Question:

Tony Knox said in another thread: "Many experienced fishers, who have in their time tried hundreds of different patterns, will carry only half a dozen at any one time." Sounds like a great thread starter…so, what are you carrying in <your fly box these days (if its not unethical to ask…)? riverman

Response:

Tony Knox said in another thread: "Many experienced fishers, who have in their time tried hundreds of different patterns, will carry only half a dozen at any one time." Sounds like a great thread starter…so, what are you carrying in <your fly box these days (if its not unethical to ask…)?

  Clousers, Deceivers, Charlies and some ‘naturals’ based on kicked up   wingsi/bodys. (like the flies at www.successflies.com)   The other box has a few poppers, and a couple of "Standing Yabbies".   http://www.fishnet.com.au/flyswap/flybox/standingyabby.html   That would be 6 styles of fly …   Steve   (Not going to the rever for at least a fortnight

Response:

Tony Knox said in another thread: "Many experienced fishers, who have in their time tried hundreds of different patterns, will carry only half a dozen at any one time." Sounds like a great thread starter…so, what are you carrying in <your fly box these days (if its not unethical to ask…)?

It depends on where I’m fishing.  On my home water, I often just carry a small box on a lanyard with maybe fifty flies in it. On new rivers and especially in new areas I generally wear a loaded vest with LOTS of different flies. Overall, I don’t think you need alot of different patterns, but different sizes and types of flies are important. Willi

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It depends on where I’m fishing.  On my home water, I often just carry a small box on a lanyard with maybe fifty flies in it. On new rivers and especially in new areas I generally wear a loaded vest with LOTS of different flies.

I agree with that. I spend the day fishing on a familiar stream Thursday with a box full of flies–but only ended up using four different patterns and lost no flies. –Steve

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1. Parachute Adams 2. Parachute Hopper 3. Stimulator 4. Pheasant tail 5. Pheasant tail 6. Pheasant tail For the San Juan: 1. Red Larva 24 2. Disco 22 3. KF Emerger 24 4. RS2 22 grey 5. Orange Worm 6. RS2 24 brown

Response:

……what are you carrying in <your fly box these days (if its not unethical to ask…)?

As a one time small scale commercial tier, I not only tied every pattern I could get a picture or recipe for, I also experimented a great deal. I’ve got a vest with a lot of pockets.  It’s always seemed silly to me to carry around a bunch of empty pockets.  Thus, I usually carry anywhere from 5 or 6 to upwards of ten fly boxes crammed full of a huge assortment of flies.  Some of these are so old and have been hidden under other flies for so long that I only see them every couple of years or so.  Every once in a while I waste a couple of hours sorting through the boxes and trying to arrange them according to one scheme or another.  I always give up long before the task is completed, so I have to dig through a number of boxes whenever looking for inspiration in the middle of what appears to be a barren stream. In one pocket (I never remember which one because it changes….apparently of its own will) I keep a box with most of the flies I am likely to use on most outings.  This one contains elk hair caddis, pass lakes, pheasant tail nymphs, picket pin, grhe, maybe some humpies, a couple of wulff variations, foam ants, and hoppers in season.  The others I am fairly likely to use on a more or less regular basis are woolly buggers, woolly worms, mickey finns, hornbergs, and a couple of other oddball streamers and nymphs. Most of the above list account for a small percentage of the fish I catch.  Probably 80% of the trout I catch fall prey to the ehc.  Add the pass lake, foam ants, and hoppers and the total likely comes up to 95%. Woolly buggers, pts, and grhes round it out to virtually 100%. Blue gills are incredible suckers for the pass lake.  Small mouth bass can’t get enough of woolly buggers. Wolfgang and then there’s the hex hatch….of course

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Having just had an opportunity (at the recent roff NOT clave) to review what I carry and what I’m likely to use, I am qualified to comment. There are lessons within this submission. In times long past, I carried one or two small boxes with a few useful flies and caught fish.  Over the past few years, I’ve called Walt and had him get a dozen of this and a dozen of that and load them into an Okuma box or two.  Now, I find that my chest pack is stuffed full of Okuma boxes with all manner of flies.  And the damndest thing, as evidenced by this recent outing, is that Walt now comes to me, saying "you got a sparkly green Wooly Bugger with red eyes and an orange Now, I don’t catch any more fish, I have a sore lumbar region from all of the weight in my pack, my wallet’s empty and the bastid wanted me to leave my remaining beer behind at my departure "so he and Jeff wouldn’t have to go into town for more……". Hell, you thought *you* had friends……. How many flies…..well lemme say *that* ain’t the real question…nossir,….nossir, it ain’t. Tom ……what are you carrying in <your fly box these days (if its not unethical to ask…)?

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8< Now, I don’t catch any more fish, I have a sore lumbar region from all of the weight in my pack, my wallet’s empty and the bastid wanted me to leave my remaining beer behind at my departure "so he and Jeff wouldn’t have to go into town for more……".

now Tom, you know that was justifiable concern for your well-being….. I couldn’t stand the thought of you possibly being arrested for transportin’ across the state. I shouldn’t have been concerned as Big Dale made a trip over to Bryson and picked up some wonderful brews….. Guiness, Bass, some Octos… come to mind….. BTW, despite jeffies energetic attempt, I still have plenty left…… Opie left his brew also…. hmmm, round two? flies….. hmmmmm, here in NC….. adams parachute, don’t leave home without it. a funny aside…. the other day as tommy and i were unpacking a display fixture, the usual foam peanuts also contained these thick dun gray closed cell foam pieces. we were gigglin like school children with the tyin possibilities….. foam bodied adams…etc. i can’t wait to try them out. Big Dale: that sweet little neck you gave me from the fff clave is producin some of the most wonderful yellahammas…. thankee, thankeee, thankeeeeeeeeeeee! –waldo

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so, what are you carrying in <your fly box these days (if its not unethical to ask…)?

Elk Hair Caddis, Yellow and Orange Stimulators, CDC Two Feathers, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears, Prince Nymphs. Both nymphs with and without beads, ‘tho the bead heads are generally more productive, IME. That’s almost all of it, except that depending on the time of year I carry a couple of favorite terrestrial patterns like hoppers and beetles. During the coldest part of winter I tie some 22-24 nymphs with black, red, or clear glass bead heads, which are deadly fished at the bottom of a pool with lots of weight and drifted s-l-o-w-l-y. I also like Larva Lace Soft Hackles at different times of the year. So all that exceeds the half dozen or so patterns suggested by the quote, but not by much. If I had to give up all patterns but one, I’d keep the EHC. I catch 75% of my trout in the Smokies and Blue Ridge on them.

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—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– Hash: SHA1 Sounds like a great thread starter…so, what are you carrying in <your fly box these days (if its not unethical to ask…)?

Parachute Adams Quill Gordons Prince Nymphs Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ears Clouser Minnows (useless for trout, wonderful for crappie) Dave’s Hoppers (don’t know why. I’ve never had a take on them) And if I stop in a flyshop for advice, I’ll usually carry a dozen of whatever they recommend. "Gimme a dozen of whatever’s working" or something like. And nothing is unethical unless rw is the one doing it. – — "Armchair warriors often fail, and we’ve been  poisoned by these fairy tales" -Don Henley —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—– Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQE71VT/rpli/675/DERAjGaAKCCDObehLzMiboUHOXVp7lbbdcuiACgh3/b aqEkwEmhVyvNNbCvsfCbd74= =gslu —–END PGP SIGNATURE—–

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What’s in my box today ? None of your damned business… ;{) — The Halfordian Golfer The deceipt ends with the lure.

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What’s in my box today ? None of your damned business… ;{)

Ahhh, T-Bone. You are consistent, if nothing else. I withdraw the question… <g riverman

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What’s in my box today ? None of your damned business… Ahhh, T-Bone. You are consistent, if nothing else. I withdraw the question…

Don’t worry riverman. I think he just didn’t understand the question. If you had instead asked "what’s in your coffee can?" you likely would have got the answer you were looking for. –Steve

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What’s in my box today ? None of your damned business… Ahhh, T-Bone. You are consistent, if nothing else. I withdraw the question… Don’t worry riverman. I think he just didn’t understand the question. If you had instead asked "what’s in your coffee can?" you likely would have got the answer you were looking for.

Really? T-Bone uses a coffeecan to store his flies? How does this work, T-Bone? (And I wasn’t worried. T-Bone is definately the Pike in this pond, and helps keep a nice balanced ecosystem. I’m just fishing on light tackle today.) riverman

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Question:

SSSHHHHHHH  Why tel anyone SSSSHHHHHHHHHHH. Nobody knows but us…

DSR is a big place on a bigger river.   I think our secret is safe. Apparently only about a hundred thousand guys know it, judging by last weekend’s crowd outside DSR. And don’t get me started on the cultural differences between the few fly fishers there and the lead-chucking majority. Joe F.

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(photos to follow, including one in my roff shirt)

Okey dokey, if you’re interested, the photos are up at alt.binaries.pictures.fishing.   The subject headings are just variations of my screen name: rb608-1, rb608-2, and rb608-3.   The roff shirt is in -1, but it’s unfortunately less than obvious.   -3 is a big salmon with the rod, and -2 is the standard guy-with-a-fish photo. Joe F.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep

Question:

Anyone using a fly line with sinking tip for nymphs or streamer fishing? If so, do you use weighted nymph? How long for the leader/tippet? In what circumstances should such lines be used? I have tested scientific angler class 3 and class 5 in a park near my home. Class 3 was hard to cast. Class 5 was very hard to cast. Comments and recommendation anyone?

I agree with the gentleman previous toi this thread. When you cast heavy line of any kind (above 7) the idea is to false cast NEVER, well maybe once if you have to. On the Roannoke in NC casting for those monster sex crazed stripers, I cast a seven wt with a fast sinker to get it down in the seams that would whip a weighted fly all over. The technique is to find  a pocket cast to the side, draw the line to the suface with a slow backcast, then just before the fly reaches the suface, load the rod by the surface tension of the water. even with this powerful back cast-not by the speed of it, but by loading the rod, you get the line in the air. Make your foreward cast count-and place your fly. If you back cast here, your line will drop,it s just too heavy. If you muff the cast, Start from the begining or suffer frustration. Good luck and tight lines! Thanks to Lefty for this tip, he deserves the credit. Steve

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Leader length of 3 or 4 feet work well for me. Weight the nymph as you see appropriate. Most cases an unweighted nymph is best. Some flies seem to benefit from weight of some sort. Casting sink tips requires a more carefull, slower stroke, don’t hold too much line in the air and keep false casting to a minimum. Ralph H – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone using a fly line with sinking tip for nymphs or streamer fishing? If so, do you use weighted nymph? How long for the leader/tippet? In what circumstances should such lines be used? I have tested scientific angler class 3 and class 5 in a park near my home. Class 3 was hard to cast. Class 5 was very hard to cast. Comments and recommendation anyone?

Response:

Jean, Try the AirFlo Fast Sink or Intermediate Sink leaders.  They cast extremely well and the Fast Sink really takes the fly down.  I have been using one this week to cast small Clousers to shad in the Rappahannock and it is working beautifully.  I use a heavier, stiffer (regular monofilament) tippet and keep it to under 3 feet.  The AirFlo leader comes in a 10 foot length for Fast Sink.  If they have the 5 foot model out now it might be a good bet depending on where and what you are fishing.  Another handy thing is they handshake to a line loop and a surgeon’s knot on one end of the tippet. Makes swapping between floating and sinking a matter of seconds and changing tippets the same. Wayne To fish is human…to release divine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone using a fly line with sinking tip for nymphs or streamer fishing? If so, do you use weighted nymph? How long for the leader/tippet? In what circumstances should such lines be used? I have tested scientific angler class 3 and class 5 in a park near my home. Class 3 was hard to cast. Class 5 was very hard to cast. Comments and recommendation anyone?

Response:

Anyone using a fly line with sinking tip for nymphs or streamer fishing? If so, do you use weighted nymph? How long for the leader/tippet? In what circumstances should such lines be used? I have tested scientific angler class 3 and class 5 in a park near my home. Class 3 was hard to cast. Class 5 was very hard to cast. Comments and recommendation anyone?

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Question:

Stop the line while the fly is still in the air and let it drop to the surface.

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Pauls idea is right on. I sometimes slam the water and I correct it by casting to an imaginary point above the water. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been in a little funk casting lately, it seems my fly has been skipping the water and I can’t seem to correct it. I have been fly fishing for about 5 years now. Any suggestions? I’m all ears…

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I have been in a little funk casting lately, it seems my fly has been skipping the water and I can’t seem to correct it. I have been fly fishing for about 5 years now. Any suggestions? I’m all ears…

Hit trooch, As Paul said you need to stop your rod high enough in the air that the line straghtens out in the air and then falls to the water.  Ideally you want the entire line to land on the water first (presuming you are fishing drys) and then have your fly flutter down softly afterwards.  This distributes the weight of the line over the largest amount of water and allows a nice delicate presentation.   One of the things that people often do that causes them to slam flies down on the water, is  to either cast using mostly wrist with their arm extended in front of them, or to cast with their elbow pulled back slightly behind their back.  If you are doing the first, pull your elbow back in and let it just hang at your side and then use more forearm in your stroke when you’re casting.  If you find your elbow is back behind you, push it forward slightly and let it just hang at your side comfortably centered when you’re casting.  This should get your rod tip to travel in a fairly parrallel path to the water and allow your line to straighten out before your fly hits.  Give it a try.                              Hope this helps,                                       Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools Mt. Shasta Fly Fishing Schools http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish

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I have been in a little funk casting lately, it seems my fly has been skipping the water and I can’t seem to correct it. I have been fly fishing for about 5 years now. Any suggestions? I’m all ears…

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Question:

Tell me how well they do in 15 or 20 years. — Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail Ernie Harrison – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – . All the rod makers that state their guarantee fulfill their guarantees. I have broken Orvis  and Sage rods and never had a bit of trouble.None of the rod companies could get away with refusal on their guarantee–they would be lepers at the party!

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scroll back and look at the previous mulitude of posts about this subject.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -are my eyes deceiving me or is the sage 0 wgt rod in the $500 range….i got $250 in gift certificates to my favorite fly shop and thought i would treat myself to a new rod in the spring and when i checked the prices i almost had a heart attack….am i wrong or is the fly rod makers getting a little carried away…..

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are my eyes deceiving me or is the sage 0 wgt rod in the $500 range….i got $250 in gift certificates to my favorite fly shop and thought i would treat myself to a new rod in the spring and when i checked the prices i almost had a heart attack….am i wrong or is the fly rod makers getting a little carried away…..

You’re wrong. OK OK, you’re right too! OC Garza

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Thank the "free replacement" lifetime guarantee and all those who break rods simply to get a new one! Prediction: this policy will stop in the next years. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – are my eyes deceiving me or is the sage 0 wgt rod in the $500 range….i got $250 in gift certificates to my favorite fly shop and thought i would treat myself to a new rod in the spring and when i checked the prices i almost had a heart attack….am i wrong or is the fly rod makers getting a little carried away…..

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Thank the "free replacement" lifetime guarantee and all those who break rods simply to get a new one!

Never thought of that. Hmmmm…..

Response:

Thank the "free replacement" lifetime guarantee and all those who break rods

simply to get a new one! Prediction: this policy will stop in the next years. than the equivalent Sage DS series rod. As far as I can tell, G Loomis doesn’t yet (and probably never will) offer an unconditional warranty on their rods. Gary Loomis must be laughing all the way to the bank – he charges more for the same rod than other manufacturers do, then he charges you more when it breaks and you want a replacement. My point is, you say that prices are so expensive because of the warranty on some rods, why are Loomis rods(which don’t carry the unconditional warranty) as expensive as their equivalent Sage (et. al) rods? Performance? Doubt probably! I would much rather spend a couple extra bucks to help me if for some reason my fly rods breaks than to spend a a couple extra bucks to help Gary Loomis’ pay his insurance on his Mercedes! I own a Loomis rod, and while it is of what I consider average performance, I will never buy another one because I find other manufacturer’s rods as good, if not better, and they come with the added benefit of the lifetime warranty. Which, by the way, I have never had to use in 8 years of fly fishing and I hope I never have to. But its there, just in case.

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I have an attic full of things that had a lifetime guarantee and after a few years could no longer get them fixed or replaced.  I suppose that if you become insistent on the guarantee the dealer will arrange with a "hit man" to fulfill your contract. — Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail Ernie Harrison Thank the "free replacement" lifetime guarantee and all those who break rods simply to get a new one! Prediction: this policy will stop in the next

years. <snip

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I have an attic full of things that had a lifetime guarantee and after a few

years could no longer get them fixed or replaced.  I suppose that if you become insistent on the guarantee the dealer will arrange with a "hit man" to fulfill your contract. Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail Ernie Harrison

I don’t understand your point.

Response:

I have an attic full of things that had a lifetime guarantee and after a few years could no longer get them fixed or replaced.  I suppose that if you become insistent on the guarantee the dealer will arrange with a "hit man" to fulfill your contract. Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail Ernie Harrison I don’t understand your point.

Ernie-You are a guy who posts here all the time and i have enjoyed your comments–up till this one. All the rod makers that state their guarantee fulfill their guarantees. I have broken Orvis  and Sage rods and never had a bit of trouble.None of the rod companies could get away with refusal on their guarantee–they would be lepers at the party!

Response:

are my eyes deceiving me or is the sage 0 wgt rod in the $500 range….i got $250 in gift certificates to my favorite fly shop and thought i would treat myself to a new rod in the spring and when i checked the prices i almost had a heart attack….am i wrong or is the fly rod makers getting a little carried away…..

Response:

are my eyes deceiving me or is the sage 0 wgt rod in the $500 range….i got $250 in gift certificates to my favorite fly shop and thought i would treat myself to a new rod in the spring and when i checked the prices i almost had a heart attack….am i wrong or is the fly rod makers getting a little carried away…..

Hi all, Sage has a new series of specialty rods for very light fishing situations.  They have 3 sizes available for 1998.  Size  0, 1 and 2 line rods and  complete outfits. I have personally tried these rods/outfits and they cast very well. Sage worked with Scientific Angler to develop the new fly lines for these rods. If you are interested in fishing 7x and 8x tippet with #20 and smaller flies you might want to take a look. If this is not your ‘cup of  tea’, then don’t let it ruin your day. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

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Question:

I am going fly fishing in the Sierras Oct. 1.  Has anyone been to Lake Crowley or Lake Sotcher recently.  If so can you let me know what you

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 Just got back on the 29th and grasshoppers are the hot ticket!!! I am going back Oct 8th for 6 more days.                  K.S. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am going fly fishing in the Sierras Oct. 1.  Has anyone been to Lake Crowley or Lake Sotcher recently.  If so can you let me know what you

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Just got back on the 29th and grasshoppers are the hot ticket!!! I am going back Oct 8th for 6 more days.                 K.S.

RE: grasshoppers, were you fishing them in the lake or up at the mouth of the Owens where it drops into the lake? FAS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am going fly fishing in the Sierras Oct. 1.  Has anyone been to Lake Crowley or Lake Sotcher recently.  If so can you let me know what you

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Question:

I live in Denver, Colorado and fish the South Platte in Deckers and also Cheesman Canyon. I’ve been fishing nymths 98% of the time and do quite well. I fly cast okay, but seem to have a hard time fishing the dries. Keeping them floating right,ect… Anyway, I’ve wondered if its best to fish in short casts and if its possible to fish riffles and choppy waters? Should I only fish the eddies? Any suggestions would be appreciated because I’m going to be fishing dries more often. Thanks, Cliff

Response:

I live in Denver, Colorado and fish the South Platte in Deckers and also Cheesman Canyon. I’ve been fishing nymths 98% of the time and do quite well. I fly cast okay, but seem to have a hard time fishing the dries. Keeping them floating right,ect… Anyway, I’ve wondered if its best to fish in short casts and if its possible to fish riffles and choppy waters? Should I only fish the eddies? Any suggestions would be appreciated because I’m going to be fishing dries more often. Thanks, Cliff

Hi Cliff, Fishing dry flies is a fun, rewarding experience. You didn’t say but are you using a dry fly floatant like Loon, Gink, or BT’s?  That helps keep the flies floating. In time any fly will become water logged and should be placed on the fleece patch on your vest to dry and a replacement tied on. Yes it’s quite ok to fish riffles and choppy waters but that does not mean to pass up the softer water and eddies.  I really recommend you fish the same water you nymph fish in.  If you catch fish in this water with nymph, then a dry fly should work as well.  Also it’s really important to observe what the fish are doing.  If they are rising in an area ten minutes spent just seeing what they seem to be feeding on can give an idea what you want to use as a fly.  If nothing is happening on the surface I find attractor flies like Royal Wulff, Humpy, or Stimulator to be a good searching pattern. Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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<snip Anyway, I’ve wondered if its best to fish in short casts and if its possible to fish riffles and choppy waters? Should I only fish the eddies? Any suggestions would be appreciated because I’m going to be fishing dries more often. Thanks, Cliff

Hi Cliff, In addition to the points made in Al Beatty’s excellent post I might add that we sometimes fish heavily dressed flies in heavy water and lightly dressed flies on smooth water. I hope this helps,   Alan.   Alan Barnard   Kiene’s Fly Shop   Sacramento, California   WWW Fly Tyer   http://www.ns.net/~barnard

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I live in Denver, Colorado and fish the South Platte in Deckers and also Cheesman Canyon. I’ve been fishing nymths 98% of the time and do quite well. I fly cast okay, but seem to have a hard time fishing the dries. Keeping them floating right,ect… Anyway, I’ve wondered if its best to fish in short casts and if its possible to fish riffles and choppy waters? Should I only fish the eddies? Any suggestions would be appreciated because I’m going to be fishing dries more often. Thanks, Cliff

Another thing you should try is to fish more upstream than across to get better drifts.  The more of your line that you can get in the same current lane the easier the drift is.  You’ll notice it takes a softer touch to mend line on dry flies than on nymphs.  If you treat the leader with paste floatant before you get it wet, it will stay on top instead of in the surface film and allow you to mend the entire leader if needed.  Otherwise the leader will absorb enough water in about 10 minutes to just sink into the surface film, and when you try to mend it, the line will mend but the leader won’t and it will drag the fly under or out of position. Also, a short excellent drift (5-10ft) is better than a long mediocre drift (20+ feet).  Practice your stealth and remember the first cast into the right spot has the best chance of success.                                         Good Luck,                                                Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

Response:

I live in Denver, Colorado and fish the South Platte in Deckers and also Cheesman Canyon. I’ve been fishing nymths 98% of the time and do quite well. I fly cast okay, but seem to have a hard time fishing the dries. Keeping them floating right,ect… Anyway, I’ve wondered if its best to fish in short casts and if its possible to fish riffles and choppy waters? Should I only fish the eddies? Any suggestions would be appreciated because I’m going to be fishing dries more often. Thanks, Cliff

Start doing it.  The trout will tell you if you’re doing it right or wrong.

Response:

I live in Denver, Colorado and fish the South Platte in Deckers and also Cheesman Canyon. I’ve been fishing nymths 98% of the time and do quite well. I fly cast okay, but seem to have a hard time fishing the dries. Keeping them floating right,ect… Anyway, I’ve wondered if its best to fish in short casts and if its possible to fish riffles and choppy waters? Should I only fish the eddies? Any suggestions would be appreciated because I’m going to be fishing dries more often. Thanks, Cliff

Ty finding a copy of "Prospecting for Trout" a great book. Don Burns

Response:

I think you’re slightly missing the point about dry fly fishing as to whether to make long casts or short, fish riffles, etc. The thing about fishing dries is that you are casting to trout that are rising for flies. That is, when they rise and make a swirl at the surface, the fish is telling you where it is. So you have to cast to it, no matter whether it is a short or long cast, whether it is rising in a riffle or an eddy. You have to make the cast that will get your fly to it. In my opinion that’s what makes dry fly fishing much more exciting that fishing wet flies or nymphs and just covering the water in hopes that a fish will hit.   It is a totally visual type of fishing, as you cast that dry to the rising fish and watch with excitement and hope that the fish will be fooled by your artificial. I realize there are times when there are no fish rising and I just cast an attractor fly in hopes that a fish will hit it. But the real excitement comes when you’re fishing a hatch of mayflies and fish are rising everywhere for them. Of course this type of fishing can become very frustrating as you go thru your flybox trying to figure out what fly the fish are taking. Of course, you’ll get a lot of practice tying knots at times like that.  That’s what sets dry fly fishing apart from other types of fishing.  

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Question:

Recently I was looking out the window of a jet and daydreaming. As we passed over southern Montana I saw what seemed to be an isolated range of mountains with lots of lakes and streams. It looked beautiful. When I got home and checked the map it appeared to be the Wind River Range. Does anybody know if this is an interesting area for fly fishing and backpacking? Thanks. Charles Daniel

Response:

Recently I was looking out the window of a jet and daydreaming. As we passed over southern Montana I saw what seemed to be an isolated range of mountains with lots of lakes and streams. It looked beautiful. When I got home and checked the map it appeared to be the Wind River Range. Does anybody know if this is an interesting area for fly fishing and backpacking? Thanks. Charles Daniel

Charles: The Winds are indeed absolutely beautiful.  I have done a number of backpacking trips into various portions of the Winds and they have spectacular scenery and fabulous fishing.  I’ve been on lakes where you could literally catch 12"-16" cutthroats on about every cast. There are a number of trailheads on both the east and west sides of the range, and there are hundreds of lakes with fish in them.  You can get forest service maps of the range (I think it’s the Shoshone Natl. Forest and the office is in Pinedale, WY). The Winds are definitely worth a trip – or ten. Good luck, Bob

Response:

Recently I was looking out the window of a jet and daydreaming. As we passed over southern Montana I saw what seemed to be an isolated range of mountains with lots of lakes and streams. It looked beautiful. When I got home and checked the map it appeared to be the Wind River Range. Does anybody know if this is an interesting area for fly fishing and backpacking? Thanks. Charles Daniel

Better check your map again.  The Winds are in Wyoming.  However, they are a superb location for fishing and backpacking.  Some of the most beautiful country in the state is in the Winds. Don Kelly

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Question:

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

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

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

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Will be traveling in the vicinity of Greeneville, TN the 3rd week of June.  Will be introducing by father-in-law to fly fishing and would appreciate some help in locating areas that might be productive.  We’ll be visiting from California and would be happy to sway info on local hot spots. Thanks in advance.

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TRY GATLINBURG AREA FOR SOME GREAT FLY FISHIND—GREENBRIAR AREA …CADES COVE….ELKMONT….HAD SOME GREAT HATCHES…GOOD FISHING!!!!!

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Yes, Elkmont is a good spot.  Caught some nice browns there on a delta wing caddis, with olive body.  Nice fish!   A sunny day,      a box of midges,         and a wandering stream…   Man, this MUST be heaven!   <    Steve Kulpa    <<

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