Question:

Good Morning to all,     I have been lerking in this room for about a month now. I really enjoy the information passed and the whit that is flung around the room. I decided to finally make myself known so that I may contribute (what little I do know)if the need arises.     I have been fishing for most of my life, but did not get into fly fishing until about 3 or 4 years ago. I tie, but not too well. Practice makes perfect though. Retired from the military and trying to make my way in the civilian sector. So far, so good. Maryland resident working with frank reid. He told me about this group. Thanks Frank!     Anyways, I look forward to reading more. Dan Mattice Sr.

If you REALLY want to see a bunch of fly fishing junkies, go on over to ROFF  (rec.outdoors.fishing.fly)   — A question is better debated and left unanswered than a question that is answered without debate. -Unknown

Response:

Dan,    Just saw this and welcome to the group.  Flytying is a wonderful diversion for those who like to experience a wider range of fly fishing activity.  Now, get back to work.  ;-)           Frank

Response:

Good Morning to all,      I have been lerking in this room for about a month now. I really enjoy the information passed and the whit that is flung around the room. I decided to finally make myself known so that I may contribute (what little I do know)if the need arises.      I have been fishing for most of my life, but did not get into fly fishing until about 3 or 4 years ago. I tie, but not too well. Practice makes perfect though. Retired from the military and trying to make my way in the civilian sector. So far, so good. Maryland resident working with frank reid. He told me about this group. Thanks Frank!      Anyways, I look forward to reading more. Dan Mattice Sr.

Response:

Question:

Email me just with dates. I have a commitment around the first.  But for me it’s drive up the river to the mouth of the Deschuets walk a couple of miles and fish.  There is a park and boat launch there. Send me a phone number where your staying and I’ll call.  We are going to Crater Lake one on those weekends.  BJC – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’ll be going to Portland,

Response:

Theo: Portland may not be as beautiful as New Jersey, The Garden State (snicker, snicker), but you’ll like it fine. Actually, the above was sarcastic. Oregon is lovely, and in September it probably will either be hot (maybe even up to 100), or wonderful (60-70). You should be able to find steelhead in several local rivers or, if you have time to drive about 4 hrs, you can be on one of the world’s great steelhead streams, the Deschutes. Re-post or email me directly at the end of August to remind me — in the meantime I’ll check the migration status and let you know where the fish are. Your 7-8 wt rod will be perfect. Floating line (DT or WF) and fairly strong leaders. You’ll want to pick up some of the standard Northwest steelhead flies: Freight Train, Streetwalker and Skunks are the classics. Kaufmann’s Streamborne has them online, and I think Hill’s Discount Flies does too. You may want to email Kaufmann’s for advice, too. They’re expensive, but very helpful to travelling anglers. The standard approach for summer steelhead is very systematic: cast quartering downstream, let the line swing across the current until it’s straight downstream, strip in a couple of yards; take a big step downstream, pick up your line, and cast again. You end up covering the whole section of stream that way. The strikes usually come at the very end of the "swing" or during the first "strip." (The steelhead seem to follow the fly across the river, then pick it up when it stops.) There’s some basic info for you. Again, re-post your inquiry or email me when you get closer. You’ll have fun!! — Scoobey (Scott Bellows) "Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum." -Ambrose Bierce – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve never been to Portland, hence never done any flyfishing in that area (did some in New Jersey, last year, very nice).

Response:

My favorite site to check on events around Oregon is http://www.westfly.com/cgi-bin/entryPage?state=OR Other sites include (in no particular order and no recommendation from me) http://www.flyfishingdeschutes.com/ http://www.deschutesoutfitters.com/Reports/index.html http://www.kman.com/ http://numb-butt.bendnet.com/ http://www.flyfishusa.com/index Rakane at gte dot net (remove the NOSPAM)

Response:

If  its summer steelhead you want to fish for then check out the rivers around Tillamook, the Wilson, trask and not to forget the Nestucca, the Nestucca being my favorite river to fish for summer steelhead.  You might even be able to catch large fall chinook in the big Nehalem river.  There are plenty of places to fish around the area.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My favorite site to check on events around Oregon is http://www.westfly.com/cgi-bin/entryPage?state=OR Other sites include (in no particular order and no recommendation from me) http://www.flyfishingdeschutes.com/ http://www.deschutesoutfitters.com/Reports/index.html http://www.kman.com/ http://numb-butt.bendnet.com/ http://www.flyfishusa.com/index Rakane at gte dot net (remove the NOSPAM)

Response:

The 2nd week of September should still be good weather.  The rains don’t usually start up until October. For steelhead, you might try the Sandy and Salmon rivers.  There’s a flyshop in Welches, OR (I forget the name but they are on the web) you should be able to give them a call or hire them as a guide. Best of luck,      - Ken

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I live in the Netherlands and, like you all, keen on flyfishing. I lurk around this newsgroup frequently and figured this is the place to ask some advice. I’ll be going to Portland, Oregon the second week of September, mostly for work. But,,,, I can squeeze in some time for fishing and, searching the web, found that it might actually be a good place for flyfishing, esp. steelhead. I’ve never been to Portland, hence never done any flyfishing in that area (did some in New Jersey, last year, very nice). So, any advice on spots (can rent a car), charters, gear (I’ve got a Shimano Chameleon traveller fly 9078, 9 feet #7-8, 4pcs. flyrod esp. for trips like this), flies to use, methods to use, you name it, is very much appreciated.

Response:

Indeed we have wonderful weather usually the first part of September…When suggesting visiting the Portland, OR area, I recommend last 2 weeks of August first 2 weeks of September.  A great place to check the local fishing is with Kaufmann’s Streamborne Fly Shop in Tigard, OR (south of Portland a tiny bit) and they are on the web at www.kman.com Padishar Creel – It is over 80 today and clear in the Portland Oregon area, so there!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I live in the Netherlands and, like you all, keen on flyfishing. I lurk around this newsgroup frequently and figured this is the place to ask some advice. I’ll be going to Portland, Oregon the second week of September, mostly for work. But,,,, I can squeeze in some time for fishing and, searching the web, found that it might actually be a good place for flyfishing, esp. steelhead. I’ve never been to Portland, hence never done any flyfishing in that area (did some in New Jersey, last year, very nice). So, any advice on spots (can rent a car), charters, gear (I’ve got a Shimano Chameleon traveller fly 9078, 9 feet #7-8, 4pcs. flyrod esp. for trips like this), flies to use, methods to use, you name it, is very much appreciated. Cheers, Theo

Response:

Hi, I live in the Netherlands and, like you all, keen on flyfishing. I lurk around this newsgroup frequently and figured this is the place to ask some advice. I’ll be going to Portland, Oregon the second week of September, mostly for work. But,,,, I can squeeze in some time for fishing and, searching the web, found that it might actually be a good place for flyfishing, esp. steelhead. I’ve never been to Portland, hence never done any flyfishing in that area (did some in New Jersey, last year, very nice). So, any advice on spots (can rent a car), charters, gear (I’ve got a Shimano Chameleon traveller fly 9078, 9 feet #7-8, 4pcs. flyrod esp. for trips like this), flies to use, methods to use, you name it, is very much appreciated. Cheers, Theo

Response:

Question:

I have been swimming in these Florida waters from the beach and off of boats, also diving into inlet from bridges, surfed up and down the coast, also off of rope swings as a kid into the murky intracoastal, dived a lot of reefs. Seen a few in my time and they all went the other way. Beleive it or not a most sharks see us as too big to try to tackle and if they do bite usually let go and turn tail and run. Of course there are acceptions tigers and bull sharks are aggressive. Florida bathers swim with sharks every day but don’t know it because they can’t see them. All you have to do is ask any pilot that flys over these beaches and he’ll tell you he sees sharks every day. Yet the sharks don’t go near them. Its too dangerous for the shark. Its a good idea to read up on sharks know their habits and avoid situations that could increase your chances of being bitten. I’ll bet ninety nine percent of shark bites are mistakin’ identity. Do you surf? I assume not. Its usually surfers that are mistaken for prey. If you know the facts and the astronomical odds of being bitten you wouldn’t worry. C’mon in the water is fine, you have a much better chance of getting killed on the drive down.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

Either way dem’s good eatin’

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I much prefer the term Dorado.  Mahimahi is just to politically correct.

Response:

Sharon,     Check out these web sites for shark info. http://www.shark.ch/Sharkdb/sharkdb.shtml & http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/ISAF/ISAF.htm Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

Caught the last half of a Fox special on TV lastnight.  The "shark expert" they had said several things and I have listed what I remember below.  Most of them are things that most probably already know. -Sharks like invertabrates….  humans are too bony. -If a shark takes a "taste" of a human, they will generally spit it out and not return for a full course meal. -There are an average of 58 UNPROVOKED shark attacks worldwide each year. -Several hundered thousand sharks are harvested each year mostly for the fins only, (shark fin soup, and cartilidge) -More people are eating shark meat than ever -Last year, 7200 people were brought into the hospital having been injured at amusement parks (amusing fact eh?) -California has the highest rate of unprovoked shark attacks in the US (according to this guy) -There is a guy in the the Fl. Keys (Mannie??) they call Mannie the Shark Man, they showed him swiming with (holding onto the dorsal fin) and then holding the face (face to face) of an approximately 8′ Hammerhead.  This guy was swimming with what looked like Bull Sharks??? (I’m not sure) and Hamerheads.  They showed him touching several different species of sharks, basically he was petting them!  He was definitely with in biting distance and there was no aggression.  He has been bitten 3 times, not sure if any were very serious, he had all of limbs and was still smiling! -An average of 12 people are killed each year by shark attacks. -Sharks have excellent eyes, and thier corneas are aften used in human cornea transplants. -A whale shark can grow to 45′ -Average shark swims at 5mph, but some can swim for short distances at up to 23mph -There are 350 species of shark of which 20% are dangerous to humans. -The Great White shark is an endangered species, but I don’t know if this means it is illegal to feed them.  I suppose you could get a ticket or fine you if they identified you as having fed one… -The guy said that the Muesem of Natural History has even more interesting facts. -Side note, I have read that the Bull Shark is considered by many experts to the most dangerous shark, due to the fact (like the Tiger Shark) they are considered to be Trash Eaters, ie. they eat almost anything. -Also have read that Bull Sharks are one of the main reasons they erected the "shark fence" in Australia.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A bad meal. Humans taste like shit, I’m told. ( I wonder who made the taste test). Probably because of meat in our diet? But if that’s true, wouldn’t vegetarians be preferred by sharks? Then again, maybe they are and that’s why so many divers and swimmers are ‘tasted’ but so few eaten. pm Florida bathers swim with sharks every day but don’t know it because they can’t see them. All you have to do is ask any pilot that flys over these beaches and he’ll tell you he sees sharks every day. Yet the sharks don’t go near them. Its too dangerous for the shark. What are these sharks afraid of, Brian??

Response:

A bad meal. Humans taste like shit, I’m told. ( I wonder who made the taste test). Probably because of meat in our diet? But if that’s true, wouldn’t vegetarians be preferred by sharks? Then again, maybe they are and that’s why so many divers and swimmers are ‘tasted’ but so few eaten. pm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Florida bathers swim with sharks every day but don’t know it because they can’t see them. All you have to do is ask any pilot that flys over these beaches and he’ll tell you he sees sharks every day. Yet the sharks don’t go near them. Its too dangerous for the shark. What are these sharks afraid of, Brian??

Response:

Florida bathers swim with sharks every day but don’t know it because they can’t see them. All you have to do is ask any pilot that flys over these beaches and he’ll tell you he sees sharks every day. Yet the sharks don’t go near them. Its too dangerous for the shark.

What are these sharks afraid of, Brian?? — edgar (remove nospam from return address for e-mail reply)

Response:

The term "shark-thirty" is sometimes used in the Caribbean to express a time of day (dusk)when sharks are starting to feed. pm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Swimming at dusk, in water known to have baitfish in it, is a VERY poor idea. I feel for the kid.  The parents, on the other hand, should be strung up by their toenails for allowing him to swim at that time of the evening. That is a manifestly unsafe practice around here. —

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Potomac down where we are isn’t that dirty.  I’ve heard that the jellyfish are good because they eat the ones that eat crab larvae. Using your logic, aren’t sharks that kill people also good? After all they eat the ones that eat crab! <G But they are so terribly inefficient at it! <g Actually crabs are really good – not just because we like to eat them, but because they are underwater scavengers. You have something against "out-of-the-water" scavengers? <G

No – but all scavengers are kind of shunned – from vultures to crabs to dung beetles.  We need them all. grandma Rosalie

Response:

You may have me there Bill.  I saw a TV documentary and can’t remember for sure. Most people use the term "dolphin" to mean porpoise but a dolphin can be either a fish or a mammal. <G

That’s true, but the ones that go after sharks are the mammal.  That’s also why in restaurants the fish-dolphin is often called mahi mahi (Hawaiian term) because they don’t want people to think they are eating Flipper. Actually dolphins have been known to gang up on and attempt to kill a shark. The dolphins usually go for the tender undersides of sharks.

grandma Rosalie

Response:

The Potomac down where we are isn’t that dirty.  I’ve heard that the jellyfish are good because they eat the ones that eat crab larvae. Using your logic, aren’t sharks that kill people also good? After all they eat the ones that eat crab! <G

But they are so terribly inefficient at it! <g   Actually crabs are really good – not just because we like to eat them, but because they are underwater scavengers. grandma Rosalie

Response:

The Potomac down where we are isn’t that dirty.  I’ve heard that the jellyfish are good because they eat the ones that eat crab larvae. Using your logic, aren’t sharks that kill people also good? After all they eat the ones that eat crab! <G But they are so terribly inefficient at it! <g Actually crabs are really good – not just because we like to eat them, but because they are underwater scavengers.

You have something against "out-of-the-water" scavengers? <G Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – grandma Rosalie

Response:

I didn’t mean the sport fish forgot about that one. — 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You may have me there Bill.  I saw a TV documentary and can’t remember for sure. Most people use the term "dolphin" to mean porpoise but a dolphin can be either a fish or a mammal. <G Bill 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100 Actually dolphins have been known to gang up on and attempt to kill a shark. The dolphins usually go for the tender undersides of sharks. Dolphin or Porpoise? Bill — 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100 The latest attack was by a Bull Shark…  They can live in fresh water for some time, including the Potomac.  It appears that one of the greatest dangers of this shark is that it often feeds in dark/discolored and even shallow water (where it can get churned up) so that it doesn’t always see its prey, ie. it might think that a splashing arm is a fish, and attacks it before it really nows what it is up against.  Sharks are a realistic fear. So is driving a car.  If the same number of people that are afraid of sharks, were even more realistically afraid of cars, the roads would be a much safer place.  Like they say (whoever they are), be aware of your sorroundings, and don’t take unnecesarry risks, just like you walking or driving to the store, use caution.  There are dangers everywhere. I don’t have the statistics, but the same people say that you are 100x more likely to get struck by lightning than to get bitten by a shark.  I wonder if that statistic is for swimmers or all of us.  If it is for all of us, then the statistics go way up for us salt water swimmers, doesn’t it?  The reasoning here is that if you never swim, or only swim in landlocked water, the chance of getting bitten by a shark is approaching 0.  Any experts out there? I am just curious if there are any "good" statistics avaliable.  What percentage of the population are salt water or brine swimmers and what effect does that have on the statistic?  Also, there are electronic "shark repellants" available.  They are supposed to work on all sharks.  I wonder if they repell all fish?  Swim with dolphins, sharks don’t like dolphins, or is this just an old wives tale?  Bull sharks also eat dolphins, but maybe just small ones.       The Bull Shark – Carcharhinus leucas       Size – Grow from 7 to 11 feet weighing 200 to 500 pounds.       Diet – Fish, (including other sharks and rays), turtles, birds, mollusks and dolphins. It will eat almost anything.       Habitat – The Bull shark is found close to to shore and can live for a while in fresh water, frequenting estuaries, river and lakes. Bull Sharks have been found up to 1,750 miles up the Mississippi River in the USA and 2,500 miles up the Amazon River in Peru.       Reproduction – Bull sharks are viviparous. Litters of up to 13 pups are common after a gestation period of about 1 year. Pups are about 28 inches long at birth. Very young Bull sharks are frequently found in protected bays near the mouths of rivers in briny waters. My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your a rm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks? Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

I much prefer the term Dorado.  Mahimahi is just to politically correct.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You may have me there Bill.  I saw a TV documentary and can’t remember for sure. Most people use the term "dolphin" to mean porpoise but a dolphin can be either a fish or a mammal. <G That’s true, but the ones that go after sharks are the mammal.  That’s also why in restaurants the fish-dolphin is often called mahi mahi (Hawaiian term) because they don’t want people to think they are eating Flipper. Actually dolphins have been known to gang up on and attempt to kill a shark. The dolphins usually go for the tender undersides of sharks. grandma Rosalie

Response:

You may have me there Bill.  I saw a TV documentary and can’t remember for sure. — 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Actually dolphins have been known to gang up on and attempt to kill a shark. The dolphins usually go for the tender undersides of sharks. Dolphin or Porpoise? Bill — 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100 The latest attack was by a Bull Shark…  They can live in fresh water for some time, including the Potomac.  It appears that one of the greatest dangers of this shark is that it often feeds in dark/discolored and even shallow water (where it can get churned up) so that it doesn’t always see its prey, ie. it might think that a splashing arm is a fish, and attacks it before it really nows what it is up against.  Sharks are a realistic fear. So is driving a car.  If the same number of people that are afraid of sharks, were even more realistically afraid of cars, the roads would be a much safer place.  Like they say (whoever they are), be aware of your sorroundings, and don’t take unnecesarry risks, just like you walking or driving to the store, use caution.  There are dangers everywhere.  I don’t have the statistics, but the same people say that you are 100x more likely to get struck by lightning than to get bitten by a shark.  I wonder if that statistic is for swimmers or all of us.  If it is for all of us, then the statistics go way up for us salt water swimmers, doesn’t it?  The reasoning here is that if you never swim, or only swim in landlocked water, the chance of getting bitten by a shark is approaching 0.  Any experts out there? I am just curious if there are any "good" statistics avaliable.  What percentage of the population are salt water or brine swimmers and what effect does that have on the statistic?  Also, there are electronic "shark repellants" available.  They are supposed to work on all sharks.  I wonder if they repell all fish?  Swim with dolphins, sharks don’t like dolphins, or is this just an old wives tale?  Bull sharks also eat dolphins, but maybe just small ones.       The Bull Shark – Carcharhinus leucas       Size – Grow from 7 to 11 feet weighing 200 to 500 pounds.       Diet – Fish, (including other sharks and rays), turtles, birds, mollusks and dolphins. It will eat almost anything.       Habitat – The Bull shark is found close to to shore and can live for a while in fresh water, frequenting estuaries, river and lakes. Bull Sharks have been found up to 1,750 miles up the Mississippi River in the USA and 2,500 miles up the Amazon River in Peru.       Reproduction – Bull sharks are viviparous. Litters of up to 13 pups are common after a gestation period of about 1 year. Pups are about 28 inches long at birth. Very young Bull sharks are frequently found in protected bays near the mouths of rivers in briny waters. My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks? Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

The Potomac down where we are isn’t that dirty.  I’ve heard that the jellyfish are good because they eat the ones that eat crab larvae.

Using your logic, aren’t sharks that kill people also good? After all they eat the ones that eat crab! <G Bill

Response:

You may have me there Bill.  I saw a TV documentary and can’t remember for sure.

Most people use the term "dolphin" to mean porpoise but a dolphin can be either a fish or a mammal. <G Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100 Actually dolphins have been known to gang up on and attempt to kill a shark. The dolphins usually go for the tender undersides of sharks. Dolphin or Porpoise? Bill — 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100 The latest attack was by a Bull Shark…  They can live in fresh water for some time, including the Potomac.  It appears that one of the greatest dangers of this shark is that it often feeds in dark/discolored and even shallow water (where it can get churned up) so that it doesn’t always see its prey, ie. it might think that a splashing arm is a fish, and attacks it before it really nows what it is up against.  Sharks are a realistic fear. So is driving a car.  If the same number of people that are afraid of sharks, were even more realistically afraid of cars, the roads would be a much safer place.  Like they say (whoever they are), be aware of your sorroundings, and don’t take unnecesarry risks, just like you walking or driving to the store, use caution.  There are dangers everywhere.  I don’t have the statistics, but the same people say that you are 100x more likely to get struck by lightning than to get bitten by a shark.  I wonder if that statistic is for swimmers or all of us.  If it is for all of us, then the statistics go way up for us salt water swimmers, doesn’t it?  The reasoning here is that if you never swim, or only swim in landlocked water, the chance of getting bitten by a shark is approaching 0.  Any experts out there? I am just curious if there are any "good" statistics avaliable.  What percentage of the population are salt water or brine swimmers and what effect does that have on the statistic?  Also, there are electronic "shark repellants" available.  They are supposed to work on all sharks.  I wonder if they repell all fish?  Swim with dolphins, sharks don’t like dolphins, or is this just an old wives tale?  Bull sharks also eat dolphins, but maybe just small ones.       The Bull Shark – Carcharhinus leucas       Size – Grow from 7 to 11 feet weighing 200 to 500 pounds.       Diet – Fish, (including other sharks and rays), turtles, birds, mollusks and dolphins. It will eat almost anything.       Habitat – The Bull shark is found close to to shore and can live for a while in fresh water, frequenting estuaries, river and lakes. Bull Sharks have been found up to 1,750 miles up the Mississippi River in the USA and 2,500 miles up the Amazon River in Peru.       Reproduction – Bull sharks are viviparous. Litters of up to 13 pups are common after a gestation period of about 1 year. Pups are about 28 inches long at birth. Very young Bull sharks are frequently found in protected bays near the mouths of rivers in briny waters. My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks? Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

Millions of folks swim in Fla. waters every year. Last year 65 people were bitten by sharks in the US most in Fla. If you are worried stay onboard or in your living room. Regards Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

Honey, don’t sweat it. You picked a good area to retire and the waters are safe to swim in. And if you want statistics, I’ve been swimming in Florida (both coasts) since 1962 and have never been bitt, attacked, mauled or stung by anything but mosquitoes. Nor has anyone I know personally. On the other hand I have had several friends killed in auto accidents, bitten by dogs, cats, squirrels and attacked by a duck. And there are no reports ever of anyone in Florida freezing to death. Come on down! pm 147.iap.bryant.webtv.net: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with

There’s always something.  I haven’t been to the Gulf coast in some time, but yes we do swim off the boat as long as we are not chumming.  Look first.  If the water is clear (and most of the time out in a boat it is – otherwise you wouldn’t be out there -it would be a storm) you could see a shark.  The boy was right on the beach – the waves stir the water up and you can’t see. the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda.

My SIL doesn’t care for swimming with barracuda, but unless they turn black they are just curious and ugly and no danger.  My SIL makes me wear gloves or take off my (shiny) rings.  Most sharks also just want to be left alone. Several times we saw a Bull Shark (the one that did this attack) cruising in the marina, so they are by no means limited to FL. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where

The Potomac down where we are isn’t that dirty.  I’ve heard that the jellyfish are good because they eat the ones that eat crab larvae.  In any case, you can swim longer if you go farther up the Chesapeake. can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

THere is no such place.  There’s always something.  If not something in the water, the water itself, or the weather. grandma Rosalie

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Arizona?                             Capt. Bill

Response:

Actually dolphins have been known to gang up on and attempt to kill a shark. The dolphins usually go for the tender undersides of sharks.

Dolphin or Porpoise? Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100 The latest attack was by a Bull Shark…  They can live in fresh water for some time, including the Potomac.  It appears that one of the greatest dangers of this shark is that it often feeds in dark/discolored and even shallow water (where it can get churned up) so that it doesn’t always see its prey, ie. it might think that a splashing arm is a fish, and attacks it before it really nows what it is up against.  Sharks are a realistic fear. So is driving a car.  If the same number of people that are afraid of sharks, were even more realistically afraid of cars, the roads would be a much safer place.  Like they say (whoever they are), be aware of your sorroundings, and don’t take unnecesarry risks, just like you walking or driving to the store, use caution.  There are dangers everywhere.  I don’t have the statistics, but the same people say that you are 100x more likely to get struck by lightning than to get bitten by a shark.  I wonder if that statistic is for swimmers or all of us.  If it is for all of us, then the statistics go way up for us salt water swimmers, doesn’t it?  The reasoning here is that if you never swim, or only swim in landlocked water, the chance of getting bitten by a shark is approaching 0.  Any experts out there? I am just curious if there are any "good" statistics avaliable.  What percentage of the population are salt water or brine swimmers and what effect does that have on the statistic?  Also, there are electronic "shark repellants" available.  They are supposed to work on all sharks.  I wonder if they repell all fish?  Swim with dolphins, sharks don’t like dolphins, or is this just an old wives tale?  Bull sharks also eat dolphins, but maybe just small ones.       The Bull Shark – Carcharhinus leucas       Size – Grow from 7 to 11 feet weighing 200 to 500 pounds.       Diet – Fish, (including other sharks and rays), turtles, birds, mollusks and dolphins. It will eat almost anything.       Habitat – The Bull shark is found close to to shore and can live for a while in fresh water, frequenting estuaries, river and lakes. Bull Sharks have been found up to 1,750 miles up the Mississippi River in the USA and 2,500 miles up the Amazon River in Peru.       Reproduction – Bull sharks are viviparous. Litters of up to 13 pups are common after a gestation period of about 1 year. Pups are about 28 inches long at birth. Very young Bull sharks are frequently found in protected bays near the mouths of rivers in briny waters. My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

Actually dolphins have been known to gang up on and attempt to kill a shark. The dolphins usually go for the tender undersides of sharks. — 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The latest attack was by a Bull Shark…  They can live in fresh water for some time, including the Potomac.  It appears that one of the greatest dangers of this shark is that it often feeds in dark/discolored and even shallow water (where it can get churned up) so that it doesn’t always see its prey, ie. it might think that a splashing arm is a fish, and attacks it before it really nows what it is up against.  Sharks are a realistic fear. So is driving a car.  If the same number of people that are afraid of sharks, were even more realistically afraid of cars, the roads would be a much safer place.  Like they say (whoever they are), be aware of your sorroundings, and don’t take unnecesarry risks, just like you walking or driving to the store, use caution.  There are dangers everywhere.  I don’t have the statistics, but the same people say that you are 100x more likely to get struck by lightning than to get bitten by a shark.  I wonder if that statistic is for swimmers or all of us.  If it is for all of us, then the statistics go way up for us salt water swimmers, doesn’t it?  The reasoning here is that if you never swim, or only swim in landlocked water, the chance of getting bitten by a shark is approaching 0.  Any experts out there?  I am just curious if there are any "good" statistics avaliable.  What percentage of the population are salt water or brine swimmers and what effect does that have on the statistic?  Also, there are electronic "shark repellants" available.  They are supposed to work on all sharks.  I wonder if they repell all fish?  Swim with dolphins, sharks don’t like dolphins, or is this just an old wives tale?  Bull sharks also eat dolphins, but maybe just small ones.       The Bull Shark – Carcharhinus leucas       Size – Grow from 7 to 11 feet weighing 200 to 500 pounds.       Diet – Fish, (including other sharks and rays), turtles, birds, mollusks and dolphins. It will eat almost anything.       Habitat – The Bull shark is found close to to shore and can live for a while in fresh water, frequenting estuaries, river and lakes. Bull Sharks have been found up to 1,750 miles up the Mississippi River in the USA and 2,500 miles up the Amazon River in Peru.       Reproduction – Bull sharks are viviparous. Litters of up to 13 pups are common after a gestation period of about 1 year. Pups are about 28 inches long at birth. Very young Bull sharks are frequently found in protected bays near the mouths of rivers in briny waters. My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

I know this sounds cold hearted but it is really not intended that way. If you have salt water you have sharks.   Here in Florida if you have fresh water you have gators (keep your poodles away from the canals).   It makes no difference if it is here in Florida or anywhere else salt water & sharks go hand in hand. The kid was playing in water late in the evening when sharks are usually feeding  early morning the same situation.  This particular area is a big fishing area.   Lots of fish attract lots of sharks. There have been several shark attacks on the Florida Gulf Coast.   Most make local news rarely national news.  The news media has gone crazy over this story because it was a kid and the circumstances.   Don’t misunderstand I have kids too and feel for the family. Now in addition to all the tourists the media have descended and all kinds of SO CALLED "Shark Experts" are roaming around spouting off all kinds of advise and not saying anything at all. I bet you didn’t hear a peep out of the national news media a few years back when a kid got mauled a bit by a gator in Mobile Alabama a few years back. Of course he didn’t loose his arm just a few teeth bites.    Or the long distance runner that lost a leg several years ago in a shark attack. Last several years he has become somewhat of a celebrity because he is running & competing on his good leg & the false one so we usually see him on TV during all the big Mobile Alabama marathons. From May through October I’m sure we can find a few jelly fish for you to play with so you don’t get homesick. For real fun we have hurricane parties. From usually July thru October. Romantic candle light (no power) dinners.  Sounds of rain drops on the roof (at 80 miles per hour).  Wind moaning (if your hearing aid is turned down) in the trees.  All the swimming you could ever want because the streets are flooded.   Kids don’t have to go to school (cooped up in the house or a hurricane shelter)  And, the most exciting part of all you usually don’t have to go to work.   During the last several years some of our Pensacola residents took the hurricane party to a higher level  they spent the time stranded in bumper to bumper traffic on I10.  You don’t wait until the day of the hurricane to decide to bug out.  You leave 24 hours in advance. July thru September boating is lots of fun  90 degrees with a 100 degree + heat index.    Water temperature is 80 + degrees.  Humidity if your lucky around 80%  Summer winds for sailing are light & fluky.   Although I must admit the thunderstorms that come ashore late in the afternoon make boating real exciting,  If you are lucky to get caught in the downdraft zone the cool air washing over you is most defiantly refreshing.   The real joy of Florida living comes October thru April when all your northern buddies are still snow bound.   2000 December 27 I was out sailing. Yup paradise if I ever heard of it.    And, yes I am joining all the other stupid boaters going out tomorrow (Saturday) to watch the Navy Blue Angels fly.  It will be a zoo out there, it will be hot, it will be fun. By the way,  have you purchased your flood insurance yet?   Does the name FWUA mean anything to you? Welcome to Florida.   I wasn’t joking about the poodle thing! ;0) Red tide in September is so exciting it will bring tears to your eyes. — 22′ South Coast Sea Craft     Eclipse model  "Don’t Ask" Pensacola, Florida http://members.tripod.com/mr-wayne/ http://communities.msn.com/SouthCoast22SkippersbayBee&naventryid=100

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

The latest attack was by a Bull Shark…  They can live in fresh water for some time, including the Potomac.  It appears that one of the greatest dangers of this shark is that it often feeds in dark/discolored and even shallow water (where it can get churned up) so that it doesn’t always see its prey, ie. it might think that a splashing arm is a fish, and attacks it before it really nows what it is up against.  Sharks are a realistic fear. So is driving a car.  If the same number of people that are afraid of sharks, were even more realistically afraid of cars, the roads would be a much safer place.  Like they say (whoever they are), be aware of your sorroundings, and don’t take unnecesarry risks, just like you walking or driving to the store, use caution.  There are dangers everywhere.  I don’t have the statistics, but the same people say that you are 100x more likely to get struck by lightning than to get bitten by a shark.  I wonder if that statistic is for swimmers or all of us.  If it is for all of us, then the statistics go way up for us salt water swimmers, doesn’t it?  The reasoning here is that if you never swim, or only swim in landlocked water, the chance of getting bitten by a shark is approaching 0.  Any experts out there?  I am just curious if there are any "good" statistics avaliable.  What percentage of the population are salt water or brine swimmers and what effect does that have on the statistic?  Also, there are electronic "shark repellants" available.  They are supposed to work on all sharks.  I wonder if they repell all fish?  Swim with dolphins, sharks don’t like dolphins, or is this just an old wives tale?  Bull sharks also eat dolphins, but maybe just small ones.       The Bull Shark – Carcharhinus leucas       Size – Grow from 7 to 11 feet weighing 200 to 500 pounds.       Diet – Fish, (including other sharks and rays), turtles, birds, mollusks and dolphins. It will eat almost anything.       Habitat – The Bull shark is found close to to shore and can live for a while in fresh water, frequenting estuaries, river and lakes. Bull Sharks have been found up to 1,750 miles up the Mississippi River in the USA and 2,500 miles up the Amazon River in Peru.       Reproduction – Bull sharks are viviparous. Litters of up to 13 pups are common after a gestation period of about 1 year. Pups are about 28 inches long at birth. Very young Bull sharks are frequently found in protected bays near the mouths of rivers in briny waters.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My husband and I are avid boaters who currently boat on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  We have just purchased our dream retirement waterfront lot in Port Charlotte (on the Gulf).  We dream of the time when we can walk out of our back yard, drop our boat down from its lift and spend a day on the water fishing, swimming, and enjoying everything FL has to offer.  BUT – with everything we have heard lately about the dangers of sharks in the water, we are now feeling maybe we made a bad decision???  To the FL boaters out there – do you just jump off the transom while anchored in the gulf to cool off or is that dangerous with the sharks everywhere?  We are now also hearing talk about Baracuda. What is the fun of boating in the FL sun if when you get hot you can’t even jump in the water for a swim without being afraid of your arm or leg being bitten off?  The Potomac River is dirty, the Chesapeake Bay is full of jellyfish in the summer and Florida is full of sharks?  Where can a boater retire to that offers year round warm weather and boating without anything in the water to get you?

Response:

Question:

The Longest Silence, Thomas McGuane I’ve only started the book, but I am already humbled by McGuane’s story-telling in this book.

I enthusiastically agree.  Even though most of the material in this book is recycled from "An Outside Chance, 2nd Ed." which was recycled from the first edition, which was a compilation of essays published in "Sports Illustrated" (in their glory days in the 70’s) and elsewhere, this book is a must-read.  McGuane has a gift for writing like nobody else I know. I wish I had been born 15 years earlier, and had been in Key West in the early 70’s, when it was haunted by McGuane, Russell Chatham, Jim Harrison, and Jimmy Buffett.  Don’t even want to go there now, I fear it would be a horrible disappointment. Kevin

Response:

The Longest Silence, Thomas McGuane I’ve only started the book, but I am already humbled by McGuane’s story-telling in this book.   No offense to you guys (many of whom write good <g), but McGuane’s narrative takes me right into the places and experiences in his fishing life, be it fly fishing for trout or spin casting for stripers in the surf.   If the rest of the book is as pleasant as the first part, I just may have to buy a copy.   Definitely a good read.

This is the finest fishing-related book I’ve read in many years. Maybe ever. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

The Longest Silence, Thomas McGuane I’ve only started the book, but I am already humbled by McGuane’s story-telling in this book.   No offense to you guys (many of whom write good <g), but McGuane’s narrative takes me right into the places and experiences in his fishing life, be it fly fishing for trout or spin casting for stripers in the surf.   If the rest of the book is as pleasant as the first part, I just may have to buy a copy.   Definitely a good read. Joe F. Ordinarily I’d finish a book before commenting, but I’m overdue for a decent on-topic post, and I’m really liking this book.

joe, that book is one of my favorites… it’s been awhile, mebbe i’m due for a re-read. walt

Response:

Ordinarily I’d finish a book before commenting, but I’m overdue for a decent on-topic post

    do us all a favor.  send a copy to forty. wayno

Response:

The Longest Silence, Thomas McGuane I’ve only started the book, but I am already humbled by McGuane’s story-telling in this book.   No offense to you guys (many of whom write good <g), but McGuane’s narrative takes me right into the places and experiences in his fishing life, be it fly fishing for trout or spin casting for stripers in the surf.   If the rest of the book is as pleasant as the first part, I just may have to buy a copy.   Definitely a good read.

It just keeps getting better as your read through it. There’s a piece on permit fishing toward the end that is possibly the best thing that I have read on fly fishing. Peter G. Aitken

Response:

The Longest Silence, Thomas McGuane I’ve only started the book, but I am already humbled by McGuane’s story-telling in this book.   No offense to you guys (many of whom write good <g), but McGuane’s narrative takes me right into the places and experiences in his fishing life, be it fly fishing for trout or spin casting for stripers in the surf.   If the rest of the book is as pleasant as the first part, I just may have to buy a copy.   Definitely a good read. Joe F. Ordinarily I’d finish a book before commenting, but I’m overdue for a decent on-topic post, and I’m really liking this book.

Response:

Question:

Turn the Sage (with apologies to Bob Seager *and* Metallica): Here I am, On the road again, There I am, Totin’ the Sage, Here I go, Fishing afar again, There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

Response:

See ya there buddy….leaving tomorrow night…will be arriving with DT and SF…I know you check the web on the road ( I think )… ND#1  ( good song )

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Turn the Sage (with apologies to Bob Seager *and* Metallica): Here I am, On the road again, There I am, Totin’ the Sage, Here I go, Fishing afar again, There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

Response:

Sage doesn’t make a bamboo… I was thinking more along the lines… On the road again I just can’t wait to get on the road again. The life I love is fly fish’n with my friends, And I can’t wait to get on the road again T-14 hours and counting. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Turn the Sage (with apologies to Bob Seager *and* Metallica): Here I am, On the road again, There I am, Totin’ the Sage, Here I go, Fishing afar again, There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

Response:

There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

        me, too, zimbo…that is, if i can even *find* raleigh, nc, at this time of the morning.         i plan to plant the regimental flag of the 55th north carolina, army of northern virginia, further north than it has ever been.         wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Ditto…….T 1 1/2 hours ND#1

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sage doesn’t make a bamboo… I was thinking more along the lines… On the road again I just can’t wait to get on the road again. The life I love is fly fish’n with my friends, And I can’t wait to get on the road again T-14 hours and counting. Paul Turn the Sage (with apologies to Bob Seager *and* Metallica): Here I am, On the road again, There I am, Totin’ the Sage, Here I go, Fishing afar again, There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

Response:

…         i plan to plant the regimental flag of the 55th north carolina, army of northern virginia, further north than it has ever been.

How quaint. Reminds me of another regimental flag of the treasonous states captured by a Minnesota regiment of the Army of the Potomac and recently found in the vaults of the Minnesota Historical Society. Some bunch of history minded Johnnie Rebs from Ole Virginny wanted Minnesota to return their flag. Gov. Jesse Ventura, bless his pointy little head, told ‘em to forget about it, "we took it fair and square" was his official response. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Some bunch of history minded Johnnie Rebs from Ole Virginny wanted Minnesota to return their flag. Gov. Jesse Ventura, bless his pointy little head, told ‘em to forget about it, "we took it fair and square" was his official response.

That’s why I really like Jesse. No mealy-mouthed pussy footing around the issues. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

the issues.

I bet he didn’t even have to take a poll before that response either. Damn I miss Barry Goldwater. Big Dale

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. Damn I miss Barry Goldwater.

No shit. He was a true conservative, the kind that made me a R in my younger days. He had crazy ideas like the government staying out of people’s bedrooms, fiscal responsibility, stuff like that. And he was a pretty comitted environmentalist. Oh, no, wait. That’s not the Republican platform. Goldwater must’ve been just another damn liberal! — "Number 3: Put education first."  – from Geo. W.’s campaign website, list of his top ten concerns

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. Damn I miss Barry Goldwater. No shit. He was a true conservative, the kind that made me a R in my younger days. He had crazy ideas like the government staying out of people’s bedrooms, fiscal responsibility, stuff like that. And he was a pretty comitted environmentalist. Oh, no, wait. That’s not the Republican platform. Goldwater must’ve been just another damn liberal!

Don’t forget, towards the end the conservatives talked about kicking him out for his stance on abortion. — Charlie…

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bedrooms, fiscal responsibility, stuff like that. And he was a pretty comitted environmentalist. Oh, no, wait. That’s not the Republican platform. Goldwater must’ve been just another damn liberal!

I prefer to think that he was a liberterian before the tern was invented. He made points with me when he said that he thought Buchanen was a good democrat. Big Dale

Response:

Yeah, though a libertarian won’t do anything to protect the environment (actually, won’t do anything to stop any private citizen from doing anything bad to any other private citizen short of the classic nine common-law felonies). P.S. Free bicentennial brownie button to anyone who can name those nine felonies. Here’s a hint (prepare for nostalgia, you law docs): mr and mrs lamb. Even more extra credit for anyone who remembers the two apple-stealing cases. — "If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic" — Harry S. Truman

Response:

Question:

Hi folks, I haven’t been flyfishing all that long but I have been pretty successful. I don’t have a problem with low backcasts on my 4wt, but when I am casting #4 or #6 bass poppers on my 6wt as I lengthen the cast the backcast drops, often into the water -or even worse, getting caught up in the bushes.  I’m sure there is a pointer or two that you might know to help me out.  Thanks in advance. Padre

You’re probably just taking the rod back too far on the backcast. Pretend that you’re throwing the line straight up into the air. A double haul should help, too. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Hi folks, I haven’t been flyfishing all that long but I have been pretty successful. I don’t have a problem with low backcasts on my 4wt, but when I am casting #4 or #6 bass poppers on my 6wt as I lengthen the cast the backcast drops, often into the water -or even worse, getting caught up in the bushes.  I’m sure there is a pointer or two that you might know to help me out.  Thanks in advance. Padre

Response:

Padre, Quite often an individual in his/her quest for a cast which does not drop/slap on either the forward or backcast actually excertes way too much effort.  This causes one to lose technique (by which I refer to the motion-with-a-stop basic casting stroke) thereby exacerbating the condition. I would suggest that when this first occurs that you relax and focus on stopping your backcast with the thumb of your casting hand pointing straight up.  This is of course a bit extreme but the result would be a backcast which has a higher trajectory (gives your cast more time to complete), a tighter loop (enables the line to better move that wind-resistant popper!) and restores control of this situation back to you. Remember that casting heavy (chuck-and-duck) or wind-resistant fly’s that the casting motion becomes deliberately slower and longer.  Try to cast one too fast and you would be more likely to butt end load the flyrod causing a larger loop, tired arm and quite possible the fly would ‘tic’ the flyrod causing it to break. Regards, Roger Mihara – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi folks, I haven’t been flyfishing all that long but I have been pretty successful. I don’t have a problem with low backcasts on my 4wt, but when I am casting #4 or #6 bass poppers on my 6wt as I lengthen the cast the backcast drops, often into the water -or even worse, getting caught up in the bushes.  I’m sure there is a pointer or two that you might know to help me out.  Thanks in advance. Padre

Response:

Question:

Ever had one of those days that just keeps getting better and better?  I came home from work today and had a slip to go pick up a package at the post office.  I stayed up tying flies and then someone knocked on the door.  It was the post man with another package from Wayno with raffle items.  Cool shirt and a very nice picture.  So, I go back to tying flies and at 11 am go to the post office and pick up a box from my aunt and uncle.   I get home and there is a fedex guy walking ahead of me.  He stops at the mail boxes after saying hello and I go on to my apartment.  A few moments later there is a knock on the door.  Open the door and Mr FedEx is there.  We both kinda laughed since he could have just given me the envelope outside.  I come back inside and open the box from aunt and uncle and it is one of those talking bass things.  After reading about them here I was a little skeptical so I opened the envelope (again from Wayno). Inside the envelope were a bunch of pictures of the Carolina clave.  I went through these a couple of times and had fun reading the notes on the back of them.  Then I fired ol’ Billy Bass up and got a chuckle from that.  I went through the pictures from Wayno again and think I got more chuckles from those however. So around 12:30 I decide I better get some sleep.  I have to get up at 4:30 to go to work so I lay down and almost as soon as I start falling asleep the phone rings.  I debated on answering it, but given the short time to the clave I decided I better because it might be a clavester in need of assistance.  I answer the phone and it was Bob Card whom you might remember from here a while back.  He and I have been emailing each other for a while because he was supposed to come out here on a business trip.  Didn’t hear from him for about a month so I emailed him again about a week and a half ago. Well, turns out that Bob is going to be in Bozeman this coming up weekend.  He and a friend will be arriving just in time for the clave and will be able to show up friday when they are done and then some on saturday before leaving from Butte Saturday at 6 pm.  Talk about luck!   Bob and I chatted for a bit, but now I am afraid to go to sleep because something else might happen.  I should run out and buy a lotto ticket or something.  The way today is going I will be tired, but I sure as hell am enjoying today anyway!  I even got another dozen tied for my fly box Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the neat flies that somebody sent me.  Got those when I was home for lunch last night.  I shall guard their name as closely as I guard the names of my favorite fishing spots unless they wish to name themselves and start tying up dozens more for the people who will no doubt want a set too <g   Well, maybe I should try and get some sleep. Warren X#-[

Trout Dwellers Unite! Western Conclave Guru For info: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/sp_ROFF_people/wclave/wclave.html

Response:

 Oh, Clavemeister.    You don’t have to guard the name.  They are Frank’s Fightin’ Craws tied in a size ten and a tan color to match Montana crawdads.  With my compliments, I hope they work.                   Frank Reid

You better start tying now.  I imagine you will be receiving orders *very* soon <g  Just make sure to caution everyone that these things do bite.  Took me an hour once I unleashed them to gather them back up and contain them again. Thanks again Frank.  I can’t get over how cool these things are. Warren X#-[

Trout Dwellers Unite! Western Conclave Guru For info: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/sp_ROFF_people/wclave/wclave.html

Response:

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the neat flies that somebody sent me.  Got those when I was home for lunch last night.  I shall guard their name as closely as I guard the names of my favorite fishing spots unless they wish to name themselves and start tying up dozens more for the people who will no doubt want a set too <g

   Oh, Clavemeister.     You don’t have to guard the name.  They are Frank’s Fightin’ Craws tied in a size ten and a tan color to match Montana crawdads.  With my compliments, I hope they work.                    Frank Reid Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

I live in Tucson – what can I say – it’s beautiful today, just like every other day.

Annis-MM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Everyone all good thoughts,and hope your Sunday is as great as mine has been,so far…

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I don’t know about where others are,but the weather here is just fantastic!  Been beautiful up in Wisconsin. Temperatures are still holding in the upper 40’s/50’s. We’ve even seen 70’s the past few weeks. Pretty nice for November up here.  My only "gripe" is I put the boat away back in October…. "My point being that when you argue with animal rights activist about "poor starving children" you might just as well bring up aliens from Mars. As they probably know more about that than being poor, starving or children." Verne Dale Anderson

We never put the boats away… Sea duckin and all ya know ; ) Paulette~ —  A dogs life is too short…    Their only fault really… Before you buy.

Response:

We never put the boats away… Sea duckin and all ya know ; )

 I am turning green w/envy….  Since I don’t have a heated garage, and since it can get below zero fast this time of year, smart money is to winterize it in late October…. "My point being that when you argue with animal rights activist about "poor starving children" you might just as well bring up aliens from Mars. As they probably know more about that than being poor, starving or children." Verne Dale Anderson  

Response:

We never put the boats away… Sea duckin and all ya know ; )  I am turning green w/envy….

heehee I know ; )  Since I don’t have a heated garage, and since it can get below zero fast this time of year, smart money is to winterize it in late October….

Well the harbour hasn’t froze up since 77,and we are a tough old bunch down here. It’s a lot warmer here, although the cold damp ocean air can be bone chilling sometimes. Paulette~ "My point being that when you argue with animal rights activist about "poor starving children" you might just as well bring up aliens from Mars. As they probably know more about that than being poor, starving or children." Verne Dale Anderson

–  A dogs life is too short…    Their only fault really… Before you buy.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Guys~ I haven’t been posting much,as just have been out living the sporting life. : ) I don’t know about where others are,but the weather here is just fantastic! This morning got into the sailing dory,did a bit of fishing (no luck) and a lot of scalloping (mucho luck) and then two of the brown dogs,hubby ad myself,sailed into ‘Fishmonger’s" for breakfast. Everyone was taking pics of Ati and Keeper just being "perfectly beautiful" waiting at the drawbridge for us to return. It really was a classic photo.Two Chessies in a 19th Century Lowell Dory.  In fact I think I am going to do the Christmas pics this year of them all in the ‘Polly N" with them all decorated up. : ) Anyway, after a super breakfast of breakfast burritos,and great coffee, (yes, this place is a favourite) we went back to the boat,and went fly fishing for stripers. Guess what??? Got a HUGE keeper,and Keeper who is quite the "FISHERDOG",went out to retrieve it! So it’s striper for dinner,with swiss chard from the garden and stuffed broiled tomatoes,and rice pilaf… Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Everyone all good thoughts,and hope your Sunday is as great as mine has been,so far… Woof! Paulette~ A dogs life is too short…    Their only fault,really…

OK, after reading your post, I have decided I hate you… *just kidding* But, your did inspire me and my wife to take some time out and go for a wonderful walk around the woods by my house. All of the leaves are pretty much gone, but it was still great, just to get out and enjoy the outdoors, even if just for a few hours. — "Life is too short, for everyone to see things my way" Before you buy.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Guys~ I haven’t been posting much,as just have been out living the sporting life. : ) I don’t know about where others are,but the weather here is just fantastic! This morning got into the sailing dory,did a bit of fishing (no luck) and a lot of scalloping (mucho luck) and then two of the brown dogs,hubby ad myself,sailed into ‘Fishmonger’s" for breakfast. Everyone was taking pics of Ati and Keeper just being "perfectly beautiful" waiting at the drawbridge for us to return. It really was a classic photo.Two Chessies in a 19th Century Lowell Dory.  In fact I think I am going to do the Christmas pics this year of them all in the ‘Polly N" with them all decorated up. : ) Anyway, after a super breakfast of breakfast burritos,and great coffee, (yes, this place is a favourite) we went back to the boat,and went fly fishing for stripers. Guess what??? Got a HUGE keeper,and Keeper who is quite the "FISHERDOG",went out to retrieve it! So it’s striper for dinner,with swiss chard from the garden and stuffed broiled tomatoes,and rice pilaf… Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Everyone all good thoughts,and hope your Sunday is as great as mine has been,so far… Woof! Paulette~ A dogs life is too short…    Their only fault,really… OK, after reading your post, I have decided I hate you…

THat’s okay you can’t get evryone to like you huh,but you can get them to respect you. Although most MEN like me ; ) woman too… *just kidding* But, your did inspire me and my wife to take some time out and go for a wonderful walk around the woods by my house.

Good I like to "inspire" All of the leaves are pretty much gone,

Oh boy haven’t raked much yet,as the leaves are still on the trees,but the place is LEAF LANE,heehee I love shuffling through the leaves,and making a pile and falling down in them. Having a small bonfire and making "s’mores". Anyone like them like I do?  but it was still great, just to get out and enjoy the outdoors, even if just for a few hours.

Yes, I am an outdoor girl, especially a water one. I’m a pisces : ) Hubby is even more the outdoorsman. His nickname is "Rugged Bear" ; ) — "Life is too short, for everyone to see things my way"

I always have to have things my way. I’m like Papa Hemingway when asked " Why does it always have to be your way?" He replied "Because I like it that way" : ) Me too… Paulette~ Before you buy.

–  A dogs life is too short…    Their only fault really… Before you buy.

Response:

I don’t know about where others are,but the weather here is just fantastic! Been beautiful up in Wisconsin. Temperatures are still holding in the upper 40’s/50’s. We’ve even seen 70’s the past few weeks. Pretty nice for November up here.

Lovely here as well, temps in the +20s, no wind, and it hasn’t quit snowing since yesterday (maybe 6 inches or so since yesterday a.m.) and expected to snow for another day or two. Lots of fluff, very pretty, and I’m taking the dogs out for a snowbath later. (best way to get a dog clean during winter, toss favorite toy into a powdery snowdrift 2-3 times… we don’t have wet snow, so it gets the coat clean) My only "gripe" is I put the boat away back in October….

Ours went into the garage back in late Sept. Will be there until about Apr/May I imagine. Cat in Alaska

Response:

I don’t know about where others are,but the weather here is just fantastic!

 Been beautiful up in Wisconsin. Temperatures are still holding in the upper 40’s/50’s. We’ve even seen 70’s the past few weeks. Pretty nice for November up here.  My only "gripe" is I put the boat away back in October…. "My point being that when you argue with animal rights activist about "poor starving children" you might just as well bring up aliens from Mars. As they probably know more about that than being poor, starving or children." Verne Dale Anderson  

Response:

I don’t know about where others are,but the weather here is just fantastic!

    Well, Maryland (at least the Baltimore area), is having *warm* weather… a little rain last night, a misty moisty morning,  with the fog burned off to blue skies and sunshine this afternoon. We’re heading out to the lake, so the dogs can run and maybe swim, in a little bit… it’s actually warm enough for me to ditch my shoes today, hooray! (Point of note: that’s anywhere above about 40 degrees, for me. <g) So it’s striper for dinner,with swiss chard from the garden and stuffed broiled tomatoes,and rice pilaf… Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

   Sounds good….  you’re giving me ideas for dinner! Though I can’t compete with fresh-caught fish… <G – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Everyone all good thoughts,and hope your Sunday is as great as mine has been,so far…

Response:

Hi Guys~ I haven’t been posting much,as just have been out living the sporting life. : ) I don’t know about where others are,but the weather here is just fantastic! This morning got into the sailing dory,did a bit of fishing (no luck) and a lot of scalloping (mucho luck) and then two of the brown dogs,hubby ad myself,sailed into ‘Fishmonger’s" for breakfast. Everyone was taking pics of Ati and Keeper just being "perfectly beautiful" waiting at the drawbridge for us to return. It really was a classic photo.Two Chessies in a 19th Century Lowell Dory.  In fact I think I am going to do the Christmas pics this year of them all in the ‘Polly N" with them all decorated up. : ) Anyway, after a super breakfast of breakfast burritos,and great coffee, (yes, this place is a favourite) we went back to the boat,and went fly fishing for stripers. Guess what??? Got a HUGE keeper,and Keeper who is quite the "FISHERDOG",went out to retrieve it! So it’s striper for dinner,with swiss chard from the garden and stuffed broiled tomatoes,and rice pilaf… Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Everyone all good thoughts,and hope your Sunday is as great as mine has been,so far… Woof! Paulette~ A dogs life is too short…    Their only fault,really…

Response:

Question:

Anyone out there heard of a good trailing shuck imitation.  In jams, I’ve used panty-hose, and of course z-lon when tying.

Aunt Lydia’s rug and craft yarn.

Response:

Anyone out there heard of a good trailing shuck imitation.  In jams, I’ve used panty-hose, and of course z-lon when tying.  I want something a little better. Any suggestions? Thanks- J W Kramer @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@   "See Dick fly-fish.    See Dick catch fish.    See Dick kill fish."           DON’T BE A DICK!  PRACTICE AND TEACH CATCH AND RELEASE @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@

Response:

Question:

I’ll be in Georgia for 6 days (visiting in-laws…) and would love an excuse to get out for a spell. They live near Columbus, but I generally fish only in Eastern Sierra (Northern California). Any suggestions? A good fly shop to call? Thanks! — Fish more, Fret less…

Response:

I’ll be in Georgia for 6 days (visiting in-laws…)

In that part of Georgia you’ll only find warmwater fishing. Callway Gardens at Pine Mountain offers some great float tube fishing for large bream and bass. If you can get up to Atlanta, we have the Hooch; and if you have time to get into the mountains, there are too many opportunities to list here. Let me know more about your plans — maybe I can be of more assistance. — Visit Dave Teffeteller’s Fly Fishing Guides Home Page http://www.olfart.com

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