Question:

What should the flyfishing be like around Hungry Horse, the first two weeks of July? What kind of patterns would be best to have and size?? Doesn’t anyone fish in Montona, or just no one wanting to answer a honest question?????

Wait a week, drive 5 hours to Ennis, and you’ll meet a whole bunch of guys from here who can help you! (see, the "more than you asked for" is starting already…) Regards, Jeff

Response:

Actually, you mean wait a ‘month’ (or two). Clave starts in late July. — Tight Lines! Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana http://www.montana.com/dno/dno.htm 406-626-4022

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What should the flyfishing be like around Hungry Horse, the first two weeks of July? What kind of patterns would be best to have and size?? Doesn’t anyone fish in Montona, or just no one wanting to answer a honest question????? Wait a week, drive 5 hours to Ennis, and you’ll meet a whole bunch of guys from here who can help you! (see, the "more than you asked for" is starting already…) Regards, Jeff

Response:

Actually, you mean wait a ‘month’ (or two). Clave starts in late July. What should the flyfishing be like around Hungry Horse, the first two weeks of July? What kind of patterns would be best to have and

size?? Geez, I hate it when I don’t read the original post! Do think on fishing the South Fork of the Flathead. My advice would be to take the drive south around Hungry Horse reservoir all the way to the trailhead at Spotted Bear. Hike upstream and start fishing! Attractor patterns work well on the cutts. — Tight Lines! Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana http://www.montana.com/dno/dno.htm 406-626-4022

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Wait a week, drive 5 hours to Ennis, and you’ll meet a whole bunch of guys from here who can help you!

If the clave in Ennis is next week I wish I would have told everyone that instead of Jul 21-31 Warren X#-[

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

Response:

He said he’d be there the first couple weeks in July.  I meant if he waited a week from then…. Wait a week, drive 5 hours to Ennis, and you’ll meet a whole bunch of guys from here who can help you! If the clave in Ennis is next week I wish I would have told everyone that instead of Jul 21-31 Warren

Regards, Jeff

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What should the flyfishing be like around Hungry Horse, the first two weeks of July? What kind of patterns would be best to have and size?? Doesn’t anyone fish in Montona, or just no one wanting to answer a honest question????? Wait a week, drive 5 hours to Ennis, and you’ll meet a whole bunch of guys from here who can help you! (see, the "more than you asked for" is starting already…) Regards, Jeff

Wish I could, but vacation is planned and we are taking some of grandkids

Response:

What should the flyfishing be like around Hungry Horse, the first two weeks of July? What kind of patterns would be best to have and size?? Doesn’t anyone fish in Montona, or just no one wanting to answer a honest question?????

well, i don’t know how runoff will be during your time frame… but i’ve heard great things about the s. fork flathead for native cutthroats.  i believe there’s a flyshop in whitefish or kalispell… i’m sure they’d be happy to give you some ideas on what will be best during that time frame.  good luck, it’s beautiful country there.  i wish i had spent more time fishing there, but i usually stop short of that area and fish some of the smaller rivers in nw montana. chris chris

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What should the flyfishing be like around Hungry Horse, the first two weeks of July? What kind of patterns would be best to have and size??

Response:

For hungry horses, try a "haystack".   Very large pattern is probably best. Sorry, couldn

Question:

I printed it out for just that reason.. hopefully, she’ll laugh all the way to the FF shop.. Maybe you should let her read that story, Particle.

– Particle Salad/ Noom Room Studio http://home.earthlink.net/~psalad mp3 songs: http://www.mp3.com/particlesalad

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Great story!However the problem wasn’t really with the float tube,was it?I’ve been using mine for nearly ten years now.Even had to re-sew the stitching on the nylon shell.I’ve never had anything even like a close call.Float tubing is a lot of fun.I’ll sometimes use it in places where I could have easily used my canoe instead,just because theres nothing like floating in the middle of a patch of lilypads,catching fish at eyelevel.I recommend you give your tube another try.(and only bring one rod!) Good Luck, Shawn

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A few years back, I got my first tube.

An instant classic! Thanks for a wonderful story. -r

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A few years back, I got my first tube.

The next time you go, do us all a favor and take someone with you who has a Camcorder. Another Kodak moment….many moments in your case! LMAO jim

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That story ranks up there with tales from Patrick McManus!  Great stuff, Frank. Mike Wilson Spangle, WA

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To finally know that I’m not the only fool out there! I had a friend do something similar, he now knows what the crotch strap is for as well. Flyfish

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                           Frank Reid

My sides hurt! Never, never, never will SWMBO ever get to read that story.  See, she bought me a tube for Christmas and I haven’t had it out yet.  She’d lock me in permanently.  Even made me up the accidental on my life policy. OK, something’s wrong with this picture  . . . I’ll get back to ya Peter

Response:

[a _very entertaining_  story snipped] Way to go Frank! I trust that the next itube trip was a little more mundane Steve *still cackling* — "Experience must be the teacher in this game – not only your own  but the other man’s" – Dick Wigram http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~steve/fush/

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That story ranks up there with tales from Patrick McManus!  Great stuff, Frank. Mike Wilson Spangle, WA

_______  I agree.  As soon as you hit civilian stride Frank, I think you should run to a good magazine like McManus did.  Imagine it?  Here you can be a fly fishing fool for the rest of your life and get paid for it! Keep tying those Crawdads Frank. George http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

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                           Frank Reid

Never, never, never will SWMBO ever get to read that story.  See, she bought me a tube for Christmas and I haven’t had it out yet.  She’d lock me in permanently.  Even made me up the accidental on my life policy. OK, something’s wrong with this picture  . . . I’ll get back to ya Peter

Response:

I very rarely get a good, hearty laugh here.. funny, to think I was just talking with my wife about acquiring a tube myself… — Particle Salad/ Noom Room Studio http://home.earthlink.net/~psalad mp3 songs: http://www.mp3.com/particlesalad

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I very rarely get a good, hearty laugh here.. funny, to think I was just talking with my wife about acquiring a tube myself…

Maybe you should let her read that story, Particle. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

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<great story snipped That gave me a good hearty laugh Frank!  Thanks for the great story. bc. —

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Excellent story. Has the ring of ridiculous reality to it ! TL MC — "In order to achieve what is possible, one must constantly attempt the impossible" http://www.mikeconnor.de

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Ah, but I got a tube!                             Frank Reid

Great story, Frank! I think I hurt myself laughing. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

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A few years back, I got my first tube. It was a "surprise" birthday

present [snip]                             Frank Reid

Supurb, Funniest thing I’ve read in a long time.

Response:

(snip) I needed a bottle of champagne to drink or break on my tube. It was a joyous feeling. Right up until I found out what that little crotch strap is for.  See, when I stepped out off that rock, my butt hit the saddle of the tube, the tube folded up like a chocolate taco and I shot through the bottom, right past that dangly little strap.  

(rest of hilarious story snipped) Frank, I laughed so hard my dog came over to the desk to see what was happening, followed closely by my amused wife.  She laughed just as hard, which really pleased Henry the dog.  One of the funniest stories ever posted on ROFF.  Definitely Hall of Fame material. Dave L.      —–  Posted via NewsOne.Net: Free Usenet News via the Web  —–      —–  http://newsone.net/ —  Discussions on every subject. —–    NewsOne.Net prohibits users from posting spam.  If this or other posts

Response:

A few years back, I got my first tube. It was a "surprise" birthday present from my loving wife (I suspect she had a boyfriend and wanted me out of the house or she had gotten my signature down well enough for the insurance papers). I say surprise because it truly was. I had filled out the Cabela’s order form and used one of my daughter’s alphabet magnets to secure it firmly to the fridge. This had been a standard, if useless tactic of mine for years. A very subtle hint on my birthday wishes. My lovely bride of course always knew me better than that. Saw right through this clever charade. Normally got me things she knew I really needed and wanted. Like that bathroom cozy set that can turn a toilette seat cover into a bear trap. When she trotted it out for my birthday, well actually, she came in to the living room, dropped the form in my lapped and told me to "order the damn thing," I boldly informed her of the extra costs associated with a tube, i.e. breathable waders, vest, flippers. She immediately agreed that these items had to go with the tube. Well, not immediately. I first explained the purpose of the different items and she gradually built up a mental picture of her masterful husband in waders, flippers with brand new Caddis float tube firmly ensconced on his hips. I did have to get the less expensive waders though. Had to pay for that emergency room visit for her right about then. She had this terrible episode characterized by hysteria. Almost couldn’t breath, it hit her so hard. Kept saying something like "donut hole." When the whole package arrived, I immediately took the whole kit and kaboodle down to the lake. On the way, I stopped off at the gas station and gave my tube its first breath of air. Just left it in the trunk, didn’t even bother to take it out and inspect it. Filled and off to the lake! Fish beware! When I got to the lake, I pulled my waders out of the back seat and quickly donned them. Put my rod together, hooked up a crawdad fly and finally, the last step, I put on my flippers. I then went to the trunk and got the tube out. Well, not exactly just then. See, I’d filled it while it sat in the trunk of the car. It was now too large to get out of the trunk. All’s I wanted to do was a bit of fishing, but my spatial cognitive skills had been less than perfect. That’s something else my bride always told me. I found that if I deflated the float tube about 1/3 of the way down, I could get it back out of the trunk. Didn’t really have to deflate it that far, but it took that much air out of the thing before I figured that one of the "D" rings was caught on the trunk spring. I could go back up the road to the gas station and fill it back up, but it still looked pretty full so I decided to go for it. It was about 200 yards from the parking area to the lake. About 150 yards across the field, I discovered that you can walk much better if you carry the tube over your shoulder and take off the flippers. You can understand my need to get at the fish had slightly clouded my judgement.  No more hanging out on shore with those other slobs, I had a boat. I finally got down an area that looked like a good place to launch. I had talked to a friend with a float tube and had heard of the problems with mud at a launch site. Not this bubba, no sir. Found a good rock ledge to launch from. There was a rock in calf deep water that dropped off to about 12 feet. You couldn’t see the bottom but I figured it was the same distance swimming to the bottom as at my high school swimming pool. I stood on the ledge, had my tube around me, my rods in my right hands and I launched. I needed a bottle of champagne to drink or break on my tube. It was a joyous feeling. Right up until I found out what that little crotch strap is for.  See, when I stepped out off that rock, my butt hit the saddle of the tube, the tube folded up like a chocolate taco and I shot through the bottom, right past that dangly little strap.  Didn’t even have to worry about a life vest to slow my hi-speed passage through that torus from hell. Had to let go of the rods as I felt them flex in my hand and was afraid to break them. Came up struggling for air. Be amazed at the water temp in Omaha, Nebraska in the third week of April.  I now know how Jesus walked on water.  The water was cold as ice and as soon as he hit it, he was on his feet moving. Felt like I was in one of those "polar bear clubs." I reached out and quickly grabbed my tube and dragged it back with me to the rock ledge. One of my two rods had caught on the right side handle by the reel and I was able to quickly retrieve it.  Unfortunately, it was the cheep rod.  The good rod was at the bottom of this rock ledge somewhere. This is how I learned how deep the water was.  I stripped off my boots and waders and dove in before I realized how cold, cold could get.  Water was a bit chill to say the least.   On my fourth dive, I found a rod and brought it to the surface.  It was a wonderful three-dollar Zebco.  Went back down and finally found my rod after about two or three more tries. Now I had a bit of a problem.  Hypothermia was setting in.  An inability to stop shaking was my first clue.  But ever the fisherman, I thought, "wonder what other rods are down there?"  I shook off that thought put my wading boots back on, piled my stuff in the tube, SECURED IT WITH THE CROTCH STRAP, and headed back up to the car.  The air temp was a brisk 40 degrees with a good wind.  I did have to stop after about ten feet and drain the water out of the float tube cover.  That area not filled with inner tube from the deflation was now filled with water.  Added about 60 lbs to the whole package. When I got to the car, I dumped my stuff in the trunk but didn’t have anything to dry off with.   My jeans were soaked and the only thing dry was my sneakers that I’d left in the car.  I knew there were three opportunities to die on this day.  I’d just lived through one, a drowning.  I was in the middle of another, hypothermia.  I got my clothes off and covered my self with a small rucksack.  I then found a rag t-shirt under the seat that I used to check the oil.  I turned the engine on and luckily, the car hadn’t had much of a chance to cool down and the heater was soon up to full speed. There would be one other way to die on this day, the most horrible of the three.  Not the panic of the drowning, not the slow loss of consciousness of hypothermia, but the death of a thousand I-told-you-so’s.  If the mother of my children found out about the fact I couldn’t get more than three feet from shore without killing myself, what chance would I ever get to go out on a quiet morning and go fishing by myself?   She had already insisted that I wear an international orange hat to keep me from turning into the marine version of the lane turtles on the interstate, on a no-wake lake no less! Couldn’t go home.  Explain my new oily-t-shirt-and-wet-underpants outfit to the wiff.  Not on your life.  Couldn’t go to a laundry mat.  The mid-west populace does not look kindly on some shirtless blue Pict in chest waders wandering into the laundry mat and scaring hell out of old aunt Sally.  But, as a fisherman, I had the answer, duct tape. I had to get my pants and shirt dry.  I duct taped my Levi’s to the inside of the hood of my car.  This was rather fun as I was now wearing the t-shirt as a toga wrap-around.  I then duct taped my flannel shirt to the heater underneath the passenger seat dash.  I closed the shirt up with tape so all of the hot air would have to go through the shirt.  Hopped on the highway and took an eighty mile drive to Lincoln and back.  Got back to the lake and in a secluded area checked out my handy work.  All, except for the seams of the shirt collar, was dry. I went home and strolled in, bold as brass (and smelling of gas).  My wonderful wife queried me about my fishing.  I answered quite honestly that I’d not gotten a bite all day (except frostbite).  The poor woman will never really understand me as a fisherman.  Her next comment was "I don’t know why you just don’t fish from the bank.  That outfit looks like more problems than its worth."  Ah, but I got a tube!                             Frank Reid

Response:

the funniest story I’ve seen in a long time!

I don’t have a wife or kids, don’t live in the Midwest and didn’t find a $3 Zebco rod, but I can attest the rest of this story has to be true. Why? I’ve done all the rest… though I scorched the pants on a hot exhaust manifold. Thanks for a great story! Cheers Rick

Response:

Very funny Frank,    Now I know what I missed by not getting a float tube. Ernie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A few years back, I got my first tube. It was a "surprise" birthday present                            Frank Reid

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Question:

Ahem New site here in good ol’ SA www.troutfishing.co.za Cheers Ari

Response:

Ahem New site here in good ol’ SA www.troutfishing.co.za

Rugby, braaivleis, sunny skies and Chevrolet…. Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

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Question:

Hello all, for those of you who expressed interest here is the address of my new website. It has been up for five minutes, and I rather bashed it together yesterday and today, so don’t expect too much at first.  There is not a lot there at the moment, but I will be adding to it almost daily for a while.

Got a problem, Mike. I couldn’t contact your server. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

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Never mind. I got it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

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Hi Mike,    I am happy you found a Webb site for your great work.  The picture of that handsome young fellow holding the fly rod on the main page loaded a little slow and was a little dark.  I down loaded it, converted it to a compressed jpg file and tweaked the brightness a little.  It reduced the volume from 200K to 56K.  I think that would probably be better.  An there is one other thing you might think about changing.  As the picture was slowly loading I could read the first line under the picture which said " I hope you enjoy this site, please leave"  :-) Your friend, Ernie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, for those of you who expressed interest here is the address of my new website. It has been up for five minutes, and I rather bashed it together yesterday and today, so don’t expect too much at first.  There is not a lot there at the moment, but I will be adding to it almost daily for a while. http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/ Hope you enjoy it — "In order to achieve what is possible, one must constantly attempt the impossible"

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http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/ Hope you enjoy it

Congrats Mike!  A job well done. bc. — The fruit derived from labor is the sweetest of all pleasures. — Marquis De Vauvenargues

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Thanks Mike! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/

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Mike, Thanks for posting your stories, flies, and other things.  It’s valuable information and an enjoyable read.  Now you have control of your site and it looks great.  It came up and quickly for me. Vern – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks Mike! http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/

Response:

Hello all, for those of you who expressed interest here is the address of my new website. It has been up for five minutes, and I rather bashed it together yesterday and today, so don’t expect too much at first.  There is not a lot there at the moment, but I will be adding to it almost daily for a while. http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/ Hope you enjoy it — "In order to achieve what is possible, one must constantly attempt the impossible"

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – says… Hello all, for those of you who expressed interest here is the address of my new website. It has been up for five minutes, and I rather bashed it together yesterday and today, so don’t expect too much at first.  There is not a lot there at the moment, but I will be adding to it almost daily for a while. http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/ Hope you enjoy it — "In order to achieve what is possible, one must constantly attempt the impossible" Hey! That’s pretty good Mike! I was poking in around the Yorkshire Flies area and I liked the work! I have yet to tie a soft hackle and I was curious how you fish these in still waters…

I saw the description of technique on the first page… Care to elicidate? The pond I fish is rather small so no current and some days there is very little if any wind! — Michael Era

Question:

i will be near the home of orvis next weekend and don’t have much of a clue. whats a good way to get started ? instructions? or just wing it?   P.S. what flies should I use if i wing it?

Mark, Good questions.  How quickly do you learn? quick….then you can probably just wing it…if not then maybe lessons are not a bad idea.  Most folks benefit from a lesson….reading a book like the LL Bean Fly Fishing Handbook by Whitlock would help. If you are more visually inclined then maybe the Jack Dennis video is better for you. Flies to use now include the elk hair caddis, prince nymphs, white millers, beadhead nymphs, and Adams dries.  This is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.  I am happy to answer any questions that may arise for you.  Best of luck. James Ehlers Underhill, Vermont Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

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i will be near the home of orvis next weekend and don’t have much of a clue. whats a good way to get started ? instructions? or just wing it?    P.S. what flies should I use if i wing it?

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Question:

says… Hi, I’m planning a trip to the Banff/Lake Louise area in early Sept. Any info re: hotels, guides, expected conditions and how to escape the tourists would be appreciated. Thanks in advance JT

The Bow around Banff will be clear and low – blue winged olives will be the fly to try for rainbows or browns,  or cutthroats in the upper reaches. Rocky mountain whitefish are common, and the odd bull trout (Alberta’s provincial fish) is an interesting possibility.  Lake trout will be on deep trolling only that time of year – but can be a blast with a fly rod and a streamer on a downrigger (makes the purists scream too!) Brookies mainly in the beaverponds and oxbows of the Bow River. Hotels will still be charging high season rates – about double what they are at the end of the month. There is an excellent hostel in Banff, and another one in Lake Louise – you may want to check with your local International Hostel Association for membership/rates. You are (will be) a tourist. But there’s tons of backcountry to ‘escape’ to and a good guide will help.   Try Upper Bow Valley Fly Fishing in Banff- Dan Bell at (403) 760-7668 fax 762-8263 – he a super drift boat guide, has excxellent knowledge of area lakes, or can even arrange for a helicopter trip if you’ve got the budget. My close second choice would be the Green Drake Fly Shop in Canmore (403) 678-9525 fax (403) 678-2183  They do a lot of guiding, and have an excellent little shop that while difficult to find – is worth your while. Free and friendly and specific advise to c&r fishers. Tight lines & short strings Andrew Whittick   Banff Alberta

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Hi, I’m planning a trip to the Banff/Lake Louise area in early Sept. Any info re: hotels, guides, expected conditions and how to escape the tourists would be appreciated. Thanks in advance JT

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says… Hi, I’m planning a trip to the Banff/Lake Louise area in early Sept. Any info re: hotels, guides, expected conditions and how to escape the tourists would be appreciated. Thanks in advance JT

ps – almost forgot when fishing in Canada’s Mountain National Parks – you may not use lead weighted flys or lead weights less than 50 grams. No such restrictions outside of the parks though.  Floating the Bow River from Banff to Canmore will require a National Parl fishing license, and an Alberta license. Both are quite inexepensive (under $20 CDN) Andrew Whittick   Banff Alberta

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Question:

I am traveling to Last Chance, ID for the weekend.  I would appreciate any reports on conditions on the Henry’s Fork and the rivers in the park, especially the Firehole.  Suggestion for flies and sizes will be appreciated (I’ve been tying mostly small caddis dries, princes, and GRHE — sizes 16 & 18). Thanks. Jim Impara

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I am traveling to Last Chance, ID for the weekend.  I would appreciate any reports on conditions on the Henry’s Fork and the rivers in the park, especially the Firehole.  Suggestion for flies and sizes will be appreciated (I’ve been tying mostly small caddis dries, princes, and GRHE — sizes 16 & 18). Thanks. Jim ImparaHi Jim

The whole area is fishing good.  Your choice of flies are right on but add some BWO dries and emergers as well. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 catalog) http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

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Question:

Does anyone have information on flyfishing on the Olympic Peninsula.  Lakes, streams, river, salt, etc. Alan

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While looking through some fishing catalogs that have recently made it to my mailbox, a question came to mind… I know that a tapered leader is an option…and so is a knotted taper… my question is, can I use "regular" monofilament for the taper or even the tippet for that matter…I mean, isn’t it all essentially the same stuff? Also, I stumbled across a "Hobbs Creek Combo" in the Bass Pro catalog… it’s a 8-1/2 ft 7 wt w/ a rod bag, wf-7-f line, 100 yd backing and a tapered leader thrown in…all for the unbelievably low price of $94.95…that’s right, only 94.95…so call now…uh, sorry…sales pitc mode…does anyone have any experience with this combo?  or any other combos in this "super-cheapy" range?  There’s also a graphite rod combo for $179.94 that might be a better "investment"…anyhow, if you have the catalog, look on page 50 and 51 and let me know if any of these are worth looking at… Fish on!, JC

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Question:

Has anyone had any experience with the Scientific Angelers fly fishing package that you see in the stores?

They are nice little outfits. I honestly don’t know how they can afford to sell the things so cheaply.  St. Croix makes the rod and it is similar to their Imperial XL series.  Good value for the money.  I think they are trying to get someone up to usable quality who might otherwise end up with the $75 KMart special.  Note:  New ones are the 9′ 6wts which features a redesigned rod, last years was an 8′ 6" 6 wt.  Since everyone knows us West Coast folk won’t fish anything that starts w/ 8′, you can tell my bias. . .  :-) –Jim in Northern CA

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Has anyone had any experience with the Scientific Angelers fly fishing package that you see in the stores? I have a friend who may be interested in buying one to see if he likes fly fishing. Richard Warren Raleigh, NC

i’ve tried the 8wt.. The reel is good.. but the rod is not.. in my opinion they could have chosen from a hundred other better rods for less money.. if you get a chance.. take the rod out of the package and put it together and take a couple false casts on it.. it’s a real power house near the butt section but the tip section is slow.. keg

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Has anyone had any experience with the Scientific Angelers fly fishing package that you see in the stores? I have a friend who may be interested in buying one to see if he likes fly fishing. Richard Warren Raleigh, NC

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Question:

And you *KNOW* that I’m kidding, right ? (Witness winking mustacheoed smily poacher symbol).  Shoot man…sometimes I’ll tie a GLO-Bug AND a Streamer on…I’m no purist. That’s for damn sure.   Tim Walker  

: : Is it flyfishing? : : Nope, it’s poaching, pure and simple…;{) : Tim Walker : This is an interesting responce, because ole Tim recently wrote : to me, and asked for some samples of soft-bodied flies. I sent Tim a : fly or two, plus a few small samples of (soft foam) tying supplies. : So if the use of foam flies constitutes poaching, it seems to me, : Tim is either a poacher at heart, or he should come : clean now, and feed that foam I sent him to the shredder! : And beg forgiveness. You can’t have it both ways! : For what it’s worth–from my point of view–fishing with homemade : foam-bodied flies is good sport. IE not poaching. All I did was : invent a new fly that works like no other. Just because foam flies : are odor sponges that end up smelling like the last fish you caught, : doesn’t equate to evil in my view, it only means they work better. : —

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Is it flyfishing? Nope, it’s poaching, pure and simple…;{) Tim Walker This is an interesting responce, because ole Tim recently wrote to me, and asked for some samples of soft-bodied flies. I sent Tim a fly or two, plus a few small samples of (soft foam) tying supplies. So if the use of foam flies constitutes poaching, it seems to me, Tim is either a poacher at heart, or he should come clean now, and feed that foam I sent him to the shredder! And beg forgiveness. You can’t have it both ways! For what it’s worth–from my point of view–fishing with homemade foam-bodied flies is good sport. IE not poaching. All I did was invent a new fly that works like no other. Just because foam flies are odor sponges that end up smelling like the last fish you caught, doesn’t equate to evil in my view, it only means they work better. —

Here is a meaningful way to get back on Tim.  You should send out a fly or two, plus all those soft foam tying supplies to everyone on this newsgroup.  Sounds good, huh?  my mailing address is …. steve

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: : Is it flyfishing? : : Nope, it’s poaching, pure and simple…;{) : : Tim Walker : Tim, can you elaborate a little. Sometime, I am not sure : that you are serious or joking. :   : Thi Nguyen Thi, Unless Tim starts out with "No Sh_t, this really happened", or some such jest disclaimer, you can usually assume he’s only joking.  Right Tim?  :-) Bryan

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writes: I guess it’s fly fisheng in that you are casting and the weight of line line, not the weight of the lure is making the cast. I use lots of foam poppers & synthetics in salt water and never question whether it’s fly fishing or not…..

I not so sure about this.  I’ve seen guys fishing for steelhead with leadcore shooting heads about five feet long followed by mono running line.  When they cast it is very similar to casting a spinning rig without the reel.  I’ll bet they could cast just as well with a bunch of split shot on the running line without the shooting head.  Might as well use a spinning reel and save all the tangles.

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: Is it flyfishing? Nope, it’s poaching, pure and simple…;{) Tim Walker

This is an interesting responce, because ole Tim recently wrote to me, and asked for some samples of soft-bodied flies. I sent Tim a fly or two, plus a few small samples of (soft foam) tying supplies. So if the use of foam flies constitutes poaching, it seems to me, Tim is either a poacher at heart, or he should come clean now, and feed that foam I sent him to the shredder! And beg forgiveness. You can’t have it both ways! For what it’s worth–from my point of view–fishing with homemade foam-bodied flies is good sport. IE not poaching. All I did was invent a new fly that works like no other. Just because foam flies are odor sponges that end up smelling like the last fish you caught, doesn’t equate to evil in my view, it only means they work better. —

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: : Is it flyfishing? : Nope, it’s poaching, pure and simple…;{) : Tim Walker : Tim, can you elaborate a little. Sometime, I am not sure : that you are serious or joking. : Thi Nguyen Ok Thi…my apologies…I’ll try to elaborate… …and Carlos looks up at the old man and asks "Was I *REALLY* Fly Fishing Don Juan ?" And Don looks at him, making sure that their eyes met and he says, "Carlos, do you think that you have been Fly Fishing ? and Carlos nods and the old man continues, "then certainly you must have been." And then the old man catches a glimpse  of the Pittendrigh Special and asks "Carlos, is this what you were using ?" and again Carlos nods and the Old man says "c’mon carlos, lets go get a corona and you can tell me again about the big brown" Excepted with permission by the author from : "The Teachings of Tim Walker, a Tacqui Way of Knowledge" Tim Walker

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You still (mostly) tie the material on the hook. I have seen some ‘flies’ for salt water than don’t even do that, molded epoxy baitfish and such, and holding them up next to a spin- ning lure I fail to see much difference. I don’t like the idea much and don’t use these for pretty much the same reason I don’t buy a box of ‘Flying Lures’ and use those with my 9 weight.

… not to mention, a spinning rod would work better for tossing a Flying Lure. — -Wayne Trzyna

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I guess it’s fly fisheng in that you are casting and the weight of line line, not the weight of the lure is making the cast. I use lots of foam poppers & synthetics in salt water and never question whether it’s fly fishing or not. The scent part, however, does disturb me. I’ve read several articles lately about people scenting flies like this, or in chum, or in bluefish blood, etc. To me the satisfaction in fly fishing comes from  fooling the fish into taking an artificial I tied and properly presented. Scenting a fly would somehow diminish, no eliminate that for me. It’s too close to putting a piece of bait on the end of my fly. Just my .02                                         john cloyd

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| | There is no question that the meaning of the word "fly" has taken | on a life of its own within the fly fishing community.  There was | a time when a fly was a lure which imitated a fly.  The technique | of propelling that fly developed into the sport we are familiar | with, but it is the technique, not the lure which we now rely on | to define our sport.  There are hundreds of "modern flies" which | would never be confused with an insect.  I think of | egg-sucking-leaches, moose turds, BC Bombers, green-butt skunks | and many others which any fly fisher would readily concede is | designed to catch fish using fly fishing gear.  Even the | venerable royal coachman is a lure-type fly.  Are we really being | true to the spirit of the sport in stretching the definition so | broadly?  Have we lost something of the sport in expanding the | definitions?   | | I ask only rhetorically, but am interested in the thoughts of | others on this subject.  Are there fly fishers among us so pure | as to fish only imitations of natural flies?  Is the sport a | different experience when we use lures with fly gear? | | — To me the old rules of fly fishing are kind of like 200 year old laws; in many principles they’re still applicable, but they have to grow with the times. If fly fishing stopped with the brown trout I could see using only dry flies that imitated insects. But horizons expand. Bluefish have no interest in even the most beautifully tied blue winged olive, nor I’d guess would a pike. So we have to invent flies that meet these new challenges. I think it’s the same spirit that led to lifelike imitations of mayflies or even the creation of some of the more gaudy salmon flies, however. You still (mostly) tie the material on the hook. I have seen some ‘flies’ for salt water than don’t even do that, molded epoxy baitfish and such, and holding them up next to a spin- ning lure I fail to see much difference. I don’t like the idea much and don’t use these for pretty much the same reason I don’t buy a box of ‘Flying Lures’ and use those with my 9 weight.                                         john cloyd

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Can you post on how to tie?

Phew!     Sure got a lot of requests for tying intructions on this one. Foam streamers are new for me, and I haven’t settled on a best way to make them yet. Originally, I started making them as "tube" flies. I got some thin, flexible polyethelene tubing from the chemistry supplies window at my local Univ. Then I Roughed-up the outside of the tubing with sandpaper, and then glued a lump of lead-wraps at one end. Then Inserted a stainless steel wire, into the tubing, to make a temporary mandrel to work on, and then inserted the works into a (slit) blank of common (tan colored) packing foam. Then rolled the works up in nylon-net "spawn sack." (spawn sack is sold at bait shops for wrapping salmon eggs). Then tied off both ends with thread. Then used "GlueNWash" (a water based, flexible, water-proof cement sold at sewing stores) to glue on a Mataka-like wing. And that was that. To fish it, push the leader down the tube, and tie on a hook. But now it gets easier. To hell with the tube. Cut a foam blank. Slit one end just enough to receive a slightly flattened split shot. Roll the works up in spawn sack. Wrap the ends shut with thread. Set the thread with a drop of Flexament. Cut a length of 10lb test mono. Snell a hook in the middle. Then tie a second hook on, with improved clinch knot, to make a tandem hook arrangement, with hooks just far enuf apart to match the ends of the streamer. Use thread to lash the front hook to the front end of the foam-nylon-net lump. Just poke the rear hook thru the rear end of the foam. Glue on a Matuka wing or two. (Use fabric cement). Tie your leader directly to the eye of the front hook. They’re fast and easy to tie. And catch fish like crazy. Plus, you’ll get 2,3,4 bumps/hit! When was the last time that happened, while fly fishing? Or is it fly fishing? —

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I say your are definitely flyfishing. How do tie the fly ? Can you post it again please. Thank you, Thi Nguyen

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Can you post on how to tie?

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Is it flyfishing? A few weeks ago I posted instructions for making soft-bodied streamers–made from open-cell foam wrapped in "spawn-sack" nylon netting. I’ve had some pretty remarkable fishing with these things. Because they’re soft, fish don’t spit them out right away, and even come back to hit them a second or third time, if you don’t get the fish hooked right away. Stranger yet, I couldn’t help noticing that foam streamers seem to work better as you use them. That is, after you catch the first fish, the second fish hits sooner than the first, and then the third fish even quicker yet. It finally dawned on me what was going on. So last weekend, while fishing the Yellowstone, I held a foam streamer under a fish I had in the net, and squeezed the foam body of the streamer as the fish dripped its slimy juices onto the fly. Sure enough, I caught another fish almost right away, and then another, etc. Foam streamers, it turns out, are odor sponges. And the more they smell, the better they work. That this is a hot-damn fly is not a question. Foam streamers are the deadliest flies I have ever tied and fished with. But is using them still fly fishing? And does it really matter anyway? ….just wondering….. ? —

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There is no question that the meaning of the word "fly" has taken on a life of its own within the fly fishing community.  There was a time when a fly was a lure which imitated a fly.  The technique of propelling that fly developed into the sport we are familiar with, but it is the technique, not the lure which we now rely on to define our sport.  There are hundreds of "modern flies" which would never be confused with an insect.  I think of egg-sucking-leaches, moose turds, BC Bombers, green-butt skunks and many others which any fly fisher would readily concede is designed to catch fish using fly fishing gear.  Even the venerable royal coachman is a lure-type fly.  Are we really being true to the spirit of the sport in stretching the definition so broadly?  Have we lost something of the sport in expanding the definitions?   I ask only rhetorically, but am interested in the thoughts of others on this subject.  Are there fly fishers among us so pure as to fish only imitations of natural flies?  Is the sport a different experience when we use lures with fly gear? —

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To me, when ever you fish with a fly rod and fly line, you are flyfishing, regardless what you tied at the end of the line. For sure, I am not a purist. And I don’t want to be one. Cheers, Thi Nguyen

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: Is it flyfishing? Nope, it’s poaching, pure and simple…;{) Tim Walker

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: Is it flyfishing? Nope, it’s poaching, pure and simple…;{) Tim Walker

Tim, can you elaborate a little. Sometime, I am not sure that you are serious or joking. Thi Nguyen

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