Question:

I plan to fly fish Sunday from sun-up to sun-down on a western Washington river. The hunt is for pink salmon. Has anyone had much success on the Skykomish river this past week? I was on it three times last week and saw a LOT of fish jumping/rolling/striking on the surface. However, they were on the far bank and I was unable to reach them. The report that I heard yesterday indicated there are a ton of pink salmon in the rivers right now. The second destination is the Stillaquamish river, west of I-5. I understand that’s supposed to be a good spot for salmon as well. I hope the visibility is up this weekend. Thanks for any input, Ryan

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I plan to fly fish Sunday from sun-up to sun-down on a western Washington river. The hunt is for pink salmon. Has anyone had much success on the Skykomish river this past week? I was on it three times last week and saw a LOT of fish jumping/rolling/striking on the surface. However, they were on the far bank and I was unable to reach them. The report that I heard yesterday indicated there are a ton of pink salmon in the rivers right now. The second destination is the Stillaquamish river, west of I-5. I understand that’s supposed to be a good spot for salmon as well. I hope the visibility is up this weekend. Thanks for any input, Ryan

I just read a report that a guy and his partner caught 40 humpies in 4 hours last night on the lower Stilly. The fish are there. I’d be willing to bet that the lower Sky is pretty much the same. Darin

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Yeah, they’re there alright… I fished the Skykomish for a couple hours this weekend. Saw more fish than I’ve ever seen in my life. Didn’t get one hit. They must be thinking about getting a little instead of thinking about food.

Response:

Its been a good for hatchery returns pretty much accross the board (Coho and Dog and Humpies). I unerstan the limit on steelhead hatchery returns to the grand Ronde was raised to 3. Dave

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OK, again I can’t keep my mouth (fingers?) shut.  I’ve been to the Stilly near I-5 three times in the last week, and in a word, it’s AWSOME.  The first day I stayed about an hour and a half, released a couple fish and took home 4 pinks.  All were bright and tasty.  The second day I took my son Andy with me and we spent a little longer, released more fish, and brought home 6.   Today I took Andy and a friend and it was better.  There were more fish and bigger fish.  Andy had a killer pattern that got him agressive strikes on 10 successive casts while I was next to him and hooked one fish per 20 casts.  Here’s a pattern for his fly: Hook:  TMC105 #4 (straight eye egg hook, heavy and short) Thread:  Hot pink. Eyes:  Small red Clouser style Tail:  Fuscia (pink) marabou, not too thick about 1.5 times the length of the body. Body:  Pink sparkle chenile We here in a pool below an island, and the fish were stacked up at the line between the two flows.  Others with non-pink flies and hardware were not catching nearly as many fish as I was, let alone the amazing catch Andy had.  My fly was the same as his, but without the eyes.  The strikes I got were gentle, not the attacks Andy was getting. Chas – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I plan to fly fish Sunday from sun-up to sun-down on a western Washington river. The hunt is for pink salmon. Has anyone had much success on the Skykomish river this past week? I was on it three times last week and saw a LOT of fish jumping/rolling/striking on the surface. However, they were on the far bank and I was unable to reach them. The report that I heard yesterday indicated there are a ton of pink salmon in the rivers right now. The second destination is the Stillaquamish river, west of I-5. I understand that’s supposed to be a good spot for salmon as well. I hope the visibility is up this weekend. Thanks for any input, Ryan

Response:

I unerstan the limit on steelhead hatchery returns to the grand Ronde was raised to 3.

Hey, Dave, do you know if they’re basing that on fish counts over the dams, or are the temps in the Ronde already low enough to be bringing enough fish in to give them a good idea of returns on the Ronde? Reason I ask is that I’ve got a two week plus trip starting next Sunday, heading up to see my folks and my brother up in Tacoma (driving from Nevada City, California). In addition to seeing an M’s game in this historic season, eating some good sushi for a change, and hitting some old favorite watering holes, I’m going to be doing a helluva lot of fishing. I’m going to start with a couple days on the Klamath on the way up, maybe hitting the Kalama for an afternoon before arriving in Tacoma the night before my M’s game, but on the way back I want to spend serious time on the Deschutes and, if it’s happening, the Ronde (with, of course, a day or so on either the upper Sac, the McCloud, or the Klamath on the way back). Too much damn water between California and Washington! Every time I do this trip, I spend two months thinking about which rivers I want to hit! Tight lines and two more seasons with Edgar, – Sid

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Question:

As much as I would like to say we are not so individual as we would like to think.. in this case, we really are. Yes, we’re all individuals! ~raises hand~ i’m not…. *grin* (not really.  just couldn’t let the MP reference go by uncommented.)

Thank you. I’m glad someone got it. R.

Response:

I worship the moon Goddess Diana/Artimis

It is a popular misconception that Diana is the Goddess of the Moon.  In fact, she was the Goddess of the Sun.  The name Diana means "light".   – Chive "There be some whose lives are as if they perpetually played a part upon a stage, disguised to all others, open only to themselves."

Question:

Good story Mike, I often wondered how you got your expertise. Ernie Harrison

<snipped an good fish tail – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Apparently as soon as I had left the table the gentleman who had been standing there watching all the time had asked him who I was, and whether I was one of the more well known dressers there.  My friend had told him that this was indeed the case, and that I would be back later to continue the demo. "Oh, I don’t need the demo", the gent replied, " I don’t know who the bloke is, but he must be a genius, I only showed him how to tie some of these patterns at my stall in the flea-market shortly before the show started, and he sat and tied them here even better and faster than I can, I was just amazed that someone can learn so fast", and he then left the scene. Mike Connor

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says… <Snipped for berevity Very heartening story… I spent the better half of the evening trying to tie a variant of the yellow stimulator pattern that looks a lot like the one a friend from work showed me. I now have a new foe to vanquish and elk hair is thy name!!! http://www.troutflies.com/flies/yellowstimulator.htm I also need to work on gauging how much to cut and put on. Also keeping it from sliding around is a real challenge! Needless to say I got tow four tied. Two abortive and two looking like frankenstiens brides… I need to start building up a good collection of good quality hackles. Trying to tie dry hackles with saddle feathers is making me mental. I am also deathly afraid of going into fly shops as I am spending altogether too much on gather supplies! Tonight I managed to improvise a dubbing twister from a garbage bag tie. It works but it aint pretty! I think I shall prevail upon Tom at work to show me that pattern again at lunch! I’d love to visit one of those shows. I’ll have to keep my eyes open when one comes around my area. — Michael Era

Question:

I’m getting back into flyfishing after several years and i need a new rod/reel/line outfit.  I’ve seen several nice ones around but can’t really decide which weight i should go for.  I’m considering a #6 or #7 weight rod – but i haven’t ruled out a #5 or #8 weight either.  I fish mostly for trout and panfish, w/ a few occasional largemouth and smallmouth bass and small pickerel.  I would like an outfit w/ as much versitility as possible for small to medium-sized fish.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanx.                                                -Zimmy

Response:

I’m primarily a warmwater ff and have always used an 8 wt.  Recently I picked up a 6 wt. fast action rod and have really enjoyed it for bass and panfish.  I think that the faster action allows it to cast larger flies well, yet, it is still fun with small 12" bass. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m getting back into flyfishing after several years and i need a new rod/reel/line outfit.  I’ve seen several nice ones around but can’t really decide which weight i should go for.  I’m considering a #6 or #7 weight rod – but i haven’t ruled out a #5 or #8 weight either.  I fish mostly for trout and panfish, w/ a few occasional largemouth and smallmouth bass and small pickerel. I would like an outfit w/ as much versitility as possible for small to medium-sized fish.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanx.                                               -Zimmy

Response:

I’m getting back into flyfishing after several years and i need a new rod/reel/line outfit.  I’ve seen several nice ones around but can’t really decide which weight i should go for.  I’m considering a #6 or #7 weight rod – but i haven’t ruled out a #5 or #8 weight either.  I fish mostly for trout and panfish, w/ a few occasional largemouth and smallmouth bass and small pickerel.  I would like an outfit w/ as much versitility as possible for small to medium-sized fish.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanx.

Be guided by fly size.  If your typical day was spent using only flies #16 and smaller you would want a 5 weight outfit (or 6 or 4).  If the typical day was spent casting one-inch poppers or streamers for bass you’d want a 7 weight or 8.  You can cast bigger flies on a lighter outfit, and you can cast smaller than #16s on a 7 weight or heavier outfit, but you would probably not enjoy it after an hour or so. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

I use a Sage 5wt overlined with 6wt line.  It is a tip-flex rod and it has a very fast action which does a good job casting flies as small as size 12 dries to 1/0 deer hair poppers.  It has enough backbone to fight big largemouths and is sensitive enough to make moderate sized panfish a blast to catch.  No, it’s not the perfect rod for every situation, but as an all-around warm-water rod, I couldn’t want for much more.  I still would like a 2 or 3wt for small panfish and a 9wt for saltwater. HTH, Clark – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m getting back into flyfishing after several years and i need a new rod/reel/line outfit.  I’ve seen several nice ones around but can’t really decide which weight i should go for.  I’m considering a #6 or #7 weight rod – but i haven’t ruled out a #5 or #8 weight either.  I fish mostly for trout and panfish, w/ a few occasional largemouth and smallmouth bass and small pickerel. I would like an outfit w/ as much versitility as possible for small to medium-sized fish.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanx.                                               -Zimmy

Response:

(Donald Phillipson) writes:

*SNIP* I fish mostly for trout and panfish, w/ a few occasional largemouth and smallmouth bass and small pickerel.  I would like an outfit w/ as much versitility as possible for small to medium-sized fish.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanx. Be guided by fly size.  If your typical day was spent using only flies #16 and smaller you would want a 5 weight outfit (or 6 or 4).  If the typical day was spent casting one-inch poppers or streamers for bass you’d want a 7 weight or 8.  You can cast bigger flies on a lighter outfit, and you can cast smaller than #16s on a 7 weight or heavier outfit, but you would probably not enjoy it after an hour or so.

Don’s advice is right on the money.  Presuming you use a forearm-based casting stroke, sounds like a fast action 6wt. (such as the Orvis TL 906 – Silver Label or Trident version) would do the trick.  If you expect to through lots of #2 deer hair bugs, go ahead and stick a 7wt. line on that fast action 6.  The rod will handle it just fine and the 7wt. line pulls big bugs through the air better than the 6.  If you didn’t need to throw the big bugs for largemouth bass, a 5 wt would do fine.  So, like Don says, let your fly size be your guide. I have a line-weight/fly size/quarry table (my personal opinions) set up on my web-site that you might want to glance at.  Go to "http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish/LineSpec.html" and click on the hyperlink to "Line Weight ‘Recommended Uses’ Chart".  You might find it useful in making your decision.                                        Good Fishing,                                             Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools Mt. Shasta Fly Fishing Schools http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish

Response:

I have a pfluger summit 6W and I use it for every kind of fish, from 15 inch trout to 20 pound red salmon on the keni river. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m getting back into flyfishing after several years and i need a new rod/reel/line outfit.  I’ve seen several nice ones around but can’t really decide which weight i should go for.  I’m considering a #6 or #7 weight rod – but i haven’t ruled out a #5 or #8 weight either.  I fish mostly for trout and panfish, w/ a few occasional largemouth and smallmouth bass and small pickerel.  I would like an outfit w/ as much versitility as possible for small to medium-sized fish.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanx.                                                -Zimmy

Response:

If you are just getting back into flyfishing and you fished with lower modulus graphite or even fiberglass in the past, be very careful with the new tip flex type rods that some have recommended.  A 5 weight is a good all around rod, and as one wrote, 6 wt line will help the rod load better with larger flies.  I would consider a good mid flex or even a powerful full flex rod to get back in the swing of things.  Either way, make sure you cast it first.  Any good dealer will insist you cast it prior to buying it.  Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m getting back into flyfishing after several years and i need a new rod/reel/line outfit.  I’ve seen several nice ones around but can’t really decide which weight i should go for.  I’m considering a #6 or #7 weight rod – but i haven’t ruled out a #5 or #8 weight either.  I fish mostly for trout and panfish, w/ a few occasional largemouth and smallmouth bass and small pickerel. I would like an outfit w/ as much versitility as possible for small to medium-sized fish.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanx.                                               -Zimmy

Response:

Question:

What makes the best strike indicator the old styrophome or the yarn? I have always used the florecent ones but several people I talked to have said that the yarn works as well and doesn’t scare the fish.

Hi Patrick I like a yarn indicator if I’m fishing big, heavy nymphs deep or a larger dry fly on an in-line dropper if I’m fishing a nymph in the first 2-3 feet of water. Often you will catch a fish on the indicator fly – my favorite for the Yellowstone or Madison is a #8 or #10 Royal Wulff. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

Response:

Corke Vs. Yarn         ..they use bobbers we use strike indicators..many streams don’t allow a fly as an indicator…I use "Biostrike"…works pretty good except when I aggressively cast then I may lose it…but NTL it works fine for me steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What makes the best strike indicator the old styrophome or the yarn? I have always used the florecent ones but several people I talked to have said that the yarn works as well and doesn’t scare the fish. Hi Patrick I like a yarn indicator if I’m fishing big, heavy nymphs deep or a larger dry fly on an in-line dropper if I’m fishing a nymph in the first 2-3 feet of water. Often you will catch a fish on the indicator fly – my favorite for the Yellowstone or Madison is a #8 or #10 Royal Wulff. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

Response:

What makes the best strike indicator the old styrophome or the yarn? I have always used the florecent ones but several people I talked to have said that the yarn works as well and doesn’t scare the fish.

I like yarn.  I keep a couple of colors in my vest.  With yarn you can make a large indicator, a small indicator or several small ones to help you detect subtle takes.  Try mixing two colors to improve visibility in heavy water and bad light. Good luck – Jeff Schmitt

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Hi Patrick, I rarely use any thing but yarn these days.  For about $6, I bought a big spool of bright red yarn and pale yellow yarn from Ben Franklin. I have a feeling that even if I keep guiding for the next 10 years, I will still have alot left over.  Myself and the clients I guide prefer it much more so than the "bobber" strike indicatiors.  You can adjust the amount from the size of an Osprey’s nest if your in choppy water or have trouble seeing small indicators to a pinch for spring creek/fussy fishing.  Grease it up, and it floats high and dry for a very long time.  Plus, with the knot I use, it is easy to readjust it’s position and stays put (doesn’t fly off like most of the slip on indicators. But, I usually use a high floating dry or two for an indicator. What makes the best strike indicator the old styrophome or the yarn? I have always used the florecent ones but several people I talked to have said that the yarn works as well and doesn’t scare the fish.

Paul Williamson Emigrant, MT 59027

Response:

What makes the best strike indicator the old styrophome or the yarn? I have always used the florecent ones but several people I talked to have said that the yarn works as well and doesn’t scare the fish.

Response:

What makes the best strike indicator the old styrophome or the yarn? I have always used the fluorecent ones but several people I talked to have said that the yarn works as well and doesn’t scare the fish.

My favorite strike indicator is a #12 royal humpy.  Sometimes the fish will try to take the indicator.  Might as well have a hook in it! CQ

Response:

Question:

Hi  I would like to know what licenses I need for flyfishing in Finnmark, Norway??

Response:

Hi  I would like to know what licenses I need for flyfishing in Finnmark, Norway??

Try this URL: http://www.flyshop.no — Esa Niemel

Question:

Could someone suggest places to fish and hike in the vicinity of Raton, CO?  What are the temperature ranges in early June?  Any recommendations for flies?  Thanks in advance.                                       Sincerely,                                       Kin Chan

Trinidad State Park and Reservoir is right in that area. I have never been there, but reports indicate that there is fishing for Rainbow, Browns, and warmwater fish. They also have a couple of hiking trails. It’s three miles west of Trinidad on Colorado Highway 12. Call 719-846-6951 for information. The nearby San Isabel National Forest has campgrounds, hiking trails and historic mining towns.Call the Rocky Mountain Regional office at 303-275-5350 for information. There is also a Purgatoire River State Recreation Area there, but I couldn’t find much information on it. Try the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, State Parks department at 303-866-3437. A little Northwest is Monument Lake, known more for its coldwater fish than the warm ones. For general information, contact the Colorado Division of Wildlife Southwest Regional office in Montrose at 970-249-3431. You can also call their fishing information line at 303-291-7534. If you’re willing to drive a little, there is a place a couple of hours away that is like flyfishing heaven. The San Juan River, below Navajo dam, just across the border in New Mexico. Great fishing, great scenery. Check out <http://www.creativelinks.com/recreat/Duranglers.htm for up to date fishing info. It’s worth the trip. Temperature ranges for all these places can vary from 90 degrees to 40 degrees, depending on what weather front is moving in at the time. Usually, in early June, you will see daytime temps in the 70’s and 80’s, but a thunderstorm is always a possibility and can drop the temp to 50 in a matter of minutes. Nice thing is, they normally pass over quickly and the sun comes out again. Hope you have a great time. — | Michael P. Thompson – Liberty Communications | |            * Spreading the Word *            |

Response:

Could someone suggest places to fish and hike in the vecinity of Raton, CO?  What are the temperature ranges in early June?  Any recommendations for flies?  Thanks in advance.                                         Sincerely,                                         Kin Chan

Response:

Question:

I’m looking for a moderate speed (IM6 maybe) relatively inexpensive rod (under $200) for a friend to learn with. If anyone has a used one for sale that might work also (E-Mail me). Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Jack Beer

Response:

I have a Thomas & Thomas  Emerger  8′6" 5wt. I picked up for 195.00 and it’s as sweet as my" big buck " Powell. It’s the same blank as the top shelf rod, w/o the fancy reel seat.  Awsome bargain. Tight Lines Adam S.

Response:

The Sage Discovery series is pretty good for beginners, but I still think the Bean Angler series that retails for around 150 or so for the rod and tube is the best bet.  My friend loves his.

Response:

Check out the wide range of Cortland rods.  The new CL at $79 with tube and bag is excellent.  The Precision II at about $129 is a super deal.

Response:

The Sage Discovery series is pretty good for beginners, but I still think the Bean Angler series that retails for around 150 or so for the rod and tube is the best bet.  My friend loves his.

I’ll second the recommendation for the L.L. Bean Angler series of rods. My wife and I each bought one of these for our first rods and we still use them a lot. (Mine is a 8 1/2 ft 4 piece 7 wt and my wife’s is a 8 1/2 ft 2 piece 6/7 wt.) Unlike a lot of other "low end" rods, these are built well from good components that feel solid and even look nice! The action is medium and they are easy to cast. Besides, they are backed by Bean’s famous unconditional lifetime guarantee which they honor with no fuss. Scott (no connection to Bean’s other than being a satisfied customer) — Scott Sminkey, Sustaining and Specials Eng.   Xyplex.Inc. 508 952-4792  fax 508 952-4887                Littleton, MA 01460

Response:

The Sage Discovery series is pretty good for beginners, but I still think the Bean Angler series that retails for around 150 or so for the rod and tube is the best bet.  My friend loves his.

I have a Beans Angler series 6/7 weight rod.  It was reasonably priced and I love it.  It came with a tube, has a walnut seat and I can control the rod and my casting as well as I need to.   I’d like to get a 4 piece 4/5 weight rod to replace my current trout rod and although I think I am ready for a fancier version, the prices I see in all my fly fishing catalogs are too high.  I might just get another smaller Bean Angler rod.   stefan m. Arlington, Texas Web Page:  http://rampages.onramp.net/~smarc

Response:

Get one of the people on the net to make you a custom rod from the finest, high-performance components.  You will save probably 40%, and on a 200-$300 rod, that ain’t chump change.  Loomis or Sage blanks, great components, you can’t loose.  See someone about it.  I talked to a guy at the Eastern Outdoors show in Harrisburgh who made a company on selling good quality rods direct to the end user.  You don’t have to pay for Sage’s or Orvis’s name.  You can directly help an American manufacturer/businessman who has recognized an opportunity and is capitalizing on it.                   Sincerely;                 Jason Beary

Response:

(Okiesurfer) writes: I’m looking for a moderate speed (IM6 maybe) relatively inexpensive rod (under $200) for a friend to learn with. If anyone has a used one for sale that might work also (E-Mail me). Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Jack Beer

Jack, For $240 you can get an Orvis HLS RM "Adams" which is a sweet 8

Question:

I took up fly fishing last summer, during a trip to Newfoundland, and now the family can’t imagine any other kind of fishing. I have a few questions. Lot’s of places we fish seem to have tons of mosquitos.  Why are there so few flies that look like mosquitos (or am I missing something). In Lappland this summer, I got something called a "musta polar tohtori" (black polar doctor), which looked a bit like a mosquito, but there don’t seem to be many.  Do fish not like mosquitoes?  My wife’s theory is to the effect that mosquitoes are so common that fish are bored with them, and would rather go for something more unusual and tasty. The second question:  We took our fly rods to Finnish Lappland this summer (around Kilpisjarvi), but had no luck in the lakes around there, nor around Yllas either.  We tried muddler minnows, dry flies, streamers, wet flies, and good good at casting, but didn’t pick up anything (though some of the lakes are stocked with char).  It was fun anyway, but I’m wondering if anybody has tips on fishing the Northern Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian lakes and streams. Finally, closer to home, I’m looking for good trout streams in Wisconsin or N. Illinois, within 3-4 hours of Chicago.  I’m not looking for anybody to give away their secret spots, but if there are some well know good spots I’d appreciate the advice.  I like to fish in places that are quiet and away from busy roads and noisy power boats (and far, far away from jet skis!). Thanks, Ray Pierrehumbert

Response:

Lot’s of places we fish seem to have tons of mosquitos.  Why are there so few flies that look like mosquitos (or am I missing something).

If trout get a shot at mosquitoes, I’m sure they’d eat them.  However, the life cycle of a mosquito pretty well takes place in water which trout cannot survive.  Mosquitoes hatch in stagnant water that is usually warmer than trout prefer and has little if any dissolved oxygen.   Not nearly enough dissolved oxygen for trout to survive.  "Mosquito wrigglers" use a tube that  penetrates the surface film to respirate. The are actually air breathing in this immature form.  That is why they used oil on the stagnant water to eliminate the malaria problems in the first half of the century.  The mosquito tubes couldn’t penetrate the oil film and they died from lack of oxygen. They hatch from stagnant water into that blood-sucking beast we all know, and they lay eggs back into the same stagnant water they came from. The attractions for them around the water are the warm blooded animals that frequent the area.  Since all animals need water, that’s a good supply of blood.  But they are not readily available for ingestion by trout. By the way, that "mosquito pattern" that most fly shops sell is a great mayfly imitation and works well in trout waters.                                                     Hope this helps,                                                              Dan

Response:

Question:

: I`m looking for free stretches of River that I can `fish a fly` : around the Hampshire area of England. Tried Woodmill, Southampton : but no Trout rising. Perhaps I will try to build a U.K. database : if there is enough interest? : Cheers. I imagine it’s highly unlikely you will find any free fly fishing in the UK, let alone in Hampshire. There may be the odd municipal stretch, though it probably would not be worthwhile. Still, if you discover any do let me know. Nigel — Sussex University, England

Response:

I`m looking for free stretches of River that I can `fish a fly` around the Hampshire area of England. Tried Woodmill, Southampton but no Trout rising. Perhaps I will try to build a U.K. database if there is enough interest? Cheers. —                    Clivey

Response: