Question:

I mean to fish the Delaware, and maybe Esopus and Beaverkill if I can find time and space. There are supposed to be decent fly fishing waters in Dutchess Cty., NY and eastern CT. If so, what type of rod, line wgt, and so forth would be a good starting point. In the early season should I stay with smaller flies or bugs? -Ray

Response:

The West Branch is fairly big water.  To cover your bases here I think a good multi-piece 5 wt. in 9 ft. length would cover you.  For flys, match the size of the bugs on the water.  SIZE MATTERS! — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I mean to fish the Delaware, and maybe Esopus and Beaverkill if I can find time and space. There are supposed to be decent fly fishing waters in Dutchess Cty., NY and eastern CT. If so, what type of rod, line wgt, and so forth would be a good starting point. In the early season should I stay with smaller flies or bugs? -Ray

Response:

Question:

  When the fight was finally over, I had a mullet in my hands that tipped the scales at 5lbs.  Hooked two more but they escaped.  Don’t know if I will get a chance like that one again any time soon but it was quite a thrill.

Good for you Mu. I remember you mentioning the bread trick in the past. Now you know they will take a baitfish and just this knowledge might result in future success.  Are these the same mullet they have in Florida? I remember John Popp posting about fishing for them in Florida. Willi

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’ve heard that mullet are basically vegetarian in their diet preferences. They consume mostly detritus and kelp.  Throwing bread repeatedly over the course of several days can result in a hookup if a "bread" fly is used once the fish have become accustomed to eating the bread.  Today I came upon a school of mullet that were chasing batifish in the near shore surf. A wave would surge and a school of mullet looking like a horde of surfers could be seen as the wave crested high enough so that light would shine through the aqueous column.  Still, I didn’t expect to hook any but I was hoping that maybe there were other predatory fish lurking about that might hit my fly.  I cast a #4 burnt-orange llama/red-fox squirrel tail/white bucktail clouser into the school of bait and hooked up with a very stong fish. I managed to get it into the shallow water about 15 times before I finally landed it.  This fish made 15 runs!  I thought I had hooked what might’ve been a world record (fly-caught) corbina.  When the fight was finally over, I had a mullet in my hands that tipped the scales at 5lbs.  Hooked two more but they escaped.  Don’t know if I will get a chance like that one again any time soon but it was quite a thrill. Mu

If the mullet were actually chasing baitfish, it would seem that they’re not hard-core vegans after all, in which case a future hookup wouldn’t seem so unlikely… /daytripper (With a name change, Mullet could hit the big time!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve heard that mullet are basically vegetarian in their diet preferences. They consume mostly detritus and kelp.  Throwing bread repeatedly over the course of several days can result in a hookup if a "bread" fly is used once the fish have become accustomed to eating the bread.  Today I came upon a school of mullet that were chasing batifish in the near shore surf. A wave would surge and a school of mullet looking like a horde of surfers could be seen as the wave crested high enough so that light would shine through the aqueous column.  Still, I didn’t expect to hook any but I was hoping that maybe there were other predatory fish lurking about that might hit my fly.  I cast a #4 burnt-orange llama/red-fox squirrel tail/white bucktail clouser into the school of bait and hooked up with a very stong fish. I managed to get it into the shallow water about 15 times before I finally landed it.  This fish made 15 runs!  I thought I had hooked what might’ve been a world record (fly-caught) corbina.  When the fight was finally over, I had a mullet in my hands that tipped the scales at 5lbs.  Hooked two more but they escaped.  Don’t know if I will get a chance like that one again any time soon but it was quite a thrill. Mu

are you sure they weren’t baby tarpon?

Response:

Well done Mu.  Our mullet behave abominably at times. Racing after Clousers looking for all the world like they are going to take, then turn away. Thats during the summer.  During winter they do hit flys quite readily – I think there are a lot less people feeding them bread in winter . Our attempts with bread flies have been pretty ordinary so far with losts of interest but no takers … we put it down to drag in the areas we fish … rocky platform above a reasonable swell isn’t exactly dead-drift water Steve  

Response:

If the mullet were actually chasing baitfish, it would seem that they’re not hard-core vegans after all, in which case a future hookup wouldn’t seem so unlikely… /daytripper (With a name change, Mullet could hit the big time!

Actually this is a very good point.  If bait slingers can catch them on surf gear (or whatever) using local bait species, then the mullet should, in theory, be susceptible to flies.  I guess it depends whether its smell or sight that triggers the take.  We also wondered about their spawning habits and whether this meant they were more like to hit out of aggression (in winter for us). Steve.

Response:

Mu, I had always heard that mullet didn’t take bait.But my experiences tell me other wise.    About 12 years ago i was nightfishing for crappie at a nearby resovoier (drinking water storage , about a mile from Galveston Bay) when i glimpsed shapes that i took for schooling catfish. A better look as they came into my lights showed them to be mullet. At about that time i begain seeing mayflies everywhere around the lights and on the water, the crappie weren’t biting so i got out my flyrod and tied on the closest thing i had. No luck at first but the third or fourth pattern did the trick.not once but 5 or 6 timesbefore they quit biting and went elsewhere. I have tried for years to catch another, but so far zip,zilch, nada, nothing. One magic moment on one magic night. But you are right they do put up a fight that will suprise you.  Keep tring and good luck. Gary "still growing older…but not growing up" I’ve heard that mullet are basically vegetarian in their diet preferences. They consume mostly detritus and kelp.

snip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I cast a #4 burnt-orange llama/red-fox squirrel tail/white bucktail clouser into the school of bait and hooked up with a very stong fish. I managed to get it into the shallow water about 15 times before I finally landed it.  This fish made 15 runs!  I thought I had hooked what might’ve been a world record (fly-caught) corbina.  When the fight was finally over, I had a mullet in my hands that tipped the scales at 5lbs.  Hooked two more but they escaped.  Don’t know if I will get a chance like that one again any time soon but it was quite a thrill. Mu

Response:

Good for you Mu. I remember you mentioning the bread trick in the past. Now you know they will take a baitfish and just this knowledge might result in future success.  Are these the same mullet they have in Florida? I remember John Popp posting about fishing for them in Florida.

Not sure if these are the same.  The ones we have here are striped mullet. I’ve seen them go airborne frequently and always wondered what it would be like to hook one.  I just figured it was so unlikely that I never bothered. For some reason they were behaving in a very predatory fashion today.  Back east, mullet are used as bluefish bait. Mu

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve heard that mullet are basically vegetarian in their diet preferences. They consume mostly detritus and kelp.  Throwing bread repeatedly over the course of several days can result in a hookup if a "bread" fly is used once the fish have become accustomed to eating the bread.  Today I came upon a school of mullet that were chasing batifish in the near shore surf. A wave would surge and a school of mullet looking like a horde of surfers could be seen as the wave crested high enough so that light would shine through the aqueous column.  Still, I didn’t expect to hook any but I was hoping that maybe there were other predatory fish lurking about that might hit my fly.  I cast a #4 burnt-orange llama/red-fox squirrel tail/white bucktail clouser into the school of bait and hooked up with a very stong fish. I managed to get it into the shallow water about 15 times before I finally landed it.  This fish made 15 runs!  I thought I had hooked what might’ve been a world record (fly-caught) corbina.  When the fight was finally over, I had a mullet in my hands that tipped the scales at 5lbs.  Hooked two more but they escaped.  Don’t know if I will get a chance like that one again any time soon but it was quite a thrill. Mu

Here in the Netherlands, lacking most of the offical ‘gamefish’, mullet are more and more regarded as the poor mans bonefish. From what I heard from other fishermen they should be catchable with a weedfly, basically a hook with a bunch of green marabou. Colour and shade to match the local weed variety, match the hatch . I tried to catch them a couple of times, but no luck (yet!). When they are not actively feeding they can be hard to spot, and _very_ easily spooked by flylines. YMMV, of course.. Herman —         Cheers, Herman         Herman Nijland         Daytime webmaster         Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

In article <Pine.SOL.4.33.0203260224520.2990-100000 Back east, mullet are used as bluefish bait.

yeah, but the only ones I’ve seen are in the 5-7" range, not 5-7lb. range!!!

Response:

If the mullet were actually chasing baitfish, it would seem that they’re not hard-core vegans after all, in which case a future hookup wouldn’t seem so unlikely…

It’s rare that I’ve seen this many baitfish so close to shore. /daytripper (With a name change, Mullet could hit the big time!

Moollet the dogs out! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!

Response:

are you sure they weren’t baby tarpon?

I’ll post a pic once I develop the film. Mu I need to get a digital camera

Response:

Our attempts with bread flies have been pretty ordinary so far with losts of interest but no takers … we put it down to drag in the areas we fish … rocky platform above a reasonable swell isn’t exactly dead-drift water

The waves were gnarled and tortured in the area I was fishing.  I actually tried using an intermediate line for a while since the baitfish were just a few inches below the surface.  For some reason, using a fast sinking line worked out better.  We only hooked up when we tossed our flies right into the fray.  It was sight fishing, only not to a particular fish.  I’d wait for a swell where I could see the fish and then try to quickly cast to the spot.  It was important not to overshoot the line.  I think the sinking line allowed our flies to be distinguishable from the bait. Mu

Response:

You have a better chance than you may think to take that wild ride again. When mullet are actively feeding in quieter waters they are easily caught. The secret is chumming. Get a bag of chicken scratch feed (small pellets not grain), grab a handful, wet it forming a cohesive ball, squeezing excess water out. Throw the ball out into the water. The mullet will come running and form a feeding frenzy. Cast any wetted (so it sinks slowly) brown, small, dry fly into the middle of the feeding fish and hang on. They seem to be seasonable feeders so a hookup out of season is uncommon. Their mouth is very weak and tear easily. Their runs are strong long and reel screaming fast. Not unlike bone fish. A good size mullet on a 3 to 5 wt fly rod (as you already know) is a ball. Keep trying, it’s worth it. — John Popp in Sanford Fl. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve heard that mullet are basically vegetarian in their diet preferences. They consume mostly detritus and kelp.  Throwing bread repeatedly over the course of several days can result in a hookup if a "bread" fly is used once the fish have become accustomed to eating the bread.  Today I came upon a school of mullet that were chasing batifish in the near shore surf. A wave would surge and a school of mullet looking like a horde of surfers could be seen as the wave crested high enough so that light would shine through the aqueous column.  Still, I didn’t expect to hook any but I was hoping that maybe there were other predatory fish lurking about that might hit my fly.  I cast a #4 burnt-orange llama/red-fox squirrel tail/white bucktail clouser into the school of bait and hooked up with a very stong fish. I managed to get it into the shallow water about 15 times before I finally landed it.  This fish made 15 runs!  I thought I had hooked what might’ve been a world record (fly-caught) corbina.  When the fight was finally over, I had a mullet in my hands that tipped the scales at 5lbs.  Hooked two more but they escaped.  Don’t know if I will get a chance like that one again any time soon but it was quite a thrill. Mu

Response:

I had always heard that mullet didn’t take bait.But my experiences tell me other wise. I have tried for years to catch another, but so far zip,zilch, nada, nothing. One magic moment on one magic night.

Yeah, I’m wondering if this is only a once a year sort of thing.  I rarely see so many baitfish within casting distance.  Usually the baitfish are beyond the breakers.  I’d need a 400 ft cast to reach the area where the pelicans are divebombing into the water. Mu

Response:

Everything that’s being said make them sound alot like carp ("freshwater bonefish").

Yes.  In fact sounds very similar.  The fish actually looks like a large minnow.  The ones we have here have stripes faintly reminiscent of striped bass. It’s cool you chanced upon some actively feeding mullet (on active prey), but if they are like carp, it might be a few years before it happens again.

The other option is a long leader and a kelp fly on floating line.  The likelihood of one taking a kelp fly when there’s so much of the natural stuff floating around is minimal. Mu

Response:

Cast any wetted (so it sinks slowly) brown,

We tried several different flies but you’re right, brown definitely seemed to trigger the best response even though these fish were chasing baitfish. A good size mullet on a 3 to 5 wt fly rod (as you already know) is a ball

I was using a Scott STS 9 wt saltwater rod with a 12 lb tippet.  In protected waters a 5 or 6 weight would probably have been adequate.  In fact, considering their reputation for being easily spooked, a light line may in fact be necessary when fishing for them in harbors and estuaries. Mu

Response:

are you sure they weren’t baby tarpon? I’ll post a pic once I develop the film. Mu I need to get a digital camera

…my elbow is lactating in anticipation of the suckle of your photos…. jeff (well, the catholic priest thing is gettin old)

Response:

…my elbow is lactating in anticipation of the suckle of your photos…. jeff (well, the catholic priest thing is gettin old)

And you wonder why I didn’t want my socks back?  Jeez! Wolfgang man, that’s just WRONG!        :(

Response:

I’ve only twice had carp "hit" an active fly, indicating they were interested in feeding on something that might get away. Mostly they’re just sucking up whatever is around if it smells good or looks good or whatever else goes through their pea-brain. Very challenging to catch.

If you don’t regard it as unethical (I would, but that’s because I’d not want to eat a carp and I’d feel bad about catching them on purpose), you could try chumming for them with commercial popcorn. I’ve fed them sometimes and they’ll get darn near up to my hand for the stuff.  Chum first and then drop in a floating line with popcorn on the hook.   — rbc:  vixen    Fairly harmless remove invalid or hit reply to email. Though I’m very slow to respond. http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

Now you’re on to it (gear wise). I fish for them in the inter coastal waterway but at certain times of the year they come up the St.Johns river almost to the head waters.At these times the banks are wall to wall fishermen with all kinds of gear including cane poles. In my case a 3wt fly rod. — John Popp in Sanford Fl. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cast any wetted (so it sinks slowly) brown, We tried several different flies but you’re right, brown definitely seemed to trigger the best response even though these fish were chasing baitfish. A good size mullet on a 3 to 5 wt fly rod (as you already know) is a ball I was using a Scott STS 9 wt saltwater rod with a 12 lb tippet.  In protected waters a 5 or 6 weight would probably have been adequate.  In fact, considering their reputation for being easily spooked, a light line may in fact be necessary when fishing for them in harbors and estuaries. Mu

Response:

And you wonder why I didn’t want my socks back?  Jeez! Wolfgang man, that’s just WRONG!        :(

shh…i’m workin the boots angle now, maybe a rod and reel.  socks were just an appetizer…  bring plenty of gear to penns. <g jeff

Response:

When I was in Japan, we caught mullet on small shrimp. I was fishing for a different type of fish but on occasion we’d catch a mullet. Very smelly fish but well worth the fight. I imagine a small shrimp pattern would work. Tsuribaka

Response:

If you don’t regard it as unethical (I would, but that’s because I’d not want to eat a carp and I’d feel bad about catching them on purpose), you could try chumming for them with commercial popcorn. I’ve fed them sometimes and they’ll get darn near up to my hand for the stuff.  Chum first and then drop in a floating line with popcorn on the hook.

My friend said he caught many carp from the Colorado River on a 6 wt while staying at a casino in Laughlin, Nevada.  Apparently, the fish are so used to guests throwing popcorn that a white fly would get attacked immediately. Mu

Response:

When I was in Japan, we caught mullet on small shrimp. I was fishing for a different type of fish but on occasion we’d catch a mullet. Very smelly fish but well worth the fight. I imagine a small shrimp pattern would work.

These mullet didn’t smell very much.  Barracuda and smelt can be stinky around our local waters.  Here’s a photo www.umich.edu/~muyoung/mullet.jpg

Response:

I’ve heard that mullet are basically vegetarian in their diet preferences. They consume mostly detritus and kelp.  Throwing bread repeatedly over the course of several days can result in a hookup if a "bread" fly is used once the fish have become accustomed to eating the bread.  Today I came upon a school of mullet that were chasing batifish in the near shore surf. A wave would surge and a school of mullet looking like a horde of surfers could be seen as the wave crested high enough so that light would shine through the aqueous column.  Still, I didn’t expect to hook any but I was hoping that maybe there were other predatory fish lurking about that might hit my fly.  I cast a #4 burnt-orange llama/red-fox squirrel tail/white bucktail clouser into the school of bait and hooked up with a very stong fish. I managed to get it into the shallow water about 15 times before I finally landed it.  This fish made 15 runs!  I thought I had hooked what might’ve been a world record (fly-caught) corbina.  When the fight was finally over, I had a mullet in my hands that tipped the scales at 5lbs.  Hooked two more but they escaped.  Don’t know if I will get a chance like that one again any time soon but it was quite a thrill. Mu

Response:

Question:

I too had a similar experience.   Was fishing a new rod and after a while, noticed I wasn’t able to shoot any line out.   Must’ve made a few more casts before realizing the guides were frozen solid. My advice?  If you’re fishing a small lake, try pouring some prestone in it. Keeps it from freezing.   It’s hopeless in a river as the current carries it all downstream and it makes for a very expensive outting. No serious replies please… i was just kidding. Ken. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ahh, ROFF the beautiful… I was in Utah all this week and at the last minute decided not to take a fly rod. That was a mistake because the weather kept getting warmer and warmer. By Wednesday all of the snow had melted and it was downright warm. Bummer. Guess I shoulda packed along a rod and called bc afterall. Anyway, although I checked in on ROFF from time to time while I was away, it took me quite a while to get caught up. Some truly hilarious stuff this week, indeed. Went fishing yesterday afternoon. Who’d a thunk it would be colder in Raleigh than in Utah? The wind finally died down and I took a quick trip over to the pond. A couple of disinterested takes but nothing landed. I started noticing this really odd scraping sound during my forward cast after I’d been fishing for about 10 minutes. I couldn’t figure out what it was. It kept getting louder and louder. The water wasn’t overly murky so it couldn’t be pond scum–maybe the guides are bent, I thought, or perhaps I missed a guide when I threaded up the rod. Duh. Turns out there was ice on the guides!  I had to keep breaking little ice chunks off the guides and line as it kept getting colder and colder. Somehow I thought I was going to be able to fish un-interrupted all year round. Hmm. –Steve Zimmerman

Response:

it was downright warm. Bummer. Guess I shoulda packed along a rod and called bc afterall.

I say a pray to St. Peter, light a candle, we get beautiful weather, a nice midge hatch in the afternoon and your not there For your eyelet’s and ice, try dabbing them with a little RainX – it works. bc. — ROFF is like a herd of performing elephants with diarrhea — massive, difficult to redirect, awe-inspiring, entertaining, and a source of mind-boggling amounts of excrement when you least expect it."

Response:

Happened to me today — and the reel froze solid. Beautiful day though, and I discovered some new water (for me anyway). -Palmer

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ahh, ROFF the beautiful… I was in Utah all this week and at the last minute decided not to take a fly rod. That was a mistake because the weather kept getting warmer and warmer. By Wednesday all of the snow had melted and it was downright warm. Bummer. Guess I shoulda packed along a rod and called bc afterall. Anyway, although I checked in on ROFF from time to time while I was away, it took me quite a while to get caught up. Some truly hilarious stuff this week, indeed. Went fishing yesterday afternoon. Who’d a thunk it would be colder in Raleigh than in Utah? The wind finally died down and I took a quick trip over to the pond. A couple of disinterested takes but nothing landed. I started noticing this really odd scraping sound during my forward cast after I’d been fishing for about 10 minutes. I couldn’t figure out what it was. It kept getting louder and louder. The water wasn’t overly murky so it couldn’t be pond scum–maybe the guides are bent, I thought, or perhaps I missed a guide when I threaded up the rod. Duh. Turns out there was ice on the guides!  I had to keep breaking little ice chunks off the guides and line as it kept getting colder and colder. Somehow I thought I was going to be able to fish un-interrupted all year round. Hmm. –Steve Zimmerman

Response:

Ahh, ROFF the beautiful… I was in Utah all this week and at the last minute decided not to take a fly rod. That was a mistake because the weather kept getting warmer and warmer. By Wednesday all of the snow had melted and it was downright warm. Bummer. Guess I shoulda packed along a rod and called bc afterall. Anyway, although I checked in on ROFF from time to time while I was away, it took me quite a while to get caught up. Some truly hilarious stuff this week, indeed. Went fishing yesterday afternoon. Who’d a thunk it would be colder in Raleigh than in Utah? The wind finally died down and I took a quick trip over to the pond. A couple of disinterested takes but nothing landed. I started noticing this really odd scraping sound during my forward cast after I’d been fishing for about 10 minutes. I couldn’t figure out what it was. It kept getting louder and louder. The water wasn’t overly murky so it couldn’t be pond scum–maybe the guides are bent, I thought, or perhaps I missed a guide when I threaded up the rod. Duh. Turns out there was ice on the guides!  I had to keep breaking little ice chunks off the guides and line as it kept getting colder and colder. Somehow I thought I was going to be able to fish un-interrupted all year round. Hmm. –Steve Zimmerman

Response:

<snipped Duh. Turns out there was ice on the guides!  I had to keep breaking little ice chunks off the guides and line as it kept getting colder and colder. Somehow I thought I was going to be able to fish un-interrupted all year round. Hmm. –Steve Zimmerman

Geeze Steve, That sounds like a mirror image of what happened to me on my last local pond trip! Definitely no fishing for a while until this cold snap (Ha!) buggers off. It’s kinda good that we’re almost through January. Only two more months before it get’s reasonable again! Who hoo! — Michael Era

Question:

It is still early for the steelhead season, but we finally had a week with no rain.  I am wondering if anyone has had a chance to get out to one of the Oregon coastal streams yet and if so, how is the water looking? — Terry Http://flyfishonline.web.com/

Response:

Slid away from the Silicon Forest and went to the Wilson Tuesday afternoon. Conditions were marginal, still recovering from heavy rains of last week. Water lower in the lower basin was still off color. A few hardware fishermen were about and doing no better than the Spey Rod. Been cool and dry since then, should be very fishable now. Best of Y2K to all, — Jeff www.teleport.com/~salmo/jp.htm

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It is still early for the steelhead season, but we finally had a week with no rain.  I am wondering if anyone has had a chance to get out to one of the Oregon coastal streams yet and if so, how is the water looking? — Terry Http://flyfishonline.web.com/

Response:

Question:

I have recently begun fly fishing and am from the New Orleans area. Can anyone offer some specific areas to fish near here. I know there are many places around here, I just don’t know where they are. I am looking for places to fish both from a boat and from shore or wading. I’ve been with a guide, but it won’t take long to run out of money if I use one every time I want to fish. Thanks. Larry

Response:

My suggestion is to go see Tom at Bayou Specialties in Jefferson–he can point you in the right direction–and tell him Jeff Boudreaux sent you. Jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have recently begun fly fishing and am from the New Orleans area. Can anyone offer some specific areas to fish near here. I know there are many places around here, I just don’t know where they are. I am looking for places to fish both from a boat and from shore or wading. I’ve been with a guide, but it won’t take long to run out of money if I use one every time I want to fish. Thanks. Larry

Response:

Lake Calcasieu (sp.?) near Lake Charles is supposed to be excellent for salt water.  You can contact Dave at Orvis Houston 713-783-1111 or an Orvis shop if you have one in N.O. for more info & good guides info. Tight lines Al Carlton

Response:

Larry… was just going through the newsgroups postings and found your request…hope you don’t mind some advice. In order to be successful you need to find an area that you like and get to know it….well! No one can just pull into somewhere they’ve never been before and expect to put fish in the boat. It takes time to learn a spot geographically, as well as the tidal effects, fly selection, etc. Even though I am a guide and have fished all over the US for the last 30 years or so….I always hire a guide the first day or two I go somewhere new. When I feel I know what’s going on, then I strike out on my own…it’s the only way to optimize your chances. As far as the guide thing goes, yes…I agree it is expensive. However, there are ways to captilize on your investment. First…find a good guide who works in the area you want to learn. In New Orleans, I’d call Capt. Kirby LeCour (540-464-1697..tell him I recommended you). Tell him you want to learn the area so you can fish on your own. When you go out, ask a LOT of questions…pay attention to WHERE you go….and spend your time LEARNING…not worrying about how many fish you put in the box. By the way, one gentleman referred you to the ORVIS store in Houston. He also suggested you fish Calcasieu Lake in SW Louisiana. I agree with one of his points…Calcasieu is a great area. I know…I guide here. As for contacting them…well, caveat emptor. If I can be of any help, lemme know. Capt. Briant Smith Lake Charles, LA

Response:

Question:

ZAKANY wrote Since your lawn is new, I would caution against using any weed killer on it this year, or early next year. New lawns usually look poor the first year. For crabgrass, I prefer using a pre-emergent. Thus, I would have you wait to address the crabgrass for two years. Broadleaf weeds, however, can be taken care of about one year from now. Until then, water, overseed, and fertilize your grass/weed mixture.

I agree, especially on the point of giving a new lawn time to establish. Crab grass really don’t compete that much with a lawn–new or old. It comes from a problem or condition (such as being new) with the lawn itself. Occasionally, dry spots that develop in spring will be filled with crab grass by late summer. Yet, the next year, with more rain or better watering, the same spots will have no crab grass problems at all. I have never even bothered with a pre-emergent. Naturally, crab grass pops up here and there but it never takes over provided I have given the lawn reasonable care in the spring and early summer. Also, seeding new lawns in the fall is a good way of minimizing most any weed problems.   -Paul

Response:

Keep on watering and mowing very regularly (and deeply on the watering.).   Put out some fresh grass seed just before watering if you remember it.  The lawn grass will outgrow the crabgrass and it’ll all look great in about a year, maybe two at most.  If you can handle it, mow every 5 days, whether it looks as if it needs it or not.  Most people seem to mow once a week, because it’s an easy way to remember when to do it, but 5 days is the best.  Even on a weekly mowing schedule, it’ll still look good way sooner than you’d think possible. Try to water once a week for about 6 to 8 hours at a time.  Helps the grasses put their roots way down and keeps them surviving hot and dry times. Don’t bother to pull the crabgrass.  For one thing, it’s helping hold the soil until the regular grasses can take over their rightful place. I tilled my entire front lawn early spring and planted URI #1 grass seed.  I now have 65% crab grass and 10% weed and the rest lawn.  I need an inexpensive way to deal with this crab grass.  I am ready to give up on this whole lawn thing and just put crushed stone or something…  I live in RI (New England). Please help.  -Joe —– To reply by e-mail, remove the "XXX" from the above e-mail address.

"If I die of curiosity, who will entertain you with naive questions?"  I only answer my mail on an average of once every two months.  Be patient.  http://www.visi.com/~cyli/

Response:

<<<I tilled my entire front lawn early spring and planted URI #1 grass seed. <<  Crab grass seed is pervasive but doesn’t germinate easily under mulch or a healthy lawn.  In lawn you can stop most weed germination by applying a preemergent such as HALTS in the spring or kill adult (younger is better) crabgrass by spraying with a selective "Crabgrass Killer" product that won’t harm most other grasses. Since your lawn is new, I would caution against using any weed killer on it this year, or early next year. New lawns usually look poor the first year. For crabgrass, I prefer using a pre-emergent. Thus, I would have you wait to address the crabgrass for two years. Broadleaf weeds, however, can be taken care of about one year from now. Until then, water, overseed, and fertilize your grass/weed mixture. Mistakes are the Portals to Discovery…and Ridicule

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I tilled my entire front lawn early spring and planted URI #1 grass seed.  I now have 65% crab grass and 10% weed and the rest lawn.  I need an inexpensive way to deal with this crab grass.  I am ready to give up on this whole lawn thing and just put crushed stone or something…  I live in RI (New  England).

  Crab grass seed is pervasive but doesn’t germinate easily under mulch or a healthy lawn.  In lawn you can stop most weed germination by applying a preemergent such as HALTS in the spring or kill adult (younger is better) crabgrass by spraying with a selective "Crabgrass Killer" product that won’t harm most other grasses. — Lloyd Fortney http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney/ has links to my garden, flower, flyfishing, and travel JPEG images as well as teaching, research, and stuff like that

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I tilled my entire front lawn early spring and planted URI #1 grass seed.  I now have 65% crab grass and 10% weed and the rest lawn.  I need an inexpensive way to deal with this crab grass.  I am ready to give up on this whole lawn thing and just put crushed stone or something…  I live in RI (New  England). Please help.  -Joe —– To reply by e-mail, remove the "XXX" from the above e-mail address.

Response:

I tilled my entire front lawn early spring and planted URI #1 grass seed.  I now have 65% crab grass and 10% weed and the rest lawn.  I need an inexpensive way to deal with this crab grass.  I am ready to give up on this whole lawn thing and just put crushed stone or something…  I live in RI (New England). Please help.  -Joe

Joe, I hate to have you go through all of that work again, but this would be my suggestion. Till up the "lawn" again.  Then water it very good.  Let the weeds and crabgrass grow for a week or two, then till again.  Water heavily and let it grow for another week or two.  Then till again.  I would suggest repeating this process until late august/early september when the temperatures start to break.  The idea is to bring up as many of the weed seeds as possible, let them germinate and then kill them by tilling them up.   If the area is small you might even want to try soil solorization seperately or in conjunction with the tilling.  Just lay down clear plastic sheeting over the area that was tilled and/or  watered heavily. The high heat and moisture under the sheeting will help the weed seeds germinate more quickly and then will burn them out with the intense heat and sunlight.  This is really only good if you are going to have some nice sunny, warm weather in the near future. A day or so after the last tilling rake out all of the dead stuff that you can get out.  You may wish to do this after every tilling before watering again, but it will probably depend upon how much time you have.  Once you have raked out all of the debris possible, grade the lawn and reseed with a good disease resistant grass seed mix (try to find a hybrid name not a common grass seed).  Use Kentucky Bluegrass and/or Perennial Rye for sunny areas and Fine Fescue for shaded areas. You may want to topdress the lawn with some good topsoil and then fertilizer with a good organic fertilizer.  I use a liquid seaweed and fish emulsion mix which is good as a foliar feed or as a soil prep. Keep the grass watered well for the next couple of weeks.  Make sure that the soil is moist most of the time, but no puddles.  Once the lawn begins to establish itself (after a few weeks), begin watering more deeply and less often.  This will encourage deeper root growth which will help the plant withstand the first frosts. In the spring cut your lawn once before it even turns green.  Just take off the very tips of the blades.  Then wait until the lawn is of regular mowing height before cutting again.  This will encourage an early start and will help you beat the weeds.  Mow the lawn long (about 2 1/2 to 3 inches).  This will help shade the ground and keep many weed seeds from germinating in the first place.  Then make sure to bag your lawn clippings when any weeds that may pop up begin to go to seed.  This will prevent these seeds from being a nuisance later. I recommend overseeding the lawn each fall for a few years.  This, along with organic mowing methods described above and a good organic fertilizer program will eventually crowd out your weeds and provide for a nice, thick turf. Regards, Michael Kaufman Organic Lawncare Specialist <http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/klawncare/welcome.htm "Organic Fertilizer and Other Products / ‘FREE’ Organic Lawncare Tips"

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I tilled my entire front lawn early spring and planted URI #1 grass seed.  I now have 65% crab grass and 10% weed and the rest lawn.  I need an inexpensive way to deal with this crab grass.  I am ready to give up on this whole lawn thing and just put crushed stone or something…  I live in RI (New  England). Please help.  -Joe —– To reply by e-mail, remove the "XXX" from the above e-mail address.

Hi Joe.  I’d suggest you contact the U of RI Cooperative Extension office nearest you.  Try to get their publication(s) on turf grasses. They should have them–most states do.  Then follow directions, consulting an extension agent if necessary.  They are very helpful ordinarily.  John Reiner

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Question:

Hello all- I want to relate the experience I had my first time……flyfishing. (You were expecting something else?)   Last winter I ran across a Martin 6/7wt rod & reel at Target. It’s not my first choice for a place to buy fishing gear, but at $20 on clearance I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I upgraded the reel to a Martin 63SS (also on clearance for $10), and then, after much consideration, fitted it w/ an Air-cell WF line.  I already had a float tube and have been enjoying that using my spinning rod. So finally, The Long Winter was over, the staircase I promised my wife for Christmas 3 yrs ago was built, and I hit the water last Sunday (5/18). There’s a small, maybe 80 acre, spring fed lake near my home in East Central MN. that I like to go to….full of Bass, crappie, sunnies, and a few northerns. Just before I was about to take off a wind kicked up out of the N/NE about 15-20 mph, which I figured wouldn’t bode well for a novice, so I went with the idea of probably just practicing casting, maybe staying for an hour or so. ……Four or five hours later, I figured I better quit because my hand was starting to cramp up. I haven’t had that much fun in a LONG time! I think I might be an addict…..I didn’t catch but three fish, none of them wighing much more than the fly, or wooly bugger, or whatever it was I had tied on, but the freedom of the tube along with the lightness of the tackle is, I believe, my kind of sport. I’m already thinking of upgrading again.  Do I have a disease? Thanks for listening.  Just thought I’d share my good times. Later, Pete

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Peter, Sorry to say, but yes you are hooked. It’s a slow, painful, yet incredibly enjoyable death and the support groups are a blast!!! Welcome to the ring and Fish On Fly Boy!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello all- I want to relate the experience I had my first time……flyfishing. (You were expecting something else?)   Last winter I ran across a Martin 6/7wt rod & reel at Target. It’s not my first choice for a place to buy fishing gear, but at $20 on clearance I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I upgraded the reel to a Martin 63SS (also on clearance for $10), and then, after much consideration, fitted it w/ an Air-cell WF line.  I already had a float tube and have been enjoying that using my spinning rod. So finally, The Long Winter was over, the staircase I promised my wife for Christmas 3 yrs ago was built, and I hit the water last Sunday (5/18). There’s a small, maybe 80 acre, spring fed lake near my home in East Central MN. that I like to go to….full of Bass, crappie, sunnies, and a few northerns. Just before I was about to take off a wind kicked up out of the N/NE about 15-20 mph, which I figured wouldn’t bode well for a novice, so I went with the idea of probably just practicing casting, maybe staying for an hour or so. ……Four or five hours later, I figured I better quit because my hand was starting to cramp up. I haven’t had that much fun in a LONG time! I think I might be an addict…..I didn’t catch but three fish, none of them wighing much more than the fly, or wooly bugger, or whatever it was I had tied on, but the freedom of the tube along with the lightness of the tackle is, I believe, my kind of sport. I’m already thinking of upgrading again.  Do I have a disease? Thanks for listening.  Just thought I’d share my good times. Later, Pete

David726 E-mail for further assistance to:

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: Do I have a disease? Oh poor poor Pete!  My pitty goes out to you, and I understand because the same thing has happened to me in the last year. I have it so bad that the other day my wife said I should just go to Alaska for 6 months fishing and get it all out of my system.  Her thought was that then I could come back and be cured of my angling, and recently fly fishing disease. I explained to her that would be equivelant to sending a cocaine addict to Columbia expecting him to come back clean. Does anybody know what the fish in Alaska will be hitting on over the next 6 months.  ;-) — Kevin W. Tharp http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/4351

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Hello all- I want to relate the experience I had my first time……flyfishing. (You were expecting something else?)  

Well sort of.  We get a lot of these, and I was hoping beyond hope that maybe it was in fact something else.  Oh well. Last winter I ran across a Martin 6/7wt rod & reel at Target. It’s not my first choice for a place to buy fishing gear, but at $20 on clearance I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I upgraded the reel to a Martin 63SS (also on clearance for $10), and then, after much consideration, fitted it w/ an Air-cell WF line.  I already had a float tube and have been enjoying that using my spinning rod.

Well you could go wrong, but what the hell! So finally, The Long Winter was over, the staircase I promised my wife for Christmas 3 yrs ago was built, and I hit the water last Sunday (5/18). There’s a small, maybe 80 acre, spring fed lake near my home in East Central MN.

Whoa! Kewl!  Where in Mn pray tell? that I like to go to….full of Bass, crappie, sunnies, and a few northerns. Just before I was about to take off a wind kicked up out of the N/NE about 15-20 mph, which I figured wouldn’t bode well for a novice, so I went with the idea of probably just practicing casting, maybe staying for an hour or so.

Sounds just like MN. ……Four or five hours later, I figured I better quit because my hand was starting to cramp up. I haven’t had that much fun in a LONG time! I think I might be an addict…..I didn’t catch but three fish, none of them wighing much more than the fly, or wooly bugger, or whatever it was I had tied on, but the freedom of the tube along with the lightness of the tackle is, I believe, my kind of sport. I’m already thinking of upgrading again.  Do I have a disease?

Yes.  Most likely.  Some doofus around here might make some lame reference to Traver’s Trout Madness, but not me.  It probably has something to do with minnesota.  Long, round vowels.  Ending sentences with prepositions.  Inclination towards bland foodstuffs. Polka Music (God I hope you don’t live near Sturgeon Lake:-)).  Mosquitos. Calling creeks cricks.  Grain Belt.  The Vikings. Letting an NHL hockey team go like that.  It’s a disease all right, and you have it.   And don’t think that FFing is going to save from it – nope you’re f__king doomed pal. One thing will help, and that doesnt include NEVER GOING TO THE WHITE RIVER NEAR IRON RIVER WISC.  That won’t help you one iota.  So don’t bother going there.  Stay away.  Tell your friends so they go and leave all the good water to you. Thanks for listening.  Just thought I’d share my good times.

Always up for that. </chaz

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Like a Sturgeon.. oh oh… Hooked for the very first time… Like a stur-ur-ur-urgeon… I feel its heartbeat… through my line… I’ll stop now… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

There is.. a fish ..upon a dish.. They call the rising trout… it’s often seen by those who are keen.. but not by those who shout… — Colin J. McPherson B.Eng. Design and Structures Group, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath,Bath,U.K.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Like a Sturgeon.. oh oh… Hooked for the very first time… Like a stur-ur-ur-urgeon… I feel its heartbeat… through my line… I’ll stop now… — TimW Halfordian Golfer There is.. a fish ..upon a dish.. They call the rising trout… it’s often seen by those who are keen.. but not by those who shout…

"…hey !" Now you got the toes tapping…we could be in some serious trouble by friday… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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Sorry if this has been repeated, It was April the 41st, being a quadruple leapyear, I was driving in downtown Atlantis.  My Barracuda was in the shop, so, I was in a rented Stingray, and it was overheating.  So I pulled into a Shell station, they said I’d blown a seal.  I said:  "Fix the damn thing and leave my private life out of it, okay pal?"  While they were doing that I walked over to a place called the Oyster Bar.  A real dive. But I knew the owner, he used to play for the dolphins.  I said "Hi Gill!", you have to yell, he’s hard of herring.   Gill was also down on his luck, fact is he was barely keeping his head below water.  I bellied up to the sandbar, he poured the usual:  Rusty snail, hold the grunion, shaken, not stirred, with a peanut butter and jelly-fish sandwich on the side, heavy on the mako.  I slipped him a finn, on porpoise.  I was feelin’ good.  I even dropped a sand-dollar in the box for Jerry’s Squids, for the halibut.  Well, the place was crowded.  We were packed in like sardines, they were all there to listen to the big band sounds of Tommy Dorsal.  What sole!  Tommy was rockin the place with a very popular tuna:  "Salmon Chanted Evening", and the stage was surrounded by screaming groupers.  Probably there to see the bass player.  One of them, she was this cute little yellowtail.  And she’s givin’ me the eye.  So I figure this is my chance for a little fun, you know, a piece of pisces.  But she said things I just couldn’t fathom.  She was too deep.  Seemed to be under a lot of pressure.  Boy, could she drink.  She drank like a… er, she drank a lot!  I said: "What’s your sign?"  She said: "Aquarian"  I said "great, let’s get tanked".   I invited her up to my place for a little midnight bait.  I said come on baby you wanna, it’ll only take a few minnows.  She threw me that same old line:  "Not tonight, I got a haddock"  And she wasn’t kiddin either cause, in came the biggest, meanest looking haddock I’d ever seen come down the pike.  He was covered with Mussels.  He came over to me and he said:  "Listen Shrimp, Don’t you come trolling around here."  What a crab.  This guy was steamed.  I could see the anchor in his eyes.  I turned to him and said "ah, baloney, you’re just being shellfish."  Well, I know there was going to be trouble, and so did Gil, cause he was already on the phone to the cods.  The haddock hits me with a sucker punch.  I catch him with a left hook.  He eels over.  It was a fluke.  But there he was, lying on the deck, flat as a mackerel.  Kelpless.  I said:  "Forget the cods Gil, this guy’s gonna  need a sturgeon."  Well, the yellowtail was impressed with the way I landed her boyfriend.  She came over to me and she said "Hey bigboy","you’re really a game fish, what’s your name?"  I said "Marlin."   Well, from then on, we had a whale of a time.  I took her to dinner, I took her to dance.  I bought her a bouquet of flounders.  And then I went home with her.  And what did I get for my trouble:  A case of the clams.  

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Like a Sturgeon.. oh oh… Hooked for the very first time… Like a stur-ur-ur-urgeon… I feel its heartbeat… through my line… I’ll stop now… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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Question:

Am interested in books on Atlantic Salmon fishing, and a used/ almost new 10′ single hand fly rod. I fish mostly Newfoundland and New Brunswick, so books dealing with these provinces are of special interest. Sage I know makes a 10′ rod, but am open to alternatives. Fish the Gander/Exploits in Newfoundland and the main southwest Miramichi and welcome swapping tactics, commiserating, and planning the next series of excursions.

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Am interested in books on Atlantic Salmon fishing, and a used/ almost new 10′ single hand fly rod. I fish mostly Newfoundland and New Brunswick, so books dealing with these provinces are of special interest. Sage I know

The best new books appear to be those by Gary Anderson (Montreal) and Paul Marriner (Nova Scotia.) — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Am interested in books on Atlantic Salmon fishing, and a used/ almost new 10′ single hand fly rod. I fish mostly Newfoundland and New Brunswick, so books dealing with these provinces are of special interest. Sage I know The best new books appear to be those by Gary Anderson (Montreal) and Paul Marriner (Nova Scotia.)

I second that. In Gary Anderson’s last book the author actually names the rods he uses, one of which is a 10 ft. Loomis. However, I would also ask you to reconsider your choice of a 10 ft. rod. Except for roll casting and mending the extra length does not seem to offer much of an advantage. In fact, some people consider it a hindrance because of the extra weight and possibly wind resistance, as little as it may be. Mike Crosby of Halifax is probably one of the most succesful slamon fishers in Atlantic Canada. He dissuaded me from going for a 10 ft. rod but recommendeed the 9 ft. rods. Again, the choice is entirely yours. Tight lines. Tom. — Dr. Thomas Hackmann Dept. of Anaesthesia IWK

Question:

Lost my hiking hat in the Chattooga River above Dam Sluice on section one . White hat with many patches from South Carolina state parks, Canadian National Parks (Fundy, Cape Breton, and Gros Morne) patches, and Foothills Trail patches. A lot of memories down the river! If found,  please e-mail: Thank you. James Alverson

Response:

I tried out a couple Feathercraft folding kayaks today and was quite surprised at how well they handled.  I’m seriously thinking about getting one because of the ease of storage and transport. I’d appreciate any experiences you may have with Feathercraft or any other folding kayaks.  I’m mostly interested in ocean day trips and maybe playing in the surf. Thanks,   Ray Roux

Response:

I tried out a couple Feathercraft folding kayaks today and was quite surprised at how well they handled.  I’m seriously thinking about getting one because of the ease of storage and transport. I’d appreciate any experiences you may have with Feathercraft or any other folding kayaks.  I’m mostly interested in ocean day trips and maybe playing in the surf. Thanks,  Ray Roux

You didn’t mention which models you tried, which is important since they have four singles (in order of size) K-Light, Short Touring, K-1, Khatsalano.  Each has its benefits and idiosyncracies. Probably the best for playing in surf is the Short Touring.  It is around 13.5 feet in length but is a whitewater boat at heart and will turn on a dime.  It is also the strongest boat they make in that it incorporates square aluminum tubing as opposed to round (BTW, the hull on all of them is the same, high grade, expedition weight hypalon sourced from France, perhaps the best source for such).  The square stuff is also used in the company’s double, the K-2.  The Short Touring is a bit more difficult for sea kayaking and does require the flip-up skeg option or a rudder to go straight (the skeg is the better of the options for this as all you are looking for is tracking). The K-Light is also a good choice all around for day trips, open water and some surfing.  It is lighter built than other models but tracks well, turns well, and is a delight to paddle; its shorter length, 12 ft. 10 inches also makes it nice for surfing.  The price is right too at $1800 (the other models are considerably more with the Short Touring at around $3000 if I’m not mistaken.). The K-1 tracks extremely well and is a full-fledged ocean touring boat. Like any regular sea kayak it is a bit limited in surf playing but will get you through a surf okay.  It costs just shy of $4000, so consider this choice carefully.  If camping is your game and you want to take weeks of goodies, this is the boat. (It’s around 16 feet long) The Khatsalano, the newest model of the Feathercraft fleet, is a true Greenland styled boat, narrow in beam, upswept ends, and almost 18 feet long.  It comes in two versions, with and without air tubes or sponsons along the side (most foldables have such perimeter tubes including all the Feathercraft mentioned previously).  Both do require good bracing skills and are best for those who know all the Greenland style paddling, bracing, rolling and sculling techniques.  The one with air tubes is the more easily manageable with only a token level of such skills.  The one without demands you have such skills in spades.  It is a $4100 boat, quite expensive. I really would like to answer your question about experiences with other folding kayaks but that would take tons of space and time since I’ve been in just about all of them over the last eight years and even wrote a book regarding folding kayaks.  You might do well to go to one of those coffee shops masquerading as bookstores, get a copy of my book (The Complete Folding Kayaker, McGraw-Hill, 1994) and read over an expresso or latte to learn more about the range of possibilities with folding kayaks and specifics on other available models. If you have specific questions regarding any model, e-mail me or call. ralph diaz — Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 "Where’s your sea kayak?"—-"It’s in the bag."

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Following up on my last post (pardon me): Get a copy of Ralph Diaz’ book _The Complete Folding Kayaker_.  It has a lot of information on folding boats and if the comments on the K-1 are any guide I’d say the information presented is very accurate and reliable. If you want a really beautiful boat, look at the Feathercraft Khatsolano, a Greenland-style boat.  If I were buying now, and assuming it turned out to be not too advanced a boat for me, I’d probably buy the Khat or maybe the "-S" version (with sponsons) jut because it is gorgeous.

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: I tried out a couple Feathercraft folding kayaks today and was quite : surprised at how well they handled.  I’m seriously thinking about getting : one because of the ease of storage and transport. : I’d appreciate any experiences you may have with Feathercraft or any : other folding kayaks.  I’m mostly interested in ocean day trips and maybe : playing in the surf. : Thanks, :   Ray Roux I bought a Feathercraft K-Light this spring. I really like the way

it handles, although have not yet used it in heavy waves. It went very well in strong headwinds and I was able to keep it nicely on course with side winds. (I do not have a rudder), Re. assembly. I keep mine assembled and car top it, but have taken it down and put it together 3 times now. The first time took me (blush) an hour and a half, straight from the box. The second time was 30 minutes, and the last time including greasing all the connections and putting on the two hatch covers, 25 minutes. I think I can do much better than that with a little practice. It helps to mark some of the parts so that I know which way round they go. I have used the boat on lakes so far, but plan to take it to the coast any chance I get.There seems to be lots of room for gear and I think I could easily pack it for a week’s trip. Hope this helps.

Response:

I tried out a couple Feathercraft folding kayaks today and was quite surprised at how well they handled.  I’m seriously thinking about getting one because of the ease of storage and transport. I’d appreciate any experiences you may have with Feathercraft or any other folding kayaks.  I’m mostly interested in ocean day trips and maybe playing in the surf.

We have two K-1’s and have done a little paddling in them so far — in Puget Sound, off Monterey, and off San Diego.  In this admittedly limited experience we found them to be stable (noticeably more so than the hardshells I’ve tried), reasonably fast (better than some plastic boats I’ve tried; I don’t have experience in fancy Kevlar boats to compare), comfortable, roomy (we were able to fit camping gear, a two-burner Coleman stove, and a pair of crutches in ours without problems), of high build quality (after inspecting the pieces, I understand why they cost so much — there is a ton of machining, welding, anodizing, sewing, etc. in each boat; much more manufacturing effort than in hardshells), easy to store in the closet and ship by airplane, and (the only negatives) heavy to haul around (at the airport, rent a baggage cart!) and rather a chore to put together (despite practice, it still takes me 1/2 hour per boat with some effort.)   All in all, we love our boats and even if I had a garage to store a fully-assembled boat in, I’d probably still buy a Feathercraft because I like how it paddles and _love_ being able to fly somewhere fun and then paddle _my_ boat, not some rental boat.  I’d just leave it assembled! The K-1s track well, turn well with rudder and OK without (keeping in mind that it is a sea kayak meant to go straight.)  I haven’t much surf experience and can’t say how they would handle there.  The sea sock makes me feel very secure and the hatches seem pretty much watertight.   There is less water at the bottom of my wife’s boat after a day of paddling (1cup) than in the typical plastic boats we’ve tried; my boat may have a little "weep" or maybe I’m just a messy guy since there is usually a little more (2 cups), but again not a troublesome amount.  The hulls show no damage or really any wear, although we are careful with them too. I also demo’d the K-Light and thought it was a nice boat, and the lower price and 33-pound weight was tempting.  Because we wanted room for week-long trips, we went for the K-1’s.  The longer wider boat also felt a little more reassuring.  We also tried the K-2 but had no prior experience in a double so can’t really comment. One thing about the Feathercrafts: because of their hardshell-style cockpits they aren’t so handy for fishing, carrying coolers to the beach party, lazing around and getting a tan, and so on.  If I wanted more versatility I would also look at the Klepper and Folbot which have open cockpits.

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: I tried out a couple Feathercraft folding kayaks today and was quite : surprised at how well they handled.  I’m seriously thinking about getting : one because of the ease of storage and transport. : I’d appreciate any experiences you may have with Feathercraft or any : other folding kayaks.  I’m mostly interested in ocean day trips and maybe : playing in the surf. : Thanks, :   Ray Roux Hello Ray, I bought a Feathercraft K-1 last summer and have been out in it around 18 times. I also bought it for its convenience in storage (I live in an apartment) and I also was very impressed with how it handled. BUT, I have found that the assembly and disassembly is a pain when one is using it primarily for day trips. It really takes 45 minutes to an hour to assemble and another 45 minutes to disassemble. When one just wants to get out for a day’s paddle that extra 1-2 hours is a drag.  And if one is paddling with folks who have hardshells, they aren’t too happy waiting for one to put part A into part B.  I now leave my boat assembled for the season (My landlord lets me store it in the basement). If you are ONLY interested in day trips (I do plan to do kayak touring) then you should consider the smaller Feathercraft. The K-Light is said to be much much easier to assemble and disassemble and also is highly rated for handling. The K-light is also a lot less expensive that the K-1. –Doug Denholm —         P.O. Box 79226                       Waverley, MA 02179     "We’ll burn that bridge when we get to it."  

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Question:

Is there a ".marketplace" version of this newsgroup?  I was told that there is but I can’t find it. Thanks

Response:

I just caught up on some of the previously posted stuff and I now realize that my buddy was encouraging me to vote FOR a NEW newsgroup (the "marketplace" version I was wondering about). Therefore….nevermind. Dave

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