Question:

Hi folks, Just wondered if someone can comment on the choice of an outboard engine vs. an I/O on a 23-25′ boat, to be used in the coastal waters of west central Florida.  Combination of use will be both bay & off-shore fishing, off-shore diving, and short-medium range cruising with at least two couples. I’m a long-time fan of Mercruiser I/Os, having owned several and had very little trouble with them.  A few questions about outboards: 1) I’ve heard that outboard technology has come a long way, and the newer engines are quieter and more fuel effecient, correct? 2) Are the outboards more expensive to maintain? 3) Is the net-net performance about the same given the same hosepower on an outboard and I/O? 4 Is there a clear advantage with any particular brand of outboard nowadays? 5) Should we look for any specific year models, i.e. 1997 or newer for example? All thoughts appreciated.  Thanks. Patrick

Response:

Just wondered if someone can comment on the choice of an outboard engine vs. an I/O on a 23-25′ boat, to be used in the coastal waters of west central Florida. A few questions about outboards: 1) I’ve heard that outboard technology has come a long way, and the newer engines are quieter and more fuel effecient, correct?

That is correct, especially with the 4 stroke motors. 2) Are the outboards more expensive to maintain?

Probably even or cheaper. 3) Is the net-net performance about the same given the same hosepower on an outboard and I/O?

Net is higher since you have a higher power to weight ratio. 4 Is there a clear advantage with any particular brand of outboard nowadays?

I don’t see any clear advantages, all the manufacturers have their thing that only they do.  Personnally my best experiences for reliability have been with Yamaha and performance wih Mercury, thou Honda has some interesting cam technology and Suzuki has the best Warrantee.  Never been an OMC fan myself but that doesn’t really mean much. 5) Should we look for any specific year models, i.e. 1997 or newer for example?

Can’t help you there, but I’m sure there will be someone to tell you what not to buy. http://hometown.aol.com/hlaviation/

Response:

Hi Patrick, With a boat that size I guess that the outboard choices would be the new Yamaha and Honda 200-225hp 4 strokes? In a Mercruiser they use mostly GM V8s now for 200hp+? I know that fisherman like the outboards because there is more room in the rear of the boat for fishing? The ultimate power is a diesel in a boat that size, but it is $$$$. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi folks, Just wondered if someone can comment on the choice of an outboard engine vs. an I/O on a 23-25′ boat, to be used in the coastal waters of west central Florida.  Combination of use will be both bay & off-shore fishing, off-shore diving, and short-medium range cruising with at least two couples. I’m a long-time fan of Mercruiser I/Os, having owned several and had very little trouble with them.  A few questions about outboards: 1) I’ve heard that outboard technology has come a long way, and the newer engines are quieter and more fuel effecient, correct? 2) Are the outboards more expensive to maintain? 3) Is the net-net performance about the same given the same hosepower on an outboard and I/O? 4 Is there a clear advantage with any particular brand of outboard nowadays? 5) Should we look for any specific year models, i.e. 1997 or newer for example? All thoughts appreciated.  Thanks. Patrick

Response:

Question:

Frank: It was also while on his honeymoon.  What a kicker. Nice report GM.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Report included pictures, extra roffians, huge fish, a veritable reiding rainbow, booze, perseverance in the face of illness, food, culture, geography, deep fried gerbils (well, they coulda been there!)….    Excellent report.  Congrats on the big fish and nice to hear the little brother is finally working again.  Good on ya, both you and Clark.  Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

Frank: It was also while on his honeymoon.  What a kicker. Nice report GM.

Thanks Stan. Still wanna do a run to the Battenkill? — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

Thanks Stan. Still wanna do a run to the Battenkill?

I’m thinking it’s a bit late for this year – the trout season ended Oct. 28′th. I tried to get in a last day of warmwater fishing last Saturday in Otis and it snowed!  We didn’t even get our canoes in the water<g.  We could always try to hit the Swift or the Millers.

Response:

… We could always try to hit the Swift or the Millers.

um…stan, could you maybe hold off for a while?  i’m currently engaged in a conflict in which i’m getting my ass whipped pretty good… …where is the millers – mass.? jeff

Response:

Thanks Stan. Still wanna do a run to the Battenkill? I’m thinking it’s a bit late for this year – the trout season ended Oct. 28′th. I tried to get in a last day of warmwater fishing last Saturday in Otis and it snowed!  We didn’t even get our canoes in the water<g.  We could always try to hit the Swift or the Millers.

Millers/Swift sounds good. Is the FF Only section open yet? The NY State side of the Battenkill is still open. I don’t think it closes, or it does at the end of Nov. Or did regs change? — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

…where is the millers – mass.?

The Millers River is a small river flowing west just south of the New Hampshire border into the Connecticut.  It is a typical New England river in that it has been dammed and abused by mills for a couple hundred years. There are some beautiful stretches though, and Gary wrote a nice piece about it this summer concerning a seemingly impossible cast. –Stan

Response:

Millers/Swift sounds good. Is the FF Only section open yet? The NY State side of the Battenkill is still open. I don’t think it closes, or it does at the end of Nov. Or did regs change? — Gary

I’m not sure about the NY regs.  I think that parts of the Ausable, Schroon and Battenkill are open year-round.  The general regs trout season ends Oct. 15. The Swift is still closed upstream from the Rt. 9 bridge.  It was supposed to re-open on Nov. 1 but the latest scare this week made them postpone the opening until Nov. 7.  Downstream is still open as usual, and has had much heavier pressure than usual because of the closed section.

Response:

Thanks for the kind words Gary. I also can add some reasons for the lack of a photo of the big fish and the fault is squarely mine, though Gary is too much of a gentleman to indicate so. In the process of landing the fish the fly came free of the fish as often happens at the end of the battle. On this occasion though it was because the clumsy guide had stepped on the leader thus freeing the fish prior to Gary getting the camera out. It was impossible to hold such a fish unrestrained  she was a big powerful brown at least in excess of 10lbs, exact weight I could only guess at between 10 and 12 pounds. A fish Gary should be proud of and one I am gutted to have prevented a photo of. So I owe apologies for "screwing up" to Gary and the promise of being more diligent should he ever return. I for one hope you do Gary, you were a pleasure to fish with. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand. Firstly I am eternally grateful to him, as the poor bastard was sick as a dog. So sick as to get up at 3am the night before, drive about 50 miles to hospitalize himself, only to be too tired to make the hospital, sleep in the truck and he still made our date at 8:30am. I felt guilty all day until I gave him a drop o’ old Jameson’s and he felt better. So did I, when he reciprocated with a delicious sour mash of his choosing. We were in the Mt Cook vicinity (http://www.rockypond.com/mtcook.jpg), an area that has a look not unlike that of Three Rivers in Montana (wide, arid, surrounded by mountains, http://www.rockypond.com/scenery.jpg). The nearby Lake Tekapo, where we stayed, is spectacular with a deep azure color from the nearby glaciers (picture includes shot of your friend and humble narrator, http://www.rockypond.com/tekapo.jpg). The first stream (http://www.rockypond.com/firstriver.jpg) we visited was about 15 feet in width, slightly off color and cold. I admit that it did not look like much. Clark assured me it held big fish. Clark explained that Kiwi fishing is different from US or UK fishing in that there are fewer fish that are much larger. This was certainly bourn out this day. Being early season there was not much of any dry fly activity, which was slightly disappointing, so we nymphed all day. I pounded water for about an hour and eventually hooked up near a wooden bridge. At first I didn’t think it a large fish as he came towards me, but when he made a run upstream, I was in no doubt. Upstream was an old wooden bridge and as I applied pressure I will never forget the wave the fish created in the river as it turned. The fish was a brown about 26 inches in size, maybe 8lbs or so. It fought for 10 mins and we eventually tagged him at an undercut. After that we moved to a different river over the nearby Burke’s Pass. We stopped to review a fish that Clark had scouted the day before that was in a tough, nearly impossible position. Sitting in front of a bridge leg, with a brush accumulation behind him, in the current that itself broke both ways around the bridge was a good 10lb brown. He was spooked immediately, but twenty mins later after we had eaten lunch and got ready he was back. This time, from the river level, I was fairly sure with Clark’s help I could get something on his nose. There was a rocky braid in the river shy of the lie and I hunched down using it as cover. When I reached the braid I lay down flat and peaked up to get the bearing; Clark called the casts though. Too short, lifted too soon, etc. My fear was to let the fly go too long and catch the brush pile. I managed two good drifts to the fish which he ignored and then Clark chose the strategy that since the current was breaking, making dead drift impossible, a swimming nymph would work. Clark told me the nymph was akin to the Isonychia, which I have had great success with in the US. I cannot remember but I believe it was the first or second cast that he yelled "Strike!" To my surprise he was hooked (the fish, not Clark). What ensued was almost complete anarchy and what happened next transpired over a few minutes. I stood up and the fish took off upstream. Above the pool were some step-like rapids and white water, which the fish barreled through even though I had full power on the loaded rod. Impressive indeed. I managed to turn him and he came down the pool to the (those who are following this could guess this next bit) brush pile at the bridge. Once he was there I thought it was game over. I pulled and could feel nothing only dead weight. As I was upstream I knew I was applying pressure in the wrong direction (either that, or I was trying to pull a brush pile and bridge in my direction).  I had to get a more acute angle. Without thinking I jumped into the white water and crossed this extremely fast current. I never would have done this without the adrenalin rush I was now experiencing and as I had to wade downstream I think this was the only thing that saved me from a dunking. By now both Clark and I had fallen a few times due to the step sides of the loose moraine in the rivers. When I got across and was almost 180 degrees from him I was pleased to see the fish was still on and I had successfully moved him from the brush pile into the deep blue pool. This was a good sighting point and how beautiful he was: a big olive head and a body that was 30 inches at least. He came to my feet and I contemplated beaching him, until I fell once again and this time painfully. He was spooked and off downstream, where, to Clark’s credit he was waiting for the fish in the shallow waters. At this point we released him a little too fast for a photograph, but that did not matter to me. It was a good stalk and a good team effort for a righteous fish. We could only laugh and shake our heads at the marvel of that emotional deluge we call fly-fishing. I had the greatest feeling though I was in pain from the falls. I will add at this point it was becoming clear to me that another characteristic of Kiwi fishing is that the river size coupled with large fish size definitely put the odds in favor of the fish. I personally could learn a lot more about playing a large fish by fishing more down there. By now, it was mid afternoon and I had had two fish. Like I mentioned earlier, this is pretty typical. I managed another fish a few minutes later upstream, about 3lbs (http://www.rockypond.com/fish3.jpg). We worked another hour and then decided to move on. As we were on either side of a pass in these past two fish it was apparent that the weather here is strange. At the last river the sky became cloudy and snow was visible at higher elevations, but as we returned across Burke’s Pass again the sky cleared. We fished a fast deep stream in the hot sunshine (name escapes me now, but here’s pic, http://www.rockypond.com/stream3.jpg). Spent nearly two hours here with no luck though we covered a lot of water. The afternoon was getting late and we decided to hit a creek called Mary Burn (a lot of Scots settled NZ). This river was barely a trickle (http://www.rockypond.com/maryburn.jpg). Tannin stained almost like the Scottish or Irish streams are, but barely 5 feet wide. No way was I going to believe that there were anything but fingerlings in there. I hiked off a bit and came to an electrical cattle fence. As I walked up the soft bank I spooked a 22inch brown, which scared the living shit out of me. He nearly beached himself trying to get away. I cannot imagine how this tiny stream grew such enormous fish. In any case this was to be the closest encounter I would have to one of Mary Burn’s progeny. A wind had whipped up and was blowing about 25 knots. As you can imagine trying to hit a less than 1-foot target area in a 5-foot stream with this kind of wind required skills I have yet not acquired, nor maybe never will. Also the temperature was dropping and this wind bit cold. We decided to head off for somewhere sheltered. Sadly the weather did not get better and it was 39F (down about 30 degrees from 2 hours earlier) due to a cold front that had moved in. We decided to call it a day around 7pm I think. It was almost 12 hours fishing and it was the most enjoyable kind. Good fish, good water, good spirits and good conversations. And, yes, Clark Reid is a great guide and good company. Anyway I do thank him again for a great time. He may be able to explain better than I to ROFF as to why the streams are as they are. I think it is to do with a low pH, no environmental issues (NZ has NO fossil fuel or nuclear power plants – all Hydro). That evening, myself and my new wife drove outside of town in the clear, still sky of the new cold front we took in Crux, the Southern Cross (a lifelong dream) and the Clouds of Magellan; not to mentions the upside down Northern Constellations. For the rest of my travels I stopped at many, many streams and every one had big fish (sunglasses over lens to polarize, http://www.rockypond.com/feeder.jpg), even by the Angler’s Access parking areas. One stream looked like someone had surgically lifted the River Avon in Wiltshire and dropped it in the valley of the Eglinton River. I watched a fish work every few seconds and he was mine (strictly up-and-across, mind), but I was sans rod and reel and could only dream. Another series of small lakes held a good dozen two foot long trout that sipped away oblivious to the visitors and gave me a good treatise on the Brownian feeding manner of the still water trout. Sorry for the long report. Hope you enjoyed it.

… read more »

Response:

Great report.  Thanks for writing it up. bruce h

Response:

Great report, Gary. Good reading and excellent pictures. Very well done. George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

Response:

Report included pictures, extra roffians, huge fish, a veritable reiding rainbow, booze, perseverance in the face of illness, food, culture, geography, deep fried gerbils (well, they coulda been there!)….    Excellent report.  Congrats on the big fish and nice to hear the little brother is finally working again.  Good on ya, both you and Clark.  Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

really enjoyed your descriptions of the place & the fishing Mu

Response:

[great reportt snipped for brevity] Thanks for reading.

Thanks for writing! Steve

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

Great report snipped. Including pictures with your report was very appreciated. If find it interesting that the trout population is lower than here in the States but that there are more big fish. Willi

Response:

Sorry for the long report.

Uhhh…. don’t mention it.  Thanks.

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago <snip   Thanks for reading.

Thanks for writing.  Nice report. Kevin

Response:

Superb report, and I really enjoyed the excellent photos. It looks a lot like the Sawtooth and Stanley Basins, but the fish are a lot bigger. Is the area in runoff conditions now? BTW, I can’t believe you didn’t get a photo of that 30" brown. I’ll bet it flopped away before the camera was ready. Bruce Hopper and I are experts in that maneuver. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Superb report, and I really enjoyed the excellent photos. It looks a lot like the Sawtooth and Stanley Basins, but the fish are a lot bigger. Is the area in runoff conditions now?

It is supposed to be in runoff, but NZ had been in a drought situation for the past few years, so many rivers are dry and many are below average flows. Actually one picture I wish I had snapped was up on the lake of a boat ramp that was easily 150ft long and the lake itself was about 20ft beyond the *end* of the ramp. BTW, I can’t believe you didn’t get a photo of that 30" brown. I’ll bet it flopped away before the camera was ready. Bruce Hopper and I are experts in that maneuver.

LOL. You read it well.  Clark had a normal film camera and he was taking pics of the antics. Not sure if he actually caught it though. I certainly did not have time to get my camera out. — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

…and the goodness of this strange place is continued… thanks gary.  rw and you have raised the bar for trip reports with your illustrations, and i’ve enjoyed them a lot. jeff (off to wade the stagnant streams of the pitt county courthouse…)

Response:

jeff (off to wade the stagnant streams of the pitt county courthouse…)

        same same for your brother at the bar, little wayno, up into the wilds of surrey county, a lawless land if ever there were one… wayno  (but damn if those ol boys don’t grow some righteous ganga!)

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand. Firstly I am eternally grateful to him, as the poor bastard was sick as a dog. So sick as to get up at 3am the night before, drive about 50 miles to hospitalize himself, only to be too tired to make the hospital, sleep in the truck and he still made our date at 8:30am. I felt guilty all day until I gave him a drop o’ old Jameson’s and he felt better. So did I, when he reciprocated with a delicious sour mash of his choosing. We were in the Mt Cook vicinity (http://www.rockypond.com/mtcook.jpg), an area that has a look not unlike that of Three Rivers in Montana (wide, arid, surrounded by mountains, http://www.rockypond.com/scenery.jpg). The nearby Lake Tekapo, where we stayed, is spectacular with a deep azure color from the nearby glaciers (picture includes shot of your friend and humble narrator, http://www.rockypond.com/tekapo.jpg). The first stream (http://www.rockypond.com/firstriver.jpg) we visited was about 15 feet in width, slightly off color and cold. I admit that it did not look like much. Clark assured me it held big fish. Clark explained that Kiwi fishing is different from US or UK fishing in that there are fewer fish that are much larger. This was certainly bourn out this day. Being early season there was not much of any dry fly activity, which was slightly disappointing, so we nymphed all day. I pounded water for about an hour and eventually hooked up near a wooden bridge. At first I didn’t think it a large fish as he came towards me, but when he made a run upstream, I was in no doubt. Upstream was an old wooden bridge and as I applied pressure I will never forget the wave the fish created in the river as it turned. The fish was a brown about 26 inches in size, maybe 8lbs or so. It fought for 10 mins and we eventually tagged him at an undercut. After that we moved to a different river over the nearby Burke’s Pass. We stopped to review a fish that Clark had scouted the day before that was in a tough, nearly impossible position. Sitting in front of a bridge leg, with a brush accumulation behind him, in the current that itself broke both ways around the bridge was a good 10lb brown. He was spooked immediately, but twenty mins later after we had eaten lunch and got ready he was back. This time, from the river level, I was fairly sure with Clark’s help I could get something on his nose. There was a rocky braid in the river shy of the lie and I hunched down using it as cover. When I reached the braid I lay down flat and peaked up to get the bearing; Clark called the casts though. Too short, lifted too soon, etc. My fear was to let the fly go too long and catch the brush pile. I managed two good drifts to the fish which he ignored and then Clark chose the strategy that since the current was breaking, making dead drift impossible, a swimming nymph would work. Clark told me the nymph was akin to the Isonychia, which I have had great success with in the US. I cannot remember but I believe it was the first or second cast that he yelled "Strike!" To my surprise he was hooked (the fish, not Clark). What ensued was almost complete anarchy and what happened next transpired over a few minutes. I stood up and the fish took off upstream. Above the pool were some step-like rapids and white water, which the fish barreled through even though I had full power on the loaded rod. Impressive indeed. I managed to turn him and he came down the pool to the (those who are following this could guess this next bit) brush pile at the bridge. Once he was there I thought it was game over. I pulled and could feel nothing only dead weight. As I was upstream I knew I was applying pressure in the wrong direction (either that, or I was trying to pull a brush pile and bridge in my direction).  I had to get a more acute angle. Without thinking I jumped into the white water and crossed this extremely fast current. I never would have done this without the adrenalin rush I was now experiencing and as I had to wade downstream I think this was the only thing that saved me from a dunking. By now both Clark and I had fallen a few times due to the step sides of the loose moraine in the rivers. When I got across and was almost 180 degrees from him I was pleased to see the fish was still on and I had successfully moved him from the brush pile into the deep blue pool. This was a good sighting point and how beautiful he was: a big olive head and a body that was 30 inches at least. He came to my feet and I contemplated beaching him, until I fell once again and this time painfully. He was spooked and off downstream, where, to Clark’s credit he was waiting for the fish in the shallow waters. At this point we released him a little too fast for a photograph, but that did not matter to me. It was a good stalk and a good team effort for a righteous fish. We could only laugh and shake our heads at the marvel of that emotional deluge we call fly-fishing. I had the greatest feeling though I was in   pain from the falls. I will add at this point it was becoming clear to me that another characteristic of Kiwi fishing is that the river size coupled with large fish size definitely put the odds in favor of the fish. I personally could learn a lot more about playing a large fish by fishing more down there. By now, it was mid afternoon and I had had two fish. Like I mentioned earlier, this is pretty typical. I managed another fish a few minutes later upstream, about 3lbs   (http://www.rockypond.com/fish3.jpg). We worked another hour and then decided to move on. As we were on either side of a pass in these past two fish it was apparent that the weather here is strange. At the last river the sky became cloudy and snow was visible at higher elevations, but as we returned across Burke’s Pass again the sky cleared. We fished a fast deep stream in the hot sunshine (name escapes me now, but here’s pic, http://www.rockypond.com/stream3.jpg). Spent nearly two hours here with no luck though we covered a lot of water. The afternoon was getting late and we decided to hit a creek called Mary Burn (a lot of Scots settled NZ). This river was barely a trickle (http://www.rockypond.com/maryburn.jpg). Tannin stained almost like the Scottish or Irish streams are, but barely 5 feet wide. No way was I going to believe that there were anything but fingerlings in there. I hiked off a bit and came to an electrical cattle fence. As I walked up the soft bank I spooked a 22inch brown, which scared the living shit out of me. He nearly beached himself trying to get away. I cannot imagine how this tiny stream grew such enormous fish. In any case this was to be the closest encounter I would have to one of Mary Burn’s progeny. A wind had whipped up and was blowing about 25 knots. As you can imagine trying to hit a less than 1-foot target area in a 5-foot stream with this kind of wind required skills I have yet not acquired, nor maybe never will. Also the temperature was dropping and this wind bit cold. We decided to head off for somewhere sheltered. Sadly the weather did not get better and it was 39F (down about 30 degrees from 2 hours earlier) due to a cold front that had moved in. We decided to call it a day around 7pm I think. It was almost 12 hours fishing and it was the most enjoyable kind. Good fish, good water, good spirits and good conversations. And, yes, Clark Reid is a great guide and good company. Anyway I do thank him again for a great time. He may be able to explain better than I to ROFF as to why the streams are as they are. I think it is to do with a low pH, no environmental issues (NZ has NO fossil fuel or nuclear power plants – all Hydro). That evening, myself and my new wife drove outside of town in the clear, still sky of the new cold front we took in Crux, the Southern Cross (a lifelong dream) and the Clouds of Magellan; not to mentions the upside down Northern Constellations. For the rest of my travels I stopped at many, many streams and every one had big fish (sunglasses over lens to polarize, http://www.rockypond.com/feeder.jpg), even by the Angler’s Access parking areas. One stream looked like someone had surgically lifted the River Avon in Wiltshire and dropped it in the valley of the Eglinton River. I watched a fish work every few seconds and he was mine (strictly up-and-across, mind), but I was sans rod and reel and could only dream. Another series of small lakes held a good dozen two foot long trout that sipped away oblivious to the visitors and gave me a good treatise on the Brownian feeding manner of the still water trout. Sorry for the long report. Hope you enjoyed it. Visit NZ some time. The accommodation and car rental is reasonable. The steak and cheese pies and Sleights Old Dark are worth the trip in itself. Come on, don the DVT socks and do it. It’s only 12 hours from LA. Thanks for reading. Gary — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

Question:

Why not just carry a PVC tube and break your rod down with line, leader, and fly still attached.  place in PVC when movin’ from place to place. — Opie  –Planning for the Past–

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone still make "telescoping" fly rods, or is there anywhere I can get one of those old steel ones? I don’t expect it to be a great rod — just barely serviceable would do. A web search shows that Gatti makes a telescoping line of graphite rods, but they cost a fortune. The reason I want one is that I frequently travel on horseback when I’m fishing. I can ride in waders with no problem, but I don’t want to ride with an assembled rod (my horse is afraid of them, for one thing), and the prospect of rigging up my fly rod makes me pass up spots I’d like to try. Unless I’m willing to spend at least an hour at a spot, it just doesn’t seem worth it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Does anyone still make "telescoping" fly rods, or is there anywhere I can get one of those old steel ones? I don’t expect it to be a great rod — just barely serviceable would do. A web search shows that Gatti makes a telescoping line of graphite rods, but they cost a fortune. The reason I want one is that I frequently travel on horseback when I’m fishing. I can ride in waders with no problem, but I don’t want to ride with an assembled rod (my horse is afraid of them, for one thing), and the prospect of rigging up my fly rod makes me pass up spots I’d like to try. Unless I’m willing to spend at least an hour at a spot, it just doesn’t seem worth it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

and the prospect of rigging up my fly rod makes me pass up spots I’d like to try. Unless I’m willing to spend at least an hour at a spot, it just doesn’t seem worth it.

I use a DB Dun rod/reel case and leave my rod rigged up. A 3 or 4 piece model should fit on a saddle like a scabbard. — Charlie…

Response:

Why not just carry a PVC tube and break your rod down with line, leader, and fly still attached.  place in PVC when movin’ from place to place.

I normally carry a five-piece 8.5-foot pack rod, Opie. That sounds like a real mess. I want something I can put in my saddle bags, and I’d like it to be at least seven feet long. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Does anyone still make "telescoping" fly rods, or is there anywhere I can get one of those old steel ones? I don’t expect it to be a great rod

Shakespeare makes some excellent telescoping fly rods, as do a number of other companies. I handled a couple of quite nice Korean ones as well recently. They cost less than fifty dollars, and felt very nice indeed.  No idea about long term quality, but a friend of mine brought his old Shakespeare telescopic for me to repair last year ( he had shattered the butt by running over it with his car ), and I repaired it. It was then as good as new, although over fifteen years old and heavily used. He uses it for fishing in the salt as well ! He asked me to order him a new one as well if possible, as a spare, as the only suppliers I knew of are in England, ( Good old Mullarkeys strikes again ! ), and my friend speaks no English, I did so.   Quite remarkably good for the price I thought. TL MC

Response:

A search produced the following: http://www.google.de/search?q=Shakespeare+Telescopic+fly-rods&hl=de&csr= One of them should be somewhere near you. TL MC

Response:

A search produced the following: http://www.google.de/search?q=Shakespeare+Telescopic+fly-rods&hl=de&csr= One of them should be somewhere near you.

I can find Shakespeare telescoping spinning rods, but not fly rods. I get the impression they don’t make them any more. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

A search produced the following: http://www.google.de/search?q=Shakespeare+Telescopic+fly-rods&hl=de&csr= One of them should be somewhere near you.

I followed one of the links on the search results page you posted. http://www.summerlands.co.uk/newfolder/page503.htm Pretty neat looking little thing. Steve, if you get one of these, a report on how it casts (and holds up) would be welcome.   JR

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A search produced the following: http://www.google.de/search?q=Shakespeare+Telescopic+fly-rods&hl=de&csr= One of them should be somewhere near you. I followed one of the links on the search results page you posted. http://www.summerlands.co.uk/newfolder/page503.htm Pretty neat looking little thing. Steve, if you get one of these, a report on how it casts (and holds up) would be welcome.

That’s odd. I can’t find this model on Shakespears’s web site: http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/index.shtml The only telescoping rods I can find there are spinning rods. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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I bought three from Mullarkeys at the end of last year for various friends who did not want to use conventional multi-piece rods.  It does appear that these rods are only available in the UK.  Whatever, if you have trouble getting one, get back to me with as exact specifications as possible, and I will get you one.   There are some nice Korean and Chinese telescopics available, and they are dirt cheap.   No big risk. Gattis are supposedly very good, ( I was once asked to join the pro-staff of Gatti, and I tried quite a few of their rods, very nice, but far too expensive ) the only telescopic of theirs which I tried was last year, and I did not like it.  I can not remember the model number, but it was the "adjustable length" model. TL MC – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A search produced the following: http://www.google.de/search?q=Shakespeare+Telescopic+fly-rods&hl=de&csr= One of them should be somewhere near you. I can find Shakespeare telescoping spinning rods, but not fly rods. I get the impression they don’t make them any more. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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A search produced the following: http://www.google.de/search?q=Shakespeare+Telescopic+fly-rods&hl=de&csr= One of them should be somewhere near you. I can find Shakespeare telescoping spinning rods, but not fly rods. I get the impression they don’t make them any more.

I’ve picked up a few UK magazines of late and they get stuff from Daiwa etc. that we don’t see here either.  Probably more of the same. Order it direct from the UK instead. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

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Yeah, that’s a Shakespeare USA site.  They might only have what they know they can market here.  Try http://www.shakespeare-fishing.co.uk/ You might have to order from UK by credit card and have them ship it to you. JR – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://www.summerlands.co.uk/newfolder/page503.htm Pretty neat looking little thing. Steve, if you get one of these, a report on how it casts (and holds up) would be welcome. That’s odd. I can’t find this model on Shakespears’s web site: http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/index.shtml The only telescoping rods I can find there are spinning rods.

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Yeah, that’s a Shakespeare USA site.  They might only have what they know they can market here.  Try http://www.shakespeare-fishing.co.uk/ You might have to order from UK by credit card and have them ship it to you.

Hmmm. I can’t find telescoping fly rods there, either. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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Hmmm. I can’t find telescoping fly rods there, either.

It is a plot to get you to train your horse properly.  Bush must have found out that you wanted one and got his oil company cronies together and decided that they would all just make fun of the Californican trying to train a horse.  Further more, your views on the energy crunch pissed them off so they really had it out for you <g Warren (Did that work Dave S.?)

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Yeah, that’s a Shakespeare USA site.  They might only have what they know they can market here.  Try http://www.shakespeare-fishing.co.uk/ You might have to order from UK by credit card and have them ship it to you. Hmmm. I can’t find telescoping fly rods there, either.

Check the link that JR recommended; http://www.summerlands.co.uk/newfolder/page503.htm The first two rods under telescoping are a 6/7 and a 7/8 wt. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

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Try this site rw.  A dutch auction of something you might be interested in: http://www.bidland.com/AX/Bidland/items/sports_and_recreation/210885/… .html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can find Shakespeare telescoping spinning rods, but not fly rods. I get the impression they don’t make them any more.

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Just down the road from Big Lake.  This one is a DAM which is German I believe. http://www.gapen.com/rodstelescoping.html#telescopingflyrod – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone still make "telescoping" fly rods, or is there anywhere I can get one of those old steel ones? I don’t expect it to be a great rod — just barely serviceable would do. A web search shows that Gatti makes a telescoping line of graphite rods, but they cost a fortune. The reason I want one is that I frequently travel on horseback when I’m fishing. I can ride in waders with no problem, but I don’t want to ride with an assembled rod (my horse is afraid of them, for one thing), and the prospect of rigging up my fly rod makes me pass up spots I’d like to try. Unless I’m willing to spend at least an hour at a spot, it just doesn’t seem worth it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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Just down the road from Big Lake.  This one is a DAM which is German I believe. http://www.gapen.com/rodstelescoping.html#telescopingflyrod

Yes it is the DAM  ( Deutsche Angel Manufaktur) quite a nice rod actually, but it is far too expensive. It only costs about fifty dollars here. Somebody must be making good money on this stuff. TL MC

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I have a Palu’ telescoping fly rod. This is a quite expensive piece of gear (a present, actually). It can be locked in 4 different lengths.  It can be used with lines from 3 to 5. I have mixed feelings about it, although I have used it quite a lot in the recent past, more than my favorite 2 weight … It is a heavy sucker. When at full length (something like 12") it takes the wind out of you. When locked in the 2 shortest positions, it does not feel that heavy. I had problems with the guides, which are somewhat fragile. When used at its shortest length, it has the feel of a full-flex rod. When used at its longest length, it feels like a super-fast tip-flex rod. Its pros: the control on the line is amazing: mending, really high sticking etc. … super rod on spring creeks ! With a 5 weight line, it is a real shotgun. You can choose the length that is most appropriate for the current fishing conditions. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone still make "telescoping" fly rods, or is there anywhere I can get one of those old steel ones? I don’t expect it to be a great rod — just barely serviceable would do. A web search shows that Gatti makes a telescoping line of graphite rods, but they cost a fortune. The reason I want one is that I frequently travel on horseback when I’m fishing. I can ride in waders with no problem, but I don’t want to ride with an assembled rod (my horse is afraid of them, for one thing), and the prospect of rigging up my fly rod makes me pass up spots I’d like to try. Unless I’m willing to spend at least an hour at a spot, it just doesn’t seem worth it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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I can find Shakespeare telescoping spinning rods, but not fly rods. I get the impression they don’t make them any more.

Maybe you need some dapping rods?  I don’t know where he got them but my father-in-law has two telescopic rods that he claims are carp rods but they have gossamer tips which seem like the equivalent to a 2 wt fly rod. They are about 20" when stowed and 14′ when extended.  They have no guides.  It’s like a giant cane pole.   Mu

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Maybe you need some dapping rods?  I don’t know where he got them but my father-in-law has two telescopic rods that he claims are carp rods but they have gossamer tips which seem like the equivalent to a 2 wt fly rod. They are about 20" when stowed and 14′ when extended.  They have no guides.  It’s like a giant cane pole.

Funny you should mention that. I’m buying a 17′ telescoping dapping rod from Mike Connor. Mike was also kind enough to order a German-made telescoping fly rod for me. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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Still think you need to just train the damn horse…. <g Warren

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Maybe you need some dapping rods?  I don’t know where he got them but my father-in-law has two telescopic rods that he claims are carp rods but they have gossamer tips which seem like the equivalent to a 2 wt fly rod. They are about 20" when stowed and 14′ when extended.  They have no guides.  It’s like a giant cane pole. Funny you should mention that. I’m buying a 17′ telescoping dapping rod from Mike Connor. Mike was also kind enough to order a German-made telescoping fly rod for me. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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Question:

The only Humpies I fish have yellow bellies, only because the once or twice I tried orange, red or green ones, I saw no particular difference in results.  Have you colorists any ideas on when or under what conditions, one color Humpy might be better than another, or is it just the fishes’ whim from one day to the next? JR – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   On many lake outings, I either get a strike on an orange strike indicator or the orange leader link.  The last time I was out, a trout hit the leader link and then came back around and hit it and took it under.  I tied on a royal wulf & caught a couple of fish right away.  A fishing buddy just sent me some flor. orange thread (none available in the 2 shops here) and I’m going to tie up some dries and maybe a few nymphs & try them out.  This should be fun:)

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I’ll also use orange flies during normal water conditions.

  On many lake outings, I either get a strike on an orange strike indicator or the orange leader link.  The last time I was out, a trout hit the leader link and then came back around and hit it and took it under.  I tied on a royal wulf & caught a couple of fish right away.  A fishing buddy just sent me some flor. orange thread (none available in the 2 shops here) and I’m going to tie up some dries and maybe a few nymphs & try them out.  This should be fun:) Bob Skinner   Buffalo, WY — —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

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Willi,    Here in PA, I have noticed the runoff effect myself. Sometimes when one or two of my local streams a muddied, an orange shrimp pattern is about the only thing that will interest the fish. Never gave much thought as to whether it was the food item or the color that interested the fish under those conditions, but I do know it works.                                    Tom Littleton

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Purple is consistently among the most productive colors for NW steelhead, particularly in low light.  No idea why it doesn’t seem to be effective for trout.

Maybe it’s because steelhead hit the fly out of of anger and teritoriality. The bigger and gaudier and more visible the fly, the more likely they are to strike. If you get a chance, watch steelhead or salmon on the redds sometime. There’s typically a female on the redd and a big male hanging out by her, and often one or two smaller males hanging back in the current. When a small male gets to close the big male chases him away, sometimes for quite some distance, and sometimes allowing another small male to sneak up to the female on the redd. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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During the time when the salmon are on the redds orange is more effective for catching steelhead.  After the salmon have spawned and the steelhead are on the redds orange loses it’s effectiveness and streamer patterns in darker colors become more effective. Ernie Purple is consistently among the most productive colors for NW steelhead, particularly in low light.  No idea why it doesn’t seem to be effective for trout.

 "rw" wrote – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Maybe it’s because steelhead hit the fly out of of anger and teritoriality. The bigger and gaudier and more visible the fly, the more likely they are to strike. If you get a chance, watch steelhead or salmon on the redds sometime. There’s typically a female on the redd and a big male hanging out by her, and often one or two smaller males hanging back in the current. When a small male gets to close the big male chases him away, sometimes for quite some distance, and sometimes allowing another small male to sneak up to the female on the redd.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Overall, I don’t think that color is a very important factor in a fly’s effectiveness. Light or dark can sometimes make a difference, but there are very few times when, for example, a tan fly will produce better than a light gray one. For me, anyway, the color orange is an exception. It is a good choice for "dirty" water conditions because it is very visible.    i think you are right on target.  one of the best patterns for early spring runoff in the blue ridge is an orange stimulator.    otoh, didn’t someone do a test to determine the most visible color for dark water to be purple? wayno

Hmmm…. has anyone ever tested for colors that turn all fish or certain species "off," like blue food for humans (OK, at least adult humans)? Alfred Hitchcock, IIRC, used to delight in having "Blue Food" parties when he found out about it. R

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That reminds me I lost that fly at the Montana Clave on a small creek. I need to tie some up.  I caught the biggest fish I caught in that creek on it before I lost it and the creek was gin clear. Willi

Pleased to hear that it worked for you.  I have caught fish in clear conditions with it but nothing approaching how well I’ve done with it in off-colour water on the Grand. BTW, yellow shows well to quite a depth, at least in salt water. Peter

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Willie wrote;snipOverall, I don’t think that color is a very important factor in a fly’s effectiveness. Light or dark can sometimes make a difference, but there are very few times when, for example, a tan fly will produce better than a light gray one. For me, anyway, the color orange is an exception

Like you, I don’t think color matters in most cases, but there are times it makes a huge difference. I now carry a chartreuse box, a black box,and a orange box. The little foam spiders I tie in size 10 for bluegill are by far most effective in either black or yellow. I don’t pretend to know why, but I seldom catch bluegill on chartreuse spiders. I have a friend that finds a partridge and orange is by far the best pattern to catch a dragonfly on the backcast. I don’t pretend to understand this either, but he caught two dragonflies on a partridge and orange and this was witnessed. Big Dale  

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        i think you are right on target.  one of the best patterns for early spring runoff in the blue ridge is an orange stimulator.         otoh, didn’t someone do a test to determine the most visible color for dark water to be purple? What I remember of the research was that the color purple was visible at the greatest depth, all other colors were seen as black. The same principal might be true in dirty water because of light transmission. I played around with some purple flies one year but wasn’t impressed with the results. In fact, I found them pretty ineffective.

As to the Orange Stimulator, my limited experience agrees with Wayno.   In my one day at the 2000 Spring Fling, the OS was my best fly.   It was great that the fish liked it, but more important for me at the time was that *I* could see it. As to purple, the only fish I’ve caught with purple flies are Lake Ontario salmon during the fall run.   Some days, purple is the ticket.   Who knows. Joe F.

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… Overall, I don’t think that color is a very important factor in a fly’s effectiveness. Light or dark can sometimes make a difference, but there are very few times when, for example, a tan fly will produce better than a light gray one. For me, anyway, the color orange is an exception. …

For me, it’s always been yellow, if fishing on the surface. Whether bluegill, bass or brookie, popping bug. deer hair bass bug, or humpy, yellow seems the most productive for me. — Ken Fortenberry

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What?!  Talking about fish in a politics and stock tips news group?  Don’t you know about netiquette?!

Lot of nerve, eh? Willi My office is all in boxes in the basement otherwise I’d be able to dig out an article written either in Fly Tyer or Fly Fishing & Tying (I think that’s the title) that had an article on the effectiveness of orange.  It’s one of the primary colours used in steelhead flies as well. I think you received a mini-brown from me during the swap.  It’s most effective in off-colour water like the conditions you described for much the same reasons.  Your post is a good reminder – we try hard to match the hatch but every time a trout whacks our strike indicator, just remember that some of them also love bright, trashy things. <g Just like some ROFFians we know,  <g Peter

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        i think you are right on target.  one of the best patterns for early spring runoff in the blue ridge is an orange stimulator.         otoh, didn’t someone do a test to determine the most visible color for dark water to be purple?

What I remember of the research was that the color purple was visible at the greatest depth, all other colors were seen as black. The same principal might be true in dirty water because of light transmission. I played around with some purple flies one year but wasn’t impressed with the results. In fact, I found them pretty ineffective. Willi

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Purple is consistently among the most productive colors for NW steelhead, particularly in low light.  No idea why it doesn’t seem to be effective for trout. JR – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What I remember of the research was that the color purple was visible at the greatest depth, all other colors were seen as black. The same principal might be true in dirty water because of light transmission. I played around with some purple flies one year but wasn’t impressed with the results. In fact, I found them pretty ineffective.

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What?!  Talking about fish in a politics and stock tips news group?  Don’t you know about netiquette?! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I took part of the day off and headed out to fish a stretch of river that had been fishing well lately.

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Overall, I don’t think that color is a very important factor in a fly’s effectiveness. Light or dark can sometimes make a difference, but there are very few times when, for example, a tan fly will produce better than a light gray one. For me, anyway, the color orange is an exception. It is a good choice for "dirty" water conditions because it is very visible.

        i think you are right on target.  one of the best patterns for early spring runoff in the blue ridge is an orange stimulator.         otoh, didn’t someone do a test to determine the most visible color for dark water to be purple? wayno

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I took part of the day off and headed out to fish a stretch of river that had been fishing well lately. When I got there, the river was up slightly and was running off color, not muddy but more of a chalky tinge like in some spring creeks only more so. They must have been doing a release of water from some small reservoir. Being used to fishing low clear water lately, I was rigged with a small, dark midge pupa. I fished that for awhile with no luck when it dawned on me that the fly was not too appropriate for the water conditions. I changed to one of my "dirty" water flies. I have several that I use but they all have one thing in common – they’re orange. Overall, I don’t think that color is a very important factor in a fly’s effectiveness. Light or dark can sometimes make a difference, but there are very few times when, for example, a tan fly will produce better than a light gray one. For me, anyway, the color orange is an exception. It is a good choice for "dirty" water conditions because it is very visible. I caught more fish today than I had been in the normally very clear water this time of year. The cloudy water allowed me to approach lies closer so I could use a shorter line with more control and it allowed me to take more than one fish from a lie without spooking the others. The orange fly gave the fish something they could readily see. I’ll also use orange flies during normal water conditions.  When I’m in a situation where I feel I should be catching fish but I’m not, an orange fly is one of things that I’ll try. I’m not sure if it’s just the visibility of orange or something else, but even though bright orange is not a color often seen in nature, it can be a trigger for fish.  Few traditional patterns use orange. The first orange fly I used was a Breadcrust. The fly was effective for me and I still fish it in a slightly modified version. Now I tie most of the fly styles I use, from midges to stoneflies, in orange as well as the normal more muted colors. I’ve used a variety of shades of orange. I don’t how much difference the shade of orange matters but I generally use a blend of mainly bright orange with a pinch of bright yellow and a pinch of something dark. Willi

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My office is all in boxes in the basement otherwise I’d be able to dig out an article written either in Fly Tyer or Fly Fishing & Tying (I think that’s the title) that had an article on the effectiveness of orange.  It’s one of the primary colours used in steelhead flies as well. I think you received a mini-brown from me during the swap.  It’s most effective in off-colour water like the conditions you described for much the same reasons.  Your post is a good reminder – we try hard to match the hatch but every time a trout whacks our strike indicator, just remember that some of them also love bright, trashy things. <g Just like some ROFFians we know,  <g

That reminds me I lost that fly at the Montana Clave on a small creek. I need to tie some up.  I caught the biggest fish I caught in that creek on it before I lost it and the creek was gin clear. Willi

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Question:

FFGuy wrote 7) 3 liters of water, platypus with bite valve

Aside from being a furry little guy with a duck bill, what’s a platypus? —                                                       -dnc-

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FFGuy wrote 7) 3 liters of water, platypus with bite valve Aside from being a furry little guy with a duck bill, what’s a platypus?

It’s a water bladder.  Basically an extremely tough plastic bag with a tube and a valve that you bite down on to drink the water.  As you can’t tell from my horrible description, they are a pretty cool invention.  They are nearly indestructable, insulated, and can carry a relatively large amount of water conveniently.  I use one (actually a generic equivalent) while fishing, hiking, biking, boarding, etc. Later,      - Ken — "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the  initiative in creating the Internet."  - Al Gore

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Here is my top ten Excluding Rod,Reel and Line 1    Flask of Coffee 2    Cheese Sandwiches 3    Cigars 4    Lighter 5    Bow Net 6    Sportsclip Tool 7    Solarshield Glasses 8    Gink 9    Floating Fly Box (inc flies) 10  Waders

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I got into fly fishing during the last year.  soon after my soon to be father-in-law became interested also.  naturally we go fishing together. I bring every possible fishing gadget I can carry, He on the other hand is a brings a rod.  I know I’m carrying 10 more pounds to the stream than he is. He takes every opportunity to point this out.  This spring I plan to cut down on the number of tools I carry to the water. What are the 10 most important items you all would take to the water for a day a fly fishing?

Get an average sized fanny pack or a vest with only a few pockets, and then only take what you can fit in it.  Limited carry capacity is great aid to self-discipline.  Besides, you’ll look real neat and tidy to the daddy-in-law. Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.cgocable.net/~pcharles/index.html

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I’ll assume you’re talking about fly fishing in a river/stream and about EQUIPMENT, not supplies. So here’s my list in order of importance: 1)Rod/Reel, 2)Vest, 3)Glasses or flip-focals(for seeing), 4)Waders, 5)Polarized sun glasses, 6)Hat. 7)Fanny Pack. Any other item I consider a supply and should fit into #2 or #7 above.

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Just thought of a take-off on the saying Lee Wulff coined regarding C & R. "Limit what you carry. Don’t carry your limit!" What do you think?

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8.  Drying crystals (dessicant).

This has to be the least entrant for the top ten. — something bogus to avoid spam)

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absorbent paper towels that are FREE in the service station work swell.  Just squeeze the wet and hopefully chewed up and slimy fly with a piece of one and dress with Aequel or Daves bug Float or Blue Ribbon Super Dry Fly Float or SA dry fly floatant or Loon easy Dry or Hydrostop or Albolene and get back to fishing.

man, you’re slippin. you forgot GINK. you know, why go on the river with those lesser quality floatants when you can have the best. thats GINK, the best damn floatant your hard-earned money can buy. here, i’ll spell it out for you, G-I-N-K. i’ll share a little known roff secret with ya pal. the inventor of GINK is a once-in-a-blue-moon poster here at roff. if you ask him nicely, i’d bet my last dollar he would send you a complimentary bottle of GINK. waldo the omnipotent flytier and man about stream

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i’d bet my last dollar he would send you a complimentary bottle …

I’ll take THAT bet. Think he’d send me one too ? The absolute best thing to use for drying a wet dry fly is an Amadou. Among the many semi-liquids, Dave’s Bug Float is the best. — Ken Fortenberry

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8.  Drying crystals (dessicant). This has to be the least entrant for the top ten.

Oops, that makes no sense. I meant to write the "least likely entrant." — something bogus to avoid spam)

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Ten most important beside the obvious rod/reel/waders with belt: 1. Polarized shades. 2.  Bill hat with flip down magnifiers. 3.  Fly box with "hatches" in dries and nymphs. 4.  Extra leader and 3 sizes of tippet depending on what kind of fishing. 5.  Nippers. 6.  Rain gear, preferably Goretex. 7.  Wading staff.  (Goes along with the flip down mags – I’m old) and water bottle. 8.  Drying crystals (dessicant). 9.  Hemostats. 10.  Landing net. There has to be room also for a can of V-eye-eeeeena Sausages. Of course my list is like going through the express line at the super market — 10 items or less.  And the woman behind me swears under her breath because I have 15.  <G Dave LaCourse

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License.  Nothing worse than haveing to try some place to buy a license earl in the am for some dufuss that forgot to get one the night before. Drying crystals?  Those neat blue and highly absorbent paper towels that are FREE in the service station work swell.  Just squeeze the wet and hopefully chewed up and slimy fly with a piece of one and dress with Aequel or Daves bug Float or Blue Ribbon Super Dry Fly Float or SA dry fly floatant or Loon easy Dry or Hydrostop or Albolene and get back to fishing. Ten most important beside the obvious rod/reel/waders with belt:

snip 8.  Drying crystals (dessicant).

snip Dave LaCourse

– Mike in PDX "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                          Tom McGuane

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i’d bet my last dollar he would send you a complimentary bottle … I’ll take THAT bet. Think he’d send me one too ?

        there’s another bet you’d lose, forty.  george is among the most generous men i’ve ever met.  it’s just that he will have a helluva time locating you, under all those damn rocks. wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The absolute best thing to use for drying a wet dry fly is an Amadou. Among the many semi-liquids, Dave’s Bug Float is the best. — Ken Fortenberry

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  george is among the most generous men i’ve ever met.  it’s just that he will have a helluva time locating you, under all those damn rocks.

A most generous spammer is still a spammer. Your thing with the rocks is tiresome. Surely a wisecracking wiseacre of your prodigious abilities can do better than to repeat yourself to the point of self parody. — Ken Fortenberry

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1. rod, reel & line (duh..) 2. flybox. 1 wheatley(model) should do if you know the water 3. sunglasses 4. pliers 5. some float & sink stuff 6. leaders & extra tippet material 7. hat 8. net 9. raincoat 10. basic first aid And now it’s time to take my own advice.. Cheers, Herman I got into fly fishing during the last year.  soon after my soon to be father-in-law became interested also.  naturally we go fishing together. I bring every possible fishing gadget I can carry, He on the other hand is a brings a rod.  I know I’m carrying 10 more pounds to the stream than he is. He takes every opportunity to point this out.  This spring I plan to cut down on the number of tools I carry to the water. What are the 10 most important items you all would take to the water for a day a fly fishing?

– Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

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Be sure to have a couple of the Holdzit Tool Saver holsters and a gink holder dangling from your vest.  The Tool Saver will keep your hook file and forcepts rust free and your gink handy.  Check the Holdzit Fishing Products site out at http://www.holdzit.com Sharp Hooks, Pat I got into fly fishing during the last year.  soon after my soon to be father-in-law became interested also.  naturally we go fishing together. I bring every possible fishing gadget I can carry, He on the other hand is a brings a rod.  I know I’m carrying 10 more pounds to the stream than he is. He takes every opportunity to point this out.  This spring I plan to cut down on the number of tools I carry to the water. What are the 10 most important items you all would take to the water for a day a fly fishing?

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I am a beliver in keeping things simple and light. Here is what I pack: 1.  One fly box with drys and nymphs combined.  If I loose that many flys then I should proceed back to camp and have a beer to forget about the crappy day fishing. 2.  Leader/tippet material. 3.  Fishing hat-  it’s tradition. 4.  First aid kit/ thermal blanket 5.  Rod/reel 6.  Snack for emergency situations. 7.  clippers.

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What are the 10 most important items you all would take to the water for a day a fly fishing?

1) Camera 2) A book 3) Some Flies 4) Rod -n- reel 5) Tippet -n- leader 6) Nailclippers 7) Water Munchies 9) T.P. 10) Polarized sunglasses!!! Later,      - Ken — "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the  initiative in creating the Internet."  - Al Gore

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1. Consolidated fly box 2. polarized sunglasses 3. tippet material 4. various sized split shot 5. rod 6. reel 7. fly floatant 10. waders if you really want to travel light, these are all you need (I didn’t include "vest", because everything fits inside it.).  items 9, and 10 might be: 9. camera 10. strike indicators Pete C

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I got into fly fishing during the last year.  soon after my soon to be father-in-law became interested also.  naturally we go fishing together. I bring every possible fishing gadget I can carry, He on the other hand is a brings a rod.  I know I’m carrying 10 more pounds to the stream than he is. He takes every opportunity to point this out.  This spring I plan to cut down on the number of tools I carry to the water. What are the 10 most important items you all would take to the water for a day a fly fishing?

 Required-rod reel line leader/tippet flies. Extras-spare tippet material, swiss army knife (in belt sheath), spare leaders, camera, net, vest, soap, towel, pliers(needle nosed). Of coarse variations due to water fished and locale are to be considered, for instance in some of the areas I frequent I carry a side arm due to the over abundance of cotton mouths. I probably carry an over abundance of flies unless I’ve been there the day before and conditions haven’t changed. Bear in mind That I fish Florida waters from the bank where snags are a given and fish for bream and bass so there are times when rod/reel selection changes.                                                            John Popp                                                          in Sanford Fl.

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I feel I show up a little light, I have desired but have never needed more stuff.  My vest is packed with the following: 1) 4 fly boxes, each holds 90 flys 2) 3 tippet spools 3) # 6 split shot 4) 4 spare tapered leaders varying length and weight 5) Hemostats 6) Nippers, keeps the dentist off my back 7) 3 liters of water, platypus with bite valve Toilet paper, keeps skid marks to a minimum 9) Gink, keeps George happy 10) Bug net Plus the required stuff wide brim hat, waders, boots, Rod/Reel and a good attitude Al Simpson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What are the 10 most important items you all would take to the water for a day a fly fishing?

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I know I’m carrying 10 more pounds to the stream than he is. He takes every opportunity to point this out.  This spring I plan to cut down on the number of tools I carry to the water.

I suggest you just cut down on the number of soon to be father in laws. — Ken Fortenberry

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I got into fly fishing during the last year.  soon after my soon to be father-in-law became interested also.  naturally we go fishing together. I bring every possible fishing gadget I can carry, He on the other hand is a brings a rod.  I know I’m carrying 10 more pounds to the stream than he is. He takes every opportunity to point this out.  This spring I plan to cut down on the number of tools I carry to the water. What are the 10 most important items you all would take to the water for a day a fly fishing?

Response:

I got into fly fishing during the last year.  soon after my soon to be father-in-law became interested also.  naturally we go fishing together. I bring every possible fishing gadget I can carry, He on the other hand is a brings a rod.  I know I’m carrying 10 more pounds to the stream than he is. He takes every opportunity to point this out.  This spring I plan to cut down on the number of tools I carry to the water. What are the 10 most important items you all would take to the water for a day a fly fishing?

        don’t know that i would take that many items, but i’ll just start listing:         1. small box of flies, about a dozen dries, maybe six or eight nymphs.  patterns would vary, depending upon weather, time of year, stream chosen.         2.  fingernail clippers         3.  couple extra leaders         4.  couple spools of tippet material         5.  gink         6.  hook forcepts, or whatever you call them         7.  strike indicators         8.  lightweight knife         9.  can of tuna and some mustard, plastic utensils         10.  olympus compact 35mm camera         well, i’ll be damned.  there were ten items. wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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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!

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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

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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?

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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

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- 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.

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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

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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?

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Question:

Just sent in a check for $245 to the Montana wild life dept. The out of state  license is a lottery.I am not asking for am elk license and wonder if anyone  with experience knows the odds of being picked. I know this is a rather foolish  question to ask but I just might get an answer. Jim

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1995 results for non-resident deer combo license was 20%. Don’t recall what 1996 results were but they weren’t much different. Just sent in a check for $245 to the Montana wild life dept. The out of state

 license is a lottery.I am not asking for am elk license and wonder if anyone  with experience knows the odds of being picked. — Brian D. Nelson, Missoula, Montana Montana Flyfishing and Hunting Outfitter http://www.montana.com/dno/dno.htm http://www.montana.com/dno/hunt.htm

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Question:

I’m looking for a manual showing all the flys and a picture or a drawing.

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: I’m looking for a manual showing all the flys and a picture or a drawing. ALL the flies?  No way! Impossible!  Too many thousands of patterns. There are some good books out there that act as listings of flies. You may want to try the library and see what they have. You will quickly see what a variety there actually is. Jon Porter

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: I’m looking for a manual showing all the flys and a picture or a drawing. ALL the flies?  No way! Impossible!  Too many thousands of patterns. There are some good books out there that act as listings of flies. You may want to try the library and see what they have. You will quickly see what a variety there actually is. Jon Porter

There are two books that do a fairly good job with photos and recipes for a lot of flies, not even close to all.  They are called Best 1000 Flies by Randall Scott (something) and Umpqua Fly Patterns,or something to that nature.  They are both great books with color photos and specific receipes.  Any fly enthusuist would love either one.You local fly shop should have it, or could order it.  If you run into any problems let  me know.  My store has them available. Take care, Clark Shafer Lost River Outfitters

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I’m looking for a manual showing all the flys and a picture or a drawing.

Hi Your request is difficult but two book that may help are Fish Flies volumes I & II by Terry Hellekson. Those two books come close to covering most of flies. You can get them at a local book store or fly shop OR from Frank Amato Publications. 503-653-8108 Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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Question:

Does anyone out there know if there are any WEB pages devoted to flyfishing only?  If so please let me know what the URL for them are.

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Does anyone out there know if there are any WEB pages devoted to flyfishing only?  If so please let me know what the URL for them are.

http://flyfish.com is one and it has extensive links to other FF only websites.

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Does anyone out there know if there are any WEB pages devoted to flyfishing only?  If so please let me know what the URL for them are.

My page!  Raske’s Fly Fishing In Maine http://www.mint.net/~raske/index.html regards, R.A. Skehan

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: oes anyone out there know if there are any WEB pages devoted to :flyfishing only?  If so please let me know what the URL for them are. : : There are several hundred at least.  Simply use any one of the various search engines available at no charge to you, me or anyone else (Yahoo, Web Crawler, Excite, c-nets search.com, etc.).  Search on fly fishing and set back, they will roll by from all over the world.  Hundreds Jerry Shepherd

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: oes anyone out there know if there are any WEB pages devoted to :flyfishing only?  If so please let me know what the URL for them are.

   There are a bunch. Try:  http://www.flyline.com   for starters. It’s the best on the net but then again I wrote it so there might be just a bit of bias in the opinion    Ralph —

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : oes anyone out there know if there are any WEB pages devoted to :flyfishing only?  If so please let me know what the URL for them are.    There are a bunch. Try:  http://www.flyline.com   for starters. It’s the best on the net but then again I wrote it so there might be just a bit of bias in the opinion    Ralph —

There also is  http://www.flyshop.no/

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There are lots and lots, you can do a search on any of the search engines or check out my page.  It’s in my sig file. : oes anyone out there know if there are any WEB pages devoted to :flyfishing only?  If so please let me know what the URL for them are.

If you can’t beat ‘em, groin ‘em

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Hi if you are looking for fly fishing products my home page is http//www.junction.net/herbys/

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Question:

Hi, I am interested in fishing the Smith River in Virgina.  Are there any helpful flyshops in the Martinsville area? Also, what is the prefered tackle?  Any patterns that I should stock up on? Thanks, Jeff — Jeff Bailey

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Grew up there but I have not fished it in years. The best place for info is the Orvis shop in Roanoke, VA 540-345-3635 Tight Lines and Screeming Reels Phil

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