Question:

This year we’re going to France to do some Fly-fishing. Does anybody has some experience in Bourgondie, Avergne, Midi-Pyrenes (or other places) thanks, martin

Response:

Hey Martin, have a look at the following WebPages. The first two are for fishing only, Union Nationale pour la P

Question:

I have offered flies occasionally, but usually only do so when asked, and I would never try to give anybody casting lessons etc unasked, I think this might be akin to asking for a punch on the nose.  The skill or lack of it which one possesses, is a very personal thing, criticising a complete stranger is a no no in my opinion. TL MC

Response:

I have offered flies occasionally, but usually only do so when asked, and I would never try to give anybody casting lessons etc unasked, I think this might be akin to asking for a punch on the nose.  The skill or lack of it which one possesses, is a very personal thing, criticising a complete stranger is a no no in my opinion.

And you know that no matter how carefully one was to couch any assistance to avoid it being taken as criticism, the risk is still high that someone’s feelings are going to be injured. I just don’t see the high-percentage up-side to offering unsolicited casting assistance. And frankly, I’m on the water to enjoy myself, not to risk the ire of a flogger… /daytripper

Response:

I only help when asked (fly choices, where, ect).  I have never given casting lessons while I am trying to fish nor do I plan to start that practice. I can understand wanting to be helpful and all, but let a beginner plot their own course. Some of the best lessons I have learned on my own.  If it is someone you know (like I just taught my brother), then don’t plan on fishing much and sure as hell don’t show off your expertise and catch a lot of fish using the same fly, in the same place.  That will just them turn them off thinking they are a failure. Warren

Response:

I tell you truly, I try not to intrude. Women are more willing to take advice about it, naturally, but even they have to make at least one plaintive eye-contact before I’ll offer up a fly or a suggestion. If they want help, they’ll tell you somehow. W.E.S. Harman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Many of us have been on a stream or lake and watched a beginner thrash the water in frustration. Bad casting or presentation culminating in a temper tantrum and no fish caught. The question is do you offer help, or stay the hell away? I have helped a few people (usually young men or woman) by offering them a fly and maybe one little hint about their cast. I’ve usually been greeted with despirate thanks.  For adult males its usually like approaching a mad bear. I’ve often been told to go get f**ed. Do any of you have tactics to approach new fisherman with a little advice?  My only success is usually to catch 10 fish under their nose and let them ask what am I doing. For you new to fly fishers,  I’d suggest that you do approach more accomplished fisherman on the stream for advise or fly selection. As soon at your told the secret is a 16 calibaetis emerger and you give a blank look, the fisherman will usually get more basic without you needing to ask the obvious question. Watch the guy fishing for a while before you ask what fly since its seldom the fly but how he/she is fishing that makes the real difference. Is he fishing upstream or across, in the seems or off the bank, wet or dry, with extra weight or not, with a dropper or single fly, dead drift, slow or fast retrieve???

Response:

I tell you truly, I try not to intrude. Women are more willing to take advice about it, naturally, but even they have to make at least one plaintive eye-contact before I’ll offer up a fly or a suggestion. If they want help, they’ll tell you somehow.

I wish I could get any eye contact from any women on the stream, then again I have yet to see a woman on the stream : ( Tim Apple — "Bamboo is Better"

Response:

Many of us have been on a stream or lake and watched a beginner thrash the water in frustration. Bad casting or presentation culminating in a temper tantrum and no fish caught. The question is do you offer help, or stay the hell away?

Snip<<< Generally, I’ll laugh out loud a few times and then start in with the verbal haranguing. "Nice tailing loop, loser! froth up the water a little more. Where’d you learn to cast, the Walt Winter school of casting. I’ve seen better back casts on a drunken, cross eyed bait dunker!" I have found this to be very helpful…… Matt M.

Response:

Whassis, Matt?  Smoking that stuff again?  And, Im NOT cross eyed! Myoptic, yes, but strabismus, not!  And HEY, I tyed my own shoes!  A *real* guide would show a little humility.  The lessons are worth the Tom — Tom Brown The Signal Group Wake Forest, NC – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Snip<<< Generally, I’ll laugh out loud a few times and then start in with the verbal haranguing. "Nice tailing loop, loser! froth up the water a little more. Where’d you learn to cast, the Walt Winter school of casting. I’ve seen better back casts on a drunken, cross eyed bait dunker!" I have found this to be very helpful…… Matt M.

Response:

I went out to my home river last night at about 7:30 to fish the evening hatch. I was fishing a run that usually holds some good fish when there’s a hatch on. They come out of a deep pool down below to feed in the shallower, swifter water. I’ve been fishing this stretch of the river for about fifteen years and feel I know it very well. A young, blonde woman in hippers was fishing upstream and saw me catch a couple of little ones. She came down to ask me what I was using.  I gave her a couple of flies, showed her one of the mayflies the trout were feeding on and wished her luck.  She then told me that the fish were rising "like crazy" in the pool down below but she couldn’t wade out far enough because she was too short. I explained to her that there was a school of very small Browns that surface feed in the pool every evening but that the better fish move up into the head of the pool and into the run I was fishing. Fishing was fairly slow where I was and there was only about fifteen minutes left before I couldn’t see my fly any more. So I thought I’d go down stream and catch a few of those "little browns" that were rising "like crazy."  When I got there, they WERE rising like crazy and were feeding on the same small dun mayfly that was hatching in the run above. On the second or third cast, I had a solid take. Expecting a little Brown, I wasn’t ready for the strong down stream run and I broke off the fish. A few minutes later I got another hook up, I was a little better prepared and after a nice battle landed a Rainbow of about 16". It was then pretty dark, but the fish were still rising. Although I couldn’t see my fly, I could make out the rise forms, so I took a few more casts and hooked and landed a Rainbow that was pushing 20".   Nice way to end the evening but I had another little treat in store. Wading back to shore I tripped on a boulder and took a dunking. While I was swearing at myself for being so stupid, I thought about my conversation with the young woman. She gave me a nice evening of fishing and I felt like an ass for being such a know it all. Willi

Response:

Tim,    The last woman I saw on a trout stream was when I was fly fishing up the middle of a small stream and came around a large rock and there was a woman nude sun bathing on her back with her feet pointed at me.  I expected her to grab a towel or roll over, but she just watched me fish on through.  I don’t know if I got any strikes in the next twenty yards or not. Ernie Harrison – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wish I could get any eye contact from any women on the stream, then again I have yet to see a woman on the stream : ( Tim Apple

Response:

Tim,    The last woman I saw on a trout stream was when I was fly fishing up the middle of a small stream and came around a large rock and there was a woman nude sun bathing on her back with her feet pointed at me.  I expected her to grab a towel or roll over, but she just watched me fish on through.  I don’t know if I got any strikes in the next twenty yards or not. Ernie Harrison

Yes, but did you get a rise ? TL MC

Response:

What ? a beginner trashing water in frustration ? Most of the people I see on streams fish like this: ^^^^^ back-cast … splash … forward cast … splash (repeat about 10 times to get 40 yards out) drag drag drag. Ok, just kidding. I sometimes offer flies when asked what I am using.  Sometimes I relinquish my spot if I sense that the other angler feels that I have the best spot and he is fishing dead water. A slightly different problem is the lack of stream etiquette that beginners seem to have. I rarely had a problem sharing streams with old timers, however, new fishermen are often a pain in the butt.  Aside for people moving close to me and cast at the same trout I am working on, I had people crossing streams just where I was, or, in some cases, going near the place I was casting to, to see if there was a trout there …. What do you do in those cases ?  I usually move to the next pool: the few times I made a comment about the behaviour, I received blank stares in return. Now, as FF has become increasingly popular with wealthier people in the recent years, who often buy Orvis stuff, I wonder if the dislike that this group has shown towards Orvis is really due to the dislike of new fishermen lacking stream etiquette and dressed in rather expensive outfits ….. -Vittorio – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Many of us have been on a stream or lake and watched a beginner thrash the water in frustration. Bad casting or presentation culminating in a temper tantrum and no fish caught. The question is do you offer help, or stay the hell away? I have helped a few people (usually young men or woman) by offering them a fly and maybe one little hint about their cast. I’ve usually been greeted with despirate thanks.  For adult males its usually like approaching a mad bear. I’ve often been told to go get f**ed. Do any of you have tactics to approach new fisherman with a little advice?  My only success is usually to catch 10 fish under their nose and let them ask what am I doing. For you new to fly fishers,  I’d suggest that you do approach more accomplished fisherman on the stream for advise or fly selection. As soon at your told the secret is a 16 calibaetis emerger and you give a blank look, the fisherman will usually get more basic without you needing to ask the obvious question. Watch the guy fishing for a while before you ask what fly since its seldom the fly but how he/she is fishing that makes the real difference. Is he fishing upstream or across, in the seems or off the bank, wet or dry, with extra weight or not, with a dropper or single fly, dead drift, slow or fast retrieve???

Response:

ah, mike…that must be the germanic influence engorging your brit nature…soon you’ll be postin about teen-y flies… jeff (worshiping at the mons venus) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Tim,    The last woman I saw on a trout stream was when I was fly fishing up the middle of a small stream and came around a large rock and there was a woman nude sun bathing on her back with her feet pointed at me.  I expected her to grab a towel or roll over, but she just watched me fish on through.  I don’t know if I got any strikes in the next twenty yards or not. Ernie Harrison Yes, but did you get a rise ? TL MC

Response:

you mean all that stuff walt taught me was wrong?  he said it was in the orvis book… jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Many of us have been on a stream or lake and watched a beginner thrash the water in frustration. Bad casting or presentation culminating in a temper tantrum and no fish caught. The question is do you offer help, or stay the hell away? Snip<<< Generally, I’ll laugh out loud a few times and then start in with the verbal haranguing. "Nice tailing loop, loser! froth up the water a little more. Where’d you learn to cast, the Walt Winter school of casting. I’ve seen better back casts on a drunken, cross eyed bait dunker!" I have found this to be very helpful…… Matt M.

Response:

Tim,    The last woman I saw on a trout stream was when I was fly fishing up the middle of a small stream and came around a large rock and there was a woman nude sun bathing on her back with her feet pointed at me.  I expected her to grab a towel or roll over, but she just watched me fish on through.  I don’t know if I got any strikes in the next twenty yards or not. Ernie Harrison

Mr. G.   ‘all’s fair with fur or feather’ http://www.gink.com http://www.rodbuilding.com http://www.xink.com 509-243-4100 or 5500

Question:

Hello Ken, This is something I’ve been doing quite a bit in the last couple of years. I’m certainly no expert, but here are a few thoughts.. For tackle I recommend a fairly stiff 8 weight rod with a Lamson reel.  You can get away with Pfleuger or a Scientific Angler but they’ll require more care and aren’t as smooth.  Use 20 lb. dacron backing.  Nothing your going to hook is going to run that far.  Even a big red usually stays within 100 yds of where he was hooked so you don’t need Bonefish gear. This rig will handle bass, redfish, speckled trout and the occasional flounder.  You’ll have to deal with wind.  Just the way it goes.  Try the Scientific Anglers Mastery series Wind Cheater line.  Helps a bit.  I also use a slow sinking line a lot and it’s a bit easier to cast into the wind.  I’d go with the Wind Cheater to start with.  Takes some of the edge off of being a beginner. The single most effective lure for me is a chartreuse/white Clouser minnow. Works on Reds and Specks under most circumstances.  Later you can go with some crab patterns for Reds and some Seaducers and Leftys Deceivers for Specks. Don’t discount Crazy Charlies either.. great under the lights for Specks. There are other patterns.. Roadkills, different shrimp imitations, but if you head out with half-a-dozen Clousers and a couple or lighter streamers, you’ll handle most of what you encounter. Is this what you wanted to know? Andy Schreckenghost Houston TX – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to fly fishing and in need of information for fishing in the coastal bend.  For instance reel and rod recommendations.  I hear that the wind is a consideration when fishing in the bay. I would appreciate any information. Thank you, Ken Clay

Response:

I am new to fly fishing and in need of information for fishing in the coastal bend.  For instance reel and rod recommendations.  I hear that the wind is a consideration when fishing in the bay. I would appreciate any information. Thank you, Ken Clay

Response:

Question:

Watching ESPN2 recently I chanced across a young lady (seemingly well accomplished in the fly-fishing arts) guiding the show host on a snowy winter stream near Cooke City Montana.  She was fishing dry flys downstream. According to her "when the water is clear and the fish spook easily this prevents ""lining the fish"".

Hi Hart, I didn’t read any of the other post yet, but I am sure there are some good answers. I know that on smooth water that is moving slowly the fishing can be tough on the surface. I usually add on 3 feet of 6x or 7x tippet with a #16 or 18 dry, like a Spinner, Parachute, Cripple or Sparkle Dun. I get 30 to 50 feet above the fish and cast my fly downstream  ~3 feet above it’s rise form. Stop the rod high and shake down some slack so it won’t drag. We learned this from guide Bob Quigley in the 70s on California’s Hat Creek. This way the first thing the fish sees is the fly! If you rent or buy Doug Swisher 3M video, ‘Advanced Strategies for Selective Trout’, you will see Doug demonstrate presenting a fly from any point 360 degrees to the fish. I think this is a standard technique on any western spring creek? Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Watching ESPN2 recently I chanced across a young lady (seemingly well accomplished in the fly-fishing arts) guiding the show host on a snowy winter stream near Cooke City Montana.  She was fishing dry flys downstream. According to her "when the water is clear and the fish spook easily this prevents ""lining the fish"". Being a new student of the art, everything I read or listen to tells me dry flys Upstream, wet flys up or down stream and nymphing requires years of experience.  Now I wonder how far a trout is seeing upstream.  I have recently experienced "lining the fish" with a pod of three browns while fishing a streamer upstream.  The floating leader alone spooked the fish. Any thoughts on downstream dry fly fishing and range of sight for trout? As a side note: I have caught a couple of lesser fish when allowing the dry fly to float 20 to 30 feet behind me as I moved up stream in the hole.  I don’t consider this a method I wish to regularly adopt but peaks my curiosity about fish sight range. Wayne To fish is human…to release devine.

Response:

The book "Trout and the Fly" by John Goddard offers some interesting insight into a trout’s sight window.   You will line a trout on a downstream drift if the trout does not take the fly and you allow the fly to continue its drift well past the fish. Clint

Response:

Interesting, I started fly fishing in 1948 and find that fishing a dry fly upstream to be the most successful method.  Only in special circumstances where the water is smooth and clear and the trout are "educated" do I use the downstream method. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I started fly fishing in 1952, and the only hard and fast rule I have discovered is that in order to be succesful, you have to adapt your method to suit the current conditions.  As far as dry flies go, I find direct upstream fishing to usually be the least successful method because you will "line" the fish, and drag is difficult to control.   Usually a quartering upstream or side approach is best. If the surface of the water is not smooth, such as a riffle, the downstream method can be quite effective. As far as what other people think of your method, if it is legal, and you are not crowding or otherwise disturbing them, don’t worry about what they think. Tight Lines!!! George

Response:

Ernie, Just goes to show that there are no *right* answers.  Jeez, was I ever bagged when I wrote my first post on this thread.  It’s a miracle I made any sense at all.  Blame it on the Sleemans and keeping bad company (in-laws.) Peter – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Interesting, I started fly fishing in 1948 and find that fishing a dry fly upstream to be the most successful method.  Only in special circumstances where the water is smooth and clear and the trout are "educated" do I use the downstream method. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh I started fly fishing in 1952, and the only hard and fast rule I have discovered is that in order to be succesful, you have to adapt your method to suit the current conditions.  As far as dry flies go, I find direct upstream fishing to usually be the least successful method because you will "line" the fish, and drag is difficult to control.   Usually a quartering upstream or side approach is best. If the surface of the water is not smooth, such as a riffle, the downstream method can be quite effective. As far as what other people think of your method, if it is legal, and you are not crowding or otherwise disturbing them, don’t worry about what they think. Tight Lines!!! George

Response:

_______ Are you sure you’re not a professional troller Mr. Hart because I think you know the subject of dabbling a dry fly downstream. Mr. G. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Watching ESPN2 recently I chanced across a young lady (seemingly well accomplished in the fly-fishing arts) guiding the show host on a snowy winter stream near Cooke City Montana.  She was fishing dry flys downstream. According to her "when the water is clear and the fish spook easily this prevents ""lining the fish"". Being a new student of the art, everything I read or listen to tells me dry flys Upstream, wet flys up or down stream and nymphing requires years of experience.  Now I wonder how far a trout is seeing upstream.  I have recently experienced "lining the fish" with a pod of three browns while fishing a streamer upstream.  The floating leader alone spooked the fish. Any thoughts on downstream dry fly fishing and range of sight for trout? As a side note: I have caught a couple of lesser fish when allowing the dry fly to float 20 to 30 feet behind me as I moved up stream in the hole.  I don’t consider this a method I wish to regularly adopt but peaks my curiosity about fish sight range. Wayne To fish is human…to release devine.

Response:

Wayne Hart: <<Wayne To fish is human…to release devine. Uh oh!  Glad I’m not gonna be around for awhile. Dave L.

Response:

Being a new student of the art, everything I read or listen to tells me dry flys Upstream, wet flys up or down stream and nymphing requires years of experience.  Now I wonder how far a trout is seeing upstream.  I have recently experienced "lining the fish" with a pod of three browns while fishing a streamer upstream.  The floating leader alone spooked the fish.

The library will help: the books of Vince Marinaro include up-to-date experiments on what fish can see and how far (studied since approx. 1875); Leonard Wright’s Fishing the Dry Fly as a Living Insect (about 1973) explains at length a method of fishing a dry caddis across and downstream, and the times when this produces better than other methods. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

Wayne:  I can’t add much to the series of informative replies already posted, but can share my experience that the hooking of trout when floating a dry downstream is trickier than with the upstream or across presentations.  I have always assumed that this is because when you strike, you are pulling the fly right out of the mouth.  When fishing upstream, a strike pulls the fly back into the side of the mouth.  Thus, my hooking rate declines when fishing downstream, even though I try to set the hook more softly. Mark Faulkner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Being a new student of the art, everything I read or listen to tells me dry flys Upstream, wet flys up or down stream and nymphing requires years of experience.  Now I wonder how far a trout is seeing upstream.  I have recently experienced "lining the fish" with a pod of three browns while fishing a streamer upstream.  The floating leader alone spooked the fish. The library will help: the books of Vince Marinaro include up-to-date experiments on what fish can see and how far (studied since approx. 1875); Leonard Wright’s Fishing the Dry Fly as a Living Insect (about 1973) explains at length a method of fishing a dry caddis across and downstream, and the times when this produces better than other methods. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – She was fishing dry flys downstream. According to her "when the water is clear and the fish spook easily this prevents ""lining the fish"". Being a new student of the art, everything I read or listen to tells me dry flys Upstream, wet flys up or down stream and nymphing requires years of experience.  Now I wonder how far a trout is seeing upstream.  I have recently experienced "lining the fish" with a pod of three browns while fishing a streamer upstream.  The floating leader alone spooked the fish. Any thoughts on downstream dry fly fishing and range of sight for trout? As a side note: I have caught a couple of lesser fish when allowing the dry fly to float 20 to 30 feet behind me as I moved up stream in the hole.  I don’t consider this a method I wish to regularly adopt but peaks my curiosity about fish sight range.

Hi Wayne, Trout see best in front, and slightly above them.  They have binocular vision and can judge distances very well in about a 30

Question:

My vet says dogs are just as susceptible to sun burn and sun or heat stroke and dehydration as humans and this has discouraged me from persuading my dog to come paddling. Her attitude to water is like your Sheltie’s so it’s been easy. But I’ve often wondered how paddlers, trippers and fishers especially, who may be out on the water in the blazing sun for hours under their Tilley hats, protect their dogs from that blazing sun. I think I’d be almost as worried about this as the PFD and recovery after capsize things. Any opinions, experience here? Lyle Fairfield – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a tandem opened kayak that i usually paddle solo.  Do lots of touring and lake fishing.  My new partner is a redhead, fairly short hair, and her name is Maggie.  She loves to go fishing, and i have a hard time keeping her in the boat.  She is about 12 years old in people years, and is a border collie/Chow mix.  My other pooch, a sheltie, hates and is deathly afraid of water; i only took her out once.  Just when i was trying to justify a smaller boat, a Necky Santa Cruz, this happens.  Now i gotta go buy a Doggie PFD, and maybe a Doggie backpack. Sheese, i wonder what it’ll be like trying to get a water-laiden dog back in the boat….  I best try this out in the shallows.

Response:

My vet says dogs are just as susceptible to sun burn and sun or heat stroke and dehydration as humans and this has discouraged me from persuading my dog to come paddling. Her attitude to water is like your Sheltie’s so it’s been easy. But I’ve often wondered how paddlers, trippers and fishers especially, who may be out on the water in the blazing sun for hours under their Tilley hats, protect their dogs from that blazing sun. I think I’d be almost as worried about this as the PFD and recovery after capsize things. Any opinions, experience here?

She just had her first vet check-up today.  She is A-Okay, and more like 18 years old, in people terms.  I asked him about bringing her out in the kayak for several hours on end.  He said he knows some people who bring their dogs out boating.  He stated i needed to be prepared to supply her with more drinking water than myself, and with a coat like hers, sunburn isn’t a problem.  I was overjoyed.  He also reccommended trying out a harness for her while in the boat, since it’ll be easier to get her back in the boat if she jumps ship.  She’s about 45 pounds.

Response:

I have a tandem opened kayak that i usually paddle solo.  Do lots of touring and lake fishing.  My new partner is a redhead, fairly short hair, and her name is Maggie.  She loves to go fishing, and i have a hard time

This time out she didn’t fair so well, unfortunately.  I’ve had a couple folks email me and ask me questions, and give good advice.  So for anyone who’s considering this for the first time, read on.  Since i wanted her in the front of the boat and me in the rear, i  had her on a leash that was attached to the boat.  I made sure the leash was long enough so if she went swimming, i could grab her Doggie PFD’s handle.  Well, that’s where i screwed up.  It ends up her four-foot long leash isn’t nearly long enough so when she went swimming, i couldn’t reach her from the back of the boat.  It was pathetic and she was upset.  After a minute or so i did manage to get her back in. On the good side, she did enjoy the ducks and watching the Osprey go fishing; addtionnally, each fly or ’skeeter perked her right up as well!  She’d climb on the bow looking just like a hood ornament, or one of them bow ornament-things on large ships. That was until she freaked and just had to get outta the boat.  Though i don’t think she’s spoiled on the idea just yet.  Next time we’ll either have no leash, or a much longer one, and it’ll be attached to her PFD and not otherwise.  That handle on her PFD is truely a great idea too.

Response:

I have a tandem opened kayak that i usually paddle solo.  Do lots of touring and lake fishing.  My new partner is a redhead, fairly short hair, and her name is Maggie.  She loves to go fishing, and i have a hard time keeping her in the boat.  She is about 12 years old in people years, and is a border collie/Chow mix.  My other pooch, a sheltie, hates and is deathly afraid of water; i only took her out once.  Just when i was trying to justify a smaller boat, a Necky Santa Cruz, this happens.  Now i gotta go buy a Doggie PFD, and maybe a Doggie backpack. Sheese, i wonder what it’ll be like trying to get a water-laiden dog back in the boat….  I best try this out in the shallows.

Response:

Question:

Dear flyfisher, I am building a free-ware database on behalve of the mail list. Allthough there is lot’s of support from the group, it is not easy to get original pictures. Therefore I need somebody who is willing to make pictures of very nice hand-tied flies and send me the digitized pictures. Reward: very high quality hand-tied flies, and your name mentioned in the database. Erik Bosters

Response:

I am building a free-ware database on behalve of the mail list. Allthough there is lot’s of support from the group, it is not easy to get original pictures.

 I’ll agree it’s not easy. But here’s how I do it: 35mm camera with bellows and tripod, 200mm lense This way you can completely fill a 35mm slide with a #20 nymph, or back off and shoot a 4" long streamer. Build a light tent with translucent, synthetic fabric, like "gloryosa cloth" sold at women’s fabric store. Use a medium blue background, with construction paper or whatever. Illuminate the tent with two 500 watt blue bulbs, to balance with exterior film, of whatever speed. The slower the sharper. Use the light meter for a starting point, but bracket each shot 1 stop in each direction (three exposures per shot). Use f22 or f32 for maximum depth of field. Use the timer, as your exposures will be long. —  * Center for Computational Biology  * Montana State Bozeman  (406) 994-7061  * http://www.nervana.montana.edu/~sandy */

Response:

I’ll agree it’s not easy. But here’s how I do it: 35mm camera with bellows and tripod, 200mm lense This way you can completely fill a 35mm slide with a #20 nymph, or back off and shoot a 4" long streamer.

[deleted] I absolutely concede to you expertise on this subject, Sandy,  but there is one observation I’d like to make. On photographing fishing flies. The odd thing about these photographs is that the critical component seems to be not necessarily in quality of photograph for enlargement.  It seems like when you enlarge anyones flies, the bigger they get, the more defects you notice…which distracts from the quality of the photograph in a way that is really unique to this subject, I feel. Once you start noticing thread overlaps in the head and nicks in materials and stuff, the quality of the photgraph becomes secondary. I recently (foolishly) purchased (I’m not sure of the exact title…) "The Flies of the Umpqua Feather Merchants" which has 1100 color photographs in it.   I have studied it intently.   It’s bizarre to see an Umpqua tied #20 AK Best quill that looks like *complete* crap in the (whatever size they are) photographs.   The quality of the photo is there, but the fly itself [when enlarged] doesn’t cut it. In other endeavours, like in the Macrophotography of the naturals themselves, the quality of the photo is paramount and as you get up in the enlargement range, the beauty of natures work is more revealed.   As you get up in the enlargment range of an imitation, the ugliness of mans hand becomes more revealed. Thus, I posit that a much less expensive 35SLR/80mm with a cheap macro filter will suffice quite nicely for JPG bound fly images providing the lighting, exposure and focus are reasonable.   It might be interesting to compare notes in the images group. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

  Thus, I posit that a much less expensive 35SLR/80mm with a cheap macro   filter will suffice quite nicely for JPG bound fly images providing the   lighting, exposure and focus are reasonable.   It might be interesting to   compare notes in the images group.   —   TimW

Or, I’d be happy to host these images on my web site.  Many of us can’t access the binaries groups.  I too am curious. I have had very limited success taking pictures of flies, and it is not because of a lack of equipment… For this experiment, I’d suggest the GIF format for uniform and virtually lossless compression. -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html NOTICE: DO NOT ADD MY NAME TO _ANY_ MAILING LISTS.  

Response:

The problem with GIF is it is limited in its color palette.  JPG has an unlimited color palette so reproduced most photographs better.  Also when scanning for publication on the web it is necessary to reduce the resolution of the scan so the resulting image is reasonable to download so lossless compression  is not nearly as important as reproducing the entire color range of the object being photographed. Also for scanning for the web it is really not important whether the image is a slide or a print.  A print will work just as well because of the lower resolution of the scan.  Those of us with some experience in reproducing photos for print media have had to relearn some things when it comes to the web.  It is a good idea to use a single-color, non-textured background in the photographs because that type of background compresses best without loss of detail (there is no detail to lose). With all the digital cameras available I still think that 35mm is the way to go for most macro shots.  I have tried using a macro digital camera, a digitizer attached to a macro-capable video camera and direct scans of the flies.  Film still works best at this point. Having said all that I am also still in the process of getting the quality of image I need for fly photos on my own site.  A professional fly-tyer and photographer has kindly sent me some excellent quality scans of some of the flies.  These have a textured background which looks stunning at full resolution but compression isn’t as good as it could be and the file sizes tend to be a little larger than I would like.  His background is also in print where image quality and sharpness is everything and the size of a file doesn’t matter.  He has agreed to try a solid background on his next shoot to compare file sizes and resolution at each size. — — Sherman www.flyfishingjournal.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Thus, I posit that a much less expensive 35SLR/80mm with a cheap macro   filter will suffice quite nicely for JPG bound fly images providing the   lighting, exposure and focus are reasonable.   It might be interesting to   compare notes in the images group.   —   TimW Or, I’d be happy to host these images on my web site.  Many of us can’t access the binaries groups.  I too am curious. I have had very limited success taking pictures of flies, and it is not because of a lack of equipment… For this experiment, I’d suggest the GIF format for uniform and virtually lossless compression. -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html NOTICE: DO NOT ADD MY NAME TO _ANY_ MAILING LISTS.

Response:

Sherman, Thanks for the information, does taking slide pictures with a regular 35MM and sending the film to a developer like Wolf  Camera and Video at http\www.wolfcamera.com give a satisfactory result? — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail GO TO http://users.ccnet.com/~emh FOR TRAVEL TIE BOX PLANS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The problem with GIF is it is limited in its color palette.  JPG has an unlimited color palette so reproduced most photographs better.  Also when scanning for publication on the web it is necessary to reduce the resolution of the scan so the resulting image is reasonable to download so lossless compression  is not nearly as important as reproducing the entire color range of the object being photographed. Also for scanning for the web it is really not important whether the image is a slide or a print.  A print will work just as well because of the lower resolution of the scan.  Those of us with some experience in reproducing photos for print media have had to relearn some things when it comes to the web.  It is a good idea to use a single-color, non-textured background in the photographs because that type of background compresses best without loss of detail (there is no detail to lose). With all the digital cameras available I still think that 35mm is the way to go for most macro shots.  I have tried using a macro digital camera, a digitizer attached to a macro-capable video camera and direct scans of the flies.  Film still works best at this point. Having said all that I am also still in the process of getting the quality of image I need for fly photos on my own site.  A professional fly-tyer and photographer has kindly sent me some excellent quality scans of some of the flies.  These have a textured background which looks stunning at full resolution but compression isn’t as good as it could be and the file sizes tend to be a little larger than I would like.  His background is also in print where image quality and sharpness is everything and the size of a file doesn’t matter.  He has agreed to try a solid background on his next shoot to compare file sizes and resolution at each size. — — Sherman

Response:

  The problem with GIF is it is limited in its color palette.  JPG has an   unlimited color palette so reproduced most photographs better.  

and the problem with jpg is that most all of the software packages do the compression differently for a given compression ratio. if the goal is to compare photo methods, then eliminating the variable of the compression routine is desirable – THAT’s why I suggest GIF. As for slides vs/ prints… comparing a scan of a slide to a scan of a print introduces all sorts of additional variables. -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html NOTICE: DO NOT ADD MY NAME TO _ANY_ MAILING LISTS.  

Response:

I’ve seen photos of actual insects taken using two flash guns of decent power (guide N0 100) one either side of the lens, fired simultaneously, with the camera and flash guns mounted on a kind of T structure all fired simultaneously by cable release.

For more info on a similar device, see John Shaw’s book – Closeups In Nature (a photographer’s guide to techniques in the field). I built one of his "butterfly brackets", as he calls it, and it works quite well. You can hand hold this affair, shoot excellent closeups of moving insect, and get sharp, well exposed photos. You can find the book inphoto  pro shops or catalog supply houses- usually. From the minute we’re born we all start dying;some of us just take longer than others. Me? I’ve been dragging my feet, but it doesn’t seem to help much.

Response:

You can hand hold this affair, shoot excellent closeups of moving insect, and get sharp, well exposed photos.

Apparently the trick is (i.e. with live insects at least) to point your rig at the beast then move in slowly towards it, and when the image becomes sharp, fire!  The flash exposure will "stop" movement.  This way you do not have to hunt for the subject in the viewfinder – it would have probably gone anyway! This technique should work just as well for artificial flies, and they won’t fly away – unless your tying is particulary lifelike Regards, — Bill

Response:

Apparently the trick is (i.e. with live insects at least) to point your rig at the beast then move in slowly towards it, and when the image becomes sharp, fire!  The flash exposure will "stop" movement.  This way you do not have to hunt for the subject in the viewfinder – it would have probably gone anyway!

That’s pretty much the way it works. You’ll find you need to stop down to at least  f-16 – f-22 at these ranges assuming relatively slow film, say 50 to 100 ASA. That will give you "pretty good" depth of field, depending on your lens, and the output of your flash. Best to shoot a test roll first, write down your exposures and then select the f-stop that gives you the result you’re looking for. This technique should work just as well for artificial flies, and they won’t fly away – unless your tying is particulary lifelike

Exactly. From the minute we’re born we all start dying;some of us just take longer than others. Me? I’ve been dragging my feet, but it doesn’t seem to help much.

Response:

se f22 or f32 for maximum depth of field.

Presumably this is the "camera" stop – the effective stop will be more like f64+, I forget the formula but I think the effective aperture is the lens to film distance divided by the diameter of the lens opening. Check this out as it may help you to calculate the correct exposure. I’ve seen photos of actual insects taken using two flash guns of decent power (guide N0 100) one either side of the lens, fired simultaneously, with the camera and flash guns mounted on a kind of T structure all fired simultaneously by cable release.  This makes the whole cinstruction more mobile – if mobility is needed. Regards, — Bill

Response:

Question:

Hello. I’ve been reding about these wonderful spey casts and all the articles say the advantages but they never tell you how to do it. I wuould love it if someone could give me instructions on this. Thank you. Bryce Carron Santa Fe, Texas

Response:

My name is clayton and i live in British Columbia Canada, i spey-fish all the time on the rivers up here and love it. The best advice i can give you is to find a video made by Derek Brown from Scotland. I did a course with him this summer and he was excellant teacher. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello. I’ve been reding about these wonderful spey casts and all the articles say the advantages but they never tell you how to do it. I wuould love it if someone could give me instructions on this. Thank you. Bryce Carron Santa Fe, Texas

Response:

Hello. I’ve been reding about these wonderful spey casts and all the articles say the advantages but they never tell you how to do it.

 The best advice i can give you is to find a video made by Derek Brown from Scotland. I did a course with him this summer and he was excellant teacher.

Does this video deal only with classic double taper line spey casting or the extended weight forward "windcutter" or "Launcher" lines with which you shoot a lot of running line on each cast?  Most folks "south of the border" are going to be using the more modern line systems…  Jim Vincent has decent video for those types of lines, although he does seem to have a hard time with a left handed single spey.  I’m just waiting for the rivers to clear and the sea to lay down so I can once again answer the bait bouncers’ questions.  "It’s fourteen feet long",  "Yes you can catch steelhead on flies", etc. etc. etc.

Response:

There is a very good book on speycasting by Hugh Falkus, published by Excellent Press. I think Kaufmann’s have it. The windcutter lines work very well, and I have one, but the major secret of spey casting is having a rod which is built for the task. I learnt to spey cast before I learnt how to do an overhead cast, so I am not bad at putting a line out, and twenty years experience says that you need a slow actioned rod to spey cast properly. Greenheart was popular for this very reason, and many bamboo rods were good, but the only really good spey casting rods I know of are in the Hardy range (Hardy Speycasters). You can get around the problem, if you have a stiffer rod, by using a sink tip line. This loads the rod more, and produces the curve that you need to form a proper spey loop. Andrew The History of Fly Fishing http://www.elisis.com/Fly.fishing.history/

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello. I’ve been reding about these wonderful spey casts and all the articles say the advantages but they never tell you how to do it. The best advice i can give you is to find a video made by Derek Brown from Scotland. I did a course with him this summer and he was excellant teacher. Does this video deal only with classic double taper line spey casting or the extended weight forward "windcutter" or "Launcher" lines with which you shoot a lot of running line on each cast?  Most folks "south of the border" are going to be using the more modern line systems…  Jim Vincent has decent video for those types of lines, although he does seem to have a hard time with a left handed single spey.  I’m just waiting for the rivers to clear and the sea to lay down so I can once again answer the bait bouncers’ questions.  "It’s fourteen feet long",  "Yes you can catch steelhead on flies", etc. etc. etc.

Response:

Question:

We are very pleased to announce the all new, FISHINTERNET AUSTRALIA http://www.fishnet.com.au/ This internet service is dedicated to the Australian recreational fishing scene. Sections cover all aspects of fishing in Australia with excellent information resources, fishing reports from around the country, full directory of all tackle shops, marine dealers, charters, guides, resorts etc. Please let us know what you think of this new service. Regards, David Dryden          Fishinternet Australia          http://www.fishnet.com.au/

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are very pleased to announce the all new, FISHINTERNET AUSTRALIA http://www.fishnet.com.au/ This internet service is dedicated to the Australian recreational fishing scene. Sections cover all aspects of fishing in Australia with excellent information resources, fishing reports from around the country, full directory of all tackle shops, marine dealers, charters, guides, resorts etc. Please let us know what you think of this new service. Regards, David Dryden         Fishinternet Australia         http://www.fishnet.com.au/

I checked your page. It looks good. Can you help me with advice on fly-fishing for Barramundi in the Cairns / Port Douglas area, or even further north into Cape York. I’ve heard this is something of a new frontier in salt water fly fishing and that the Barramunid is excellent quarry. I will be in the area for 2 weeks in September. I’d like to know about seasons, flies, techniques, guides, etc. Thanks. Christopher Payne.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are very pleased to announce the all new, FISHINTERNET AUSTRALIA http://www.fishnet.com.au/ This internet service is dedicated to the Australian recreational fishing scene. Sections cover all aspects of fishing in Australia with excellent information resources, fishing reports from around the country, full directory of all tackle shops, marine dealers, charters, guides, resorts etc. Please let us know what you think of this new service. Regards, David Dryden         Fishinternet Australia         http://www.fishnet.com.au/ I checked your page. It looks good. Can you help me with advice on fly-fishing for Barramundi in the Cairns / Port Douglas area, or even further north into Cape York. I’ve heard this is something of a new frontier in salt water fly fishing and that the Barramunid is excellent quarry. I will be in the area for 2 weeks in September. I’d like to know about seasons, flies, techniques, guides, etc. Thanks. Christopher Payne. Can you assure me of the availability of that nectar of the gods known

as Crown Lager Beer, its to die for. CL – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Question:

A while back I saw some info on the TMA on the Housatonic in Northern CT. including a phone number for latest info.  I hope to have a chance to fish there Sept. 10 and 11.  Any info and that phone number would be appreciated. Thanks. Tom G.

Response:

To answer a previous inquiry, for information about fly fishing in the trout management area of the Housatonic River in northwestern Connecticut, try calling the Housatonic Meadows Fly Shop in Cornwall, Connecticut at 203-672-6064.  Good luck! Mark Melnick Stamford, Connecticut, USA

Response:

To answer a previous inquiry, for information about fly fishing in the trout management area of the Housatonic River in northwestern Connecticut, try calling the Housatonic Meadows Fly Shop in Cornwall, Connecticut at 203-672-6064.  Good luck! Mark Melnick Stamford, Connecticut, USA

The owner of the HMFS is Phil .. Phil pointed out a nice spot for us this spring, and we ended up the day with a few nice smallmouth and a 16" rainbow, plus watched others get some nice ones. you can also look at the CT fishing page http://metro.turnpike.net/J/jfagan/index.html

Response:

A while back I saw some info on the TMA on the Housatonic in Northern CT. including a phone number for latest info.  I hope to have a chance to fish there Sept. 10 and 11.  Any info and that phone number would be appreciated.

The best source is the Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association’s recording at 203 248-8616.  However, unless we get some good rain in the next week, you really should stay off the Housie:  water levels are too low and the water temperature is too hot, with the result that the fish get overstressed when caught and have a poor likelihood of survival even with the most caring resuscitation.  

Response:

(203) 248-8616

Response:

Haven’t been to river but my guess is it’s unfishable due to drought.Fish move to mouths of cold feeder creeks which are closed to fishing. Anyway, info number is 203 248 8616. Better bet is Farmington River from Riverton downstream to New Hartford. Water remains cold ’cause it’s dam-fed. Info number 860  738 7327. Brian Matthews

Response:

Haven’t been to river but my guess is it’s unfishable due to drought.

I drove down Rte 7 along the TMA today, Saturday, 9/3, and stopped at a few places to look at the water.  I have never seen it so low; barely a trickle. Rocks I’d never seen before were fully exposed.  A couple of jerks were ffing in the Church Pool, but there seemed little risk that they’d catch anything.  Otherwise I think I would have jumped in and splashed around just to put down any trout that might have been thinking of lunch. This river should not be fished until after we’ve had some rain and cooler weather.

Response:

Question:

I am just getting into fly-fishing. snip I seem to remember he used some sort of pin, but I can’t actually remember how he set it up (I was only 10 at the time). Anybody have some tips or suggestions? Paul

Paul, I would recommend you contact the Fly Box in Ottawa, they should be able to steer in the right direction. Also the Ottawa FlyFishers are an active organization you could contact also for info. Also ask around Bell Northern, I know some people flyfish there. David Delcloo

Response:

You might want to start by reading a book or two on the basics of fly fishing.  Check your local library.  I like to suggest that folks try to get into a beginners fly fishing class.  I think its is well worth the money.  As to the kind of equipment to use, it depends on the kind of fishing you expect to be doing.  Generally, a 5wt or 6wt outfit works well for most rivers and streams, but I don’t know your situation.  As you are just starting out, you might want to look at an inexpensive outfit (I started out with a 5/6wt Cortland outfit.)  I bet that "pin" your grandfather used to attach the leader to the fly line was used in tying a nail knot. Good luck and enjoy, Claude

Response:

Paul, I also use the nail knot with a 9′ tapered leader and would like to thank Tim for saving me trying to describe nail knot tying. With a 9′ leader I do get through about three or four per season due to my poor casting or snagging the bottom. Alan UK Flyfisher

Response:

I am just getting into fly-fishing. The last time I ever tried it was with my grandfather ages ago. I’ve not forgotten his recommendations on the size and type of rod, nor how to play the fish. What I have forgotten is fairly basic – the best method to secure the leader line with fly (using monofilament) to the fly line. I seem to remember he used some sort of pin, but I can’t actually remember how he set it up (I was only 10 at the time). Anybody have some tips or suggestions? Regards, Paul Usual disclaimers apply…….    

Response:

I seem to remember he used some sort of pin, but I can’t actually remember how he set it up (I was only 10 at the time). Anybody have some tips or suggestions? Regards, Paul Usual disclaimers apply…….    

The method you briefly described of attaching leader to fly line sounds like a needle knot.  This is my favorite method but is a little time consuming.   However, If you are building leaders by tying tapering dia. tippett material, you only have to tie one needle knot for the whole season.  (provided you do it right the first time) The prodedure goes like this. First you will need two sewing needles, one small enough to fit into the end of the fly line eye first, the other should be considerably larger. Step 1. Push the small needle, eye first into the end of the fly line up to a         quarter inch or so and then push it through the wall of the fly line. Step 2. Thread the smallend of the leader through the exposed eye and withdraw         the needle, with tippett, from inside the fly line.  Pull the leader         through the end of the fly line, leaving 5" or 6" extending through         the wall. Step 3. Take the larger needle and place it along side the fly line with         the eye toward the tippett and the point toward the reel.   Step 4. Wrap the butt end of the leader around the fly line and needle         starting above the point where the leader exits the wall.  Wrap down         five or so times past the exit point and pass the tag end through the         eye of the needle.   Step 5. Grab the poionted end of the needle firmly, and carefully draw the tag         end of the leader under the wraps you have just made.   Step 6. Wet the knot and cinch it up slowly ensuring that the wraps tighten         up smoothly and cover the area where the but end exited the line wall.         Trim the tag end and you are ready to go. Sounds complicated but it is knot so bad.  Pictures are a big help and there are many other ways that are a lot simpler, ie. loop connections, but as I said the is the method I prefer. Good luck, Tim

Response: