Question:

Nah, If you were really Welsh we wouldn’t have understood a thing you said! ) — Wayne (the Welsh invented Welshe’s Grape Juice….now, the Scotch on the other hand, made themselves useful!!!) To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

I’m Welsh, and from your comments – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – above, Wales doesn’t exist! Seriously the Foot & Mouth epidemic is causing us a lot of problems.  I have organised a day out for a group of disabled anglers next week, and as the access to the fishery is via a farm, the outing has been cancelled.  Most public rights of way are closed. Some closures may seem a bit "knee-jerk", but F & M is serious, so we’ll put up with the inconvenience. I’m sure there are contingency plans for the admission of people (not just anglers) to the USA. — Bill Grey http://www.billboy.co.uk

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Wayne (the Welsh invented Welshe’s Grape Juice….now, the Scotch on the other hand, made themselves useful!!!)

They invented tape? ,      - Ken

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Nah, If you were really Welsh we wouldn’t have understood a thing you said!

ROTFL — Bill Grey http://www.billboy.co.uk

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Christopher Thomas emigrated to the colonies around 1634, from County Cairmarthen.  His parents were Tristram and Elizabeth Thomas.  I am not implying that you should have known any of these folk. <BG

Well, I live about half an hour from Carmarthen Town, of course the county is considerably larger. Thomas is quite a common name in Wales, though I’m surprised to hear the name Tristram as far back as 1634. — Bill Grey http://www.billboy.co.uk

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Let’s just say we’re talking after W.W. II and before the end of the Vietnam War.  Those 9 cases were where?

Before 1929, when the last was reported (as of that edition).  There were cases, 1 in Mexico and 1 in Canada, in the fifties that resulted in border quarantines.  If there were experiments with it pre-1975 and let’s say, for argument’s sake, post Dien Bien Phu, I’d suspect these were to release on SE Asia to mess up the buf population.  I just don’t see it being as that big an issue in the US (well, really, as a current naturally-active virus, anywhere in the Americas, a few parts of SA excepted, and as a weapon, the possible exception of parts of Mexico and CA) anymore.  Plus, it can be vacc’ed out. There are numerous reasons UK and Continental herds seem to get hit with this type of thing (or MCD, etc.), and some of it herd management practices, but some is space-related, and perhaps surprisingly, some is actually caused by the EU and politics. IMO, ranching practices in the Americas are such that it could and would be quickly contained because it would start and initially remain highly localized.  It could be economically bad for industry segments, but it wouldn’t cause a total collapse of the food supply, nor a strain on the agricultural output because of the extremely limited use of working cattle. TC, R

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Richard, did you receive the e-mail I sent you of the leather fly wallet a week of so ago?  If so, was it similar to the one that you have? — Opie  –Planning for the Past–

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Richard, did you receive the e-mail I sent you of the leather fly wallet a week of so ago?  If so, was it similar to the one that you have?

Well, you obviously didn’t get my response <G.  Yes, I did, and thanks – I sent you an email in response, but our ISP was purchased by Prodigy, and we have been going through the "take-over" process, so I’m not 100% certain of what gets to me or out on this account. Anyway, I had some questions and possible info, so when I can get back to the msg. I sent, I’ll resend.  Basically, it appears similar, but it was hard to tell, sorry.  IIRC, you were wondering about age, as well, and based on what I can deduce from my situation, mine is from the very late 1800’s or first quarter of the 1900’s.  As of yet, I haven’t gathered any real history on mine.  Was your dad able to shed any further light on yours? Along the same, er,  "lines" <G:  Willi, if you read this, where are we on the "conversation" resend and have you gotten the NL from OGJ? I hadn’t heard either way. TC, R

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As widespread as this tragedy is, it appears the whole country is under seige.  People are being arrested for possible quarantine violations and a sense of panic emerges.  The last outbreak in the early 90’s didn’t get quite so much attention here in the US as this one.  I think public awareness of HaM as a bio-warfare agent is greater.  We can only hope this comes under control quickly. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

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"Tragedy"  is not really the right word in my opinion.  This and other similar things are simply the result of pre-programmed catastrophes waiting to happen.   Keeping massive quantities of livestock in unsuitable conditions, feeding them on questionable substances, well laced with all sorts of growth hormones, including various other wide-band medication, legal and otherwise, all in the name of profit. Is the main reason for such outbreaks. Couple this with the "free-trade" in such stuff, and you have the perfect scenario for a catastrophe. The only thing that really surprises me is that we do not have a lot more of the same, especially considering the conditions and circumstances in which other animals are kept and raised.  To call this "farming" is a sad joke. Perhaps our tofu days are nearer than we think? TL MC — "Curiosity is not necessarily a sign of intelligence" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As widespread as this tragedy is, it appears the whole country is under seige.  People are being arrested for possible quarantine violations and a sense of panic emerges.  The last outbreak in the early 90’s didn’t get quite so much attention here in the US as this one.  I think public awareness of HaM as a bio-warfare agent is greater.  We can only hope this comes under control quickly. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

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Bill, my dad has said that his side of the family are of Welsh/Irish decent. I believe it was my paternal Grandmother’s family.  They are Thomas’.  My paternal Grandfather was a Bowen–as, DUH– and they were from Ireland.  Do you know any Thomas’?  I believe we are descended from the Christopher Thomas line.  Christopher Thomas emigrated to the colonies around 1634, from County Cairmarthen.  His parents were Tristram and Elizabeth Thomas.  I am not implying that you should have known any of these folk. <BG Mark Harrington Bowen  a/k/a The Postmaster

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – writes With the outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in England, Scotland, and Ireland, closurers of farmland to hikers are taking place.  What will be the impact on fishermen of these closurers for the immediate future and will the approaching spring season be endangered by events?  This brings into question whether fly fishermen from infected regions should be permitted into the US to fish US waters.  I fish a spring creek where fishermen are in close proximity to cattle. I’m not going to answer, because I’m Welsh, and from your comments above, Wales doesn’t exist! Seriously the Foot & Mouth epidemic is causing us a lot of problems.  I have organised a day out for a group of disabled anglers next week, and as the access to the fishery is via a farm, the outing has been cancelled.  Most public rights of way are closed. Some closures may seem a bit "knee-jerk", but F & M is serious, so we’ll put up with the inconvenience. I’m sure there are contingency plans for the admission of people (not just anglers) to the USA. — Bill Grey http://www.billboy.co.uk

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Dad said he believed that the wallet came from either England or Scotland, due to the no. marking and that he believed it to have been made about the same time period as you stated for yours. Opie  –Planning for the Past–

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, you obviously didn’t get my response <G.  Yes, I did, and thanks – –snippage… IIRC, you were wondering about age, as well, and based on what I can deduce from my situation, mine is from the very late 1800’s or first quarter of the 1900’s.   TC, R

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writes With the outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in England, Scotland, and Ireland, closurers of farmland to hikers are taking place.  What will be the impact on fishermen of these closurers for the immediate future and will the approaching spring season be endangered by events?  This brings into question whether fly fishermen from infected regions should be permitted into the US to fish US waters.  I fish a spring creek where fishermen are in close proximity to cattle.

I’m not going to answer, because I’m Welsh, and from your comments above, Wales doesn’t exist! Seriously the Foot & Mouth epidemic is causing us a lot of problems.  I have organised a day out for a group of disabled anglers next week, and as the access to the fishery is via a farm, the outing has been cancelled.  Most public rights of way are closed. Some closures may seem a bit "knee-jerk", but F & M is serious, so we’ll put up with the inconvenience. I’m sure there are contingency plans for the admission of people (not just anglers) to the USA. — Bill Grey http://www.billboy.co.uk

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As widespread as this tragedy is, it appears the whole country is under seige.  People are being arrested for possible quarantine violations and a sense of panic emerges.  The last outbreak in the early 90’s didn’t get quite so much attention here in the US as this one.  I think public awareness of HaM as a bio-warfare agent is greater.  We can only hope this comes under control quickly.

HUH!?  Foot and Mouth as a "bio-warfare agent?"  It really doesn’t affect the US, and it isn’t really fatal (OK, _maybe_ as some odd, hoping-for-damage form of "bio-terrorism"), but as warfare, it would be like one force sneezing on the other’s troops in battle and hoping they came down with really bad colds.  Are you sure you aren’t talking about anthrax?   TC, R

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The first experiments were with hoof-and-mouth because of its dispersement properties.  It was believed an intensified and more virulent strain could be developed which would incapacitate enemy troops and have a short life span to permit rapid occupation. — Wayne (not that I have any knowledge of such development or dispersement experiments) To Fish is Human…To Release Divine! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HUH!?  Foot and Mouth as a "bio-warfare agent?"  It really doesn’t affect the US, and it isn’t really fatal (OK, _maybe_ as some odd, hoping-for-damage form of "bio-terrorism"), but as warfare, it would be like one force sneezing on the other’s troops in battle and hoping they came down with really bad colds.  Are you sure you aren’t talking about anthrax? TC, R

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The first experiments were with hoof-and-mouth because of its dispersement properties.  It was believed an intensified and more virulent strain could be developed which would incapacitate enemy troops and have a short life span to permit rapid occupation.

Um, are we talking WWI here (seriously)?  I can’t imagine using this virus, even "hopped" up (well, I guess it depends HOW hopped up).  I understand it just isn’t all that bad in its er, untampered-with form, as B/C’s go, and its danger in humans is even less than in bovine/ovine/equine pops.  It is basically non-existent in the US – most current RM texts that I have only give it a mention at best, but a early sixties edition of "Stockman’s" talks of 9 cases being reported in the US up to that point.  To the best of knowledge, I’ve never even seen it, in the US or otherwise.  It would seem its damage is mostly herd economics, rather than "danger" in the "mad cow" sense. TC, R

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With the outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in England, Scotland, and Ireland, closurers of farmland to hikers are taking place.  What will be the impact on fishermen of these closurers for the immediate future and will the approaching spring season be endangered by events?  This brings into question whether fly fishermen from infected regions should be permitted into the US to fish US waters.  I fish a spring creek where fishermen are in close proximity to cattle. Wayne to fish is human….to release divine!!  —–  Posted via NewsOne.Net: Free (anonymous) Usenet News via the Web  —–   http://newsone.net/ — Free reading and anonymous posting to 60,000+ groups    NewsOne.Net prohibits users from posting spam.  If this or other posts

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Practically all fishing is closed as of now. Most waters are closed, and will remain so for some time.  Access to farmland etc is also extremely restricted. Many measures are being implemented to prevent the spread of the disease. Experience suggests that most will be ineffective. This is unfortunate, but a fact. Attempting to stop the spread of such viral diseases in this day and age of extremely high traffic in all directions is more or less impossible. Transport mechanisms for these diseases are in any case not fully understood. If you need more info on this, there is plenty flying around.  Specific fishing info may be obtained from the groups: uk.rec.fishing.coarse uk.rec.fishing.game uk.rec.fishing sea One assumes that special disinfectionary measures will be introduced in many places, as is already implemented at channel crossings etc. Trucks are obliged to drive through disinfection troughs etc etc. Whether such measures prove effective is a moot point. It remains to be seen whether America and other countries implement specific measures. TL MC — "Curiosity is not necessarily a sign of intelligence" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – With the outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in England, Scotland, and Ireland, closurers of farmland to hikers are taking place.  What will be the impact on fishermen of these closurers for the immediate future and will the approaching spring season be endangered by events?  This brings into question whether fly fishermen from infected regions should be permitted into the US to fish US waters.  I fish a spring creek where fishermen are in close proximity to cattle. Wayne to fish is human….to release divine!!  —–  Posted via NewsOne.Net: Free (anonymous) Usenet News via the eb  —–   http://newsone.net/ — Free reading and anonymous posting to 60,000+ groups    NewsOne.Net prohibits users from posting spam.  If this or other posts made through NewsOne.Net violate posting guidelines, email

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Let’s just say we’re talking after W.W. II and before the end of the Vietnam War.  Those 9 cases were where? — Wayne (just guessing at these dates and possible derivative strains) To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

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Mike, we are all party to the development of cheap food production procedures, even unwittingly. I am not convinced that this is the problem at all. Frequent transportation IMO is more likely: why do sheep need to be transported to Germany, then on to Belgium and from there to Italy.? This is madness. Surely the most economical method would be to kill near origin and ship as carcases? It would remove all the suffering, too. Or does transportation attract a subsidy? I know for a fact that car panels, made in Shropshire are shipped to Italy for labelling, then reimported to the UK because they then gain a subsidy. What about all the pollution caused by the lorry transprot over those distances? All unneccessary. All part of the EC madness. Chris

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Tragedy"  is not really the right word in my opinion.  This and other similar things are simply the result of pre-programmed catastrophes waiting to happen.   Keeping massive quantities of livestock in unsuitable conditions, feeding them on questionable substances, well laced with all sorts of growth hormones, including various other wide-band medication, legal and otherwise, all in the name of profit. Is the main reason for such outbreaks. Couple this with the "free-trade" in such stuff, and you have the perfect scenario for a catastrophe.

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Question:

Great post!  Sounds like a great trip… Flying in the mountains sounds too cool to this "flat-lander".   Shoot, all we worry about hitting around here are big antennas.   Someday… What a shame about the "party-campers".   Speaking as someone who has both inflicted that treatment on others (in my younger days, many moons ago), and as someone who has had it inflicted on him (in more recent years), I can sympathize with your plight. And I guarantee you that your departure probably caused great agony!  :) An aside:  After one particularly awful night a few years ago, spent camping next to people who partied loudly ALL night long, we discovered the PERFECT revenge: My then-4-year-old son’s "Big Wheel" tricycle! The sound of that plastic wheel scraping over the gravel-covered ashpalt road was the most annoying sound you can imagine — and we let him ride up and down continually in front of their tents — starting at 6:30 AM! "Revenge is a dish best served cold…" — Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Warrior N33431

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Finally, my turn for some vacation time.  First one since 1997.  Planned to depart Aug 4 for a bit of fishing in Idaho… didn’t get away until Sunday the 6th.   North from SLC to Hailey Idaho (Sun Valley) for fuel. Nice service, took courtesy car into town and got a fishing license, back in the air in 1:15.  First destination was Graham USFS strip (U45) – looked beautiful in the "Fly Idaho" book.  There was apparently a fire in there either last year or the year before.  Nothing now but snags on barren hillsides, not even a tree for shade to pitch a tent under. Passed it by, landed at Warm Springs (0U1).  There is a nice camping area provided by Idaho State Aeronautics (paid for with aeronautics funds, supposedly reserved for pilots).  Bad news – all three areas were taken up by some people who had driven in there for free camping, complete with loud party, boom box, dogs (nice little ones like a rottweiler and a chow which were aggressive and not leashed).  We ended up camping on the other side of the strip in a not so nice place.  Got up early and departed (Monday) – hope the hangovers got full effect of the take-off     :–)     Someday, I want to go back there and hike to the hot springs (about

Question:

Well I headed up to one of my favorite hex ponds yesterday to do some dry fly hexing. We arrived at the pond with high winds. So I headed down the pond in my old indian brand fiberglass canoe, semi basket case but light and good to fish from. It’s been heavily repaired with fiberglass to make it seaworty but it is so much stealtier than my aluminum.  There were a few hex’s starting to pop up here and there and a few fish rising to them so I prayed for a respite from the howling Maine winds. It was not to be. First thing, on my third cast I broke my "new" HI Lucky ace off at the top ferrule on the mid section, somebody (me) apparently did a piss poor replacement job. Not to be discouraged I paddled all the way back to the landing to get a replacement. Whereon I discovered that the owner of one of the two camps on the pond bragging about how he had coerced the State into stocking Splake ( a bastard hybred of a brookie and a lake trout) to "control" the smelt population. Great, this dub is trying to kill off the feed that makes this pond grow mega slab sided brookies, seemed like a duh to me. Now we’ve got camp owners playing at fisheries management…of course he’s happy to troll up a few splake and claims there are no big schools of smelt anymore on his fish finder…I’m happy for him….rather than argue the topic I just paddled back down the pond to fish. Anyway I managed a couple of 12-14" brookies on my hex pattern when I heard this awful cracking and moaning coming from the seat of my canoe. the %$^#* seat was splitting in half – time for a diet I decided anyway the darn thing sank an inch or two but didn’t part the way completely. Finally as dark came on the wind picked up even more so I beached the canoe for the night. Then it began to rain, and rain, and rain you get the idea. this morning the wind was still howling so we drove down to the West Branch of the Penoboscot river to fish for salmon. the rubber hatch was on (rafters) and the water was high and colored, at least some of it from the heavy overnight rains. I had one hit nymphing and managed to yank the fly out of the fishes mouth and into the tree behind me where I ended up leaving it. Hit another good pool downstream in time to watch another angler manage a decent landlock, caught a freaking chub and went back to camp for lunch. My pond was now covered in 2-3 foot white caps so I bagged it and came home instead of praying to the ghods of calm sunsets. Driving out we got pounded by a mega thunderstorm so the decision to leave was probably ok. On the way out I saw a large black bear, and the usual assortment of moose, a bald eagle, a couple of red tailed hawks, a ton of rabbits and some partridge, good wildlife viewing trip anyway. Tierd and weary, 6 hours later, I arrived home to find my latest ebay treasure, a shakespear 1305B in 9 foot in a gigantic plano plastic case (destined to go into the yard sale pile). It’s missing an eye and while dubbing with it the reel seat came apart because the pin is missing…sometimes I should stay home, go to the dump and mow the lawn…naw that’s no fun… so anyway kids the hex’s are on up in Baxter country but the weather was not conducive to the frenzied evening rise to same…at least for me this weekend. Flyfish — dave’s homepage madness http://www.ctel.net/~brooktrout flyfishing in Maine and more

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Thanks for the nice report anyway. These reports make one wish one was fishing, remind one of the mishaps which inevitably occur, sometimes leaving fond memories, and sometimes swollen feet or similar, but they are all extremely interesting. TL MC — "In order to know what is possible one must constantly attempt the impossible" http://www.mikeconnor.de

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well I headed up to one of my favorite hex ponds yesterday to do some dry

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Question:

I am wondering what type of experiences people have had fishing smallmouth in the Quetico in early September.  We have a group who has gone on several spring trips thinking about a fall trip.  Several of us are fly fishermen, so in particular, I’m wondering if the fish use shallow areas this time of year or if they begin to go deep. Thanks Peter Jonas Iron Mountain, MI

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I am wondering what type of experiences people have had fishing smallmouth in the Quetico in early September.  We have a group who has gone on several spring trips thinking about a fall trip.  Several of us are fly fishermen, so in particular, I’m wondering if the fish use shallow areas this time of year or if they begin to go deep.

        They are still deep in early Sept. Don’t forget they don’t care about the air temp., they care about the water temp. And by the end of Aug. the water is as warm there as it gets. Mornings and evenings might still be okay though. But otherwise think late Sept., early Oct. tgb

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Question:

 Anxious to try my new Diamondback All American 6.5 ft. 3 wt. rod I brought it into work today.  Fortunately I have a huge lake right out the back door of my office.  I don’t usually fish warm water but this was the first chance I would have to try the rod.  I started with a #16 Bead Head Hare’s Ear nymph.  The rod was a little slower than I remember it but felt great.  Line was a SA Mastery WF3F with about 4 ft. of the forward section removed.  I attached a Cortland loop tip and AirFlo 5 ft. light trout leader.  The tippet was 5X.  I felt the Fly Logic FLP 345 was a little heavy for the rod.  I will probably look for something lighter.  The cork was large for this small rod and filled my hand nicely.  The rod tip is soft enough to flip over just the tippet nicely and the butt has the stifness to pump out a 40 ft. cast effortlessly.  Diamondback uses unsanded blanks and first impression is of a rough finish.  Wrappings are well done in dark green and the rod has a pleasing appearance.  The ferrul lacks witness marks, I’ll remedy this later.  I threw the nymph and a #8 popper with rubber legs and hair tail in yellow (per Big Dale’s recommendation).  The rig let me pinpoint casts along the riprap to individual fish and gave me all the rod I needed for casts reaching beyond 50 feet into the lake. Considering I had my back against a steep bank and had to reach up to give the back cast room, I think this was excellent distance.  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! — Wayne To fish is human….To release Divine! Before you buy.

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….  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing!

A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion. — Ken Fortenberry

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 I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion.

I was about to say the same thing, but Ken beat me to it while I was looking up the Maryland state record bluegill.   It was 3 lb. 7 oz., caught in August 98.

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"I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing!" Gee Wayne, sorry you had to be stuck with such teeny,tiny fish to test the new rod.  Mostly it’s been my experience that those little ones just get hooked and give up right away- almost jump up on the bank to throw in the towel against one of those husky 3wt’s. BTW- mind sending along your business address if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I don’t really have to take that trip to the AuSable – I mean it’s not written in stone or anything   Jim McCreary

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I second that emotion, there ain’t nuthin much more fun than hit’n on a bunch of pound and half pumpkin seeds and blue gill on a 3wt. I’ll be doing it again in the morning. I enjoy both but don’t have the opportunity to really fish but maybe twice a year so I must REALLY fish each weekend. All in fun Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion. I was about to say the same thing, but Ken beat me to it while I was looking up the Maryland state record bluegill.   It was 3 lb. 7 oz., caught in August 98.

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1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I second that emotion, there ain’t nuthin much more fun than hit’n on a bunch of pound and half pumpkin seeds and blue gill on a 3wt. I’ll be doing it again in the morning. I enjoy both but don’t have the opportunity to really fish but maybe twice a year so I must REALLY fish each weekend. All in fun Jim  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion. I was about to say the same thing, but Ken beat me to it while I was looking up the Maryland state record bluegill.   It was 3 lb. 7 oz., caught in August 98.

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around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year. Jim

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill I second that emotion, there ain’t nuthin much more fun than hit’n on a bunch of pound and half pumpkin seeds and blue gill on a 3wt. I’ll be doing it again in the morning. I enjoy both but don’t have the opportunity to really fish but maybe twice a year so I must REALLY fish each weekend. All in fun Jim  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion. I was about to say the same thing, but Ken beat me to it while I was looking up the Maryland state record bluegill.   It was 3 lb. 7 oz., caught in August 98.

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Bill, Lake Anna near Mineral Virginia.  I work at the nuclear power station on Lake Anna.  Our shoreline has areas of large rip-rap which grows VERY large bluegill and attracts a nice population of 1 to 3 pound bass as well.  I didn’t read the carp on a fly thread but we have 20 to 30 pounders in abundance ( our European members are having woodies by now). Wayne To fish is Human….To Release Divine.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill

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Bluegill is around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year.

Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Big Dale

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Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill?

Because the NAACP has issued a tourism boycott of South Carolina ? Works for me. — Ken Fortenberry

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Well let’s see, I have Virginia and South Carolina now.  Think I could make a weekend trip from Arizona? Times are getting desperate.  I got stuck in a job doing 65 hours per week and no weekends.  I decided an education was the only way out.  I just finished a BS degree in Information Systems and got certified in VB 6.0. Now if I can just find employment with weekends off I can chase those big Bluegill again.  Haven’t had a chance to breath in the last two years and if I don’t catch a good fish soon I’m going to lose it!  Major withdrawal symptoms taking effect. Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bill, Lake Anna near Mineral Virginia.  I work at the nuclear power station on Lake Anna.  Our shoreline has areas of large rip-rap which grows VERY large bluegill and attracts a nice population of 1 to 3 pound bass as well.  I didn’t read the carp on a fly thread but we have 20 to 30 pounders in abundance ( our European members are having woodies by now). Wayne To fish is Human….To Release Divine. 1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill

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Fish was caught using a fly rod, but he had a spinning reel on it dropping a jig into shore cover in a tailrace canal. It was an ugly damn thing but man was it big…. Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bluegill is around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year. Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Big Dale

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Sheesh Big Dale, I can’t even conjur up an image of a 6# bluegill, it gives me the shakes to imagine that monster on my 3 wt.  Can you say "into the backing"? :-0 Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bluegill is around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year. Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Big Dale

Response:

Bill, it will come with time, I spent 20 yrs in the navy and had no time, I’m now 54 and have averaged 104 days per year on the water for the last four years. I don’t do weekends or windows anymore. Jim

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Well let’s see, I have Virginia and South Carolina now.  Think I could make a weekend trip from Arizona? Times are getting desperate.  I got stuck in a job doing 65 hours per week and no weekends.  I decided an education was the only way out.  I just finished a BS degree in Information Systems and got certified in VB 6.0. Now if I can just find employment with weekends off I can chase those big Bluegill again.  Haven’t had a chance to breath in the last two years and if I don’t catch a good fish soon I’m going to lose it!  Major withdrawal symptoms taking effect. Bill Bill, Lake Anna near Mineral Virginia.  I work at the nuclear power station on Lake Anna.  Our shoreline has areas of large rip-rap which grows VERY large bluegill and attracts a nice population of 1 to 3 pound bass as well.  I didn’t read the carp on a fly thread but we have 20 to 30 pounders in abundance ( our European members are having woodies by now). Wayne To fish is Human….To Release Divine. 1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill

Response:

i agree i might give up a few days of steelhead fishing for 6 pound bluegills!!! krombear I wonder if fish get thirsty

Response:

OK Guys, Come on down!  Access to this section of Lake Anna shoreline is with Virginia Power employee escort only.  I’ll lead the motorcade down to the parking area and assign beats to the fishermen.  At the recreation facility adjacent to the bluegill fishing we have restrooms, picnic shelters, grills, vollyball courts, and alcohol consumption is allowed.  Preferred beverages are Macallans and The Famous Grouse.  You buy. Wayne To Fish is Human….To Release Divine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing!" Gee Wayne, sorry you had to be stuck with such teeny,tiny fish to test the new rod.  Mostly it’s been my experience that those little ones just get hooked and give up right away- almost jump up on the bank to throw in the towel against one of those husky 3wt’s. BTW- mind sending along your business address if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I don’t really have to take that trip to the AuSable – I mean it’s not written in stone or anything   Jim McCreary

Response:

OK Guys, Come on down!  Access to this section of Lake Anna shoreline is with Virginia Power employee escort only.  I’ll lead the motorcade down to the parking area and assign beats to the fishermen.  At the recreation facility adjacent to the bluegill fishing we have restrooms, picnic shelters, grills, vollyball courts, and alcohol consumption is allowed.  Preferred beverages are Macallans and The Famous Grouse.  You buy. Wayne To Fish is Human….To Release Divine.

An "ROFF ‘Gill Clave" in the making??  But will there be hats?? Little concerned ’bout those "glow in the dark" nuclear ‘gills though- is that what makes em so plentiful. Jim

Response:

… Little concerned ’bout those "glow in the dark" nuclear ‘gills though- is that what makes em so plentiful.

Don’t know anything about Lake Anna but here in central Illinois there’s a nuke plant on Clinton Lake and the warm water discharge does extend the growing season. Doesn’t make for more fish but bigger fish than you’d expect otherwise. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

You might even get to meet Strom himself, if you’re lucky enough to catch him between naps. jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Because the NAACP has issued a tourism boycott of South Carolina ? Yeah, but you’d get to hang out with people who voted for Strom Thurmond<g. — Charlie…

Response:

does anyone else think there may be a relationship between the "nuclear power plant" and the 3 lb bluegills???  wasn’t that a roger corman movie?? jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sheesh Big Dale, I can’t even conjur up an image of a 6# bluegill, it gives me the shakes to imagine that monster on my 3 wt.  Can you say "into the backing"? :-0 Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED Bluegill is around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year. Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Big Dale

Response:

Wayne, I’d be interested taking you up on your offer and coming up there, perhaps for a one-day deal sometime this winter. There’s plenty good bluegill fishing within a few blocks of my house, but it would be fun anyway. There are several of us close enough to make it up there and back in a single day–I’ll bet that Tom Brown and my buddy Bill Crone would come along, and perhaps some of the other NC ROFFians. Perhaps one of the days between Christmas and New Years… Is the fishing still decent at that time of year? Steve Zimmerman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK Guys, Come on down!  Access to this section of Lake Anna shoreline is with Virginia Power employee escort only.  I’ll lead the motorcade down to the parking area and assign beats to the fishermen.  At the recreation facility adjacent to the bluegill fishing we have restrooms, picnic shelters, grills, vollyball courts, and alcohol consumption is allowed.  Preferred beverages are Macallans and The Famous Grouse.  You buy.

Response:

Steve, If you want to do this, let me know.  My only hesitation is that this guy is also an engineer and he survived several days fishing with Walt earlier this year and seemingly, escaped unscathed.  I’ve never managed more than one day with Walt, and was scared, even then.  Hell, I think Marie liked him, too.  We gotta be careful, here….. Tom — Tom Brown The Signal Group Wake Forest, NC HEATHEN, n. A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel.                – Ambrose Bierce: The Devil’s Dictionary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wayne, I’d be interested taking you up on your offer and coming up there, perhaps for a one-day deal sometime this winter. There’s plenty good bluegill fishing within a few blocks of my house, but it would be fun anyway. There are several of us close enough to make it up there and back in a single day–I’ll bet that Tom Brown and my buddy Bill Crone would come along, and perhaps some of the other NC ROFFians. Perhaps one of the days between Christmas and New Years… Is the fishing still decent at that time of year? Steve Zimmerman OK Guys, Come on down!  Access to this section of Lake Anna shoreline is with Virginia Power employee escort only.  I’ll lead the motorcade down to the parking area and assign beats to the fishermen.  At the recreation facility adjacent to the bluegill fishing we have restrooms, picnic shelters, grills, vollyball courts, and alcohol consumption is allowed.  Preferred beverages are Macallans and The Famous Grouse.  You buy.

Response:

"nuclear power plant" and the 3 lb bluegills???  wasn’t that a roger corman movie??

Made me think of a Simpson’s show when Bart caught a 3 eyed fish while fishing below the neclear power plant. Do any of those 3lb. fish have three eyes? Big Dale

Response:

"nuclear power plant" and the 3 lb bluegills???  wasn’t that a roger corman movie?? Made me think of a Simpson’s show when Bart caught a 3 eyed fish while fishing below the neclear power plant. Do any of those 3lb. fish have three eyes? Big Dale

Of course not…….but the bigger ones do have two tails. jim

Response:

Question:

Too late! You two would make a *perfect* couple. How ’bout a honeymoon to Yellowstone? congrats, Herman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wolfgang,    Plano is my choice also.  They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Ernie Harrison Jesus Ernie!  We’ve got to stop agreeing on everything like this or people are gonna start thinking we’re…well….you know.  Besides, despite Mike’s eloquent plea for restraint and good fellowship I kinda like the usual Sturm und Drang which characterizes this place.  Can’t we find something to fight about?

Response:

Too late! You two would make a *perfect* couple. How ’bout a honeymoon to Yellowstone?

Hey, back off Wolfie, Ernie’s mine.   GRRRRR.   ,      - Ken —

Response:

Well Wolfgang,    We could fight about where we are going to meet tonight. Ernie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wolfgang,    Plano is my choice also.  They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Ernie Harrison Jesus Ernie!  We’ve got to stop agreeing on everything like this or people are gonna start thinking we’re…well….you know.  Besides, despite Mike’s eloquent plea for restraint and good fellowship I kinda like the usual Sturm und Drang which characterizes this place.  Can’t we find something to fight about?

Response:

Too late! You two would make a *perfect* couple. How ’bout a honeymoon to Yellowstone?

me think about this for a while.

Response:

The risk of Wheatley boxes (and their clones) is the dreaded Wheatley hatch. Flip one of the covers while you’re in the stream, and chances are that you loose half of the content. Just my 0.02 Euro worth..

LOL! "Wheatley Hatch" – I love it! I had one of those with a tiny Wheatley (Wheatlette?) box which was crammed with minutiae (24’s and smaller), while standing at the Cable Pool on the SJ. I still don’t know how many critters found their freedom that morning… I have two of those shirt-pocket size boxes – all the rest of my W’s use the foam strips. Lesson learned… /daytripper

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi Odd question I know, but what is the best way to carry flies?  I have about 150 flys ranging from 22 gnats to size 6 streamers and am trying to find the best overall flybox. I just bought a perrine aluminum box which holds flys in a coil, this works for the size 10s-18s but is not quite so good for the larger flys and is useless for the 22s. Also, my flys are a mix of nymphs, drys and streamers. Should I put my drys in a compartmented fly box? or is the coil holder ok? Thanks KB

Plastic with ripple foam or compartments. 6 of em = 1 Wheatly. Joel Axelrad

Response:

Hi Mike

Hi Kevin, Suitable fly-boxes have always been a major problem, especially if you engage in several types of fly-fishing.( as I do ). I have found it impossible to find one fly-box suitable for all occasions, and I have tried every fly-boy available. The best ones (  apart from the Wheatleys ) are the ones I have made myself.  If the Wheatleys could be made in plastic ( Oh heresy !!!! ) and floated when dropped, and did not rot, and did not dent when  dropped on the only stone within half  a mile, they would be just about perfect. I started using the colour coded boxes fairly quickly, as the types and styles of fly I use increased beyond my capability of keeping track. There is nothing more annoying than trying to get a weighted nymph to float in the surface film !   I colour code my nymphs at the fly bench, depending on weight, but it is still a bloody nuisance picking them out of a full box, especially when the little red spot of varnish ( extra heavy, ten windings of lead  ! ) has worn off.  Colour coded boxes make the whole thing easier. I admit I am a fly freak, and carry anything up to ten thousand ( yes ! I mean it !!! ) flies on  any given trip, so I have a lot of experience. The magnetic solution is quite good, but still sometimes results in crushed hackles. The hooks are magnetised through contact with the magnets, and tend to spring into positions dependent on their intrinsic magnetic fields, which can be a nuisance, otherwise this method is about the best, especially for large flies. If you get the right shape of magnet, the flies are held securely without crushing. The display magnets I mentioned are very powerful, and will hold even large flies in a high wind. They will also hold tiny nymphs satisfactorily. You should have a look in a good stationary store ( artists supplies etc, ) they usually have wide selections of these magnets for pennies. Get the size and shape of magnets to suit your flies, you can glue several different magnets into one box if you wish, depending on how many types of flies you wish to carry. The reason I use the sandwich boxes is that the marabou and similar wings on large flies just will not fit in standard boxes without half the marabou or whatever, being trapped in the damn lid when you close the box. The sandwich boxes are much deeper.  One of the best boxes I have found is the "Curver" sandwich box. This is three inches deep, and carries pike and saltwater flies perfectly, without crushing, and without trapping stuff in the lid. I have several of these boxes ( they are cheap ) some lined with foam, and some with magnets, I have upwards of a thousand flies in each box. My "medium" size seatrout box contains over three thousand flies with ease. Have a good look round before you decide what to get. Half the fun is getting your gear together properly.  I have spent many a winter night "sorting" flies from one box to another, when I should have been tying. I enjoyed it just as much. I am sure you will get lots of advice on this theme here, and I am looking forward to hearing some of the replies myself. Fly containers are one of the biggest problems for the flyfisherman. TL MC

Response:

Line ??????  I think I just lost the drift ?    What the hell is the matter with you folks tonight ?  Or am I too many whiskies ahead ? Tight lines anyway, time for bed I think. MC

Response:

Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah Nah! Naaaaah! Well, maybe the nerve is the SECOND thing to go George! twitch twitch _______  I would not touch this line with a twenty foot fly rod. Self control George!  Self control! 1,2, 3 . . . pant, pant! I will not rise to this drift/troll.

– Wayne To fish is human….To release Divine! Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

The risk of Wheatley boxes (and their clones) is the dreaded Wheatley hatch. Flip one of the covers while you’re in the stream, and chances are that you loose half of the content.  Just my 0.02 Euro worth.. Cheers, Herman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mike Thanks for your reply.  I’ll look around for the wheatley boxes you suggest. Hi Kevin, A knockoff of the Wheatley box (about  1/3 of the price) is the Okuma. Here is the link for an Okuma from my site. Be warned, it is a good box but it is not the quality of a Wheatley. http://www.ezflyfish.com/ezflyfish/okwinflybox.html For streamers, I like a saltwater style plastic compartmentalized boxes, they segregate the patterns well and it is easy to see what is in each box. an example: http://www.ezflyfish.com/ezflyfish/corunflybox1.html if you have any questions, feel free to ask me… apologies to the group… "John’s" e-mail address is fake. –Walt — Ezflyfish.com                 Blue Ridge Book Gallery Quality Gear & Service        Used & Out-of-Print Books http://www.ezflyfish.com      http://www.abebooks.com/home/BLUEBOOKS P.O. Box 5112  Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828)963-5001

– Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

Hi Odd question I know, but what is the best way to carry flies?  I have about 150 flys ranging from 22 gnats to size 6 streamers and am trying to find the best overall flybox. I just bought a perrine aluminum box which holds flys in a coil, this works for the size 10s-18s but is not quite so good for the larger flys and is useless for the 22s. Also, my flys are a mix of nymphs, drys and streamers. Should I put my drys in a compartmented fly box? or is the coil holder ok? Thanks KB

Response:

. . .  am trying to find the best overall flybox.

I use transparent plastic boxes (Myran? Myrant?, something like that), except for a Wheatley swing-leaf given me as a gift.  In one, about 4×6" I keep all the dries I might be using.  The Wheatley gets all the nymphs for the day.  In several other divided plastic boxes I separate flies by dry or nymph, big and little, but these are pretty much for storage, and stay in the duffle.  Big streamers, nymphs, etc., live in their own box. I just bought a perrine aluminum box which holds flys in a coil

Mine got rusty years and years ago, the hooks got rusty too.  Am I a lazy slut, or what? Anglerboy — Trout fear me, Women want me.

Response:

Hi Mike Thanks for your reply.  I’ll look around for the wheatley boxes you suggest. I was trying to see if there was just one box I could carry (being the minimalist that I am), but I think that  you’re right, keeping them stored in color coded boxes probably makes more sense. That way I can get boxes that match the size of the hooks too. Using magnetic fly holders is a darn fine idea!  Do you find the hooks stick OK even when they are jossled around a bit? Do you have any bother with your streamers hanging out the sides of the boxes? I use lots of marabou so the flies are quite bulky. One of the problems I’ve had is finding a box big enough to store them without having to carry a suitcase. Thanks. It’s very helpful to get your advice. Otherwise I’d end up using trial and error and buying a bunch of boxes that are no good. Kevin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A vexed question.   For dry flies and spiders I use Wheatleys compartment boxes. Not ideal, and expensive, but about the best I have used to date. For streamers and standard wet flies and nymphs in all sizes, I use scientific anglers ethafoam lined boxes colour coded so I know which is which, cheap and effective. Works great unless you use barbless hooks. For barbless hooks I use Sandwich boxes from my local supermarket, with strips of magnetic tape glued in. I coat the tape with epoxy to prevent it rusting. There are also various shaped magnets for display boards available, which may be glued into boxes and used for the same purpose. Coat with epoxy to prevent rusting. For small amounts of flies a used small  film canister of clear plastic is a great and cheap container. Just don’t put too many flies in one canister. The same canister drilled all around with small holes and affixed to a lanyard on your vest, jacket etc, makes a great drying box. TL MC

Response:

In one, about 4×6" I keep all the dries I might be using.  

Hmm, I was wondering if drys are better in compartments rather than clipped on. I found it tricky putting them in the coil without crushing the hackle. The Wheatley gets all the nymphs for the day.  In several other divided plastic boxes I separate flies by dry or nymph, big and little, but these are pretty much for storage, and stay in the duffle.  Big streamers, nymphs, etc., live in their own box.

So you don’t use any sort of clipping system at all? Just compartments? Is this easier to find the flys? I just bought a perrine aluminum box which holds flys in a coil Mine got rusty years and years ago, the hooks got rusty too.  Am I a lazy slut, or what?

Oh great! I just spent $26 on the damn thing! Said on the packaging that it won’t rust! Kevin Trout laugh at me, Women walk on me.

Response:

Hi Mike Thanks for your reply.  I’ll look around for the wheatley boxes you suggest.

Hi Kevin, A knockoff of the Wheatley box (about  1/3 of the price) is the Okuma. Here is the link for an Okuma from my site. Be warned, it is a good box but it is not the quality of a Wheatley. http://www.ezflyfish.com/ezflyfish/okwinflybox.html For streamers, I like a saltwater style plastic compartmentalized boxes, they segregate the patterns well and it is easy to see what is in each box. an example: http://www.ezflyfish.com/ezflyfish/corunflybox1.html if you have any questions, feel free to ask me… apologies to the group… "John’s" e-mail address is fake. –Walt — Ezflyfish.com                 Blue Ridge Book Gallery Quality Gear & Service        Used & Out-of-Print Books http://www.ezflyfish.com      http://www.abebooks.com/home/BLUEBOOKS P.O. Box 5112  Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828)963-5001

Response:

I just bought my 11 year old son a Cabela’s box with the nubby stuff instead of foam.  We got home and put some flies in it then pulled them out.  It works!  It holds well and lets them go when you pull.  I dropped it about 2 feet onto a table to see how many flies came loose and none did.  (I am pretty sure weighted streamers might pop out under those conditions.) I am thinking about picking some up for myself. (No association with Cabela’s other than as a paying customer.) — — Sherman Dunnam www.flyfishingjournal.com Stream Reports, Free Fishing Software & More

Response:

Whatever your name is AKA John Smith, I tried fooling around with different size boxes for sorting flys and it seemed like a damn fine idea.  What I discovered was the multiple boxes take up more room than a single larger box.  When I tried to create specialty boxes for different fishing situations (ie, small stream box) I always left out the flys I wanted when I got on stream.  I now carry two boxes, one for trout and one for smallmouth.  Bluegill and largemouth are fed from the smallmouth box.  The Millstream box with ripples on both sides worked better in the long run than the nubs in my Cortland box.  I’m going to drill a few holes to facilitate drying if I take a dunking (has happened a couple of times) as the boxes are not waterproof.  Most plastic boxes with ripple foam are manufactured by or knockoffs of the Millstream. Granddaddy always told me a man should be willing to sign his name to anything he writes.  If he’s not willing to sign his name then his word isn’t worth the paper its written on.  If you’re afraid of a little SPAM then get the hell off the internet.  You spend more time ducking it than deleting the crap. Wayne To fish is human…to release Divine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Odd question I know, but what is the best way to carry flies?  I have about 150 flys ranging from 22 gnats to size 6 streamers and am trying to find the best overall flybox. I just bought a perrine aluminum box which holds flys in a coil, this works for the size 10s-18s but is not quite so good for the larger flys and is useless for the 22s. Also, my flys are a mix of nymphs, drys and streamers. Should I put my drys in a compartmented fly box? or is the coil holder ok? Thanks KB

Response:

_______  I would not touch this line with a twenty foot fly rod. Self control George!  Self control! 1,2, 3 . . . pant, pant! I will not rise to this drift/troll.

Response:

A vexed question.   For dry flies and spiders I use Wheatleys compartment boxes. Not ideal, and expensive, but about the best I have used to date. For streamers and standard wet flies and nymphs in all sizes, I use scientific anglers ethafoam lined boxes colour coded so I know which is which, cheap and effective. Works great unless you use barbless hooks.  For barbless hooks I use Sandwich boxes from my local supermarket, with strips of magnetic tape glued in. I coat the tape with epoxy to prevent it rusting. There are also various shaped magnets for display boards available, which may be glued into boxes and used for the same purpose. Coat with epoxy to prevent rusting. For small amounts of flies a used small  film canister of clear plastic is a great and cheap container. Just don’t put too many flies in one canister. The same canister drilled all around with small holes and affixed to a lanyard on your vest, jacket etc, makes a great drying box. TL MC

Response:

Wolfgang,    Plano is my choice also.  They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Ernie Harrison

Jesus Ernie!  We’ve got to stop agreeing on everything like this or people are gonna start thinking we’re…well….you know.  Besides, despite Mike’s eloquent plea for restraint and good fellowship I kinda like the usual Sturm und Drang which characterizes this place.  Can’t we find something to fight about?

Response:

The cheapest and a very effective example is a plastic box lined with foam.  You can buy a Wheatley if you have the extra money to spend. Forrest Arakawa Forrest – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A vexed question.   For dry flies and spiders I use Wheatleys compartment boxes. Not ideal, and expensive, but about the best I have used to date. For streamers and standard wet flies and nymphs in all sizes, I use scientific anglers ethafoam lined boxes colour coded so I know which is which, cheap and effective. Works great unless you use barbless hooks.  For barbless hooks I use Sandwich boxes from my local supermarket, with strips of magnetic tape glued in. I coat the tape with epoxy to prevent it rusting. There are also various shaped magnets for display boards available, which may be glued into boxes and used for the same purpose. Coat with epoxy to prevent rusting. For small amounts of flies a used small  film canister of clear plastic is a great and cheap container. Just don’t put too many flies in one canister. The same canister drilled all around with small holes and affixed to a lanyard on your vest, jacket etc, makes a great drying box. TL MC

Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Wolfgang,    Plano is my choice also.  They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Ernie Harrison – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For the past ten years or so I have used Plano mini (or is it micro?) magnum boxes exclusively.  These boxes are about 3×4 inches and open on both top and bottom.  There are several sizes of compartments which will accommodate all sizes of flies with the exception of mammoth salt water or pike and musky patterns.  I know it is heresy to suggest that one keep one’s delicate dries in a loose jumble but it has never done mine any damage.  These boxes have the added advantage of being transparent allowing you to see what you’ve got without opening.  They are also VERY cheap; in the neighborhood of two to three bucks a piece. Good luck.

Response:

Hi Odd question I know, but what is the best way to carry flies?

John; For the past ten years or so I have used Plano mini (or is it micro?) magnum boxes exclusively.  These boxes are about 3×4 inches and open on both top and bottom.  There are several sizes of compartments which will accommodate all sizes of flies with the exception of mammoth salt water or pike and musky patterns.  I know it is heresy to suggest that one keep one’s delicate dries in a loose jumble but it has never done mine any damage.  These boxes have the added advantage of being transparent allowing you to see what you’ve got without opening.  They are also VERY cheap; in the neighborhood of two to three bucks a piece. Good luck.

Response:

If there is any possibility of loss of flies due to spill or wind you must leave these on the mantel at home. They have no place astream. Your pal, – TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

Response:

I’m afraid you’re too many whiskeys behind. Line ??????  I think I just lost the drift ?    What the hell is the matter with you folks tonight ?  Or am I too many whiskies ahead ? Tight lines anyway, time for bed I think. MC

– Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

Question:

Marcus writes: I have no idea how you reel in.  I fish mostly for bass and that’s probably what I’ll fish for with this rig, but I don’t know what I’d do if a bass took the popper.  How do you set the hook?  I assume you don’t snap the rod up the way you do with a spinning rod, so what do you do?  And reeling, do you reel the bass in by stripping line, or by using the reel?  What do you do if you’ve got a ton of line at your feet and a bass takes it?  Do you let him run while you reel it in or do you strip it in? No bait.  Just flies. Marcus

Bass have a fairly tough mouth.  Generally, move the rod through an arc parallel to the water surface while simultaneously giving a hard strip with your line hand.  Once, you feel the bass fighting and you’ve got all the slack out of the line between the rod tip and the fish. Give another firm pull and try to rip his lips off, this’ll set the hook.  The hardest part about fishing with a popper is pausing the 1/2 sec between when the bass smashes your popper and setting the hook.  If you jerk too soon you’ll pull the fly out of his mouth.  For me 99.5% of the time my reel is only used to store line.  I’ve been at this a few years and have caught a few fish, but I can count on one hand the # of times I’ve had the fight a LMB from the reel.  The Hawgs, 5 lbs and above, will sometimes pull enough line to get onto the reel but its rare.  I’ve tried to reel all the slack in just to fight fish from the reel and they throw the hook while I’m putzing around.  Poppers are usually only good early in the morning and right before sun down.  Most of my LMB are caught subsurface on Clousers, Wooly Buggers, or Dell’s Merkins (yeah, the saltwater permit fly). Good Luck. Patrick

Response:

Dangit, forgot my real important question. HOW do you get the nail into the fly line?  I’ll be damned if I can get it to go in more than 3 mm. Marcus

Response:

just anwser these questens. how do you cast? how do you tell what line to use? how do you real in? how do you cast back out? what bate should i use? hi from payday8887

Response:

how do you cast? how do you tell what line to use? how do you real in? how do you cast back out? what bate should i use?

I’d like to echo these questions with some of my own.  I’m just getting into fly fishing.  I am figuring out casting.  It’s hard, but not impossible. Books are okay for this, videos better.  Ha! I know the answer to #2, use the line that matches your rod.  If you have a 7 rod, use a 7 line.  As for weight forward, double taper, etc, I dunno.  I’m using weight forward since I hear it’s easier for beginners. I have no idea how you reel in.  I fish mostly for bass and that’s probably what I’ll fish for with this rig, but I don’t know what I’d do if a bass took the popper.  How do you set the hook?  I assume you don’t snap the rod up the way you do with a spinning rod, so what do you do?  And reeling, do you reel the bass in by stripping line, or by using the reel?  What do you do if you’ve got a ton of line at your feet and a bass takes it?  Do you let him run while you reel it in or do you strip it in? No bait.  Just flies. Marcus

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Question:

If you try "aggressive wading" where I fish in England, you will either be ejected by a very angry bailiff or you will drown within 3 feet of the bank.

Hello Peter, Thanks for the moral support. We Brits must stick together:-) — Bill

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Bill No problem. Maybe we should start our own NG, maybe call it "uk.rec.fishing.game"?? — Regards Peter (Please also reply by email, my server "loses" posts. Remove nospam to email)

 Hello Peter, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Thanks for the moral support. We Brits must stick together:-) — Bill

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Cigars or cigarettes are a strictly a no-no on the stream!   If you really want to "put on the dog" and fool the other flyfishermen into thinking that you know what you’re doing out on the stream, it is absolutely mandatory that you smoke a pipe.

Response:

Cigars or cigarettes are a strictly a no-no on the stream!… …it is absolutely mandatory that you smoke a pipe. Negative. Chew tobacco or snuff. No smoke.

I would, but that Copenhagen keeps clogging my bong. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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  Well, I just had to add my 2 cents. Ain’t free speech wonderful?   JonCook.

Yeah, but it sounds to me like you’re jonesin’ for a butt. -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html NOTICE: DO NOT ADD MY NAME TO _ANY_ MAILING LISTS.  

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -: Cigars or cigarettes are a strictly a no-no on the stream!… : …it is absolutely mandatory that you smoke a pipe. : : Negative. Chew tobacco or snuff. No smoke. Yeah, yeah, they’re all the *cool* thing to do. You ain’t a *cool* flyfisherman without it. That is, until you can’t wade ’cause you’re draggin’ an oxygen bottle, or speakin’ through an electro-voice, or half your lower lip is missin’. (snip) . There is no form that is safe. The corporations that sell tobacco pursue highly deceitful campaigns designed to addict you to their product and to make large profits off of you for the rest of your albeit shorter life." Well, I just had to add my 2 cents. Ain’t free speech wonderful? JonCook.

OK Jon, you’re right.  That having been said, I am in the snuff catagory.   Can’t fish without it.  Besides, think how much I’ll save Medicare when I croak earlier than the other baby-boomers. Mark Faulkner

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OK Jon, you’re right.  That having been said, I am in the snuff catagory. Can’t fish without it.  Besides, think how much I’ll save Medicare when I croak earlier than the other baby-boomers. Mark Faulkner

Yup.  I’ve got to have a big chaw of Beechnut Wintergreen every other trip or so.   All that spitting cleanses the soul.   Now as for those trendy yuppies who like to wrap their lips around a big, fat, long cigar….  uh… never mind.   I think a certain Brian Keith covered that one already.   Bob Scott

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As a nonsmoker, I was just kidding about the pipe thing, but you have to admit that pipesmoking fly fisherman have that air about them.                To all you 15 year olds who may have read my post and then got the urge to light up, all I can say is "Just say no".

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Cigars or cigarettes are a strictly a no-no on the stream!   If you really want to "put on the dog" and fool the other flyfishermen into thinking that you know what you’re doing out on the stream, it is absolutely mandatory that you smoke a pipe.

LOL!   Reminds me of an oft quoted saying my sis and I used during the huge influx of yuppie fly fishers a few years ago: "It doesn’t matter if you catch fish, as long as you look good." Max

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : : Cigars or cigarettes are a strictly a no-no on the stream!… : …it is absolutely mandatory that you smoke a pipe. : : Negative. Chew tobacco or snuff. No smoke. Yeah, yeah, they’re all the *cool* thing to do. You ain’t a *cool* flyfisherman without it. That is, until you can’t wade ’cause you’re draggin’ an oxygen bottle, or speakin’ through an electro-voice, or half your lower lip is missin’. This isn’t directed at you, Jim, but at the whole thread. Geez, fellas, I thought we left this kinda talk back in high school. "Mandatory"? Give me a break. If you want to go smoke a pipe, fine, but there’s probably some 15-year olds reading this thread. For their sake, I’m going to add, "Tobacco, in any form, is highly addictive and cancerous. There is no form that is safe. The corporations that sell tobacco pursue highly deceitful campaigns designed to addict you to their product and to make large profits off of you for the rest of your albeit shorter life." Well, I just had to add my 2 cents. Ain’t free speech wonderful? JonCook.

   Yeah and cheap too. At least you know the value of your comments.

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Mr. Robert R. Hergan wrote Cigars or cigarettes are a strictly a no-no on the stream!   If you really want to "put on the dog" and fool the other flyfishermen into thinking that you know what you’re doing out on the stream, it is absolutely mandatory that you smoke a pipe.

I’m sorry I don’t know the author of the following, but it’s a clever little ditty I encountered years ago and seems apropos. Tobacco is a filthy weed …I like it! It satisfies no common need …I like it! It’ll make ya fat    It’ll make ya lean It’ll take the hair right off your bean It’s the worst darn stuff I’ve ever seen …. …. …I like it!

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Fri, 24 Apr 1998 in rec.outdoors.fishing.fly, A. Gades Yeah, but it sounds to me like you’re jonesin’ for a butt.

Pardon me…? — Phil Jones

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Fri, 24 Apr 1998 in rec.outdoors.fishing.fly, A. Gades Yeah, but it sounds to me like you’re jonesin’ for a butt. Pardon me…?

A FAG Phil….?  Or does that also have a *peculiar* connotation? — Bill

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Which is worse, kid flyfishing smoking a cigar, or kid standing on street corner selling and using crack? Its coming to something when the original poster can’t ask a question (free speech??) without an anti jumping down his throat! — Regards Peter (Please also reply by email, my server "loses" posts. Remove nospam to email)

 This isn’t directed at you, Jim, but at the whole thread. Geez, fellas, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I thought we left this kinda talk back in high school. "Mandatory"? Give me a break. If you want to go smoke a pipe, fine, but there’s probably some 15-year olds reading this thread. For their sake, I’m going to add, "Tobacco, in any form, is highly addictive and cancerous. There is no form that is safe. The corporations that sell tobacco pursue highly deceitful campaigns designed to addict you to their product and to make large profits off of you for the rest of your albeit shorter life." Well, I just had to add my 2 cents. Ain’t free speech wonderful? JonCook.

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If you try "aggressive wading" where I fish in England, you will either be ejected by a very angry bailiff or you will drown within 3 feet of the bank. Whilst I would agree that distance casting isn’t always necessary, it is an extremely useful tool to have at your disposal when required. Get some casting tuition so that you can cover the fish without extensive destruction of the river bed and fauna. If a fish is rising 25 yards out in a lake, unless you can walk on water you need to be able to cast to it. — Regards Peter Kay (Remove "nospam" to email)

:writes :aggressive wading :as being one of the basics to successful fly fishing. :In unfamliar water this activity is both dangerous and unnecessary. If :you intend wading deep, consider an automatically inflating vest – they :save lives! The further out you wade the further out go the fish! : :Tight lines :– :Bill

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writes aggressive wading as being one of the basics to successful fly fishing.

In unfamliar water this activity is both dangerous and unnecessary. If you intend wading deep, consider an automatically inflating vest – they save lives! The further out you wade the further out go the fish! Tight lines — Bill

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Hi Ken, If you are moderately serious about fly fishing (meaning you have gone enough times to become addicted and know that this isn’t a passing fad!) I too recommend the Sage DS II starter set.  I bought one several years ago after upgrading from fiberglass.   I have been fly fishing 25+ years and it was a great rod to transition into the world of graphite with.  The price was right too.  At the time, it was $225 but I think it runs about $275 now.  This is a rod that you will be able to use all of your fishing life and I think that is an important variable to consider.   Another rod to look at if the above is more then you want to spend is the St. Croix line of rods.  Good stuff for less money.

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writes aggressive wading as being one of the basics to successful fly fishing. In unfamliar water this activity is both dangerous and unnecessary.

[deleted] pussy. — TimW Halfordian Golfer & Expert at removing water from 35mm SLR’s.

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Aggressive wading, I love it – a few less fishermen – a few more fish. Love to get you down here in a couple of rivers I know to go aggressive wading, better wrap your cigar in something waterproof first. — Tony Bishop Fish with Bish Taupo, New Zealand http://bishfish.co.nz – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – writes aggressive wading as being one of the basics to successful fly fishing. In unfamliar water this activity is both dangerous and unnecessary. [deleted] pussy. — TimW Halfordian Golfer & Expert at removing water from 35mm SLR’s.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My name is Ken Hochdanner, from Columbus, Ohio.  I’m new to fly fishing and would appreciate some advise as to the rod and reel to start with.  Also, I need some advise with respect to waders/hip boots.  Which should I consider buying.  I listen to you guys talk, and I hear a lot about aggressive wading as being one of the basics to successful fly fishing. Thanks in advance for the reply.  Oh, one more thing. Is it OK to smoke a cigar or two along with fly fishing? Thanks, Ken

     First things first, smole em if you gotem, if it were up to me it would be required. Next, rod reel. Agood starter setup from one of the mail order houses such as Cabela’s, L.L.Bean, or Orvis in the 6 to 8 wt class should get you started without hocking the wife and kids and give you a chance to see if you REALLY like it. That weight range in a 7 to 9′ rod is easy to learn with and most beginner sets are complete enough to add leader and fly (everything but fish). They all have websites.                                                           John Popp                                                         in Sanford Fl.

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pussy.

Is this Adult Sex spam? Re the deep wading, I advise caution on the basis of an observed recent total immersion, redeemed by the employment of an automatically inflated vest. The unfortunate angler regrettably made no coherent notes of the fish population while he was submerged! Best wishes Mr Walker, — Bill

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Hi, Ken. Yes indeed there are many variables. Since you’re new, you probably don’t know what kind of fishing you’ll be doing. Take a class and try different rods to get a sense of it all. Even, here, though, you may not get a good sense of what you want out of fishing. I do some instructing, and my usual advice is to buy a starter set, particularly the sage starter, which is a 9 foot, 5 weight system in the Discovery Series of rods. This is an EXCELLENT rod that you can use anywhere, rivers, lakes, even stealhead (if they aren’t too big), some saltwater (wash the reel afterwards, and look out for kings). The line isn’t terrific, buy you probably won’t know this until you wear out the line and year from now. The reel is OK. The store person will set up the line, backing, leader, tippet for you (but you should eventually learn how to do this yourself). The whole set is something like $300, which in modern flyfishing terms is a good deal considering all the different components you fish. Everyone who has taken my advice have been very happy with the decision. In fact, when my rod breaks, I’ll probably buy the DS rod myself (and I’ve played with nearly all of them). This sport is ripe with marketing hype, myth and related BS–meaning you don’t need to spend a lot of money to be successful and happy with the sport. And, I forgot, spend a bunch of time in the library soaking up books on fish and fish habitats and less on your gear. In the end you’ll be smarter and happier fisher. The end, toney

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My name is Ken Hochdanner, from Columbus, Ohio.  I’m new to fly fishing and would appreciate some advise as to the rod and reel to start with.  Also, I need some advise with respect to waders/hip boots.  Which should I consider buying.  I listen to you guys talk, and I hear a lot about aggressive wading as being one of the basics to successful fly fishing. Thanks in advance for the reply.  Oh, one more thing. Is it OK to smoke a cigar or two along with fly fishing? Thanks, Ken

Response:

My name is Ken Hochdanner, from Columbus, Ohio.  I’m new to fly fishing and would appreciate some advise as to the rod and reel to start with.  Also, I need some advise with respect to waders/hip boots.  Which should I consider buying.  I listen to you guys talk, and I hear a lot about aggressive wading as being one of the basics to successful fly fishing. Thanks in advance for the reply.  Oh, one more thing. Is it OK to smoke a cigar or two along with fly fishing?

Ken, …and then I’ll tell you the story of the world in five minutes:-) There are SOOOO many variables that it’s hard to start.   What are you fishing for?   How much do you have to spend?   How much time do you plan to spend on it?   Are you really into fishing in other ways, or is this something totally new to you? Waders vrs hip boots.    I’d go with waders AND SOS suspenders, or the equivalent, for safety.   The only thing I’ve used my hip boots for in the last ten years is putting my boat in and taking it out. "…aggressive wading…"   As you’ve seen, there’s been a lot of discussion about that term.    Suffice it to say that what the author most likely meant was that one should do a lot of repositioning and wading to get into a good spot to cast, rather than make long casts.   (Not all of us agree, or only agree partially.) Smoking: due more to 35+ years of experience than any natural talent, it’s a rare day when I, my sister and my brother-in-law don’t catch more fish than anyone else on the stream or lake, and we each smoke about a pack of cigarettes a day.   My biggest problem with it is having my leader or tippet hit the coal of my smoke…instant break.   Another problem is that it is almost axiomatic that when you’re taking it easy in a float tube, the fish wait until you’re busy lighting up to strike…I guess that’s some kind of fish humor…   (I sometimes put a bit of shrimp oil on nymphs, but haven’t seen that much difference in results.) There are lots of fishing web sites, including ones in your area, with tons of advice, but feel free to email me with questions.   I’m sure you’ll get a lot of response from those in this newsgroup. Max http://www.inetarena.com/~mwi "…there are only two things in life worth getting excited about, fly fishing is the other one…"

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Question:

What about streams and rivers ina around yellowstone?

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I’m planning to visit Yellowstone NP in the second half of June.  Does anyone have any suggestions for flyfishing locations, techniques, or patterns during this time of year? Thanks. — John Stoeckel

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Float tube on Yellowstone Lake for Cutthroats w/ bead head wooly buggers

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Stop by Park’s Fly shop in Gardiner, Mont., at the north entrance of the Park. some of the nicest folks you could ask for — not the usual pushy "salesmen" you will find. They will give you a Park map, and even mark it for you. Find Indian Creek, and take a bunch of sturdy hoppers. You can fish most of this stream from the bank, with little or no problem from overhangs. Everytime I’ve fished this beautiful stream, I’ve had great luck. Not many monsters, but a super site with lots of action. Have a great trip !!! Don Hurst

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Kelley730 writes: Float tube on Yellowstone Lake for Cutthroats w/ bead head wooly buggers

You’ll have to wait til July to do that, unless they’ve changed the regs. Lewis Lake is open, though, and the same strategy should work.   Bring some stonefly dry patterns too. CQ

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bring your wet suit and kayak. —

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Question:

What do you folks out there make of this: A couple of weeks ago I went fishing on a blue ribbon stream that is notoriously difficult to catch fish on. On said stream there are two productive holes that are about 50 yards apart.  On different occasions I have caught fish out of either hole but never very many, although some were good sized.  The last time I went there I was in the upper hole and another guy was in the lower. I looked down and saw him catching huge fish on almost every cast. Now I am a pretty good fishman and have a good idea about what I’m doing but I wasn’t even gettting any bites.  Finally I got frustrated watching this guy catch fish after fish so I went and asked him what he was using.  He told me and I tied an identical fly and setup on my line. I didn’t get even a bit the rest of the day.  I was so pissed at myself that I just about threw my pole in the water.  Has anybody else had something like this happen?  

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: What do you folks out there make of this: : I didn’t get even a bit the rest of the day.  I was so pissed at : myself that I just about threw my pole in the water.  Has anybody else : had something like this happen?   Was it a good pole?  Where is this hole? Seriously, though, I beleive that the action you give the fly is far more important than the pattern.  I’m beginning to believe that this is even truer for wet flies and nymphs than for drys.  What were you using? — Laboratory for Applied Logic    Dept. of Computer Science University of Idaho             www: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster

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