Question:

A friend is leaving our fishing committee after a number of years. We would like to mark the occasion with a gift. In some ways it is easy you can always find use for a cape, a reel, a fly box, a line, the list is endless… Perhaps a good strong fly box that could take a small inscription would be a permanent reminder, does anyone have any suggestions? — Ellis Morgan

Response:

A friend is leaving our fishing committee after a number of years. We would like to mark the occasion with a gift. In some ways it is easy you can always find use for a cape, a reel, a fly box, a line, the list is endless… Perhaps a good strong fly box that could take a small inscription would be a permanent reminder, does anyone have any suggestions? — Ellis Morgan

I’ve seen Wheatly fly boxes that people have engraved. Paul

Response:

I’ve used a UK company which specialises in fishing gifts: http://www.justfish.co.uk I’ve had resin fish for the wall, cards and fishing related ornaments etc.  The catalogue is pretty good, in fact I think they sent out a Xmas one recently – might be worth requesting one ?

Response:

In reference to my previous post for justfish.co.uk, the resin fish sculptures are quite nice – they are not very big mind.  I ordered one last year for the wall – only 12 x 8 inches – under

Question:

Mine or Dan’s? I am a disfunctional custom finish carpenter. Who longs to build everyone at least one perfect fishing rod. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods http://www.millenniumcustomrods.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is your career field? Bill Dave, I am glad that your not closing the doors.  Eventually I hope to have enough cash to order a rod from you, from all I have heard it will be great.  Now if you can help me find a job, I’ll order it right soon ;<} Good fishing and catching! No more dail-up! Guess I have to figure out how to change the "sig". The cable modem was a father’s day present. or birthday present, hhmmm perhaps both. Damn that means I am done for the year, and I didn’t get that Curado replaced. Double crap!!! Dan I’ve rambled enough, back to the rocking chair.  ZZZZZZZZZ Remove left x for a direct reply.

Response:

What is your career field? Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dave, I am glad that your not closing the doors.  Eventually I hope to have enough cash to order a rod from you, from all I have heard it will be great.  Now if you can help me find a job, I’ll order it right soon ;<} Good fishing and catching! No more dail-up! Guess I have to figure out how to change the "sig". The cable modem was a father’s day present. or birthday present, hhmmm perhaps both. Damn that means I am done for the year, and I didn’t get that Curado replaced. Double crap!!! Dan I’ve rambled enough, back to the rocking chair.  ZZZZZZZZZ Remove left x for a direct reply.

Response:

MX I think! Wait till you see the whole site. Chris my new webmaster & I talked some to nite. Soon he will have our whole catalog, some 86 different — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods http://www.millenniumcustomrods.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey… I like that! Was that with Dreamweaver? Charles, he is in charge of flyrods only, by the way check out the new site. It is still under construction, but I really like the direction it is headed! — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods http://www.millenniumcustomrods.com I’ll volunteer for that field tester job Dave. LOL Dan, not only are we not closing up shop; we just got the final quotes form our supplier for the the spinning rods. Wish I could help you out in the employment field, shucks if this doesn’t play out I’ll likely be with you. Also we just finished a prototype 2 piece 8′6"  6wt. flyrod. Our feild tester has been having fits to get his hands on it since he first test cast it. So all you folks that fly fish for smallies, we’ve got you covered also. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods Dave, I am glad that your not closing the doors.  Eventually I hope to have enough cash to order a rod from you, from all I have heard it will be great.  Now if you can help me find a job, I’ll order it right soon ;<} Good fishing and catching! No more dail-up! Guess I have to figure out how to change the "sig". The cable modem was a father’s day present. or birthday present, hhmmm perhaps both. Damn that means I am done for the year, and I didn’t get that Curado replaced. Double crap!!! Dan I’ve rambled enough, back to the rocking chair.  ZZZZZZZZZ Remove left x for a direct reply.

Response:

Hey… I like that! Was that with Dreamweaver?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Charles, he is in charge of flyrods only, by the way check out the new site. It is still under construction, but I really like the direction it is headed! — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods http://www.millenniumcustomrods.com I’ll volunteer for that field tester job Dave. LOL Dan, not only are we not closing up shop; we just got the final quotes form our supplier for the the spinning rods. Wish I could help you out in the employment field, shucks if this doesn’t play out I’ll likely be with you. Also we just finished a prototype 2 piece 8′6"  6wt. flyrod. Our feild tester has been having fits to get his hands on it since he first test cast it. So all you folks that fly fish for smallies, we’ve got you covered also. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods Dave, I am glad that your not closing the doors.  Eventually I hope to have enough cash to order a rod from you, from all I have heard it will be great.  Now if you can help me find a job, I’ll order it right soon ;<} Good fishing and catching! No more dail-up! Guess I have to figure out how to change the "sig". The cable modem was a father’s day present. or birthday present, hhmmm perhaps both. Damn that means I am done for the year, and I didn’t get that Curado replaced. Double crap!!! Dan I’ve rambled enough, back to the rocking chair.  ZZZZZZZZZ Remove left x for a direct reply.

Response:

Charles, he is in charge of flyrods only, by the way check out the new site. It is still under construction, but I really like the direction it is headed! — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods http://www.millenniumcustomrods.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ll volunteer for that field tester job Dave. LOL Dan, not only are we not closing up shop; we just got the final quotes form our supplier for the the spinning rods. Wish I could help you out in the employment field, shucks if this doesn’t play out I’ll likely be with you. Also we just finished a prototype 2 piece 8′6"  6wt. flyrod. Our feild tester has been having fits to get his hands on it since he first test cast it. So all you folks that fly fish for smallies, we’ve got you covered also. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods Dave, I am glad that your not closing the doors.  Eventually I hope to have enough cash to order a rod from you, from all I have heard it will be great.  Now if you can help me find a job, I’ll order it right soon ;<} Good fishing and catching! No more dail-up! Guess I have to figure out how to change the "sig". The cable modem was a father’s day present. or birthday present, hhmmm perhaps both. Damn that means I am done for the year, and I didn’t get that Curado replaced. Double crap!!! Dan I’ve rambled enough, back to the rocking chair.  ZZZZZZZZZ Remove left x for a direct reply.

Response:

No more dail-up! Guess I have to figure out how to change the "sig". The cable modem was a father’s day present. or birthday present, hhmmm perhaps both. Damn that means I am done for the year, and I didn’t get that Curado replaced. Double crap!!! — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now Dave… if you’re gonna play with Connie’s computer… at least change the name. The idea of a less expensive rod sounds good. Can you compete though with places like Bass Pro Shops? I’m sure that there’s a much greater benefit from a semi-custom rod than the BPS specials, so you’ll have to stress that, as well as educate people like you have taught me. With that range of prices though… and the right salesman/sales pitch… you’d be running on the right track. Now… is this going to be feasible? Don’t forget that your time and talent is worth money as well. I don’t think that I’d drop the higher end line altogether… but rather keep them available when people begin to understand what a custom rod can do for them. I know that when I first began buying my rods, I was happy as a lark with the $20~$30 rods. As time came to replace them, I realized that if I wanted one that would last longer and help my confidence, I’d have to pay a little more. Once I got a really good rod in my hands, I knew that I’d never be happy with anything less. That’s why I came to you about my next rod. Hopefully, I’ll be able to drum you up a little business when I receive mine. I’ve already begun the teaching, and have impressed a few people. Wait until they see one of yours! Due to a recent downturn in the custom market we actually thought about closing up shop. And then an idea over came us. What if we could produce a line of rods in semi-production mode that would appeal to the more average angler.  To this end we are working with our suppliers to build a semi-custom rod at will retail for about $125.00 These rods will preform as well as our custom models yet, they will not have the frills. We are currently working on 10 models to include baitcastrs & spinning rods. We hope to have production models ready soon. These rods will be offered both in the retail market & as direct sales from our website. Which is now under going a major reconstruction. The new site will finally include our fly rod assembly. We hope that you will take the time in the coming months to check us out. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods

Response:

I’ll volunteer for that field tester job Dave. LOL

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dan, not only are we not closing up shop; we just got the final quotes form our supplier for the the spinning rods. Wish I could help you out in the employment field, shucks if this doesn’t play out I’ll likely be with you. Also we just finished a prototype 2 piece 8′6"  6wt. flyrod. Our feild tester has been having fits to get his hands on it since he first test cast it. So all you folks that fly fish for smallies, we’ve got you covered also. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods Dave, I am glad that your not closing the doors.  Eventually I hope to have enough cash to order a rod from you, from all I have heard it will be great.  Now if you can help me find a job, I’ll order it right soon ;<} Good fishing and catching! No more dail-up! Guess I have to figure out how to change the "sig". The cable modem was a father’s day present. or birthday present, hhmmm perhaps both. Damn that means I am done for the year, and I didn’t get that Curado replaced. Double crap!!! Dan I’ve rambled enough, back to the rocking chair.  ZZZZZZZZZ Remove left x for a direct reply.

Response:

Dave, I am glad that your not closing the doors.  Eventually I hope to have enough cash to order a rod from you, from all I have heard it will be great.  Now if you can help me find a job, I’ll order it right soon ;<} Good fishing and catching! No more dail-up! Guess I have to figure out how to change the "sig". The cable modem was a father’s day present. or birthday present, hhmmm perhaps both. Damn that means I am done for the year, and I didn’t get that Curado replaced. Double crap!!!

Dan I’ve rambled enough, back to the rocking chair.  ZZZZZZZZZ Remove left x for a direct reply.

Response:

Dan, not only are we not closing up shop; we just got the final quotes form our supplier for the the spinning rods. Wish I could help you out in the employment field, shucks if this doesn’t play out I’ll likely be with you. Also we just finished a prototype 2 piece 8′6"  6wt. flyrod. Our feild tester has been having fits to get his hands on it since he first test cast it. So all you folks that fly fish for smallies, we’ve got you covered also. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dave, I am glad that your not closing the doors.  Eventually I hope to have enough cash to order a rod from you, from all I have heard it will be great.  Now if you can help me find a job, I’ll order it right soon ;<} Good fishing and catching! No more dail-up! Guess I have to figure out how to change the "sig". The cable modem was a father’s day present. or birthday present, hhmmm perhaps both. Damn that means I am done for the year, and I didn’t get that Curado replaced. Double crap!!! Dan I’ve rambled enough, back to the rocking chair.  ZZZZZZZZZ Remove left x for a direct reply.

Response:

Now Dave… if you’re gonna play with Connie’s computer… at least change the name. The idea of a less expensive rod sounds good. Can you compete though with places like Bass Pro Shops? I’m sure that there’s a much greater benefit from a semi-custom rod than the BPS specials, so you’ll have to stress that, as well as educate people like you have taught me. With that range of prices though… and the right salesman/sales pitch… you’d be running on the right track. Now… is this going to be feasible? Don’t forget that your time and talent is worth money as well. I don’t think that I’d drop the higher end line altogether… but rather keep them available when people begin to understand what a custom rod can do for them. I know that when I first began buying my rods, I was happy as a lark with the $20~$30 rods. As time came to replace them, I realized that if I wanted one that would last longer and help my confidence, I’d have to pay a little more. Once I got a really good rod in my hands, I knew that I’d never be happy with anything less. That’s why I came to you about my next rod. Hopefully, I’ll be able to drum you up a little business when I receive mine. I’ve already begun the teaching, and have impressed a few people. Wait until they see one of yours!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Due to a recent downturn in the custom market we actually thought about closing up shop. And then an idea over came us. What if we could produce a line of rods in semi-production mode that would appeal to the more average angler.  To this end we are working with our suppliers to build a semi-custom rod at will retail for about $125.00 These rods will preform as well as our custom models yet, they will not have the frills. We are currently working on 10 models to include baitcastrs & spinning rods. We hope to have production models ready soon. These rods will be offered both in the retail market & as direct sales from our website. Which is now under going a major reconstruction. The new site will finally include our fly rod assembly. We hope that you will take the time in the coming months to check us out. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods

Response:

the light bill.  :-) — Jerry Barton www.jerrys-world.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Due to a recent downturn in the custom market we actually thought about closing up shop. And then an idea over came us. What if we could produce a line of rods in semi-production mode that would appeal to the more average angler.  To this end we are working with our suppliers to build a semi-custom rod at will retail for about $125.00 These rods will preform as well as our custom models yet, they will not have the frills. We are currently working on 10 models to include baitcastrs & spinning rods. We hope to have production models ready soon. These rods will be offered both in the retail market & as direct sales from our website. Which is now under going a major reconstruction. The new site will finally include our fly rod assembly. We hope that you will take the time in the coming months to check us out. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods

Response:

Due to a recent downturn in the custom market we actually thought about closing up shop. And then an idea over came us. What if we could produce a line of rods in semi-production mode that would appeal to the more average angler.  To this end we are working with our suppliers to build a semi-custom rod at will retail for about $125.00 These rods will preform as well as our custom models yet, they will not have the frills. We are currently working on 10 models to include baitcastrs & spinning rods. We hope to have production models ready soon. These rods will be offered both in the retail market & as direct sales from our website. Which is now under going a major reconstruction. The new site will finally include our fly rod assembly. We hope that you will take the time in the coming months to check us out. — Dave Norton Millennium Custom Rods

Response:

Question:

A while back there was a posting that had this open or active portal concept. It was set up at a college or something and dealt with fly fishing. Does anybody still have the link for it? Thanks in advance, — Jamie http://clik.to/flyfish

Response:

Thank you if you bothered to answer me. I finally found it. Here is the link if anyone is interested. http://www.active-portal.com/cgi-bin/genpage?cat=1031242&page=1&verbo… — Jamie http://clik.to/flyfish – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A while back there was a posting that had this open or active portal concept. It was set up at a college or something and dealt with fly fishing. Does anybody still have the link for it? Thanks in advance, — Jamie http://clik.to/flyfish

Response:

Question:

Ross, I had the same type of problem and I bought a C&R net with a small bungee cord that has a magnet at either end.  One end is attached to the D ring of my vest in the back and the other to the net.  The magnets keep the net nice and high on my back and out of the way.  When I pull on the net, the magnet releases and allows me to have a long line to net the fish. I don’t go fishing for trout anymore without it.  It is one of the best accessories I own.  I don’t use it on smaller fish and I have run across some larger fish that just didn’t fit, but for mid-size trout, I highly recommend it. Rooster – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The most obvious alternative seems to be to use a catch and release net, and herein lies my question.  When fishing alone on a river, how do you use the net and where/how do you carry it while fishing?  I’ve seen fishermen on TV with the nets hanging from the back of their vests, presumably on a retractable line.  Is that the best approach?  Is it easy to access when needed?What is the risk of breaking the rod tip if you have to hold the rod up high to bring the fish in the net?

Response:

Hi Ross, As Darin said in his post I too go without a net when fishing the waters around the Seattle area. Depending on the size of the fish I will usually not even touch the fish with my hands if possible. The reason I can do this is a nifty little tool called a Ketchum-Release designed by a fellow up in BC. So long as you use a barbless hook you can use this tool to slide over the line and then down over the fly. Usually with a simple twist or jerk of your wrist you can remove the fly and the fish is off and running. If you have done this with sufficient water under the fish and the fish hasn’t been played too long you won’t even have to touch the fish. If this fish is showing signs of being overly tired you should try to gently hold in gentle current it without EVER removing it from the water. Every second you have it out of the water reduces the fishes chances of recovery drastically. I also try to never release a fish that is visibly bleeding. If it is then it either goes to the eagles who often are nearby watching every move or if regulations permit I’ll take it home to the smoker (Having said that I might have killed all of ten fish in the last 5 years). The Ketchum-Release has got to be one of my all time favorite fly fishing tools. Just make sure you tie it onto your vest as they sink! Gary Disclaimer– I have nothing to do with the company that makes the Ketchum-Release I just like the tool! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m trying to fine tune my landing of medium size trout to minimize harm to the fish. I typically fish in coastal British Columbia rivers, which are prone to rocky shores (at least where I fish) and my normal method of landing fish involves beaching it then releasing it.  What I notice however is that often the fish will thrash about on the rocks while I’m in the process of beaching it until I pick the fish up to remove the hook and release it back in the water.  I can’t believe that having the fish roll around and hit the rocks (even if its only for a few seconds) can be all that helpful to its survival, so I am trying to find a better approach. The most obvious alternative seems to be to use a catch and release net, and herein lies my question.  When fishing alone on a river, how do you use the net and where/how do you carry it while fishing?  I’ve seen fishermen on TV with the nets hanging from the back of their vests, presumably on a retractable line.  Is that the best approach?  Is it easy to access when needed?What is the risk of breaking the rod tip if you have to hold the rod up high to bring the fish in the net? Can anyone share their experiences and recommendations in beaching fish in similar situations, are nets the solution? Sorry if these are dumb questions, any ideas or experience would be appreciated. Ross

Response:

I once saw Houston bow fishing for gar and other "rough fish".  He was shooting the fish, bringing them in, and then throwing them back in the water.  Couldn’t call that c&r at all, more like release and kill.  He stated that doing this was "good for conservation" since the gar kill sport fish.  I guess it’s a miracle that the largemouth made it this far, without J. Houston to protect them from the bad ol’ gar. David Burnside Since my Jimmy Houston rant a while back, I’ve had occasion to see him a few more times still doing exactly the same shit.   I don’t usually watch these shows, so maybe the others are just as bad, but that guy is appalling. It’s unfathomable to me how his mistreatment of the fish he catches continues to pass for sport and entertainment

Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

certainly.  The wet fish gets on dry sand/rock and the protective mucus on it are removed as when people grab fish with dry hands.  The fish becomes infected, etc. and later dies.

For a while now I’ve been a bit sceptical about the ‘dry hands -removes the mucous – gets infected – fish dies’ theory. I think that fish are probably perfectly able to replace a bit of slime that gets rubbed off locally. What about the abrasion that occurs ‘naturally’ in the animal’s life, e.g., when cutting redds? Don’t get me wrong: I’m not advocating handling with dry hands or dragging up on a gravel beach those fish intended for release, its just that I question a bit of angling lore that’s been repeated so often that everyone now believes it without challenge. As a matter of interest: the carp and pike specimen hunters in Britain take their ‘releasing’ very seriously. Most fisheries stipulate the use of special padded unhooking mats (that have to be of a minimum size) and weighing slings made of soft, non-abrasive material. There are also purpose-made antibiotic/fungicidal preparations on the market for anglers to apply to hook puncture wounds and other injuries on the fish, prior to release.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For a while now I’ve been a bit sceptical about the ‘dry hands -removes the mucous – gets infected – fish dies’ theory. I think that fish are probably perfectly able to replace a bit of slime that gets rubbed off locally. What about the abrasion that occurs ‘naturally’ in the animal’s life, e.g., when cutting redds? Don’t get me wrong: I’m not advocating handling with dry hands or dragging up on a gravel beach those fish intended for release, its just that I question a bit of angling lore that’s been repeated so often that everyone now believes it without challenge. As a matter of interest: the carp and pike specimen hunters in Britain take their ‘releasing’ very seriously. Most fisheries stipulate the use of special padded unhooking mats (that have to be of a minimum size) and weighing slings made of soft, non-abrasive material. There are also purpose-made antibiotic/fungicidal preparations on the market for anglers to apply to hook puncture wounds and other injuries on the fish, prior to release.

Tony, I to have heard the lore. I always wet my hands, not so much from the lore, but from practical experience as a youth. Down the street from where I was raised in Miami, old man Roberts had a fish farm. His business was importing tropical fish from around the world and selling them to pet shops so that hobbyists could have fish in their tanks. Occasionally, his son John and I would go out and help net & pick fish for the orders being shipped out. The old mans #1 rule was, "wet your hands and keep them wet". The reason being that it protected the fishes mucous which allowed the fish to arrive at their destination in healthy condition without ich growing all over them. I don’t have any scientific basis for any of this, just experience. The old man would usually reward us with a dollar or so and a dime or two for the soda machine. I think the one thing that has changed since the early 60’s that I really miss the most, is the ice-cold 6oz. Coca-Cola’s that would noisily clank down mechanical innards to the dispenser when you put that dime in the slot and depressed the cast iron handle. waldo — Ezflyfish.com http://www.ezflyfish.com BRBG http://www.abebooks.com/home/BLUEBOOKS P.O. Box 5112  Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828)963-5001

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For a while now I’ve been a bit sceptical about the ‘dry hands -removes the mucous – gets infected – fish dies’ theory. I think that fish are probably perfectly able to replace a bit of slime that gets rubbed off locally. What about the abrasion that occurs ‘naturally’ in the animal’s life, e.g., when cutting redds? Don’t get me wrong: I’m not advocating handling with dry hands or dragging up on a gravel beach those fish intended for release, its just that I question a bit of angling lore that’s been repeated so often that everyone now believes it without challenge. As a matter of interest: the carp and pike specimen hunters in Britain take their ‘releasing’ very seriously. Most fisheries stipulate the use of special padded unhooking mats (that have to be of a minimum size) and weighing slings made of soft, non-abrasive material. There are also purpose-made antibiotic/fungicidal preparations on the market for anglers to apply to hook puncture wounds and other injuries on the fish, prior to release. Tony, I to have heard the lore. I always wet my hands, not so much from the lore, but from practical experience as a youth. Down the street from where I was raised in Miami, old man Roberts had a fish farm. His business was importing tropical fish from around the world and selling them to pet shops so that hobbyists could have fish in their tanks. Occasionally, his son John and I would go out and help net & pick fish for the orders being shipped out. The old mans #1 rule was, "wet your hands and keep them wet". The reason being that it protected the fishes mucous which allowed the fish to arrive at their destination in healthy condition without ich growing all over them. I don’t have any scientific basis for any of this, just experience. The old man would usually reward us with a dollar or so and a dime or two for the soda machine. I think the one thing that has changed since the early 60’s that I really miss the most, is the ice-cold 6oz. Coca-Cola’s that would noisily clank down mechanical innards to the dispenser when you put that dime in the slot and depressed the cast iron handle. waldo — Ezflyfish.com http://www.ezflyfish.com BRBG http://www.abebooks.com/home/BLUEBOOKS P.O. Box 5112  Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828)963-5001

_______  What a fond description of old memories!   — Mr. G.   http://www.gink.com/html  Fly Fisherman’s Chat Site   "Flyfisherman’s Camp Fires Burning" http://www.gink.com http://www.rodbuilding.com http://www.xink.com

Question:

In 14 hours, the EBAY auction for a Beautiful Hardy Marquis 6 Fly Fishing Reel – No Reserve – will be completed. Please check it out. You may see it here: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=141623991 Thanks!

Response:

I am sick of this damn ad. Big Dale

Response:

Me too. Bob Elliott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am sick of this damn ad. Big Dale

Response:

Question:

I will be up in Bend, Oregon next week and will be trying to fish Hosmer Lake next Friday, May 15.  Any word on if the road will be open?  If so, what is the fishing like there at that time of year?  Any particular patterns that would be more effective than others?  Help would be

Response:

Hosmer might still be snowed in. Try Black leech patterns if you can get in-mid-day or late afternoon best

Response:

I will be up in Bend, Oregon next week and will be trying to fish Hosmer Lake next Friday, May 15.  Any word on if the road will be open?  If so, what is the fishing like there at that time of year?  Any particular patterns that would be more effective than others?  Help would be

Hi Tom, I have only fished it in August, but heard that they had great caddis hatches in June. Early on fish can be pretty hungry and stupid so a black wolly bugger or leech might get ‘em. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

Response:

I will be up in Bend, Oregon next week and will be trying to fish Hosmer Lake next Friday, May 15.  Any word on if the road will be open?  If so, what is the fishing like there at that time of year?  Any particular patterns that would be more effective than others?  Help would be

Tom Last I heard it’s still snowed in.  A couple of guys tried to hike in with belly boats and didn’t make it. Jim Jones For e-mail reply replace spam with sns

Response:

Question:

There are two schools of thought on this: !.  Too many guides restrict the rod’s action. 2. Too few guides allow the line to drag against the rod when it flexes. Take your pick. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail GO TO http://users.ccnet.com/~emh FOR TRAVEL TIE BOX PLANS Hi there! I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use? Jarkko —

—                                             |    Jarkko Karvinen                            |    Student of biochemistry                    |  E. coli happens  University of Turku, Finland               |    tel. +358 (0)2 3338059                        |

— – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use?<BR The general rule of thumb is one guide for every foot plus the stripper, so 8 is the general rule of thumb.  One thing you might try is to tape the guides on with both the spacing for the 9 guides and the 8 guides and them string a line trhough them and see how the rod flexes.  Basically, the more guides the more friction.  But fewer is not better either – find a hapy medium by flexing the rod with line through the guides and make sure there are no dead spotsor places where the line touches the rod. Or – you might try calling St Croix.  I bet they would give you the guide spacing they use on the factory rod. Al Manchester, NH

      I know you are not the original poster but he may read this. I have an 8′ 8wt, a 7′6" 3wt and a 6′6" 5wt. The question gave me food for thought so I counted the guides on each, they all have 8, stripper included. with the exception of stripper and tip-top are all snake guides, all are factory. I also looked up the guide kits all are 8 guide.                                                              John Popp                                                           in Sanford Fl.

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I know you are not the original poster but he may read this. Ihave an 8′

8wt, a 7′6" 3wt and a 6′6" 5wt. The question gave me food forthought so I counted the guides on each, they all have 8, stripperincluded. with the exception of stripper and tip-top are all snakeguides, all are factory. I also looked up the guide kits all are 8guide. I don’t doubt that all your rods in various lengths have the same amount of gudes.  This is a subjuect that is debated as much as anythng in fly fishing. As I said "the general rule of thumb" is one per foot plus a stripper guide. Many manufacturers leave a guide or two off to save money, some rods cast better with fewer or more guides. There are a couple of ways to determine guide spacing.  Clemens and Anglers Work Shop as well as some otheres I would guess sell a tool that will allow you to test the spacing of the guides with the rod under load.  There is a program that Cane rod builders use that was written by Wayne Catanach that calculates the spacing based on the number of guides you choose and the placement of the stripper guide.  Several books list guide placement charts as well, and Blue Ridge Rod Company includes a very good one in their catalog. I personally have always used the 1 guide per foot plus the stripper for my rods.   In Skip Morris’s book "The Custon Graphite Rod" and in Handcrafting Custom Graphite Fly Rods" by L.A. Garcia, this is the information that they provide, although the spacings are a bit different and Skip Morris provides some good insight as to the actuual placement of guides based on the rod and the fishermam it is intended for, as well as some general guide lines for placement of guides on soft and fast action rods.  It is interesting reading. The mark of a true custom rod may be going to the extra step of testing the guide placement with the rod under stress.  I have done this a few times but the standard guide placements on the graphite rods I have built have all been so close that I dont worry about it any more. It’s an interesting debate for rod builders.  Could you tell me where you looked up the guide kits for these rods?  Might just be a catalog I am missing:))))) Al Manchester, NH

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Hi there! I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use? Jarkko —                                             |    Jarkko Karvinen                            |    Student of biochemistry                    |  E. coli happens  University of Turku, Finland               |    tel. +358 (0)2 3338059                     |

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I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2

different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use?<BR The general rule of thumb is one guide for every foot plus the stripper, so 8 is the general rule of thumb.  One thing you might try is to tape the guides on with both the spacing for the 9 guides and the 8 guides and them string a line trhough them and see how the rod flexes.  Basically, the more guides the more friction.  But fewer is not better either – find a hapy medium by flexing the rod with line through the guides and make sure there are no dead spotsor places where the line touches the rod. Or – you might try calling St Croix.  I bet they would give you the guide spacing they use on the factory rod. Al Manchester, NH

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Hi there! I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use? Jarkko

I don’t know how prevelent St Croix rods are in Finland, but your best bet would probably be to find an assembled rod from the manufacturer and copy their guided size and placement. There are some rod shop owners on this group, maybe one of them can measure it for you if you can’t find the rod in your area. Good luck,      - Ken

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Hi there! I am building a 7 foot 2-3wt st.croix rod. The problem is that I have found 2 different guide spacing charts for 7 footers. One used 8 guides the other 9. Which one should I use?

Jarkko, here’s the spacing (and 7 Fuji guides) that I use on a 7ft fly rod. Note that the last (8mm2) is a 2-footed guide, the rest are single foot guides, and the measurements are in inches starting from the tip. If I recall, I got these recommendations from L.G. Custom Tackle (G. Loomis dealer and custom rod builder) many years ago. IMHO I think 9 guides is way too many for anything under 8′. I prefer the single footed Hardloy or SIC Fuji’s to the traditional snake guides which allow the line to slap against the blank. 7′ – 4(6mm), 9(6mm), 15(6mm), 22(7mm), 30(7mm), 40(8mm), 52(8mm2) Now you have 3 choices David E. Malone All opinions expressed are my own.

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Looking for a flyfishing guide for Gasparilla Fla after Xmas this year. Marc

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that’s easy if you can get him… Call Capt Sandy Melvin and book him early. 1 800 4 tarpon.  He’s great on tarpon snook and reds…his fax is 813 (could be 941 as we jsut had a ac change) 9644 1611.  enjoy!! regards grant

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Question:

Only 1.5 weeks until my trip to Creede Colorado. Can anyone tell me what conditions to expect? Is the Rio Grande high? Don

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You’ll be hitting the Rio Grande and tributaries just right! Rio Grande is very good right now, just a bit high. Things should be in fine shape by the time you arrive. Expect lots of caddis and some mayfly activity. Stoneflies are pretty much over. RG tributaries are all clear and very fishable right now, and should still be fine when you are here. By the end of July, though, water will be running thin in many places, and fishing may be getting tough. Lyn Lampert, for the Rocky Mountain Flyfishing Center http://www.xmission.com/~gastown/flyfishing

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Only 1.5 weeks until my trip to Creede Colorado. Can anyone tell me what conditions to expect? Is the Rio Grande high? Don

Hello Don, You might try the U.S. Geological Survey page for Colorado water information at http://h2o.usgs.gov/swr/CO/ and follow their different menu selections.  You should be able to find the information you’re looking for at that location. Naturally, you can bookmark the information for future reference. However, should you want to get information on other states and have inadvertantly forgetten about the USGS pages, my Dealer Sources Pages at Rx F Fish now has a link to the appropiate state USGS information from each of its pages. Hope the info is helpful. Best Regards,          Rx F Fish "For Your Good Health, Fly Fish" URL=http://www.xnet.com/~rxffish

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I’ll be in Creede during the second week of July. Last year, at that time, the Rio Grande and most nearby streams were very high. Should I expect more of the same this year? Also, any tips? Don VanSlyke                        

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WE have record snow depth this year,  however, unless you are talking early July things shouldn’t be too roilly.  From Creed, you can get to a lot of great area, go over to Lake City up to the Rio reservoir down to Southfork, etc. Something good in every direction. Lds

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Question:

I just got back from a two week vacation to the Bighorn & the Henry’s Fork.  The fishing was great! The Bighorn: Running at twice the volume that I’ve ever fished it before.  My objective was to put my girls into large rainbows and browns.  With the high water there places for them to wade on the right side looking downstream were extremely difficult.   BTW the volume flow was 6500 cfs.  I took the girls out with Frank Johnson from the Bighorn Trout Shop the first day.  The girls both caught Brown’s to 18 inches.  The long line releases ran about 5:1, but they did great under difficult conditions.  The nice gravel bars I expected them to be able to put them on were either four feet under water or completely washed out.  Many of my favorite dry fly areas (side channels and backwaters were completely washed out, never to be seen again).  Lets hear it for the DWR.  Frank feels that in ten to twenty years of the current mismanagement the bighorn will be a nice smooth irrigation ditch with no character. The next two days I took the oars and really enjoyed myself.  My twelve year old took a twenty-one inch rainbow male on the second day.  The fishing was good but not what I really like (too much lead). Henry’s Fork (July 3 thru July 9):  The weather turned cold and wet.  Sleet, hail and snow at higher elevations.  The only warm weather was on Thursday my last day. July 3: Fished the Fire Hole in wet cold weather.  Lots of PMD’s comming off, but not profusely.  Lot’s of small fish raising all over on the PMD’s. A few big fish were porposing regularily.  Looking closer I noticed Baetis were hatching and the big guys were keyed into the size 18 & 20’s.  I fished downstream with dry baetis emerger and had a ball with fish to 16 inches. Everyone else in my area was using the larger PMD’s and catching dinks. The rest of the trip I fished the Fork, concentrating on the Ranch.  Great hatches and great dry fly fishing.  At on point below the Osborn bridge there were five insect hatches in progress (micro caddis, evening caddis – size 18, large Caddis with speckled wings, PMD’s and Flav’s).  The fish keyed into different hatches as the light conditions changed. I’ll get on my soap box for a second.  The Fork is still a mighty sick river.  Lot’s of silt and Brown Drakes in the Millionaires Pool area where I remember only gravel.  Also a lot of the fish in the river a lake fish from the Res. that was drained last year.  You know immediately when you have a river fish, they jump 3 or 4 times and take you into your backing immediately.  The trout from the lake are much less robust.  The increase in trout numbers is great for the outfitters, but I miss the quality.  I missed having my clock cleaned by big trout on the Ranch, ripping line and rubbing me off in a weed bed.  The trout have to win sometimes to make it interesting. My only regret was that I had to leave without a spinner fall.   It was just too cold in the evenings, except for last Thursday.  I spent a beautiful evening on the ranch waiting for spinners and had to settle for a Brown Drake hatch.  The big trout were up for about thirty minutes before the White fish moved in and the trout were gone. It’s always fun  to spend the evening in Church (The Ranch)! If you want some great guides for the Ranch I’d recommend  Mate (The last name escapes me, if I ever knew it), who guides for Mike Lawson’s Henry’s Fork Anglers at last chance.

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I forgot to mention that the area from the end of the Box to the Ranch was fishing great on drys (Caddis, PMD’s and Flav.’s).   Fish to raisers, don’t just cover water.  

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