Question:

Hi, Due to a disability, I need a fly reel (freshwater) with as large of a diameter as possible.  My budget is small – less than $100.  Can anyone recommend an affordable one with an adjustable drag.  If so, maybe even a web site where I can see it and order it online…… Thank you very much, Bruce

Response:

Hi, Due to a disability, I need a fly reel (freshwater) with as large of a diameter as possible.  My budget is small – less than $100.  Can anyone recommend an affordable one with an adjustable drag.  If so, maybe even a web site where I can see it and order it online…… Thank you very much, Bruce

Bruce, the Okuma Integrity 5/6 may fit your needs…. http://www.ezflyfish.com/okin56flyree.html Tight Lines, –Walt Fly Fishing NC & more… http://www.ezflyfish.com http://www.wilsoncreekoutfitters.com

Response:

Yeah I know.  Sorry for the slight "brain fart"…..lol – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Just FYI, that is large *arbor*, not large *diameter* – not sure if that’s exactly what Bruce meant.

Response:

Hi Bruce, Go to the Orvis web site:    www.orvis.com Click on "FLYFISHING" Click on "FLY REELS" Take a look at the Orvis Rocky Mountain Large Arbor fly reel that is around $75US and made in England.

Just FYI, that is large *arbor*, not large *diameter* – not sure if that’s exactly what Bruce meant.

Response:

Hi Bruce, Go to the Orvis web site:    www.orvis.com Click on "FLYFISHING" Click on "FLY REELS" Take a look at the Orvis Rocky Mountain Large Arbor fly reel that is around $75US and made in England. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Due to a disability, I need a fly reel (freshwater) with as large of a diameter as possible.  My budget is small – less than $100.  Can anyone recommend an affordable one with an adjustable drag.  If so, maybe even a web site where I can see it and order it online…… Thank you very much, Bruce

Response:

Hi, Due to a disability, I need a fly reel (freshwater) with as large of a diameter as possible.  My budget is small – less than $100.  Can anyone recommend an affordable one with an adjustable drag.  If so, maybe even a web site where I can see it and order it online…… Thank you very much, Bruce

A Campbell’s Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Can.  Cost:  .69 Cents. : )

Response:

Question:

I’m a farmer from the midwest, and I have seen this behavior many times before.  In a hoglot (it can happen with cattle also) when one pig is picked on and shows too much weakness, often many other pigs will jump in and attack it.  They will often continue until they kill the weak pig. Now the article is gone so I cannot even read it, much less respond to it.  Usually when something stinks, it needs to be aired out.

Response:

FAOL made a public relations mistake by censoring opposing points of view in the public message forums and guest book.

Exactly right. I have been hearing a lot about how MC ‘censored’ Ole Rupe’s article when, in fact, FAOL censored any and all opposing comments, and based on Deanna’s reply to MC, she still doesn’t see why this was wrong. If opposing views had been allowed from the beginning, this whole debate would have been conducted on FAOL, where it belonged. Just imagine if Time magazine, for instance, published this article and refused to acknowledge any opposing views, but published a weak disclaimer a few issues later. George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down" ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

Response:

Geez, bc, the anti-defamation league? Isn’t that overkill?   I don’t know why any responsible publisher (even on the net) would publish such crap but I guess I would just desub.  Seems like everbody wants to censor.  What a pain in the ass.

He incited killing people based on race.   Funniest thing, the author apparently doesn’t know anything about his subject, first-hand.  "If I lived" kinda makes you wonder about what he really would do if he did live there.  My guess would be hide under a rock.

He would be the last person I would invite on a hunting trip bc.

Response:

Folks Racists and their closet brethren are uniformly cowards and depend on easy prey and a wimpy defense. When they get challenged they generally run for cover. When they get their ass kicked they cry foul. When they are on top they kill and incite others to kill.  Civilized people who refuse to accept the inconvenience of the fight are walking shaky ground. Anyone feeling sorry for these assholes might try to consider how  Native American kids who accessed Ole Rupe’s racist shit felt. One of the most important lessons of the 20th Century is that racists and Nazis will use the hood at night, the gas chamber when they can get away with it and a cynical intellectualized stance when it suits them, and further, that the only effective way to fight them is to make them pay a high price for their bullshit. Good riddance, F*** Rupe and the horse he rode in on Dave

Response:

Why don’t you just email the author and ask for a copy?<

Who the fuck is the author?   And that’s not the point, anyway.  However, valiant ROFFians have provided me with this "tempest in a teapot"  piece of shit. Waste of good bandwidth to even discuss it.

Response:

I certainly have no tolerance for censorship. Had I been able to read the article perhaps I would have reacted differently, but thanks to all you "right thinkers" I do not have that opportunity. Expressing an opinion and attempting to force other expressions off the net are two different things.  I trust you can see that.

I am not condoning censorship.  FAOL made the decision to publish the article unedited in its original form.  The article would have been just as effective with out the racial overtones.  FAOL made a public relations mistake by censoring opposing points of view in the public message forums and guest book.  It was only after this censorship took place, did I start my letter campaign making sponsors and organizations like the Anti-Defamation League aware of that article. bc.

Response:

It was only after this censorship took

place, did I start my letter campaign making sponsors and organizations like the Anti-Defamation League aware of that article.< Geez, bc, the anti-defamation league?   Isn’t that overkill?  I don’t know why any responsible publisher (even on the net) would publish such crap but I guess I would just desub.  Seems like everbody wants to censor.  What a pain in the ass. Funniest thing, the author apparently doesn’t know anything about his subject, first-hand.  "If I lived" kinda makes you wonder about what he really would do if he did live there.  My guess would be hide under a rock.

Response:

Why don’t you just email the author and ask for a copy?< Who the fuck is the author?   And that’s not the point, anyway.  However, valiant ROFFians have provided me with this "tempest in a teapot"  piece of shit. Waste of good bandwidth to even discuss it.

I believe the whole thing started because Mike didn’t want articles he had written in the same ‘publication’ as that one, which is his right as an author. You were complaining that the result of his actions deprived you of your opportunity to read the article. FWIW. — Charlie…

Response:

I believe the whole thing started because Mike didn’t want articles he

had written in the same ‘publication’ as that one, which is his right as an author. You were complaining that the result of his actions deprived you of your opportunity to read the article. FWIW.< In spite of the recent Ct of Appeals decision, whether or not it’s his right is still up in the air IMO.  But yeah, I was complaining about that.   Now that I’ve read it, I wish I had had the opportunity to read it BEFORE I got into this thread.  And that’s the closest thing to an apology anyone is going to get from me. <g

Response:

Isn’t that overkill?  I don’t know why any responsible publisher (even on the net) would publish such crap but I guess I would just desub.  Seems like everbody wants to censor.  What a pain in the ass.

Good point Harry. I raised a stink precisely because I do appreciate FAOL and have no desire to "unsubscribe". If the publication were of no value and little read, there would have been no outcry. I said as much to Deanna in reply to an email, I hope she takes it to heart. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

I do not regret any of my actions, and would do the same thing again if necessary.  I do regret the damage caused to the site, or to people connected with it, but this is in no way my responsibility.  This is purely the result of their own actions. The decision to close is up to the publishers alone, and I have no influence in the matter.

Mike certainly doesn’t need validation from me, but I do agree with the way he handled the whole mess. He removed himself from a publication he didn’t agree with, and told people why. The situation got a bit excessive, but the publisher’s actions and responses seemed to be as bizarre as the author’s, including shutting down the site and the ‘enjoy your victory’ bullshit. Sounds like one bad association (Rupe, Deanna, the public, and Mike) just waiting to flame out…and it did. — Jeff Cook http://www.cookstudios.com Washington DC area

Response:

What’s with this "closure" of FAOL? Does that mean they’re shutting it down altogether? Why? Is this a case of the publisher "eating worms"? Will she have second thoughts? Or have all her sponsors deserted her? Tune in at 11. Seriously, folks, this is what they call a perverse result. I don’t think anyone in ROFF who was offended by the article wanted FAOL to cease to exist. Maybe a letter-writing campaign to their ex-sponsors along these lines would be called for: "I am satisfied by FAOL’s apology and retraction of the offensive article. Please continue your sponsorship of this fine web site." Not that it will do much good. One more thing. Before you start letter-writing campaigns to sponsors when you see something you don’t like on an otherwise excellent website, think about perverse effects. Wait at least of few days. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

HR, Like a spoiled little boy, he demanded that they return his ball.  If you don’t do what I want, I’ll take my ball (those precious "articles") and go home.

The analogy to the spoiled little boy and his ball is something of a stretch.  Mike’s contributions were more than a ball.  They could easily be construed as an endorsement of the site and, once the site stepped over a line to which Mike is sensitive, it’s understandable that Mike would no longer want his name associated with that site. Thanks to Mike and others of his ilk, I have not read the article.  

Mike and his ilk aren’t the only problem, here.  As I understand it, their opposing views were censored before they took additional steps. We can now only speculate how things might have turned out had opposing views been given prompt and equally prominent exposure. But even if I had, and found it racist,  I would not have demanded it’s removal.

I also wish the whole affair had been handled differently.  You may recall that I was one who opposed Mr. G’s remarks about Indians/fishing on ROFF.

Sorry.  I didn’t see those posts… But noooo, apparently I and others are not to be allowed that privilege.

It doesn’t seem possible that you believe the site in question is/was the only place on earth you could read that article.  Assuming Rupe is willing, it may be posted elsewhere.  You might even hunt Rupe up and request a copy if you’re as passionate as you sound about wanting to read it yourself.  It might even be that one of the article’s antagonists grabbed a copy and could email it to you.  But you gotta ask. The CENSORS have had their way.

I’m not arguing that point.  As I said before, I had concerns about the "censorship" aspect of the issue.  Censorship, though, isn’t always a dirty word.  You could say that I censored Larry Flint by keeping Hustler Magazine out of my house.  There were kids around. Was that kind of "censorship" a bad thing? We’ve long had laws on the books to discourage uncivil speech in public places.  It hasn’t been that long ago that a dunked boater was busted and prosecuted for cussing up a blue streak around women and kids.  Certainly you can argue that such laws infringe freedom of speech. But when you can walk into any supermarket and run a good chance of finding yourself — and your kids — in the checkout line behind somebody wearing a tee-shirt emblazoned with all manner of obscenites — you have to wonder… If we now find ourselves so enlightened that such laws are an embarrasment, what remedies do you propose for those who prefer not to be accosted by uncivil speech?  Are we to reduce them to staying indoors and keeping their mouths shut?  If that’s the answer, haven’t we censored them? One of my points to which you didn’t respond was the issue of all of us using our influence to affect the world around us.  What I’m wondering about is something like this: Remember when the Exxon Valdez ran aground?  Remember Exxon’s grudging responses?  Suppose somebody had succeeded in motivating a large number of Exxon customers to protest by buying their petrol elsewhere. Would that have been dirty pool or economic terrorism? Don’t us mere citizens have a right to prod and push our world about to shape it into something we think would be better? The way I see it, freedom of speech is a door that swings both ways. That is, say what you like, but be prepared for others to respond by saying what _they_ like.  And sometimes they say it _very_ loudly. Which is what Mike did. Wes Peterson LexCraft Data Services

Response:

I have always had a pretty good opinion of you Mike but I must say that I understand now why you live in Germany.  Who the fuck put you in charge of anything, much less in charge of deciding what should and should not appear on the net?  You have come out of this looking like a pretentious asshole IMO. But now I guess you can write some of your famous doggerel and everything will be all right.

Blaine, First of all, country of origin as nothing to do with expressing you’re own point of view. Mike did not put himself in charge of anything.  He has the legal right to express his opinion.  The publishers of the site made a business decision to put that article unedited on their commercial site.  The article would have been just as effective without those comments. When opposing points of view were expressed, they were quickly censored and removed from the public areas of the site.  Their justification was that they were off topic and inflammatory. If I go to a bookstore and pick up the latest issue of a fly fishing magazine, I can make a fair assumption that the articles enclosed will contain material relevant to the sport.  That the articles will not be intertwined with racial comments, incitement to kill someone and that 30/06 rifle rounds is inexpensive.  The same assumption should be made of an online magazine dedicated to fly-fishing. As far as I am concerned the staff of FAOL could have handled the entire situation better. The article in its original form had no business being on a commercial venue like FAOL. Based on the responses that I have received from sponsors when I sent out my email, I could surmise that they agree.   You and FAOL lack one thing: tolerance bc.

Response:

Presumably you think its OK for people to voice their hatred and poisonous

viewpoints, but not OK to do anything actively to oppose them ?< I have no knowledge of what was written and thanks to you and others like you, I will apparently have no opportunity to.  What I do oppose is censorship in any way shape or form.   No doubt you will live to censor another day.  And I’m glad I distressed you.  Certainly you have distressed me.

Response:

You and FAOL lack one thing: tolerance< I certainly have no tolerance for censorship. Had I been able to read the article perhaps I would have reacted differently, but thanks to all you "right thinkers" I do not have that opportunity. Expressing an opinion and attempting to force other expressions off the net are two different things.  I trust you can see that.

Would you like a copy of it?  I kept a copy for reference. Peter

Response:

You and FAOL lack one thing: tolerance<

I certainly have no tolerance for censorship. Had I been able to read the article perhaps I would have reacted differently, but thanks to all you "right thinkers" I do not have that opportunity. Expressing an opinion and attempting to force other expressions off the net are two different things.  I trust you can see that.

Response:

I have no knowledge of what was written and thanks to you and others like you, I will apparently have no opportunity to.  What I do oppose is censorship in any way shape or form.   No doubt you will live to censor another day.  And I’m glad I distressed you.  Certainly you have distressed me.

Why don’t you just email the author and ask for a copy? — Charlie…

Response:

Would you like a copy of it?  I kept a copy for reference.<

Thanks, Peter but Christian sent me one.   Is THIS really what all the fuss is about? "With regard to native American fishing rights I hold the politically incorrect view that the only good Indian is a dead Indian. If I lived  where they gill netted steelhead I would be on the 6 p.m. news. Uncle Sam taught me how to remove problems at 300 meters." Stupid?  Yes.  Disgusting that someone would put this onto the net (or anyplace, for that matter)?  Absolutely.   I disagree totally with the ideas expressed there.  Would I bitch about them?  Hell yes.   Do I believe that Rupe (or whatever the hell his name is) has a right to express them.  Yes, I do.   On a fly fishing site?  While I disagree violently with him, his comments are related to fishing.  So why not?  It’s not like his ideas, however unpalatable, are apt to have the impact of, say, shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre, now are they. With all the horrible examoles of racism that we see and have seen, frankly, this appears to me to be a tempest in a teapot. There are a lot better ways of fighting evil than writing about it on the net. But then, we’re writers, not doers, eh?

Response:

<long "final" rant snipped I have always had a pretty good opinion of you Mike but I must say that I understand now why you live in Germany.  Who the fuck put you in charge of anything, much less in charge of deciding what should and should not appear on the net?  You have come out of this looking like a pretentious asshole IMO. But now I guess you can write some of your famous doggerel and everything will be all right.

You are entitled to your opinion, good or bad.  Your insulting generalised implications of why I live where I live are unnecessary, unfortunate, unfounded, unworthy and not a little distressing. I am not in charge of anything at all. I simply voiced a perfectly normal protest at a particularly crass example of racism, in a place and under circumstances which where extremely upsetting. Your opinion of my person is also not particularly nice, but you have every right to voice it. I will doubtless survive nevertheless. Presumably you think its OK for people to voice their hatred and poisonous viewpoints, but not OK to do anything actively to oppose them ? Let

Question:

Mary Malmros said… Yeah, but you get other things with a folder, some of which are real important to those of us with fourth-floor walkup apartments, no storage space, and frequent urges to "impulse kayak" on the way home from work Like me!  A folder might be the right solution for me; the problem is, where can you try ‘em out?  I’m sure not gonna sink $3500 into something without a lot of paddling and experimentation.

I can certainly see the portability part, but I’m not too sure about the "impulse" part, having watched someone put one together at the put-in (and not finish by the time I lost sight of her as I paddled away).  Now that was a brand-new Feathercraft, so maybe a little break-in (and experience) would help a lot. -Wayne  Foster-Miller, Inc.        ***Disclaimed***          781-684-4228

Response:

 … I would really hesitate to suggest to someone that was looking for their first kayak to consider a Klepper/Feathercraft for one reason.  They’re expensive.  An Aerius II lists for almost $3500.  Suggesting that someone spend that kind of money for a first boat is absurd when there are boats available at half the price that would meet a beginners needs.   Very few beginning kayakers would need a boat that could be paddled/sailed across the Atlantic.

Of course, you needn’t start with a Klepper; the Folbot Aleut is closer to $1200, and it’s a superb boat. Great boats, great beginner’s boats, and with care they’ll last a lifetime. Get a copy of Ralph Diaz’ book, subscribe to his newsletter and see my web page for more details: http://www.mich.com/~mje/kayak.html — mike

Response:

Hi Mary, I dont know what area of the country you live in, but you need to find a dealer near water. I realize this isnt as easy as it sounds, but in central wisconsin I was able to test paddle a Feathercraft K-1, K-Light, Khatsalano, and a single and double Klepper.   I eventually bought a used Klepper Aerius 1 in very good condition for about $1100 from the Klepper dealer, who was very patient with me (and who has been very helpfull since…. His name is on the shop’s sign too!).   It takes less then 20 min. from bag to the water for my boat, so the after work impules paddling is very do-able.   The boat isnt a speed demon, but it is a gas in rough water.   I realize that I am straying from the point of the original post, though the price I got my folder for wouldnt be out of line for a first boat either, come think of it.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A lot of people have said to try before buying.  There must be big differences in  kayaks. Don’t forget the folding kayak either, which, arguably, may be the best real sea kayak around.  Klepper has been in business for over 90 years (something the plastic and fiberglass guys can’t even comprehend) and fields a kayak (Aerius II) that was paddled/sailed solo across the Atlantic back in 1954 (another thing the hardshell guys can’t comprehend).  Feathercraft, Folbot and others are out there too. I would really hesitate to suggest to someone that was looking for their first kayak to consider a Klepper/Feathercraft for one reason.  They’re expensive.  An Aerius II lists for almost $3500.  Suggesting that someone spend that kind of money for a first boat is absurd when there are boats available at half the price that would meet a beginners needs.   Yeah, but you get other things with a folder, some of which are real important to those of us with fourth-floor walkup apartments, no storage space, and frequent urges to "impulse kayak" on the way home from work Like me!  A folder might be the right solution for me; the problem is, where can you try ‘em out?  I’m sure not gonna sink $3500 into something without a lot of paddling and experimentation.

I agree that there are some definate advantages for a folding kayak. As far as portability they’re hard to beat (although I wouldn’t mind having a three piece hardshell like the Nordkapp either) but as far as a "beginners" boat goes I just can’t see suggesting something that is two to three times as expensive as someting that will suit most beginners needs. I used to see the same thing all the time in the flyfishing newsgroup. Someone would come on asking for recommendations for a flyrod and reel for a beginner and they’d be met with suggestions for a Scott, Winston, Thomas & Thomas, rods that run $350-$500.  I’ve been flyfishing for over 25 years and probably get more use out of my $100 Redington than any of my seven other flyrods.  Someone that is entering a hobby for the first time shouldn’t, IMHO, be spending top of the line prices unless they have money to burn.   John Fereira

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A lot of people have said to try before buying.  There must be big differences in  kayaks. Don’t forget the folding kayak either, which, arguably, may be the best real sea kayak around.  Klepper has been in business for over 90 years (something the plastic and fiberglass guys can’t even comprehend) and fields a kayak (Aerius II) that was paddled/sailed solo across the Atlantic back in 1954 (another thing the hardshell guys can’t comprehend).  Feathercraft, Folbot and others are out there too. I would really hesitate to suggest to someone that was looking for their first kayak to consider a Klepper/Feathercraft for one reason.  They’re expensive.  An Aerius II lists for almost $3500.  Suggesting that someone spend that kind of money for a first boat is absurd when there are boats available at half the price that would meet a beginners needs.  

Yeah, but you get other things with a folder, some of which are real important to those of us with fourth-floor walkup apartments, no storage space, and frequent urges to "impulse kayak" on the way home from work Like me!  A folder might be the right solution for me; the problem is, where can you try ‘em out?  I’m sure not gonna sink $3500 into something without a lot of paddling and experimentation. — ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::         "I would not exchange the sorrows of my heart                 for the joys of the multitude"

Response:

A lot of people have said to try before buying.  There must be big differences in  kayaks. Don’t forget the folding kayak either, which, arguably, may be the best real sea kayak around.  Klepper has been in business for over 90 years (something the plastic and fiberglass guys can’t even comprehend) and fields a kayak (Aerius II) that was paddled/sailed solo across the Atlantic back in 1954 (another thing the hardshell guys can’t comprehend).  Feathercraft, Folbot and others are out there too.

I would really hesitate to suggest to someone that was looking for their first kayak to consider a Klepper/Feathercraft for one reason.  They’re expensive.  An Aerius II lists for almost $3500.  Suggesting that someone spend that kind of money for a first boat is absurd when there are boats available at half the price that would meet a beginners needs.   Very few beginning kayakers would need a boat that could be paddled/sailed across the Atlantic. John Fereira Stop Unsolicited Commercial Email – Join CAUCE (http://www.cauce.org) Support HR 1748, the anti-spam bill.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sea or touring kayak is what I’m looking for.  I’m trying  to learn as much as I can before buying..  I use to do a lot of canoeing when I was younger. Kayaks look like they would be a lot of fun.. They’re an enormous amount of fun, but anyone’s choice of fave boat — or manufacturer — is going to be based on the type of paddler they are and the type of paddling they do.   I’m going to say something that may be a little controversial.  I’ve been reading rbp for about nine months now, and it seems to me that I’ve seen a lot of barely-used "entry-level" boats for sale, on this and other forums.  Now, I could be wrong…but that makes me wonder if a lot of people are buying in a hurry, maybe talking themselves into buying something because they get a good price on a package, and quickly outgrowing that first boat (or finding out, as they spend more time paddling, that it is a good boat but really not suited for the type of paddling they want to do).  

You won’t get any argument from me.  I think part of the reason stems from the idea that the only thing "entry level" about a lot of those boats for sale are the prices.  Sea kayaking seems to have an identity crisis.  It seems that everything from a Perception Keowee to a VCP Nordkapp is classified as a "sea kayak".  There seems to be a range of boats, typically between 13-15′ in length, usually wider than 24" with lots of initial stabilty that (also partially because of their price) are thought of as "entry level" boats.  In my opinion, this class of boats are designed for paddling conditions more so than for beginners.  In fact, I have found that the characteristics of this class does more to keep it’s paddlers at an "entry level" more than anything.  They’re good boats if you want something that is going to be very stable for taking pictures and don’t plan on paddling in rough conditions.  If you want something that is going to allow one to become proficient in rough conditions their stability is going to restrict ones ability to improve. John Fereira Stop Unsolicited Commercial Email – Join CAUCE (http://www.cauce.org) Support HR 1748, the anti-spam bill.

Response:

A lot of people have said to try before buying.  There must be big differences in  kayaks.

Don’t forget the folding kayak either, which, arguably, may be the best real sea kayak around.  Klepper has been in business for over 90 years (something the plastic and fiberglass guys can’t even comprehend) and fields a kayak (Aerius II) that was paddled/sailed solo across the Atlantic back in 1954 (another thing the hardshell guys can’t comprehend).  Feathercraft, Folbot and others are out there too.

Response:

Al Bowers said… Something else to consider, the paddle is more important to enjoyment than even the boat is.  If you have to scrimp a bit on the boat for a top notch paddle, that’s a good idea…

I agree.  A boat can be nice or not so great, but the paddle can make or break the whole experience. We’re going to try a boat for my wife this weekend (maybe).  She’s tried a couple of boats, and I think we’re getting close.  We’re down to the Seda Swift, Perception Sea Lion, and the Perception Shadow…

I didn’t like the Sea Lion at all, personally (and this was the boat I thought I would like).  The deck was too high, the cockpit absolutely huge (I’m 5′10", 175 lbs), and I had a heck of a time making it move.  I did like the Shadow, which was tight and quick, even though (or perhaps partially because) it was too small for me.   Don’t know the Seda Swift. I’m getting ready to build a couple of Pygmy Arctic Terns for my wife and myself. -Wayne  Foster-Miller, Inc.        ***Disclaimed***          781-684-4228

Response:

Erie Pa (Lake Erie) There is a place nearby that rents them.  I have to wate for the water to worm up a bit.  A lot of people have said to try before buying.  There must be big differences in  kayaks.

The more you paddle the better you’ll be able to detect the differences. I realize that it’s a bit of a drive but a friend of mine is opening up a shop in Ithaca, NY.  I’m helping him move some of his boats in this weekend (and will be storing mine there as well since it’s right on the water).  If you ever get over this way let me know.  He’s about about 15 different boats that you could try.  Watch of demo days and symposiums. They’re a great way to try out a variety of boats. John Fereira Stop Unsolicited Commercial Email – Join CAUCE (http://www.cauce.org) Support HR 1748, the anti-spam bill.

Response:

Bill Zimmerman said…  A lot of people have said to try before buying.  There must be big differences in  kayaks. Oh, yeah!  If you start in basic ignorance, then

Good advice to try before you buy.  Or at least have a very good idea at what you want to do.  Even within the "touring" or "sea kayak" genre there is considerable variation; expeditions boats, mid-line touring boats, performance boats, race boats, etc, plus combinations of the above eg: performance expedition boats… 1) Make a list of boats to look at (helped along here, of course), 2) Find out the supposed characteristics of each, 3) Pick the one you think you’ll end up liking, and 4) Go try them all out,

Make a list of the things you want to do and how much time you’ll be doing them.  Say you want to do a BIG trip, like Bowron or the Inside Passage (Vancouver to Alaska), but most of your trips will be short day trips.  then you need a boat that might just work on the long trip, but is biased towards the daytripper type boat. I think your (or anyone else’s) initial guess is usually wrong.  If it isn’t wrong, congratuations, you proved you were right and will be happier with the boat knowing it was the right choice.   You gotta try the boats.  You should check Deja News for recent threads on sea kayak selection, since this isn’t a new subject around here.

Having built 5 boats, and buying 3 over a period of 26 years, when I wanted a high performance boat I had a pretty good idea of _exactly_ what I wanted.  No frills, high performance, to be used for exercise, fast day touring, and the occasional long trip.  I bought a Seda Glider and a Werner Pegasus wing paddle; and I couldn’t be happier with them.  It’s an awesome combination that will exceed my abilities for as long as I continue to paddle. Something else to consider, the paddle is more important to enjoyment than even the boat is.  If you have to scrimp a bit on the boat for a top notch paddle, that’s a good idea.  Try different paddles as well, higher end if you can.  Then after you start to form some opinions on what you like and don’t like, then start trying your desired paddle and boat to see if you were right.  Then you’re REALLY ready to buy… We’re going to try a boat for my wife this weekend (maybe).  She’s tried a couple of boats, and I think we’re getting close.  We’re down to the Seda Swift, Perception Sea Lion, and the Perception Shadow… Al Bowers

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As for touring boats, I can tell you who isn’t the best. Valley Canoe Products. If anyone wants to hear the long version, email me.

Since I own a VCP boat and have been very happy with it I’d like to hear the long version.  If you don’t want to post it her you can send me email. I haven’t paddled the Skerray in plastic but I have glass version and have demo’d a Pintail, Anas Acuta,  and an Aquilla and liked them all.  I haven’t paddled one, and I realize they’re not for everyone, the Nordkapp remains one of the most popular designs in the world. I probably wouldn’t claim that they are the "best" boats but I would put VCP up near the top in terms of performance, ocean worthiness,  construction, and appointments.   The VCP hatch covers are practically an industry standard. John Fereira Stop Unsolicited Commercial Email – Join CAUCE (http://www.cauce.org) Support HR 1748, the anti-spam bill.

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Sea or touring kayak is what I’m looking for.  I’m trying  to learn as much as I can before buying..  I use to do a lot of canoeing when I was younger. Kayaks look like they would be a lot of fun.. Bill

If you’re looking for a durable tandem touring kayak I’d take a look at the Necky Amaruk.   Sea or touring kayaks come in a variety of materials.  The most inexpensive (and generally the most durable) are plastic or polyethelene kayaks.  Different vendors use different methods for constructing plastic boats.  Prijon generally seems to have the best plastic in the business but generally plastic boats are pretty indestructible.  They’re also heavier and slower than boats made with other materials. Fiberglass boats are lighter and their construction allows finer lines than you’ll find in a plastic boat.  The material is also stiffer and smoother which also contributes to speed.  The drawbacks are that they are more expensive and are less durable than plastic (although if you do damage a glass boat it’s easier to repair than plastic). Many models available in fiberglass are layed up with kevlar rather than fiberglass.  They have all the benefits of a fiberglass boat but are even lighter and are more durable.  They are also significantly more expensive. Wood kayaks seem to be becoming more and more popular.  There are a couple of major kit suppliers (Pygmy and Chesapeake Light Craft) that produce some fine kits that someone without prior woodworking skills can build using a stitch-n-glue technique.  For about the price of a plastic boat you can build a wood boat (actually fiberglass over wood) boat.  They’re lighter than almost all fiberglass and kevlar boats, have about the same durability as a glass boat.  They require a little more maintenance but can be repaired if damaged and of course require the time to build.  They are, however, some of the prettiest kayaks you’ll find on the water.  There are also a few kits and/or plans available for wood kayaks built using narrow strips.  They’re more work but can produce some gorgeous boats.   There aren’t that many around but some people are still building skin over frame boats. There are a couple of other materials worth mentioning.  There are a few companies that build "take apart" boats that use a frame with a waterproof fabric cover.  Klepper, Feathercraft, and Folbot are three such companies. These kayaks can be quite expensive but can’t be beat for portability (many will fold up into a backpack).  There are also some decent inflatable kayaks. You’ll even find some sea kayaks which use combinations of materials. John Fereira Stop Unsolicited Commercial Email – Join CAUCE (http://www.cauce.org) Support HR 1748, the anti-spam bill.

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Bill Zimmerman said… Erie Pa (Lake Erie) There is a place nearby that rents them.  I have to wate for the water to worm up a bit.

    ^^^^ Still a big eel problem up there?  ;-)  A lot of people have said to try before buying.  There must be big differences in  kayaks.

Oh, yeah!  If you start in basic ignorance, then 1) Make a list of boats to look at (helped along here, of course), 2) Find out the supposed characteristics of each, 3) Pick the one you think you’ll end up liking, and 4) Go try them all out, I think your (or anyone else’s) initial guess is usually wrong.  If it isn’t wrong, congratuations, you proved you were right and will be happier with the boat knowing it was the right choice.   You gotta try the boats.  You should check Deja News for recent threads on sea kayak selection, since this isn’t a new subject around here. -Wayne  Foster-Miller, Inc.        ***Disclaimed***          781-684-4228

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As for touring boats, I can tell you who isn’t the best. Valley Canoe Products. If anyone wants to hear the long version, email me. Jeff

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Mary Malmros said… I’m going to say something that may be a little controversial.  I’ve been reading rbp for about nine months now, and it seems to me that I’ve seen a lot of barely-used "entry-level" boats for sale, on this and other forums.  Now, I could be wrong…but that makes me wonder if a lot of people are buying in a hurry, maybe talking themselves into buying something because they get a good price on a package, and quickly outgrowing that first boat (or finding out, as they spend more time paddling, that it is a good boat but really not suited for the type of paddling they want to do).  

I think that’s true in many cases, but I think there might also be a certain amount of the ‘exercise machine syndrome’, where someone is convinced kayaking’s for them, runs out and buys a boat (in many cases the wrong boat), and finds out the sport’s not for them.  A lot of people look at kayaking and get a funny look in their eye at the thought of how beautiful it must be out there.  Others look at it and think that it looks a lot like work.  A lot of the used boats are from people who got the look in their eye and _then_ found out it was a lot like work. -Wayne  Foster-Miller, Inc.        ***Disclaimed***          781-684-4228

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Sea or touring kayak is what I’m looking for.  I’m trying  to learn as much as I can before buying..  I use to do a lot of canoeing when I was younger. Kayaks look like they would be a lot of fun.. That’s a horrible question to ask. It depends on what you’re looking for.

It’s still a horrible question. Plastic or glass? Inland lake or open water? And so on, and so on. "Best" is relative, based on what you want to use it for and the conditions you want to use it in. "Best" can change with every stroke of the paddle. At your stage, the "best" you can hope for is "pretty good." There are an awful lot of touring boats out there that fall into the category of "pretty good." — Wes

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Erie Pa (Lake Erie) There is a place nearby that rents them.  I have to wate for the water to worm up a bit.  A lot of people have said to try before buying.  There must be big differences in  kayaks.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sea or touring kayak is what I’m looking for.  I’m trying  to learn as much as I can before buying..  I use to do a lot of canoeing when I was younger. Kayaks look like they would be a lot of fun.. They’re an enormous amount of fun, but anyone’s choice of fave boat — or manufacturer — is going to be based on the type of paddler they are and the type of paddling they do. I’m going to say something that may be a little controversial.  I’ve been reading rbp for about nine months now, and it seems to me that I’ve seen a lot of barely-used "entry-level" boats for sale, on this and other forums.  Now, I could be wrong…but that makes me wonder if a lot of people are buying in a hurry, maybe talking themselves into buying something because they get a good price on a package, and quickly outgrowing that first boat (or finding out, as they spend more time paddling, that it is a good boat but really not suited for the type of paddling they want to do). The nice thing about choosing a sea or touring kayak is that it’s not too hard to find liveries where you can try out a lot of different boats.  I think it’s worth the investment in time and rental fees. An inexpensive touring kayak might list for no more than a few hundred dollars, a really superior one could be close to ten times that, but whether it’s a little or a lot, it’s wasted money if it’s not the right thing for you.  I’ve paddled touring kayaks by Necky, Wilderness Systems, Current Designs, Perception, Walden, and others, but I’d want to paddle a lot more before making a purchase. Where are you located?  Perhaps someone can recommend a livery in your area where you can get some instruction and some paddling time. — :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "I would not exchange the sorrows of my heart for the joys of the multitude"

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Sea or touring kayak is what I’m looking for.  I’m trying  to learn as much as I can before buying..  I use to do a lot of canoeing when I was younger. Kayaks look like they would be a lot of fun..

They’re an enormous amount of fun, but anyone’s choice of fave boat — or manufacturer — is going to be based on the type of paddler they are and the type of paddling they do.   I’m going to say something that may be a little controversial.  I’ve been reading rbp for about nine months now, and it seems to me that I’ve seen a lot of barely-used "entry-level" boats for sale, on this and other forums.  Now, I could be wrong…but that makes me wonder if a lot of people are buying in a hurry, maybe talking themselves into buying something because they get a good price on a package, and quickly outgrowing that first boat (or finding out, as they spend more time paddling, that it is a good boat but really not suited for the type of paddling they want to do).   The nice thing about choosing a sea or touring kayak is that it’s not too hard to find liveries where you can try out a lot of different boats.  I think it’s worth the investment in time and rental fees. An inexpensive touring kayak might list for no more than a few hundred dollars, a really superior one could be close to ten times that, but whether it’s a little or a lot, it’s wasted money if it’s not the right thing for you.  I’ve paddled touring kayaks by Necky, Wilderness Systems, Current Designs, Perception, Walden, and others, but I’d want to paddle a lot more before making a purchase. Where are you located?  Perhaps someone can recommend a livery in your area where you can get some instruction and some paddling time. — ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::         "I would not exchange the sorrows of my heart                 for the joys of the multitude"

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Who is the best kayak manufacture??

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Who is the best kayak manufacture??

     You forgot the "r" on the end of that last word.      The best kayak manufacturer has got to be Nanook of the North. Splash

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That’s a horrible question to ask. It depends on what you’re looking for. Prijon probably has the most durable boats, while Riot has the most radical designs. Wavesport has great plastic and designs… etc. Not to mention, whitewater companies are completely different in this area than touring, slalom, and sea kayaks. Sam —    Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Who is the best kayak manufacture??

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Sea or touring kayak is what I’m looking for.  I’m trying  to learn as much as I can before buying..  I use to do a lot of canoeing when I was younger. Kayaks look like they would be a lot of fun.. Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That’s a horrible question to ask. It depends on what you’re looking for. Prijon probably has the most durable boats, while Riot has the most radical designs. Wavesport has great plastic and designs… etc. Not to mention, whitewater companies are completely different in this area than touring, slalom, and sea kayaks. Sam —    Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool. Who is the best kayak manufacture??

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Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hire a guide. He will teach you more in one day than you can learn in a year by yourself. sage advise. oh yeah…wear some shoes. stingrays are painful. –Wataugan Walt Another piece of advice, if you gotta void DON’t do it in the water if you are waist deep. Walk to the shore and do it in the bushes. It’s a little known fact, sharks home on human urine. Be sure not to take it out when you are waist deep and go.                                                        John Popp                                                       in Sanford Fl.         john, dammit, you blew it!  here we were, about to complete an honest to god, serious, informative, boring, lifeless thread, and here you come with some witty, lively humor.  we just must purge roff of such trash!         your anal retentive buddy,         wayno wayno

 But I was serious (sob sob). Does no one take me seriously. Now that youve negated my advice by relegating it to humor, don’t blame me if the advice is not taken and the worm is.                                                            John Popp                                                      in Sanford Fl.

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don’t blame me if the advice is not taken and the worm is.

Stop it John! Your killing me! Capt. Gary S. Colecchio West Palm Beach, Florida "Lie ? Me ? Never!  No, no, no, the truth is far too much fun !" – Captain Hook

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Hire a guide. He will teach you more in one day than you can learn in a year by yourself.

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Hire a guide. He will teach you more in one day than you can learn in a year by yourself.

sage advise. oh yeah…wear some shoes. stingrays are painful. –Wataugan Walt

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There are places to wade around there but, as others have suggested, get a guide – at least for a day. Oh, and do wear shoes and shuffle your feet when you walk so you don’t step on a ray. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’ll be in the Florida Keys the week of Thanksgiving.  I’m hoping to catch my first Bonefish.  However, I know nothing about the Keys or Bonefish.  To further complicate things I’m a relatively new fly fisherman. So any information/tips would be most welcome.  I’ll be staying in Islamorada.  I do not have a boat so I’ll be wading. Questions. 1. Where should I fish? 2. What time of the day should I fish?  Or is it what part of the tide do I fish? 3. Any pointers on fly fishing for bonefish would be helpful. 4. Any dangers I should know about?  Should I wear shoes?  Is there bad things to step on? Many thanks, David PS I heard Harry Harris park is a good place to fish.  Is this true? Also, I’ll have my Golden Retriever along.  Where can I take her when I’m not fishing?

– Charlie…

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hire a guide. He will teach you more in one day than you can learn in a year by yourself. sage advise. oh yeah…wear some shoes. stingrays are painful. –Wataugan Walt Another piece of advice, if you gotta void DON’t do it in the water if you are waist deep. Walk to the shore and do it in the bushes. It’s a little known fact, sharks home on human urine. Be sure not to take it out when you are waist deep and go.                                                        John Popp                                                       in Sanford Fl.

        john, dammit, you blew it!  here we were, about to complete an honest to god, serious, informative, boring, lifeless thread, and here you come with some witty, lively humor.  we just must purge roff of such trash!         your anal retentive buddy,         wayno wayno

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Hire a guide. He will teach you more in one day than you can learn in a year by yourself. sage advise. oh yeah…wear some shoes. stingrays are painful. –Wataugan Walt

Another piece of advice, if you gotta void DON’t do it in the water if you are waist deep. Walk to the shore and do it in the bushes. It’s a little known fact, sharks home on human urine. Be sure not to take it out when you are waist deep and go.                                                         John Popp                                                        in Sanford Fl.

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Hi, I’ll be in the Florida Keys the week of Thanksgiving.  I’m hoping to catch my first Bonefish.  However, I know nothing about the Keys or Bonefish.  To further complicate things I’m a relatively new fly fisherman. So any information/tips would be most welcome.  I’ll be staying in Islamorada.  I do not have a boat so I’ll be wading. Questions. 1. Where should I fish? 2. What time of the day should I fish?  Or is it what part of the tide do I fish? 3. Any pointers on fly fishing for bonefish would be helpful. 4. Any dangers I should know about?  Should I wear shoes?  Is there bad things to step on? Many thanks, David PS I heard Harry Harris park is a good place to fish.  Is this true? Also, I’ll have my Golden Retriever along.  Where can I take her when I’m not fishing?

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Question:

Been tying flies for a couple of years.  Here in S.C. and also in G.A. fly tying hooks are about as hard to find as hens teeth.  I like to stand in front of a wall of hooks and look at them while scratching my head.  This is half the fun of buying hooks to me.  But these damn Mustad hooks are about all anyone carries.   Do these thing rust overnight?  Or am I doing something wrong? I open my fly box after a day fishing so they can air dry, sometimes soak my flies in Scotchgard (which I am convinced is useless), and generally try to assure they are dry before storing.  But rust they do… What the deal?? Patrick  

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But these damn Mustad hooks are about all anyone carries.   Do these thing rust overnight?  Or am I doing something wrong? I open my fly box after a day fishing so they can air dry, sometimes soak my flies in Scotchgard (which I am convinced is useless), and generally try to assure they are dry before storing.  But rust they do… What the deal??

Boyhowdy, I ain’t heard that one before. I’ve been tying for about 35 years – on Mustads mostly. They’ve  had their problems with quality control: sizing, hook-to- hook uniformity, sharpness, closed eyes, open eyes, temper, and other assorted defects, but I ain’t never had a problem with rust. Don’t know. Glad to be of help :^).

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You obviously are not using a stainless model. Try the 34007 model in your favorite size.

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Been tying flies for a couple of years.  Here in S.C. and also in G.A. fly tying hooks are about as hard to find as hens teeth.  I like to stand in front of a wall of hooks and look at them while scratching my head.  This is half the fun of buying hooks to me.  But these damn Mustad hooks are about all anyone carries. Do these thing rust overnight?  Or am I doing something wrong? I open my fly box after a day fishing so they can air dry, sometimes soak my flies in Scotchgard (which I am convinced is useless), and generally try to assure they are dry before storing.  But rust they do… What the deal?? Patrick

Haven’t had that problem with Mustad. Do you put them away wet or do you dry them out on your patch first? I have heard that if you get your box wet or put your flies back in the box wet that they will rust. Jon

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Patrick: You might try tucking one or two of those small dessicant packets in your fly box–the kind that come in some food packages or in boxes of electronic gear. Or consider buying other hook brands through catalogs.  Dick Talleur’s last book, <Talleur’s Basic Fly Tying, has a brief hook substition chart  in the appendix (Daiichi, Mustad, Orvis, Tiemco, Partridge, Eagle Claw, et al.) Also, the Tach-it box, availabe at most stores, has detachable magnetic backing that lets you remove all your flies and dry them on a warm or sunny surface. Works.

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Question:

Looking for info on FF in Ireland in the Spring. — Steven Locke, MD Harvard Pilgrim Health Care 617.859.5415 617.527.3343 fax

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Dr. Locke,       I will be hosting trips (2,3 or 4 people) to County Cork in the Southwest  of Ireland this coming Spring and again in September. The water fished has an  excellent run of Salmon. However if the Salmon aren’t in the river there is a  good head of wild Brown trout.       I am billing these trips as "fly fishing vacations" as we combine,  fishing , and to the extent requested, tours of the nearby area. County Cork  is known as the food capital of Ireland and the area we fish abounds with  gourmet resturants.       The cost is $2345 each; 2-3 guests, $2145 each – 4  Price includes meals, lodging, all in country transportation (pickup at  airport0, licences, ghillies and fees. Airfare to Ireland and alcohol are not  included.      I have over 40 years fly fishing experience and own and operate an Orvis  shop in Virginias Shenandoah Valley. If you would like more information, give     Cheers,         Jim Finn                                    Jim Finn                        Mossy Creek Fly Shop                           Bridgewater, VA                              540-828-0033                 "In the heart of the Shenandoah Valley"

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is the Blackwater Lodge in County Cork. Their web page is on http://indigo.ie/~bwlodge Andrew Associate Editor, Waterlog Magazine http://www.demon.co.uk/medlarpress/

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Question:

Anyone care to share their opinion on when they feel is the best time of day to fly fish for browns?

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Anyone care to share their opinion on when they feel is the best time of day to fly fish for browns?

Hi         Brown’s are generally nocturnal feeders. Evening around dusk is when I fish them. Have my best luck then. Up here we are fighting for a night time fishery for them. We have suceeded in certain areas. Take Care and Tight Lines Joel Sampson Micro Computer Co-ordinator Computer Services Saint Mary’s University 923 Robie Street Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada (p) (902) 420-5880 (f) (902) 496-8103 http://140.184.111.30/default.htm

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Anyone care to share their opinion on when they feel is the best time of day to fly fish for browns?         Sure, NIGHT.  Late.  After midnight.  No better time to catch the King of the road. JE

Just before dark, or right at nightfall. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley           2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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Anyone care to share their opinion on when they feel is the best time of day to fly fish for browns?         Sure, NIGHT.  Late.  After midnight.  No better time to catch the King of the road. JE

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Anyone care to share their opinion on when they feel is the best time of day to fly fish for browns?

…Try night fishing…unless your happy just catching the little ones!

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Question:

I’m going to be doing some fly fishing for pike this summer.  Obviously you need some kind of abrasion-resistant shock leader for the toothy buggers.  Steel leader is common, but apparently hard to cast.  I’ve heard that others prefer simply a piece of heavy (30-50 lb) mono. Anyone ever tried any of the Kevlar lines (Spiderwire, etc.) as a shock leader?  Seems like it ought to be tougher than mono for a thinner line that’s easier to cast.  Thoughts? — Jeff Benjamin                benji(at)fc.hp.com Hewlett Packard Co.      Fort Collins, Colorado (Direct reply won’t work:  use address in .sig) "Think!  It ain’t illegal yet." -George Clinton

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Jeff Benjamin wrote Anyone ever tried any of the Kevlar lines (Spiderwire, etc.) as a shock

leader?  Seems like it ought to be tougher than mono for a thinner line that’s easier to cast<< Tried it (Spiderwire, which is a spectra braid, not kevlar) and it was okay. Then tried the IronThread wire braid leader material Fenwick markets, much better! The IronThread wire braid is great for tying knots, holds the knots well, is about as abrasion and/or cut resistant as anything I’ve seen. The 15 lb test strength has served me well using it as my tippet at the end of a braided leader and enabled me to land Northern Pike up to 47" on my old Wonderod. Kevlar I tried also, not really very abrasion resistant. Hope this helps. Fair winds and following seas, Pat in Pawtucket  RI

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: I’m going to be doing some fly fishing for pike this summer.  Obviously : you need some kind of abrasion-resistant shock leader for the toothy : buggers.  Steel leader is common, but apparently hard to cast.  I’ve : heard that others prefer simply a piece of heavy (30-50 lb) mono. : Anyone ever tried any of the Kevlar lines (Spiderwire, etc.) as a shock : leader?  Seems like it ought to be tougher than mono for a thinner line : that’s easier to cast.  Thoughts? : — : Jeff Benjamin                benji(at)fc.hp.com : Hewlett Packard Co.      Fort Collins, Colorado       : (Direct reply won’t work:  use address in .sig) : "Think!  It ain’t illegal yet." -George Clinton Spiderwire, gorrila braid, fire line etc are cut to ribbons by the razor-like pike teeth.  Believe me, I’ve tried.  Even in relatively routine use (on my spinning reel) I’ve found that fireline frays easily and needs frequent changes/discards.  Try Kevlar line  used for stringing badmonton raquets (if you have a busted one handy, or stop by a sporting goods store and see if they’ll give you a few feet). Broken guitar strings also work and won’t rust.  I haven’t tried the heavy mono, but I believe this would work well if inspected and replaced regularly. Pete Metelski Dept. of Chemistry University of Calgary Calgary AB

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I’m going to be doing some fly fishing for pike this summer.  Obviously you need some kind of abrasion-resistant shock leader for the toothy buggers.  Steel leader is common, but apparently hard to cast.  I’ve heard that others prefer simply a piece of heavy (30-50 lb) mono. Anyone ever tried any of the Kevlar lines (Spiderwire, etc.) as a shock leader?  Seems like it ought to be tougher than mono for a thinner line that’s easier to cast.  Thoughts? — Jeff Benjamin                benji(at)fc.hp.com Hewlett Packard Co.      Fort Collins, Colorado

I used Masons 30lb hard mono with good results. Periodically run it across your lip and change if it gets abraided. The heavy (30-50lb) Flurocarbon also worked well. My son used Climax 25lb wire shock tippet and had no problems. From what I’ve seen any of the three will do the job. Chuck Welby     – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(Direct reply won’t work:  use address in .sig) "Think!  It ain’t illegal yet." -George Clinton

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Ditto pete’s post.  The Kevlar is strong but cuts easily in certain situations, and pike teeth seem to meet that situation. I have fished pike extensively with regular mono tippet and had only a few cutoffs, especially when fishing large flies.  Make tandems or use large, xlong hooks to tie streamers, and tie them quick and simple, and things generally balance. Incidentally a friend of mine has taken three muskie on the fly–he uses a light coated wire leader.  Between he and his friend they have had a dozen hookups and zero cutoffs. Incidentally, a hair-bug type fly seems to tempt more hits (I know, I know, that contradicts the "quick and simple" commandment above).  The "mega-diver" formula has worked well for me, and the long flies tend to get nice nose-hookups, clean releases, and wonderful "Clompeta" surface hits. Dave

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Question:

        I’ll second the Wekiva River Trip from Katie’s Landing.  Did that in a private boat last year with their shuttling….  Their’s is a good and responsible operation.  If you haven’t seen Florida rivers much this one’s a good intro.  I saw all the FL species of herons, plus limpkins, etc. on this run.         Joe P.

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If you want to drive a little further south (typically warmer as well) to North Palm Beach, you can rent Kayaks from The Adventure Times. They have regular guided tours to the Everglades and other local spots including intracoastal and ocean Call em at 407 881-7218 I’m going to be in Orlando the first week in January and am looking for paddling opportunities within say a 60 mile radius.  I won’t be taking a boat so I’m interested in outfitters or state parks that rent equipment. Thanks. Jason

Bob Denton President Gulf Stream International Boynton Beach, Florida Manufacturers of Sink the Stink The Water Sport Deodorizer That Really Works! For information on Boynton Beach, FL Scuba: http://www.flinet.com/gulfstream/scuba.html

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I go to the Cape Canaveral area often.  Fishing for redfish on the flats there is nice.  There is a non-powered only area north of 528 on the Bannanna river also.  You can rent from Extreme Sports, but they are not on the way, being about twenty south from the Cape.  Patrick AFB also rents to military types.  But all they have is small sit on tops.   If you want somethind exciting, the St Johns river, which runs from near the coast where I live, North through Deland.  The Manatees winter at Blue Springs by Deland.  They rent boats there. I’ve gone just North of lake Washington near the coast.  It is very small at that point, so all you will see is the occasional airboater.  The gators there are the biggest I’ve seen.  I fly helicopters for a living, so I’ve seen plenty.  They will probably be staying under the water in early Jan.  In late Feb, they are laying out.  Seeing them on the shore is not scary.  What is is when they shoot down the twenty foot wide stream right under your boat, leaving a wake like the Creature from the black lagoon. I will only take my big two person there, as my 14′ single might lead a big bull gator to think "Yea, I can take him".  

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I’m going to be in Orlando the first week in January and am looking for … Jason

PalnJones is right on with Wekiva.  This is a fantastic paddle (for Florida-no ww).  There is a Wekiva State Park & they rent canoes (not sure about kayaks) through a concessionaire (Kings Landings Canoe).   Kings Landing is the Place to put in and go to the Marina (I’ve been, I had my own kayak with me).  Fabulous river (for Florida).  There is a kayak/canoe/outdoor store in Orlando called something like Travel Country – in yellow pages under canoes – they can help with directions & maybe rentals.  It is 10-20 mile paddle depending where you go and the Kings Landing folks will run shuttle for you. kevin

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I’m going to be in Orlando the first week in January and am looking for paddling opportunities within say a 60 mile radius.  I won’t be taking a boat so I’m interested in outfitters or state parks that rent equipment.

Jason: I would second the recommendation David made about Wekiva Springs; just north of Orlando but literally a wilderness area along the edges of the city.  Wekiva State Park has a well stocked canoe livery and there is also a private company called Katies Wekiva River Landing that rents canoes.  Katies has routes of 6, 9, 12 or 19 miles.  I’ve hiked all along Wekiva and have seen the operation…very professional.  However, I personally have not taken the trips.  Never heard anything bad though.. Katies Info: Toll free from Orlando 628-1482      Other calls 407 332-4470 Ranger station Wekiwa River State Park    407 884-2009 If kayaking is your game, Travel Country Outdoors in Orlando 407 831-0777 does not rent anything but they do have a half day guided trip to Cape Canaveral NWR.  Another kayaking outfitter that does half-day guided trips (maybe rentals) is Agua Azul in Clearwater (near Tampa) 813 530-7555.  They have one trip "closer" to Orlando that is on the historic Hillsborough River out of the Tampa area.  It takes us 1.25 hours to get there from where we live near Disney.  My wife and I have done both of these trips and from a purely novice point of view had a GREAT TIME! Happy Holidays! Robert   Orlando

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I’m going to be in Orlando the first week in January and am looking for paddling opportunities within say a 60 mile radius.  I won’t be taking a boat so I’m interested in outfitters or state parks that rent equipment. Thanks. Jason

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I’m going to be in Orlando the first week in January and am looking for paddling opportunities within say a 60 mile radius.  I won’t be taking a boat so I’m interested in outfitters or state parks that rent equipment. Thanks. Jason

There is a nice flat water (what else would it be) paddle on the Wekiva River, putting on near Apopka.  The water is crystal clear, and we saw alligators (small) the time we did it. There is at least one canoe livery, but I don’t remember the name.  Check the Yellow Pages. David

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [deleted] This is a form of hunting, no more no less, with all of the qualities of hunting.  This is not golf. It is not a game. It involves an animal. You are sticking sharpened steel into an animals face. If this bothers you, then you might want to consider something else… God, Tim you sure the life of the party these days. Howdy Don, Just applying the "does he want to flyfish or just look like ‘a flyfisher’ test big guy… I, do NOT welcome ‘all’ newbies to the sport in some kind of "Barneyesque Lemming Hugs and Kisses" fashion.

        i couldn’t agree more.  in fact, there are quite a few "old boys" out there that could use a lot less time on the water in the carolina blue ridge. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to sell them anything.

        once again, right on the nose, timbo.  please see "orvis jeeps", "orvis trout schools", "orvis approved guides" for documentation. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -TimW

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He said I did not need any flys for now just practice with the pole. Sure…., put a fly to the line and practice in a bass water or whatever U like to catch. Best training there is, and who knows, U even migth catch something. I saw a martin bass rig for 49.95 in Bass Pro’s spring catalog.  Will this be a good learner set? Thanks John

Put a fly on the line when you practice and use a leader/tippet of about 9feet as this will alter the way your line will cast.  It does not cast properly without a fly and you will even notice a change when you use different weight flies.   Also, I agree with the other guy, go practice on some water, choose a place where there is not too much vegitation to get caught up in and don’t try to cast too far first off, accuracy is far more important when your starting out. Good luck and stick with it, once you get the hang of it you’ll never use a baitcaster again! Darren (New Zealand)

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: I, do NOT welcome ‘all’ newbies to the sport in some kind of : "Barneyesque Lemming Hugs and Kisses" fashion. Allright!  I’m pretty sure this is our first Barney reference.  Way to go Tim. —

No,  I’ve made several Barney remarks…but, I do always keep in mind…                   "Everyone is someone elses Barney" XXXOOO’s TimW

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I just took my first fly fishing weekend course. I liked it. I could see myself doing it better than I ever spin or bait fished. My instructor told me to get a 5/6 pole and weight forward line with a reel of some type.

Skip the WF line and go for a Double Taper instead……You won’t get the same distance but it’s much easier to learn to do other than the "standard" overhead cast…….It’s probably cheaper too…… He said I did not need any flys for now just practice with the pole.

Sure…., put a fly to the line and practice in a bass water or whatever U like to catch. Best training there is, and who knows, U even migth catch something. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I saw a martin bass rig for 49.95 in Bass Pro’s spring catalog.  Will this be a good learner set? Thanks John

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Chief-petty-officer to the newbie – Boy, we need to tie that down, go to supply and get me a 100′ of shoreline. While you’re out pick up a bucket of relative bearing grease…

Oh, I think it got left on the signal bridge. Either there or in shaft alley #3.  Better check both places. kill -9 -1 | sort | init                         1965 IH Scout                         1908 Win 30-30