Question:

I just bought my first fly rod , And went out fishing with it the other day, Wow was i missing the whole sport of fishing! I caught some Largemouth Bass , Rock Bass and Sunnys. Any advice would be greatley appreciated.

Response:

I just bought my first fly rod , And went out fishing with it the other day, Wow was i missing the whole sport of fishing! I caught some Largemouth Bass , Rock Bass and Sunnys. Any advice would be greatley appreciated.

Advice on what?  Sounds like you are doing fine.      - Ken

Response:

I just bought my first fly rod , And went out fishing with it the other day, Wow was i missing the whole sport of fishing! I caught some Largemouth Bass , Rock Bass and Sunnys. Any advice would be greatley appreciated.

    become more literate. wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

I just bought my first fly rod , And went out fishing with it the other day, Wow was i missing the whole sport of fishing! I caught some Largemouth Bass , Rock Bass and Sunnys. Any advice would be greatley appreciated.

Well, if you’re having fun and getting into fish then it sounds like you’ve gotten the important parts down pat. I personally tend not to care too much beyond that. That being said…what do you need advice about in particular? I’ve only been flyfishing 18 months and plan to be the eternal newbie, but give me some ideas what you want help with and I’d be glad to. Vegetables aren’t food. Vegetables are what the food eats.

Response:

I just bought my first fly rod , And went out fishing with it the other day, Wow was i missing the whole sport of fishing! I caught some Largemouth Bass , Rock Bass and Sunnys. Any advice would be greatley appreciated.

Walk away while you still can. — Rusty Hook Laramie, Wyo Before you buy.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just bought my first fly rod , And went out fishing with it the other day, Wow was i missing the whole sport of fishing! I caught some Largemouth Bass , Rock Bass and Sunnys. Any advice would be greatley appreciated.

Response:

Bring your own Scotch. Bring enough for everybody. Bring 24 year old Macallan. Bring a tall glass for me. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any advice would be greatley appreciated.

Response:

I just bought my first fly rod , And went out fishing with it the other day, Wow was i missing the whole sport of fishing! I caught some Largemouth Bass , Rock Bass and Sunnys. Any advice would be greatley appreciated.

Ummmm, please tell US how you did it! Regards, Jeff

Response:

I just bought my first fly rod , And went out fishing with it the other day, Wow was i missing the whole sport of fishing! I caught some Largemouth Bass , Rock Bass and Sunnys. Any advice would be greatley appreciated.

Gear, gear and more gear!  And when you think you have enough, buy more! Now where’s that damn Orvis catalog?

Response:

Well, if you’re having fun and getting into fish

How the hell does one get into a fish??? That must be ONE BIG FISH!!! <laugh then it sounds like you’ve gotten the important parts down pat. I personally tend not to care too much beyond that. That being said…what do you need advice about in particular? I’ve only been flyfishing 18 months and plan to be the eternal newbie, but give me some ideas what you want help with and I’d be glad to.

Can we make a club for that? I’ve been at it for 10 Months and have yet to figure out if I am doing ANYTHING right… Oh I do catch fish but I tend to think that it more the fish feeling sorry for me. Vegetables aren’t food. Vegetables are what the food eats.

There goes my theories on the food chain! — Michael Era

Question:

<<I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Martin, welcome to the world of fly fishing.  I hope you find it as enjoyable as many of us do (Okay, I admit it, I am a fly fishing junkie!).  It sounds like you are off to a good start and that you are paying attention to the teaching aids you have purchased. There are probably three bits of wisdom I can pass on to you.   #1.  You have to put your time in with fly fishing.  The more time you spend on the water, the better you will be. #2.  Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  Even the best fly fisherman occasionally turns his line into a rats nest or loses a fish.   #3.  Don’t be concerned with the ignorant who believe that you can’t catch fish on a fly.   Given enough time and practice, you will be able to outfish them and will have a lot more fun doing it! Have fun! Mike

Response:

Hi Martin,  Be sure and take time to enjoy this learning phase of your fly-fishing career. Many is the time I’ve wished I could go back and start again. There is no joy like your first nymph-caught trout in a river or your first fish of any kind or method. Enjoy the learning and welcome to the ranks. Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now. My loop control is so-so.  Sometimes I’ll get a perfect cast, othertimes the line splashes down on the water in a pile.  Gotta work on that.

Response:

Good for you. You’ll find fly fishing to be an art while you friends "just go fishing". And, look at it this way, you were on the water and they weren’t.  You caught a fish that day and they didn’t.  You have accomplished something new and exicting and they didn’t. Have fun with it and it’ll treat you good. Bob Moss Landing, Ca. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now. My loop control is so-so.  Sometimes I’ll get a perfect cast, othertimes the line splashes down on the water in a pile.  Gotta work on that.

Response:

Hi Martin, Wellcome to the world of flyfishing. Indeed you made a good start. If I can help you by sending some flies to you let me know what pattern(s) you’d like to have and I’ll see what I can fix for you! Hans van der Stroom -snip- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now.

Response:

Don’t give up. The eventual payoff is well worth the effort, though it will take some time. Keep on practicing, find a good fly shop, patronize it and learn what you can from the owner. If you have a friend who can show you some things you will be way ahead, else read and get some videos. Consider a guide too.  Some day you will leave the bait fishermen in the dust, and the quality of the flyfishing experience can’t be beat, IMHO. Rick

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish."

Response:

I’ve fished using spinning geart since I was a child.  On a backpacking trip in the White Mountains I saw people fly fishing and it looked like fun. In July I bought the "LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing", an 8′6" 5/6 weight fly rod and reel.  I’ve been practiced casting on grass and working up my courage to try it for real. I’ve gotten some grief from some friends who have said, "I may use worms, but at least I catch fish." Last night I went to a pond near my house at dusk, tied on a wooly bugger and caught two sunfish in about 30 minutes.  Normally a sun fish would be a disappointment, but it was a challenge figuring out how to get the line tight so I could fight it off the real.  Plus I’m more confident that I would catch a bigger fish now. My loop control is so-so.  Sometimes I’ll get a perfect cast, othertimes the line splashes down on the water in a pile.  Gotta work on that.

Response:

Question:

anybody fish belize lately? i am planning to go in march.

Response:

anybody fish belize lately? i am planning to go in march.

Just returned from the Turneffe Flat Lodge about 30 miles off the coast of Belize. This country has lots of fishing and wildlife to offer. It is still very wild and untouched. Lots of little cays off the coast and great salt water flats fishing. Email me and I can try to help you. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

Response:

anybody fish belize lately? i am planning to go in march.

I flyfish in Belize a lot. Where are you going in Belize?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – anybody fish belize lately? i am planning to go in march.Might be able to help. Where are you going?

Response:

Question:

Hi Group I realize the last Wednesday Chat had some problems. With help from this newsgroup (Joe Byrd) the folks at Fly Fish America have fixed-up their chat place with a thing called "Java" or something like that – I’m not as computer literate as I should be but struggling. So —— Let’s try another chat session on Wednesday evening at 6:00pm MST at http://www.FlyFishAmerica.com?  then click on the "Chat icon-bar." I hope to see my "on-line" friends there. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

Response:

Hi Group I realize the last Wednesday Chat had some problems. With help from this newsgroup (Joe Byrd) the folks at Fly Fish America have fixed-up their chat place with a thing called "Java" or something like that – I’m not as computer literate as I should be but struggling. So —— Let’s try another chat session on Wednesday evening at 6:00pm MST at http://www.FlyFishAmerica.com?  then click on the "Chat icon-bar." I Sorry, I made a mistake on the address, here it is

http://www.FlyFishAmerica.com/ — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

Response:

I’ll be there!!!! Joe

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Group I realize the last Wednesday Chat had some problems. With help from this newsgroup (Joe Byrd) the folks at Fly Fish America have fixed-up their chat place with a thing called "Java" or something like that – I’m not as computer literate as I should be but struggling. So —— Let’s try another chat session on Wednesday evening at 6:00pm MST at http://www.FlyFishAmerica.com?  then click on the "Chat icon-bar." I Sorry, I made a mistake on the address, here it is http://www.FlyFishAmerica.com/ — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

Al, Here is the deal,  Tell me what 0600 MST is in relation to GMT, and I promise not to tell you what java is. Cheers Bruce….

Response:

Well, I can’t answer a lot of questions, but the difference between GMT and MST is 7 hours – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I realize the last Wednesday Chat had some problems. With help from this newsgroup (Joe Byrd) the folks at Fly Fish America have fixed-up their Here is the deal,  Tell me what 0600 MST is in relation to GMT, and I Bruce….

Response:

Hello all… Sorry for the troubles we had before but they are now behind us. I re-wrote the FlyFishAmerica.com chat area, it has been fixed, it supports a lot more users and is wicked fast. It does not require any downloading or special software and is based on SERVERside Java which does not even require a Java enabled browser. Bob Stewart http://www.flyfishamerica.com/chat/chat.html

Response:

Question:

Steve, It sounds an awful lot like a trermocline to me. Did your friend  try to look below this light line? Whenever I have seen the thermocline I am always able to see bottom also and im sure he to should have been able to see bottom.  I guess you will have to ask him but to answer your question yes sonar does pick up thermoclines,but remember not every lake will develope one every year! It just depends on the conditions Good Luck Weedjig

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anybody clear up an issue.  A friend fished a couple of fly-in Canadian lakes last year and said that the edges sloped off fairly steeply, lots of rocks, etc., but that at about 20-25 feet the bottom became uniformly flat across the basin, with a weak echo return.  He assumed that this indicated an old lake bottom that had silted in, so there was just a featureless expanse of mud. These weren’t tiny lakes and I have some difficulty imagining that kind of siltation.  I seem to recall reading something about sonar echoes being intercepted and bounced back by the thermocline (epilimnion or hypolimnion, I’m not sure) when a lake has stratified (In-Fisherman, I think).  This was the beginning of July and the weather had been hot and dry.  The water was warm enough to swim in. Could this be a cuase of the aforementioned sonar readings?  We are going up again this year and I would really like to know if this might be the case? Thanks loads.

With a paper graph (Eagle or Lowrance X-16) it is very easy to adjust the unit to see the thermocline and the bottom at the same time.  To support your theory, 20 to 25 feet deep seems to be a realistic depth for a thermo- cline in mid summer that far north. Easiest way to test — use a hand line with depth markings or mark your fishing line with a permanent marker ko

Response:

The flat ‘bottom’ reading could certainly be the thermocline.  It is very rare for any lake to have a uniformly flat bottom, especially Canadian shield lakes. Try adjusting the sensitivity up and down (mostly down in this case) to filter out unwanted signal and returns.  Also, be sure and turn the fish ID feature off if your unit has one.  Fish ID is not reliable for recognizing fish signals.  Any return not close to the bottom will show up a a "fish", and it may not be.  Some units also loose much detail in the displayed signal when the fish ID is on. Enjoy your Canadian trip!  I have to skip my Canada trip this summer and will be going through severe withdrawl!  I guess I’ll just have to fish more at home instead CHPeil!

Response:

Can anybody clear up an issue.  A friend fished a couple of fly-in Canadian lakes last year and said that the edges sloped off fairly steeply, lots of rocks, etc., but that at about 20-25 feet the bottom became uniformly flat across the basin, with a weak echo return.  He assumed that this indicated an old lake bottom that had silted in, so there was just a featureless expanse of mud. These weren’t tiny lakes and I have some difficulty imagining that kind of siltation.  I seem to recall reading something about sonar echoes being intercepted and bounced back by the thermocline (epilimnion or hypolimnion, I’m not sure) when a lake has stratified (In-Fisherman, I think).  This was the beginning of July and the weather had been hot and dry.  The water was warm enough to swim in. Could this be a cuase of the aforementioned sonar readings?  We are going up again this year and I would really like to know if this might be the case? Thanks loads.  

Response:

Question:

Hello,   Last year about his time I bought plans to build a canoe, because that then looked like a good idea. I haven’t goten down to building it yet, but, in the mean time, I moved to a rather dry part of the world – except for the sea. So, I am living at a ten minutes drive from the beach now and I am wondering if I should build that canoe, or rather get plans for a kayak? What I like about the canoe is that    -I have the plans already    -I like the design    -I can cast a fly properly from a canoe    -My family fits into it    -I can use the same boat alone or all of us Then again they say that kayaks are really fun to play with in the surf. I had sort of a wacky idea the other day and maybe somebody may wish to comment on it. If I build a real long kayak (say about 18ft) and I leave the central 6-7 ft of the deck open, I can make two (or more) covers for that portion, one with the central opening (for me) and one with 2 big openings and one smaller one (for when we are all going). Will this reduce the stiffness of the boat to the point of making it dangerouse? Anyway, that would resolve only the family issue; casting the fly will remain a problem … Thanks of any thoughts,   Pierre — Pierre Hubsch                 Dept of Bio-Medical Engineering Technion – Israel Institut of Technology          Haifa 32000 Israel                                      tel 792-4-8294124

Response:

I had sort of a wacky idea the other day and maybe somebody may wish to comment on it. If I build a real long kayak (say about 18ft) and I leave the central 6-7 ft of the deck open, I can make two (or more) covers for that portion, one with the central opening (for me) and one with 2 big openings and one smaller one (for when we are all going). Will this reduce the stiffness of the boat to the point of making it dangerouse?

What you’re describing is essentially identical to an Aquaterra Jocassee (or an Old Town Loon II, which seems to be a knock-off of the Jocassee), except that Aquaterra never thought it through to the point of making alternate hard covers for the cockpit. Their customer rep seemed to think I was strange when I suggested it. There are some limitations to the concept: Even a 7-foot cockpit gets awfully small when you put 2 people in it. Any 3rd person in the cockpit has to be very small or very cozy with the rear(most!) paddler. There is, as you suggest, a problem with longitudinal stiffness. The Jocassee uses three long metal tubes for structural reinforcement. A hard cockpit cover would contribute some more rigidity if it were rigidly attached, though I’m not certain how this could be done without adding a lot of weight for the attachment fixtures. If you don’t devise a rigid cockpit top, there’s nothing to brace yourself in the boat with for control or rolling. I’m currently trying to figure out some kind of thigh straps or other supports to overcome this. If you don’t make a rigid top with a standard cockpit opening, you can’t get a spray skirt for the big cockpit. Aquaterra’s Jocassee spray skirt has serious functional limitations that even their rep admits. I’m still working on making it just stay on reliably. Used without a cover, that big a cockpit lets a lot of water splash and wash in, and holds a tremendous volume of water if capsized or swamped. It probably needs all of the extra floatation you can devise. With all of the above considerations, my son and I still enjoy the Jocassee, and devising workarounds for problems makes it a kind of do-it-yourself project. If you don’t like working with lots of compromises, though, you might be better off to build/acquire two boats – one for the family and a single for when you want to play alone. I was sold the Jocassee as a "sea kayak" when I knew even less about kayaking than I do now. It’s definitely not a sea kayak (although it’s getting closer as I work at it). Anyway, that would resolve only the family issue; casting the fly will remain a problem …

This I don’t see as a problem (although I don’t fly-fish – maybe I’m missing something). I can do anything in the Jocassee that I can do in a canoe. Enjoy whatever you do. Ira  Adams

Response:

Question:

I will be in the north-west at the end of august and beginning of september. where are the best fly fishing spots? i have a car and i am willing to drive around. thank you so much for your help. breckwm

Response:

I will be in the north-west at the end of august and beginning of september. where are the best fly fishing spots? i have a car and i am willing to drive around. thank you so much for your help.

Be sure to check out some of the following locations: Idaho – St Joe River, Coeur d’Alene River Montana – Madison, Gallatin, Yellowstone River and Yellowstone Park Flies – Hoppers, Bead Head Nymphs, attractors, caddis Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

Response:

: Be sure to check out some of the following locations: : Idaho – St Joe River, Coeur d’Alene River Mr. Beatty is reminding you of the spots along the freeway.  You might want to keep looking at the map. : Flies – Hoppers, Bead Head Nymphs, attractors, caddis I agree. — 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

Response:

Central Washington: try the Yakima River from above the Roza dam pool to Lake Easton. Water levels drop after Labor day as irrigation needs fall off. good floating in upper canyon, above Ellensburg and below Cle Elum. Cle Elum lodging-Timber Lodge (509) 674-5966;  good flyshop in E’burg on south Main (but I don’t remember name). Fishing is catch and release, barbless hooks.  I try to get in a day or three every Sept-Oct. Tight lines! John Dodge

Response:

try the tributaruies of the skykomish along highway 2.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be in the north-west at the end of august and beginning of september. where are the best fly fishing spots? i have a car and i am willing to drive around. thank you so much for your help. breckwm

Response:

Question:

Any places near Stockton, Ca or Sac that anyone has already fished. I’m looking for good places to fly fish for trout. Thanks Bob

Response:

Yes, try the Stanislaus River just East of Oakdale, below Tullock Reservoir.  I was there on Saturday and cought a couple of wild rainbows. All Catch and Release.  The water is high, yet fish are catchable. Doug

Response:

Question:

Does anyone have info about flyfishing possibilities on Bon-Aire?   My wife and daughter are trying to make me go and I won’t dive.

Response:

I love Bonaire, maily, almost exclusively for the diving, but I can’t imagine that there is much in the way of flyfishing to be done.  Bonaire is a volcanic island and the depth profile tends to go: small coral shelf, small drop off (mebbe to 100′ or so), another small shelf and then BLAMMO, you have dropped off the edge of the world.  I’ve never been to either Klein Bonaire, but I suspect that it is similar.  Also, Bonaire has one of the strictest and longest standing reef and fish protection laws in the Carribean, primarily because of a fellow named Don Stuart (Captain Don) who is one of the wackier and more colorful people this world has to offer (and I’ve searched out quite a few).  He is a fantastic guy to drink some beers with down at Habitat, expecially on "country/western night".  We haven’t been down for eight years now owing to our having a couple of little units to consider, but a friend of mine just spent a month there on his sailboat and had a great time.  He said that it has grown a good bit since we were last there together in 87 but that the diving is still fantastic and the beer (Amstel) is still great, and affordable.  Essentially, the World Wildlife Fund did a great thing when they set up the Bonaire Marine Park, but they didn’t have flyfishers in mind.  Go on and take your snorkel, or better yet your regulator and have a great time.  If you do go, make sure you have the book "Guide to the Bonaire Marine Park", by Tom van’t Hof.  It’s a fantastic book and will show you how th dove the island WITHOUT A DIVE GUIDE OR BOAT!!!!  What a bonus!  You can dive REALLY CHEAP. Obviously, I love the place.  I hpe you go, even if there isn’t any flyfishing that I know of. Dave

Response:

I couldn’t agree more.  I proposed to my wife there 9 years ago (she accepted!).  We haven’t been back, but we talk about it all the time. Neither of us dive, but we both snorkeled continuously.  It is sometimes better just to look at the fish than to catch them.  They are spectacular.  You don’t need a boat or a tour guide-just walk out into the water and you’re surrounded by the reef. The people were great, the ocean is great, the food is not.  There is a little town on the other side of the island from Kralendijk (the capital) where you can sit at a wonderful little outdoor juke joint and eat with the natives.  It is not a tropical paradise, very rocky, a desert island, but we loved it. Go, make your wife and daughter happy, and you’ll probably have a good time too.

Response:

Does anyone have info about flyfishing possibilities on Bon-Aire? My wife and daughter are trying to make me go and I won’t dive.

I was there ~4 years ago and caught bonefish in the salt evaporation ponds on the south end of the island.  There are also some mangrove swamps that I think had some tarpon hanging out (not sure about this.)  The bonefishing was wade only (no boats allowed on the salt ponds.)  I think the name of the guide service I used there was Piscatour.  I don’t think Bonaire has a reputaion as a bonefish mecca, but they are there.  Also saw one permit zip by while we were out there.   There is also some offshore fishing there, but I didn’t try it. The ponds cove a fairly large area,  and if the mangrove area has permit and tarpon, you might find enough to interest yourself, but I would still be a little nervous about going there for fishing only. Dave B.

Response:

Question:

  I want to know if there are any good flyfishing at good prices in Montana, Idaho, Orgen, and my state Washington.

Response:

HI. i was just going to leave a message to the whole newsgroug about Montana Fly  Fishing at my Dude Ranch Hawley Mountain  near McLeod, Mt on the Boulder River. You can call 406-932-5791 or E-Mail me your address and I ll send you a Brochure. See my Message under GONE FISHING TO MONTANA. BBlewett

Response: