town.. I found a better section just north of Frankfort in Peaks Mill. A friend of mine works in the Biology department here at the University and did a census on the Peaks mill section of the river. He said they shocked up a bunch of really trophy size smallmouth, like in the 4 to 6 lb range.. but like you say, if it rains anywhere in the state the river gets running really hard and muddy. Licking River — This is probably the River that you see crossing under the I-75 corridor north of lexington. I haven’t fished this one much.. Silver Creek — Just on the North side of Richmond.. This is a nice small creek.. great for wading.. I really enjoy fishing this creek. it’s small and doesn’t have really big fish in it.. but we usually catch a bunch when we go.. Hanging Fork — Danville.. This is the best creek i’ve ever fished for bass.. The creek runs through farm land and has only two public access points. My father inlaw has 500 acre farm on the creek so the sections I fish have absolutely no fishing pressure. A bad day on this creek is landing only a dozen fish. Lots of very big Large Mouth Bass.. Clear Creek — by far the most spectacular creek i’ve ever seen in kentucky. It’s located in Nonesuch, This is the Creek I was fishing in my last post to the rec.outdoors.ff a very old creek, And I mean its been cut down really deep into a ravine in solid rock, which makes it really tough to get to.. so very few people fish it. Dix river, Stoner Creek, Big South Fork of the Cumberland, Rockcastle, I’ll stop here.. good talking to you.. keep my mail id.. if you ever make it out here again.. I know some really great areas.. keg

Response:

Went smallmouthing this past wednesday on a little creek here. We did pretty good. I really wasn’t expecting to do that well, actually I didn’t expect to catch any. But we landed four nice fish. This was the latest I’ve ever fished for smallmouth.. The temperature was in in the forties and the water was up a little, but was running clear. I guess that constitutes a good day.. KEG

Response:

Went smallmouthing this past wednesday on a little creek here. We did pretty good. I really wasn’t expecting to do that well, actually I didn’t expect to catch any. But we landed four nice fish. This was the latest I’ve ever fished for smallmouth.. The temperature was in in the forties and the water was up a little, but was running clear. I guess that constitutes a good day.. KEG

I used to go to school at EKU in Richmond.  We used to go smallmouth fishing over by Georgetown quite often.  I can’t remember the name of the creeks right now, but we almost always did really well.  Poppers and streamers seemed to work best for us.  If the water was up too high they were unwadeable.  I remember lots of bank structure that held plenty of fish.   I remember one creek that I75 crosses over right next to Lexington Let me know what creeks you are fishing, I did a lot of roaming around and flyfishing over there up until about four years ago.   I now live in Oregon, the fishing does NOT suck!!!                                                -Quint

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Question:

done some diving from a kayak, and have found the following to be true: 1. You must make sure that your fins are secured in the boat. Most sink and will be of no use to you at the bottom of the sea. 2. You often need two hands to put fins on. If you don’t attach yourself to the boat and are still in a situation where it seems advantageous to be with your boat, this can be a problem. Additionally, if you don’t wear the booties you use with your fins, they are probably of little or no use. Fins that fit improperly are painful, at best, and frequently of little use.

A company call Caddis makes fins for float-tube fisherman.  They float and fit any size shoes, booties, etc.  You can probably find them at your local fly fishing store. — -Wayne Trzyna

Response:

1. You must make sure that your fins are secured in the boat. Most sink and will be of no use to you at the bottom of the sea.

A company called Caddis makes fins for float tube fisherman.  The fins float and fit any shoes. booties, etc.  You can probably find them at your local fly fishing store. — -Wayne Trzyna

Response:

I can’t help but think that a pair of fins stowed in your sea kayak would be a tremendous safety feature. Anyone who has used fins can testify that they are a HUGE advantage when swimming. Do any of you sea kayakers carry them?

Doug, I’ve considered this myself at times. I scuba as well as kayak, and have even done some diving from a kayak, and have found the following to be true: 1. You must make sure that your fins are secured in the boat. Most sink and will be of no use to you at the bottom of the sea. 2. You often need two hands to put fins on. If you don’t attach yourself to the boat and are still in a situation where it seems advantageous to be with your boat, this can be a problem. Additionally, if you don’t wear the booties you use with your fins, they are probably of little or no use. Fins that fit improperly are painful, at best, and frequently of little use. 3. Fins are still of little use in a strong current. What they provide in power, they cost in energy. I have seen many divers grow fatigued and give up after kicking under 100 yards against a slow current. They seemed to think the fins gave them enough power to overcome anything and never took the time to learn about currents and how to avoid same. If the distance is great, it is certainly wiser to find the way to cross the current than it is to don fins and swim directly into its teeth. 4. Preparing for cold water immersion is worth more than all the additional equipment you can carry. If you have your warmth, you don’t need to swim great distances or fight currents because you can wait for rescue. This means that you should make someone aware of your activities and location, that you should set a "drop dead" time, after which this person contacts the coast guard or relevant rescue agency, and that you should do your best to stay visible (more on these issues when I post the next article – I’ve just got to remember to bring in the magazine – there is also a discussion on fins in there too, but I don’t remember their conclusions – these comments are wholly my own). Anyway, it seems to me that if you are forced to swim, recognizing currents and avoiding them will be of more benefit. Fins can be a useful backup, but as always, if you are going to use them, practice. If you lose the fins when the boat capsizes or when you are trying to put them on in heavy conditions, you may find yourself in a nasty situation, especially if you are counting on them to get you to shore. Rick

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 Hello, everyone,  although somewhat edited for brevity, the following is a description of an  accident (in Coos bay) and two incidents that (in Kalaloch Beach – part of Olympic National Park in Wash.) we should all take note of. Everything  in quotes is taken directly from the article.

Thanks for posting this.  I think we all need a reminder from time to time. Nature is way bigger than we are…..

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I can’t help but think that a pair of fins stowed in your sea kayak would be a tremendous safety feature. Anyone who has used fins can testify that they are a HUGE advantage when swimming. Do any of you sea kayakers carry them?

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Hello, everyone, although somewhat edited for brevity, the following is a description of an accident (in Coos bay) and two incidents that (in Kalaloch Beach – part of Olympic National Park in Wash.) we should all take note of. Everything in quotes is taken directly from the article. "Eric Konheim, 27, died on June 12, 1991, while kayak surfing alone…. Eric was a skilled kayaker, proud of his ability to roll and to read moving water… In 1987, Eric bought a folding sea kayak and began taking trips, including a 450-mile expedition along the Gulf Coast from Belize to Cancun, Mexico. He also paddled in the Sea of Cortez, the Bahamas, and along the coast of Venezuela. In 1988, he took a river kayaking class in Colorado and bought a white-water kayak. He kayaked many white-water rivers and was a commercial raft guide." … Eric’s companion was feeling ill and decided not to go out with him to do some kayak surfing in his Prijon T-Slalom kayak. Although this was a surfing accident, going in and out of surf is something we sea kayakers MUST do every time we go out, so don’t think ‘this can’t happen to me.’ It CAN. Enough commentary. "After telling Dave he would surf only for a short while, Eric went out alone at about 4 p.m. Dave took a nap and woake about a half hour later. He began looking for Eric and around 5 p.m. found his friend’s kayak floating in the surf. Unable to find Eric, he called for help." Eric was found at 6 p.m. by a Coast Guard Chopper (these guys don’t get enough credit – it’s too bad that they can only pick up the pieces afterward). He was 150 yards off short (an easy swim for someone who swam competitively, you may say, but I swam in college and done some open water swimming in strong currents. Believe me,150 yards can be a very LONG swim!). He was wearing: "a helmet, a PFD with a whistle and knife attached, a neoprene spray skirt, a pull-over pile jacket, and a long sleeve paddle jacket. Eric’s kayak and paddle were found in good condition. He had not worn either his wet suit or his dry suit, though he had both with him in his van. Eric knew about hypothermia: he had had EMT training and river guide training." … "The official cause of death listed on the medical examiner’s report is "asphyxia by drowning, immersion hyperthermia." This is reasonable considering the water temperature was 50-53 degrees Fahrenheit, and Eric was tall and thin and was not wearing much thermal protection. HIs core temper- ature was 73 degrees." The author points out that Eric (though wearing a helmet) may have been knocked out by his paddle. "I once broke the aluminum shaft of a sturdy white-water paddle while getting pitch poled…The water was deep, the  paddle hit nothing but water. The smooth curve left in the broken shaft proved there were no defects in the paddle. An engineering analysis later showed it took more than 200 pounts of force to break that paddle. If it had hit my head with that force… who knows?" In any case, this article brings out some interesting and notable points. If you do go out alone, please take all the cold water immersion protection you can. It’s really easy to cool off by doing a roll, but it just ain’t so easy to get warm. The other two stories are about currents. Both kayakers found themselves in the water 75 or more yards from shore. The first was wearing "a 1/8 inch farmer john-style wet suit, a PFD, neoprene spray skirt, helmet, and watersport sandals….I began swimming for the beach with both hands on the stern of my boat. After a while, it appeared my effort had been wasted; I was no closer to the beach." He lost a float bag from the kayak and it did a Cleopatra’s Needle when it filled, so he finally abandoned the boat. He found the surf conditions too rough for reentry. He tried to use his paddle to propel himself, but gave up after some fruitless effort. By this time, 40 minutes has passed and he is still no closer to shore. He believes that he didn’t realize he was caught in a rip current because his thinking was impaired by cold water shock. Finally, he began swimming cross-current and made his way back to shore once he exited the current. The good news is that he had been seen by a "couple on the beach," who called for help. The coast guard had responded, but he managed to get out before they arrived. Same story, same place, different person. Bill "had once played in a rip current…and he had been out in ocean swells…but this was his first time kayaking in ocean surf. Bill didn’t have a roll, but the though he could perform a self rescue or swim to shore if he capsized. Bill is a strong, formerly competitive, swimmer with SCUBA diving experience. He is very com- fortable in and around the water. His kayak had front and rear bulkheads…He wore a 1/4-inch-thick, full wet suit" (his scuba suit) "polypropylene long underwear, neoprene tooties, a neoprene diver’s hood, a paddling jacket, and a PFD." He also had a bilge pump, paddle float, and some flares. Bill was separated from his kayak by the heavy surf (8 foot breakers). "He tried in vain to re-enter the kayak using a paddle-float outrigger…He could only get half way in before another wave would hit and knock him over. After 10 minutes of unsuccessful self-rescue attempts, he realized he and his kayak were drifing dangerously close to the rocks." He fired a flare and watched a beachcombers pointed at the pretty color and resumed their activities. I guess flares only work if people understand what they are for. Bill finally decided it was time to part ways with his kayak. "He retrieved his paddle and the paddle float and began swimming toward shore with the paddle float under his chest. After about a half hour of swimming, he realized he was losing ground." See, not even we good swimmers can out swim a current. "He was about 300 yards from shore and quickly became exhausted…He had one thing in his favor: his 1/4-inch-thick wetsuit was keeping him warm." He "began body surfing toward shore for all he was worth. While swimming a crawl stroke with the paddle was unproductive, by holding it against his chest, he discovered the waves would push it and carry him toward shore. (An experienced paddler told me that he has used his paddle to advantage while swimming in surf, but unlike others I’ve talked to, he uses the paddle while swimming backstroke. His technique is similar to back paddling a kayak). Bill found he could steer across the waves by shifting the paddle in his hands. Using the paddle this way let him angle away from the rocks." "Lessons Learned: While the first paddler became chilled and possibly hypo- thermic in his 1/8 inch farmer john wet suit, Bill’s 1/4 inch thick full suit, booties, and hood actually kept him too warm! Soon after reaching shore, Bill removed some of his wet-suit clothing to cool off. In the water, Bill worried only about exhaustion and the rocks… In my experience, 1/8 inch thick Farmer John wet suits are not adequate protection for prolonged immersion in 50- degree water." This was all printed without permission, however, I feel safety is more important than copywrites. Everyone who goes kayaking should learn to roll. These two stories should let you know just how helpless a kayaker is in 50 degree water when currents are strong. The very gear you must wear to protect you from becoming hypothermic will make you a very weak (but bouyant) swimmer. You must use other methods of getting in and out of heavy conditions. If you must, leave the boat. It does provide a lot of bouyancy, but if you don’t have more than an hour of cold water protection, you’ve got to get going quickly. Don’t waste time waiting for help, you are your own best defense against accident. Well enough diatribe. If you wish, I will post other safety articles from Sea Kayaker when it comes out. Rick

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