Question:

Frank Reid writes: 2nd week of June for me too.

Are you going to drive up, Frank? Dave

Response:

Don’t know.  Was thinking of taking the fast train to Boston and a bus to the stop near your house.  That would save me 11 hours on the road. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply. .

Response:

2nd week of June for me too. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

Peter Charles writes: I’ll give her a ring tomorrow.  2nd week of June sounds right for us – will Jo be there then?

Well, we planned on her going the first week.  We have Angler’s cabin (by the water).  So, if you could make it then, so much the better. Some days that woman knows how to twist the knife.  

Hey, she’s   taken some lessons from the Pirate, dontchaknow? Dave

Response:

[sounds like a bit of tough sledding but even so – it’s Lakewood so who cares, eh? For all you folks planning on going to Lakewood in June:  I have made reservations for the first, second, and fourth weeks.  There was some talk about having a non-clave gathering – Peter, wayno, Jeff, et al.  If youse guys are serious about it, better call Maureen at 207-243-2959.   You’ll need to send her a deposit.  Also, Frank Reid – pick a time.  How about 3rd week?  Or, whenever. Gotta go fix dinner.  What a drag……. Dave

I’ll give her a ring tomorrow.  2nd week of June sounds right for us – will Jo be there then? Suzie labouriously looked through her datebook to see if she was ‘otherwise occupied"  then with a whoop, she announced that she was free those weeks because *she* was retired!!  Some days that woman knows how to twist the knife.   Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

I’m glad your friend liked my rod, Dave.  I am fixing to build one for myself that is a copy of yours, I liked how that taper cast so much. I took a terrific vacation with a couple friends in Alberta and British Columbia a couple weeks ago.  The fishing and the scenery was how you would imagine it being in Heaven.  I fished bamboo almost exclusively the whole while I was out there, using an 8 1/2 foot 6 weight I made for a friend who kindly let me use the rod on that trip.  One of our guides eyed the rod as we loaded up the drift boat in the morning.  He made a vary tactful but mistrustful remark about it, saying,"You know, there are bull trout in here envisioned cane splinters flying should I hang a hog.  I assured him that the rod – against my pleading – had been used to land chinook salmon by its owner, so I din’t forsee any problems on this trip.  I was happy with the 6 weight’s performance.  We had a good dose of that western wind I have read so much about.  I did fine by waiting in between gusts and firing a cast out there.  I landed a 2 foot long bull trout on that drift.  It was considered small by the locals, but the thrill of getting my first bull wasn’t small. It looked and acted like a giant brook trout while I reeled it in. It will be a long wait until we all get to go back there next year, I’m telling you! Pete

Response:

Thanks for the report, Dave.  Sounds like a nice time.  How many folks are out there on the river this time of year? Pete Collin

Response:

Peter Collin writes: How many folks are out there on the river this time of year?

Lots.  There were 11 Lakewood guests fishing (and about 12 kids/wives who weren’t), plus some folks boated in on Sat and Sun. BTW, I let my friend try the rod.  He fell for it.  His wife wants to buy him a boo rod for Christmas/birthday, but he’s always said no.  But after trying your’s, he is sold on it. He was surprised when he found out that it was not as slow as he thought bamboo would be.  <g Dave

Response:

Got in this afternoon after four days at Lakewood.  River was running at 800 cfs, ideal for wading and fishing.   First thing I did was to find out the river temps.  Down-stream it was 74 at 2nd Current, and a very warm 75 at Lower Dam.  I checked out Upper and found it to be 71 at 6 a.m., and it worked up to 74 around noon.  So, it was fishing early and up-river.  My friend Bob McDonald and I hit the dam and immediately got into some small (10-12 inch) salmon.  We were both fishing the same pattern – LaFontaine Caddis Emerger.  Bob was fishing it dry and I fished it as a nymph.  They weren’t fussy – they liked it either way.  We both caught some nice 14+ inch salmon, feisty as hell.  We played them short because of the temps. I called Dave Bottom Saturday night and told him about the noon/afternoon water temps down-river, and we agreed it best if he not make the trip and the walk-in.  We’ll meet up in October and fish the Kennebec at East Outlet. Both Sunday and Monday were the same – warm, humid, and the fish hitting consistantly only on the LaFontain pattern.  I hate to tie that pattern, and since I was running short, I tried other patterns.  No deal!  They wanted only the emerger pattern.  Bob left after lunch on Sunday and knowing I was running short of that fly graciously gave me five from his box – he’s a better tier than I.   Monday night/early Tuesday morning a much needed rain came through. I love it when it rains at Lakewood; the cabin is warm (if you’ve made a fire!), and you can hear every drop on the roof.  Wonderful sleeping.   When I awoke at 5:30, it was cool with just a sprinkle coming down.  After a quick cup of coffee from my thermos and letting Henry out to take a leak, I hit the dam.  Absolutely beautiful in the mist of early morning.  I took up station at Zimmerman’s Run, so named because roff’s very own Steve Zimmerman fished it for three straight days without taking a leak, dump, or eating/sleeping.  <G  First cast produced a small salmon, but it got better with the next fish, a respectable 14 incher. I returned after a great breakfast, and fished this run and two or three other feeding lines accessable from the rocks.  I continued to catch some nice landlocks and a 15 inch brookie.  When the sun came out at 10 a.m., fishing ceased!  I took one more salmon before returning to camp for lunch.  I don’t know what put them down. The sun?  It was bright from Sat – Mon.   After a terrific lunch and a much needed nap, I returned to the dam around 4 p.m. and fished until 6.  Fishing was great, but the catching was scarce.   I spoke to some camp guests who had been fishing down-stream both Mon and Tues, and the only thing they caught were *bass* and yellow perch at both the 2nd Current and Lower Dam.  They killed them per posted instructions from Maine F & G.   The lake level is down 4 feet from full.  Input from Upper Dam is 220 cfs (their minimum flow), while Middle Dam is 800 cfs.  It doesn’t take a math major to see that the lake will be empty come September if they don’t get rain or change the flows. For all you folks planning on going to Lakewood in June:  I have made reservations for the first, second, and fourth weeks.  There was some talk about having a non-clave gathering – Peter, wayno, Jeff, et al.  If youse guys are serious about it, better call Maureen at 207-243-2959.   You’ll need to send her a deposit.  Also, Frank Reid – pick a time.  How about 3rd week?  Or, whenever. Gotta go fix dinner.  What a drag……. Dave .  

Response:

Question:

…….no one in Roff knows me….

I do!  I do! Idiot. Wolfgang

Response:

I’m going to give it a rest regarding Mike Connor as long as he discontinues the attacks and uncouth name calling. I have not, no matter what any bottom dweller in Roff would like to believe, started any of this pathetic nonsense.

The funniest thing I have heard in my 45 years… Paul

Response:

"My E-mail is always open to everyone, but  E-mails are private things to be read in private" I’m a little confused?? Lawrence Manzer New Brunswick

Response:

"My E-mail is always open to everyone, but  E-mails are private things to be read in private" I’m a little confused?? Lawrence Manzer New Brunswick

I know.  New Brunswick doesn’t have as much oxygen as the lower 48. Take deep breaths Lawrence. George Gehrke

Response:

I’m going to give it a rest regarding Mike Connor as long as he discontinues the attacks and uncouth name calling. I have not, no matter what any bottom dweller in Roff would like to believe, started any of this pathetic nonsense. The funniest thing I have heard in my 45 years… Paul

SEE, Paul!  There you go again! George Gehrke "who ended this thread two posts ago"

Response:

"My E-mail is always open to everyone, but  E-mails are private things to be read in private" I’m a little confused??

It’s very long, complicated, confusing, amazing, not a little amusing, sad, extraordinary……um ……and a whole bunch of other adjectives. The short version.  Mike asked George not to send him any more emails some time ago.  He made it quite clear that failure to comply with this request would result in the emails being posted to ROFF and the rest, as they say, is history.  Opinions vary on whether George is genuinely and thoroughly demented or merely genuinely demented but still sane enough to be responsible for his actions.  It should not prove difficult to determine who allies him(or her)self with which camp but, for the record, it don’t matter to me.    :) Wolfgang

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "My E-mail is always open to everyone, but  E-mails are private things to be read in private" I’m a little confused?? Lawrence Manzer New Brunswick I know.  New Brunswick doesn’t have as much oxygen as the lower 48. Take deep breaths Lawrence.

Ah, PERFECT timing!  You see what I mean, Lawrence?      :) Wolfgang p.s. shhhh!  don’t let on that you know that new brunswick isn’t a u.s.

Response:

I just can’t contain myself any longer…. New Brunswick   1.. Abbr. NB or N.B. A province of eastern Canada on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Part of French Acadia and then the province of Nova Scotia, it became a separate province in 1784 after an influx of Loyalists from the newly independent United States. New Brunswick joined Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario to form the confederated Dominion of Canada in 1867. Fredericton is the capital and St. John the largest city. Population: 696,405.   2.. A landmass not owned and not part of the USA or any other country except for Canada. Lawrence Manzer New Brunswick Canada (I think)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "My E-mail is always open to everyone, but  E-mails are private things to be read in private" I’m a little confused?? Lawrence Manzer New Brunswick I know.  New Brunswick doesn’t have as much oxygen as the lower 48. Take deep breaths Lawrence. Ah, PERFECT timing!  You see what I mean, Lawrence?      :) Wolfgang p.s. shhhh!  don’t let on that you know that new brunswick isn’t a u.s.

Response:

Spoil-sport! Op

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just can’t contain myself any longer….   2.. A landmass not owned and not part of the USA or any other country except for Canada. Lawrence Manzer New Brunswick Canada (I think)

Response:

I’, George here really hasn’t changed except Roff has.

        that is exactly right.  and that is because roff is darwinian, and is in the process of rejecting you.  the day will come, not that long from this day, that you will simply be a bad memory. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just can’t contain myself any longer…. New Brunswick   1.. Abbr. NB or N.B. A province of eastern Canada on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Part of French Acadia and then the province of Nova Scotia, it became a separate province in 1784 after an influx of Loyalists from the newly independent United States. New Brunswick joined Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario to form the confederated Dominion of Canada in 1867. Fredericton is the capital and St. John the largest city. Population: 696,405.   2.. A landmass not owned and not part of the USA or any other country except for Canada. Lawrence Manzer New Brunswick Canada (I think)

Uh oh!  Good God ya’ll, don’t just stand there!  Quick, what’s the number for 911?  Hurry, for pity’s sake, he’s swallowed a fuckin dictionary!     Wolfgang

Response:

that is exactly right.  and that is because roff is darwinian, and is in the process of rejecting you.  the day will come, not that long from this day, that you will simply be a bad memory.

you’re such an appreciative and faithful friend. as i pointed  out in this thread.  crow begets crow.  now, if you only understood and was more responsible to yourself, perhaps your misguided ravings towards old friends would cease?  that is too much to expect from a raving raven, huh? bad memories indeed?  you have a lot of nerve to talk buster because if you’re anything, you’re not darwinian at all wayne.  I am but a mirror of yourself.  haven’t you got that figured out yet wayne? think man!  think. Your pal in the great northwest, George "who is being nice.  very nice"

Response:

  The short version.  Mike asked George not to send him any more emails some time ago.  He made it quite clear that failure to comply with this request would result in the emails being posted to ROFF and the rest, as they say, is history.  Opinions vary on whether George is genuinely and thoroughly demented or merely genuinely demented but still sane enough to be responsible for his actions.  It should not prove difficult to determine who allies him(or her)self with which camp but, for the record, it don’t matter to me.    :) Wolfgang

Oh yes it does.   It matters a lot to you.  You live on misery Weirdwolf. George Gehrke had you figured out years ago You’re not a bad guy Wolfie, you’re just cofused about your importance in life.  Without others, you would have no identy in Roff. tilt* !

Response:

Read the post and try for comprehension.  NORTH is UP.  It’s up Weirdwolf. UP, UP, UP on the map . . . dummy. George Gehrke wake up pal.  wake up.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "My E-mail is always open to everyone, but  E-mails are private things to be read in private" I’m a little confused?? Lawrence Manzer New Brunswick I know.  New Brunswick doesn’t have as much oxygen as the lower 48. Take deep breaths Lawrence. Ah, PERFECT timing!  You see what I mean, Lawrence?      :) Wolfgang p.s. shhhh!  don’t let on that you know that new brunswick isn’t a u.s.

Response:

Read the post and try for comprehension.  NORTH is UP.  It’s up Weirdwolf. UP, UP, UP on the map . . . dummy. George Gehrke wake up pal.  wake up.

Er, ‘cuse me, von Wrongtoffen, but "north" ain’t "up," either on the map or otherwise.  And I have no idea what may be up "Weirdwolf," but it ain’t north, neither…yeah, you musta been one real serious asset to the Commies during that little to-do in Korea…heck they probably even have an "Order of National Flag" waitin’ for you, if only you could find your way there to collect it…yessir, I can see it now: Kim Chong-il and "P’yongyang Ginkles," whatta photo-op…maybe your buddy Ted could fly you and his ex over to relive your glory days…

Response:

Read the post and try for comprehension.  NORTH is UP.  It’s up Weirdwolf. UP, UP, UP on the map . . . dummy. George Gehrke wake up pal.  wake up.

The ladies will, unfortunately (well, maybe it’s really fortunate when you think about it, but that’s another matter entirely), be unable to comprehend this on quite the visceral level that a man can, but ya know how ya cringe every time ya see some poor bastard get hit in the nuts on one of those funniest home video shows?  THAT’S what life is like for your would be supporters every time they see a post come up listing you as the author. Thanks. I KNEW I could count on you.      :) Idiot. Wolfgang

Response:

I just can’t contain myself any longer…. New Brunswick   1.. Abbr. NB or N.B. A province of eastern Canada on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Part of French Acadia and then the province of Nova Scotia, it became a separate province in 1784 after an influx of Loyalists from the newly independent United States. New Brunswick joined Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario to form the confederated Dominion of Canada in 1867. Fredericton is the capital and St. John the largest city. Population: 696,405.   2.. A landmass not owned and not part of the USA or any other country except for Canada.

       3. A late model bowling ball.

Response:

I have to admit, you got me on that one. Lawrence Manzer NB

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just can’t contain myself any longer…. New Brunswick   1.. Abbr. NB or N.B. A province of eastern Canada on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Part of French Acadia and then the province of Nova Scotia, it became a separate province in 1784 after an influx of Loyalists from the newly independent United States. New Brunswick joined Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario to form the confederated Dominion of Canada in 1867. Fredericton is the capital and St. John the largest city. Population: 696,405.   2.. A landmass not owned and not part of the USA or any other country except for Canada.        3. A late model bowling ball.

Response:

Idiot. Wolfgang

Talking to yourself again Weirdwolf?  You’re not an idiot.  You are a protracted peace in a state of confusion.  Just remember, if you’re an idiot that makes you a genius.  That’s not so bad. George Gehrke "caring about you"

Response:

I’m going to give it a rest regarding Mike Connor as long as he discontinues the attacks and uncouth name calling. I have not, no matter what any bottom dweller in Roff would like to believe, started any of this pathetic nonsense. I regard most in Roff as really neat people and as long as people are civil to me, I will always be respectful towards them.  My policy will continue to be that of condemning in private and praising in public.  If everyone in Roff would do the same and open their E-mail boxes like men, then I think it would be a step in the right direction for them to talk to each other in a manly and mature fashion. My E-mail is always open to everyone, but  E-mails are private things to be read in private and are not an open license to call others names or to demean them in private either. Men of logic use the best communication tools possible to get their points across.  The ability to tell a man to go to hell and make them look forward to the trip is known as "Rocky Mountain Diplomacy" which is something I hope to teach Wayne Harrison, given enough time . . . let’s say, five years? That aside, George here really hasn’t changed except Roff has.  When anyone dishes out nonsense, they should be able to eat a plate of raw crow in return.  Crow begot crow from this author.  At least, I’ve always tried to be civil but the next time anyone comes knocking on my door, the invite they receive will be an immediate reaction to the first words out of their mouths.  Come as a friend.  The rest of you who are not friends with anyone will find one here.  That anyone has so many friends they can’t use another needs thought on their part. Frankly, no one in Roff knows me.  I mean, no one.  Until you do or possibly fly fish with me as I guide you down the No Name River, it would be wise you reserve judgment. That said, all I can offer is that anyone who is man enough to step up to the plate and get ready for the first pitch. STRIKE ONE!  Oh?  You didn’t see that one, huh?  Okay, care to come inside and try some fly tying instead, (?) because you can’t hit for shit. George Gehrke "wisdom comes from a life-time of studying miles of rivers and seeing thousands of fly fishermen come and go.  Some of them you never forget because of their kindnesses and pleasant nature."  gg This is why I’m going to give it a rest. Back to fly fishing for me and my web site: http://www.gink.com

Response:

Question:

  Early one morning on Nokomis Lake (about 60 miles NW of Southend SK/Reindeer Lake) we were startled by a "snorting and huffing" sound in the water, less than 30m away from our canoe… we were paddling 200m from shore, and saw 2 (?adult) otters "standing" in the water for a better view of the "intruder" (us?)…didn’t realize that they were able to raise themselves out of the water quite so high. (As if "standing upright")…the snorting and huffing continued until we were beyond hearing.   I wonder what the "otter-ese" version of this encounter might have been? I don’t think they were as pleased to see us, as we were to mark their "indignation". —Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

Response:

We had a family of them under our house several years back. Noisy, messy, smelly. mike

Response:

I saw 3 otters while fly fishing on the McCloud River (CA) in the Nature Conservancy Preserve 2 years ago.  There I was in water up to my chest peacefully working a hole when the calm was shattered by a huge splash, then another and another. Scared the bejesus out of me.  I looked around and saw nothing.  A few seconds later it happened again.  The otters were climbing out of the water onto rocks and then jumping in one after the other.  It seemed like they were just playing.  They swam around and around writhing around each other and periodically popping up out of the water and then splashing back in.  They seemed completely unconcerned about the presence of my friend and I.  This lasted for a few minutes and then they swam off upstream doing the same antics as far as we could see them.  Of course they ruined the fishing but it was a magical moment that made the whole trip.

Response:

I was boogie boarding in Santa Cruz one morning and I felt something nibble at my fin. I turned to look and saw a seal pop his head up and look at me.  He did that a couple more times and I thought he was going to bite me or something and I kept swimming away. Finally after about 10 min I realized he was just playing and I turned to chase him. He ducked under water and came up nibbling my fin again. This went on for over an hour!!! I was swimming figure eights thru surfers but he wasn’t interested in them, just kept playing with me. When I went in to shore, I took off my fin to show my hubbie who had been surfing down the beach a ways…not a mark on them!!! Dee

Response:

– They’re pretty fearless.  In water they have no peers, unlike the sea otters who have to watch out for things like killer whales.  On land the only things that could get them would be coyotes, wolves, or cougars.  And they’ve a reputation for being a bit fierce as fighters, which might tend to make them less desirable as prey by the afore mentioned creatures.  They are members of the weasel family, after all.  They’re efficient at food gathering, so they have time to goof off a lot.  And they’re just cute as all get out.

    I snuck up on a big coon the other evening at sunset. He was sitting on the root of a huge cypress tree right above the waterline catching crawfish for supper. He’d peer intently into the shallow water until he spied one then quick as lightening plunge his paw in and grab it. He was real deft at not getting pinched and grabbed’em just right each time.     During that trip, I also saw Snowy Egret, Great Blue, Great White, and Little Green Heron, Ibis, Oppossum, Diamond Back Watersnake, Moccassin, Nutria, and a Gator. Silent paddling technique allows for successful wildlife observation. Floatin, John

Response:

They’re pretty fearless.  In water they have no peers, unlike the sea otters who have to watch out for things like killer whales.  On land the only things that could get them would be coyotes, wolves, or cougars.  And they’ve a reputation for being a bit fierce as fighters, which might tend to make them less desirable as prey by the afore mentioned creatures.  They are members of the weasel family, after all.  They’re efficient at food gathering, so they have time to goof off a lot.  And they’re just cute as all get out. —– rec.backcountry vixen I only answer my email every few months, on average.   Patience helps.   http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

A neat otter report.  I wish more readers of the NG would post articles like that.  :-)     Thanks Cyli  - Robert

Response:

Thats interesting-a few weeks ago, I was walking my dog along an abandoned road in northeast MN, when I heard an animal running through the woods. I finally saw a long, low animal bounding towards us. I couldnt get a clean look at it because of the underbrush-at first I thought beaver, but beaver dont run that fast. Then I thought fisher, but it didnt look quite right either. Anyway, this thing, whatever it was, was running straight at us and was not slowing down. I figured it could see us, we were less than 100 feet away, and it just kept coming. When it was about to break through the brush at roads edge, I debated hunkering down and waiting for it to come out on the road so I get a clear view of it. At the last second I decided that wasnt a good idea, I wasnt sure what it was, it was behaving strangely (asuming it could see me anyway), rabies crossed my mind, and I didnt want whatever it was to charge out of the woods only to land on me or my 100 lb dog. So I said "Hey" just before it would have come upon us, and it turned and raced off without me ever getting an unobstructed view of it. Later, I walked a trail that headed towards where the animal had come from, and I found a flowage about 200 feet from the road, with abundant otter sign on the banks. I’m not certain the animal was an otter but it seems pretty likely. Perhaps otters dont have great eyesight out of water. Wayne   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Today I was near enough the far edge of front country that only one powerboat passed me (the water’s high here, so motors could get up that part of the river.) and had one heck of a good day trip.  With the water high, I was able to get a mile or two up a creek that’s normally about an inch or two deep and then come back down quickly. Very quickly in a couple of spots. But, back out on the river, I checked out a couple of islands I’d never quite managed to canoe or kayak up to before (usually stopping half a mile short at an island that  happened to be underwater today) and then back down, trying to backpaddle and taking a lunch break to make the day last.  I did manage to be out 8 hours.  About half an hour after lunch and drifting downriver, I saw a small brown animal head making progress across my path.  Thinking it was a beaver, I slowed a bit, as it’s only kind not to scare them more than necessary. But it dove and didn’t tail slap, came up a bit upstream, dove again, and still no slap.  Then started swimming up to the land side of me. I gave it a bit more room, as this is what young beavers tend to do when scared.  They head straight for home, even if it means they have to get closer to the scarey thing.  However, when it got within 10 feet, it dove again and it was obvious it was an otter. I burbled aloud with joy as it rose and fixed me with a beady eye, then turned its head and gave me the other eye.  By then I was cooing at it.  So it swam closer, giving the sniff/look test to me and the kayak.  At just over arm’s length, he aparently made up his mind and started straight for the cockpit, so he could climb up.   Uh.  10 to 15 pounds of soaking wet wild animal in my lap?  With the kind of claws and teeth that can open clams very easily and quickly?  Of carnivorous genes, which I’ve noticed gives animals a tendency to express affection with ‘love bites’? No.  Which is  exactly what I said as I dropped the kayak paddle in his path.  He took offense (not surprising), dove and swam up upstream.   I regretted his going, but not his absence from my lap.  He got about a hundred yards away and then turned back to look at me.  I cooed and burbled some more.  He vanished.   I went downstream.  Looked back for some reason about 10 minutes later and there he was, keeping watch on me from about 50 to 100 yards away again.  He followed me for a good mile and then the wind had picked up enough that if he was still following, I couldn’t see his head any more. I think he was young.  Much smaller than the other otters I’ve noticed (not much of a number, because they do tend to backwaters and quieter places and vanish wonderfully easily).  Obviously not shy, as all but one of the ones I’ve seen have not  been shy.  Or at least only one was so shy that I saw it and then saw it take off, not to be seen again.).  Out of the way friendly, which I’d not seen, though I’ve heard of.   I think he’d never seen a kayak before and was curious about this half log half person thing.  When the smell was right, he was willing to come ride with me.   If he’d headed for even the front deck, I think I’d have let him on.  But the cockpit was obviously the easiest place to climb/leap.  Front deck wouldn’t have been safer. Just felt like it.  The Otter kayak (yes, coincidence rules) I was paddling is only 9′6".  He’d have been nose to nose with me there. Cute.  I felt so Disney (except for not letting him on and him not speaking English.).  A wonderful day that often felt very backcountry and the world cooperated by having very few people out, even with it being opening weekend for fishing.  I only saw about 8 people and all but 3 of them were at one campsite. —– rbc vixen. I only answer my email every few months, on average. Patience helps. http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

St. Croix River. MN/WI border.  Up about 30 miles from Taylor’s Falls (the highest up dam on the river).  My favorite river in my second favorite place to paddle on it.  Rapidly becoming my favorite place as the part below Taylor’s is infested with powerboats and newbbie day trippers who do things like bring along radios and, on one very memorable occasion, a generator. Cyli ;     Great story. otters are a lot of fun to watch, always up to something. BTW where were you. Even what part of the nation would be helpful. Thanks. Floatin, John

—– rbc vixen. I only answer my email every few months, on average.   Patience helps.   http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

Cyli ;      Great story. otters are a lot of fun to watch, always up to something. BTW where were you. Even what part of the nation would be helpful. Thanks. Floatin, John — – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Today I was near enough the far edge of front country that only one powerboat passed me (the water’s high here, so motors could get up that part of the river.) and had one heck of a good day trip.  With the water high, I was able to get a mile or two up a creek that’s normally about an inch or two deep and then come back down quickly. Very quickly in a couple of spots. But, back out on the river, I checked out a couple of islands I’d never quite managed to canoe or kayak up to before (usually stopping half a mile short at an island that  happened to be underwater today) and then back down, trying to backpaddle and taking a lunch break to make the day last.  I did manage to be out 8 hours.  About half an hour after lunch and drifting downriver, I saw a small brown animal head making progress across my path.  Thinking it was a beaver, I slowed a bit, as it’s only kind not to scare them more than necessary. But it dove and didn’t tail slap, came up a bit upstream, dove again, and still no slap.  Then started swimming up to the land side of me. I gave it a bit more room, as this is what young beavers tend to do when scared.  They head straight for home, even if it means they have to get closer to the scarey thing.  However, when it got within 10 feet, it dove again and it was obvious it was an otter.   I burbled aloud with joy as it rose and fixed me with a beady eye, then turned its head and gave me the other eye.  By then I was cooing at it.  So it swam closer, giving the sniff/look test to me and the kayak.  At just over arm’s length, he aparently made up his mind and started straight for the cockpit, so he could climb up.   Uh.  10 to 15 pounds of soaking wet wild animal in my lap?  With the kind of claws and teeth that can open clams very easily and quickly?  Of carnivorous genes, which I’ve noticed gives animals a tendency to express affection with ‘love bites’? No.  Which is  exactly what I said as I dropped the kayak paddle in his path.  He took offense (not surprising), dove and swam up upstream.   I regretted his going, but not his absence from my lap.  He got about a hundred yards away and then turned back to look at me.  I cooed and burbled some more.  He vanished.   I went downstream.  Looked back for some reason about 10 minutes later and there he was, keeping watch on me from about 50 to 100 yards away again.  He followed me for a good mile and then the wind had picked up enough that if he was still following, I couldn’t see his head any more.   I think he was young.  Much smaller than the other otters I’ve noticed (not much of a number, because they do tend to backwaters and quieter places and vanish wonderfully easily).  Obviously not shy, as all but one of the ones I’ve seen have not  been shy.  Or at least only one was so shy that I saw it and then saw it take off, not to be seen again.).  Out of the way friendly, which I’d not seen, though I’ve heard of.   I think he’d never seen a kayak before and was curious about this half log half person thing.  When the smell was right, he was willing to come ride with me.   If he’d headed for even the front deck, I think I’d have let him on.  But the cockpit was obviously the easiest place to climb/leap.  Front deck wouldn’t have been safer. Just felt like it.  The Otter kayak (yes, coincidence rules) I was paddling is only 9′6".  He’d have been nose to nose with me there.   Cute.  I felt so Disney (except for not letting him on and him not speaking English.).  A wonderful day that often felt very backcountry and the world cooperated by having very few people out, even with it being opening weekend for fishing.  I only saw about 8 people and all but 3 of them were at one campsite. —– rbc vixen. I only answer my email every few months, on average.   Patience helps.   http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

  Today I was near enough the far edge of front country that only one powerboat passed me (the water’s high here, so motors could get up that part of the river.) and had one heck of a good day trip.  With the water high, I was able to get a mile or two up a creek that’s normally about an inch or two deep and then come back down quickly. Very quickly in a couple of spots. But, back out on the river, I checked out a couple of islands I’d never quite managed to canoe or kayak up to before (usually stopping half a mile short at an island that  happened to be underwater today) and then back down, trying to backpaddle and taking a lunch break to make the day last.  I did manage to be out 8 hours.  About half an hour after lunch and drifting downriver, I saw a small brown animal head making progress across my path.  Thinking it was a beaver, I slowed a bit, as it’s only kind not to scare them more than necessary. But it dove and didn’t tail slap, came up a bit upstream, dove again, and still no slap.  Then started swimming up to the land side of me. I gave it a bit more room, as this is what young beavers tend to do when scared.  They head straight for home, even if it means they have to get closer to the scarey thing.  However, when it got within 10 feet, it dove again and it was obvious it was an otter.   I burbled aloud with joy as it rose and fixed me with a beady eye, then turned its head and gave me the other eye.  By then I was cooing at it.  So it swam closer, giving the sniff/look test to me and the kayak.  At just over arm’s length, he aparently made up his mind and started straight for the cockpit, so he could climb up.   Uh.  10 to 15 pounds of soaking wet wild animal in my lap?  With the kind of claws and teeth that can open clams very easily and quickly?  Of carnivorous genes, which I’ve noticed gives animals a tendency to express affection with ‘love bites’? No.  Which is  exactly what I said as I dropped the kayak paddle in his path.  He took offense (not surprising), dove and swam up upstream.   I regretted his going, but not his absence from my lap.  He got about a hundred yards away and then turned back to look at me.  I cooed and burbled some more.  He vanished.   I went downstream.  Looked back for some reason about 10 minutes later and there he was, keeping watch on me from about 50 to 100 yards away again.  He followed me for a good mile and then the wind had picked up enough that if he was still following, I couldn’t see his head any more.   I think he was young.  Much smaller than the other otters I’ve noticed (not much of a number, because they do tend to backwaters and quieter places and vanish wonderfully easily).  Obviously not shy, as all but one of the ones I’ve seen have not  been shy.  Or at least only one was so shy that I saw it and then saw it take off, not to be seen again.).  Out of the way friendly, which I’d not seen, though I’ve heard of.   I think he’d never seen a kayak before and was curious about this half log half person thing.  When the smell was right, he was willing to come ride with me.   If he’d headed for even the front deck, I think I’d have let him on.  But the cockpit was obviously the easiest place to climb/leap.  Front deck wouldn’t have been safer. Just felt like it.  The Otter kayak (yes, coincidence rules) I was paddling is only 9′6".  He’d have been nose to nose with me there.   Cute.  I felt so Disney (except for not letting him on and him not speaking English.).  A wonderful day that often felt very backcountry and the world cooperated by having very few people out, even with it being opening weekend for fishing.  I only saw about 8 people and all but 3 of them were at one campsite. —– rbc vixen. I only answer my email every few months, on average.   Patience helps.   http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

Question:

This summer, starting in early June, I will be bicycling from Anchorage up the Parks Highway to Cantwell, across the Denali Highway and then over to the Alaska highway and out through the Yukon, B.C, Alberta….. I will be bringing a rod (4 pc, 6 wt?) and looking to do what fishing I can as I make my way.  Need to keep my fishing kit small.  Never been there before.  Expect I’ll see grayling.  Might I catch any of the King run on the Susitna? Any ideas on what flies I should bring would be appreciated.  I’m a newbie, but I just can’t pass on the chance to drop a line in the Great White North. I can con a friend of mine into tying up whatever you might suggest.  Also, if anyone wants to bestow the location of their favorite spots on me, I wouldn’t complain. Thanks a bunch.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This summer, starting in early June, I will be bicycling from Anchorage up the Parks Highway to Cantwell, across the Denali Highway and then over to the Alaska highway and out through the Yukon, B.C, Alberta….. I will be bringing a rod (4 pc, 6 wt?) and looking to do what fishing I can as I make my way.  Need to keep my fishing kit small.  Never been there before.  Expect I’ll see grayling.  Might I catch any of the King run on the Susitna? Any ideas on what flies I should bring would be appreciated.  I’m a newbie, but I just can’t pass on the chance to drop a line in the Great White North. I can con a friend of mine into tying up whatever you might suggest.  Also, if anyone wants to bestow the location of their favorite spots on me, I wouldn’t complain. Thanks a bunch.

Andrew,   I assume you live in Anchorage, or are flying in for this bicycle trip. Either way, from experience flying the bush years ago up there (I flew out of Fairbanks Int’l and Merrill Field, Anchorage) if you don’t bring anything else, bring a headnet and clothes that will protect the rest of your skin from hordes of ravenous mosquitoes. They are not all that bad in the ‘big cities’ of Alaska, but can drive you absolutely crazy out in the muskeg, etc. As an example, I used to fly clients or friends out to a remote lake in the Tanana Valley, and always carried a can or two of Black Flag bug spray. As soon as the airplane doors are opened to de-plane, look out! Of course, headnets were already in place. The Black Flag was to kill ‘em when they boarded with us for the return trip. I have caught grayling on drys and wets, most of the time they are not too fussy. If you want some arm wrenching fun, try any streamer that imitates a minnow, then fish the rivers for pike. We caught pike in the Yukon and Tanana rivers until our arms hurt. These were not especially big fish, maybe average 3# or so, but just sheer numbers will wear you down. Good luck, your post brought back many fond memories. Frank Church Elkhart, IN

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Question:

______ The only music that doesn’t insult fly fishing. Amen – George —

Question:

Folks, I am heading into the bob marshall wilderness aug 20.  i will be flying to great falls.  Does anyone know of a decent fly shop in town where I could check  in, get some last minute flies, license, and related? Thanks for any help. edwin college station, tx

Response:

Folks, I am heading into the bob marshall wilderness aug 20.  i will be flying to great falls.  Does anyone know of a decent fly shop in town where I could check  in, get some last minute flies, license, and related? Thanks for any help. edwin college station, tx

Call Wolverton’s Fly Shop.  He’s in the book.  Boyd Wolverton is a great guy and will take good care of you.  He and his brother were born and raised in the area and should be able to set you up with anything you need.  I have been fishing with them for years.   Bud Crist Diamond C Kennel Blum, TX Http://www.birddogs.pair.com

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Question:

Looking for any information on working Bamboo?–

Response:

Looking for any information on working Bamboo?–

If you know any soldiers who have had experience in tropical jungle country they should know quite a lot about the use of bamboo.   Two genders  -  male and female – the male being smaller in diameter and more solid than the female which cam be of large diameter but hollw with relatively thin walls.   Chairs are more often made from Rattan which grows in conditions similst]r to bamboo and has very sharp spikes amongst its leaves.   That is about all I can tell you as I have only used it within the jungle scene using a khukri to cut it and split it to make beds, tables and the like.   The hollow inside the female variety is good for cooking rice or stuffing with explosive. — Charles (Joe) Stahelin Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK

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Looking for any information on working Bamboo?– If you know any soldiers who have had experience in tropical jungle country they should know quite a lot about the use of bamboo.   Two genders  -  male and female – the male being smaller in diameter and more solid than the female which cam be of large diameter but hollw with relatively thin walls.   Chairs are more often made from Rattan which grows in conditions similst]r to bamboo and has very sharp spikes amongst its leaves.   That is about all I can tell you as I have only used it within the jungle scene using a khukri to cut it and split it to make beds, tables and the like.   The hollow inside the female variety is good for cooking rice or stuffing with explosive.

Please do not forget its use as an ersatz mortar tube. Propped up at an angle and lashed to another piece of bamboo which had been lashed horizontally between two trees. To this day I cannot figure out how they managed to get the trajectories so close!

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I have seen bamboo laminates (3-ply) used for flooring recently.  According to the literature I read, it is actually harder than Red Oak, and makes a very interesting floor due to the very fine grain, or what resembles grain, and the nodes seem to be spaced very uniformily.  I have no idea how they remanufacture the finished product, but I am assuming they use the Timber type which grows 60+feet in a season.  I’d be interested to know how they mill it, etc..  Good luck. . .

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Intermediate Technology Publications publishes a book entitled:         Building with Bamboo: A handbook , Second Edition It is 88 pages and costs 9 pounds.  It discusses preparing bamboo for construction use, joints, and common building practices.  Please email me if you want more information re: publisher address, etc. Sorry, I discarded the original poster’s name and address. Douglas Stockman

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I have seen bamboo laminates (3-ply) used for flooring recently. According to the literature I read, it is actually harder than Red Oak, and makes a very interesting floor due to the very fine grain, or what resembles grain, and the nodes seem to be spaced very uniformily.  I have no idea how they remanufacture the finished product, but I am assuming they use the Timber type which grows 60+feet in a season.  I’d be interested to know how they mill it, etc..  Good luck. . . Bamboo’s actually a very fast growing species of grass, grows something like 1-2" per day.  It’s a light weight, excellent material for things like kite frames or construction scaffolding.  I’ve seen pics in Nat. Geo. of Taiwanese construction crews using the stuff for scaffolds reaching 10-12 stories above ground.  It can be worked by splitting, planing, and scraping.

Response:

I’m new to the group…So far I like what I see.. I am looking for 2" diameter or larger bamboo to use for door frame and window frame in a special project. I searched all of my suppliers here in the Southeast. Closest I got was fresh stalks from the Atlanta Zoo. I would like something that was already cured. I would appreciate a suppliers name and number. Thanks in advance. David Holec Exhibit Manager SciTrek – Science and Tecnology Adventure Atlanta GA

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Hello, My dad has some contacts in Japan and could get some Japanes bamboo (larger diameter), but probably wouldn’t be cost effective unless you wanted a large amount. There is a forum about bamboo at www.woodfibre.com.  You might want to pose the same question there and they should be able to help. Don Yasaki HH & NK Co., Ltd.   Kings Mtn., NC Kiln-dried Hardwoods – Sawmill Direct Prices tel (704) 739-6914             fax (704) 739-7336 http://www.unc.edu/~dyasaki – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m new to the group…So far I like what I see.. I am looking for 2" diameter or larger bamboo to use for door frame and window frame in a special project. I searched all of my suppliers here in the Southeast. Closest I got was fresh stalks from the Atlanta Zoo. I would like something that was already cured. I would appreciate a suppliers name and number. Thanks in advance. David Holec Exhibit Manager SciTrek – Science and Tecnology Adventure Atlanta GA

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Try these two URL’s: http://www.bamboo.org/abs/ http://www.communety.com/mintec/welcome.html Keith Bohn b2d – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m new to the group…So far I like what I see.. I am looking for 2" diameter or larger bamboo to use for door frame and window frame in a special project. I searched all of my suppliers here in the Southeast. Closest I got was fresh stalks from the Atlanta Zoo. I would like something that was already cured. I would appreciate a suppliers name and number. Thanks in advance. David Holec Exhibit Manager SciTrek – Science and Tecnology Adventure Atlanta GA

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Does anyone have ideas or plans for making things out of Bamboo trees? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Does anyone have ideas or plans for making things out of Bamboo trees?

Sure. I make split bamboo flyfishing rods. By the way bamboo is more properly called a plant, not a tree. Darryl Hayashida

Response:

Does anyone have ideas or plans for making things out of Bamboo trees?

No plans unfortunately, but look at some books dealing with late 19th century furniture design – in England and America there was a craze (Japonisme) for anything with an Asian aesthetic and faux (and real) bamboo chairs, cabinets, hall trees and such were briefly "all the rage".  Most of this furniture was painted in black, gold, white, or other color combinations… Kevin

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Does anyone have ideas or plans for making things out of Bamboo trees?

        Bamboo is a grass not a tree.  It is a plant but that is too general a term.         I do not know of any books of making things with bamboo.  I a sure I have never seen one.         I will through in this piece of advice from experience.  Do NOT try to blast a driveway through a bamboo hedge with explosives.  This is a ver bad move.         Riley

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Sure. I make split bamboo flyfishing rods. By the way bamboo is more properly called a plant, not a tree.

Try a grass.

Response:

Does anyone have ideas or plans for making things out of Bamboo trees?

Fly rods!!!  Try FWW #34:68.  Hoagy B. Carmichael (Stardust’s son) wrote a great book on making them. Also, you can build scaffolding with it.  Check out building construction in Indonesia, and other SE Asian countries. mccs

Response:

Does anyone have ideas or plans for making things out of Bamboo trees?

Actually, bamboo is a pretty versatile building material. My projects recently have  jinvolved making tables out of bamboo. The legs and table-top base are made using normal lengths of bamboo. The surface of the table-top is made by splitting the bamboo longitudinally to make about inch thick panels which can be nailed to the table-top base. My attempts so far have been a bit rough, but the result is not too bad. Cheers, Brendan. — C.S. Dept., James Cook University,        Phone:  (077) 815085. Townsville, QLD, 4811.  Australia.        There’s only one catch – Catch 22.

Response:

Does anyone have ideas or plans for making things out of Bamboo trees?

Sure. I make split bamboo flyfishing rods. By the way bamboo is more properly called a plant, not a tree. Darryl Hayashida

There is almost nothing you can’t make out of bamboo.  It’s a whole technology all by itself.  You should be able to find several good books in your library. Miles Hollister

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Sure. I make split bamboo flyfishing rods. By the way bamboo is more properly called a plant, not a tree.

It is indeed not a tree, but I believe you meant that it is a grass, not that it is a plant (which is of course true.) The fact that it is a grass accounts for the strange chambered structure, as well as its astonishing growth rate. (I read these things in a recent industrial design magazine discussing bamboo’s usefulness, growth worldwide. Sorry, don’t remember the title.) Karl

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Question:

Does anyone go fly fishing in Orance County at any of the local beaches?   (*particularly Huntington Beach)  I’d much rather drive 10 minutes to the beach rather than an hour to the nearest fresh water for trout. Jae

Response:

The best salt water fly fishing nearest you, in my opinion, would be in Redondo Beach; King Harbour. Go to Daves Rocky Point at 6:30 am, rent a skiff ($40 for half day) and fish your brains out for Bonita in the harbour. Be sure to have a reel with a drag system and at least an 8-9 rod. Sinking line is considered best, but I have outfished my buddies with a floating line. A 10 lb tippet will do and the Bonita is considered the "Jack Dempsey" of the tuna family. Bonita on the fly is an amazing thing!! Up in the Ventura Co., there is also some great salt water fly fishing from shore. Be sure to have a line tray! the Spy on the Fly

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Question:

I just purchased a mint condition South Bend bamboo 9′ fly rod.  Does anyone know the value of a rod like this, or know how I can find out the value.  

Response:

I just purchased a mint condition South Bend bamboo 9′ fly rod.  Does anyone know the value of a rod like this, or know how I can find out the value.  

Len Codela of Turner’s Falls, Massachusetts can appraise it if you send it to him.  His current catalog lists South Bend rods anywhere from $100 or less to $400 or so.  There were many different levels of quality of South Bend rods. His prices are slightly high as he caters to collectors as much as fishers.  Call either 508 or 433-555-1212 to get his number I’m not sure which area code. As this is a fishing more than a collecting forum,  I say the real value is how it feels to fish.  Try out different lines with it if you can, then take it fishing.  If it sings the line out like poetry as smooth as twenty year Scotch, it’s priceless for fishing and that is it’s inspired destiny. Don’t incarcerate it. Mark Vinsel http://www.lanminds.com/local/vinnie/gallery.html

Response:

I just purchased a mint condition South Bend bamboo 9′ fly rod.  Does anyone know the value of a rod like this, or know how I can find out the value.  

I’ve got one of these guys.  There more valuable as a fishing tool, albeit a very heavy one, than they are collectible.  Interestingly the South Bend company was started by Wes Jordan (later of Orvis fame) though the rods produced were mediocre at best.  Still, I fish mine a couple of times a year for half a day or so (really a heavy rod).  I’d say go fish it!                                                                      Dan

Response:

Question:

I too started using soft hackle wet flies this year and had great success a week ago on brookies on the AuSable on an orange bodied #16. Don Donald Albrecht A bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work!  <  <

Soft Hackle flies can be very very deadly!  I use a couple patterns: one is just like a hares ear nymph without the wingcase but with a sparse collar of partridge hackle…the other is a body of peacock herl with partridge hackle. They seem to work best when fish are chasing emerging caddis. Paul DiConza NY Capital District Angler

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I’ve been having *super* success fishing a gray soft hackle fly lately. What I do is to use a standard wet fly swing with a slow retrieve at the end.  The rainbow trout in my local stream can’t resist them.  Any other thoughts or possible patterns? Thanks, Bill

Lots of thoughts and lots of patterns.  Try the three books by Sylvester Nemes.  My favorite soft hackle is the March Brown Spider – Hare’s Ear lightly dubbed over orange thread with silver rib and brown partridge hackle.   Ross Wilson

Response:

I’ve been having *super* success fishing a gray soft hackle fly lately. What I do is to use a standard wet fly swing with a slow retrieve at the end.  The rainbow trout in my local stream can’t resist them.  Any other thoughts or possible patterns? Thanks, Bill

Response:

I too started using soft hackle wet flies this year and had great success a week ago on brookies on the AuSable on an orange bodied #16. Don Donald Albrecht A bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work!  <  <

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