Question:

Can you convert a fly rod to a TN handle spinning rod. I thought you could do it by changing the eyes and an adjustment to the handle.. I have a fishing situation that requires th use of a noodle type spinning rod. Thanks

Response:

I am sure you will get very good advise , this NG has 2 excellent rod builders..

Response:

Question:

Time yeah, that

Question:

Planning a trip to the DR. do not want to stay at all inclusive , desire beach bunglo or hotel with a no hassel policy on visitors in room, and most importantly great salt water flyfishing, Thankx in advance.

Response:

Try  looking at hotels in Sosua.  Not sure about the fishing though.  Try debbiesdominicantravel.com.  Lots of info there. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Planning a trip to the DR. do not want to stay at all inclusive , desire beach bunglo or hotel with a no hassel policy on visitors in room, and most importantly great salt water flyfishing, Thankx in advance.

Response:

Question:

Hello Mu Young  Lee I’ve included an URL for an article by Ed Ward http://home.att.net/~slowsnap/spey16.htm BTW, I know you use a Don from Sharpes of Aberdeen, but does anyone else out there have recommendations for a reel.  I saved up my pennies for a 10 wt two-hander but now will need to save up some more to purchase a reel.

I use an Orvis ‘Spey’ reel it seems well made, sturdy and holds plenty of backing with both a floating and sinking line. Don’t know if it is available in USA as it is made in England. When I bought it it was

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My home river has been alternating on a daily basis between running high and muddy and high and clear with an amber tinge. When it is running amber, the fishing is pretty good, but with the heavy flows, traditional dry techniques aren’t productive. In this heavy flowing, colored water, I’ve been having good success with a technique that was shown to me by an old rancher about twenty years ago. The technique is a fun one and is often productive when the trout are reluctant to come up for traditionally fished dries. It’s a technique geared for fishing fast, heavy water. I use it mainly in pocket water, but it also works on the streamside edges of heavy, deep water and in around any obstructions in deep strong runs. The flies I use are a high floating dry with a wet fly or soft hackle on a dropper of about 2 feet. I generally use a dry about two sizes bigger than I normally would and use a fly two sizes smaller than the dry as a dropper. The dropper is optional but will result in more hookups. I’ll describe the technique for a pocket water situation where I mainly use it. Casts can be short or long, but since you can approach fish closely in pocket water, often surprisingly close, and short casts give you much more control, I use casts of under fifteen feet 90% of the time. The only time I use longer casts is when the water is too deep or heavy to get to an area I want to fish. I try to fish an area thoroughly, even spots where there doesn’t appear to be any rocks that could break up the current, but I concentrate the casts to run through any visible areas where larger rocks provide calm water cushions. I generally a cast up and across stream and immediately raise the rod tip to lift all the fly line off the water and get direct contact with the fly.  I then begin dragging and skipping the fly across the current. I vary the action of the fly but the key is lots of action.  When the flies get in a position just below me, I begin maneuvering them through each small pocket I can find.  I skitter them upstream and down, back and forth through any pockets below. This technique will bring good fish to the surface that ignore more placid, traditional techniques. The quick moving flies result in strikes that are aggressive, vicious, slashing, fast, exciting etc. and you will get many more misses than hookups. Setting the hook at the strike usually results in pulling the fly away from the trout. Strikes need to be delayed but because of the tight line, the fish will usually hook themselves. Since there are a large percentage of missed fish with this technique, the feeding locations and holding areas that are revealed, need to be fished again. Since most of these missed strikes, refusals etc. are to the larger, more visible dry, the next thing I do is to try to maneuver the small dropper through the area trying to skip it across the surface. If this doesn’t work, I do a number of traditional drag free drifts through the area, paying close attention for hits on the dropper. This technique is definitely a kick when it’s working.  It elicits strikes from trout more akin to those of a bass or a pike to a popper than a typical sedate sip to a dry. I tend to ignore the technique when the fish are rising to more typical techniques but maybe I shouldn’t. Willi Interesting technique Willi.  I think most of us have used a similar

approach for pocket water, but not with a dropper, and not with a systematic plan.  For me its been an approach used out of necessity at times for fishing pocket water, especially casting over currents or boulders.  I’ll try it next opportunity. Pat K Before you buy.

Response:

My home river has been alternating on a daily basis between running high and muddy and high and clear with an amber tinge. When it is running amber, the fishing is pretty good, but with the heavy flows, traditional dry techniques aren’t productive. In this heavy flowing, colored water, I’ve been having good success with a technique that was shown to me by an old rancher about twenty years ago. The technique is a fun one and is often productive when the trout are reluctant to come up for traditionally fished dries. It’s a technique geared for fishing fast, heavy water. I use it mainly in pocket water, but it also works on the streamside edges of heavy, deep water and in around any obstructions in deep strong runs. The flies I use are a high floating dry with a wet fly or soft hackle on a dropper of about 2 feet. I generally use a dry about two sizes bigger than I normally would and use a fly two sizes smaller than the dry as a dropper. The dropper is optional but will result in more hookups. I’ll describe the technique for a pocket water situation where I mainly use it. Casts can be short or long, but since you can approach fish closely in pocket water, often surprisingly close, and short casts give you much more control, I use casts of under fifteen feet 90% of the time. The only time I use longer casts is when the water is too deep or heavy to get to an area I want to fish. I try to fish an area thoroughly, even spots where there doesn’t appear to be any rocks that could break up the current, but I concentrate the casts to run through any visible areas where larger rocks provide calm water cushions. I generally a cast up and across stream and immediately raise the rod tip to lift all the fly line off the water and get direct contact with the fly.  I then begin dragging and skipping the fly across the current. I vary the action of the fly but the key is lots of action.  When the flies get in a position just below me, I begin maneuvering them through each small pocket I can find.  I skitter them upstream and down, back and forth through any pockets below. This technique will bring good fish to the surface that ignore more placid, traditional techniques. The quick moving flies result in strikes that are aggressive, vicious, slashing, fast, exciting etc. and you will get many more misses than hookups. Setting the hook at the strike usually results in pulling the fly away from the trout. Strikes need to be delayed but because of the tight line, the fish will usually hook themselves. Since there are a large percentage of missed fish with this technique, the feeding locations and holding areas that are revealed, need to be fished again. Since most of these missed strikes, refusals etc. are to the larger, more visible dry, the next thing I do is to try to maneuver the small dropper through the area trying to skip it across the surface. If this doesn’t work, I do a number of traditional drag free drifts through the area, paying close attention for hits on the dropper. This technique is definitely a kick when it’s working.  It elicits strikes from trout more akin to those of a bass or a pike to a popper than a typical sedate sip to a dry. I tend to ignore the technique when the fish are rising to more typical techniques but maybe I shouldn’t. Willi

Response:

Question:

And Sandy, while occasionally getting snippy with one or another poster on roff, doesn’t hold a grudge forever and ever and go on and on.  Something to be learned there, I am sure.

Well, he can dish it out too, Rick.  The reason I really want to track him down in Montana is that I was his principal victim in one of the all-time great ROFF scams.  Do you remember (say, 1996 or so, on April Fools day) when Sandy posted an extended "quote" from the Missoula newspaper, reporting that the Big Hole had disappeared into the Rhone Puolanec (spelling ?) mine?  Perhaps it was because I had fished in that vicinity, but I fell for it completely.  By the end of the day, half the population of Pennsylvania had heard the "news". After I fish with him and buy him a few brews, I intend to wring his scrawny neck Mark Faulkner, holding a grudge forever and ever.

Response:

 Chained flies are far less prone to tangling than dropper flies, plus they are easier to cast. Try fishing a large grasshopper as a strike indicator (bobber) that catches fish, followed by one, two or three nymphs. Why use a pink foam indicator when you can use a grasshopper?

  I use this method, but three _dries_ daisy chained  has me wondering Drag must be a problem or is the water type such that drag is not an issue. Seems to me three dries on loops would be a nightmare to cast. One large and two small might be workable . Got to try it when I am full of patience. Harry

Response:

take a quick look at http://www.montana-riverboats.com/bhsf.html

An X- rated picture, that’s for sure. Mark faulkner

Response:

God bless the Parachute Adams!  Usually my first (and only) choice. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was down at Silver Creek, south of Ketchum Idaho last week. For those who don’t know, it’s a semi-famous spring creek, loaded with birds, big fish and well-equipped, competative-agressive flyfishermen. It is a beautiful stream. Moreover I was lucky to get there just in time for its legendary Brown Drake hatch…which only lasts for 5-10 days. (now over).   The big drakes hatch at night, starting just at dark, limited to those parts of the stream with enough silt to support their silt-loving nymphs. PUNCHLINE:   As dark approached, I shared the stream with wall-to-wall fishermen. It reminded my of openning day in New Jersey. I almost left. But once the hatch started, I forgot all complaints. Billions of mayflies as big as your thumb brought thousands of fish to the surface. The birds went nuts. I fished three dry flies simultaneously, and outfished everyone in sight. I caught a fish every third cast for nearly two hours.   I had a huge drake on, followed by a stimulator, followed by a #12 parachute adams. The drake made it easy to find my fly in the diminishing light. But nearly all the fish I caught took the #12 adams…despite the presense of billions of #4 mayflies. A few took the stimulator. Only one fish all   night took the big drake pattern. Everyone else around me fished big drake patterns, and despite the profusion of bugs….most of them worked hard for 2-3 fish. I must have caught close to 30. That’s fishin…

– I am who I am.  I am who I’ve learned to be.  I am Nothing.

Response:

God bless the Parachute Adams!  Usually my first (and only) choice.

I have to agree with that…the Adams seems to work pretty much everywhere. I caught a nice fat 18" rainbow on X creek just the other day using a #18 adams. -Greg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was down at Silver Creek, south of Ketchum Idaho last week. For those who don’t know, it’s a semi-famous spring creek, loaded with birds, big fish and well-equipped, competative-agressive flyfishermen. It is a beautiful stream. Moreover I was lucky to get there just in time for its legendary Brown Drake hatch…which only lasts for 5-10 days. (now over).   The big drakes hatch at night, starting just at dark, limited to those parts of the stream with enough silt to support their silt-loving nymphs. PUNCHLINE:   As dark approached, I shared the stream with wall-to-wall fishermen. It reminded my of openning day in New Jersey. I almost left. But once the hatch started, I forgot all complaints. Billions of mayflies as big as your thumb brought thousands of fish to the surface. The birds went nuts. I fished three dry flies simultaneously, and outfished everyone in sight. I caught a fish every third cast for nearly two hours.   I had a huge drake on, followed by a stimulator, followed by a #12 parachute adams. The drake made it easy to find my fly in the diminishing light. But nearly all the fish I caught took the #12 adams…despite the presense of billions of #4 mayflies. A few took the stimulator. Only one fish all night took the big drake pattern. Everyone else around me fished big drake patterns, and despite the profusion of bugs….most of them worked hard for 2-3 fish. I must have caught close to 30. That’s fishin… — I am who I am.  I am who I’ve learned to be.  I am Nothing.

Response:

— I am who I am.  I am who I’ve learned to be.  I am Nothing.

        atta boy, richard; an early entry into the quarter-finals of the john asadi amazing post of the year award. wayno

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – God bless the Parachute Adams!  Usually my first (and only) choice. I was down at Silver Creek, south of Ketchum Idaho last week. For those who don’t know, it’s a semi-famous spring creek, loaded with birds, big fish and well-equipped, competative-agressive flyfishermen. It is a beautiful stream. Moreover I was lucky to get there just in time for its legendary Brown Drake hatch…which only lasts for 5-10 days. (now over).   The big drakes hatch at night, starting just at dark, limited to those parts of the stream with enough silt to support their silt-loving nymphs. PUNCHLINE:   As dark approached, I shared the stream with wall-to-wall fishermen. It reminded my of openning day in New Jersey. I almost left. But once the hatch started, I forgot all complaints. Billions of mayflies as big as your thumb brought thousands of fish to the surface. The birds went nuts. I fished three dry flies simultaneously,

and outfished everyone in sight.

I caught a fish every third cast for nearly two hours.   I had a huge drake on, followed by a stimulator, followed by a #12 parachute adams. The drake made it easy to find my fly in the diminishing light. But nearly all the fish I caught took the #12 adams…despite the presense of billions of #4 mayflies.

Hatch. A few took the stimulator. Only one fish all night took the big drake pattern. Everyone else around me fished big drake patterns, and despite the profusion of bugs….most of them worked hard for 2-3 fish. I must have caught close to 30. That’s fishin… — I am who I am.  I am who I’ve learned to be.  I am Nothing but a trot line fly fisherman.

______  I’m pleased you had a happy evening kind sir.  I wish I knew why they took the Adams instead.  Curious. — Mr. G. "Gink Keeps It Up" http://www.gink.com

Question:

I am planning to go to British Columbia around the first of August for 7-9 days of first class fly-fishing for trout. I have never been there and need a recommendation for a lodge that has full ammenities and guide service with fly-outs. Jeff

Response:

Jeff, You can go to this page and take your choice: http://www.oppub.com/bin/html I recommend the following: Bare Lake Resort Charles & Jean Forrest/Phil & Betty Teichgrab Box 1248 Kamloops ,BC  V2C 6H3 Tel: 250-319-5511; mesg.604-858-3678  Fax: 604-858-8008 High Country Douglas Lake Ranch Resort http://www.douglaslake.com/ Carlo Elstak General Delivery Douglas Lake ,BC  V0E 1S0 Tel: 250-371-7206/250-350-3344/1-800-663-4838  Fax: 250-350-3336 High Country Northern Woodsman Lodge http://www.northernwoodsman.com/ Les and Michelle Allen P.O. Box 26025 Westbank, B.C., Canada V4T 2G3 Phone/Fax: (250) 769-7642 Paul Phillips Director of Operations Fintastic Fish Mounts http://www.fintastic.com take off the 1 for E-mail – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am planning to go to British Columbia around the first of August for 7-9 days of first class fly-fishing for trout. I have never been there and need a recommendation for a lodge that has full ammenities and guide service with fly-outs. Jeff

Response:

I could recommend a couple, but you really need to contact Dick McMaster, the director of the BC Fishing Resorts and Outfitters Association at (250) 828-1553. Or you can drop them a letter at P.O. box 3301, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, V2C 6B9 This guy is a wealth of knowledge and it’s his job to help people just like you, looking for a lodge. Good Luck. And please tell him Bill Luscombe told you to call him. Thanks. Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am planning to go to British Columbia around the first of August for 7-9 days of first class fly-fishing for trout. I have never been there and need a recommendation for a lodge that has full ammenities and guide service with fly-outs. Jeff

Response:

Question:

On the stream: * What is your normal procedure once you hit the stream? * How long does it take you to get a fly on the water? (ignoring the amount   of time you take to study the water) Leaders: * Do you usually store a leader on your reel with the line? * With knotless leaders, is the the tippet considered part of the leader?   (I presume that it is but have never seen it stated.) * If so, (or with finished knotted leaders) how many flies will you   change (how many inches of tippet clipped) before you add more tippet? Casting: * When is the "proper" time to let line out when false casting (to extend   the line to the distance you wish to cast to)?  I do it instinctively now   but none of the books I’ve read, nor the few videos I’ve watched, have   brought up the subject at all.   _Rich_

Response:

Good questions. I generally hike into the stream wiht my rod assebeled but not strung. Streamside, this forces me to go slow and take some time to watch the water.  My rod/reel choice is often dictated by the wind conditions. Once, I determine what fly to fish, I’ll string the rod, replace the tippet (I use Braided Leaders), tie on a start.  My braided leaders generally stay on the reel. The process takes about 10 minutes if I go slowly enough. My tippets for dry fly action is generally 5x 30" to 36" long, 24" of 5x for wets,  and 18" of 4 or 3x for streamers.  I get good turnover with these legnths on Orvis braided 5x or 6x leaders of 9 or 12 ft. I’ll fish a tippet down to about half of the original legnth if I can get the drift I need. What’s proper is probably what works.  I feed line for an initial cast on both the backcast and forward false casts, hopefully leaving enough line to shoot if I’m fishing more than 40 feet away. I’m looking forward to other responses. jg

Response:

On the stream: * What is your normal procedure once you hit the stream? * How long does it take you to get a fly on the water? (ignoring the amount   of time you take to study the water)

My procedure depends somewhat on the type of water.  For Spring Creeks / Mountain Streams (my favorite) I will string up at the car and then take my time hiking to the stream when I am within 50 yards or so.  As a rule I try never to step in the water if at all possible and move as silently in the shadows as possible.  Wild Trout require this stealth.  If there are few trees or other cover, then I will crawl.  Once at the water, I almost always look for opportunities before casting.  Exceptions would be when I know that I will be fishing blind with nymphs/streamers or when the water is extremely off color. Leaders: * Do you usually store a leader on your reel with the line?  

I generally roll the leader/tippet right around the reel in as large a loop as possible.  I’ve tried leader wallets, etc.  and I think they’re too much hassle.  I tend to hit at least a bass impoundment 3 to 4 times per week and like to whip out the old 7 wt quickly and not have to unravel my leader.  Also, if you’re fishing for bass/saltwater species etc., then you’ll be using 2x-0x leaders/tippet and it takes punishment really well.  Smaller leader requires more care.  I do cover up to protect from sunlight with a neoprene cover. * With knotless leaders, is the the tippet considered part of the leader?  Yes.  The latter 2 ft or so is the tippet. * If so, (or with finished knotted leaders) how many flies will you   change (how many inches of tippet clipped) before you add more tippet?

I will add more tippet material after about 18 in (of 24 in) is used up.  This is really loose though.  If the quarry is not leader shy…then I’ll wait longer.  If you wait too long to add the proper tippet, however, then you won’t match up well with the leader material and the fly won’t turn over smoothly.   Casting: * When is the "proper" time to let line out when false casting (to extend   the line to the distance you wish to cast to)?  I do it instinctively now   but none of the books I’ve read, nor the few videos I’ve watched, have   brought up the subject at all.

If false casting is REALLY required then get the line out any way you feel comfortable with.  Forward or backward both is my preference, but I prefer shooting forward. K – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Question:

What is the best 3 -4 day Idaho raft trip?  When is the best time to go? Any suggestions on outfitters?  Do rafters have the opportunity to kayak part of the run without bringing their own boats cross country?  Any Jonathan Katz

Response:

What is the best 3 -4 day Idaho raft trip?  When is the best time to go? Any suggestions on outfitters?  Do rafters have the opportunity to kayak part of the run without bringing their own boats cross country?  Any Jonathan Katz

Try Mackay Wilderness River Trips (800 635-5336) out of Boise.  They offer trips on the Middle and Main Fork of the Salmon.  We did the whole Middle fork 2 summers ago (6 days) in early July and had a blast.  The water was up, the food was great, great guides.  The fishing was shitty because the water was so high.  I guess you can have great fishing or great water, not both.  For a 3 day I’d recommend the upper run of the Middle Fork.  They fly you in to the put-in, you land in a meadow and get bused 10-12 miles to the river and get out at a guest ranch and fly out from there.  The scenery’s more alpine and some pretty good whitewater on that run.  The lower run (also 3 days) you fly in to the guest ranch then float to the Middle’s confuence with the Main then get bused out (several hours) to Salmon, ID then fly back to Boise from there.  I recommend the Middle over the Main because it’s a designated wilderness stretch, very pristene and clear running.  The Main is lots bigger, browner and has lots of guest ranches and jet boats, more civilization in general I’m told.  Mackay offers oar rafts, paddle rafts and inflatable kayaks.  You can ride any way you prefer.  If you do go down the upper Middle Fork I’d say take a pass on staying at that guest ranch half way down.  It’s kinda beat out and not in an especially pretty stretch.  I have friends that stayed there 3 days then floated out 3 days and were bored shitless at the ranch.  If you go and the water’s up don’t even bother getting a fishing liscense.  I saw 2 fish get caught the whole six days!  We saw a black bear, several golden eagles and bighorns.  Moose and elk are possible.  If you like more than a glass of wine or 2 of an evening to take the edge off, take your own.  A little is provided at dinner and that’s it.  Have fun! Dave

Response:

What is the best 3 -4 day Idaho raft trip?  When is the best time to go? Any suggestions on outfitters?  Do rafters have the opportunity to kayak part of the run without bringing their own boats cross country?  Any Jonathan Katz

Hi,   Several years ago, my wife and I did a trip with Canyons, Inc.  This company is owned and run by Les Bechtel out of McCall ID. They only do Middle Fork and Main Salmon trips.  I know that they do paddle and oar raft trips, as well as support for Kayak and open boats,  and they bring along a couple of IK’s as well. Food is wonderful, guides were very nice, food was GREAT. We did a MF trip in early season (July, I think) about 6 days and the trip was great. I don’t know if they can supply boats or not.  Give them a call and find out. Canyons, Inc. (208) 634-4303 (I think). Ted Marz

Response:

<snip   Several years ago, my wife and I did a trip with Canyons, Inc.  This company is owned and run by Les Bechtel out of McCall ID.

   It is Canyon’s, but in case you need it to find the phone # the last name is Bechdel… —     AWA, IRU      – http://www.intbuild.com —       Ketchum,  ID.       Home of Worldgroup for Mac, telnet://wgmac.intbuild.com

Response:

Question:

With the current thread on the exploding float tube (Float Tube Safety – Near Drowning) I was thinking about the recent thread about the guy who drowned. It appeared that he was stuck in an upside-down float tube. A few have said that they would try to flip their tubes and see if they can get out. Has anybody tried this yet? Jon Porter

Response:

With the current thread on the exploding float tube (Float Tube Safety – Near Drowning) I was thinking about the recent thread about the guy who drowned. It appeared that he was stuck in an upside-down float tube. A few have said that they would try to flip their tubes and see if they can get out. Has anybody tried this yet? Jon Porter

Hi Jon, Several years ago I accidently flipped my tube.  Thank god I had two friends right next to me and we were only about six feet from the bank.   I don’t think I could have gotten out of the tube by myself.  I promptly bought a pontoon boat with a rowing system (Water Otter) and have never been in a float tube since. After getting the Water Otter I purposely turned it over a couple of times to see how difficult it would be to get out of it (again with friends present to help).  I was able to free myself rather quickly on both occasions.  I’ve never had an unscheduled roll over as it seems to be quite stable.  I suppose a roll over is possible if I was not paying attention and ran one of the pontoon up on a rock in faster water. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

Response: