Question:

    No, I’m not referring to the excellent book of the same name. I just got this cut and paste in an e-mail from my uncle. There is no indication that the guy was fishing with flies, but I thought the article would be of interest to the group. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Journal) about the truth on the shark attack here on Pensacola Beach, the truth is coming out!  There is a reason that the "hero" of the attack that wrestled that 7 foot shark to shore is not giving any interviews, and is hard to find.  There is a reason that this 7 foot shark was in 2 feet of water, and there is a reason that the family is "acting funny" about taking money from those that want to help….here it is…..hard truth…Sit down…. THE UNCLE THAT WRESTLED THE SHARK ASHORE WAS FISHING FOR SHARKS, HAD IT ON A LINE AND HAD BEEN FIGHTING IT FOR TWO HOURS PLUS. The unidentified stranger that helped him also helped him fight the fish to shore.  When the shark got into two feet of water, the kids all ran into the water in jubilation and the shark lunged from off the ground and hit Jessie Arbogast twice, took his arm off and bit into his leg.  !!!!!!! The man had CHUM in the water, and heavy tackle built to fish for sharks. His nephew got bit because the entire family went into the water trying to wrestle the fish to land.  There is big money on a shark that size. THIS IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH The press has suppressed the real truth, because they are afraid that it will effect the contributions for Jessie and the uncle is so filled with guilt, he has tried to commit suicide once already….Now it all makes sense.  NO MAN is going to wrestle a shark that large to shore in two feet of water, that is one powerful animal, and they had cut the cable, and hid the rods by the time the Medic’s got there.  The ranger that shot the shark testified that the shark still had the hook in his mouth and "put up a big fight because his mouth was all bloody and torn up"….(that is why the shark had blood all over it’s mouth in the TV photo’s, it was it’s own blood !!) I am not lessening the horror of the event.  Jessie did get an arm bit off and is going to recover, but I am tired of Pensacola Beach taking it in the shorts because of the "whole truth not being told"….The money, in my opinion would still come in, and the uncle will have to accept that it was a tragic accident and a mistake.

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No, I’m not referring to the excellent book of the same name. I just got this cut and paste in an e-mail from my uncle. There is no indication that the guy was fishing with flies, but I thought the article would be of interest to the group.

Saw this in the Urban Legends web page-they said not true.  Hope not, anyway….

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THE UNCLE THAT WRESTLED THE SHARK ASHORE WAS FISHING FOR SHARKS, HAD IT ON A LINE AND HAD BEEN FIGHTING IT FOR TWO HOURS PLUS.

Not sure about the veracity of that report but at least one network news program did present a brief story about tourists in that area chumming sharks, not necessarily to fish for them but to gawk at them. Mu

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Question:

This has been a very different Spring, pre-runoff season here in Colorado. My local river is fishing more like it normally does in late Summer than during a typical Spring. They are beginning to draw water for the farmers and runoff hasn’t started. Weather has been warm and the river is VERY low and warm for this time of year. Hatches have started but are limited in variety. BWO’s, heavy on cloudy days and sporadic on sunny ones. Midges pretty consistent. No caddis or stoneflies. Just like late summer. I really enjoy this type of fishing. All day on cloudy days and in the morning and late in the day on sunny ones, the fish move into the heads of the pools and feed. They are surface feeding as well as chasing nymphs, often leaving wakes while feeding in water less than a foot in depth. This is slow, meticulous fishing that suits my unasked for "maturity."  Stalking, crawling, and creeping into casting position without spooking the fish is the first requirement for success. This can frequently take up to ten minutes, resting the fish after each short crawl. Long tapered leaders that can turn over a long light tippet are a help as is a slow rod that will cast a long leader with little or no line beyond the tip. Slow careful approaches that get you close enough for a short cast with very little line on the water are much more effective than longer casts that can line cruising fish. In situations that require longer casts, I really like the new, for me, Cortland Clear Creek line with its long front taper.     Many of these fish are cruising the slack shallow water picking off whatever they find instead of setting up feeding stations like the fish feeding in areas with current. These are the toughest ones. It’s hard to predict where they will feed next and the lack of current give them a long look at your fly. Any line slap near them, sends them scurrying off leaving a wake, often putting the other fish down. The fish feeding in the tongues of current are much easier. The current helps hide imperfect presentations and the fish don’t have the time to scrutinize your fly. The rule of fishing the fish closest to you really applies in this situation. Spooking a fish near you will often results in a ruckus that will put down the other fish or even send them all off to deeper water. Playing a hooked fish without spooking the rest takes some luck and some strategy. I find that steady sideways pressure leading the fish away from the others and toward deeper water immediately after the strike SOMETIMES works. If it doesn’t, you generally have two choices, rest the fish and hope they’ll return to feeding or look for a new pod of fish. I’ve caught some surprisingly large fish during these shallow water feeding sprees. Catching a 20+ inch fish in water this shallow is a kick! Willi

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Question:

gentle snip.. We figure renting a car and heading south towards Punta Allen would be a good idea (you mentioned a spot fishable without boat at the bridge of Boca Paila).

Check out the bonefish on http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mmhodg I am standing on the Boca Paila bridge.  That was my first and only bonefish.  If I can catch one anyone can as I am totally clueless. Good luck and don’t forget your snorkle gear it should be great anywhere that time of year. mikeh

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Yes, there are some small flats near the bridge.  Much of the rest of the bay is muddy but there are spots you can reach on foot.  Legally you need a fishing license from the Boca Paila lodge owner. (he is also a warden, but historically he has ignored non-guided fishermen with good manners.  He has been known to call the marines to arrest fishermen w/o permits who cut off his guides.) I caught my first and only permit by the bridge. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – gentle snip.. We figure renting a car and heading south towards Punta Allen would be a good idea (you mentioned a spot fishable without boat at the bridge of Boca Paila). Check out the bonefish on http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mmhodg I am standing on the Boca Paila bridge.  That was my first and only bonefish.  If I can catch one anyone can as I am totally clueless. Good luck and don’t forget your snorkle gear it should be great anywhere that time of year. mikeh

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – gentle snip.. We figure renting a car and heading south towards Punta Allen would be a good idea (you mentioned a spot fishable without boat at the bridge of Boca Paila). Check out the bonefish on http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mmhodg I am standing on the Boca Paila bridge.  That was my first and only bonefish.  If I can catch one anyone can as I am totally clueless. Good luck and don’t forget your snorkle gear it should be great anywhere that time of year. mikeh

Hi Mike, You have a real special site. I saved it and will go back when I have more time. Your photos are very beautiful. Thanks. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop www.kiene.com

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I would welcome anybodys opinions on the best fly pattern’s, sizes, colors, etc. for fishing Yucatan bonefish and barracuda.  Thanks.

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I would welcome anybodys opinions on the best fly pattern’s, sizes, colors, etc. for fishing Yucatan bonefish and barracuda.  Thanks.

Hi U, Take a look at the Crazy Charlie in pearl, gold, pink and root beer. Snapping Shrimp are good in tan, brown, olive, pink and chartreuse. The Bonefish Bitters is good in root beer and olive. Try some small ‘dime size’ crabs in tan or olive. The hook/fly size depends on the brand of hook. I use TMC800S in #6 and #8. In Mustad 3407 or 34007 I use #4 and 6. If the bones are heavily fished, I use smaller flies. On turtle grass I use no eyes or weight. On sand I like bead chain eyes. If I am in moving water or water that is deeper that 2′, I use lead eyes. If the bones are moving then lead them a little. If they are tailing, try to get straight upwind and cast 6" in front of their head. Try to stay on a light colored bottom in shallow water (12" to 18").  Any kind of a tide movement is good. For Barracuda most use a  8" long  green over white synthetic hair streamer with a wire tippet. Don’t cast at the fishes head. Cast in front of him and move it very fast. They can be very lazy if the tide is not moving. They seem to hit their prey in the middle, so most recommend a tandem hook in the rear of the fly. We are also using poppers for cudas. Many are caught while trolling if it is real windy or dark and cloudy. If you have any questions about the MX Yucatan or Belize let me know as it is my favorite subject. I am fishing 3 to 4 different places down there every year. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop www.kiene.com

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The standard patterns are pretty good.  For Bones I like the Bonefish Bitter patterns in amber and olive (chartreuse works sometimes too) and I like smaller flies #6, even #8 too.  There is a pattern called the Squimp that i did very well with also.  For Cudas, the needlefish patterns in Chartreuse are good, and so are the Blanton Flashtail Whistlers. Have fun.

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If you have any questions about the MX Yucatan or Belize let me know as it is my favorite subject. I am fishing 3 to 4 different places down there every year.

Well, it seems me and my fishing pal are headed for Yucatan. We’ll be arriving on March the 30th., and we’ll stay a week in Playa del Carmen. We’re pretty much clueless when it comes to fishing for bones and the Yucatan area. Going with guides or staying at a fishing lodge would solve all our problems, but we trying to keep this at a budget level. We figure, we can afford guides one or two days, but we are unsure of who and where to go. My web searches mainly turned up some all-inclusive lodges, with steep prices. I did, however, search Dejanews for some pointers as well, and I found a bunch of your posts, which, as usual, were extremely helpful. We figure renting a car and heading south towards Punta Allen would be a good idea (you mentioned a spot fishable without boat at the bridge of Boca Paila). Going into Punta Allen itself also sounds exciting, perhaps spending a night there, trying to hook up with a guide or something, but we don’t speak Spanish (we speak English and German). An interesting fact was that in a guidebook, we found that the Bonefishing Club of Ascension Bay is run by a mr. Jan Persson, and that as Swedish sounding as names come. That would definitely be something to check up on when we get there..? So, we must decide how to spend our limited, precious guided time. Should we try a guide in Playa del Carmen or save our money for the Punta Allen area?  Or there any possibilities for fly fishing in Playa del Carmen at all?   Any pointers or recommendations on this would be greatly appreciated. (we already got a hotel, bundled with air fare) I think we got the gear situation under control, except for flies. Do you sell flies at your shop, Bill? We’d be _very_ happy to buy a set of your recommended flies. I will be needing one good set of flies, and one crappy set, looking good, for my friend.. (this is probably better suited for email, I guess) Our primary target is bonefish, but permit and even tarpon would be worth a shot, if the conditions favor it. We assume one can wade wet in normal clothes (thin long pants or shorts, shirt, sneakers), bringing a chest pack with water and fly fishing gear. Is that recommended for this time of year? (in terms of water temperature). How about a fishing license? Is that an issue at all? All hints and tips greatly appreciated. El Figen

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Question:

Will non-stealhead trout take an egg pattern?  What conditions (time of year, water types, etc.) would be best?  What sort of presentation would be best?

I fished a bright green egg pattern last weekend and caught a nice 14 inch native Rainbow.  The egg had a little flash on it and very light hackle.  When I tied it on I didn’t really expect much, but then I wasn’t doing much with the regular fare anyway.  The egg pattern pulled the Rainbow out of the depths of a pool. Try it, what the heck!  If the dry flies and usual nymphs aren’t working, try anything!  You never know. Bob, Moss Landing, Ca.

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Will non-stealhead trout take an egg pattern?  What conditions (time of year, water types, etc.) would be best?  What sort of presentation would be best? I fished a bright green egg pattern last weekend and caught a nice 14 inch native Rainbow.  The egg had a little flash on it and very light hackle.  

Hackle on an egg? I’ve tied a bunch of egg patterns and took the idea behind the "double egg sperm" salmon pattern I’ve seen.  I just tied a single egg in this case but put a couple of wisps of white marabou just in front of the egg.  I gave a handful of these to a friend and he did real well with them on a trip to the Trinity, CA area a couple of years ago.  His buddies were using "standard" egg patterns and they only caught smaller and fewer fish. — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems – Ithaca, NY

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What’s the difference between Glo-Bugs and Pautzkee’s ? A jar of glowbugs would cost $1,423.87 TimW

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – All sorts of fish take all sorts of egg patterns.  Just last weekend I was catching rainbows on egg patterns, supposedly because carp were spawning in the vicinity. It used to be a real secret or just the fact that no one used eggs flies other than during the spawning time, but a small egg fly pattern catches trout ALL year.  Instead of fishing a nymph during the Summer switch to a small, well tied egg fly.  You will find that the "Two Strand" method will tie the smallest fly.  Don’t tell any one that I spilled the beans. This pattern will be successful typically anywhere that fish have been reared in a hatchery in their life span. Although, I have fished some remote streams in Georgia that were filled with stream reared ‘wild’ fish which also take them. Another secret relating to ‘egg’ patterns is to visit your local craft store and purchase a pack of ‘pom poms’ at 60 cents for 50 or so. These come in a variety of sizes with 9 mm being the most likely but I have used and caught some large fish on a size of about .5 inch in diameter. Colors of tan, pink and even a red color are available. The tan being a good color where fish have been fed(all over in Georgia for larger angling). These can be easily tied on the hook of your choice but a smaller hook(14 or 16) is best as fish are less likely to feel the hook before you have a chance of getting a set. Just don’t buy my supply and don’t use them where I’m fishing(it will make me look bad). Regards, Joe Webb Atlanta Mac User Group (AMUG)

Joe, thought about that a while ago. How do you fix the pom-balls on the hook, just superglue?? Thomas

– Sender:  Thomas Urbig          Harvard University          Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology          16 Divinity Ave.          Cambridge, MA 02138          Tel: (USA) 617 495 3716;   Fax:  (USA)  617 496 8726

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All sorts of fish take all sorts of egg patterns.  Just last weekend I was catching rainbows on egg patterns, supposedly because carp were spawning in the vicinity. It used to be a real secret or just the fact that no one used eggs flies other than during the spawning time, but a small egg fly pattern catches trout ALL year.  Instead of fishing a nymph during the Summer switch to a small, well tied egg fly.  You will find that the "Two Strand" method will tie the smallest fly.  Don’t tell any one that I spilled the beans.

This pattern will be successful typically anywhere that fish have been reared in a hatchery in their life span. Although, I have fished some remote streams in Georgia that were filled with stream reared ‘wild’ fish which also take them. Another secret relating to ‘egg’ patterns is to visit your local craft store and purchase a pack of ‘pom poms’ at 60 cents for 50 or so. These come in a variety of sizes with 9 mm being the most likely but I have used and caught some large fish on a size of about .5 inch in diameter. Colors of tan, pink and even a red color are available. The tan being a good color where fish have been fed(all over in Georgia for larger angling). These can be easily tied on the hook of your choice but a smaller hook(14 or 16) is best as fish are less likely to feel the hook before you have a chance of getting a set. Just don’t buy my supply and don’t use them where I’m fishing(it will make me look bad). Regards, Joe Webb Atlanta Mac User Group (AMUG)

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Will non-stealhead trout take an egg pattern?  What conditions (time of year, water types, etc.) would be best?  What sort of presentation would be best? Will any other type of fish take any other type of egg pattern? Thanks, Jon Kreski —

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Will non-stealhead trout take an egg pattern?  What conditions (time of year, water types, etc.) would be best?  What sort of presentation would be best? Will any other type of fish take any other type of egg pattern? Thanks, Jon Kreski –Oh yeah, stocked rainbows love them, haven’t had much luck with natives. But I would imagine

during the rainbow spawning period, they would take them just like salmon do.  I’ve also caught suckers on them. Vince

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A tip… A guide showed me this trick and it has been very, very effective for me. We were sight casting to large bows with a 2 fly system, a glow bug and a small biot nymph on the dropper. EVERY single time (like 10 in a row), the fish would see the big honkin’ glow bug and investigate it and then SLAM the biot nymph. I fish a 2 fly glo-bug or big-fly/little-fly combo all of the time. TimW

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: Will non-stealhead trout take an egg pattern? Yes. : What conditions (time of year : water types, etc.) would be best?   Any water conditions, mostly when other fish are spawing. : What sort of presentation would be best? Dead drift is usually best but I do get quite a few fish on the swing. : Will any other type of fish take any other type of egg pattern? Pretty much any fish should take a glo-bug. I catch and release hundreds of rainbows, dollies, whitefish and cutthroat every year with them. I’ve been fishing them the last 2 weeks, since the salmon started showing up, and have been averaging 20-25 rainbows and about the same in whitefish every afternoon I’ve been out (3-4 times per week). Largest rainbow landed so far has been about 5 lbs. Quite a few of them actually. Largest rainbow lost, about 10 lbs. (damn fluorocarbon tippet!!!!!). Brad

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A tip… A guide showed me this trick and it has been very, very effective for me. We were sight casting to large bows with a 2 fly system, a glow bug and a small biot nymph on the dropper. EVERY single time (like 10 in a row), the fish would see the big honkin’ glow bug and investigate it and then SLAM the biot nymph. I fish a 2 fly glo-bug or big-fly/little-fly combo all of the time. TimW

This is also a popular method  used on the large British reservoirs/lakes. "Teams of flys"  specifically chosen for enticement and imitation. It defintely adds a new dimension to matching the hatch. Gary McMeekin

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All sorts of fish take all sorts of egg patterns.  Just last weekend I was catching rainbows on egg patterns, supposedly because carp were spawning in the vicinity.

It used to be a real secret or just the fact that no one used eggs flies other than during the spawning time, but a small egg fly pattern catches trout ALL year.  Instead of fishing a nymph during the Summer switch to a small, well tied egg fly.  You will find that the "Two Strand" method will tie the smallest fly.  Don’t tell any one that I spilled the beans. Yippi Tie One On AuSable 1

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Will non-stealhead trout take an egg pattern?  What conditions (time of year, water types, etc.) would be best?  What sort of presentation would be best? Will any other type of fish take any other type of egg pattern? Thanks, Jon Kreski —

Other trout will definitely take egg pattern. The best time starts right know with the start of the trout spawning season. Tie some trout eggs (e.g. salmon eggs with orange glow bug yarn in size18 or try Gary LaFontaines pattern in size 18-20) and fish it dead drift. The non spawning guys get crazy over it…. Thomas

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Will non-stealhead trout take an egg pattern?  What conditions (time of year, water types, etc.) would be best?  What sort of presentation would be best?

Rainbows are big time egg eaters.  In rivers with spawning salmon they’ll hang below the redds waiting for eggs to drift out.  In other streams they’ll eat sucker and squawfish eggs.  In those streams your glo bug should be pretty small and the color muted.  A big, orange, salmon egg type pattern probably won’t do it.   Ross

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Will non-stealhead trout take an egg pattern?  What conditions (time of year, water types, etc.) would be best?  What sort of presentation would be best? Will any other type of fish take any other type of egg pattern?

All sorts of fish take all sorts of egg patterns.  Just last weekend I was catching rainbows on egg patterns, supposedly because carp were spawning in the vicinity. — -Wayne Trzyna

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Question:

That’s because you’re a gimp!

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I’M TELLING YOU THIS IS THE TRUTH. THERE IS PRACTICALLY NO PRESSURE ON THIS STREAM, AT LEAST WHEN I WAS FISHING IT BACK IN ‘92 -’95, AND IF YOU EXERCISED THE LEAST BIT OF RESTRAINT AND WERE AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT STEALTHY (SP?) YOU COULD BUST THESE BAD BOYS WITH REGULARITY ON ROYAL WULFFS AND YELLOW HUMPYS. THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE ANYMORE WITH ALL THE GODDAMN CALIFORNIANS AND NORMAN MACLAIN WANNABES TROMPING THROUGH THE WATER LIKE SOLDIERS ON THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY. THE WEST END OF THE CREEK JUST BEFORE IT’S CONFLUENCE WITH THE EAGLE RIVER IS EXCEPTONAL. AND IN THE WINTER IT’S EVEN BETTER. PRESSURE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : I can confirm that you can catch 20+ inchers in the town of vail.  I’ve : only been up there one day and I hooked into a couple 15"-ers but as I : was kayaking another day I saw some other people catching larger ones and : the guide at the fly store was telling tales of 25" fish he had cought : that week. Wow.  A 25" rainbow in a mountain stream (without a lake at the bottom) is a rare thing these days.  I’m sure the rarity is increased in the middle of town.  Good catch indeed. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

That’s great, now I can walk across the street for a Big Max—-T Wigs—–

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This "Trout in Town" thing is not only real, it is the norm around here in Colorado. In fact Mr. Fletcher, I’ll show you a spot in Colorado where you can catch a 24 incher behind a major busy grocery store. TimW         well, boys, i’d be proud to show you where you can catch a 12 inch rainbow so far from any real town that you forget the color of traffic lights.  but there would be damn few 24 inchers.  and the folks you’d be fishin with talk funny.                 a. wayne harrison

lets go. TimW

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: I can confirm that you can catch 20+ inchers in the town of vail.  I’ve : only been up there one day and I hooked into a couple 15"-ers but as I : was kayaking another day I saw some other people catching larger ones and : the guide at the fly store was telling tales of 25" fish he had cought : that week. Wow.  A 25" rainbow in a mountain stream (without a lake at the bottom) is a rare thing these days.  I’m sure the rarity is increased in the middle of town.  Good catch indeed. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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This "Trout in Town" thing is not only real, it is the norm around here in Colorado.   In fact Mr. Fletcher, I’ll show you a spot in Colorado where you can catch a 24 incher behind a major busy grocery store. TimW

        well, boys, i’d be proud to show you where you can catch a 12 inch rainbow so far from any real town that you forget the color of traffic lights.  but there would be damn few 24 inchers.  and the folks you’d be fishin with talk funny.                 a. wayne harrison

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Gore Creek has some pretty big fish and they ain’t all that tame. I haven’t caught a 20" trout there but I’ve no trouble believing that there are fish that big and larger. Catching them is a bit tricky, however.  Jeff

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I can confirm that you can catch 20+ inchers in the town of vail.  I’ve only been up there one day and I hooked into a couple 15"-ers but as I was kayaking another day I saw some other people catching larger ones and the guide at the fly store was telling tales of 25" fish he had cought that week. Leave a few for me and remember a lot of the area is restricted fishing. TJ

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I particularly like bashing stockers for the smoker in front of the tourists at the rest areas along I-70. And I can never understand why some of the folks on here think you taunt them…

They’re too sensitive. TimW

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: I can confirm that you can catch 20+ inchers in the town of vail.  I’ve : only been up there one day and I hooked into a couple 15"-ers but as I : was kayaking another day I saw some other people catching larger ones and : the guide at the fly store was telling tales of 25" fish he had cought : that week. Wow.  A 25" rainbow in a mountain stream (without a lake at the bottom) is a rare thing these days.  I’m sure the rarity is increased in the middle of town.  Good catch indeed.

The chances are very, very good that this was a brooder released (sent to pasture) by the CDOW.   Gore creek can not support this sized fish naturally. TimW

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: You should see the holding pools and trout observation structure (it is : cool, like a sea world underground view into a large hole below a rapid) : in Boulder, Co.  Many, may big fish.  Lots are the DOW brooders sent to : pasture. And that is really the thought behind my post.  I know Boulder pretty well, and I don’t recall "many, many big fish".  No wonder, when one considers the number of kids splashing around in the water and homeless people looking for chow.  I do know there are quite a number of fish in Boulder Creek downtown, I just didn’t believe they were large.  Now I do.   I’ve always admired Missoula with the Clarks Fork running through town. Noon whistle bell rings and the folks head to the river with their rods. One o’clock comes and they go back to work. : Grizzly King.  Again, ‘parkish’.  I particularly like bashing stockers : for the smoker in front of the tourists at the rest areas along I-70. And I can never understand why some of the folks on here think you taunt them… : In fact Mr. Fletcher, I’ll show you a spot in Colorado where you can catch : a 24 incher behind a major busy grocery store. I do that all the time.  The trick is to hide behind a box and then jump out when they toss the overripe salmon in the garbage.  I often hear "good catch". What is that story by McGuane where he walks through town and catches fish? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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: Hey everyone, : I have a question. If you only had one evening to fish within a : half-hour of Vail, where would you choose to fish? I am going up : there tomorrow and would like your insight. : Thanks : JS  Homestake Creek, south of Minturn. It’s beyond Battle Mt. and Redcliff.  Turn right at the cabin with the Hummingbird feeder to cross a small  bridge on the creek. Anywhere on the ~8 miles to Homestake Res. has  nice little Brookies. Clean water, no tailing drainage, unlike the  Eagle near Minturn. Even if you don’t catch anything, it’s an interesting  drive past Battle Mt.  Tallyho !  Alpha Kilo

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:  Homestake Creek, south of Minturn. It’s beyond Battle Mt. and Redcliff. :  Turn right at the cabin with the Hummingbird feeder to cross a small :  bridge on the creek. Anywhere on the ~8 miles to Homestake Res. has :  nice little Brookies. Clean water, no tailing drainage, unlike the :  Eagle near Minturn. Even if you don’t catch anything, it’s an interesting :  drive past Battle Mt. I’ve heard that it is absolutely useless to use surface flies on the fish near Minturn.  Nothing works but nymphs.  I guess they have so much lead in them that they can’t get to the surface to go for a dry fly.  They just sink to the bottom.  Dynamite doesn’t even bring them up.  True? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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:  Homestake Creek, south of Minturn. It’s beyond Battle Mt. and Redcliff. :  Turn right at the cabin with the Hummingbird feeder to cross a small :  bridge on the creek. Anywhere on the ~8 miles to Homestake Res. has :  nice little Brookies. Clean water, no tailing drainage, unlike the :  Eagle near Minturn. Even if you don’t catch anything, it’s an interesting :  drive past Battle Mt. I’ve heard that it is absolutely useless to use surface flies on the fish near Minturn.  Nothing works but nymphs.  I guess they have so much lead in them that they can’t get to the surface to go for a dry fly.  They just sink to the bottom.  Dynamite doesn’t even bring them up.  True?

but it’s really worth it, ’cause you can catch a 4 inch fish and honestly tell the boys in the shop that you nailed a 6 pounder…. TimW

Response:

You have a gold medal stream running right through the heart of Vail, Gore Creek. Twenty inch rainbows on attractors. The best in town fishing in Colorado.

Response:

Rick, : You have a gold medal stream running right through the heart of Vail, : Gore Creek. Twenty inch rainbows on attractors. The best in town : fishing in Colorado. I find this to be a remarkable statement, that 20 inch bows can be caught in town.  If it is true, that is the ultimate "tame" fish.

        I can readily believe that you could read something like this in         a brochure published by the Vail Chamber of Commerce, but don’t         bet your firstborn on it.  Nor should you put much stock in the         "Two Trout Over 16 Inches" signs; if you read the shocking reports         you will quickly realize that they’re really just a statistically         and politically correct way to say "Catch and Release".         However, in a stream not far away …                                                   Tom

Response:

: You have a gold medal stream running right through the heart of Vail, : Gore Creek. Twenty inch rainbows on attractors. The best in town : fishing in Colorado. I find this to be a remarkable statement, that 20 inch bows can be caught in town.  If it is true, that is the ultimate "tame" fish. Can anyone confirm whether J&J’s assertion is true?

This is not only true, but it is the trend in urban stream reclamation. The Roaring Fork through Aspen is the same way.  "Parkish", I would call it. You should see the holding pools and trout observation structure (it is cool, like a sea world underground view into a large hole below a rapid) in Boulder, Co.  Many, may big fish.  Lots are the DOW brooders sent to pasture. The planners in Glenwood have planned and started construction on a bike path along the Fork through town.  They rollerblade in bikinis along the colorado through the Glenwood Canyon, and you need to be careful where you hurl the Grizzly King.  Again, ‘parkish’.  I particularly like bashing stockers for the smoker in front of the tourists at the rest areas along I-70. The best section of the Blue (trust me) *IS* in the Heart of Silverthorne, problem here is property access.  Same in Breckenridge, Ouray etc. etc. This "Trout in Town" thing is not only real, it is the norm around here in Colorado.   In fact Mr. Fletcher, I’ll show you a spot in Colorado where you can catch a 24 incher behind a major busy grocery store. TimW

Response:

: You have a gold medal stream running right through the heart of Vail, : Gore Creek. Twenty inch rainbows on attractors. The best in town : fishing in Colorado. I find this to be a remarkable statement, that 20 inch bows can be caught in town.  If it is true, that is the ultimate "tame" fish. Can anyone confirm whether J&J’s assertion is true? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

writes: Hey everyone, I have a question. If you only had one evening to fish within a half-hour of Vail, where would you choose to fish? I am going up there tomorrow and would like your insight. Thanks JS

Js, I think that would be Beaver Creek in Beaver Creek (just outside of Vail) I hear that’s some good small stream fishing but, haven’t tried it yet. Probably some mosquito’s, elk hair caddis, small humpy’s, ect… would work just fine. Best of luck….Cliff

Response:

Hey everyone, I have a question. If you only had one evening to fish within a half-hour of Vail, where would you choose to fish? I am going up there tomorrow and would like your insight. Thanks JS

Response:

Hey everyone, I have a question. If you only had one evening to fish within a half-hour of Vail, where would you choose to fish? I am going up there tomorrow and would like your insight. Thanks JS

Why not fish Gore Creek, which possesses Gold-Medal waters right through the city of Vail?  Eagle and Colorado Rivers are close-by and are always nice rivers… — MORGAN P. BROWN                 Colorado School of Mines                 Rice University                 Phone:   (303) 215-9190 URL:     http://timna.mines.edu/~mbrown                http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~mpbro

Response:

Question:

Hi Dan – Glad to se you are on-line again. Missed you while you were out – but I went to ASU ! bob

Hey Bob, Sorry, didn’t mean it as a slam against ASU.  I was making fun of his "gotta get some weapons" post to the fly fishing newsgroup.  I just happened to know that Arizona State is in that area because my daughter lived in Mesa for a while.  I figured this guy was a student there and wondered if his parents knew what he was doing – possibly with the school money.  Didn’t mean anything by it  8^                                                Oops!                                                   Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

Response:

Hi Dan – Glad to se you are on-line again. Missed you while you were out – but I went to ASU ! bob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (Allan Gay) writes:     I live in Arizona and I am looking into purchasing a crossbow just to shoot for fun and possibly at pigs during the handgun season.  If you have a used crossbow that you want to sell respond to me personally with a description of what crossbow you have and how much you are willing to sell it for.  I live in mesa, I am ready to buy right now, don’t waste time e-mailing me, I want to start shooting as soon as possible,  I pay in cash. with a description and whatever price you want for it.   I will get back to all of you.  I am serious, I am ready to pay cash right now for a recurve or crossbow or if you have both.  E-mail me right now for jims, any other cool toys you might have.  I do not personally want the slim jim but i have a friend who will pay for one and any books on how to use them.  e-mail me with any info on anything you want to sell, you might be surprised at what i will buy!!!!! You betcha!! we got ‘em.  Use ‘em mostly over here to shoot carp and squawfish.  Have a special today on the whitefish model though only for resident Montanans and Oregonians. YOu must be going to Arizona State right?  Does your mother know you are doing these things?????                                       8^                                            Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

– Dr. Robert K. Sato Catalytica Inc. 430 Ferguson Drive Mountain View, CA  94043   USA Voice:  (415)940-6375 Fax:    (415)960-0127

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(Allan Gay) writes:     I live in Arizona and I am looking into purchasing a crossbow just to shoot for fun and possibly at pigs during the handgun season.  If you have a used crossbow that you want to sell respond to me personally with a description of what crossbow you have and how much you are willing to sell it for.  I live in mesa, I am ready to buy right now, don’t waste time e-mailing me, I want to start shooting as soon as possible,  I pay in cash. with a description and whatever price you want for it.   I will get back to all of you.  I am serious, I am ready to pay cash right now for a recurve or crossbow or if you have both.  E-mail me right now for jims, any other cool toys you might have.  I do not personally want the slim jim but i have a friend who will pay for one and any books on how to use them.  e-mail me with any info on anything you want to sell, you might be surprised at what i will buy!!!!!

You betcha!! we got ‘em.  Use ‘em mostly over here to shoot carp and squawfish.  Have a special today on the whitefish model though only for resident Montanans and Oregonians. YOu must be going to Arizona State right?  Does your mother know you are doing these things?????                                       8^                                            Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

Response:

     I live in Arizona and I am looking into purchasing a crossbow just to shoot for fun and possibly at pigs during the handgun season.  If you have a used crossbow that you want to sell respond to me personally with a description of what crossbow you have and how much you are willing to sell it for.  I live in mesa, I am ready to buy right now, don’t waste time e-mailing me, I want to start shooting as soon as possible,  I pay in cash. with a description and whatever price you want for it.   I will get back to all of you.  I am serious, I am ready to pay cash right now for a recurve or crossbow or if you have both.  E-mail me right now for  any other cool toys you might have.  I do not personally want the slim jim but i have a friend who will pay for one and any books on how to use them.  e-mail me with any info on anything you want to sell, you might be surprised at what i will buy!!!!!

Response:

Question:

We’re pleased and excited to announce the birth of a brand new and very different quarterly publication covering the woods and waters of the Salmon River/Eastern Lake Ontario area. As a logical extension of our popular WEB site ‘http://www.salmon-river.com’ we’ll be visiting "The Fly Zone" with Fran Verdoliva, checking out "The Tackle Box" with Jim Dence, following Peter’s wanderings in his "Thompson At Large" column, getting "A View from the Treestand" with yours truly, locating and evaluating country real estate with Christine Nixon, finding out what’s hot and what’s not with Fred David, locating cool new fishing links compliments of Jim Walker, snow sledding the Tug Hill Plateau, visiting with DEC biologists, local taxidermists, antique shops, our salmon and trout hatchery, state forests and parks, and so much more! We plan to hit the presses in late June, and be available free at local and out-of-state sport shops by July 1. Yours in the Outdoors, Bill — Bill Fling                     Tel. (315) 298-3044 SALMON RIVER ANGLERS LODGE     FAX  (315) 298-2619 P.O. Box 353                   Rt. 13, Rome Road Pulaski, NY 13142-0353   ‘SALMON RIVER/LAKE ONTARIO SPORTFISHING REPORTS’             ‘http://www.salmon-river.com’

Response:

As a logical extension of our popular web site ‘http://www.salmon-river.com, we’re excited to announce the beginnings of our print publication "The Salmon River/Lake Ontario Experience." Scheduled to be in selected sport shops on July 1, SRLOE has been designed to be different. Upbeat, in-depth, accurate and professional coverage of the area’s woods and waters is what you’ll find from cover to cover. Visit Fran Verdoliva’s ‘Fly Zone’ Follow artist, guide and author Peter Thompson in ‘Thompson At Large" Master Angler Bill Ferman will show you his "Rivers and Creeks" I’ll share my "View From The Treestand" with you hunting folks Herald Journal columnist, Fred David, will tell you what’s hot and what’s not Sample some wild turkey recipes at "Laurie’s Smokehouse" Check out some cool fishing and hunting links courtesy of Jim Walker See what’s new in Jim Dense’s "Tackle Box" Visit some back country real estate with Christine Nixon Hit the trails on your snowsled or X-country skis, jig some perch through the ice, call in your first tom, check out the trout and salmon hatchery at Altmar or hear what our DEC personnel have to say. You get the picture. EVERYTHING our area has to offer-year round. If your favorite sport shop doesn’t have copies by July 1, ask them to have us send them some. Yours in the outdoors, Bill — Bill Fling                     Tel. (315) 298-3044 SALMON RIVER ANGLERS LODGE     FAX  (315) 298-2619 P.O. Box 353                   Rt. 13, Rome Road Pulaski, NY 13142-0353   ‘SALMON RIVER/LAKE ONTARIO SPORTFISHING REPORTS’             ‘http://www.salmon-river.com’

Response:

Question:

   To All;   I have been asked by some in my tying classes , what 5 things makes up a High Quality Fly. The question is valid and would like to hear what the ROFF group may say.    Harry

Response:

  To All;  I have been asked by some in my tying classes , what 5 things makes up a High Quality Fly. The question is valid and would like to hear what the ROFF group may say.   Harry

Hi Harry, I offer my ideas regarding the 5 things that make a high quality fly from my perspective, a commercial fly tier: 1. Durability – quality materials, strong hook, etc. 2. Proper proportions, tail length, hackle, etc. 3. Attractive to the fly fisher 4. Attractive to the fish 5. Will sell It will be interesting to see what other fly tiers/fisher think. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

Response:

   To All;   I have been asked by some in my tying classes , what 5 things makes up a High Quality Fly. The question is valid and would like to hear what the ROFF group may say.    Harry

Harry,         Here’s my list of the five characteristics of a good quality fly: Durability – It has to last.  This isn’t art for art’s sake. Ease of tying – The point is to go fishing sometime this century.  I         lose enough flies that I need to tie more than one per day. Bugginess – Oh, that elusive quality.  If it doesn’t "look buggy" it         probably will never get tied on my tippet.  I’ve carried flies         for years that just don’t get a rise out of me. Availability of Ingredients – Part of this is my frugality.  But, part         is my ecological awareness.  If I’m going to have to spend         my tying and fishing time tracking down materials, I’m outta         here. Catches Fish – Course, before I know this, I’ve tracked down the         materials, easily tied the fly, am confident in its durability,         and have tied it on my tippet.  But, hey, this is what we’re         doing this for, isn’t it? Charley

Response:

  To All;  I have been asked by some in my tying classes , what 5 things makes up a High Quality Fly. The question is valid and would like to hear what the ROFF group may say.   Harry

Reply Never counted my reasons. 1. Do I enjoy tying the fly? 2. Does it REALLY require all of those materials that I don’t have? Can I sub. and    still have a good looking fly that will work. 3. Do I have confidence in the fly. 4. Do I need another fly like this one. How many of this type do I already carry that    I don’t use now. 5. And back to # 1. If I like to tie the fly thats what matters. I’m here for just      the fun.  CU, Steve Birkes Buckner, Mo.

Response:

  To All;  I have been asked by some in my tying classes , what 5 things makes up a High Quality Fly. The question is valid and would like to hear what the ROFF group may say.

I can boil it down to just three things: 1.  It has to catch fish. 2.  It has to catch fish. 3.  It has to catch fish. Larry H.

Response:

I fish mainly in still waters and I fine one other quality to be of importance when tying.I like to call this Pulsability; giving the illusion of a bubbling, pulsating, swimming creature. John Hafner

Response:

Harry, as a former pro tyer I would have to say it’s more a case of WHO makes a good fly. Style and expertise does not come to everyone, even if you have the correct materials for any given pattern.   To All;  I have been asked by some in my tying classes , what 5 things makes up a High Quality Fly. The question is valid and would like to hear what the ROFF group may say.   Harry

– dave tait

Response:

I fish mainly in still waters and I fine one other quality to be of importance when tying.I like to call this Pulsability; giving the illusion of a bubbling, pulsating, swimming creature. John Hafner

A good fly should take less time to tie than it does to lose it.    -Ralph —

Response:

  To All;  I have been asked by some in my tying classes , what 5 things makes up a High Quality Fly. The question is valid and would like to hear what the ROFF group may say.   Harry

1. proportion 2. balance 3. durability 4. castability 5. silouette these are what i shoot for when tying flies for stripers, etc. shade/color would probably come in 6th for me.                                                 jc

Response:

        Does it catch fish?         That, essentially, is the bottom line.

Response:

        Does it catch fish?         That, essentially, is the bottom line.

Yes, but,…… There are lots of flies out there that catch marlin, peacock bass, sharks, etc.  They catch fish, but are not a good fly for me.  I don’t get to sea too often.  And, when I do, I’m usually looking for salmon! So, now we have to add the delimiter, "Does it catch the fish I’m after?". This is such a complex question! :^) Charley

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –         Does it catch fish?         That, essentially, is the bottom line. Yes, but,…… There are lots of flies out there that catch marlin, peacock bass, sharks, etc.  They catch fish, but are not a good fly for me.  I don’t get to sea too often.  And, when I do, I’m usually looking for salmon! So, now we have to add the delimiter, "Does it catch the fish I’m after?". This is such a complex question! :^) Charley

Hi Charley, Good point Charley! My flies always catch the fish I’m after IF i’m telling the story.?! Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

Response:

Al Beatty said: Hi Charley, Good point Charley! My flies always catch the fish I’m after IF i’m telling the story.?!

Cheers for Al’s honesty.  I will add that if they don’t, I damn quick change the story. Dick Hubbard

Response:

   To All;   I have been asked by some in my tying classes , what 5 things makes up a High Quality Fly. The question is valid and would like to hear what the ROFF group may say.    Harry

Harry: 1. Ease of tying: most of us fit fly tying between the responsibilities work, running a home, and the ten o’clock news. Functional patterns are not necessarily a compromise. You can crank out a dozen brown-hackle-peacocks or BWO compara duns in the time it takes to tie half-as-many extended body paradrakes. This is not to say you don’t need extended body paradrakes–just save the more involved patterns for those rare occasions when you have a few hours to spend on the vice. 2. Proportions and technique: Spend time understanding how to size hackle and dimension tails; without such understanding, you can easily turn a humpy into a spider. Study A. K. Best’s "Production Fly Tying." He explains technique in this book, not recipes for ties (this book is made most valuable as a reference source: when you’re lashing down a moose mane tail, you can consult the book for a brief technique refresher before you begin, and your flies look a little better for your trouble). 3. Materials: Garbage in, garbage out. Webby dry fly hackle, too soft biots, it doesn’t matter. There’s nothing you can do to disguise poor materials. 4. Hooks: I used to recycle hooks but quit when I discovered that hooks grow weaker in boxes–every time your fly box gets submerged, the hooks will weaken from rust, particularly where the bend enters foam. I prefer Tiemco (particularly the 200R) and Daichi hooks. 5. Bottom Line: tie patterns that have proved their worth on the waters you fish. While just about any pattern will work at one time or another, there are a lot of useless diversions out there. Get to know old timers and knowledgable guides. They’ll turn you on to patterns you won’t find in books. Mitch Mulhall

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –    To All;   I have been asked by some in my tying classes , what 5 things makes up a High Quality Fly. The question is valid and would like to hear what the ROFF group may say.    Harry Harry: 1. Ease of tying: most of us fit fly tying between the responsibilities work, running a home, and the ten o’clock news. Functional patterns are not necessarily a compromise. You can crank out a dozen brown-hackle-peacocks or BWO compara duns in the time it takes to tie half-as-many extended body paradrakes. This is not to say you don’t need extended body paradrakes–just save the more involved patterns for those rare occasions when you have a few hours to spend on the vice. 2. Proportions and technique: Spend time understanding how to size hackle and dimension tails; without such understanding, you can easily turn a humpy into a spider. Study A. K. Best’s "Production Fly Tying." He explains technique in this book, not recipes for ties (this book is made most valuable as a reference source: when you’re lashing down a moose mane tail, you can consult the book for a brief technique refresher before you begin, and your flies look a little better for your trouble). 3. Materials: Garbage in, garbage out. Webby dry fly hackle, too soft biots, it doesn’t matter. There’s nothing you can do to disguise poor materials. 4. Hooks: I used to recycle hooks but quit when I discovered that hooks grow weaker in boxes–every time your fly box gets submerged, the hooks will weaken from rust, particularly where the bend enters foam. I prefer Tiemco (particularly the 200R) and Daichi hooks. 5. Bottom Line: tie patterns that have proved their worth on the waters you fish. While just about any pattern will work at one time or another, there are a lot of useless diversions out there. Get to know old timers and knowledgable guides. They’ll turn you on to patterns you won’t find in books. Mitch Mulhall

  To Mitch and all who took the time to reply, thank you !!  I will take these notes to the start of yet another class Thursday night.   Again Thanks    Harry

Response:

Question:

Help!  The good news is that I’m going on a dive trip in a few weeks to Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman.  The bad news is that I’ve never caught a bonefish and would sure like to fix that during this trip.  Anybody out there have some knowledge about flyfishing these areas for bones, permits, tarpon, whatever.  I’m looking for locations, outfitters, phone numbers, anything.  I live in Southeast Alaska and would be glad to return the favor for anglers heading this way next year.

If you call the Cayman Is. Tourism board in (I think) New York, they will send you the current copy of the Cayman Angler, which lists current action, as well guides. I’ve tried the west side of Puerto Rico several times with no luck as far as bones go (found cuda, jacks, snappers, etc.). The SE corner looked more promising but I haven’t gotten a chance to go back. I met a guy from P.R. in a tackle shop in Maine, and he said the lagoons around the airport and San Juan all hold tarpon, which he regularly took on spinning gear. There is one guide in P.R. who advertises in the back of Saltwater Sportsman too. He appears to be more offshore oriented, but he may be able to help you out. If you can’t find a copy let me know, I’ll try to dig it up.                                                         jc

Response:

Help!  The good news is that I’m going on a dive trip in a few weeks to Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman.  The bad news is that I’ve never caught a bonefish and would sure like to fix that during this trip.  Anybody out there have some knowledge about flyfishing these areas for bones, permits, tarpon, whatever.  I’m looking for locations, outfitters, phone numbers, anything.  I live in Southeast Alaska and would be glad to return the favor for anglers heading this way next year.

Response:

Question:

Does anyone have a pattern recipe for that marvelous fly.  :-) I look in many book but was unable to find a pattern for the Griffith’s Gnat, only found the Black Gnat.

Randall Kaufmann’s Dry Fly Book has several variations. I simply use a peacock herl body and a palmered black hackle. When the spirit moves me, I put on a CDC or polywing single wing. -Dave

Response:

: Does anyone have a pattern recipe for that marvelous fly.  :-) I look in many : book but was unable to find a pattern for the Griffith’s Gnat, only found the : Black Gnat. : Au plaisir de vous lire, : Denis Lamy : Trois-Rivieres (Quebec, Canada) : ~~~ :  * VbReader 2.22 #67 * Il en nait un toutes les minutes. P.T.Barnum Bonjour, Le Griffiths gnat est tres simple… Ok, so my French is not up to speed, but basically you just tie on a body of peacock herl and then palmer the hackle (usually grizzly looks best) over the body.  Very easy fly, I think it is particularly effective with a slightly over-sized hackle. Regards

Response:

Hook 94840 16-22 Materials – peacock hurl, grizzley hackle attach hackle then hurl at bend of hook, close wrap hurl forward to head, palmer hackle through hurl, tie off and extremely small head. represents a midge orgy. gink it up and fish it as a dry, or fish it as an emerger.  Easy to tie fly that works when the midges are too small to match. I’ve used it successfully on South Platte, Green, San Juan, Big Horn, Frying Pan rivers, brookie streams and ponds, blue gill lakes and most other places I have fished Tight Lines Mark

Response:

Does anyone have a pattern recipe for that marvelous fly.  :-) I look in many book but was unable to find a pattern for the Griffith’s Gnat, only found the Black Gnat.

Simple: #16-22 fine wire dry fly hook black thread peacock herl body grizzly hackle (size 2X hook gape) – palmered through body /dave

Response:

This is from the Universal Fly Tying Guide by Dick Stewart, 2nd Edition (a nice book). HOOK – Standard dry fly; sizes 14 to 22 THREAD – Black TAIL – None BODY – Peacock herl WING – None HACKLE – Grizzly, wrapped over the herl body RIB – Fine gold wire (optional) COMMENT – This fly pattern has proved to be a very effective imitation of           small, dark midges. Good Luck! Jim Davis Philadelphia, PA Go Owls!

Response:

I saw a variation of the griffith’s gnat at a fly shop on the Bighorn River and it out fishes the traditional pattern.  To tie the griffith’s gnat ala Bighorn, palmer a brown hackle in with the grizzley hackle (like an adams).  Try it, you’ll like it. Kent Fishman

Response:

Does anyone have a pattern recipe for that marvelous fly.  :-) I look in many book but was unable to find a pattern for the Griffith’s Gnat, only found the Black Gnat. Randall Kaufmann’s Dry Fly Book has several variations. I simply use a peacock herl body and a palmered black hackle. When the spirit moves me, I put on a CDC or polywing single wing. -Dave

What is a griffiths gnat?

Response:

It is the Main Branch of the Swift River that is the tailwater of the Quabbin.  The east branch feeds into the reservoir about 6 miles north.

Whoops! You are correct, sir ;^) I oughta know better than that… /dave (Swift River Irregular) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < Digital Equipment Corp.    Alpha Server Engineering  < <           "Read this and nobody gets hurt"           < <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Response:

Hi,     I try to fish the G. Gnat with flotant applied only to the top of the fly.  This way it is half submurged.  But as you can see by all the replies there are so many ways.  Experiment.  Good luck…                                         …Steven

Response:

Hi,
    I try to fish the G. Gnat with flotant applied only to the top
of the fly.  This way it is half submurged.  But as you can see by
all the replies there are so many ways.  Experiment.  Good luck…
                                   …Steven

Trim the hackle off of the bottom of the G. Gnat with your tippet clipper when you want it to float lower. Looks like an emerger this way. Don’t put floatant on it at all. Looks like a nymph this way. Load it up with floatant. Looks like a mating ball of midges this way. Tie it with a red or yellow or green floss mid section. I call it a Royal Gnat. Fish it as an attractor. Instead of the standard peacock body, use different colored dubbing. Olive or brown is a real good producer for me. Believe it or not, blue bodied brown hackled G. Gnat have caught many fish when nothing else has. As you can tell, I fish the G. Gnat a lot, and have caught many fish with. It even works on carp, even though that’s not what I’m usually fishing for. This is one of the most versatile flies invented. Don’t go fishing without them. Darryl Hayashida

Response:

Grease the leader  and fish dead drift down stream. I like to clip the bottom hackle off letting the fly float lower in the water. I fish this in July and August.  Works good!!!! Dave Grand Rapids Mi.

Response:

Fish it dry, with a long leader. You will find the take very subtle. Works well at dusk which makes it very hard to see the take. Sometimes you’ll have to set the hook in reaction to the riseform, or even the sound of a slurp. Usually you’ll need a downstream drift, as the water will be quiet, and the trout finicky.

Response:

: I’ve also fished small (20-24) Griffith’s Gnats both dry and using the greased : leader technique. It’s a particularly deadly performer on the East Branch of : the Swift River (central Massachusetts) which is known for the tiny : still-water bugforms that spew from Quabbin Rsvr… It is the Main Branch of the Swift River that is the tailwater of the Quabbin.  The east branch feeds into the reservoir about 6 miles north.

Response:

I’ve also fished small (20-24) Griffith’s Gnats both dry and using the greased leader technique. It’s a particularly deadly performer on the East Branch of the Swift River (central Massachusetts) which is known for the tiny still-water bugforms that spew from Quabbin Rsvr… /dave <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < Digital Equipment Corp.    Alpha Server Engineering  < <           "Read this and nobody gets hurt"           < <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Response:

Many times I have seen fish short rise to the gnat, or inspect and then reject it.  When this happens I tug the fly so that it breaks the surface and I then fish it immediately under the surface.  I have had many fish break me off because of the voracity of the strike. rfb

Response:

When I lived in Montana I used it strictly as a dry for Whitefish on the Big Hole.  It’s funny how you somtimes think a fly only works a particular way.  Now that I live in Alaska I use it for Grayling on the surface, just under the surface, mid-level, and on the bottom (although I’ve never weighted one).  Peacock herl is a Grayling slayer (pardon the term).  I remember one day last year where after 50 or so fish the hackle was unspun, so was most of the pecock herl, and the fly just slowly sank every time it landed.  It didn’t sink for long though.  A Grayling would inevitably snatch it up before it got too far.  After about 100 or so fish I sank it deep into my vest as a reminder that rules are ment to be broken.

Response:

writes: A stupid question:  I’ve read several posts here and books which refer
to Griffith’s gnat.  I can tie one – it’s dead simple, but how do you fish

this thing?  Dry?  Like a nymph with split shot?
— –Mark Camara
  Dept EPO Biology — CB 334
  U.Colorado, Boulder 80309

No it’s not a stupid question… I have had fairly good success fishing a Griffith’s Gnat both ways. The larger ones (14 or 16) work well as a nymph or wet fly, and the smaller ones work well as a dry fly. I guess the secret is to be able to recognize when to fish them wet or dry. Just as an aside, a few months ago I wrote about an incident which happened to me. My wife was fishing with me and decided to use an elk hair caddis. She didn’t know you were supposed to put floatant on it, and it got soggy and sank. She ended up catching more and bigger fish than everyone else that day. I guess the bottom line is don’t get locked into what the fly is supposed to do, experiment with it. You might surprise yourself. Darryl

Response:

: A stupid question:  I’ve read several posts here and books which refer : to Griffith’s gnat.  I can tie one – it’s dead simple, but how do you fish this thing?  Dry?  Like a nymph with split shot? : — : –Mark Camara Mark, I think the beauty of the griffiths gnat is that it can be fished in several different ways.  I have had the best luck with size 18-22 tied with slightly oversized hackles fished dry.  I think they represent small midges very well, but float a little better and are more visible. They can also be fished below the surface using a method similar to what you would use for a wooly bugger or wooly worm. I fished them dry up on the Poudre last fall and had fantastic success.   Darin

Response:

A stupid question:  I’ve read several posts here and books which refer to Griffith’s gnat.  I can tie one – it’s dead simple, but how do you fish this thing?  Dry?  Like a nymph with split shot? — –Mark Camara   Dept EPO Biology — CB 334   U.Colorado, Boulder 80309

Response: