Question:

New neighbor called today–His moving van is arriving tomorrow afternoon but he heard I was a fisherman  and wanted to know if I would go fishing with him 6;30 AM-I ask do you have a boat- yes its at the marina-I will call they gas it up and put it in the water for us-what type of gear should I bring? Oh don’t worry I have clark spoones- rods- planners etc–also have two new 9wt scott rods we might give a try if the mackerls or blues are hitting on top,. Guys if you don"t hear from me anymore just know I have gone to heaven. Indian Joe Wilmington NC

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New neighbor called today–His moving van is arriving tomorrow afternoon but he heard I was a fisherman  and wanted to know if I would go fishing with him 6;30 AM-I ask do you have a boat- yes its at the marina-I will call they gas it up and put it in the water for us-what type of gear should I bring? Oh don’t worry I have clark spoones- rods- planners etc–also have two new 9wt scott rods we might give a try if the mackerls or blues are hitting on top,. Guys if you don"t hear from me anymore just know I have gone to heaven. Indian Joe Wilmington NC

Now you can mooch some serious flies, IJ

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Oh don’t worry I have clark spoones- rods- planners etc–also have two new 9wt scott rods we might give a try if the mackerls or blues are hitting on top,. Guys if you don"t hear from me anymore just know I have gone to heaven. Indian Joe Wilmington NC

The one thing I figured out the last time I fished for ’spannies’ is that you can’t strip line too fast. Man, it’s fun to get into a bunch of those little torpedoes. — Charlie…

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Question:

Aaaaaaahhhh, A message from that knowledgeable Bill Kiene is like a warm spring breeze on this board. Alas, at 4500′ elevation it will be awhile before we southern Idahoans see any bluegill or bass action. Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, If we have about a week or two of good sunny weather here in California, we are going to start to have some great warm water fishing. We have tons of  ’farm pond’ or ’stock ponds’ that are below 2000′. Most of them have black bass and panfish in them. I would true to get out on one of these ponds from March through June for some great action. I prefer afternoon/evening for warm water fishing. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop www.kiene.com

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Hi All, If we have about a week or two of good sunny weather here in California, we are going to start to have some great warm water fishing. We have tons of  ’farm pond’ or ’stock ponds’ that are below 2000′. Most of them have black bass and panfish in them. I would true to get out on one of these ponds from March through June for some great action. I prefer afternoon/evening for warm water fishing. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop www.kiene.com

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Hey Bill: The warm water fishing here in Northwest Arkansas is just now kicking into gear…caught four blacks one evening last week and two Sunday morning (biggest was a pound and a half) on a new bass fly (to me) "G.W.’s Glory"……Chartreuse rabbit strip tail, chartreuse ice chenille body, and chartreuse Sili Legs collar…..2/0 Mustad 34007 saltwater hook.  WOW!  They hit it hard!  Searched tonight for stripers off my favorite point here at Beaver Lake…full moon shining off the lake was like fishing under a huge spot light…lake was like glass…no stripers caught but what an absolutely beautiful evening. Got an email from a guy Saturday (from the Bass newsgroup) who pulled a 44"er off this point Friday…not on a fly rod though.  Can you imagine a 44" freshwater striper on a fly rod?  I built a 10wt. St. Croix Legend Ultra last year for stripers; it’s just a matter of time before I hook the big one!!!!  Last year I pulled a few 6 and 7 lb. hybrids and stripers off this point…….this Spring…who knows??!! Greg H. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, If we have about a week or two of good sunny weather here in California, we are going to start to have some great warm water fishing. We have tons of ‘farm pond’ or ’stock ponds’ that are below 2000′. Most of them have black bass and panfish in them. I would true to get out on one of these ponds from March through June for some great action. I prefer afternoon/evening for warm water fishing. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop www.kiene.com

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Hey Bill: The warm water fishing here in Northwest Arkansas is just now kicking into gear…caught four blacks one evening last week and two Sunday morning (biggest was a pound and a half) on a new bass fly (to me) "G.W.’s Glory"……Chartreuse rabbit strip tail, chartreuse ice chenille body, and chartreuse Sili Legs collar…..2/0 Mustad 34007 saltwater hook.  WOW!  They hit it hard!  Searched tonight for stripers off my favorite point here at Beaver Lake…full moon shining off the lake was like fishing under a huge spot light…lake was like glass…no stripers caught but what an absolutely beautiful evening.

Hi Greg, Was just out walking off dinner and did also note the big moon here in CA. In Aril/May/June we go out on the full moon to the mouth of the Feather River where it goes into the Sacramento River about 20 plus miles north of downtown Sacramento. We fish the afternoon for American Shad, then after dark, we fish for stripers that are also running up to spawn. Both of these fish were imported from the East Coast of North America in ~1877 and  I guess their populations went crazy with the condition that our drainage was in that long ago. We take a little barbecue and make a time of it. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop www.kiene.com

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Question:

I was just wondering if there is anyone here that fishes on the Bow river in calgary.  Thanx.

Not yet but will do so this June. It isn’t a great time to go due to spring run-off but the company’s sales conference is there and they are paying. You might check out the Western Canada regional board on Virtual Flyshop (http://www.flyshop.com) which has a number of Alberta guides as active members including Jim McLennan who is one of the better known guides. I have gotten some really good recommendations as to flies, guides, and other rivers in the region to try. -John

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I was just wondering if there is anyone here that fishes on the Bow river in calgary.  Thanx.

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I have done (7) nine day trips on the Bow. Three floats from Calgary to Carseland dam per trip. Ask away. Ted Bobetsky (http://www.flyfishing-the-salt.com)

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I’d recommend Jim Powlesland, except that you’d have to put up with him ‘air’ shooting every living animal on the truck ride to the river. — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

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Question:

We need your contributions to a new website for Mid-Atlantic flyfishers! I live in Bethesda, MD, right next to the Potomac River. I am an avid smallmouth/blugill flyfisherman, but I also enjoy fishing for trout. Like many of you, I’m feeling the Spring urge to start fishing again. Nobody likes their favorite fishing spots given away or mobbed. Having said that, there is enough good water to fish in the Mid-Atlantic area for us to share some information. To that end, I have published a website solely for purposes of exchanging information. (I do this sort of thing for a living.) I have absolutely no other interest than, like you, to know where conditions are good, where fish are caught, etc. The website is up and running now. Here is the URL: http://www.erols.com/sierra1/flyfish/midfly.htm The site isn’t fancy, but contains quality information based on first-hand knowledge. My goal is to make this site timely and functional. It will improve over time, and I will update it every time I receive information. All I ask is that you send me a brief message—at your convenience—with a few words on conditions in your area, a recent outing, successful fly patterns…or anything else that might be of use to us all. You’re welcome to give me a call too. I’ll post my home phone number below. Please take a look at the site. It is divided into areas for Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. There are also areas for fly patterns and stories or anecdotes. I’m committed to doing the work on my end. The site’s success will be determined by your willingness to contribute info, trip reports, etc. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you! Scott Wilkinson Bethesda, MD h: (301) 229-2863 w: (301) 229-9585 f: (301) 320-6154 Mid-Atlantic Flyfishing page: http://www.erols.com/sierra1/flyfish/midfly.htm

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Question:

…my leader had such a bad coil memory that if I had gotten a strike I wouldn’t have known it.  How do you take the memory out of a leader?

Kevin — Run the leader quickly between your thumb and the index finger several times, each time increasing pressure.  At some point the line will start burning your fingers.  Back off on the pressure (or speeed) and repeat the exercise a couple more times.  Keeping the temperature below the burning point will prevent you from ever overheating the leader.  -AR

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Thanks for the comments here and in my email.   …Now I have to figure out how to tye that little tiny black gnat/mesquito looking bug that they were hitting all around my fly. But alas that is another thread.

I’ll bet those tiny little bugs are midges, a great pattern to use for these is the Griffith’s Gnat which supposedly imitates a bunch of midges all stuck together, and takes about 2 minutes to tie: Hook: Dry fly, size 16-24 (I usually tie mine in size 18) Thread: Black Body: Peacock herl, a few strands wound into a rope then wrapped onto the hook Hackle: Grizzly, palmered the length of the body Have fun… — K.G. (Kat) Cruickshank, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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I am new to flyfishing and need help.  Yesterday I went out and practiced on a farm pond that was frozen over just a few days ago.  

One thing I’d add to the sage advise of Dan and Bill: In my experience, cold weather/water just makes it that much harder to straighten leader butts, so I like to straighten it the moment I get where I’m going, and sometimes while I’m still in the nice, warm car.  If you do it while the leader butt still has some of that road heat in it the job will be much easier.  Sometimes I’ll do it once at home and then again when I get to point B, if it’s really cold and I don’t have far to drive. Dave DeLacey Corvallis, Or.

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and practiced on a farm pond that was frozen over just a few days ago.  I was really just there for the casting practice, but my leader had such a bad coil memory that if I had gotten a strike I wouldn’t have known it.  How do you take the memory out of a leader? Thanks in Advance Kevin W. Tharp Addicted angler and newbie fly fisher. Kevin, Most all leaders are made of nylon and this works for nylon.  The easiest way is to take the leader in sections in your two hands and stretch it until you feel a slight give and hold that for a fixed number of seconds depending on temperature….. see table below…. what is happening is you are realigning the crystal structure of the nylon.  nylon responds to this kind of tensile realignment…. other fibers may not… at 70 degrees F hold for 6 seconds at 60 degrees F hold for 12 seconds at 50 degrees F hold the stretch for 24 seconds at 40 degrees F hold for 48 seconds at 30 degrees…. go home….   The other advantage is this tests any knots you may have. I do not like the idea of holding the nylon in a piece of leather and pulling  which does the same thing as above but at a higher temperature…… because the process stands a good chance of roughening and weakening a section of the nylon… tightlines, Alan E. Hoover Anglers’ Rest Powhatan, Va        *the trout teach many, lessons*

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Thanks for the comments here and in my email.  I got a chance to go out yesterday afternoon and try the stretching.  I am amazed at how well it actually works.  Everyone who responded had a little different technique, and I will have to develop my own.  I didn’t get any strikes, but if I had, I am much more confident I could have set the hook.  Now I have to figure out how to tye that little tiny black gnat/mesquito looking bug that they were hitting all around my fly.  But alas that is another thread. tight lines Kevin W. Tharp

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I am new to flyfishing and need help.  Yesterday I went out and practiced on a farm pond that was frozen over just a few days ago.  I was really just there for the casting practice, but my leader had such a bad coil memory that if I had gotten a strike I wouldn’t have known it.  How do you take the memory out of a leader?

Hi Kevin, This is a common problem with a simple answer.  First, anchor the butt end well in one hand, then intertwine it through a few fingers of your other hand and pull.  If you let it slip through your fingers slowly it whould heat up and stretch the leader.  If you pull too hard, you’ll burn your fingers a bit and stop pulling.  If you don’t pull hard enough it won’t heat up.  It does need to heat up to stretch and straighten it.  As you get to the thinner part of the leader it takes less friction to heat and straighten it.  This will straighten your leader without overheating it (bio-feedback, burns your fingers before it burns the leader). WARNING!! Don’t buy, make, or use a leader straightener.  It will straighten out the leader just great but will overheat it and drop the breaking strength in half.  Been there, done that, don’t recommend it.  If you must use one, use it *very slowly*.                                   Hope this helps,                                             Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools

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I am new to flyfishing and need help.  Yesterday I went out and practiced on a farm pond that was frozen over just a few days ago.  I was really just there for the casting practice, but my leader had such a bad coil memory that if I had gotten a strike I wouldn’t have known it.  How do you take the memory out of a leader? Thanks in Advance Kevin W. Tharp Addicted angler and newbie fly fisher.

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I am new to flyfishing and need help.  Yesterday I went out and practiced on a farm pond that was frozen over just a few days ago.  I was really just there for the casting practice, but my leader had such a bad coil memory that if I had gotten a strike I wouldn’t have known it.  How do you take the memory out of a leader? Thanks in Advance Kevin W. Tharp Addicted angler and newbie fly fisher.

A smart ass friend of mine says to catch a big Brown trout right off the bat. No, we really like to use the heat from our fingers from pulling the mono slowly between them. With the combination of the heat and the stretching it seems to do some good. With rubber or some other material you might burn or over heat and weaken your mono? Some old leaders might not straighten much. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

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Question:

Lake Fly Fishing Instructional HTML The first in a series of HTML Instructional Pages is now ready for your viewing. These are in depth segments from the Canadian Waters School of Fly Fishing Manual. They pertain mostly to Lake Fly Fishing and the forage involved and deal mainly with the Prairie/ high prairie regions but the information is valuable anywhere. One segment is available each month and this months features Mayflies. There is no password required and no charges for viewing. This is for public information and education. Look off : http:\www.articfire.com/arcfire/fishing.htm Locate the Lake Fly Fishing Instructional Pages by Bob Sheedy, the author of the manual. Many other informative articles, software and fly patterns available as well.

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= Lake Fly Fishing Instructional HTML =

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Try http://www.articfire.com/arcfire/fishing.htm Locate the Lake Fly Fishing Instructional Pages by Bob Sheedy, the author=

 of — = =9F Len =9F —– Leonard Campbell                                                                                                =

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Question:

I will be in the Norway area of wester Maine in August and would like to do some flyfishing for trout.  Does anyone have any information? I would prefer streams, but lake information would be good also. Thanks. Wes Autio Pelham, Massachusetts

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I will be in the Norway area of wester Maine in August and would like to do some flyfishing for trout.  Does anyone have any information? I would prefer streams, but lake information would be good also. Thanks. Wes Autio Pelham, Massachusetts

August is not the best time to be in Norway, ME, looking for trout. Depending on how much time you have, your best bet would be the Rapid River, below Lake Richardson. This would be about an hour and a half drive, and a little hike, but easily the best bet in the area. The trout ponds in that area won’t be worth much in August, but you may find some trout in the upper reaches of the Crooked and Little Androscoggin Rivers. Both areas would be about a half hour drive from Norway. Good Luck. Joel Anderson

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Question:

Question: while in Victoria, BC, I purchased an antique Wheatly box with about 50 wet flys (mostly Peter Ross and Montreal). Is anyone on the west coast (esp California) still using wet flys with any results or have they been wiped out by nymphs?

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Question: while in Victoria, BC, I purchased an antique Wheatly box with about 50 wet flys (mostly Peter Ross and Montreal). Is anyone on the west coast (esp California) still using wet flys with any results or have they been wiped out by nymphs?

I am still using wet flies (I live in Montana).  My favorite flies are Peter Ross, Grizzly King, Silver March Brown, Soft Hackles etc.  I ususally use them when I can’t see dry flies in late evening and when fish are taking something at subsurface (I use either emerger flies or wet flies in this case).  Wet flies work very well.  Therefore, I always carry dry, nimph, and wet fly boxes in my vest. NK

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Is anyone on the west coast (esp California) still using wet flys with any results or have they been wiped out by nymphs?

I tie and fish traditional winged wets and soft hackles all the time, and they still work on the Oregon coast streams.  –Roger

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 Is anyone on the west coast (esp California) still using wet flys with any results or have they been wiped out by nymphs?

Hi Doug, Fish the traditional wet fly is still one of my favorite fishing methods. The only real change I’ve made over the years is my wet flies are much smaller than they used to be.  In years past my average wet fly was a #8 or #10.  Today they are mostly #14 or #16.  I think they are more deadly today than years past especially when fished over "hard pressed" fish.   These fish have seen everything ten times a day and a wet fly is something different. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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Do you fish a wet fly like a nymph? i.e. split shot 6-8" above the fly? I am new to this, have gotten pretty good at tying my own flys, and like to tie many of the wet fly patterns, but honestly don’t know how to fish them. Someone let me know please? DLowe

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Dear DLowe,     The traditional way of fishing wets was to cast across and downstream and let the line and leader swing around in a large, slow arc, take a step downstream, cast again, etc covering as much water as possible.  Flies were unweighted and usually fished two or three at a time.  Twitching the flies as they swung around and/or mending to slow the swing were common additions to the technique.  This method has been declared extinct several times over the last hundred years, first by the dry fly purists of the turn of the century, more recently by nymph specialists.  It still works, it is a very relaxing and pleasant way to fish, and it is a good way for a novice to learn to read water.      I highly recommend the book Wet Flies by Dave Hughes.  –  Roger

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(KilchsGray) writes: Dear DLowe,    The traditional way of fishing wets was to cast across and downstream and let the line and leader swing around in a large, slow arc, take a step downstream, cast again, etc covering as much water as possible.  Flies were unweighted and usually fished two or three at a time.  Twitching the flies as they swung around and/or mending to slow the swing were common additions to the technique.  This method has been declared extinct several times over the last hundred years, first by the dry fly purists of the turn of the century, more recently by nymph specialists.  It still works, it is a very relaxing and pleasant way to fish, and it is a good way for a novice to learn to read water.     I highly recommend the book Wet Flies by Dave Hughes. —  Roger

Ditto on the Dave Hughes book. Dave just did a presentation to our club on wet flies. Don Burns

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Question:

Has anyone done any surf fishing at Grand Isle, La.? Our flyfishing group – Ouachita River Fly Fishers in West Monroe, La. – has received an informal invitation to join the Baton Rouge club in an outing to Grand Isle on July 21. I am trying to get a couple of questions answered, but I haven’t been able to reach anyone in the BR group. I would like to know:         1. What tackle is needed. I figured an 8-wt would do me OK.         2. What flies are good for the area.         3. Is anyone from the BR group in the newsgroup. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Buster Wolfe

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Has anyone done any surf fishing at Grand Isle, La.?

I grew up in LA and fished the Grand Isle surf many times.  I’ve got great memories of that funky fisherman’s island.  I live in West Virginia now, but when family affairs get me back down south, I always take a day & drive to Grand Isle for a day of fishing.  Today the island is cleaner and better-kept-up than 30 years ago when I went there so often.  Having said all that, I can’t offer much advice, for I’ve never taken a fly rod down there.  Howvever, I decided last time I was there that I’d bring my 8 weight next time.  It seems to me that the shore along Caminada Pass, out in front of the bridge, would be a good place to cast a streamer if you can catch a good, clear- water day.  After all, if we can catch reds & specs on little jigs, why not on a Clouser’s Minnow.  Good luck.         Chuck

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I haven’t exactly fished Grand Isle, but I’ve done a lot of fishing around the Chandeleur Islands which are very near there.   Wade fishing for redfish and speckled trout. Yes, an eight weight is a good all-round choice.  Could go down to a seven for speckled trout, but if you hook into a bull red you’ll wish you had a nine. Since most of the fishing is in shallow water, floating line is fine, but I generally prefer an intermediate braided mono line (like a Mastery bonefish).  This keeps the fly working a little deeper with a fast retrieve and keeps light tight, slightly under the surface for better hookups. As for flies, you can’t go wrong with a clouser minnow … tied sparsley on a #1 or #2 hook … chartreuse over white being the best all-round color.  Other good patterns … the Cook’s Critter … a shrimp fly … also in chartreuse.  Might want to try a Lefty’s Deceiver for larger trout and reds, but since the bottom will probably be covered with grass, you might want to add a mono loop weed guard to these.  In case you get into a school of big chomping bull reds along the beach (a real possibility this time of summer) you might want to take along a few larger flies with bigger profiles.  An excellent choice is Dan Blanton’s Finger Mullet tied on a 1 or two-ought hook. For leader material I like Mason hard type … it turns over better in a breeze and is resistant to wind knots.   Eight or nine foot leader should do it.   Ten or twelve-pound tippet is fine.   Tip — get some good wading shoes.  I like diver-type neoprene boots.  And slide your feet on the bottom to keep the sting rays away.   Good fishing, David Sheffield L.A. (aka Skipjack 55)

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Question:

I’m planning a trip to the Lundy Lake area over Memorial Day Weekend. This trip has to be 70% family camping, just 30% flyfishing.  (I realize these figures should be reversed.)  Any suggestions on campgrounds, fishing destinations, flies & equipment?

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I’m planning a trip to the Lundy Lake area over Memorial Day Weekend. This trip has to be 70% family camping, just 30% flyfishing.  (I realize these figures should be reversed.)  Any suggestions on campgrounds, fishing destinations, flies & equipment?

There just a few rustic campsites at Lundy lake.  There are also many other campsites at Virginia Lakes (about 5 miles north),  Lee Vining Canyon (about five miles south), and several campgrounds along the June Lake loop.   There is fishing in Lundy as well as the Virginia Lakes, the lakes around June Lake loop, and many, many others in the area.  You might try going up to Saddlebag Lake (just before the eastern entrance to Yosemite) and take the shuttleboat to fish 20 Lakes Basin.  From the basin you can hike about 5 miles (all downhill) back into Lundy Lake. You might also try the beaver ponds above Lundy.   — John Fereira

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