Question:

Today it is windy and rainy (way more than usual) and all the boats are at the docks.  40 kt winds at Diamond Shoals.  The past four days have seen albie fishing of the best kind.  The cold weather and northerly winds brought the fish in like they are supposed to be. Most people are able to find some fish to cast to about all day long. And in the morning the fish have been feasting on everything and anything that people can throw at them.  Little flies, big flies, doesn’t much matter.  They will eat it.  In the afternoon they get a little bit pickier and a little more spread out but the morning action has been quite memorable.  The fish are coming up shoulder to shoulder and I would think that if you dragged your toes in the water you might get nipped.  Now those are aggressive fish!!  Sorry to those folks who came down before this.  The warm weather delayed the arrival.  Should be good for a while now.  If you can get down here, now would be a good time. Capt Gordon Churchill http://www.flyfish-nc.com

Response:

Gordon, will the Albies stay in close all winter or will they head further South? So how about booking 4 fly fishermen on 2 half day trips.  All 4 ride out to the Cape via ferry, they fish until you get there around 9ish (since Christine might be keeping you up late).  Two jump on board with you and go joy riding.  The other two continue to fish.  Around 12:30 you return and swap out sports with the two ashore and off you go.  Around 4 – 4:30 you return, pick up the first two and take all 4 back to ferry central.  This is starting to sound like a PLAN!  All 4 get both Cape Lookout shore fishing at the "Hook" and Albie chasing with you! — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Today it is windy and rainy (way more than usual) and all the boats are at the docks.  40 kt winds at Diamond Shoals.  The past four days have seen albie fishing of the best kind.  The cold weather and northerly winds brought the fish in like they are supposed to be. Most people are able to find some fish to cast to about all day long. And in the morning the fish have been feasting on everything and anything that people can throw at them.  Little flies, big flies, doesn’t much matter.  They will eat it.  In the afternoon they get a little bit pickier and a little more spread out but the morning action has been quite memorable.  The fish are coming up shoulder to shoulder and I would think that if you dragged your toes in the water you might get nipped.  Now those are aggressive fish!!  Sorry to those folks who came down before this.  The warm weather delayed the arrival.  Should be good for a while now.  If you can get down here, now would be a good time. Capt Gordon Churchill http://www.flyfish-nc.com

Response:

Question:

I tried it this weekend.. Not that great and, actually, I thought it was unremarkable..  I’ll stick to Thomas Kemper Big Fat Tuba as my fav.. Ben Perhaps it lived up to its name? Wade

Surprisingly, yes..  IMO.. Ben

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ah, yes… Castle Creek!  A lovely little run of water with great fishing, but you have to fish it right.  Honestly, if you don’t really sneak up on the creek, you’ll catch nothing.  Even the vibration of footsteps will give the brookies a severe case of lockjaw.  If you’re still in the area, find Ditch Creek Campground, south of Deerfield Lake and fish the stream between the campground and the lake.  Same stealth approach applies here. Man, good memories of camping, fishing and general exploring in these parts in the early ’70s.  Wish I was there! Greg Please tell us you have a web cam set up in the area so we can watch this as it takes place.  Kinda reminds me of snipe hunting when I was a

kid. Sorry, no web cam, but I’m not pulling your leg on the "sneak up on ‘em" approach for these brookies…. You could stand way back and try to cast to them, but the streams are narrow enough with trees, brush and shrubs that you’ll leave a lot of hardware hanging in the trees before you put a fly in the water (or at least that’s my experience).  BTW, did a lot of snipe hunting as a kid, too! Greg

Response:

While were on the subject.  Does anyone know if Big Rock Brewery in Calgary is still brewing Grasshopper.  It’s a great wheat ale that I haven’t been able to find here in Seattle for a while. Rich

They do make the Grasshopper, and they are also located in Vancouver as well as Delta BC. Wade

Response:

Welcome to the world of Northwest and Mountain states beer.  Along with Moose drool you may also like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and Fat Tire Amber. While were on the subject.  Does anyone know if Big Rock Brewery in Calgary is still brewing Grasshopper.  It’s a great wheat ale that I haven’t been able to find here in Seattle for a while. Rich

Fat Tire Amber Ale is what I started out the trip with.  I bought it at Sam’s in Round Rock, Texas.  Good stuff. Bob, sitting in front of the Post Office, in Lead, SD

Response:

That’s a catchy name yuk. wade I tried it this weekend.. Not that great and, actually, I thought it was unremarkable..  I’ll stick to Thomas Kemper Big Fat Tuba as my fav.. Ben

Perhaps it lived up to its name? Wade

Response:

That’s a catchy name yuk. wade

I tried it this weekend.. Not that great and, actually, I thought it was unremarkable..  I’ll stick to Thomas Kemper Big Fat Tuba as my fav.. Ben

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02 snip Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings. ah, yes… Castle Creek!  A lovely little run of water with great fishing, but you have to fish it right.  Honestly, if you don’t really sneak up on the creek, you’ll catch nothing.  Even the vibration of footsteps will give the brookies a severe case of lockjaw.  If you’re still in the area, find Ditch Creek Campground, south of Deerfield Lake and fish the stream between the campground and the lake.  Same stealth approach applies here. Man, good memories of camping, fishing and general exploring in these parts in the early ’70s.  Wish I was there! Greg

So that’s what the matter was.  I wasn’t sneaky enough.  Well, let that be a lesson to me. Bob

Response:

And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff.   Not that it makes much difference Bob, but I think the fly was invented as a ‘Wooly Bugger’, not Booger.

If it is a 2 foot wide creek, chances are it has nothing bigger than 8 inch brookies.  A big bait would scare them off. LZ

Response:

Welcome to the world of Northwest and Mountain states beer.  Along with Moose drool you may also like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and Fat Tire Amber. While were on the subject.  Does anyone know if Big Rock Brewery in Calgary is still brewing Grasshopper.  It’s a great wheat ale that I haven’t been able to find here in Seattle for a while. Rich

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02 You know, as a matter of design, I’ve always disliked floor vents for heaters.  They’re a weak point in the floor, and they collect dirt and small dust bunnies that are hard to remove.  But after 2 hours wading up a cold stream in a pair of sneakers, it sure feels good to rest your blue toes right on top of that vent. Aaaaaahhhhhhh. Yeah, I know.  I have waders.  But I didn’t have them WITH me.  :o( Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings. And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff. Most of the fishing here is done on the lake.  You can see the big ones rising in the morning, flop and flash.  I need to find or fashion a light pontoon for the kayak, to make it more stable for fishing. Perhaps a yoke and a couple pieces of conduit, with inflatable bags on the ends.  I’m not able to search the web right now, but I’ll bet somebody already makes something like that. There are a couple of special purpose fishing platforms being used here that are small and light enough to be carried in an RV compartment.  One is the inner tube with straps and waders contraption, which strikes me as an elaborate way to drown.  More promising are the 6-8 foot pontoon boats, with oars, that skitter around out there like waterbugs. They are very light, all aluminum tubing and air.  Maybe 40 lbs.  I saw a smallish man lift one easily from the back of his pickup, carry it upside down over his head 40 or 50 feet down a hill, and set it lightly in the water.  It rides high on the pontoons, which are inflated bladders zipped up in sturdy rubberized nylon covers.  It would take a lot to poke a hole in one. The neat thing is the way they break down flat for storage.  The frame snaps together, the pontoons deflate and fold up, and the biggest single piece is maybe 2′ x 3′ x 6 inches.  You could store it under your bed.  They cost anywhere from $400-$800.  At that price you could sell it if you didn’t like it, and not lose much.  The one I looked at was sold by "Buck’s Bags".  I think they have a website. Of course if you’re going out on Lake Superior, you need a kayak.  Or an ocean liner.  I’d rather have my kayak for speed and exploring. But for just getting out on the reservoir and having a stable place to cast from, these things are the Cat’s Meow.  They’ll take a trolling motor and battery if you’re feeling lazy.  There’s even room for a small cooler of Moose Drool. O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business". Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings. And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff. Most of the fishing here is done on the lake.  You can see the big ones rising in the morning, flop and flash.  I need to find or fashion a light pontoon for the kayak, to make it more stable for fishing. Perhaps a yoke and a couple pieces of conduit, with inflatable bags on the ends.  I’m not able to search the web right now, but I’ll bet somebody already makes something like that. Bob

FWIW unless you’re flyfishing, I found that the following worked well on trout in small, shallow AZ Mountain streams: Light or ultralight spinning outfit with 2-lb monofilament and 1/16 oz spinners. Walk/fish upstream, and reel in the lure at – or slightly faster than – the speed the stream is carrying it toward you. When the trout didn’t want to bite Z-rays in AZ lakes, we switched to sliding sinkers with terminal tackle of a foot or two of 1-lb monofiliment with a 12 or 14 treble hook barely hidden in a wad of Velveeta cheese. — bill Theory don’t mean squat if it don’t work.

Response:

ah, yes… Castle Creek!  A lovely little run of water with great fishing, but you have to fish it right.  Honestly, if you don’t really sneak up on the creek, you’ll catch nothing.  Even the vibration of footsteps will give the brookies a severe case of lockjaw.  If you’re still in the area, find Ditch Creek Campground, south of Deerfield Lake and fish the stream between the campground and the lake.  Same stealth approach applies here. Man, good memories of camping, fishing and general exploring in these parts in the early ’70s.  Wish I was there! Greg

Please tell us you have a web cam set up in the area so we can watch this as it takes place.  Kinda reminds me of snipe hunting when I was a kid.

Response:

Check out www.bigskybrew.com for a list of items with Moose Drool  and others on them. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business". I saw this beer at the store the other day..  Was tempted to try it..  Catchy name..  Maybe I’ll give it a go and bring a 6 pack to the PNWCO so we can say we drank Moose Drool at the PNWCO.. <g Ben Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Response:

Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight.

Don’t they drool only when in rut? It could be pretty to other moose (meese?)

Response:

Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02

snip Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings.

ah, yes… Castle Creek!  A lovely little run of water with great fishing, but you have to fish it right.  Honestly, if you don’t really sneak up on the creek, you’ll catch nothing.  Even the vibration of footsteps will give the brookies a severe case of lockjaw.  If you’re still in the area, find Ditch Creek Campground, south of Deerfield Lake and fish the stream between the campground and the lake.  Same stealth approach applies here. Man, good memories of camping, fishing and general exploring in these parts in the early ’70s.  Wish I was there! Greg

Response:

And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff.

  Not that it makes much difference Bob, but I think the fly was invented as a ‘Wooly Bugger’, not Booger.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business". I saw this beer at the store the other day..  Was tempted to try it.. Catchy name..  Maybe I’ll give it a go and bring a 6 pack to the PNWCO so we can say we drank Moose Drool at the PNWCO.. <g Ben

That’s a catchy name yuk. wade

Response:

Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02 You know, as a matter of design, I’ve always disliked floor vents for heaters.  They’re a weak point in the floor, and they collect dirt and

<<some good story snipped Most of the fishing here is done on the lake.  You can see the big ones rising in the morning, flop and flash.  I need to find or fashion a light pontoon for the kayak, to make it more stable for fishing.

On the kayak stabilization, they are called Sponsons.  Don’t ask about them in the paddling newsgroups cause we had a Craig the hitch guy, type spamming the groups about how everyone needs these or they will die.  But for your application they are pretty much perfect.  You can even deflate them for the paddle home if you choose.  Search the web for "sponson" <<some more really good story snipped Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Snoball

Response:

O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business".

I saw this beer at the store the other day..  Was tempted to try it..  Catchy name..  Maybe I’ll give it a go and bring a 6 pack to the PNWCO so we can say we drank Moose Drool at the PNWCO.. <g Ben – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Response:

Deerfield Lake, South Dakota 08/28/02 You know, as a matter of design, I’ve always disliked floor vents for heaters.  They’re a weak point in the floor, and they collect dirt and small dust bunnies that are hard to remove.  But after 2 hours wading up a cold stream in a pair of sneakers, it sure feels good to rest your blue toes right on top of that vent. Aaaaaahhhhhhh. Yeah, I know.  I have waders.  But I didn’t have them WITH me.  :o( Not much luck on the fish.  I think that ranger guy was having a little fun with me about "Castle Crick".  It turns out to be a stream about 2 feet wide where it dumps into Deerfield Lake.  Small pickings. And wooly boogers?  Those things are HUGE.  The only action I got was on smaller stuff. Most of the fishing here is done on the lake.  You can see the big ones rising in the morning, flop and flash.  I need to find or fashion a light pontoon for the kayak, to make it more stable for fishing. Perhaps a yoke and a couple pieces of conduit, with inflatable bags on the ends.  I’m not able to search the web right now, but I’ll bet somebody already makes something like that. There are a couple of special purpose fishing platforms being used here that are small and light enough to be carried in an RV compartment.  One is the inner tube with straps and waders contraption, which strikes me as an elaborate way to drown.  More promising are the 6-8 foot pontoon boats, with oars, that skitter around out there like waterbugs. They are very light, all aluminum tubing and air.  Maybe 40 lbs.  I saw a smallish man lift one easily from the back of his pickup, carry it upside down over his head 40 or 50 feet down a hill, and set it lightly in the water.  It rides high on the pontoons, which are inflated bladders zipped up in sturdy rubberized nylon covers.  It would take a lot to poke a hole in one. The neat thing is the way they break down flat for storage.  The frame snaps together, the pontoons deflate and fold up, and the biggest single piece is maybe 2′ x 3′ x 6 inches.  You could store it under your bed.  They cost anywhere from $400-$800.  At that price you could sell it if you didn’t like it, and not lose much.  The one I looked at was sold by "Buck’s Bags".  I think they have a website. Of course if you’re going out on Lake Superior, you need a kayak.  Or an ocean liner.  I’d rather have my kayak for speed and exploring. But for just getting out on the reservoir and having a stable place to cast from, these things are the Cat’s Meow.  They’ll take a trolling motor and battery if you’re feeling lazy.  There’s even room for a small cooler of Moose Drool. O yeah.  Moose Drool.  That’s the name of my favorite new beer, a brown ale made in Missoula.  Something like Bass ale.  When I first saw it down in Hill City, I thought: "That stuff has to be good, or they couldn’t stay in business". Believe me.  I have seen Moose drool.  It is not a pretty sight. Bob

Response:

Question:

If you start a fire for the womanly thing still in bed, it tends to postpone the fishing !

For newlyweds, maybe.  For me, if I try something at 5 in the morning, she says, "Will you get the hell out of here and go fishing?" Kevin

Response:

If you start a fire for the womanly thing still in bed, it tends to postpone the fishing !

That’s when you play fireman on the fly Guy

Response:

Jeff Connelly writes: Oh man, I saw the bathroom in your place.  You guys are complaining? For those who weren’t there, I won’t say how big the bathroom was, but I’ll just say it had a FOYER, which itself was bigger than my entire bathroom.  In *my* cabin, I had 2 twin beds that Benee and I had to push together to share bodily warmth, and she had to crawl over the top of me to get to the bathroom.  Hey wait… guess I had it OK. <g  All of these camps are crooked; they have settled over the years so that doors and windows have been "modified" so that they are functional.

[snipped] Just a nit, but the cabins don’t really "settle" in the sense that they sink. Quite the opposite, in fact: the cabins rest on a sets of small concrete pads, and these pads get heaved up during the multitude of freeze and thaw cycles in late winter/early spring. Some pads get heaved higher than others, hence the tilt. It’s a never ending battle with winter up there… On the up-side, if you can still make your way to the bathroom and back without falling over, you can have another drink! /daytripper

Response:

……the cabins don’t really "settle" in the sense that they sink. Quite the opposite, in fact: the cabins rest on a sets of small concrete pads, and these pads get heaved up during the multitude of freeze and thaw cycles in late winter/early spring. Some pads get heaved higher than others, hence the tilt…..

Amen.  I build decks and gazebos and suchlike critters.  While I’m digging holes for the footings customers will frequently ask how deep they need to be to hold up the deck or something along those lines. It’s often difficult to make them understand that the purpose of deep footings is to hold it DOWN.  Sorta like trying to explain why the new millennium started some time in March about four years ago.    :)

Response:

Jeff Connelly writes: It was my type of place, and I knew it would be.  The question was – would Benee like it?  So we compromised, went fishing at a semi-rustic lodge for 3 days, then stayed in "nice" bed and breakfasts for 3 days. The ironic thing is that the B&Bs weren’t that nice, and she ended up liking Lakewood more.

Of course she did.  It was probably…..well, never mind.  I’m starting to sounds like wayno.  She’s a great gal and I’m glad she enjoyed it. And, don’t forget to have your stove ready for a fire when you arise at 4 a.m.  <g I got up at 5 one morning to go fishing.  As you pointed out to me later, the manly thing to do would have been to start the fire for the womanly thing still in bed.  It’ll happen next time

You are learning, kid. Dave the Bottom Dwelling Pirate (after George’s latest, I am so happy that he chose to describe me with those words…)

Response:

Day Tripper: Just a nit, but the cabins don’t really "settle" in the sense that they sink. Quite the opposite, in fact: the cabins rest on a sets of small concrete pads, and these pads get heaved up during the multitude of freeze and thaw cycles in late winter/early spring. Some pads get heaved higher than others, hence the tilt. It’s a never ending battle with winter up there…

The concrete pads are recent — the past ten years or so.  They used rocks and cedar posts before that — but, as you say, it is a never ending battle because of the harsh winters. Dave

Response:

well, boys, it’s been told, and i’ll never do a bit to improve on the reports about the maine clave…but, damn, ya’ll shoulda been there. it was a time to know, and a better memory is yet to be made.

Ya, go ahead, rub our nose in it. As i mentionned, i would have been, even if none of you know me. Hand four those dat read these lines (grammatically), I wont mind if sumone corect me english, and i know it will make sum of you feel bitter, sorry better. Once again, excuse my french and Vive le Qu

Question:

Hello to all.  I subscribed to this NG two or so weeks ago and want to ask a question as I’m not sure if it’s OK.  I’ve seen some mixed responses to similar threads so I figured I better ask first. Q –  is it OK to list a rod for sale? Seems like a great NG with plenty of knowledgeable participants.  I can certainly learn allot here as I’m fairly new to the sport (about 3 years actively flyfishing).  I spend 80% of my flyfishing time on 2-3 rivers (the size of which would make most folks outside of NJ call them streams) in northwestern NJ.  The other 20% on lakes and ponds with my 4 yr. old son and 3yr old daughter and occasionally a trip up to the Beaverkill or Willowomac with a friend who introduced my to this great sport. Well, that’s it, don’t want to overdo the intro (most likely already did though). Regards to all. Natty

Response:

got dreadlocks?              john

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello to all.  I subscribed to this NG two or so weeks ago and want to ask a question as I’m not sure if it’s OK.  I’ve seen some mixed responses to similar threads so I figured I better ask first. Q –  is it OK to list a rod for sale? Seems like a great NG with plenty of knowledgeable participants.  I can certainly learn allot here as I’m fairly new to the sport (about 3 years actively flyfishing).  I spend 80% of my flyfishing time on 2-3 rivers (the size of which would make most folks outside of NJ call them streams) in northwestern NJ.  The other 20% on lakes and ponds with my 4 yr. old son and 3yr old daughter and occasionally a trip up to the Beaverkill or Willowomac with a friend who introduced my to this great sport. Well, that’s it, don’t want to overdo the intro (most likely already did though). Regards to all. Natty

Response:

First of all, your name rox. Q –  is it OK to list a rod for sale?

If you start the title with "FS" or "For Sale" and only put it up once you should be fine.  If it is relatively rare or valuable, yet priced ridiculously low out of ignorance, just email me first with the info and I’ll tell you if you should post it here…. I can certainly learn allot here as I’m fairly new to the sport (about 3 years actively flyfishing).  I spend 80% of my flyfishing time on 2-3 rivers (the size of which would make most folks outside of NJ call them streams) in northwestern NJ.  The other 20% on lakes and ponds with my 4 yr. old son and 3yr old daughter and occasionally a trip up to the Beaverkill or Willowomac with a friend who introduced my to this great sport.

Ummm, I was told there would be no math…. Regards, Jeff

Response:

Hello to all.  I subscribed to this NG two or so weeks ago and want to ask a question as I’m not sure if it’s OK.  I’ve seen some mixed responses to similar threads so I figured I better ask first. Q –  is it OK to list a rod for sale?

        although no one would dare speak for the whole of this bunch of anarchists and nut cases, i will hazard the opinion that a few non-commercial offers of sale would not be considered bad form, even by fortenberry. wayno

Response:

Thx for the compliment, tip and offer….nothing rare or extraordinary though. Will follow your advice. Thx again  :-) Natty

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – First of all, your name rox. Q –  is it OK to list a rod for sale? If you start the title with "FS" or "For Sale" and only put it up once you should be fine.  If it is relatively rare or valuable, yet priced ridiculously low out of ignorance, just email me first with the info and I’ll tell you if you should post it here…. I can certainly learn allot here as I’m fairly new to the sport (about 3 years actively flyfishing).  I spend 80% of my flyfishing time on 2-3 rivers (the size of which would make most folks outside of NJ call them streams) in northwestern NJ.  The other 20% on lakes and ponds with my 4 yr. old son and 3yr old daughter and occasionally a trip up to the Beaverkill or Willowomac with a friend who introduced my to this great sport. Ummm, I was told there would be no math…. Regards, Jeff

Response:

LOL…don’t I wish!  More like razor stubble. Natty

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – got dreadlocks?              john

Response:

<snip….mainly because somebody shoulda done it to Cooper a long, long time ago Near as I can figure it Hawkeye you must be somewhere on the wrong side of about 220 by now.  Gettin a bit long in the tooth for fly fishing…or just about anything else for that matter.  How’s about I just send you my address and I’ll take all that stuff off your hands? Meanwhile, welcome to ROFF and pay no mind to the bitey things in here……ain’t none of it real. Wolfgang who WOULD have written a treatise on "Fennimore Cooper’s Literary Offenses" if that hack Clemens hadn’t beat me to it!

Response:

Welcome to ROFF.  One off posts advertising private gear for sale are generally accepted without demur. Although you may be offered KY jelly from some participants, usually with explicit instructions !  Don

Question:

Hello, Does anyone know good flyfishing classes offered around pacific NW (in September)?  I live in Seattle area and am new to flyfishing.  In fact I’ve never flyfished before but been curious about it for a while now.  I have couple of buddies who are also interested in flyfishing so we thought taking a class would be great way to get into the sport of flyfishing. Obviously we don’t have any equipments so we are looking for classes that rent necessary equipments. I am looking for weekend class (1-3 days). We don’t mind traveling as far as BC area (in fact we prefer that class is held away from Seattle proper so we can make this a road trip!) Any info, pointers, and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, KC

Response:

Did you try fly shops?  Most of them either have lessons or know who does.  

Response:

There are several fly shops in the area that will either have classes you can take or will simply take you out to the parking lot and show you how to cast. In Bellevue try:     Kaufmanns Streamborn (By K-Mart) http://www.kman.com     Orvis (NE 10th and Bellevie Way) In Woodinville try Swedes In Seattle try:     Kaufmanns Downtown store     Patricks Flyshop     Outdoor Emporium     Avid Angler http://www.AvidAngler.com I often go to many of these shops and every one of them have very helpful poeple who should be able to get you started. You might also try getting in touch with the Overlake Fly Fishing Club (http://www.offc.superhighway.net) or the Washington Fly Fishing Club to see if their members would be willing to help. I’m fairly certain you will get help at either one. Disclaimer, I have no affiliation with any of the above but merely enjoy each for their own pluses and minuses. Gary Johnson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, Does anyone know good flyfishing classes offered around pacific NW (in September)?  I live in Seattle area and am new to flyfishing.  In fact I’ve never flyfished before but been curious about it for a while now.  I have couple of buddies who are also interested in flyfishing so we thought taking a class would be great way to get into the sport of flyfishing. Obviously we don’t have any equipments so we are looking for classes that rent necessary equipments. I am looking for weekend class (1-3 days). We don’t mind traveling as far as BC area (in fact we prefer that class is held away from Seattle proper so we can make this a road trip!) Any info, pointers, and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, KC

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Question:

To jfraser, about the first question regarding losing flies from snagging-  you were right-its part of the sport.  Nymphs, to be most effective have to be fished bouncing on the bottom.  I do not know how deep the water where you fish at is but one thing I do is use a floating line and run my leader length the same depth as the stream.  I then add split shots to the leader according to the speed of the current just until I feel my nymph just touching the bottom. The floating line helps me control my drift better and I can dectect strikes more often. For casting, I always believed in a quartering cast upstream and a drag free float.  On streamers/wet flies at the end of the drift let you fly arc around. a lot of strikes will occur as you fly comes around

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I’d like to thank you and everybody else who is sending me feedback and tips. You ROFF gang are a real friendly bunch! Best Regards, Jeremy Fraser —

Yeah, and if you want this bunch to stay friendly Jeremy, never start a C&R/C&K thread!  ;-) Frank Church USAF Retired Elkhart, IN

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I have just started to learn a few things about trout fly fishing, but there are a couple of questions I haven’t found the answers to in any books or in the ROFF FAQ. Can anybody help me answer these? 1) I’m losing piles of flies casting Type II sinking tip into moving water. I tend to lose them by snagging and I’m wondering if this is just part of the sport or if I’m doing something wrong…? Can I prevent bottom snags by using strike indicators, shorter leaders, slower sink tip fly lines, a combination of the three or by doing something else? Don’t I want to get egg, leech, etc. patterns down on the bottom of rivers below the current? 2) I’ve read so much about casting and 10 to 2, 11 to 1, etc. and this has all been useful (I’m still trying to tame out a nasty tailing loop). I even went to a casting clinic — which was very helpful in getting me thinking about good casting technique. The puzzling thing to me, which hasn’t been well described to me yet, is the retrieve. I am predominantly wanting to fish rivers so I assume this plays a part in retrieving. I also assume that different patterns (wet/dry, terrestrial/non-terrestrial, leech/minnow) call for different retrieve strategies. To me this really means thinking about how your retrieve will sucker the fish into believing your fly is the real thing, therefore I wouldn’t think it would make much sense to retrieve an egg pattern fly with much style because the fly’s "action" would be in the free float of the eggs in the current. I’m sure the retrieve is important in still water; however, is it worth giving much thought to it in moving water or should I just be focusing on getting my fly in the right place in/on the current for the duration of it’s "drag-free" float? Any comments/assistance would be appreciated! Thanks in advance, Jeremy Fraser

Response:

1) I’m losing piles of flies casting Type II sinking tip into moving water. I tend to lose them by snagging and I’m wondering if this is just part of the sport or if I’m doing something wrong…?

Snagging flies is to some extent just the price of entry.  But, with experience, I find myself losing fewer flies than I used to for two reasons: 1.  Some casts I might have made in the past, I realize now will simply end up with a snag and no fish.  So I don’t cast. 2.  I’m a lot better at unsnagging a snagged fly.  Generally if you walk upstream of your fly, and pull back on the line in the opposite direction it entered the snag, perhaps extending your rod tip to the center of the stream, it will come free without a problem.  If it still doesn’t come out, walk further upstream, and try again.  It’s very rare that I have to break off a fly. Today probably lose one fly when before I would have lost 5 or 6.  Suspect your averages will improve too.  is it worth giving much thought to it in moving water or should I just be focusing on getting my fly in the right place in/on the current for the duration of it’s "drag-free" float?

99%+ of the time with nymphs or terrestials, what you want is a drag free float.  Achieving this is what much of becoming a good fisherman is about, and is something I’m still learning.  The techniques of mending, and special casts such as a reach or curved cast, or slack line casts, are very powerful. A lot of what I learned, I was exposed to by friends or guides, then had to learn by myself on the water.  If you’re having trouble keeping a drag free float in a situation, it pays to experiment with different mends or casts until you get it right (even if the fish are gone). Doug Swisher’s advanced casting video has a great introduction to casts which can help you in tricky situations (e.g. a reach cast).  And John Judy has written a book on slack line technique which is interesting, if a bit esoteric. Michael

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1) I’m losing piles of flies casting Type II sinking tip into moving

water. I’m not sure why you are using sinking line.  Unless you are fishing really deep runs consistently (or perhaps fishing streamers??), you should be using floating line.  Your leader is all that should be sinking. An important key to nymph fishing is proper depth.  You should use an indicator that’s adjusted so that your fly moves with the current but occasionally gets delayed by riverbed obstacles.  If you are constantly hanging up or catching moss on your fly, move your indicator closer to your fly, if aren’t getting any false "hits" as you drift, you’re too far off the bottom.  The trick is to have your fly or flies tumbling around in the eddy-like turbulent layer of water produced by the interaction of the current with the riverbottom structure.  That’s where the fish spend a lot of time feeding.  Use an indicator that’s easy to move up and down your line so that you will be encouraged to change it as you move to new spots on the stream.  Adjusting depth has produced more strikes for me (in a drift zone I’ve already fished unsuccessfully) than any other change (such as change of weight or fly type). Proper weighting is also a key factor.  If you have the right amount of weight.  When you cast 1/4 up stream, the ideal is to have your flies "in the zone" as they pass the point straight out from you, cross-current.  Too much weight and you’ll definitely be getting stuck a lot on the bottom. Too little and you won’t be spending much time "in the zone" for each drift.  Personally, I find that if I must use more weight, I get hung up less if I use a couple of small split shot together rather than a larger shot of equivalent weight. The advice about walking up stream to pull the fly out of the snag the way it went in is a really good one.  I’ve saved many a fly this way. 2) … The puzzling thing to me, which hasn’t been well described to me yet, is the retrieve….

For 95% of dry fly fishing, only dead drift will generate strikes.  Some caddis flies do skid along the surface and there are some techniques for imparting action that is natural.   The most important part about the retrieve in dry fly fishing is not to make a big splash or otherwise disturb the water with your initial backcast.  Start your back cast with a brief, slow pull to get the fly moving (especially if it has sunk below the surface) and then use full energy after it’s moving.  Try doing it the wrong way a few times, then the right way.  You’ll see a big difference in the amount of disturbance created as you backcast. When nymphing, you will generate some strikes on the retrieve simply because the pause between each pull causes an alteration in the flies movement that can mimic prey in trouble.  Fish sometimes key on this and you get strikes. Retrieve technique is most important when streamer fishing, but I do not do that much, so I can’t say much about it. Good luck. —                                                       -dnc-

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Dear Rookie,      I’ve found that using floating line with a stike intcator and a small bead head or tiny weight helps to prevent losing all the flys.  I like to use what I call a "pendalum" approach to tying up my flies and weight.  First you take a separate piece of tippet about three to six inches long and tie it to your tippet line (or leader) about two to three inches form the bottom of your line.  Then you put your weight(what ever size you feel is nessicery) on the shorter of the two ends (usually the orriginal line).  Next you tie your choice of fly to the other piece of line and you are ready to go.  The theory is that when the wieght gets hung up on the bottom, it will just slide off and your fly will remain attached.  Granted you will have to replace the wieght, but it’s much more cost efficient than replacing flies.  I also recomend using a strike indicator.  Good luck, and I hope that my description made sence. Aaron

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I think you’re right about casting sinking tip. I’m going to try casting the floating line I’ve got and see if I have better results. I’ll also try sticking a strike indicator on and see if that helps me at all. I’d like to thank you and everybody else who is sending me feedback and tips. You ROFF gang are a real friendly bunch! Best Regards, Jeremy Fraser — – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 1) I’m losing piles of flies casting Type II sinking tip into moving water. I’m not sure why you are using sinking line.  Unless you are fishing really deep runs consistently (or perhaps fishing streamers??), you should be using floating line.  Your leader is all that should be sinking. An important key to nymph fishing is proper depth.  You should use an indicator that’s adjusted so that your fly moves with the current but occasionally gets delayed by riverbed obstacles.  If you are constantly hanging up or catching moss on your fly, move your indicator closer to your fly, if aren’t getting any false "hits" as you drift, you’re too far off the bottom.  The trick is to have your fly or flies tumbling around in the eddy-like turbulent layer of water produced by the interaction of the current with the riverbottom structure.  That’s where the fish spend a lot of time feeding.  Use an indicator that’s easy to move up and down your line so that you will be encouraged to change it as you move to new spots on the stream.  Adjusting depth has produced more strikes for me (in a drift zone I’ve already fished unsuccessfully) than any other change (such as change of weight or fly type). Proper weighting is also a key factor.  If you have the right amount of weight.  When you cast 1/4 up stream, the ideal is to have your flies "in the zone" as they pass the point straight out from you, cross-current.  Too much weight and you’ll definitely be getting stuck a lot on the bottom. Too little and you won’t be spending much time "in the zone" for each drift.  Personally, I find that if I must use more weight, I get hung up less if I use a couple of small split shot together rather than a larger shot of equivalent weight. The advice about walking up stream to pull the fly out of the snag the way it went in is a really good one.  I’ve saved many a fly this way. 2) … The puzzling thing to me, which hasn’t been well described to me yet, is the retrieve…. For 95% of dry fly fishing, only dead drift will generate strikes.  Some caddis flies do skid along the surface and there are some techniques for imparting action that is natural. The most important part about the retrieve in dry fly fishing is not to make a big splash or otherwise disturb the water with your initial backcast.  Start your back cast with a brief, slow pull to get the fly moving (especially if it has sunk below the surface) and then use full energy after it’s moving.  Try doing it the wrong way a few times, then the right way.  You’ll see a big difference in the amount of disturbance created as you backcast. When nymphing, you will generate some strikes on the retrieve simply because the pause between each pull causes an alteration in the flies movement that can mimic prey in trouble.  Fish sometimes key on this and you get strikes. Retrieve technique is most important when streamer fishing, but I do not do that much, so I can’t say much about it. Good luck. —                                                       -dnc-

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Question:

Can anyone recommend a flyshop in Racine, WI (or further south) who could advise me on the steelhead fishing on the Root River?  Any guide recommendations? Many thanks, Bob McAnulty

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Can anyone recommend a flyshop in Racine, WI (or further south) who could advise me on the steelhead fishing on the Root River?  Any guide recommendations? Many thanks, Bob McAnulty

You could try the old Steelhead Hotline #. 414-382-7920. Another # used to work as well 382-7921 or 7929. I haven’t called these in about 2 yrs as the "scene" on the Root doesn’t do it for me (scene reads ‘mob scene’). I don’t know the flyshops in Milwaukee or Racine. Jon

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Hello Bob: Call Bob Blumreich at Silver Doctor Flyfishing guide service. (608) 756-2184. Good luck! Clay

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Question:

Hi I live in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and I would really like to go somewhere and do some fly fishing in Malaysia. The problem is that I have not been able to find anything about fly fishing here. It seems like this sport has not arrived here yet. Is there anyone out there who can help me on this. I started fly fishing in Sweden, but moved to Malaysia before I really got the hang of it. So I do need to get starting again. Also, is there a shop where I can buy stuff for tying my own flies here? Thanks for any replies /Bengt Thur

Question:

Hi Dave, Hear is another stream flow site, it covers the whole US: http://h2o.usgs.gov/swr/ Once you get to that page, then you select a state and from there…? Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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: Anyone heard how the Deschutes is doing now?  I know a month ago the : rains had the flow way up.  Has it calmed down?  Anyone catching fish : there? : Regards, :       Bill

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Anyone heard how the Deschutes is doing now?  I know a month ago the rains had the flow way up.  Has it calmed down?  Anyone catching fish there? Regards,    Bill

Hi Bill, Just out last Sunday on the Deschutes. It has calmed down alot since I first went out last month. I got a 17-inch native redside on a stonefly nymph. Alot of the bank vegitation has been either washed away or knocked down. I would say about 60% of it is gone. But I have bee fishing it three times in the last month and have had great succes on nymphs. I have seen very little hatch activity. The river flow now is about 5,000 cfs which is usually the max that you want to be fishing. Ideal is 3,000-4,000 cfs. You can call the PGE fish line at 503-464-7474 which will give you flow info on the Deschutes, Sandy, and Clackamas rivers. Right now the story on the D is nymphs and riffles. Good Luck Dan Root Portland, Oregon

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Anyone heard how the Deschutes is doing now?  I know a month ago the rains had the flow way up.  Has it calmed down?  Anyone catching fish there?

Just talked to Cy Happy at Ray’s River Dories who floated the river on the 13th and 14th from Warm Springs to Maupin.  Flows were 5700cfs, the visibility was good at about 3 feet.  No visible hatches but Cy reported good fishing with stonefly nymphs. He mentioned that the fish were active and strong and showed few apparent effects from the strong stream flows earlier. He also cautioned boatmen that the river is different from before.  For example, there is a new large boulder in Whitehorse that has already claimed at least one boat

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Anyone heard how the Deschutes is doing now?  I know a month ago the rains had the flow way up.  Has it calmed down?  Anyone catching fish there? Regards,         Bill

Response:

Anyone heard how the Deschutes is doing now?  I know a month ago the rains had the flow way up.  Has it calmed down?  Anyone catching fish there? Regards,        Bill

Check out this USGS website–gives you streamflow stats every half-hour, fresh from space.   http://wwworegon.wr.usgs.gov/rt dir/realtime/data/man.14103000.html (Work back from here for stats on other rivers.)

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Question:

I am posting to my newsgroups and all newsgroups related to Women Outdoors. 17th Annual Women Outdoors National Gathering       Join other women  for 3 days of fun in the outdoors in

Beautuful Peterbrough, New Hampshire, 12 miles directly north of Mass. Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-27th, l996 Keynote Speaker: Amy Baltzell, rowing Olympian, crew member of America’s Cup Racing Team Workshops: High ropes adventure course, sunrise and sunset birdwalks, Rockclimbing,Kayaks, Canoes, Hiking Mt Monadnock, tallest peak

in southern NH, biking, entertainment, great food(with  non-vegetarian  and vegetarian entrees) relaxation,fun,friends and ….. Over 700 acres of forest,lakes, streams. Lodging Options: cabin, dormitory, tent sites Mothers bring children, boys  under 8 years of age and girls $55-$78 for children 3-12 Women $88-$155 Hello. I have attended these Gathering for many years.We have

 over 475 members for over 25 states. We meet and share and  learn outdoor skills. All abilities welcome. Some of the past workshops were carcamping, tree identification,

 compass reading, 12 Steps program, Vegetable juice diet,  Women Outdoor Euipment review with Eastern Mountain Sport,  Through-Hiking on Appalchian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail,  North African Dance, Scrabble board game, Pictionary, 2-Step Dance. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Email for more information Elizabeth Wong Miller                                                         01201 PS we have a rep from Orvis fly fishing school.

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PS we have a rep from Orvis fly fishing school.

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PS we have a rep from Orvis fly fishing school.

Where is it? — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems – Ithaca, NY

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The question is do they know how to catch fish?

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