Question:

For August, I’m hoping to put together a trip to fish the areas around Fordyce lake.. and this time, backpack required!

Generally I find that if fish refuse in those high lakes, try going smaller like 18 or 20.  Most times for hungry wild trout you figure size 14 will do but for some reason those high country fish can get skittish. Mu

Response:

I tried the 18’s I had, including caddis, mosquito, adams, etc.. I agree, in the high lakes I’ve fished smaller is often better. I think some of it had to do with my casting technique, which make me work harder to get a nice soft landing to the fly… when I laid it down softly, the success ratio was definitely higher, though still not that high. Thanks for the suggestion… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For August, I’m hoping to put together a trip to fish the areas around Fordyce lake.. and this time, backpack required! Generally I find that if fish refuse in those high lakes, try going smaller like 18 or 20.  Most times for hungry wild trout you figure size 14 will do but for some reason those high country fish can get skittish. Mu

Response:

This was supossed to be a backpacking trip for seven… we all got packs, bear cannisters, portable stoves, lots of dried food, and a bota bag filled with wine.  Well, it didn’t turn out to be a backpacking trip, but it still was a good weekend. We headed to Leavitt Lake in California, off Highway 108 on the east side of the hill.  Our plan was to drive to Leavitt (need a 4wd vehicle to get there which my friend Jim provided), and then put the packs on and head up to one of the wilderness lakes in those parts, of which there are three in reasonable proximity (that is, a short enough hike for the nine year old that Jim brought along).  Well, once they realized that campfires were out of the picture for any of the wilderness lakes, it was me versus everyone else… I lost. Leavitt is a nice enough lake… 9k feet up, so not much tree cover, but picturesque in its own right.  It’s stocked with Rainbow trout, but evidently has a self sustaining population of brookies.  We were warned about the big mosquito population by the ranger, but it turned out NOT to be a problem. After setting up camp, we rigged the kids and Brent’s wife up with Power Bait, and headed the 100 feet to the lake.  Jim, Brent and I tied on a Caddis, and I hooked up pretty quick with a 4" brookie.  I thought that was a pretty good sign… at the time. Brent’s wife Amber hooked up pretty quickly with a nice rainbow, and soon the kids followed… but with the exception of the (now 2) little 4" brookies I caught, the flies were getting their butts kicked by the bait dunkers.  Thankfully, they brought in enough trout to fill up the fry pan, so we had a great dinner. Day 2 found us hiking up to Ski lake to try our hand at Golden Trout.  A group of flyfishermen passed us on the way up the trail and didn’t have much good to say about the fishing… skunked.  Well, the lake is pretty… she had a good personality, I guess. Well, pretty much the same story as Leavitt… bait 4, flies 0.  I tried everything in my fly box with no success.  I couldn’t tell what the trout were rising for, but it didn’t matter.  I did manage a strike on a mosquito, but missed the set, that’s it. We did notice the lightening off to the east after an hour or so of fishing, but everything seemed to be avoiding our little valley, and you know how those sierra storms are… most of the time they don’t amount to much.  Except this time.  Brent must have had some kind of premonition, because he announced it was time to go… I didn’t see the point as the other storms had passed us by, but good thing we followed his instincts, as lightening, rain, wind, and then the hail followed.. yea, hail.  Since it was beautiful when we left, nobody had anything but t-shirts and shorts, so the hail was quite.. er… entertaining.  The race back to camp was on. Well, remember back to the beginning… this was to be a backpacking trip.  Sometimes camping by a vehicle is a good thing, in an electrical storm, for example… I guess some things just work out. Back at Leavitt, post-storm, the little brookies (again, 4" tops) were still willing, but only for me it seemed… but the rainbows were more than happy to chomp on some power bait, so dinner again featured trout with the pasta. Day three was to be spent at Koenig lake, another short hike… yea, was.  On the way, from above, we hear calls for "Dad" and then calls for "help."  It turns out a 15 year old kid decided to take a break from fishing to climb the 1k foot ridge behind Leavitt Lake, and got himself stuck… couldn’t get higher or lower.  As much as I wanted to run by with my fingers in my ears saying "I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you" I knew we would end up involved in this, and sure enough we did.  Jim and Brent went up the hill to try and help the kid out of the situation, and I stayed below with the motorla FRS radio.  To make a long story a little shorter, an ex marine named Mike came out of nowhere and helped the kid out just before the hail and thunderstorm came, again, while the official Search and Rescue team of six marines were heading up the hill.   The marines turned back and left, but not before I got to check out the set of binoculars the leader had.  Auto focus, serious power, do you think they’d notice if they were missing??  Anyway, the end result was no side trip for the day, and lots of non fishing activities, including me driving the truck out to the road for cell phone reception to call in the problem to the rangers. Leavitt once again cooperated with some rainbows and tiny brookies once the excitement was over, so again we had fresh trout for dinner.  Jim and Brent were both fishless on the fly, though Brent did catch a couple on bait.  Jim wanted to be the purist so he kept plugging away at the flies with no luck. Final morning, heading out around noon, so there’s plenty of time for more fishing at Leavitt.  Same story, except Amber casually grabs Brent’s flyrod while he’s bait dunking, and after missing several strikes, connects with a nice 10" brookie.  She’d never flyfished before, yea, you know the story.  She caught the nicest golden, the nicest brookie, and had no trouble connecting with rainbows.  Maybe next time I’ll go with no rookies…  Jim had his chance to connect too, but missed the set on a couple of brookies… ended up getting skunked for the trip, he’ll get his next time. Over all, a great trip, but on the way back the highway parallels the middle fork of the Stanislas River… no time to stop, but I made a mental note, I’m definitely coming up there to fish the river.  Maybe next time… For August, I’m hoping to put together a trip to fish the areas around Fordyce lake.. and this time, backpack required! Thanks for reading…

Response:

Question:

Yo. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

But why not deal with personal conflicts by e-mail so that Roffians who hate this stuff are not forced to read (and tempted to join in).

I’ve dipped in & out of this group a few times over the past 3 years or so, and have made and heard made the same comments as yours several times. Each time (as it will likely do now) the response will confirm that the majority of the people who actually POST in this group ENJOY it being a place where playground games are played. I think it’s just a combination of the topic not having as much objective discussion potential (there’s an argument right there), and that the outspoken people are, uh, outspoken. There’s another group called alt.flyfishing that I think was started to get away from this, but it is pretty pathetic when you have to giev up an entire newsgroup because the majority of posters (remember they do post!) want to talk about something else. And there’s me pontificating off-topic too. — Jeff Cook http://www.cookstudios.com Video, Audio, Print & the Web Washington DC & London

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Being one of those who read a number of discussions on ROFF in the past few months – without participating myself – I have a few remarks that might shine some light on this issue. The majority of ROFF post is limited to relatively few people, let’s say some fifty "regulats". Plus an additional number of posters who take part only occasionally. Most Roffians are American, some are Canadian or British, only quite a few are European or from other parts of the world. To Europeans like myself  - who master the English language well enough to comprehend the interesting discussions on FF – the discussions on other subjects than FF are irrelevant, often annoying and sometimes impossible to understand because they require a thorough and detailed insight in the American way of life, which most of us have not.Though there are contributors who have interesting and valuable information both for newbies and skilled fly fishermen it’s too bad that ROFF is so often abused with crap.(I must admit, however, that it can be amazing to observe how easily Americans cross swords and how they fight their verbal wars!) But why not deal with personal conflicts by e-mail so that Roffians who hate this stuff are not forced to read (and tempted to join in). Well, my overall impression of ROFF is definitively a positive one – though I am well aware of the fact that many fly fishermen prefer to keep out of the heat, pick up the information they can use and leave it to that. If certain sunscribers would participate in a more diciplined manner and focus on what should bring us together – FF being our core business for that matter – ROFF may offer an even more suitable forum in the exchange of FF know how, discussion on FF issues and establishing contacts between individual Roffians. I’m stepping in – still eager to learn – addicted to FF (among other things) as long as I’m going strong!

Thank you Henk.  It’s always good to read a well reasoned message in this asylum.  I cannot speak for the group (well, o.k., I often DO, but they don’t like it), but I really do appreciate your insights……despite disagreeing with some of the particulars.      :) It is an accident of history that the majority of participants here are American and that the common language used is English.  There isn’t much that anyone can do about this.  However, as the vast majority of Americans are monolingual, it seems to me that you have us at something of a disadvantage in that you can harangue us, without comprehension on our part (let alone fear of retribution), in whatever your native language may be.  Not only will this allow you to have your say, and without contributing to what many see as unproductive flame wars but, if experience is any teacher, many of us will be stunned into a bemused silence. I grew up in a European household, albeit a transplanted one.  I have also studied a bit of history.  It is thus with complete confidence that I say I don’t believe contentiousness to be a peculiarly American trait.  If I read the books aright, various European, Africans, South Americans, Asians, and our friends in the antipodes have all crossed swords from time to time, both intramurally and internationally.  As appealing as the metaphor is though, it should be noted that what goes on here is, in fact, a bit less dramatic, not to mention downright traumatic, than outright warfare.  In truth, it is no different than what can be observed to this day in the marketplaces and other public fora of Istanbul, Seattle, Paris, Sao Paolo, Canberra, Beijing, and a thousand other places.  Moreover, as divisive as it all must seem, it is VERY important to remember that what has gone on here for years, and what continues to go on now, has had quite the opposite effect of what one might imagine. Even as I write these words plans are underway for several gatherings to take place in the near future.  These events will be attended by dozen of people who have already met and enjoyed one another’s company as a direct result of participation in this forum, and dozens more who have not yet had the pleasure but will undoubtedly, if the past is any guide, come away with pleasant memories and a strong desire to do it again.  To be sure, most of these claves have occurred on American soil and been attended mostly be Americans.  But this is to be expected given the demographics.  On the other hand, the first "official" European ROFFian clave is shortly to take place.  I’m sure we ALL hope that this sets a precedent which will bear fruit in the years to come.  Even more, I am also sure that virtually all of the regular participants here harbor some hope of attending such an event and meeting their European and other international friends; for, make no mistake about it, true friendships have been built here and continue to be, whatever the dots on the screen may suggest to the contrary. It is my sincere hope that I will be among the lucky ones to greet guests from another country at one of our gatherings here some day, AND be greeted in turn at one of theirs. Wolfgang

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…….And there’s me pontificating off-topic too.

Well, if ya GOTTA be ironic, ya might as well do it self-consciously!   Wolfgang thanks for stopping in!

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Being one of those who read a number of discussions on ROFF in the past few months – without participating myself – I have a few remarks that might shine some light on this issue. ROFF post is limited to a small number of people, let’s say some fifty "regulars". Plus an additional number of posters who take part only occasionally. Most of them are American, some are British, only quite a few are European or from other parts of the world. To Europeans like myself – who master the English language well enough to comprehend the interesting discussions on fly-fishing topics – the discussions on other subjects than FFare not only very irrelevant and annoying but more often than not impossible to understand because they require a thorough and detailed insight in the American way of life, which we have not. Though there are a number of contributors who have interesting and valuable information both for newbies and skilled fly-fishermen it’s a pity that this forum is so often abused. (I must admit, however, that, from a more or less scientific point of view, it is interesting to observe how easily Americans cross swords and how they fight their verbal wars!) But why not deal with personal conflicts by e-mail so that Roffians who are not interested are not forced to read (and tempted to join in)! Well, my overall impression is definitely a positive one. If certain subscribers would participate in a more disciplined manner and focus on what should bring us together – flyfishing being our core business for that matter – ROFF may offer an even more suitable forum in the exchange of FFknow-how, the discussion on FF issues and the establishing of contacts between individual Roffians. I’m stepping in – still eager to learn – addicted to flyfishing (among other things) as long as I’m going strong! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any estimates. I personally know of only 3 South Africans. Just wondering’s’all. More or less impossible to tell.  The numbers also fluctuate considerably. I once heard an estimate that for every poster there may be up to ten lurkers. I have no idea if this is true. On some bulletin boards they have software to check how many people have visited etc, and on at least two I visit, the above estimate proved to be too low. Sometimes five or six people had posted, and over a hundred had read the messages without responding. It would probably be extremely difficult to do anything like this on ROFF, as newsgroups are propagated by various servers all over the globe. Finding out how many people visit the group on these servers, and collating such information, would be more or less impossible I fear. And it would subject to at least some inaccurate reporting, as well. I don’t know how many folks have multiple server access, but at least some do (I have several), and so, although I only use the one, my client checks them all and therefore, it would "ring up" several "lurkers" as having checked ROFF when, in fact, it was a regular poster’s client simply doing its job. TC, R TL MC

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Any estimates. I personally know of only 3 South Africans. Just wondering’s’all. Ari Ari & Gaelle Bert                                   +27 (0) 83 232 9903 & +27 (0) 83 236 5308 +27 (0) 11 443 9984 / +27 (0) 11 882 8537 (fax)                 www.troutfishing.co.za www.africanfishing.com Physical Address: 72 Swemmer Rd, Sunningdale, 2192 Postal Address: P.O.Box 79067, Senderwood, 2145, South Africa

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Any estimates. I personally know of only 3 South Africans. Just wondering’s’all.

There are 5.  Most of us are really Wolfgang’s sock puppets.

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There are 5.  Most of us are really Wolfgang’s sock puppets.

And its damned uncomfortable, too. Kevin Or am I?

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Any estimates. I personally know of only 3 South Africans. Just wondering’s’all. There are 5.  Most of us are really Wolfgang’s sock puppets.

Now it’s all clear! How can he keep all those balls in the air? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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Any estimates. I personally know of only 3 South Africans. Just wondering’s’all.

More or less impossible to tell.  The numbers also fluctuate considerably. I once heard an estimate that for every poster there may be up to ten lurkers. I have no idea if this is true. On some bulletin boards they have software to check how many people have visited etc, and on at least two I visit, the above estimate proved to be too low. Sometimes five or six people had posted, and over a hundred had read the messages without responding. It would probably be extremely difficult to do anything like this on ROFF, as newsgroups are propagated by various servers all over the globe. Finding out how many people visit the group on these servers, and collating such information, would be more or less impossible I fear. There are obviously a large number of lurkers and visitors though. I have received large amounts of e-mail from people who never post here, asking for advice etc, and mentioning something they saw on ROFF. Many do not want to post to a newsgroup, for whatever reason, but they seem happy enough to read them. TL MC

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There are 5.  Most of us are really Wolfgang’s sock puppets.

And its damned uncomfortable, too.<   Not to mention the smell.   Harry he only uses "dirty sock" puppets.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any estimates. I personally know of only 3 South Africans. Just wondering’s’all. More or less impossible to tell.  The numbers also fluctuate considerably. I once heard an estimate that for every poster there may be up to ten lurkers. I have no idea if this is true. On some bulletin boards they have software to check how many people have visited etc, and on at least two I visit, the above estimate proved to be too low. Sometimes five or six people had posted, and over a hundred had read the messages without responding. It would probably be extremely difficult to do anything like this on ROFF, as newsgroups are propagated by various servers all over the globe. Finding out how many people visit the group on these servers, and collating such information, would be more or less impossible I fear.

And it would subject to at least some inaccurate reporting, as well. I don’t know how many folks have multiple server access, but at least some do (I have several), and so, although I only use the one, my client checks them all and therefore, it would "ring up" several "lurkers" as having checked ROFF when, in fact, it was a regular poster’s client simply doing its job. TC, R – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -TL MC

Response:

Being one of those who read a number of discussions on ROFF in the past few months – without participating myself – I have a few remarks that might shine some light on this issue. The majority of ROFF post is limited to relatively few people, let’s say some fifty "regulats". Plus an additional number of posters who take part only occasionally. Most Roffians are American, some are Canadian or British, only quite a few are European or from other parts of the world. To Europeans like myself  - who master the English language well enough to comprehend the interesting discussions on FF – the discussions on other subjects than FF are irrelevant, often annoying and sometimes impossible to understand because they require a thorough and detailed insight in the American way of life, which most of us have not.Though there are contributors who have interesting and valuable information both for newbies and skilled fly fishermen it’s too bad that ROFF is so often abused with crap.(I must admit, however, that it can be amazing to observe how easily Americans cross swords and how they fight their verbal wars!) But why not deal with personal conflicts by e-mail so that Roffians who hate this stuff are not forced to read (and tempted to join in). Well, my overall impression of ROFF is definitively a positive one – though I am well aware of the fact that many fly fishermen prefer to keep out of the heat, pick up the information they can use and leave it to that. If certain sunscribers would participate in a more diciplined manner and focus on what should bring us together – FF being our core business for that matter – ROFF may offer an even more suitable forum in the exchange of FF know how, discussion on FF issues and establishing contacts between individual Roffians. I’m stepping in – still eager to learn – addicted to FF (among other things) as long as I’m going strong!

Response:

Question:

These trout can be very selective though, if they are rising to "Benson and Hedges", "Camels" may be useless, and indeed on occasion only a "John Player Special" will do the trick,  reduced strength cigarettes have also been found wanting. Apparently the material used in the filter makes them float too low in the surface film, and even trout are not stupid enough to believe that soggy cigarette butts  are emerging aquatics. Untipped cigarettes may often prove effective, although they tend to disintegrate rapidly.  If you want a real lunker, then try throwing Havana stubs attached to a very long leader off a suitable bridge. TL MC — "In order to know what is possible one must constantly attempt the impossible" http://www.mikeconnor.de – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Trout guts are fun. Not to be Ted Nugent about it, or anything, but

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You guys have missed it altogether.  This fish are addicted!.  They obviously can’t smoke underwater so they do the next best thing and inhale the butts.  Imagine the high a lttle trout gets from the average sized butt?  I really doing think somebody should be suing a tobacco company about this.  After all, these fish could get really sick and if you eat them, you’re getting second hand smoke (or is that third?) Can anybody say, "Class action?" Peter

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A few years ago, in April (it snowed that day) I caught a 3.5 lb Blagdon trout that a spherical glstening ball in its stomach.  On unwrapping it I could just discern some gold and the words ‘can damage your health’.  So it would seem. Gordon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – These trout can be very selective though, if they are rising to "Benson and Hedges", "Camels" may be useless, and indeed on occasion only a "John Player Special" will do the trick,  reduced strength cigarettes have also been found wanting. Apparently the material used in the filter makes them float too low in the surface film, and even trout are not stupid enough to believe that soggy cigarette butts  are emerging aquatics. Untipped cigarettes may often prove effective, although they tend to disintegrate rapidly.  If you want a real lunker, then try throwing Havana stubs attached to a very long leader off a suitable bridge. TL MC — "In order to know what is possible one must constantly attempt the impossible" http://www.mikeconnor.de Trout guts are fun. Not to be Ted Nugent about it, or anything, but

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You guys have missed it altogether.  This fish are addicted!.  They obviously can’t smoke underwater so they do the next best thing and inhale the butts.  Imagine the high a lttle trout gets from the average sized butt?  I really doing think somebody should be suing a tobacco company about this.  After all, these fish could get really sick and if you eat them, you’re getting second hand smoke (or is that third?) Can anybody say, "Class action?"

One of the more amusing urban legends I’ve heard lately was an explanation of why so many deer get run over on the highway. After eating cigarette butts that people fling from their car windows, they become addicted to the nicotine, and hang out along the highways looking for more; sooner or later, they get hit by a car. — Rusty Hook Laramie, Wyo Before you buy.

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Trout guts are fun. Not to be Ted Nugent about it, or anything, but I’ve learned a lot from trout guts. For example, I’ve learned that trout eat many more terrestrials than I thought possible. I’ve learned that trout on some streams often eat ladybugs and that smallish red humpies are excellent imitators for ladybugs. Importantly, I’ve also learned that my wife has no real appreciation for the disassembly of trout guts on certain kitchen counters. Also, she doesn’t particularly care for my habit of bringing chunks’o bugs from trout stomachs to show her while she’s painting landscapes. Important lessons, one and all. Today’s lesson, however, was particularly instructive in light of the recent discussion hereabouts on how much and how fast your average trout learns. Now, I don’t keep all that many trout, but when I do, I definitely like to see what the heck they’ve been up to, dining-table wise. Occasionally, if the surroundings support it, I even keep a largish one. So, it was with particular interest that I cleaned an 18 incher tonight, eager to see on what such a large (and presumably, smarter than average) trout might be dining. Tiny tricos? Evanescent midges? Taco supremes? In addition to a couple ladybugs, the first two things out of this particular stomach were caddis larvae. Complete caddis larvae — casings and all. In this particular river, the casings average about 3/4 inch to an inch in length, cylindrical, made out of the usual caddis larva materials of gravel and small sticks. Probing further, the next item on our trutta post mortem appeared to be yet another caddis larva — same length, same diameter, same…waitasec. Most caddis larvae don’t rebound when you press on them. Most caddis larvae aren’t fibrous. Most caddis larvae don’t read "Benson & Hedges" on the side. Yup — it was a cigarette butt. In addition to mocking whatever pretensions I might have had about fishing on a "pristine" stream, this event also gave new credence to that episode in, "The River Why," where Gus concocts a fly made out of hot dog wrappers and cigarette butts to fool the wily old bass in the town pond (’scuse me if my memory isn’t totally clear on that passage…think I’m getting the gist of it nonethemenos). It also made me question the advisability of imagining too much intelligence on the part of your average trout brain. Maybe sometimes the answer is just to throw something big, ugly, and nicotine-stained out there and hope for the best. So, anyway, the long and short of it is that I’ve started smoking. Besides having heard good things about the habit in general, I also need a ready source for new inventions at the vise. Look for a gold-ribbed Camel’s butt at a fly swap near you soon . tight lines and full ashtrays, – sid

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Question:

Yes, I too find myself fishing for ‘gills and crappies quite often. Whenever I take children fishing, which is pretty often in the summer, the almost constant action keeps them really excited. Besides pan fish are a lot more tasty than any other freshwater fish…..IMHO Dear Readers         Are there any of you-all out there, besides me, that are into fishing for them? I’m always interested in trading lure and live bait tips, locales, recipes, and such.  So, if anybody is interested, please reply to this board or EMail, Thanks BradLaGrange

<snip — Remove the "NoSpam" to e-mail me

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haven’t fish for ‘em much, but I heard of a killer tip:  in the fall, after the 2nd or 3rd good cold front, go fish the absolute deepest part of the lake (reservoir) with crickets – fish on the bottom,this is where the monster ‘gills are……. — ‘92 Dak CC 2wd 318 3.55 ‘84 GoldWing Interstate – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Readers        Are there any of you-all out there, besides me, that are into fishing for them? I’m always interested in trading lure and live bait tips, locales, recipes, and such.  So, if anybody is interested, please reply to this board or EMail, Thanks BradLaGrange PS-Sorry for my crude typing, my hands are really stiff from the splitting wood in the cold.

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Yeah I like to fish for"we call’em bluegill" out here in Oregon. Right now it is pretty cold for them. Ialso like to go fishing for perch. My son & I have agood spot to fish for perch & bluegil. My son lives up in Washington state & we always get enough for a good fish dinner.I also

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       Are there any of you-all out there, besides me, that are into fishing for them? I’m always interested in trading lure and live bait tips, locales, recipes, and such.  So, if anybody is interested, please reply to this board or EMail,

Brad Count me in – on the water, or on the ice, if they will bite, I’ll fish for them. Wild rice beds in August is where I’ve had the best sucess – in about 5-6′ of water, using about .5-.75" section of leach, with about a #8 or #10 hook and a balsa wood pencil type bobber. Combine that w/ an ultra light and 4 or 6# test line and I’m a happy camper. And just to keep it interesting – look out for the occasional LM Bass or Northern. No better eating fish either. Later Jim

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Dear Readers         Are there any of you-all out there, besides me, that are into fishing for them? I’m always interested in trading lure and live bait tips, locales, recipes, and such.  So, if anybody is interested, please reply to this board or EMail, Thanks BradLaGrange PS-Sorry for my crude typing, my hands are really stiff from the splitting wood in the cold.

   You’ll find that most fly fishermen in the deep south pursue panfish and other warm water species (aint a lotta trout in Fl.) myself included. Some trout flies work well such as the wooly bugger and all the terestrials. Crawfish imitations are also productive as are grass shrimp. small poppers in various colors also put food on the table. I use the 7.5′(because of brush) 3 piece 3wt Cabela’s three forks rod for panfish. It’s a great little rod though a bit soft feeling to cast but has plenty of backbone. Use 7x tippets. It’s a real lark netting a 1lb panfish and to my way of thinking is the ultimate fishing experience.                                                           John Popp                                                         in Sanford Fl.

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I dig um’ Tim Apple " Always one step closer to going Postal! " – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Readers         Are there any of you-all out there, besides me, that are into fishing for them? I’m always interested in trading lure and live bait tips, locales, recipes, and such.  So, if anybody is interested, please reply to this board or EMail, Thanks BradLaGrange PS-Sorry for my crude typing, my hands are really stiff from the splitting wood in the cold.   You’ll find that most fly fishermen in the deep south pursue panfish and other warm water species (aint a lotta trout in Fl.) myself included. Some trout flies work well such as the wooly bugger and all the terestrials. Crawfish imitations are also productive as are grass shrimp. small poppers in various colors also put food on the table. I use the 7.5′(because of brush) 3 piece 3wt Cabela’s three forks rod for panfish. It’s a great little rod though a bit soft feeling to cast but has plenty of backbone. Use 7x tippets. It’s a real lark netting a 1lb panfish and to my way of thinking is the ultimate fishing experience.                                                          John Popp                                                        in Sanford Fl.

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Dear Readers         Are there any of you-all out there, besides me, that are into fishing for them? I’m always interested in trading lure and live bait tips, locales, recipes, and such.  So, if anybody is interested, please reply to this board or EMail, Thanks BradLaGrange PS-Sorry for my crude typing, my hands are really stiff from the splitting wood in the cold.

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Dear Readers         Are there any of you-all out there, besides me, that are into fishing for them?

YES!  Down here in AL I have access to a pond that is loaded with big black-headed, thick bream.  I love that "side to side" action and screaming microlight drag when I hook into one.  Besides that, they taste better than a bass any day!  I’m always interested in trading lure and live bait tips, locales, recipes, and such.  So, if anybody is interested, please reply to this board or EMail, Thanks BradLaGrange PS-Sorry for my crude typing, my hands are really stiff from the splitting wood in the cold.

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Oh Yes! Two of my all time favorites is the Red Ear and the Pumpkinseed. People don’t know what fun these little guys can be. Here in SW MO there are a couple of small lakes full of Panfish. Down in this area the best bait is a small squirrel tail jig + wax worms. The largest Red Ear taken from on of the lakes was a little over 12". !0" fish a common around here which in turn, takes less to make a tasty meal. Kevin Way – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Readers        Are there any of you-all out there, besides me, that are into fishing for them? I’m always interested in trading lure and live bait tips, locales, recipes, and such.  So, if anybody is interested, please reply to this board or EMail, Thanks BradLaGrange PS-Sorry for my crude typing, my hands are really stiff from the splitting wood in the cold.

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Question:

Anyone with experience flyfishing the Morehead City NC area during the summer? Wife wants to go on vacation there in the late July/Aug timeframe… Understand there is good wading on the inland waterway there and some opportunities for FF with guides… Any experience?

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 (J. Marker) writes: Anyone with experience flyfishing the Morehead City NC area during the summer? … opportunities for FF with guides… Any experience?

Call John Martyn at Martyn’s Sea & Stream (919-403-1604) in Durham, NC.  He can give you good information and put you in touch with area guides.  I’ve fished with Bill Harris and will be going with him again. (John can give you his number]. Good fishing! J. Rice

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Anyone with experience flyfishing the Morehead City NC area during the summer? Wife wants to go on vacation there in the late July/Aug timeframe… Understand there is good wading on the inland waterway there and some opportunities for FF with guides… Any experience?

The best thing going in the summer months is spanish mackerel fishing.  Go out to Cape Lookout and look for schools breaking water along the hook. Fish will be all inside the bight.  Sometimes using anchored yachts for ambush points.  Beautiful place too, very secluded, about 7 miles from Beaufort and Morehead.  Contact me and I could take you

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Question:

writes: I landed a 3 pound carp (now I surely will go on the list ’sh_t list) on an 8x tippet today at lunch.

   Not hardly, at least for me.  I fished (bait) for carp as a kid, and know them to be wary and strong.  Carp are vegetarians, not scavengers; they don’t like polluted water, but can survive in conditions that would kill other fish; they are exotics and often a nuisance, but they did not ask to be brought here.  My hat is off to anyone who can bring one to a fly.  What pattern did you use?  Broccoli comparadun? Roger (ffer and goldfish keeper)

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Call Cabella’s (800-237-4444).  They are a huge mail order company in the Midwest and they have some very good deals that they will guarantee 100%. Let me know what you do and good luck. Jeff

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: I just won $100 in the instant lottery and I was able to talk my lovely : spouse into letting me buy a new fly rod (the money being a windfall and all)! Reddington Redspot, 5-6 wt, $100.  I’ve got a few rods, but I’ve used this new one more than any other this year.  It’s a fast rod, and that suits me fine.  Your style might be different.  Whether or not it works for you, I am really impressed by the value of the redspot. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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I just won $100 in the instant lottery and I was able to talk my lovely spouse into letting me buy a new fly rod (the money being a windfall and all)!<Snip..

I bought a Martin flyrod recently, and I think it is an american brand, so you should be able to find it somewhere. It is a 8′6", 5-6 wt, handles well and casts like a dream. The price was about 110 USD (in Holland), which is definitely value for money. They also have a 9 foot travelrod (4-piece) in the same weightclass. Good luck and tight lines, Herman —  Herman Nijland        |   Daytime   system manager                        |   Lifetime  flyfisher STOAS  APH             | Vlijmenseweg 50a       |   Tel.  : +31 (0)73-6214745 5223 GW Den Bosch      |   Fax   : +31 (0)73-6220235 Netherlands            |   E-mail: Check out our WWW site! URL:  http://www.stoas.nl Or my own page at:            http://www.stoas.nl/user/hny

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direct or I may miss it. Back in the March ‘96 issue of FlyRod &Reel magazine, there was an article on "affordable rods".  They gave a very good review to a "HT" (HiTech) manufactured rod in a couple of variations.  I ordered a 7′6" Executive Premier in a 5 wt. with the cork handle (comes in EVA also) from a mail order dealer up in the Milwaukee area for less than $40.  Picked up a little Shakespear reel at the local sports super store (SportMart) for around $15, some Scientific Anglers Concept WF5F line for $13 and shazam! A complete setup for less than $70 including tax and shipping. I’ve used it 4 times now and it ain’t bad.  In fact, it’s downright a pleasure to fish with.  I know that in confessing this transgression against the very precept of spending small (maybe not so small) fortunes for a FF outfit that I am setting myself up to be banished from this list for the rest of my life. It works quite well also, I landed a 3 pound carp (now I surely will go on the list ’sh_t list) on an 8x tippet today at lunch.   I’m not saying that it will replace my Orvis bamboo but then it’s many hundreds less in cost too.  Any questions, please address direct (my wife occassionally reads the list and I don’t want her knowing that gear can cost this little). Hope this helps…Jerry

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just won $100 in the instant lottery and I was able to talk my lovely spouse into letting me buy a new fly rod (the money being a windfall and all)! Now herw is my quandry.  I have been using a cheep, heavy, stiff 7 wt rod for about 3 yrs now. I fish mosty bass and bluegill (no elephant gun comments please ;-p).  I would like to buy a 5wt rod and I need to keep the price as close to my lucky $100 as possible.  As I said, I am used to a heavy, stiff clunker of a rod, so weight is of little consideration. I suppose as I get older I will regret that opinion. I have heard good and bad about St. Croix. I also know that there are used rods out there for bargin prices. Any advice would be helpfull as I don’t want to blow this decision and end up with a $100 dud.

     You might look in the LL Bean Flyfishing Catalog.  They have a good beginner’s outfit they use in their school, with reel, backing, the works, for $99.00.  I did not buy it, because they said the action was a bit faster than is good for a true beginner learning on their own.  However, since you already have experience, that should not be any problem.  They sell them in a range of rod weights, so you should be able to get what you are looking for.  I DID buy their  next level of rod, and I have been having a ball!  The casting action is good for my skill level, and I did not go into deep debt for my new-found passion.  Hope this helps you.                                 Dan Johnson

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I just won $100 in the instant lottery and I was able to talk my lovely spouse into letting me buy a new fly rod (the money being a windfall and all)! Now herw is my quandry.  I have been using a cheep, heavy, stiff 7 wt rod for about 3 yrs now. I fish mosty bass and bluegill (no elephant gun comments please ;-p).  I would like to buy a 5wt rod and I need to keep the price as close to my lucky $100 as possible.  As I said, I am used to a heavy, stiff clunker of a rod, so weight is of little consideration. I suppose as I get older I will regret that opinion. I have heard good and bad about St. Croix. I also know that there are used rods out there for bargin prices. Any advice would be helpfull as I don’t want to blow this decision and end up with a $100 dud. P.S. if you are in the Columbus area and are trying to sell your wonderfull, whippy, high-end, casts like a dream, bought it for $300 and now I just don’t get out like I would like to, rod — I would be delighted to give it a new home. Email me. — | P. Erik Jaros                 | "I was a fine idea at the time. | |                               |          Elvis Costello         |

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Question:

Greetings, I’m moving to southeastern S. Dakota in a couple of weeks.  Any good suggestionsfor flyfishing opportunities to start with?  I’m not much into big water walleye spin fishing that I hear so much of in that part of the country.  Any trout? thanks,        curt Curt Anderson Dept. of Biological Sciences Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ  86011

I think that there are some nice small streams in the Black Hills. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

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Curt, you’re along way from any trout.  Best try to find a good farm pond or small lake for some bluegills and bass.

How about trying Northeastern Nebraska. The State of Nebraska  has a page on fishing and hunting in the state. http:/adm-server.ngpc.state.ne.us/ I took a peek about six months ago and noticed that they stock streams in the northeastern part of Nebraska. Maybe South Dakota does somthing similar in tributaries to the Missouri?

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Greetings, I’m moving to southeastern S. Dakota in a couple of weeks.  Any good suggestionsfor flyfishing opportunities to start with?  I’m not much into big water walleye spin fishing that I hear so much of in that part of the country.  Any trout? thanks,         curt Curt Anderson Dept. of Biological Sciences Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ  86011

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I’m going to try fly fishing for the first time this year.  I’ve been fishing with traditional spinning tackle for 30 years but finally am going to take the plunge.  I recieved a Berkley Onyx Select #6/7 8′6" graphite rod as a Christmas gift but yet have to purchace a reel, lines, leader backing etc..  Primarily since most of the fishing in my area is in lakes I’d like any suggestions as what might be a good way to start.  I’d like to get something suitable to the rod.  Rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, goldeye and panfish would be my target species primarily.  My budget isn’t large but I’d like to put more emphasis on a good line and not on the reel.  Basically the best bang for the buck. I’m open to all suggestions from the vast experience of you seasoned fly fisherman.                         Thanks in advance,                         Thane Maddaford                         Manitoba, Canada

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<snip  My budget isn’t large but I’d like to put more emphasis on a good line and not on the reel.  Basically the best bang for the buck.

<snip Hi Thane, Sounds like the rod you have will be fine for the lake fishing you describe. You will probably want to have at least two fly lines so that you can effectively fish varying depths. You will definitely want a floating line first – this goes without saying. As for brand, take your pick…SA or Cortland, they’re both excellent. The tougher question would be which type of sinking line you need. We typically recommend full-sinking as opposed to sink-tip lines in lakes, as the full-sink will allow you to more successfully detect subtle takes. I’m going to suggest a Type II Uniform Sink from Scientific Anglers. A #II sink rate is relatively slow which will allow you to fish in the kind of waters most fly fishers love best – shallow and weedy with lots-o’-bugs. If you do need the line to reach greater depths, simply wait longer before moving the fly. You won’t get in as many casts in a day, but at least you have some versatility built-in. If you do eventually go to a system with more sinking lines, a common list might be as follows: Floater Intermediate Type II Type IV Another line we really like is the new "Stillwater" line from SA. It is essentially a 90′ leader. It is a mono-core line which is coated with SA’s proprietary "slime-line" coating. It is a clear line that sinks at a rate somewhere between an intermediate and a type II. This is about the only sinking line I use anymore (unless I’m dredging a very deep lake for some reason). It is awesome along the weed beds during a damsel emergence! As for the reel…there’s lots in the sub $100 category – they seem to get better every year. Orvis, SA, Cortland, etc. etc… I hope this helps,   Alan.   Alan Barnard   Kiene’s Fly Shop   Sacramento, Ca.   WWW Fly Tyer:   http://www.ns.net/~barnard

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If you really want `bang for the buck’ and are starting out, get a Cortland 333 flyline and their basic Rimfly or Crown II reel. (I think these run about $35-$40)  If you want to spend a little more on the reel, their LTD with the disc drag is a great value at about $70.  There’s a lot of stuff out there, but they have a good reputation and offer good values.

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I have not tried you rod. Suggest you take it into a good flyshop and have them fit it with line and reel.  You will probably need a full floating line and some form of sinking line; but ask the local experts.

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TIP OF THE DAY; Studying insects helps anglers Knowing when aquatic insects should hatch gives you an advantage. Near the end of April, I fished a stretch of the Whitewater River = expecting a hatch of Hendrickson mayflies. I knew from experience that the adults show up on the water’s surface sometime between 2 = and 5 p.m. The day was perfect for good mayfly action, dark and ugly. At 11 a.m., I started wading upcurrent,  fishing  streamers. They didn’t = work. Next I dredged deep pools with nymphs. Bottom-hugging snags ate my nymphs. The trout were sulking.  A few tentative taps at my nymph pattern kept me awake. By 3 p.m., after 4 hours of hard  fishing,  I had caught and released only = four small browns. I probably would have given up then if I hadn’t known there would be a hatch. Just as I was beginning to wonder if the hatch really would occur, I roundeda bend and spied a platoon of 11- to 14-inch browns frol= icking in an ankle-deep riffle. They attacked. Every other drift through the riffle brought a strike – on each of the four different=  Hendrickson dry-fly patterns I used.

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URL http://www.deltanet.com/users/msangil

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