Question:

[snip] All in all, it was a pretty typical outing, tho shorter than most.

Somehow, I missed this TR but it has a familiar ring to it.  :) Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://home.cogeco.ca/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Darn sight safer than coming out of the Air & Space Museum at 11:30 and the car won’t start or hitting a pothole on 295 and blowing two tires!  Now THAT will crease your seat! — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Thanks.  I assume that you fished there after dark.  Did you  feel reasonably safe doing that ? After dark is best on stripers with an in-running tide.  Try a black Clouser with yellow eyes and a touch of Crystal Flash. —

Response:

I too caught a channel cat in the Potomac many years ago, almost in the same spot that you did.  Judging by my very limited sample, there must be a lot of them in  there.  I caught a good-sized one above the Chain Bridge last  year.  I was sure that I had a nice largemouth on until I saw it.  I did a good amount of heavy-duty rowing for that one.

I foul-hooked a couple of cats this spring.  Lots of fun until it is time to take them off the hook… The first time I fished there this year, I was on the VA side below Chain Bridge.  I wasn’t having much luck, but a Good Old Boy was reeling in catfish after catfish after catfish.  After a while, he shouted across from me, bragging about his catching and my not.  When I complemented him on doing so well, he told me that last week was better.  He took home 57 catfish after a day’s fishing.  Ate them in one sitting.  Fed his entire family.  The DC license states, in big letters, not to eat catfish, carp, or eels because they are full of PCBs.  I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.  I don’t think he had a DC license to read. JR

Response:

 Ok.  I asked because when I was at Fletcher’s one evening,  the owner there was anxious to close up to avoid taking a  chance on being held up.

On the evening of my encounter with the GOB, I walked back up to the parking area on the VA side of Chain Bridge to find the extended cab window on the passenger side broken.  Lost a book of CDs.  Does that count? John

Response:

 that well and the travel rod I was using wasn’t ideal for a heavy  Teeny/clouser combo.   I’d get the line out 45-50 feet, which meant  that the fly reached bottom just as it was passing the boat, and  was rising back up no more than 10 feet later.

I used to have a hell of a time throwing sinking lines with my soft St. Croix Pro Graphite until I learned to make an underhand backcast.  I too caught a channel cat in the Potomac many years ago, almost in the same spot that you did. Mu

Response:

After dark is best on stripers with an in-running tide.  Try a black Clouser with yellow eyes and a touch of Crystal Flash. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Just upstream from downtown DC, the Potomac flows  through a heavily wooded gorge alongside the Chesapeake  and Ohio Canal.   Up a ways, but still within DC limits,  is Fletcher’s Boat House, a family business of some 100  years of renting rowboats and canoes.  Also at this time of  the year there are striped bass in the river, and I hadn’t  had a chance to fish for those since late last summer.  According to the boat house web site reports, early morning  was the best time for the stripers.  That aligned neatly with  a late start for meetings on Sunday.  I grabbed a cab from  my hotel and was at the boat house at a quarter to six.  The  boat house was still closed, but one of the owners was down  on the dock getting ready to fish.  He offered to let me take a  rowboat on a promise to do the paperwork and payment when  I got back.  The boat house sits on a shallow inlet.  On the outer edge  of the inlet on the upstream side is a shoal marked by a buoy.  I rowed for that spot, intending to fish the seam between  the river and the inlet just below the shoal.  Since the river  moves at a good clip in the main channel and the water is at  least 10 feet deep, I decided to use my Teeny 300 line.  By now it was 6 AM.  None of the usual weekday noises – from  cars, planes, helicopters –  were in the air, and I could imagine  myself back three hundred years, with nothing downstream  but water and woods, and herring surfacing all over.  I tried a #1 hook clouser first, since I figured that I had the best  chance of getting close to the bottom with it on the fast side of  the seam.  I had some problems with that, since I don’t cast all  that well and the travel rod I was using wasn’t ideal for a heavy Teeny/clouser combo.   I’d get the line out 45-50 feet, which meant  that the fly reached bottom just as it was passing the boat, and  was rising back up no more than 10 feet later.  After a bit of this, casting on both sides of the seam, I decided to  try a white deceiver, tied on a 1/0 hook, partly because it came  closest to looking like the herring that were all over the river.   I  concentrated on the slow side of the seam, letting out some  additional line and letting it dangle, twitching it a bit, when it  was fully downstream from me.  The third time down, something  clobbered the deceiver and I had my first striper on !   Well, a  little striper.  Well, maybe something else.  Well, how about a  modest-sized channel cat ?  Things continued to go downhill after that: I lost the deceiver  on the following cast, then several clousers.  The Fletcher  Boat House guy was fishing upstream from me a ways, and  seemed to have a fish on his line every time I looked up.  I told  myself that he was just bait-fishing, but I didn’t *really* know  that for sure.  Then I snagged bottom again.  Deciding I had lost  one fly too many,  I pulled anchor determined to recover my fly and  then try a slow-moving chute between two large boulders about 100 feet away.  With the anchor up the boat begin to drift quickly  with the current.  Grabbing the oars, while holding on to the rod, I  tried to manipulate three ungainly objects with two hands and in one  of those series of moves –    the very complicated ones which the  great athletes make look easy –  I snapped the fly rod in two.  I rowed back to shore, docked, and watched two deer graze within  40 feet of me before they sauntered off into the woods.  I walked up  to the boat house, now open, with my busted weapon in hand.  Owner #2 gave me some coffee in consolation and then offered to  lend me one of his spinning rods.  I told him that he didn’t *really*  want to do that.  He assured me that he broke as many rods as I did.  I assured him that he didn’t.  All in all, it was a pretty typical outing, tho shorter than most.

Response:

Question:

I am not certain when the next clave is and where it is, but I wanted to offer the extra flies (I have about 4 to 5 good sets of 30 flies I could put together in fly boxes) from this last Fly Swap as raffle prizes, if you guys think that would be OK? —— Padishar Creel

Response:

An excellent and generous idea Chris. I am sure it will meet with general approval. Thanks once again for organising and running the swap. Hope you have an excellent Christmas as well. TL MC — "Where fishing is concerned, most anglers are basically manic excessives" http://www.mikeconnor.de – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am not certain when the next clave is and where it is, but I wanted to offer the extra flies (I have about 4 to 5 good sets of 30 flies I could put together in fly boxes) from this last Fly Swap as raffle prizes, if you guys think that would be OK? —— Padishar Creel

Response:

I am not certain when the next clave is and where it is, but I wanted to offer the extra flies (I have about 4 to 5 good sets of 30 flies I could put together in fly boxes) from this last Fly Swap as raffle prizes, if you guys think that would be OK?

Pretty much guarantees ol’ Indian Joe will show up…

Response:

Padishar, I believe the next clave is the Michigan Micro-Clave at the end of April….I believe Wolfgang is the clavemiester. Luckyboy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am not certain when the next clave is and where it is, but I wanted to offer the extra flies (I have about 4 to 5 good sets of 30 flies I could put together in fly boxes) from this last Fly Swap as raffle prizes, if you guys think that would be OK? Pretty much guarantees ol’ Indian Joe will show up…

Response:

Padishar, I believe the next clave is the Michigan Micro-Clave at the end of April….I believe Wolfgang is the clavemiester.

That would be the "landlocked rainbow trout" clave, right? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Padishar, I believe the next clave is the Michigan Micro-Clave at the end of April….I believe Wolfgang is the clavemiester.

Technically true, but I fear the additional weight of 150 or so flies might prove burdensome to the three intrepid backpackers thus far committed to this venture.     Wolfgang now accepting applications for the positions of chief and subordinate porters

Response:

Padishar, I believe the next clave is the Michigan Micro-Clave at the end of April….I believe Wolfgang is the clavemiester. Technically true, but I fear the additional weight of 150 or so flies might prove burdensome to the three intrepid backpackers thus far committed to this venture.    

Well, I will be in Germany fishing with Mike in March, so *technically*, not only is that earlier, it is more micro too<g. — Charlie…

Response:

Padishar, I believe the next clave is the Michigan Micro-Clave at the end of April….I believe Wolfgang is the clavemiester. That would be the "landlocked rainbow trout" clave, right?

‘Fraid not Steve.  As everyone here knows, rainbows are an anadromous (read sea running) species.  There are no fish in this region that migrate to and or from the sea, ergo these cannot be rainbows. Wolfgang

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Padishar, I believe the next clave is the Michigan Micro-Clave at the end of April….I believe Wolfgang is the clavemiester. That would be the "landlocked rainbow trout" clave, right? ‘Fraid not Steve.  As everyone here knows, rainbows are an anadromous (read sea running) species.  There are no fish in this region that migrate to and or from the sea, ergo these cannot be rainbows. Wolfgang

I’m sure you know I’m just kidding, Wolfgang. I hope you guys catch lots of those faux steelhead. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

I’m sure you know I’m just kidding, Wolfgang. I hope you guys catch lots of those faux steelhead.

Yep, knew that.  I hope we catch a bunch too.  And at least one of us intends to supplement the groceries carried in with fresh fish.  Last time we did this, we had a rookie backpacker with us (heh, heh).  We had a memorable feast of fresh (5 minutes out of the stream) trout, dredged in egg and cornmeal, and then deep fried in honest to god lard!!    :) Wolfgang here newbie…..here newbie….hold this…..follow me….

Response:

"Wolfgang" wrote Technically true, but I fear the additional weight of 150 or so flies might prove burdensome to the three intrepid backpackers thus far committed to this venture.     Wolfgang

Wolfie, Not if Bruce H. ties them on his size #64 hooks.  :-)

Response:

Technically true, but I fear the additional weight of 150 or so flies might prove burdensome to the three intrepid backpackers thus far committed to this venture.     Well, I will be in Germany fishing with Mike in March, so *technically*, not only is that earlier, it is more micro too<g.

Earlier, yes.  More micro?  Well, maybe so, and maybe no. Wolfgang who has spent more than one day holed up in a cabin in inclement weather reflecting pass the chianti

Response:

Well, I will be in Germany fishing with Mike in March, so *technically*, not only is that earlier, it is more micro too<g.

    then vulfy respondeth: Earlier, yes.  More micro?  Well, maybe so, and maybe no.

    ah jus wanna, ah say, ah jus want you two rookie wannabe clavemeisters to know that there is a 10 person lower limit before the event chairperson becomes an honest-to-god clavemeister, thus becoming entitled to learn the ultra-secret clavemeister handshake and further unspeakably impressive credentials.     wayno…or is that "meaningless credentials"; i never could get that straight…

Response:

   ah jus wanna, ah say, ah jus want you two rookie wannabe clavemeisters to know that there is a 10 person lower limit before the event chairperson becomes an honest-to-god clavemeister,

No worries there, I’ve *seen* what clavemeisters look and act like, we will be sure there are well below 9 (leaving a margin of error for ‘loading’)… <g — Charlie…

Response:

Padishar, I believe the next clave is the Michigan Micro-Clave at the end of April….I believe Wolfgang is the clavemiester.

Allow me add this insight, Padishar. Sending the flies the the Micro-Clave is a great idea, but do NOT under any circumstances consider actually attending said Clave. With Wolfgang, KenF and asadi in primitive conditions with only a limited supply of alcohol, I think after a few hours you’d have more fun getting mauled by a bear –Steve (absolutely despondent over not being able to attend, BTW)

Response:

….With Wolfgang, KenF and asadi in primitive conditions with only a limited supply of alcohol, I think after a few hours you’d have more fun getting mauled by a bear

Fortunately, the Porcupine Mountains are a particularly good place to put that proposition to the test.      :) Wolfgang oh, we’re gonna have a rippin good time!

Response:

Mr Creel    if you want to send me the extra boxes of flies I will present half of them to the Penn Clave and half of them to the Maine Clave as raffle prizes.  { and hope to win one box of each for my own use.]  Indian Joe McIntosh  8828 Olympic Lane  Wilmington N.C. 28411

Response:

Indian Joe writes: Mr Creel    if you want to send me the extra boxes of flies I will present half of them to the Penn Clave and half of them to the Maine Clave as raffle prizes. { and hope to win one box of each for my own use

Are you volunteering, IJ, to be the raffle meister at the Maine Clave?  <g Dave L.

Response:

Dave asks? Are you volunteering, IJ, to be the raffle meister at the Maine Clave?  <g

on top of apparently doing the same for Penn’s<g!!!                            Tom L

Response:

Surprisingly, this sounds remarkably fair.  I don’t think there will be a raffle at the Susquehanna Hackers Into Tackling Shad clave.  At the end of April – first week of May.        Frank Mr Creel    if you want to send me the extra boxes of flies I will present half of them to the Penn Clave and half of them to the Maine Clave as raffle prizes.  { and hope to win one box of each for my own use.]  Indian Joe McIntosh  8828 Olympic Lane  Wilmington N.C. 28411

Response:

Dave LaCourse asks: Are you volunteering, IJ, to be the raffle meister at the Maine Clave?  <g on top of apparently doing the same for Penn’s<g!!!

My first reaction was "Oh, no!! IJ will rig the raffle!" But on second thought, I’m convinced it’s a good idea. After all, IJ always manages to whine his way into the prize he wants anyhow so there’s nothing to lose. Besides, his cries of foul play would be directed solely at himself! –Steve (just kidding IJ)

Response:

Question:

ugliest bearing remnant or piston rod (or maybe the alarm buzzer?) on the little display shelf that I call "The Chamber of Horrors."  It includes

At my house I call it the  "Hall of Shame" Iam gonna have it rebuildt. My first adventure will be  the trip back up river. I hope.. What kind of warrenty do you get on a rebuild? d mac

Response:

Yes, a humorous (to us!) post about a sad time, and we’ve all had them, but there is usually a valuable lesson-learned in any marine mishap, even on a small boat, and I found a good one buried in this one:  insure that critial alarms are audible or install remotes that will be.  Not to mention the other L RE-learned, that could’ve been more tragic in a river current: ground tackle is safety equipment!  Always know the water depths you’ll be traversing in advance (er, read a chart), and have sufficient scope (5 – 7 x depth) aboard & at the ready. Motor bearings, etc. are likely fried.  I’d fix it anyway, and put the ugliest bearing remnant or piston rod (or maybe the alarm buzzer?) on the little display shelf that I call "The Chamber of Horrors."  It includes such conversational items as a badly broken motorcycle helmet that came off my own head, a bolt fragment from inside a low suction valve bonnet that kept a chemical tanker in drydock for 3 extra days at a charter loss of millions, a stellite steam turbine blade that not only made it through the casing but pierced a forced-draft blower housing several stories higher, a peephole fitting that got buried in my fireman’s forehead (didn’t purge the furnace B4 lighting off after 38 years in the fireroom), the ring from my first marriage, and the empty envelope from the personal Christmas card Larry River$ painted for me that I accidently threw into the stove.

Response:

Fix the engine, and do the trip again to proof your wife wrong.  Just joking, but I will do the trip over myself.

Ha good point, I will finish it someday. d mac

Response:

I have no idea whats wrong but enjoyed reading your story….. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well for the last week of kids being out of school had a trip planned. Mini vacation, money tight end of summer one last cheap trip. I keep my boat at Paris Landing Tenn , stayed there a few nights and sat morning had planned for me wife 2 kids to go 50 miles to Toms creek on Tenn river to meet friends and there kids and stay  there 2 days and come back SUN…. Wife told me dont do it lets drive we know we will get there ..yang, yang, yang ect ect…… Nope Iam ready for a TRIP family time.. BOAT is a 86 28′Harris Pontoon  w/86 115 Johnson, OIL INJECTED  2nd owner, I have had 3 years nver gone anywere serviced once a year only used it once this year as in go for day. BOAT is slip kept.. 8AM SAt we take off have extra battery, cable, chart maps my 2 12 gallon tanks 20 more gallons of gas, oil reservier is FULL.. food, suit cases lots of cold beer for when I get there with my pardner , wives are good friends me and RON will kick back…. Off we go. Iam thinking hell Iam MANLY kinda guy looking for ADVENTURE!! Iam figurein  about a 3 hr trip running from 20 to 25mph.. ran my first tank out abouit a hour, was following bouys running red up river,things going good had a neat chart maps by TVA showe my marking ect.. I ran out of 1st tank of gas after about a hour changed to full tank 10 min later let son drive, he does fine 10 min later there is a CLANKing knocking nose, could tell motor was missing I started driving Talk about your a STUBBORN asshole  I TOLD YOU SO look from my wife….. I didn’t hear beeping nose(oiler beeps when not working)… no smoke , steam , smell… I cut off motor took off cover. I saw a cracked small hose that outlet that pumps water from engine to side of motor that lets you know water pump is working. I cut off bad hose pout back, this had nothing to do with problem. Engin was hot to touch.. well here I was with family floating Tenn River nobody around. what should I do? Just passed a god I know 3 wide 10 deep barge heading my way a few miles ago water dept is 40 feet in channel. My anchor ropw is 25..  I started motor back up, it was clanging more I could go forward just went slow. Fisherman came by I flagged him down he stopped, He asked me about oil told him it was 1/2 full. I cranked again he said its fixing to LOCK UP.. i shut if off.. let it cool cranked it again it just bumped didnt turn over.. HMmmm not good… we talked then I asked him the big one how far is closest mechinac.."About 5 miles that way,, I had a phone called info got marina "NOPE no one here  or gonna be here today but me" talk about being in  JAM… I told fisherman ID sure pay ya if you can tow me in… he had a RANGER 150  he said, "Ive been in your shoes before, you gotta rope?"  There is a GOD!! these fellow could have said see ya dont wanna be ya..  These  2 guys towed us a few miles told us  they had to stop saw fish in finder. They started fishing got into a mess of stripes, they cought 10 stripes it was great, wife and kids got a kick out of that… called folks we were on they were hour away they were on their way. When we got to dock and in slip I had $50 in my  hand and asked how much and the guy said "nothing the man didnt charge me anything and you just pass it on" I said please take this let me buy your lunch, take these 20 gallons of gas its not gonna do me any good. NOPE he didnt want nothing.. Well friends came picked us up (he to told me it was dumb to make the trip, so I HAD to listen to his remarks and rightfully so, I had screwed up his day driveing. We left boat over night, called had a friend pick up my trailor meet me there on SUN we picked it up now its in back yard.. END of story I had OIL in reseror tank, my water pump impeller replaced last year with cover off I can turn fly wheel about 4 turns and will turn  when starting but will come to stop and then will only bump unless your turn with had but will again come to stop and go no futher… Gonna have checked out, what ya think it is. Do I fix this motor or is it to OLD (86 Johnson 115) what could it be. d mac Tennessee

Response:

Sorry to hear your story.  Really sad, but at least you are ok. Fix the engine, and do the trip again to proof your wife wrong.  Just joking, but I will do the trip over myself. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well for the last week of kids being out of school had a trip planned. Mini vacation, money tight end of summer one last cheap trip. I keep my boat at Paris Landing Tenn , stayed there a few

Response:

Well for the last week of kids being out of school had a trip planned. Mini vacation, money tight end of summer one last cheap trip. I keep my boat at Paris Landing Tenn , stayed there a few nights and sat morning had planned for me wife 2 kids to go 50 miles to Toms creek on Tenn river to meet friends and there kids and stay  there 2 days and come back SUN…. Wife told me dont do it lets drive we know we will get there ..yang, yang, yang ect ect…… Nope Iam ready for a TRIP family time.. BOAT is a 86 28′Harris Pontoon  w/86 115 Johnson, OIL INJECTED  2nd owner, I have had 3 years nver gone anywere serviced once a year only used it once this year as in go for day. BOAT is slip kept.. 8AM SAt we take off have extra battery, cable, chart maps my 2 12 gallon tanks 20 more gallons of gas, oil reservier is FULL.. food, suit cases lots of cold beer for when I get there with my pardner , wives are good friends me and RON will kick back…. Off we go. Iam thinking hell Iam MANLY kinda guy looking for ADVENTURE!! Iam figurein  about a 3 hr trip running from 20 to 25mph.. ran my first tank out abouit a hour, was following bouys running red up river,things going good had a neat chart maps by TVA showe my marking ect.. I ran out of 1st tank of gas after about a hour changed to full tank 10 min later let son drive, he does fine 10 min later there is a CLANKing knocking nose, could tell motor was missing I started driving Talk about your a STUBBORN asshole  I TOLD YOU SO look from my wife….. I didn’t hear beeping nose(oiler beeps when not working)… no smoke , steam , smell… I cut off motor took off cover. I saw a cracked small hose that outlet that pumps water from engine to side of motor that lets you know water pump is working. I cut off bad hose pout back, this had nothing to do with problem. Engin was hot to touch.. well here I was with family floating Tenn River nobody around. what should I do? Just passed a god I know 3 wide 10 deep barge heading my way a few miles ago water dept is 40 feet in channel. My anchor ropw is 25..  I started motor back up, it was clanging more I could go forward just went slow. Fisherman came by I flagged him down he stopped, He asked me about oil told him it was 1/2 full. I cranked again he said its fixing to LOCK UP.. i shut if off.. let it cool cranked it again it just bumped didnt turn over.. HMmmm not good… we talked then I asked him the big one how far is closest mechinac.."About 5 miles that way,, I had a phone called info got marina "NOPE no one here  or gonna be here today but me" talk about being in  JAM… I told fisherman ID sure pay ya if you can tow me in… he had a RANGER 150  he said, "Ive been in your shoes before, you gotta rope?"  There is a GOD!! these fellow could have said see ya dont wanna be ya..  These  2 guys towed us a few miles told us  they had to stop saw fish in finder. They started fishing got into a mess of stripes, they cought 10 stripes it was great, wife and kids got a kick out of that… called folks we were on they were hour away they were on their way. When we got to dock and in slip I had $50 in my  hand and asked how much and the guy said "nothing the man didnt charge me anything and you just pass it on" I said please take this let me buy your lunch, take these 20 gallons of gas its not gonna do me any good. NOPE he didnt want nothing.. Well friends came picked us up (he to told me it was dumb to make the trip, so I HAD to listen to his remarks and rightfully so, I had screwed up his day driveing. We left boat over night, called had a friend pick up my trailor meet me there on SUN we picked it up now its in back yard.. END of story I had OIL in reseror tank, my water pump impeller replaced last year with cover off I can turn fly wheel about 4 turns and will turn  when starting but will come to stop and then will only bump unless your turn with had but will again come to stop and go no futher… Gonna have checked out, what ya think it is. Do I fix this motor or is it to OLD (86 Johnson 115) what could it be. d mac Tennessee

Response:

Question:

Because there are so many models of  fly lines available, selection can get pretty confusing.  I have a huge amount of info about fly lines on the Tech Info page of my web site.  I’d suggest you punch up the following address: "http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish/LineSpec.html"  and then click on the hyperlink "Line Tapers" and read that section.  It covers the subject pretty thoroughly.

To Dan, Bill, and all the others in this thread: Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Dan’s web page on line tapers and design specs is a *wonderful* resource for deciding on line types.  I think I’m starting to understand what kind of line I’ll be needing for the small streams and lakes I’ll be fishing. It’s good to see that newsgroups still have good folks who can provide really useful information these days.  I really appreciate the help. Thanks again, Joe G. Tehachapi, CA

Response:

speaking for myself…a weight forward is not necessary on small streams. In fact, it will kind of splash down and make a lot of noise, I only yuse a weight forward for long hauls and big poppers.  for small streams stick with the doublt taper and in five years you can turn it around and use the other end. If you don’t really know how much money to spend, econmize, but take care of your lines with dressing for a long life….john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m still using the first fly line I’ve ever gotten (received as a gift), which is a 3M DT-6-F.  Luckily, it happened to match the noodle-ey rod I learned on, and when I got good enough to move up a notch and buy a pretty good graphite rod (St. Croix), I just moved the whole setup to the new rod. But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing. But I’m overwhelmed with the choices!  I’ve read all the ads in my Orvis and LL Bean catalogs, as well as hit a couple of web pages, but I’m still at a loss.  What’s the real scoop?  Is a $40 line really that much better than a $12 one?  I honestly don’t know, since I’ve only ever used my 3M cheapie line. I’d love to hear some real-world experiences, so I can maybe whittle down the choices a bit, and choose the right line for me.  Can you folks help out a not-so-newbie-but-still-ignorant-about-fly-lines?  I’d really appreciate it.  Thanks in advance. Joe G. Tehachapi, CA

Response:

I agree with staying with a DT line in small waters.   A good quality fly line is worth the money, it will float higher and longer and will not crack and soak water as a cheap line will. Good Fishing; Jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing. Hi Joseph, I know there are those who will disagree with me on this one, but if you intend fishing *small*/*medium* streams with a floating line, then I would go for a double taper every time for the sake of superior presentation.  A weight forward line will give you an easier cast when you are looking for a bit extra distance, without too much emphasis on the presentation. FWIW thats what I think. — Bill

Response:

I cut a DT line in half and put it on a reel for use on small streams.  My son took it to the Lamar River in Yellowstone without knowing he only had 1/2 of a line.  It was cold and he had to wade over the top of his hip waders to reach the places where the fish were holding.  Ask him what he thinks of cutting a line in half.   — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail GO TO http://www.ccnet.com/~emh FOR ECONOMY WADING BOOT PLANS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Another reason to buy a DT:  Cut it in half, you’ve now got two lines and since you’re fishing small streams, you’re not going to be holding 45 feet of line in the air…   You don’t have to cut the line in two to get the equivalent of two lines, just reverse it when one end gets worn. Willi

Response:

You should purchase the best line you can afford.  Cheap floating lines soon become sink tips, and full sinking lines.  If you have a local shop ask if you can cast some.  They generally have some lines on demo reels.  See which feel best on your rod.  I like stay away from the Cortland Lazer line.  SA has many very good lines, and get a good line cleaner when you get the line. Good Luck

Response:

  Another reason to buy a DT:  Cut it in half, you’ve now got two lines and since you’re fishing small streams, you’re not going to be holding 45 feet of line in the air…

  You don’t have to cut the line in two to get the equivalent of two lines, just reverse it when one end gets worn. Willi

Response:

speaking for myself…a weight forward is not necessary on small streams. In fact, it will kind of splash down and make a lot of noise, I only yuse a weight forward for long hauls and big poppers.  for small streams stick with the doublt taper and in five years you can turn it around and use the other end. If you don’t really know how much money to spend, econmize, but take care of your lines with dressing for a long life….john

The statement John makes about WF being less delicate is no longer *necessarily* true.  If the WF has a short front taper (~4ft.) then it will be less delicate and will disturb the water more than a standard DT line.  If it has a front taper of ~6ft. it will be just as delicate as the standard DT which also have ~6ft. of front taper.  There are so many different variations available of both, that it’s no longer a valid generality about WF vs. DT lines.  In the Cortland lines, the WF is *more* delicate than their DT because in that brand the front taper of the WF is considerably longer than the taper on their DT.  In this thread, Bill Kienne recommends using the Cortland DT line because it has a shorter taper than the WF in that brand.  You need to know how long the front taper is on both types of lines of them to judge the delicacy you can expect.  Again, I’d recommend a look at my web page on fly lines (http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish/LineSpec.html) for more info about tapers and how they affect the performance of the line. Another caution, if you decide on the DT for the sake of economy, be sure to turn the line around every 6 months to be able to use both tapers. If you wait 5 years to turn it around, the unused end of the DT will be ruined from being coiled so tightly on the reel. I second John’s recommendation to clean and dress your lines for longer life.                                 hope this helps,                                       Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools Mt. Shasta Fly Fishing Schools http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m still using the first fly line I’ve ever gotten (received as a gift), which is a 3M DT-6-F.  Luckily, it happened to match the noodle-ey rod I learned on, and when I got good enough to move up a notch and buy a pretty good graphite rod (St. Croix), I just moved the whole setup to the new rod. But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing. But I’m overwhelmed with the choices!  I’ve read all the ads in my Orvis and LL Bean catalogs, as well as hit a couple of web pages, but I’m still at a loss.  What’s the real scoop?  Is a $40 line really that much better than a $12 one?  I honestly don’t know, since I’ve only ever used my 3M cheapie line. I’d love to hear some real-world experiences, so I can maybe whittle down the choices a bit, and choose the right line for me.  Can you folks help out a not-so-newbie-but-still-ignorant-about-fly-lines?  I’d really appreciate it.  Thanks in advance. Joe G. Tehachapi, CA  Another reason to buy a DT:  Cut it in half, you’ve now got two lines and since you’re fishing small streams, you’re not going to be holding 45 feet of line in the air…

Hi All, We recommend double tapers for short to medium casting on streams. You can turn the line around ever season to get double the value. Double tapers have shorter front tapers, so they load up the rod better with very little line out past the tip. I don’t recommend cutting the line in half unless your reel is too small. From #3 to #5 this works well, but at a #6 we go to weight forward line as those larger rods are used on lakes and larger rivers. Besides, a double taper #6 floater will take up a lot of room on a reel, leaving little or no space for backing. I like the Scientific Angler Mastery Head Start line at $29.95 (WF only) or the Cortland Peach 444 line (DT or WF) at $36 for the best values in fly lines. Below this price level  you get into lines that don’t shoot very well. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

Response:

writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m still using the first fly line I’ve ever gotten (received as a gift), which is a 3M DT-6-F.  Luckily, it happened to match the noodle-ey rod I learned on, and when I got good enough to move up a notch and buy a pretty good graphite rod (St. Croix), I just moved the whole setup to the new rod. But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing. But I’m overwhelmed with the choices!  I’ve read all the ads in my Orvis and LL Bean catalogs, as well as hit a couple of web pages, but I’m still at a loss.  What’s the real scoop?  Is a $40 line really that much better than a $12 one?  I honestly don’t know, since I’ve only ever used my 3M cheapie line. I’d love to hear some real-world experiences, so I can maybe whittle down the choices a bit, and choose the right line for me.  Can you folks help out a not-so-newbie-but-still-ignorant-about-fly-lines?  I’d really appreciate it.  Thanks in advance.

Hi Joe, Whether you get a better presentation from a DT or a WF line depends on the front taper of the line and varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.  Most people believe you get a better presentation with the DT lines because they have a longer front taper than the WF lines. It used to be common for WF lines to have ~4ft. long front tapers and DT to have ~6ft. long front tapers.   That is no longer necessarily so.  The Orvis WF and DT lines (with the exception of specialty lines) have exactly the same specs for the first 37 ft.(6ft. long front tapers).  SA supposedly changed their tapers a couple of years ago to similar specs.  Cortland however has 10ft. to as much as an 18ft.of front taper on some of their WF lines and ~8ft. on their DT lines.  Bill Kienne may be able to give us better specifics on the Cortland and SA lines. So if you get an Orvis or SA line, the WF will be just as delicate as the DT line.  With a Cortland line the WF will be *more delicate* than their DT line. In all cases the WF will allow you to make longer casts if you decide to fish Lake Crowley, the Mammoth Lakes, or the June Lakes Loop area.   The only time I recommend a DT line anymore is for making long (60 ft or so) roll casts which are much more difficult to do with a WF line (hard to put enough energy into the skinny runny line of a WF to turn over the belly section). Because there are so many models of  fly lines available, selection can get pretty confusing.  I have a huge amount of info about fly lines on the Tech Info page of my web site.  I’d suggest you punch up the following address: "http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish/LineSpec.html"  and then click on the hyperlink "Line Tapers" and read that section.  It covers the subject pretty thoroughly.                              Hope this helps,                                      Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools Mt. Shasta Fly Fishing Schools http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish

Response:

I’m still using the first fly line I’ve ever gotten (received as a gift), which is a 3M DT-6-F.  Luckily, it happened to match the noodle-ey rod I learned on, and when I got good enough to move up a notch and buy a pretty good graphite rod (St. Croix), I just moved the whole setup to the new rod.

Joe,  You’ll find that roll-cast pickups, which you’ll use a lot on small to medium sized streams, are much easier with a double-taper….A GOOD double-taper….and unfortunately…the $40+ lines ARE a better made line than the real cheapies.  You can throw a line pretty well with a few of the better cheapies, but you’ll really notice a vast improvement in your casting with a better line….Ultra3…Cortland_SL..Orvis’s Hy-Float floater.  Try a couple before you buy if you can…they all are slightly different in their casting characteristics….I forgot the Triangle-Tapers!     You’ll enjoy the whole experience more with a better line, steve

Response:

I would not go with a WF but stay with the DT. The DT has a much better presentation on small to medium streams.

You think so?  I was hoping to be able to cast upstream a bit further, and i thought maybe a WF line would help me.  But if the DT is better for all-around angling in small streams, I guess I’ll stick with that. Thus the reason I carry at least two spools. Alas lets not forget the sinking. So there are three spools to get.

Argh.  After I got hooked on fly fishing, I bit the bullet and bought an Orvis Battenkill 5/6 reel.  It’s a good, solid reel, but I couldn’t afford the durn extra spools, so I’ll have to wait until I’m good enough to justify the extra spool costs.  If I knew then what I know now, maybe I would have saved the bucks on the reel, and bought a cheaper reel body that came with cheaper spools.  Live and learn.     But what I think you’re asking is what brand to use?? I have had good luck with CORTLAND, and ORVIS.

Yes.  There are so many brand names and it’s pretty confusing.  When it comes to spin-casting, I’ve tried just about any line out there, because it’s just a matter of $5-$15 tops for different styles/makes/brands of monofilament (and even for braided lines).  But when I’m going to drop $40-$50 on ONE fly line, I want to try to educate myself a little more. It may not be a big investment for some folks, but for me, I’ve gotta save my pennies for a while to drop the money for my own toys (I have a baby son whose priorities are a little higher than my own right now). What I’m looking for is real-world experiences from fly fishers who are more experienced than me, so I won’t get stuck with a lemon of a fly line that I’ll have to live with for a couple of seasons. Thanks for the help, James. Joe G. Tehachapi, CA

Response:

I would agree with you Bill.  I fish the Eastern and Western Sierras and a double taper is all I ever use.   — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail GO TO http://www.ccnet.com/~emh FOR ECONOMY WADING BOOT PLANS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing. Hi Joseph, I know there are those who will disagree with me on this one, but if you intend fishing *small*/*medium* streams with a floating line, then I would go for a double taper every time for the sake of superior presentation.  A weight forward line will give you an easier cast when you are looking for a bit extra distance, without too much emphasis on the presentation. FWIW thats what I think. — Bill

Response:

Joe,     I would not go with a WF but stay with the DT. The DT has a much better presentation on small to medium streams. For bigger water and high winds I would use a WF. Thus the reason I carry at least two spools. Alas lets not forget the sinking. So there are three spools to get.     But what I think you’re asking is what brand to use?? I have had good luck with CORTLAND, and ORVIS. Cortland 444 I found to be a great line and it has the specifics of the line printed on it so if you ever take it off your real you will be able to tell what the heck it was. I find my lines usually last a couple of seasons with proper care. So protect your investment (about $40.00 to $50.00) with a good line care product.     Also I found putting out about $40.00 for a fly line is well worth it I had some bad experiences with the less expensive brands. If you plan on practicing your casting on anything but water I would keep the old line to get beat up instead of the new one. Hope this helps.

Response:

But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing.

Hi Joseph, I know there are those who will disagree with me on this one, but if you intend fishing *small*/*medium* streams with a floating line, then I would go for a double taper every time for the sake of superior presentation.  A weight forward line will give you an easier cast when you are looking for a bit extra distance, without too much emphasis on the presentation. FWIW thats what I think. — Bill

Response:

Joseph I posted a similar question a couple of months ago and was inundated with responses (I ended up getting a Cortland 444 which is an excellent line). Try going to www.dejanews.com and type in "floating lines" in the search box. You will be able to read the (considerable) replies I got. — Regards Peter (Please also reply by email, my server "loses" posts. Remove nospam to email) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m still using the first fly line I’ve ever gotten (received as a gift), which is a 3M DT-6-F.  Luckily, it happened to match the noodle-ey rod I learned on, and when I got good enough to move up a notch and buy a pretty good graphite rod (St. Croix), I just moved the whole setup to the new rod. But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing. But I’m overwhelmed with the choices!  I’ve read all the ads in my Orvis and LL Bean catalogs, as well as hit a couple of web pages, but I’m still at a loss.  What’s the real scoop?  Is a $40 line really that much better than a $12 one?  I honestly don’t know, since I’ve only ever used my 3M cheapie line. I’d love to hear some real-world experiences, so I can maybe whittle down the choices a bit, and choose the right line for me.  Can you folks help out a not-so-newbie-but-still-ignorant-about-fly-lines?  I’d really appreciate it.  Thanks in advance. Joe G. Tehachapi, CA

Response:

Joe- My preference would be a Lee Wulff triangle taper line. At short distances it casts like a double taper, it roll casts beautifully and, when you really need it, it will let you reach out as with a weight forward line. It ain’t cheap, but with care I have over ten years on my first one!In – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m still using the first fly line I’ve ever gotten (received as a gift), which is a 3M DT-6-F.  Luckily, it happened to match the noodle-ey rod I learned on, and when I got good enough to move up a notch and buy a pretty good graphite rod (St. Croix), I just moved the whole setup to the new rod. But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing. But I’m overwhelmed with the choices!  I’ve read all the ads in my Orvis and LL Bean catalogs, as well as hit a couple of web pages, but I’m still at a loss.  What’s the real scoop?  Is a $40 line really that much better than a $12 one?  I honestly don’t know, since I’ve only ever used my 3M cheapie line. I’d love to hear some real-world experiences, so I can maybe whittle down the choices a bit, and choose the right line for me.  Can you folks help out a not-so-newbie-but-still-ignorant-about-fly-lines?  I’d really appreciate it.  Thanks in advance. Joe G. Tehachapi, CA

Response:

I’m still using the first fly line I’ve ever gotten (received as a gift), which is a 3M DT-6-F.  Luckily, it happened to match the noodle-ey rod I learned on, and when I got good enough to move up a notch and buy a pretty good graphite rod (St. Croix), I just moved the whole setup to the new rod. But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing. But I’m overwhelmed with the choices!  I’ve read all the ads in my Orvis and LL Bean catalogs, as well as hit a couple of web pages, but I’m still at a loss.  What’s the real scoop?  Is a $40 line really that much better than a $12 one?  I honestly don’t know, since I’ve only ever used my 3M cheapie line. I’d love to hear some real-world experiences, so I can maybe whittle down the choices a bit, and choose the right line for me.  Can you folks help out a not-so-newbie-but-still-ignorant-about-fly-lines?  I’d really appreciate it.  Thanks in advance. Joe G. Tehachapi, CA

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m still using the first fly line I’ve ever gotten (received as a gift), which is a 3M DT-6-F.  Luckily, it happened to match the noodle-ey rod I learned on, and when I got good enough to move up a notch and buy a pretty good graphite rod (St. Croix), I just moved the whole setup to the new rod. But, I’m ready to try a new line.  I want to try a weight-forward line, and I plan to use it on relatively small-to-medium streams and waters, mostly here in the Easter Sierra Nevadas where I live.  I’d prefer a floating line for my style of fishing. But I’m overwhelmed with the choices!  I’ve read all the ads in my Orvis and LL Bean catalogs, as well as hit a couple of web pages, but I’m still at a loss.  What’s the real scoop?  Is a $40 line really that much better than a $12 one?  I honestly don’t know, since I’ve only ever used my 3M cheapie line. I’d love to hear some real-world experiences, so I can maybe whittle down the choices a bit, and choose the right line for me.  Can you folks help out a not-so-newbie-but-still-ignorant-about-fly-lines?  I’d really appreciate it.  Thanks in advance. Joe G. Tehachapi, CA

  Another reason to buy a DT:  Cut it in half, you’ve now got two lines and since you’re fishing small streams, you’re not going to be holding 45 feet of line in the air…

Response:

Question:

The Ranch has been sold to a private party who will be closing it up to ANY access by non-rich, non-friends-of -his. They will be open through June and the fishing is terrific.  You might even consider a guide for a half day to accellerate your success on stream.  I would recommend Kevin who books out of the Trout Fly in Mammoth. Have a great time. Bob

Response:

The Ranch has been sold to a private party who will be closing it up to ANY access by non-rich, non-friends-of -his.

I just spoke to the Ranch, and it is NOT sold.  It is, however, in escrow. It may or may not close escrow…  The Ranch will honor ALL reservations that have made a deposit through the entire 1998 season. Regards, Wes

Response:

Great News.  I hope it falls through and the Nature Conservancy picks it up.  I did not intend to pass along a false rumor. Bob

Response:

Can anyone tell me if they have fished at this private ranch in the Sierras? It is above Bishop on the Owens River, and I am curious as to what flies may be effective.  Thanks.

Response:

Can anyone tell me if they have fished at this private ranch in the

Sierras?  I am curious as to what flies may be effective.

I have caught huge browns on olive matukas and hornburgs. Talk to Bill Nichols, he’s the ranch manager at 760 648-7807.  He’s always willing to talk fishing and will tell you the straight scoop. Wes

Response:

The is a good article on fishing in the Owens river in Americal Angler magazine May/June 1998.         Nate Liskov – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone tell me if they have fished at this private ranch in the Sierras? It is above Bishop on the Owens River, and I am curious as to what flies may be effective.  Thanks.

Response:

(Rkru) writes: Can anyone tell me if they have fished at this private ranch in the Sierras? It is above Bishop on the Owens River, and I am curious as to what flies may be effective.  Thanks.

Sure,  taught schools there for about 6 or 7 years including 3 schools there last August. The ranch is an amazing place to fish.  Small alpine (7200 ft. elevation) spring creek with a meandering course, mostly wide open meadow.  Water is slow to medium speed throughout and supports ridiculously large numbers of fish.  It is very dry there, drink lots of water and don’t forget the sunblock. Recently saw an article claiming the Upper Owens had 11,000 fish per mile. That number came from an electro-shock survey in 1985 on the Arcularius Ranch and *does not apply* to the rest of the Upper Owens,  just the ranch section. This huge number includes fingerlings as well as monsters. The public access section of the Upper Owens fishes best in spring during the Rainbow’s spawning run out of Lake Crowley, and again in the fall when the Browns make their run upriver.  June, July and August are tough, although there does seem to be an increase in the resident population in the lower section over the last few years. Just because there are large numbers of fish at the Arc doesn’t mean they’re easy to catch.  Fish are spooky, there is almost no cover throughout most of the river, and you better get an absolute dead drift if you want to catch fish.  Walk softly, be sneaky, and carry a long rod. Many times people fishing at the ranch will tell you that you that "this is the only fly that works".   Not so.  the river is full of insects: #18 – #20 baetis all season, #10 Green Drakes in June and sometimes July, Caddis all season (size 14 to 18), little yellow stones june through September, midges all season, sporadic PMD’s May – July, ants – all season, hoppers sometimes as early as mid-July (more commomly mid-August), scuds – all season (#12 and #16 green and also gray),  crane flys oviposit in late August through mid-September.  The list goes on, but those are most of the important ones.  I had three students, catch 5 fish on five different flys one day there.  They used: #18 PT nymph, #12 olive flashback scud, #20 midge pupa,  #16 olive elk hair caddis, and a #10 Hopper. The crane flys in September are a real kick.  They drag their legs behind them as they oviposit on the water and the trout really bust them.  The trout don’t successfully catch many of them, but not for lack of trying.  Fun to see a fish bust the surface three or four times trying to catch one of them.   You need to skate your imitation across the surface to imitate them and this is about the only time you can catch fish without a dead drift.  Last couple of hours of light is usually the best time for this. Some of the largest fish each year are also taken in low light conditions (early morning, late evening, or just overcast all day) with large streamers. Won’t catch as many fish with streamers, but there are some monsters and many of the really big browns don’t even become active until just before dark. There was huge amount of water that blasted through the Arc a couple of years ago and it scoured the river bottom out and changed a number of the holes.  The Bedsprings Hole which used to be 6 feet deep is now gravelled over.  I think the river is in better shape because of it. Usually the big trout are well hidden and you have to fish the right water to get them. Last year In August there were a lot of very large fish in pretty shallow water.  Found a number of 18 to 20" bows and browns in bathtub or washtub sized depressions near shore last year.  Unusual to find the big trout exposed like that.  Still tough to catch and easily spooked, but you could sight-fish to them. Although Dotty and Ken are no longer hosting the ranch, Bill Nichols, who is now the manager, is extremely knowledgable and helpful.  Don’t hesitate to ask him for tips and pointers if what you’re doing doesn’t work.  He’ll give it to you straight. Enjoy your trip, it’s a great (though challenging) place to fish.                                            Hope this helps,                                                     Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools Mt. Shasta Fly Fishing Schools http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish

Response:

Question:

As a keen fly fisherman in the UK my knowledge of US river’s is very limited. I have been offered the chance to join a trip to North Conway in New Hampshire sometime around June ‘98. The only river that I know to be close by is the Saco. Can anyone tell me :- Is there any trout in it and can they be caught? How is it best fished? What sort of tackle is required? Is there any other water’s (river or lake) near to N. Conway that are fished using the fly? Is there any other advise anyone can give me? Thanks in advance for any help. — Steve Patrick

Response:

As a keen fly fisherman in the UK my knowledge of US river’s is very limited. I have been offered the chance to join a trip to North Conway in New Hampshire sometime around June ‘98. The only river that I know to be close by is the Saco. Can anyone tell me :- Is there any trout in it and can they be caught?

Depends on your skills… How is it best fished?

A flyrod is the most effective way to do this. What sort of tackle is required?

Depending on the water, but I would take a 3wt and a 5 or 6 wt. Is there any other water’s (river or lake) near to N. Conway that are fished using the fly?

You are in the beautiful White Mountain area with nearly thousands of streams, lakes, and ponds in one of the most beautiful areas of New Hampshire. Go to the flyshop in North Conway and ask the guys there, they can tell you where to go best and what hatches you can expect at that time of the year (they usually list the most popular rivers with their hatches on a board outside the store and will be pleased to tell you more if you buy a couple flies etc out of courtesy, the guys are very nice- I think they also guide). Within 30 min drive you find several nice ponds in the Frankonia Notch area, it’s good to have a belly boat there and you can catch beautiful brookies. South of where you are located you can find the Bearcamp which is a beauty that holds Brookes, Brows, and Rainbows. If you are driving up from Boston make shure you stop at the Merrimack (look for salmon) and the Neufound river (can’t remember the exit, but it’s right from I93- salmon and hugh trout) and very close to the White Mountains. Otherwise, stop at the Ranger station, they can give you tips for remote hike-in ponds, there is a National Forest Map with all the ponds in it, including some fly fishing only ponds. Amonoosuc River (sp?) at Twin Mountains is also a pretty place that holds big rainbows. Don’t forget the C&R stretch of the Ellis River. If you have more questions, just mail back. Thomas Is there any other advise anyone can give me? Thanks in advance for any help. — Steve Patrick

– Thomas Urbig

Response:

Question:

Would any of you out there in ff-land help me with an address, email, URL for an artist who has published ff art on the chat group and elsewhere.  He has done a number of pieces which are very interesting.  His last name begins with "Whitar….".  If you know of this artist, please send me his email address, WWW URL address, etc.

Response:

Would any of you out there in ff-land help me with an address, email, URL for an artist who has published ff art on the chat group and elsewhere.  He has done a number of pieces which are very interesting.  His last name begins with "Whitar….".  If you know of this artist, please send me his email address, WWW URL address, etc.

The only person that I can think of that has a web site with flyfishing art is Mark Vinsel (sp?). John Fereira

Response:

Question:

I have not seen a post on hex type rods. Has/does anyone use one? What is the action like? Why do  you prefer it? Thanks Michael

Response:

Hexagraph rods have a sweet medium to medium fast action.  They are strikingly similar in appearance to bamboo and typically much faster and not as pricey either. Tom www.kinghill.com Best regards,   TK       King of the Hill Fly Fishing Co. http://www.kinghill.com/kinghill

Response:

Question:

Seeking fishing experiences on the private waters of Oasis Springs, CA. Specifically: type of water, cost, lodge accomodations,  and maximum number permitted daily. Thanks, Norm Norm Hanami

Response:

Yes, I’ve fished Oasis Springs Ranch.  It was the dumbest trout

experience I have nothing good to say about this place. I didn’t like dealing with the people, to the point of feeling cheated. And, I’ve heard from others (I never actually got there, and lost my deposit) exactly what the other posts said. That is, there’s one decent stretch, it’s hatchery fish, and the brochure is full of bull. Jack Formerly

Response:

Went there the first year to check it out.  Beautiful lodge.  Nice location.  Huge "native" fish with very rubbed noses and fins.  Oh well. Varied stretches of water, from deep pool to riffles & runs.  Also great fishing below PGE transfer pipe up one of the arms.  Struck me as an odd combination. . . Since then i’ve had several friends go there and have a great time.  They have all sorts of other distractions, tennis court, i think horse riding as well.  Good location for a weekend get away with a non-fishing SO or something.  There have been some intro classes up there for new fishers, also. just my #22 –jim *                                                     *

Response:

Norm, I get a flyer from these folks about twice a year. Never tried ‘em, but it seems like a nice outfit. Try calling ‘em (800) 642-4150 or (916) 474-1943.

Response:

Yes, I’ve fished Oasis Springs Ranch.  It was the dumbest trout experience I’ve ever had.  Caught endless numbers of of 4-6 lb. football shaped rainbows….straight out of some brood hatchery around Redding.  The waters? The brochure says "5 1/2 miles of prime stream.  It’s more like 400 yards of prime, since a PGE flume is a short distance above the lodge, which removes most of the water from the upper stream and shoots it back into the lower stream. (There is a dam just below the lodge, which is where the football shaped big ones hang out.  Give them anything black and ugly on a sinking line…they are stupid trout, and will apparently eat anything coming near the dam that looks like food.) The lodge itself is prime, and the grounds are pleasant, food better than average. My advice?  Take your signifigant other, have a restful time, but don’t expect a quality flyfishing experience.

Response:

Question:

Dear Casters  May 28 95 Hi my name is Thomas Maclean and I own Miramichi Four Season Outfitters Inc , in New Brunswick Canada . I would like to let you know that the bright Atlantic salmon runs are starting again for another year and all is look towards a very good season . This year I purchased a new piece of property on the North West Miramichi River so I now have more to offer you . The bright season opens on June 8 th and I am now booking one week fishing trips for $ 1050.00 Canadian plus taxes provincial 11 % and Fed Gst 7 %  .  This includes all meals , room full bath , transportation , and I can supply equipment and instruction to the new comer , I look forward to hearing from you , bye for now . Respectfully Thomas Miramichi Four Season Outfitters Inc RR # 2 Miramichi City  Box 705 E1V-3L9 New Brunswick Canada Celluar 1-506-622-0089  24 hour a day

Response:

Hi my name is Thomas Maclean and I own Miramichi Four Season Outfitters Inc , . . . season opens on June 8 th and I am now booking one week fishing trips for $ 1050.00 Canadian plus taxes provincial 11 % and Fed Gst 7 %  .  This includes all meals , room full bath , transportation , and I can supply

Does this price include guide services (compulsory in New Brunswick for non-residents)? —  |          Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Rd., Carlsbad         |  |        Springs, Ont., Canada K0A 1K0; tel: (613) 822-0734       |  |  "What I’ve always liked about science is its independence from |  |  authority"–Ontario Science Centre (name on file) 10 July 1981 |

Response: