Question:

What are your best colors to make deerhair poppers and why? What size hook do you find the best? Have a great day, go fly fishing! Tight lines Craig Moore The English Fly Fishing Shop www.flyfishing-flies.com < < < < < < <

  < < < < < <

Response:

Both questions depend on what type of terrestrial bait you are imitating with the deer hair popper….   Early in the year there are a lot of green grasshoppers around and later in the year most grasshoppers you see out are darker colors.  Check your local areas to find out whats local that may be imitated by the poppers and go from there.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What are your best colors to make deerhair poppers and why? What size hook do you find the best? Have a great day, go fly fishing! Tight lines Craig Moore The English Fly Fishing Shop www.flyfishing-flies.com < < < < < < <   < < < < < <

Response:

I am new to fly fishing and just learning to tie I took up fly fishing just to learn to make a 7 year locust.  (Zakadia?) Does anyone know of a pattern? — Highlander

Response:

I think you guys might have stumbled into the wrong newsgroup. Bass fisherman don’t normally tie lures. You might want to try alt.fly-tying or something else. — Jerry Barton Be nice to your kids, they get to pick your nursing home. http://members.home.net/jbarton248/

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What are your best colors to make deerhair poppers and why? What size hook do you find the best? Have a great day, go fly fishing! Tight lines Craig Moore The English Fly Fishing Shop www.flyfishing-flies.com < < < < < < <   < < < < < <

Response:

Take a look around this search (the spelling is "cicada"), and see if you can find anything. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=fly+tying+cicada+pattern Jamie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to fly fishing and just learning to tie I took up fly fishing just to learn to make a 7 year locust.  (Zakadia?) Does anyone know of a pattern?

Response:

Not.  In the past  I have  used fly’s on a spinning bubble I use anything for bass I am a all around fisherman and fish for pure pleasure In the past I was die hard bass man I use purple worms, Rapalas, and jitter bugs, and now use any weapon in my arsenal including a fly rod. I probably dont catch as many fish as I could But there is something about that water exploding with top water I love. Largest fish to date in southern Indiana stripper pits 7.5 Lb largemouth with my sons in the boat banging their toy trucks on the bottom in a clear lake (15 foot deep) around noon. So much for the rules I tried for years to get my wife interested and couldn’t Two years ago I finally got her out and on the second cast she caught a 6.5 pound bass Did I create a monster If I could only get her to put on her own crickets for gills I have found the postings on changing the hooks interesting. I started checking the sharpness several years ago and increased my catch by double Years ago I was fishing a pit off of a hill. I could see this bass following my worm. He followed it to shore where the only thing I could do was drop it pause and twitch. That sucker grabbed it ran dived come out of the water with a tail walk and spit it out. Dull hooks  Id give a hundred dollars for the vidio — Highlander

Response:

What brought this line up was years ago I got in the middle of a seven year locust hatch. We were using them for bait As fast as they hit the water they was gone Bass gill crappie. I had to quit fishing because my hands were bleeding from taking fish off the hook. Could stand some more of that. One time occurrence — Highlander

Response:

The two most popular patterns are a basically all black hairbug and then a frog pattern (green on top and yellow on bottom) then put rubber legs out the sides and neck hackles out the back. Not too big and not too small. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What are your best colors to make deerhair poppers and why? What size hook do you find the best? Have a great day, go fly fishing! Tight lines Craig Moore The English Fly Fishing Shop www.flyfishing-flies.com < < < < < < <   < < < < < <

Response:

Question:

Frank: It was also while on his honeymoon.  What a kicker. Nice report GM.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Report included pictures, extra roffians, huge fish, a veritable reiding rainbow, booze, perseverance in the face of illness, food, culture, geography, deep fried gerbils (well, they coulda been there!)….    Excellent report.  Congrats on the big fish and nice to hear the little brother is finally working again.  Good on ya, both you and Clark.  Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

Frank: It was also while on his honeymoon.  What a kicker. Nice report GM.

Thanks Stan. Still wanna do a run to the Battenkill? — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

Thanks Stan. Still wanna do a run to the Battenkill?

I’m thinking it’s a bit late for this year – the trout season ended Oct. 28′th. I tried to get in a last day of warmwater fishing last Saturday in Otis and it snowed!  We didn’t even get our canoes in the water<g.  We could always try to hit the Swift or the Millers.

Response:

… We could always try to hit the Swift or the Millers.

um…stan, could you maybe hold off for a while?  i’m currently engaged in a conflict in which i’m getting my ass whipped pretty good… …where is the millers – mass.? jeff

Response:

Thanks Stan. Still wanna do a run to the Battenkill? I’m thinking it’s a bit late for this year – the trout season ended Oct. 28′th. I tried to get in a last day of warmwater fishing last Saturday in Otis and it snowed!  We didn’t even get our canoes in the water<g.  We could always try to hit the Swift or the Millers.

Millers/Swift sounds good. Is the FF Only section open yet? The NY State side of the Battenkill is still open. I don’t think it closes, or it does at the end of Nov. Or did regs change? — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

…where is the millers – mass.?

The Millers River is a small river flowing west just south of the New Hampshire border into the Connecticut.  It is a typical New England river in that it has been dammed and abused by mills for a couple hundred years. There are some beautiful stretches though, and Gary wrote a nice piece about it this summer concerning a seemingly impossible cast. –Stan

Response:

Millers/Swift sounds good. Is the FF Only section open yet? The NY State side of the Battenkill is still open. I don’t think it closes, or it does at the end of Nov. Or did regs change? — Gary

I’m not sure about the NY regs.  I think that parts of the Ausable, Schroon and Battenkill are open year-round.  The general regs trout season ends Oct. 15. The Swift is still closed upstream from the Rt. 9 bridge.  It was supposed to re-open on Nov. 1 but the latest scare this week made them postpone the opening until Nov. 7.  Downstream is still open as usual, and has had much heavier pressure than usual because of the closed section.

Response:

Thanks for the kind words Gary. I also can add some reasons for the lack of a photo of the big fish and the fault is squarely mine, though Gary is too much of a gentleman to indicate so. In the process of landing the fish the fly came free of the fish as often happens at the end of the battle. On this occasion though it was because the clumsy guide had stepped on the leader thus freeing the fish prior to Gary getting the camera out. It was impossible to hold such a fish unrestrained  she was a big powerful brown at least in excess of 10lbs, exact weight I could only guess at between 10 and 12 pounds. A fish Gary should be proud of and one I am gutted to have prevented a photo of. So I owe apologies for "screwing up" to Gary and the promise of being more diligent should he ever return. I for one hope you do Gary, you were a pleasure to fish with. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand. Firstly I am eternally grateful to him, as the poor bastard was sick as a dog. So sick as to get up at 3am the night before, drive about 50 miles to hospitalize himself, only to be too tired to make the hospital, sleep in the truck and he still made our date at 8:30am. I felt guilty all day until I gave him a drop o’ old Jameson’s and he felt better. So did I, when he reciprocated with a delicious sour mash of his choosing. We were in the Mt Cook vicinity (http://www.rockypond.com/mtcook.jpg), an area that has a look not unlike that of Three Rivers in Montana (wide, arid, surrounded by mountains, http://www.rockypond.com/scenery.jpg). The nearby Lake Tekapo, where we stayed, is spectacular with a deep azure color from the nearby glaciers (picture includes shot of your friend and humble narrator, http://www.rockypond.com/tekapo.jpg). The first stream (http://www.rockypond.com/firstriver.jpg) we visited was about 15 feet in width, slightly off color and cold. I admit that it did not look like much. Clark assured me it held big fish. Clark explained that Kiwi fishing is different from US or UK fishing in that there are fewer fish that are much larger. This was certainly bourn out this day. Being early season there was not much of any dry fly activity, which was slightly disappointing, so we nymphed all day. I pounded water for about an hour and eventually hooked up near a wooden bridge. At first I didn’t think it a large fish as he came towards me, but when he made a run upstream, I was in no doubt. Upstream was an old wooden bridge and as I applied pressure I will never forget the wave the fish created in the river as it turned. The fish was a brown about 26 inches in size, maybe 8lbs or so. It fought for 10 mins and we eventually tagged him at an undercut. After that we moved to a different river over the nearby Burke’s Pass. We stopped to review a fish that Clark had scouted the day before that was in a tough, nearly impossible position. Sitting in front of a bridge leg, with a brush accumulation behind him, in the current that itself broke both ways around the bridge was a good 10lb brown. He was spooked immediately, but twenty mins later after we had eaten lunch and got ready he was back. This time, from the river level, I was fairly sure with Clark’s help I could get something on his nose. There was a rocky braid in the river shy of the lie and I hunched down using it as cover. When I reached the braid I lay down flat and peaked up to get the bearing; Clark called the casts though. Too short, lifted too soon, etc. My fear was to let the fly go too long and catch the brush pile. I managed two good drifts to the fish which he ignored and then Clark chose the strategy that since the current was breaking, making dead drift impossible, a swimming nymph would work. Clark told me the nymph was akin to the Isonychia, which I have had great success with in the US. I cannot remember but I believe it was the first or second cast that he yelled "Strike!" To my surprise he was hooked (the fish, not Clark). What ensued was almost complete anarchy and what happened next transpired over a few minutes. I stood up and the fish took off upstream. Above the pool were some step-like rapids and white water, which the fish barreled through even though I had full power on the loaded rod. Impressive indeed. I managed to turn him and he came down the pool to the (those who are following this could guess this next bit) brush pile at the bridge. Once he was there I thought it was game over. I pulled and could feel nothing only dead weight. As I was upstream I knew I was applying pressure in the wrong direction (either that, or I was trying to pull a brush pile and bridge in my direction).  I had to get a more acute angle. Without thinking I jumped into the white water and crossed this extremely fast current. I never would have done this without the adrenalin rush I was now experiencing and as I had to wade downstream I think this was the only thing that saved me from a dunking. By now both Clark and I had fallen a few times due to the step sides of the loose moraine in the rivers. When I got across and was almost 180 degrees from him I was pleased to see the fish was still on and I had successfully moved him from the brush pile into the deep blue pool. This was a good sighting point and how beautiful he was: a big olive head and a body that was 30 inches at least. He came to my feet and I contemplated beaching him, until I fell once again and this time painfully. He was spooked and off downstream, where, to Clark’s credit he was waiting for the fish in the shallow waters. At this point we released him a little too fast for a photograph, but that did not matter to me. It was a good stalk and a good team effort for a righteous fish. We could only laugh and shake our heads at the marvel of that emotional deluge we call fly-fishing. I had the greatest feeling though I was in pain from the falls. I will add at this point it was becoming clear to me that another characteristic of Kiwi fishing is that the river size coupled with large fish size definitely put the odds in favor of the fish. I personally could learn a lot more about playing a large fish by fishing more down there. By now, it was mid afternoon and I had had two fish. Like I mentioned earlier, this is pretty typical. I managed another fish a few minutes later upstream, about 3lbs (http://www.rockypond.com/fish3.jpg). We worked another hour and then decided to move on. As we were on either side of a pass in these past two fish it was apparent that the weather here is strange. At the last river the sky became cloudy and snow was visible at higher elevations, but as we returned across Burke’s Pass again the sky cleared. We fished a fast deep stream in the hot sunshine (name escapes me now, but here’s pic, http://www.rockypond.com/stream3.jpg). Spent nearly two hours here with no luck though we covered a lot of water. The afternoon was getting late and we decided to hit a creek called Mary Burn (a lot of Scots settled NZ). This river was barely a trickle (http://www.rockypond.com/maryburn.jpg). Tannin stained almost like the Scottish or Irish streams are, but barely 5 feet wide. No way was I going to believe that there were anything but fingerlings in there. I hiked off a bit and came to an electrical cattle fence. As I walked up the soft bank I spooked a 22inch brown, which scared the living shit out of me. He nearly beached himself trying to get away. I cannot imagine how this tiny stream grew such enormous fish. In any case this was to be the closest encounter I would have to one of Mary Burn’s progeny. A wind had whipped up and was blowing about 25 knots. As you can imagine trying to hit a less than 1-foot target area in a 5-foot stream with this kind of wind required skills I have yet not acquired, nor maybe never will. Also the temperature was dropping and this wind bit cold. We decided to head off for somewhere sheltered. Sadly the weather did not get better and it was 39F (down about 30 degrees from 2 hours earlier) due to a cold front that had moved in. We decided to call it a day around 7pm I think. It was almost 12 hours fishing and it was the most enjoyable kind. Good fish, good water, good spirits and good conversations. And, yes, Clark Reid is a great guide and good company. Anyway I do thank him again for a great time. He may be able to explain better than I to ROFF as to why the streams are as they are. I think it is to do with a low pH, no environmental issues (NZ has NO fossil fuel or nuclear power plants – all Hydro). That evening, myself and my new wife drove outside of town in the clear, still sky of the new cold front we took in Crux, the Southern Cross (a lifelong dream) and the Clouds of Magellan; not to mentions the upside down Northern Constellations. For the rest of my travels I stopped at many, many streams and every one had big fish (sunglasses over lens to polarize, http://www.rockypond.com/feeder.jpg), even by the Angler’s Access parking areas. One stream looked like someone had surgically lifted the River Avon in Wiltshire and dropped it in the valley of the Eglinton River. I watched a fish work every few seconds and he was mine (strictly up-and-across, mind), but I was sans rod and reel and could only dream. Another series of small lakes held a good dozen two foot long trout that sipped away oblivious to the visitors and gave me a good treatise on the Brownian feeding manner of the still water trout. Sorry for the long report. Hope you enjoyed it.

… read more »

Response:

Great report.  Thanks for writing it up. bruce h

Response:

Great report, Gary. Good reading and excellent pictures. Very well done. 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:

Report included pictures, extra roffians, huge fish, a veritable reiding rainbow, booze, perseverance in the face of illness, food, culture, geography, deep fried gerbils (well, they coulda been there!)….    Excellent report.  Congrats on the big fish and nice to hear the little brother is finally working again.  Good on ya, both you and Clark.  Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

really enjoyed your descriptions of the place & the fishing Mu

Response:

[great reportt snipped for brevity] Thanks for reading.

Thanks for writing! Steve

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

Great report snipped. Including pictures with your report was very appreciated. If find it interesting that the trout population is lower than here in the States but that there are more big fish. Willi

Response:

Sorry for the long report.

Uhhh…. don’t mention it.  Thanks.

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago <snip   Thanks for reading.

Thanks for writing.  Nice report. Kevin

Response:

Superb report, and I really enjoyed the excellent photos. It looks a lot like the Sawtooth and Stanley Basins, but the fish are a lot bigger. Is the area in runoff conditions now? BTW, I can’t believe you didn’t get a photo of that 30" brown. I’ll bet it flopped away before the camera was ready. Bruce Hopper and I are experts in that maneuver. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Superb report, and I really enjoyed the excellent photos. It looks a lot like the Sawtooth and Stanley Basins, but the fish are a lot bigger. Is the area in runoff conditions now?

It is supposed to be in runoff, but NZ had been in a drought situation for the past few years, so many rivers are dry and many are below average flows. Actually one picture I wish I had snapped was up on the lake of a boat ramp that was easily 150ft long and the lake itself was about 20ft beyond the *end* of the ramp. BTW, I can’t believe you didn’t get a photo of that 30" brown. I’ll bet it flopped away before the camera was ready. Bruce Hopper and I are experts in that maneuver.

LOL. You read it well.  Clark had a normal film camera and he was taking pics of the antics. Not sure if he actually caught it though. I certainly did not have time to get my camera out. — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

…and the goodness of this strange place is continued… thanks gary.  rw and you have raised the bar for trip reports with your illustrations, and i’ve enjoyed them a lot. jeff (off to wade the stagnant streams of the pitt county courthouse…)

Response:

jeff (off to wade the stagnant streams of the pitt county courthouse…)

        same same for your brother at the bar, little wayno, up into the wilds of surrey county, a lawless land if ever there were one… wayno  (but damn if those ol boys don’t grow some righteous ganga!)

Response:

I met up with Clark Reid a week ago today for a few frolics in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand. Firstly I am eternally grateful to him, as the poor bastard was sick as a dog. So sick as to get up at 3am the night before, drive about 50 miles to hospitalize himself, only to be too tired to make the hospital, sleep in the truck and he still made our date at 8:30am. I felt guilty all day until I gave him a drop o’ old Jameson’s and he felt better. So did I, when he reciprocated with a delicious sour mash of his choosing. We were in the Mt Cook vicinity (http://www.rockypond.com/mtcook.jpg), an area that has a look not unlike that of Three Rivers in Montana (wide, arid, surrounded by mountains, http://www.rockypond.com/scenery.jpg). The nearby Lake Tekapo, where we stayed, is spectacular with a deep azure color from the nearby glaciers (picture includes shot of your friend and humble narrator, http://www.rockypond.com/tekapo.jpg). The first stream (http://www.rockypond.com/firstriver.jpg) we visited was about 15 feet in width, slightly off color and cold. I admit that it did not look like much. Clark assured me it held big fish. Clark explained that Kiwi fishing is different from US or UK fishing in that there are fewer fish that are much larger. This was certainly bourn out this day. Being early season there was not much of any dry fly activity, which was slightly disappointing, so we nymphed all day. I pounded water for about an hour and eventually hooked up near a wooden bridge. At first I didn’t think it a large fish as he came towards me, but when he made a run upstream, I was in no doubt. Upstream was an old wooden bridge and as I applied pressure I will never forget the wave the fish created in the river as it turned. The fish was a brown about 26 inches in size, maybe 8lbs or so. It fought for 10 mins and we eventually tagged him at an undercut. After that we moved to a different river over the nearby Burke’s Pass. We stopped to review a fish that Clark had scouted the day before that was in a tough, nearly impossible position. Sitting in front of a bridge leg, with a brush accumulation behind him, in the current that itself broke both ways around the bridge was a good 10lb brown. He was spooked immediately, but twenty mins later after we had eaten lunch and got ready he was back. This time, from the river level, I was fairly sure with Clark’s help I could get something on his nose. There was a rocky braid in the river shy of the lie and I hunched down using it as cover. When I reached the braid I lay down flat and peaked up to get the bearing; Clark called the casts though. Too short, lifted too soon, etc. My fear was to let the fly go too long and catch the brush pile. I managed two good drifts to the fish which he ignored and then Clark chose the strategy that since the current was breaking, making dead drift impossible, a swimming nymph would work. Clark told me the nymph was akin to the Isonychia, which I have had great success with in the US. I cannot remember but I believe it was the first or second cast that he yelled "Strike!" To my surprise he was hooked (the fish, not Clark). What ensued was almost complete anarchy and what happened next transpired over a few minutes. I stood up and the fish took off upstream. Above the pool were some step-like rapids and white water, which the fish barreled through even though I had full power on the loaded rod. Impressive indeed. I managed to turn him and he came down the pool to the (those who are following this could guess this next bit) brush pile at the bridge. Once he was there I thought it was game over. I pulled and could feel nothing only dead weight. As I was upstream I knew I was applying pressure in the wrong direction (either that, or I was trying to pull a brush pile and bridge in my direction).  I had to get a more acute angle. Without thinking I jumped into the white water and crossed this extremely fast current. I never would have done this without the adrenalin rush I was now experiencing and as I had to wade downstream I think this was the only thing that saved me from a dunking. By now both Clark and I had fallen a few times due to the step sides of the loose moraine in the rivers. When I got across and was almost 180 degrees from him I was pleased to see the fish was still on and I had successfully moved him from the brush pile into the deep blue pool. This was a good sighting point and how beautiful he was: a big olive head and a body that was 30 inches at least. He came to my feet and I contemplated beaching him, until I fell once again and this time painfully. He was spooked and off downstream, where, to Clark’s credit he was waiting for the fish in the shallow waters. At this point we released him a little too fast for a photograph, but that did not matter to me. It was a good stalk and a good team effort for a righteous fish. We could only laugh and shake our heads at the marvel of that emotional deluge we call fly-fishing. I had the greatest feeling though I was in   pain from the falls. I will add at this point it was becoming clear to me that another characteristic of Kiwi fishing is that the river size coupled with large fish size definitely put the odds in favor of the fish. I personally could learn a lot more about playing a large fish by fishing more down there. By now, it was mid afternoon and I had had two fish. Like I mentioned earlier, this is pretty typical. I managed another fish a few minutes later upstream, about 3lbs   (http://www.rockypond.com/fish3.jpg). We worked another hour and then decided to move on. As we were on either side of a pass in these past two fish it was apparent that the weather here is strange. At the last river the sky became cloudy and snow was visible at higher elevations, but as we returned across Burke’s Pass again the sky cleared. We fished a fast deep stream in the hot sunshine (name escapes me now, but here’s pic, http://www.rockypond.com/stream3.jpg). Spent nearly two hours here with no luck though we covered a lot of water. The afternoon was getting late and we decided to hit a creek called Mary Burn (a lot of Scots settled NZ). This river was barely a trickle (http://www.rockypond.com/maryburn.jpg). Tannin stained almost like the Scottish or Irish streams are, but barely 5 feet wide. No way was I going to believe that there were anything but fingerlings in there. I hiked off a bit and came to an electrical cattle fence. As I walked up the soft bank I spooked a 22inch brown, which scared the living shit out of me. He nearly beached himself trying to get away. I cannot imagine how this tiny stream grew such enormous fish. In any case this was to be the closest encounter I would have to one of Mary Burn’s progeny. A wind had whipped up and was blowing about 25 knots. As you can imagine trying to hit a less than 1-foot target area in a 5-foot stream with this kind of wind required skills I have yet not acquired, nor maybe never will. Also the temperature was dropping and this wind bit cold. We decided to head off for somewhere sheltered. Sadly the weather did not get better and it was 39F (down about 30 degrees from 2 hours earlier) due to a cold front that had moved in. We decided to call it a day around 7pm I think. It was almost 12 hours fishing and it was the most enjoyable kind. Good fish, good water, good spirits and good conversations. And, yes, Clark Reid is a great guide and good company. Anyway I do thank him again for a great time. He may be able to explain better than I to ROFF as to why the streams are as they are. I think it is to do with a low pH, no environmental issues (NZ has NO fossil fuel or nuclear power plants – all Hydro). That evening, myself and my new wife drove outside of town in the clear, still sky of the new cold front we took in Crux, the Southern Cross (a lifelong dream) and the Clouds of Magellan; not to mentions the upside down Northern Constellations. For the rest of my travels I stopped at many, many streams and every one had big fish (sunglasses over lens to polarize, http://www.rockypond.com/feeder.jpg), even by the Angler’s Access parking areas. One stream looked like someone had surgically lifted the River Avon in Wiltshire and dropped it in the valley of the Eglinton River. I watched a fish work every few seconds and he was mine (strictly up-and-across, mind), but I was sans rod and reel and could only dream. Another series of small lakes held a good dozen two foot long trout that sipped away oblivious to the visitors and gave me a good treatise on the Brownian feeding manner of the still water trout. Sorry for the long report. Hope you enjoyed it. Visit NZ some time. The accommodation and car rental is reasonable. The steak and cheese pies and Sleights Old Dark are worth the trip in itself. Come on, don the DVT socks and do it. It’s only 12 hours from LA. Thanks for reading. Gary — Gary (Email address is munged with x’s)

Response:

Question:

Ok, we are two couples that want to rent a houseboat next May for our vacation.  No kids, 4 careers, all we want to do is a little fishing and a lot of relaxing.  We would like to keep the cost under $1500 for the week. Where’s the best place to go?  Currently we are in Ark and TX but 2 of us commute to NC and Europe.  What’s the best lake to go "houseboating"?   One says Lake of the Woods, one says Lake Mead.  I can’t find but a few web sites.  If you’ve done anything like this or have a recommendation please let me know.

Response:

There are quite a few "houseboating lakes" throughout North America.  It depends on where you want to go.  Some of the top lakes are (in no particular order): Lake Cumberland – KY Lake Powell-AZ Lake of the Ozarks-MO In your area, there is: Lake Ouchita – AR Lake Travis – TX I am sure I am leaving many out, so you can check out this link to find more "houseboating lakes" http://www.houseboatingworld.com/lake2.htm Thanks, Tim Gottschalk http://www.houseboatingworld.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, we are two couples that want to rent a houseboat next May for our vacation.  No kids, 4 careers, all we want to do is a little fishing and a lot of relaxing.  We would like to keep the cost under $1500 for the week. Where’s the best place to go?  Currently we are in Ark and TX but 2 of us commute to NC and Europe.  What’s the best lake to go "houseboating"? One says Lake of the Woods, one says Lake Mead.  I can’t find but a few web sites.  If you’ve done anything like this or have a recommendation please let me know.

Response:

I’ve been going to Cumberland Lake in Kentucky for last several years with 10-12 other guys for 4 days and 3 nights. This year took the wives (5 couples) and had best time of all. We rented a 64′ houseboat (they have several different models) and paid $1350 total including the fuel and another $100/couple for food &fuel for 3 speed/ski boats. For about $400/ couple you couldn’t do anything else so much fun and relaxing. Almost no houses in sight, just mountain sides all way around with over 1250 miles of natural shorline. Just so happens I have the brochure here in front of me on my  desk to get one reserved for 2000.  You might want to check them out at http://www.statedock.com  Jerry

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, we are two couples that want to rent a houseboat next May for our vacation.  No kids, 4 careers, all we want to do is a little fishing and a lot of relaxing.  We would like to keep the cost under $1500 for the week. Where’s the best place to go?  Currently we are in Ark and TX but 2 of us commute to NC and Europe.  What’s the best lake to go "houseboating"? One says Lake of the Woods, one says Lake Mead.  I can’t find but a few web sites.  If you’ve done anything like this or have a recommendation please let me know.

Response:

Ok, we are two couples that want to rent a houseboat next May for our vacation.  No kids, 4 careers, all we want to do is a little fishing and a lot of relaxing.  We would like to keep the cost under $1500 for the week. Where’s the best place to go?  Currently we are in Ark and TX but 2 of us commute to NC and Europe.  What’s the best lake to go "houseboating"?   One says Lake of the Woods, one says Lake Mead.  I can’t find but a few web sites.  If you’ve done anything like this or have a recommendation please let me know.

Probably one of the premier houseboat rental vacations in the U.S. can be had at Lake Powell.  You mention Lake Mead as a possibility.  Mead is nice, but I would have to give a significant edge to Powell for its overwhelming scenery and top-flight houseboat rental operation.  From your location, you would drive past Lake Powell to get to Mead.  If you intend to fly to your destination, Powell has a nearby airport in Page, but airfare is somewhat expensive, like it is to most small towns. Unfortunately, summer rental rates start May 1.  Heavily discounted rates can be had prior to that date, but $1,536 will rent a 36 footer for 6 days at on-season rates.  The water will be quite chilly in May, but the ambient temperatures will be beautiful and the crowds will not have shown up yet. Go to www.visitlakepowell for an introduction and complete information on the houseboats, including rates. Russ

Response:

Ok, we are two couples that want to rent a houseboat next May for our vacation.  No kids, 4 careers, all we want to do is a little fishing and a lot of relaxing.  We would like to keep the cost under $1500 for the week. Where’s the best place to go?  Currently we are in Ark and TX but 2 of us commute to NC and Europe.  What’s the best lake to go "houseboating"?   One says Lake of the Woods, one says Lake Mead.  I can’t find but a few web sites.  If you’ve done anything like this or have a recommendation please let me know.

Check out State Dock at Lake Cumberland 1-800-234-DOCK.  We went with three couples with kids and had a blast. I know they have a web site, but I don’t remember what it is. A search will do it. — Alan Fishwick

Response:

Do you go to 76 Falls? Not really a place for kids thou.  We go a couple times a year just to be at the Falls. Going to be their again for Memorial Day weekend. Beautiful lake and surroundings. I tell the wife I want to pull up roots and move to Kentucky just to be closer to the lakes. Jerry

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Check out State Dock at Lake Cumberland 1-800-234-DOCK.  We went with three couples with kids and had a blast. I know they have a web site, but I don’t remember what it is. A search will do it. — Alan Fishwick

Response:

All good choices, but no one has mentioned Ireland.  We have cruised the Shannon and the Shannon-Erne waterways (two trips), and enjoyed it very much.  Emerald Star Line is one of the best companies (we rented from them the second time).  We were using kind of "cabin cruiser" type boats, rather than the kind of house boats that would be found on Lake Powell. Of course, cruising the canals and rivers of France is also popular; we know people who have done that several times.  I believe that there are many waterways in Europe suitable for various kind of houseboats, including the long, skinny, and low canal boats. Richard – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, we are two couples that want to rent a houseboat next May for our vacation.  No kids, 4 careers, all we want to do is a little fishing and a lot of relaxing.  We would like to keep the cost under $1500 for the week. Where’s the best place to go?  Currently we are in Ark and TX but 2 of us commute to NC and Europe.  What’s the best lake to go "houseboating"?   One says Lake of the Woods, one says Lake Mead.  I can’t find but a few web sites.  If you’ve done anything like this or have a recommendation please let me know.

Response:

I along with 7 others also go to Lake Cumberland fishing for 8 days every year. We go in Oct. NOBODY around. Check out Grider Hill instead of State Dock, really great people, FINE houseboats! * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

We always stop in at Grider to get gas and watch the other boats. Seen the pic they have with a canoe going over 76 Falls? Jerry

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I along with 7 others also go to Lake Cumberland fishing for 8 days every year. We go in Oct. NOBODY around. Check out Grider Hill instead of State Dock, really great people, FINE houseboats! * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Ok, we are two couples that want to rent a houseboat next May for our vacation.  No kids, 4 careers, all we want to do is a little fishing and a lot of relaxing.  We would like to keep the cost under $1500 for the week. Where’s the best place to go?  Currently we are in Ark and TX but 2 of us commute to NC and Europe.  What’s the best lake to go "houseboating"? One says Lake of the Woods, one says Lake Mead.  I can’t find but a few web sites.  If you’ve done anything like this or have a recommendation please let me know.

I’m located on Lake of the Woods and it is a beautiful fresh water lake about 65 miles long and 35 at it’s widest point. There are several houseboat rental outfits on our Lake. I would be reluctant to recommend a houseboat rental in May on L.O.W for the simple reason that it is too early in the season. The water is very cold . We frequently still have ice on the lake around the 1st week of May. Depending on what part of May you are looking at you may find that fishing season is not open due to spawning. Temps. in the day may be nice however the evenings are still quite cold. Nope, if I was you I would stick to Lake Powell. Now if you can come up our way later in June you would have excellent fishing and warmer weather although the water temps are still quite cold. I have been on Lake of the Woods all my life. Feel free to e-mail me if your interested in any further info. on L.O.W. Rick

Response:

I have been on Lake of the Woods all my life. Feel free to e-mail me if your interested in any further info. on L.O.W.

Last time I was up there, the (what you guys call a) road going to the lake was sooo bad that I had to abandon my pop-up camper trailer along the side and come back for it later.  Beautiful area though… Steve — / / / / / /

Response:

I have been on Lake of the Woods all my life. Feel free to e-mail me if your interested in any further info. on L.O.W. Last time I was up there, the (what you guys call a) road going to the lake was sooo bad that I had to abandon my pop-up camper trailer along the side and come back for it later.  Beautiful area though… Steve — / / /

Seems like road construction, especially on Hwy 17 (International Fall MN to Kenora Ontario) is always under construction . You make a good point though for anyone towing a boat in this area. It is not unusual to have to travel miles and miles on what used to be a paved Highway and is now gravel while under going resurfacing. Rick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – / / /

Response:

Oh, yes, I’ve seen the pic!! When we go, in Oct. the lake is down so that when we put our bass boats in, the RAMP is a quarter mile long!! I really like Grider Hill, very pretty place, the guy that runs it is very nice, and helpful. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Question:

The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John

Response:

John, I have a pair of miniature needle nose pliers which I keep in my fly tying box for this purpose.  I bend the barb down before tying the fly because some times the hook breaks.  When on the stream I use my forceps.  Keep the hook near the hinges so you have enough leverage. Ernie Harrison Like to make fly-fishing stuff?  See: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John

Response:

John- Try going to an electronics shop or a hobby/craft store and buy a pair of smooth jawed needlenose pliers with the spring between the handles to hold the jaws open. Larry #:)#

Response:

: The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for : the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are : being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John : : A medium or small set of hemostats works fine for most sizes of hooks. For some of the Japanese hooks with very small barbs, you can use a hook hone or file.  For big hooks I use a set of miniature channel locks, also sold by Sears as ignition pliers.  They’re especially useful on Bass Bug hooks and the large offset shank hooks used for Texas rigging worms and grubs. And they are much more useful than needle nose pliers for small nuts and bolts or straightening buzzbait and spinnerbait wires, unclamping sinkers, or fixing the motor. BG

Response:

If only the manufacturers were willing to make a far better selection of barbless hooks, then perhaps this wouldn’t even be an issue. I’m often disappointed at the lack of barbless hooks available our local shops. RG : The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for : the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are : being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John

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

Response:

Greetings, John : : The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for : the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are : being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John

  You might go to your friendly neighborhood jewelry store and ask them to order you a pair of really smooth, well-aligned jewelers needle-nose pliers.  If they do any kind of repair or fabrication at all, they should have a catalog of jewelers tools for you to look at.  These pliers are available in some really small sizes, and will do the job on all your tiny hooks.  This is what I use.  Expect to pay around $17 or $20 bucks for quality pliers, but they will last you forever….   Cheers, and happy tying,   -Mark

Response:

Question:

Don’t need a cane rod George, I have enough trouble with a graphite one, but if I may put my 2 cents in, "By George Fly Rods" has a nice ring to it. And just for curiosity sakes, what color thread for the guides?

Response:

What is your final choice?  And do you want an extra tip? I’ll give you a tip, George. Get out of this business before it’s too late.

; ) —

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Are we thinking of the same bridge and river?  The one I referred to was in the news two days ago as still being under serious consideration, and there was nothing in the article about any involvement by the Dept. of the Interior.  The river is in northwestern Wisconsin; the St. Croix flows into the Mississippi. Perhaps not, but here is what is posted on The River Alliance of Wisconsin website: http://www.igc.apc.org/wisrivers/ "Victory on the St. Croix River Department of Interior Vetoes Stillwater Bridge As a New Year’s present to the St. Croix the Department of the Interior decided to veto the proposed Stillwater Bridge across the National Wild and Scenic St. Croix River. The decision came partly as a result of public pressure from concerned citizens. Hmmm…. It is very strange to read this article. As a resident of Stillwater for the past 10 years, I can tell you this bridge project, or a number like it, have been around since I’ve been here. Last I heard the project was still on. Here is a quote from another article I found.    Still on this year’s list are West Virginia’s Corridor H project,    Indiana’s I-69, Connecticut’s Route 6, California’s I-710, U.S.    Forest Service roads, the Automated Highway System and    Minnesota’s Stillwater Bridge.  Meanwhile, the Stillwater bridge    project’s inclusion in Green Scissors for a second year promoted    more calls for the project’s re-evaluation.  In a Minneapolis Star    Tribune article, (2/5) Rep. Jim Randstad, (R-MN) who endorsed    the report, criticized the bridge project: "They need to go back to    the drawing board.  (The project) needs to be scaled down    consistent with the area’s environment." Declaring "Victory" sounds very bizarre to me. We have very complex situation here. First, the current Stillwater bridge is deteriorating fast, (not to mention that it is a hideous monstrosity). Second, the recreational pressures on the St Croix Valley are tremendous and Stillwater is at the epicenter of this pressure. The result, a huge traffic jam every Saturday & Sunday, morning and evening. Third, while the St Croix is a "National Scenic Waterway", the area they are planning to build is hardly the most scenic part of the river. NSP plant just down river, Stillwater Water Treatment is right there. A bridge is needed, but not one of the scale they have planned. -Michael                                                                        

 This is helpful, because it strongly suggests this is NOT the same proposed bridge.  The one I was talking about would be over the St. Croix itself and IN WISCONSIN, not Minnesota!

Response:

This is helpful, because it strongly suggests this is NOT the same proposed bridge.  The one I was talking about would be over the St. Croix itself and IN WISCONSIN, not Minnesota!

The St. Croix River is the border between Wi and MN from Prescott WI (About 20 miles SE of St. Paul) north to St. Croix Falls (maybe a little further north.)   If they’re talking about the Stillwater bridge I doubt the project will seriously effect the scenic value of the area which is essentially suburban.  (5 miles downstream I-94 crosses the river on two large bridges.  4 miles downstream a railroad bridge crosses the river.)  For a glimpse of the Stillwater bridge watch the movie "Grumpier Old Men".  The scene where Mel and the guy are breaking up is shot on the waterfront in Stillwater with the bridge in the background. If they’re talking about a bridge over the St. Croix where its inland in Wisconsin then I have to know if we’re talking about a one culvert bridge or a two culvert bridge?  (Its not that big a river farther north.) John Close

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Are we thinking of the same bridge and river?  The one I referred to was in the news two days ago as still being under serious consideration, and there was nothing in the article about any involvement by the Dept. of the Interior.  The river is in northwestern Wisconsin; the St. Croix flows into the Mississippi. Perhaps not, but here is what is posted on The River Alliance of Wisconsin website: http://www.igc.apc.org/wisrivers/ "Victory on the St. Croix River Department of Interior Vetoes Stillwater Bridge As a New Year’s present to the St. Croix the Department of the Interior decided to veto the proposed Stillwater Bridge across the National Wild and Scenic St. Croix River. The decision came partly as a result of public pressure from concerned citizens. The Sierra Club, Northstar Chapter, in Minnesota, spearheaded the effort to protect the river. In early December the River Alliance teamed up with the Sierra Club to send an Urgent Alert to 600+ River Alliance members across Wisconsin asking them to write to Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt. William Schenk, Park Service Midwest Area Director, said of the project, "the massive structure would adversely affect the natural and historic scene, altering the scenic qualities of this segment of the river more than any development since designation as a National Wild and Scenic Riverway." The unnecessary project would have increased urban sprawl and added a large cement structure to a previously untouched area of the riverway. This project would have forever changed the character of the area. Sara Johnson, Executive Director of the River Alliance, said of the decision, "What a great way to start the New Year. The bridge was a terrible idea and we applaud the Department of the Interior for stopping the project. This decision sends a strong message that our Wild and Scenic Rivers are national treasures not to be messed with." If you know of another bridge project, I’d be glad to hear about it.                                                                        

 THANK YOU very much!!!  I’ll bet it’s the same one after all—weird that the local newspaper that printed the story didn’t say a word about this deus-ex-machina manuever by the Dept. of the Interior!—but if I learn any more about it I’ll post it.  Thanks again!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Are we thinking of the same bridge and river?  The one I referred to was in the news two days ago as still being under serious consideration, and there was nothing in the article about any involvement by the Dept. of the Interior.  The river is in northwestern Wisconsin; the St. Croix flows into the Mississippi. Perhaps not, but here is what is posted on The River Alliance of Wisconsin website: http://www.igc.apc.org/wisrivers/ "Victory on the St. Croix River Department of Interior Vetoes Stillwater Bridge As a New Year’s present to the St. Croix the Department of the Interior decided to veto the proposed Stillwater Bridge across the National Wild and Scenic St. Croix River. The decision came partly as a result of public pressure from concerned citizens.

Hmmm…. It is very strange to read this article. As a resident of Stillwater for the past 10 years, I can tell you this bridge project, or a number like it, have been around since I’ve been here. Last I heard the project was still on. Here is a quote from another article I found.    Still on this year’s list are West Virginia’s Corridor H project,    Indiana’s I-69, Connecticut’s Route 6, California’s I-710, U.S.    Forest Service roads, the Automated Highway System and    Minnesota’s Stillwater Bridge.  Meanwhile, the Stillwater bridge    project’s inclusion in Green Scissors for a second year promoted    more calls for the project’s re-evaluation.  In a Minneapolis Star    Tribune article, (2/5) Rep. Jim Randstad, (R-MN) who endorsed    the report, criticized the bridge project: "They need to go back to    the drawing board.  (The project) needs to be scaled down    consistent with the area’s environment."   Declaring "Victory" sounds very bizarre to me. We have very complex situation here. First, the current Stillwater bridge is deteriorating fast, (not to mention that it is a hideous monstrosity). Second, the recreational pressures on the St Croix Valley are tremendous and Stillwater is at the epicenter of this pressure. The result, a huge traffic jam every Saturday & Sunday, morning and evening. Third, while the St Croix is a "National Scenic Waterway", the area they are planning to build is hardly the most scenic part of the river. NSP plant just down river, Stillwater Water Treatment is right there. A bridge is needed, but not one of the scale they have planned. -Michael

Response:

Yesterday I got another shock:  It seems there is now a debate over building a huge modern goddamn BRIDGE over the river…or perhaps downstream over the St. Croix into which the Namekagon flows, which is (has been?) equally wild and gorgeous.  I suggested that the "wild river" designation might induce a false sense of security among those who care about such matters…? Fortunately that bridge was vetoed by the Department of the Interior. For more information, you might check out the River Alliance of Wisconsin website.  I don’t have the url handy but you can link there from http://www.awa.org/awa/affil_clubs/rts.htm

Wild and Scenic has meant improving the road, blocking off the pull over on the shoulder where we use to park to scout Pin Ball , building over priced signs and getting on the web for the ——. Next will come the fees, permits and the crowds. I’m sure it has also done some good that I haven’t noticed.                                gene

Response:

Yesterday I got another shock:  It seems there is now a debate over building a huge modern goddamn BRIDGE over the river…or perhaps downstream over the St. Croix into which the Namekagon flows, which is (has been?) equally wild and gorgeous.  I suggested that the "wild river" designation might induce a false sense of security among those who care about such matters…? Fortunately that bridge was vetoed by the Department of the Interior. For more information, you might check out the River Alliance of Wisconsin website.  I don’t have the url handy but you can link there from http://www.awa.org/awa/affil_clubs/rts.htm                                                                        

 Are we thinking of the same bridge and river?  The one I referred to was in the news two days ago as still being under serious consideration, and there was nothing in the article about any involvement by the Dept. of the Interior.  The river is in northwestern Wisconsin; the St. Croix flows into the Mississippi.

Response:

 Are we thinking of the same bridge and river?  The one I referred to was in the news two days ago as still being under serious consideration, and there was nothing in the article about any involvement by the Dept. of the Interior.  The river is in northwestern Wisconsin; the St. Croix flows into the Mississippi.

Perhaps not, but here is what is posted on The River Alliance of Wisconsin website: http://www.igc.apc.org/wisrivers/ "Victory on the St. Croix River Department of Interior Vetoes Stillwater Bridge As a New Year’s present to the St. Croix the Department of the Interior decided to veto the proposed Stillwater Bridge across the National Wild and Scenic St. Croix River. The decision came partly as a result of public pressure from concerned citizens. The Sierra Club, Northstar Chapter, in Minnesota, spearheaded the effort to protect the river. In early December the River Alliance teamed up with the Sierra Club to send an Urgent Alert to 600+ River Alliance members across Wisconsin asking them to write to Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt. William Schenk, Park Service Midwest Area Director, said of the project, "the massive structure would adversely affect the natural and historic scene, altering the scenic qualities of this segment of the river more than any development since designation as a National Wild and Scenic Riverway." The unnecessary project would have increased urban sprawl and added a large cement structure to a previously untouched area of the riverway. This project would have forever changed the character of the area. Sara Johnson, Executive Director of the River Alliance, said of the decision, "What a great way to start the New Year. The bridge was a terrible idea and we applaud the Department of the Interior for stopping the project. This decision sends a strong message that our Wild and Scenic Rivers are national treasures not to be messed with." If you know of another bridge project, I’d be glad to hear about it.

Response:

Yesterday I got another shock:  It seems there is now a debate over building a huge modern goddamn BRIDGE over the river…or perhaps downstream over the St. Croix into which the Namekagon flows, which is (has been?) equally wild and gorgeous.  I suggested that the "wild river" designation might induce a false sense of security among those who care about such matters…?

Fortunately that bridge was vetoed by the Department of the Interior. For more information, you might check out the River Alliance of Wisconsin website.  I don’t have the url handy but you can link there from http://www.awa.org/awa/affil_clubs/rts.htm

Response:

I’ve discussed this before with FS officials. Wild and Scenic rivers are administered by the USFS. If the river doesn’t flow through USFS land, they can’t regulate it. hmm.  The Yellow Dog River in the western upper peninsula is a designated Wild and Scenic River.  It starts in a national wilderness area and flows through that area only a couple miles, and then flows the rest of its length through state lands, but still designated Wild and Scenic along its entire length. are there exceptions? ——Muskie

A single stretch can be designated either Wild, Scenic or Recreational or all three depending on the amount of development and access at each segment.  Take a look at http://www.nps.gov/ccso/wildriverslist.htm for a complete list.  Thanks for the info.  Yea we’re up here in GodforsakenMontana- more snow this December than any other single month in history.  Should have some good flows through the whole summer…  I’m still looking for any type of Wild and Scenic info I can find on how the designation affects the people and businesses afterwards.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve discussed this before with FS officials. Wild and Scenic rivers are administered by the USFS. If the river doesn’t flow through USFS land, they can’t regulate it. hmm.  The Yellow Dog River in the western upper peninsula is a designated Wild and Scenic River.  It starts in a national wilderness area and flows through that area only a couple miles, and then flows the rest of its length through state lands, but still designated Wild and Scenic along its entire length. are there exceptions? ——Muskie A single stretch can be designated either Wild, Scenic or Recreational or all three depending on the amount of development and access at each segment.  Take a look at http://www.nps.gov/ccso/wildriverslist.htm for a complete list.  Thanks for the info.  Yea we’re up here in GodforsakenMontana- more snow this December than any other single month in history.  Should have some good flows through the whole summer…  I’m still looking for any type of Wild and Scenic info I can find on how the designation affects the people and businesses afterwards.                                                                        

 I don’t know if this is within the ball-park as to what you want, but here goes:  A while ago I wrote about the construction of a huge Interstate section along the Namekagon River, a gorgeous river in Northwest Wisconsin that was the first river to go under the "protection" of federal designation as a "wild river"…long BEFORE the Intersate was built.  My point (apparently misunderstood) was that such designation apparently did nothing to protect the river in that case.  Yesterday I got another shock:  It seems there is now a debate over building a huge modern goddamn BRIDGE over the river…or perhaps downstream over the St. Croix into which the Namekagon flows, which is (has been?) equally wild and gorgeous.  I suggested that the "wild river" designation might induce a false sense of security among those who care about such matters…?

Response:

 I’ve discussed this before with FS officials. Wild and Scenic rivers are  administered by the USFS. If the river doesn’t flow through USFS land,  they can’t regulate it.  hmm.  The Yellow Dog River in the western upper peninsula is a designated Wild and Scenic River.  It starts in a national wilderness area and flows through that area only a couple miles, and then flows the rest of its length through state lands, but still designated Wild and Scenic along its entire length.  are there exceptions? ——Muskie

Response:

There is a FEDERAL wild and scenic rivers act as well as individual state designations.  The state and federal designations may overlap, conflict or complement one another in a specific situation.  Most Wild and Scenic rivers involve several jurisdictions, ie. BLM, USFS, private landowners, BIA, NativeAmerican tribes, state owned lands. Under either designation (state or federal) developing a use plan is a very complex process involving an incredible balancing act among all the competing interests.  The plans for the Deschutes and Metolius in Oregon as an example have been going since the late 80s and some issues are not yet resolved.  You might contact Oregon Parks and Recreation(via the web) or the BLM (Prineville Office) for info or copies of plans.  Also the BLM or USFS in Idaho for the upper Snake river plan. I’ve discussed this before with FS officials. Wild and Scenic rivers are administered by the USFS. If the river doesn’t flow through USFS land, they can’t regulate it. hmm.  The Yellow Dog River in the western upper peninsula is a designated Wild and Scenic River.  It starts in a national wilderness area and flows through that area only a couple miles, and then flows the rest of its length through state lands, but still designated Wild and Scenic along its entire length. are there exceptions? ——Muskie

Mike in PDX "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                           Tom McGuane

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | I’m associated with a group exploring the possibility of starting the | process of getting a river designated Wild & Scenic. | | Are there any studies available that fully define the pros and cons of | this designation from the point of view of recreationists, | land-owners, timber and mining companies etc.??  Is there any body of | work to explore what the after-effects have been to designated rivers? | | Many thanks, | I am cross-posting this request to rec.boats.paddle newsgroup. This might be a potential source of contacts who have experience from which you might benefit.

Ooops… meant to say Colorado…

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | I’m associated with a group exploring the possibility of starting the | process of getting a river designated Wild & Scenic. | | Are there any studies available that fully define the pros and cons of | this designation from the point of view of recreationists, | land-owners, timber and mining companies etc.??  Is there any body of | work to explore what the after-effects have been to designated rivers? | | Many thanks, | I am cross-posting this request to rec.boats.paddle newsgroup. This might be a potential source of contacts who have experience from which you might benefit. Big Sky…. as in Montana? What rivers? Know the East Glacier area…. Although I am also familiar with Great Falls, however, when going to Montana to play, Great Falls is not high on the list. Jeanne                                                                        

 I don’t KNOW, but see my responses above under "Elitism…" or the like.

Response:

I’m associated with a group exploring the possibility of starting the process of getting a river designated Wild & Scenic. Are there any studies available that fully define the pros and cons of this designation from the point of view of recreationists, land-owners, timber and mining companies etc.??  Is there any body of work to explore what the after-effects have been to designated rivers? Many thanks,

Response:

| I’m associated with a group exploring the possibility of starting the | process of getting a river designated Wild & Scenic. | | Are there any studies available that fully define the pros and cons of | this designation from the point of view of recreationists, | land-owners, timber and mining companies etc.??  Is there any body of | work to explore what the after-effects have been to designated rivers? | | Many thanks, | I am cross-posting this request to rec.boats.paddle newsgroup. This might be a potential source of contacts who have experience from which you might benefit.

Response:

I’ve discussed this before with FS officials. Wild and Scenic rivers are administered by the USFS. If the river doesn’t flow through USFS land, they can’t regulate it. — Brian D. Nelson, Missoula, Montana Montana Flyfishing and Hunting Outfitter http://www.montana.com/dno/dno.htm http://www.montana.com/dno/hunt.htm

Response:

I’m associated with a group exploring the possibility of starting the process of getting a river designated Wild & Scenic.

Here’s a starting point or two: http://www.sierraclub.org/ http://www.cwo.com/~trout/ Anglerboy

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | I’m associated with a group exploring the possibility of starting the | process of getting a river designated Wild & Scenic. | | Are there any studies available that fully define the pros and cons of | this designation from the point of view of recreationists, | land-owners, timber and mining companies etc.??  Is there any body of | work to explore what the after-effects have been to designated rivers? | | Many thanks, | I am cross-posting this request to rec.boats.paddle newsgroup. This might be a potential source of contacts who have experience from which you might benefit.

Big Sky…. as in Montana?   What rivers?   Know the East Glacier area…. Although I am also familiar with Great Falls, however, when going to Montana to play, Great Falls is not high on the list. Jeanne

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Question:

A new client will have me spending a fair amount of time in Phoenix. Where do I fish (trout or bass, not picky) in this desert…or do I have to take up (ugh) golf?

Hi Steph, Call Jim Fraijo at Arizona Outdoors in Tempe.  He has always shared information freely with me (602-968-3868). — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 catalog) http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

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A new client will have me spending a fair amount of time in Phoenix. Where do I fish (trout or bass, not picky) in this desert…or do I have to take up (ugh) golf?

Scope out the AZ FF site at: http://www.azlink.com/~jshannon/ DawsonH

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A new client will have me spending a fair amount of time in Phoenix. Where do I fish (trout or bass, not picky) in this desert…or do I have to take up (ugh) golf?

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Question:

This year I moved my Japanese Anenome to another section of garden. All year long I have been amazed at the number of new plants popping up in the old site; it seems the more I pull out, the more they grow. Does anyone have suggestions on eliminating this plant once and for all? I had no idea it can be so invasive! TIA – Steph

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This year I moved my Japanese Anenome to another section of garden. All year long I have been amazed at the number of new plants popping up in the old site; it seems the more I pull out, the more they grow. Does anyone have suggestions on eliminating this plant once and for all? I had no idea it can be so invasive!

  I believe only one species (Robust..something that’s a sort of washed out dark pink) has this invasive property.  Down my way Anemones arn’t that healthy so even this species is easy to eliminate with a little digging and sifting.  You might try Round-Up when it is actively growing, but I think once or twice with a rake should pick up most of the spreading rizomes. — Lloyd Fortney http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney/lrf_home_page.html has links to my garden, flower, flyfishing, and travel JPEG images as well as teaching, research, and stuff like that

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I have found that any Japanese anemone is very invasive.  Constant weeding or roundup is required.

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I have not found that Japanese Anemone is invasive at all, in fact, myine is about to be overwhelmed by the other planta around it and is seriously in need of being moved.  (I am in Zone 6 on the north side of Lake Ontario.) Robyn G

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Robyn – glad you posted that – I haven’t found Japanese anenome’s to be invasive either.   Cheers Robin (by another name!)

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I thought the Japanese were our anemones during WW II.

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I thought the Japanese were our anemones during WW II.

Couldn’t resist, could you? —  CCCCDo CCC  CCo CCC   "|     Db,    CCC     REE D D   and the Swillmasters.   "CCoo-     DP’

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Question:

Will be in Utah this month or next (June). Seeking advice on best places near Orem. Also pointers to good guide books. Thanks!

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Will be in Utah this month or next (June). Seeking advice on best places near Orem. Also pointers to good guide books. Thanks!

A couple of hours (maybe 3) south on I-15 is the town of Beaver.  Abt 10 miles (paved) west of town is Minersville Resovoir. It’s catch & release, last weekend we caught fis in the 18-21 inch range.  BTW, a busy day on the lake is maybe 15 people. Regards, KBC

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You will be 5 miles from the Provo River and if you are a serious Fly Fisherman you will be there.  Ask any fishing store, or sports store in orem for more info of the Provo. The other guy mentioned driving 3 hours to some lake down south??? If your willing to drive 3 Hours you can get to the Green River, and ask anybody online, the Green is simply the Best! Good Luck!

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I would opt for the Provo. Although be prepared for crowded conditions on the weekends. I would second the previous post, if your going to drive south 3 hours, play golf, if you want fish hit the Green River, I can almost guarentee you won’t be sorry.

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Question:

I’ve read that nylon pantyhose makes a great shuck imitation.   -Clyde

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I’ve read that nylon pantyhose makes a great shuck imitation.  

And, its great fun to watch them get taken off!

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I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a

Check Gary LaFoine’s book "The Dry Fly", in it he has a pattern called the Buzz Ball that is suppose to imitated a midge cluster on the surface like one would see on some back water on the San Juan or similar river. good luck Mark Powers Boston

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I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a pattern that imitates  the midge during those few seconds that it sits dry on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck…apparently the moment of greatest vulnerability.  Both the midge and the shuck or on the surface (shuck may be in the film). Anyone had good luck with a pattern of this type?

I am wondering if a double tippet could be made to the midge a few inches from the shuck?   Put a hook in both if the trout cannot make up its mind.  Be interesting to see if the shuck or the midge get hit on most often. here a change to come up with a new pattern.  And we wonder where did they all come from.  :-)   Happy new year!

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The thing I’m looking for is a pattern that imitates  the midge during those

 few seconds that it sits dry on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck… I use your typical Griffith’s Gnat tied w/ a small plume of grey CDC feathers as a tail to imitate the trailing shuck.

Yours virtually, Gary W. Godden Denver, Colorado

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a pattern that imitates  the midge during those few seconds that it sits dry on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck…apparently the moment of greatest vulnerability.  Both the midge and the shuck or on the surface (shuck may be in the film). Anyone had good luck with a pattern of this type? I am wondering if a double tippet could be made to the midge a few inches from the shuck?   Put a hook in both if the trout cannot make up its mind.  Be interesting to see if the shuck or the midge get hit on most often. here a change to come up with a new pattern.  And we wonder where did they all come from.  :-)   Happy new year!

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Out here in Colorado we use something called a Stuck-In -Shuck midge.  It’s a good slow-water fly on the South Platte where winter trout seem to sometimes prefer emerging midges over full adults. The dressing is simple.  The tail, or "shuck" is a few strands of brown antron, or Z-lon. the body is thread, or peacock.  A few strands of white antron, Z-lon, or poly are tied in at the butt, and pulled over the body. This should be a little on the loose side, creating a kind of bubble.  Some people put a couple wraps of grizzly hackle, trimmed top, and bottom in front for better floatation.  This fly should be dressed to let the fly float in the film. I don’t know who dreamt this fly up, but I think it’s a pretty good one! Chaz — Chaz Clover Fly Tier, Fly Design, Riverkeeper.

I fish the tiny spring creeks in WI and the best surface/film pattern that I have tried is nothing radical: Griffith’s Gnat. I tie it on a size 22 wide gap 1XF hook. Peacock Body (short flue, taken from near the butt rather than the eye) and Top Quality (Hoffman) Grizzly also short (no longer than to point). Fished on 6X tippet with silicon paste applied on 3 inches about 6 inches from the fly. this: a. keeps it on top, b. if you position yourself just right it acts a an indicator, and c. allows the fly to move naturally. I don’t apply floatant to the fly as it makes it ride too high causing for short hits. Quarter it upstream and dead drift. Good Luck.

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: I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my : pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even : semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a : pattern that imitates  the midge during those few seconds that it sits dry : on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck…apparently the moment : of greatest vulnerability.  Both the midge and the shuck or on the surface : (shuck may be in the film). : Anyone had good luck with a pattern of this type? I do quite a bit of midge fishing, especially late in the season as it gets colder.  I’ve found that a #26 or 28 works very well for the large (but oh so rare) browns here in VT.  I don’t use a trailing shuck pattern, however.  I use a simple black or red thread body (no tail) with a grizzly, black, or cream hackle.  The red body is easy to spot, and it seems to work!  I rarely get refused with this pattern, and it’s very simple to tie.  In addition, it feeds my growing opinion that the presentation is (slightly?) more important than the fly choice (please, no flame wars on this one, both are important!)   I don’t usually fish this one blind, and not at long distances (usually about 20-25′).  I find that 7 or 8X tippets make sense, as well as a challenge for a big fish. Hans

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I’m a lover of spring creek midge fishing.  While I’m doing well on my pupae, I still can’t find a dry pattern that will consistently (or even semi-regularly) fool the surface sippers..  The thing I’m looking for is a pattern that imitates  the midge during those few seconds that it sits dry on the surface, but is still attached to the shuck…apparently the moment of greatest vulnerability.  Both the midge and the shuck or on the surface (shuck may be in the film). Anyone had good luck with a pattern of this type?

Response:

Out here in Colorado we use something called a Stuck-In -Shuck midge.  It’s a good slow-water fly on the South Platte where winter trout seem to sometimes prefer emerging midges over full adults. The dressing is simple.  The tail, or "shuck" is a few strands of brown antron, or Z-lon. the body is thread, or peacock.  A few strands of white antron, Z-lon, or poly are tied in at the butt, and pulled over the body. This should be a little on the loose side, creating a kind of bubble.  Some people put a couple wraps of grizzly hackle, trimmed top, and bottom in front for better floatation.  This fly should be dressed to let the fly float in the film. I don’t know who dreamt this fly up, but I think it’s a pretty good one! Chaz — Chaz Clover Fly Tier, Fly Design, Riverkeeper.

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