Question:

Man, that does sound like a fun technique! Here, fishy, fishy… john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My kennel manager is on vacation, so lots of work for me, but I have been getting out for an hour or two after dinner. Fishing has been good and I’ve come across something I find interesting. At sunset, there are large numbers of spinners (I’m guessing they’re spinners but I haven’t been able to catch one) flying just over the surface occasionally skimming it. There are also some large Mayfly duns and a small Mayfly duns on the surface. There are a few splashy rises from fish chasing emergers but by far the majority of the "risers" are fish jumping clear out of the water to snag one of the spinners flying over the surface. I’ve seen this on an occasional basis, but some of the fish are doing this from a set feeding station and are jumping for the flies on a regular basis. This includes some decent fish. They totally ignore any of the duns that drift by. The flies are only about a size 16/18, so this jumping doesn’t seem "energy efficient" but me, but I’m no fish. I’ve been able to catch a few of them swinging soft hackles. I’ve also caught a some on a dry or emerger tied on an upper a bloodknot dropper with a weighted nymph below. The weighted nymph serves as an anchor and by holding the rod high, the fly on the dropper can be made to skim the surface, stay above it or bounce on the surface. It’s the closest I can come to imitating the hovering flies. It’s been moderately effective with lots of missed fish jumping at the fly but it’s a fun technique. Willi

Response:

……The flies are only about a size 16/18, so this jumping doesn’t seem "energy efficient" but me, but I’m no fish……

I suspect the energy expenditure is not as great as you might think. Fish are streamlined.  Putting on a short burst of speed which will carry them out of the water probably doesn’t cost them a great deal of effort.  The fact that they do so frequently for what seems a small reward bears suggests it is energy efficient. Wolfgang

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Willi    Try dapping.  Get some unwaxed dental floss (or silk floss, I prefer sky blue, the fish seem to ignore it) and cut about six 8 foot pieces.  Lay ‘em out side-by-side and knot the ends together.  Put a 3 foot tippet on one end and tie the other end to your fly line.  Get the longest pole you have and wait for a little bit of a wind.  The floss works as sail and you can skitter the fly over the surface of just above the surface like a hovering insect.  I’ve only caught two fish with the fly in the air but its a trip (okay, I snagged a couple more).  You just let the fish set the hook on itself.  Your natural reaction is to pull it away, don’t move.  Bigger the fly, the more lines of floss and vice versa.  You can use this technique while hiding in bushes on the bank. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

Willi   Try dapping.  Get some unwaxed dental floss (or silk floss, I prefer sky blue, the fish seem to ignore it) and cut about six 8 foot pieces.  Lay ‘em out side-by-side and knot the ends together.  Put a 3 foot tippet on one end and tie the other end to your fly line.  Get the longest pole you have and wait for a little bit of a wind.  The floss works as sail and you can skitter the fly over the surface of just above the surface like a hovering insect.  I’ve only caught two fish with the fly in the air but its a trip (okay, I snagged a couple more).  You just let the fish set the hook on itself.  Your natural reaction is to pull it away, don’t move.  Bigger the fly, the more lines of floss and vice versa.  You can use this technique while hiding in bushes on the bank.

        this is the weirdest damn place i have ever been.         yfitons wayno

Response:

My kennel manager is on vacation, so lots of work for me, but I have been getting out for an hour or two after dinner. Fishing has been good and I’ve come across something I find interesting. At sunset, there are large numbers of spinners (I’m guessing they’re spinners but I haven’t been able to catch one) flying just over the surface occasionally skimming it. There are also some large Mayfly duns and a small Mayfly duns on the surface. There are a few splashy rises from fish chasing emergers but by far the majority of the "risers" are fish jumping clear out of the water to snag one of the spinners flying over the surface. I’ve seen this on an occasional basis, but some of the fish are doing this from a set feeding station and are jumping for the flies on a regular basis. This includes some decent fish. They totally ignore any of the duns that drift by. The flies are only about a size 16/18, so this jumping doesn’t seem "energy efficient" but me, but I’m no fish. I’ve been able to catch a few of them swinging soft hackles. I’ve also caught a some on a dry or emerger tied on an upper a bloodknot dropper with a weighted nymph below. The weighted nymph serves as an anchor and by holding the rod high, the fly on the dropper can be made to skim the surface, stay above it or bounce on the surface. It’s the closest I can come to imitating the hovering flies. It’s been moderately effective with lots of missed fish jumping at the fly but it’s a fun technique.   Willi

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Question:

No, you all can bring those teeny little eastern ethics into any bar you like over here, but the girls are likely to laugh at them.  :) mind…..um……them ain’t girls! Wolfgang see, ya gotta kinda hold em upsi……well, never mind

Ah, so you *have* been in a bar out here.  Hard to believe, I know, but those *were* the girls that held you upside down. JR

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No, you all can bring those teeny little eastern ethics into any bar you like over here, but the girls are likely to laugh at them.  :) mind…..um……them ain’t girls! Wolfgang see, ya gotta kinda hold em upsi……well, never mind Ah, so you *have* been in a bar out here.  Hard to believe, I know, but those *were* the girls that held you upside down.

Oh, I’ve been in quite a few bars out there.  Never been held upside down.  And no, those ain’t girls…..some day we’ll explain the bother. Wolfgang wouldn’t be ethical

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…… cuz then he could never never no no uh uh uh venture into a bar west of omaha on accounta then he’d get beat up by a couple dozen cowboys with REALLY BIG ethics…….yup, uh huh.      :)

No, you all can bring those teeny little eastern ethics into any bar you like over here, but the girls are likely to laugh at them.  :) JR

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…… cuz then he could never never no no uh uh uh venture into a bar west of omaha on accounta then he’d get beat up by a couple dozen cowboys with REALLY BIG ethics…….yup, uh huh.      :) No, you all can bring those teeny little eastern ethics into any bar you like over here, but the girls are likely to laugh at them.  :)

mind…..um……them ain’t girls! Wolfgang see, ya gotta kinda hold em upsi……well, never mind

Response:

yellow foam spider was the ticket. After about six months of fishing almost exclusively with nymphs I had forgotten how fun it is to see a fish rise from the depths to take a fly on the surface.

I am glad you had some fun with the panfish flies. Since I am auch a slut about catching bluegill from the surface, I most often start with the yellow foam spider. I seldom am able to catch catfish with a fly, but they are a hell of a lot of fun when they do take the fly. I use head cement on the ghost minnow and I think the smell of it puts the catfish off. Richard Hart who came up with the pattern gives it a spray with Cortland’s Mayfly Scent when he fishes these flies for catfish or carp. As far as I am concerned the flies accomplished their purpose…I could almost see the smile on your face from here. That is what bluegill are all about. Big Dale

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As far as I am concerned the flies accomplished their purpose…I could almost see the smile on your face from here.

So far I have caught brown trout, smallmouth and bream on your flies (that I won at the raffle(s)). No catfish yet, but plenty of smiles for me too. — Charlie…

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The bluegill are just finishing the spawn season at the pond and the aggressive males linger in groups at the edges of the beds waiting for something to happen. Loitering like teenagers at the mall, I guess.

Hokey smokes they’re early down there!  Bluegills won’t be spawning here for another month or so.  I am SO jealous!! Wolfgang assuming that the gills were actually QUITE finished spawning cuz on accounta he would hate to think that steve would fish em on the redds cuz then he could never never no no uh uh uh venture into a bar west of omaha on accounta then he’d get beat up by a couple dozen cowboys with REALLY BIG ethics…….yup, uh huh.      :)

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[deleted] Good points. I actually did try a couple of casts with the smaller fly first, but had no luck so decided to get serious and pull out something I thought would have a chance.

…like stink bait or a 3/0 snagging hook… — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

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Good points. I actually did try a couple of casts with the smaller fly first, but had no luck so decided to get serious and pull out something I thought would have a chance.

Seems to me like catfish or bullhead on a fly would be pretty darn tough fishin’.  The most artificial thing I ever caught one on was a plastic worm. But I’m no catfish commonsewer.

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Just a thought…I think it would have been better if you left the smaller fly on. A small fly won’t "spook" him and if it’s right near his nose he might just suck it in to see if it is food. If you were lazin’ around and not actively eating, a big mac might not seem interesting, but if someone passes a candy dish you’ll probably grab a couple…

Good points. I actually did try a couple of casts with the smaller fly first, but had no luck so decided to get serious and pull out something I thought would have a chance. –Steve

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About two weeks ago or so, Big Dale sent me a box of his hand-tied bass and panfish flies. I thanked him when they arrived, but I had a lingering feeling that I wouldn’t be doing him or his flies justice until I fished with them. The weather and my schedule finally cooperated yesterday afternoon and I finally made it over to my neighborhood pond for a couple of hours. There was quite a bit of wind and I had inadvertently left the reel I was planning to use at home meaning I had nothing but a 4wt line to go with the 5wt rod I brought. Casting was tough but what the heck I was fishing. I tried a couple different fly patterns from Dale’s Box, starting with a Mylar Minnow, changing to a Cap Spider, and finally settling on a yellow foam spider when I didn’t seem to be catching anything beneath the surface. Despite the wind (or perhaps *because of* the wind), the yellow foam spider was the ticket. After about six months of fishing almost exclusively with nymphs I had forgotten how fun it is to see a fish rise from the depths to take a fly on the surface. The bluegill are just finishing the spawn season at the pond and the aggressive males linger in groups at the edges of the beds waiting for something to happen. Loitering like teenagers at the mall, I guess. I caught quite a few fish as I made my way around the pond. After a while I added a LaFontaine’ Twist nymph as a dropper, which seemed to decidedly increase the interest of the bass. All was going well despite the wind and the contorted casting until I happened upon a VERY large catfish sunning himself at the edge of the water. (OK, I don’t know for a fact that it was trying to get sun but it was just lying there in six inches of water with no apparent interest in eating). My heart started pounding, my mouth went dry and I was consumed by a case of MFS (monster fish syndrome). Suddenly, my only intention was to find a way to catch that monster catfish. Hands shaking, I clipped off the dropper and tried to find something in Big Dale’s box that would catch a catfish. I chose a gray and white Ghost Minnow, placed it perfectly on the first cast and slowly stripped the fly past the bigcat’s nose. The catfish slowly turned, ignored the fly, and swam into the depths of the pond. I spent the next fifteen minutes in a pathetic attempt to convince that catfish to comeback and show some interest in me. I should have known better. I knew I wasn’t going to interest that catfish. And I knew that once I started trying to catch it I was going to end up empty-handed and that the leisurely enjoyment of catching half-pound bluegill and bass would be gone. Though perhaps not as profound as the story of Ahab and Moby Dick, there’s a life lesson in there somewhere. Telling me to enjoy the things I have in life, to be happy with my lot and to leave the never-to-be-caught catfish well enough alone. –Steve

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Question:

  A few slight differences of opinion, noted below. OK, I will try.  A sportfisherman will have a big cockpit, a transom door, and a stepped up entrance to the salon. Its helm will be in a position so that the captain can see the transom and the cockpit. Common fishing accessories would include a marlin or tuna tower, outriggers,  and cockpit controls.

  A fair description, but I might add that the cabin might be very small or nonexistent.  The emphasis is on fishing, not cabin. A Sedan has a bigger salon, and even a smaller cockpit than a convertible. 25 years ago the difference between a convertible and a sedan was the sedan had an enclosed salon with sliders or a sinlge door in the aft bulkhead; the convertible had an open salon with no aft bulkhead. All three styles, sportfisherman, sedan, and convertible, have a flybridge.

  My definition of a sedan is a bit different.  What I call a sedan they don’t seem to make anymore, but they used to be fairly common.  There is a style of boat that has a smaller cabin and larger elevated back deck area (higher because it is over the engine), with the helm in the forward most portion of the back deck area.  At least the forward portion of this deck would be enclosed, with glass windows, windshield wipers, etc.  It would not have a fly bridge.  A lot of the "classic" wood boats were built this way.   Older sedan models were often a displacement hull rather than a planing hull. An express cruiser has no flybridge!

  I would add that the helm station is rather exposed, often with little or no windshield. The boat is fairly low profile, making it fast and light, as well as a minimum of bridge clearance.  They are not good for foul weather, however, as their only helm station has no protection. Rod

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Hi, Peggie, I agree with the statements for the late seventies models but the late sixties early seventies had most of the engines for the Silvertons under the cock pit with the drives going under the entry. Most other Larz group boats did the about the same thing. Most of the sedans that we have in our area from that era have small salon access. A few with sliders but here in the Midwest, most Silvertons have the door and window option. — Regards and God Speed, Gary Gary W. Sandvik The magic is in the magician not the wand! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, My one exception is the difference between the sedan and convertible cockpits. Early sedan designs that I’ve seen Silverton, Trojan seem to have larger cockpits with smaller salon access. I dunno Gary, the Trojan F32 and F36, built from ‘73-91, all had wide sliding glass doors from the cockpit to the saloon. The early ’70s Eggs and Pacemakers had wood bulkheads with small doors, but the late ’70s forward also had big sliding glass doors. In fact, by the mid-’70s glass saloon aft bulkheads were pretty much standard on all of ‘em…’cuz inside lower helm stations in addition to the flying bridges begin to become popular. Circa late 60s’ too mid 70s’ seem to have this design aspect. This allowed a larger engine area below the cockpit to accomodate those HP to push those monster hulls. Again, I dunno…That might have been true of smaller single engine models, but the engines in every twin engine flybridge sedan/convertable/sportfisher I’ve seen–including mine–are beneath the saloon, not the cockpit. All that weight midship instead of aft certainly makes it easier to get on plane and hold it at lower RPMS…an something I consider a definite advantage over express style cruisers. Peggie  Hell my old 28′ Silverton SD FB, keel was at least 8" thick and about 3/4-1" at the gunnel. Even the transom was about 1/2 to 3/4" thick. Long before they knew anything about reducing the mass to save $$. Heck the guy who originally brought the Rock to Peoria told me stories about how he broke ice to get into the harbor. Another old river story but I’m sure he broke some ice somewhere. But Capt, your descripts were good! — Regards and God Speed, Gary Gary W. Sandvik The magic is in the magician not the wand! OK, I will try.  A sportfisherman will have a big cockpit, a transom door, and a stepped up entrance to the salon. Its helm will be in a position so that the captain can see the transom and the cockpit. Common fishing accessories would include a marlin or tuna tower, outriggers,  and cockpit controls. A convertible is a boat that compromises between a "sedan" and a "sportfisherman". It will have a smaller cockpit, usually no stepped up entrance to the salon (more often than not "apartment door" sliders), and the helm will be in a more forward position. A Sedan has a bigger salon, and even a smaller cockpit than a convertible. 25 years ago the difference between a convertible and a sedan was the sedan had an enclosed salon with sliders or a sinlge door in the aft bulkhead; the convertible had an open salon with no aft bulkhead. All three styles, sportfisherman, sedan, and convertible, have a flybridge. An express cruiser has no flybridge! What do you say class, how did I do? Capt Lou of "Nautical Talk Radio" heard every Sunday morning 8 – 9 on WPRO 630AM serving Rhode Island and every Sunday afternoon from   4 – 5 on WATD 95.9FM serving Massachusetts.

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Hi, My one exception is the difference between the sedan and convertible cockpits. Early sedan designs that I’ve seen Silverton, Trojan seem to have larger cockpits with smaller salon access. Circa late 60s’ too mid 70s’ seem to have this design aspect. This allowed a larger engine area below the cockpit to accomodate those HP to push those monster hulls. Hell my old 28′ Silverton SD FB, keel was at least 8" thick and about 3/4-1" at the gunnel. Even the transom was about 1/2 to 3/4" thick. Long before they knew anything about reducing the mass to save $$. Heck the guy who originally brought the Rock to Peoria told me stories about how he broke ice to get into the harbor. Another old river story but I’m sure he broke some ice somewhere. But Capt, your descripts were good! — Regards and God Speed, Gary Gary W. Sandvik The magic is in the magician not the wand!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, I will try.  A sportfisherman will have a big cockpit, a transom door, and a stepped up entrance to the salon. Its helm will be in a position so that the captain can see the transom and the cockpit. Common fishing accessories would include a marlin or tuna tower, outriggers,  and cockpit controls. A convertible is a boat that compromises between a "sedan" and a "sportfisherman". It will have a smaller cockpit, usually no stepped up entrance to the salon (more often than not "apartment door" sliders), and the helm will be in a more forward position. A Sedan has a bigger salon, and even a smaller cockpit than a convertible. 25 years ago the difference between a convertible and a sedan was the sedan had an enclosed salon with sliders or a sinlge door in the aft bulkhead; the convertible had an open salon with no aft bulkhead. All three styles, sportfisherman, sedan, and convertible, have a flybridge. An express cruiser has no flybridge! What do you say class, how did I do? Capt Lou of "Nautical Talk Radio" heard every Sunday morning 8 – 9 on WPRO 630AM serving Rhode Island and every Sunday afternoon from   4 – 5 on WATD 95.9FM serving Massachusetts.

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Thank’s for the help.   On a day like this,  when the sleet is falling atop the five inches of snow we just got – I sometimes go to yachtworld,com boats for sale and just dream of  boat twice the length of mine.   Now I have a much better idea what I’m looking at. Alan

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I

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My little book is a Yachting reprint dated 1954. "The Best of Darrell McClure." Yeah…But that was when "Yachting" was still worth reading, not the coffee table magazine for yuppie millionaires it has turned into. John

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Yeah, but adding a $1,200 charter bill on top of airfare for four (another $1,200) brings the weekend tariff to $2,500 easy, vs. maybe $150 for towing your baby 300 miles and back.  Hardly the same thing unless you are Bill Gates.  Truth is, when you trailer you do kinda feel like the guys who fly into the Vineyard on a seaplane to meet their captained 90-footers. I too enjoyed cruising local waters for over 15 years.  But then it got a little old.  It’s still fun to zip across the Sound for lunch once in while, or wet a fishing line, but it’s not cruising. Ken

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I don’t run around at anything near full speed 99% of the time, although I hear that sailboats try to do that *all* the time .

*ROTFL* Omygot, David! You’ve got us! flo

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have sail-cruised for 25 years  and power-cruised for 10 years.  I wasn’t getting much further from home on my 40 mph stink pot than I was on the rag boat.  You just can’t get all that far in the time most of us have for our hobby.  Plus 40 mph is not a reality once you leave the inner harbor.  I probably spent more time at 10 mph in the power boat than any other speed, which was a fast as I could move her in 3 ft. seas and still keep my kidneys. My solution:  use a trailer to get to the new places.  55 mph is a lot faster than a sailboat can go and 10 mpg in your Suburban is a lot better than the 2 mpg a powerboat gets.  I found trailer boating to be more of a "thing" than either sailing or powering, as far as distinctiveness of experience was concerned.  It’s just a hoot to spend a weekend on your boat in exotic waters 300 miles from home. Ken

Very well said! — Skipper

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Charming note! But if the truth be known, God probably owns a MacGregor 26X so that he can motor, sail or drift. (Sorry….couldn’t resist that opportunity.) Actually, I’ve always been amused by the division between ragbaggers and stinkpotters. It’s boating and being on and enjoying the water that are important, or should be. I’ve solved the dilemma by having both – a 25′ Bayfield sailboat for peace and pleasure and relaxation and a 25′ Carver powerboat for getting from here to there when I want. Both have their merits and drawbacks. I can’t stand powerboaters who go too damn fast and screw things up and create unreasonable risks for themselves or others. I also can’t stand sailors who put on that air of superiority and pedantry while always seeming to list 10 degrees to port. I think a little mutual appreciation would go a long way and might even help with the never-ending Mac 26X debate. (Sorry again.) Harry

Wow! You are in for it… As soon as Capt Neal (one of nine) reads this you will be in for a good thrashing… Why is it that the level of boating know how seems to be inversely proportional to the size of the boat?

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Charming note! But if the truth be known, God probably owns a MacGregor 26X so that he can motor, sail or drift. (Sorry….couldn’t resist that opportunity.) Actually, I’ve always been amused by the division between ragbaggers and stinkpotters. It’s boating and being on and enjoying the water that are important, or should be. I’ve solved the dilemma by having both – a 25′ Bayfield sailboat for peace and pleasure and relaxation and a 25′ Carver powerboat for getting from here to there when I want. Both have their merits and drawbacks. I can’t stand powerboaters who go too damn fast and screw things up and create unreasonable risks for themselves or others. I also can’t stand sailors who put on that air of superiority and pedantry while always seeming to list 10 degrees to port. I think a little mutual appreciation would go a long way and might even help with the never-ending Mac 26X debate. (Sorry again.) Harry

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -My hat’s off to an apparent purist. The vast majority of sail boats in our area, based upon observation, spend very little time with their sail up unless a sailboat race is on. Most of them motor from point to point, stopping in between for a little recreational sailing when the wind permits. On a breezy afternoon they do congregate just outside the breakwater and do some sailing as well, but they’re primarily just tacking back and forth within a mile or so of the marina.  Much of our inland type boating involves narrows and channels where a stiff current can develop that would require a sail boat to wait for a slack or alternate tide if not running under power; so perhaps there are other areas where the sail boaters actually spend the majority of the time sailing.

"Majority" might be stretching it, but here in the Great Lakes, we can and do cruise under sail for 8 hour runs if the wind is cooperative.  We’ve covered as much as 120 miles without turning over the engine.  We’ve also had to motor for 12 hours or more when the breeze failed to appear, or worse, when it was from a contrary direction. It will depend greatly on your locale and the routes available, but one can "have the sail up" a reasonable amount of the time.

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I have sail-cruised for 25 years  and power-cruised for 10 years.  I wasn’t getting much further from home on my 40 mph stink pot than I was on the rag boat.  You just can’t get all that far in the time most of us have for our hobby.  Plus 40 mph is not a reality once you leave the inner harbor.  I probably spent more time at 10 mph in the power boat than any other speed, which was a fast as I could move her in 3 ft. seas and still keep my kidneys. My solution:  use a trailer to get to the new places.  55 mph is a lot faster than a sailboat can go and 10 mpg in your Suburban is a lot better than the 2 mpg a powerboat gets.  I found trailer boating to be more of a "thing" than either sailing or powering, as far as distinctiveness of experience was concerned.  It’s just a hoot to spend a weekend on your boat in exotic waters 300 miles from home. Ken

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|Why is it that the level of boating know how seems to be inversely proportional to the size of the boat?| It may be a result of the size and capacity of the brain doing the seeming. Is that another way of saying that small boats can only carry people so small as to have such small brains that only think they are smart enough to come to such a conclusion without missing the important point regarding the presumption that one’s opinion regarding others’ ability vis a vis boating knowhow somehow corresponds to some true vision of the universe? I suppose then that a mosquito on a floating leaf fragment would logically possess most of the boating know how in the world, leaving little for the larger vessels, and of course explains the Exxon Valdise situation, which apparantly still stinks. Terry K Has anyone tried putting a sailboard sail on a wheelchair, then employing teams to propel a four foot ball through a soccer sized goal in competition?

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A zillion years ago there was a Darrell McClure cartoon about this very thing. For those of you who don’t remember, Darrell McClure was a regular cartoonist in the Boston Herald. The cartoons were always on boating, and I guess it says something about Boston in those days. They also ran in Yachting. My little book is a Yachting reprint dated 1954. "The Best of Darrell McClure." Anyway, there is John Truesalt (his name is on his seabag) in his bedroom, which is filled with models of grand sailing boats and a bookcase full of sailing books. He is on his knees by his bed obviously in great anguish of soul. The caption says: "Oh Lord — I went cruising in a power boat and I LIKED IT!" Another one has a group of people lounging in the cockpit of a sailboat. The superciliuous twit at the tiller says: "My brother? We don’t mention my brother anymore….. He bought a motor boat."

We Swamp Yankees here in the North East have something similar.  It is a cartoon called Bousquet (pronounced Bos’kay).  It shows a guy in the cockpit of his little sailboat.  The name on the back of the vessel is "Hazard to Navigation II".  Reminded me of a ragbagger I raft with on Block Island. Excuse the plug for my own page, but feel free to visit my page for a couple of ‘toons about us wooden boaters with a link to the cartoonists’ page as well. Dave Carlile Classic Wooden Boats http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/8110

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…  I can’t stand powerboaters who go too damn fast and screw things up and create unreasonable risks for themselves or others. I also can’t stand sailors who put on that air of superiority and pedantry while always seeming to list 10 degrees to port.  …

Know what you mean.  However, it does seem a bit strange coming from someone named Harry.  The other Harry has a much longer list of gripes. You always know when his underwear don’t quite fit correctly. — Skipper

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Why is it that the level of boating know how seems to be inversely proportional to the size of the boat?

Now THAT one I won’t touch with either a 1′ or 10′ boat hook! Harry

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I’ve been cruising on a powerboat, and I too enjoyed it, except for guilt about the thousand gallons plus of fuel we burnt in a long weekend.  But we did cover about five hundred miles of open sea and visit three ports.   I learned a lot too.  If you’re accustomed to navigating a sailing cruiser it can be a shock to you to do complex pilotage at speed. Normally I never bother to plot courses etc. in advance – I don’t get seasick so I can work out courses at the chart table as and when I need them, and in a sailing boat you can never predict the wind.   John Wilson

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John Wilson commented: I’ve been cruising on a powerboat, and I too enjoyed it, except for guilt about the thousand gallons plus of fuel we burnt in a long weekend.  But we did cover about five hundred miles of open sea and visit three ports.   I learned a lot too.  If you’re accustomed to

In other words, "If this is Saturday afternoon this must be Catalina?" Doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. If you spent any time sleeping or actually in the three ports you would have needed to be doing about what, maybe 20 knots?, the rest of the time to cover a 500 mile itinerary in a weekend. Your experience was an odd way to spend time on any boat, not a typical powerboat experience.  Many powerboats operate almost as economically under power as do similar size sailboats. Your skipper must have been fairly wealthy to burn up $1200 worth of fuel for a weekend. Most of us would not be able to afford that. How many people were aboard? A vessel getting half a mile per gallon isn’t all that inefficient if its carrying 40 people and it’s looked at on a per-passenger-mile basis. Mr. Wilson also commented: I learned a lot too.  If you’re accustomed to navigating a sailing cruiser it can be a shock to you to do complex pilotage at speed. Normally I never bother to plot courses etc. in advance – I don’t get seasick so I can work out courses at the chart table as and when I need them, and in a sailing boat you can never predict the wind.  

My hat’s off to an apparent purist. The vast majority of sail boats in our area, based upon observation, spend very little time with their sail up unless a sailboat race is on. Most of them motor from point to point, stopping in between for a little recreational sailing when the wind permits. On a breezy afternoon they do congregate just outside the breakwater and do some sailing as well, but they’re primarily just tacking back and forth within a mile or so of the marina.  Much of our inland type boating involves narrows and channels where a stiff current can develop that would require a sail boat to wait for a slack or alternate tide if not running under power; so perhaps there are other areas where the sail boaters actually spend the majority of the time sailing.

Response:

Sail vs. Power. It would be nice to think that the law of Equal Stupidity applies here; or that 1. The number of sailboaters with the ‘nose in the air self-righteous disdain’ for power boaters is a small but vocal and noticable contingent of an otherwise decent group of people and….. 2. The number of powerboaters who charge around way too fast and clueless (annoying a lot of other powerboaters with their antics as well) is also a small but noticable contingent of an otherwise decent group of people. Anytime we make a judgement about another boater’s attitudes, skills, or human worthiness based upon the motive power of his/her vessel or (dare I say it?) the brand name thereon we lose an opportunity to perhaps get to know somebody who would make a postive contribution to life.  Human nature is just that however, human and natural, and we will probably react emotionally and contribute to be discriminatory in our attitudes, rather than be compelled by intelligence and logic to go through the extra work of making our judgements one at a time based upon observed behaviors. More’s the pity.

Response:

        …My little book is a Yachting reprint dated 1954. "The Best         of Darrell McClure."… So that’s where that cartoon came from. I saw it many many years ago, and in fact I had just gone on a powerboat cruise (up Hudson River, Lake Champlain, canals almost to Montreal) and I did enjoy it, and it did cause considerable anguish of soul. But I got over it. Meanwhile I’ll keep a weather eye for the book. — http://www.well.com/~pk/fishmeal.html                                               -"Call me Fishmeal"-

Response:

A zillion years ago there was a Darrell McClure cartoon about this very thing. For those of you who don’t remember, Darrell McClure was a regular cartoonist in the Boston Herald. The cartoons were always on boating, and I guess it says something about Boston in those days. They also ran in Yachting. My little book is a Yachting reprint dated 1954. "The Best of Darrell McClure." Anyway, there is John Truesalt (his name is on his seabag) in his bedroom, which is filled with models of grand sailing boats and a bookcase full of sailing books. He is on his knees by his bed obviously in great anguish of soul. The caption says: "Oh Lord — I went cruising in a power boat and I LIKED IT!" Another one has a group of people lounging in the cockpit of a sailboat. The superciliuous twit at the tiller says: "My brother? We don’t mention my brother anymore….. He bought a motor boat."

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Received the following message from a fellow boater.  Will protect the authors anonymity but the tale and his honest, self-effacing writing style are just too good not to share. Hope a positive response to his tale will prompt additional posts from this author.   I live on the British Columbian Gulf Islands.  After 7 years of sailing (and I loved my little Catalina 27) I’d been everywhere, man. At least everywhere I could get in a weekend at 6 knots (in a gale) or motoring. An honest sailor in coastal waters will tell you he motors 50% of the time anyway. Spring and fall I spent my sailing days in full rain gear and boots.  Summers the wind rarely blew.  There seems to be a certain eleteism in the sailing fraternity… now I’m not sure why.  In my sailing days I knew that God was a Sailor. My revelation, after the sailboat had to go (divorce), was that my bliss was linked to experiences on the water and had little to do with the conveyance.

Exactly. I like to go out on the water, period, and spend most of my time actually not moving, rather than blasting around upsetting sailboats (as some people would have it). What galls me most are the smug self-righteous types who put down powerboat owners as "people who are more interested in the destination than the journey". I took up boating precisely *because* I wasn’t interested in going anywhere fast (I sold my airplane to buy my boat). I don’t run around at anything near full speed 99% of the time, although I hear that sailboats try to do that *all* the time . And now the sailboaters, claiming the moral high ground as always, may end up being the only ones left in California legally allowed to use their two-stroke engines to pollute lakes and reservoirs. Figures. I bet the guy writing that bill owns a sailboat. — David (Dragon) Fiedler, Infobahn Warrior, Bf.D, CRS, ONS Find me at http://www.innercite.com/~dragon/ Please change "nospam" in my header address to "david" in order to reply. ** Pursuant to US Code, Title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter II,

Question:

I live in Lake Tahoe, Ca., and everyday on my way to and from work I drive by miles of the Carson River.  I have only just started flyfishing this season and have not had much chance "yet" to stop and try some of the still water.  My question is this; will the road noise impact fishing on rivers such as this?  If so, what is a comfortable distance from the road to the river for the fish?  At places, the road is approx 40 feet horizontal and about 35-40 feet vertical distance from the river and is fairly busy w/ cars and large trucks. Rich

      My favorite fishen hole is in a little canal off the St.John’s river. right under the I-4 bridge as it rises to cross the river and people are always pulling off 17/92 where it goes along side Lake Monrow. They get used to it. If you got room to cast, the water looks right go fishen.                                                          John Popp                                                      in Sanford Fl.

Response:

That’s the key… it’s right on the way home from work!    I used to have that situation with a beautiful little mountain lake.  It was a mile down a dirt road, right on the way home from work.  I brought my float tube to work every day.  If the weather got shitty and I didn’t get to fish for a day or two on the way home, I started getting very irritable — withdrawl symptoms! You’re lucky to have a place like that, I think.

Yea, it is nice this time of the year, it’s the other six months I get tired of. I commute over a 7800′ mountain in some of the most incredible snow storms you can imagine! I guess the hard Winters are what makes this time of year especially enjoyable.  I can’t believe I have waited so long  (14 years) to take up fly fishing, late bloomer I suppose!  So much time to make up for, but I am up to the job!!! Rich

Response:

Rich, The water in the Carson is too rough for a little vibration from a truck or car to bother the trout.  Both forks of the Carson are good fly fishing streams. — 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 – I live in Lake Tahoe, Ca., and everyday on my way to and from work I drive by miles of the Carson River.  I have only just started flyfishing this season and have not had much chance "yet" to stop and try some of the still water.  My question is this; will the road noise impact fishing on rivers such as this?  If so, what is a comfortable distance from the road to the river for the fish?  At places, the road is approx 40 feet horizontal and about 35-40 feet vertical distance from the river and is fairly busy w/ cars and large trucks. Rich

Response:

Set up hard on a 3 inch brook trout sending it into the windshield of a passing car…. "Jeeeeeezus Martha….Didja see THAT bug…criminy  !" — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

Set up hard on a 3 inch brook trout sending it into the windshield of a passing car…. "Jeeeeeezus Martha….Didja see THAT bug…criminy  !"

    For a moment I thought this was a response to the "Frying Pan, Roaring Fork" thread. Reminds me of some of the lower water on the Pan. Tom Christian External Technology Program Hewlett-Packard Laboratories 3404 East Harmony Road Fort Collins, CO 80528-9599 Phone: (970) 898-3531 FAX: (970) 898-6198

Response:

My question is this; will the road noise impact fishing on rivers such as this?  If so, what is a comfortable distance from the road to the river for the fish?  At places, the road is approx 40 feet horizontal and about 35-40 feet vertical distance from the river and is fairly busy w/ cars and large trucks.

I don’t think fish can hear the noises that we on the bank can hear but they can feel vibrations and river bed disturbance. Some of my best fish have been caught immediately under a UK motorway bridge (a very busy dual carriage way road).  The noise drives me up the wall but the fish don’t seem to notice it – at least, they favour the deep pool below / under / above the bridge.  But they know all about it if I stumble through the pool in the dark in my studded waders… Street lights are also a problem for those of us who fish for sea trout by night. I’ve heard that migratory fish are intimidated by bridges and other over-water structures.  Anyone have any knowledge / theories on this? — Phil Jones

Response:

The water in the Carson is too rough for a little vibration from a truck or car to bother the trout.  Both forks of the Carson are good fly fishing streams.

Almost too rough for a newbie! Tried it with a weighted wooly bugger and single split shot. Never even felt the bottom!

Response:

Last August I was on highway 50 heading back to SF from Tahoe.  This road runs along the (North Branch?) American River which looked fishable along certain spots.  It’s a two lane highway with loads of traffic and about 40′ above water level.  Parked alongside the road I could spot several trout beside a large boulder less than 5 feet from shore.  Traffic didn’t seem to be bothering them.  Mu Young Lee         Ann Arbor, MI  o             oooo                          o   o   o o   o o o  o – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I live in Lake Tahoe, Ca., and everyday on my way to and from work I drive by miles of the Carson River.  I have only just started flyfishing this season and have not had much chance "yet" to stop and try some of the still water.  My question is this; will the road noise impact fishing on rivers such as this?  If so, what is a comfortable distance from the road to the river for the fish?  At places, the road is approx 40 feet horizontal and about 35-40 feet vertical distance from the river and is fairly busy w/ cars and large trucks. Rich

Response:

This is a tough time of year to fly fish any of the Sierra streams.  It will get better around the end of June.   — 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 water in the Carson is too rough for a little vibration from a truck or car to bother the trout.  Both forks of the Carson are good fly fishing streams. Almost too rough for a newbie! Tried it with a weighted wooly bugger and single split shot. Never even felt the bottom!

Response:

I live in Lake Tahoe, Ca., and everyday on my way to and from work I drive by miles of the Carson River.  I have only just started flyfishing this season and have not had much chance "yet" to stop and try some of the still water.  My question is this; will the road noise impact fishing on rivers such as this?  If so, what is a comfortable distance from the road to the river for the fish?  At places, the road is approx 40 feet horizontal and about 35-40 feet vertical distance from the river and is fairly busy w/ cars and large trucks. Rich

Response:

I live in Lake Tahoe, Ca., and everyday on my way to and from work I drive by miles of the Carson River.  I have only just started flyfishing this season and have not had much chance "yet" to stop and try some of the still water.  My question is this; will the road noise impact fishing on rivers such as this?  If so, what is a comfortable distance from the road to the river for the fish?  At places, the road is approx 40 feet horizontal and about 35-40 feet vertical distance from the river and is fairly busy w/ cars and large trucks. Rich

What’s the water like?  Whitewater drowns out other noise VERY well.  I’ve fished on the Wilson in Oregon, highway 6 runs right along the river.  Standing near the whitewater with a tree or two to hide the cars and you’d think you were in the middle of nowhere.  On the other hand, the sound of the water can get "deafening" after a while.  I’m used to it, but my brother was visiting and had to leave for a bit to let his ears stop ringing. Why don’t you go try it and see?  If you like it, stay, if not try to find somewhere else. Later,      - Ken

Response:

What’s the water like?

Right now it’s it’s fairly fast due to snow melt off, in fact I think it’s too deep for good fishing although I have tried it up river a bit.  I will definately try it as a bit at a time.  I figure it will be  great way to unwind on the way home from work this summer!  

Response:

What’s the water like? Right now it’s it’s fairly fast due to snow melt off, in fact I think it’s too deep for good fishing although I have tried it up river a bit.  I will definately try it as a bit at a time.  I figure it will be  great way to unwind on the way home from work this summer!

That’s the key… it’s right on the way home from work!    I used to have that situation with a beautiful little mountain lake.  It was a mile down a dirt road, right on the way home from work.  I brought my float tube to work every day.  If the weather got shitty and I didn’t get to fish for a day or two on the way home, I started getting very irritable — withdrawl symptoms! You’re lucky to have a place like that, I think. Bob Scott

Response:

Rich,     The fish are probably acclimated to the road noise and not bothered by it at all. I’ve fished spots much closer to the road and I’m sure I’m not the only one in the group to get spooled on the back cast (a Ford in my case).             Jim

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I live in Lake Tahoe, Ca., and everyday on my way to and from work I drive by miles of the Carson River.  I have only just started flyfishing this season and have not had much chance "yet" to stop and try some of the still water. My question is this; will the road noise impact fishing on rivers such as this?  If so, what is a comfortable distance from the road to the river for the fish?  At places, the road is approx 40 feet horizontal and about 35-40 feet vertical distance from the river and is fairly busy w/ cars and large trucks. Rich

Response:

Question:

I have just moved to Miami, FL and am interested in emptying my flybox of trout flies, and pursuing bone fish.  However, when I see the reports in the magazines of bone fishing on the flats (which look beautiful) it always looks as though a boat id required. Where can I bone fish without a boat in Dade/Broward/or Monroe counties? Do you know of any particluar good spots? Is summer a good time to spot bone fish? Thanks in advance! Mac

Response:

I have just moved to Miami, FL and am interested in emptying my flybox of trout flies, and pursuing bone fish.  However, when I see the reports in the magazines of bone fishing on the flats (which look beautiful) it always looks as though a boat id required. Where can I bone fish without a boat in Dade/Broward/or Monroe counties? Do you know of any particluar good spots? Is summer a good time to spot bone fish? Thanks in advance! Mac

Hi Mac, I think there are lots of bonefish in Biscane Bay and all down through the Keys. There are some books written about the area. One is buy Stu Apte. I would find some fishing shops and find out where you can wade. I think April/May/June is prime time and Sept/Oct/Nov. I would go once or twice with a good guide. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

Response:

I have just moved to Miami, FL and am interested in emptying my flybox of trout flies, and pursuing bone fish.  However, when I see the reports in the magazines of bone fishing on the flats (which look beautiful) it always looks as though a boat id required. Where can I bone fish without a boat in Dade/Broward/or Monroe counties? Do you know of any particluar good spots? Is summer a good time to spot bone fish? Thanks in advance! Mac

Miami area and fly fishes there on a regular basis. Richard should be able to help you out with everything you need to know.

Response:

Question:

Can anyone suggest an inexpensive rod and reel for salt water fly fishing. Line weight, tippets, etc. No Orvis recommendations please.

Response:

Can anyone suggest an inexpensive rod and reel for salt water fly fishing. Line weight, tippets, etc. No Orvis recommendations please.

Yea.  A St. Croix 9 ft. 8 wt., Lamson Model 3, Dacron backing (20#), and a WF8F line.  Use tough leader material. So.. what do you have against Orvis?  I think a lot of their stuff is has a good price/performance ratio and the local salesguys have been very helpful even though I don’t spend big bucks there. Andy Schreckenghost

Response:

Paul Ruff writes: Can anyone suggest an inexpensive rod and reel for salt water fly

fishing. Line weight, tippets, etc. No Orvis recommendations please.

Paul, Look for a so called fast action  (more tip than whole rod bend)… as you will need to be able to cast 80 feet plus to do well in salt water.  It is true you can get some casts in under 50 feet by stalking….. and have, but tarpon, bonefish and especially permit are spooky on the flats and require extra long casts to reach.  A fast tip action will help this.  In addition, practice 5 to 10 minutes a day for 3 to 4 weeks to strengthen the specific shoulder and arm muscles you will use….. makes a big difference after fishing…Also use the very best salt water line you can afford….. more important than the rod.   I have not used other than Orvis, Sage and Scott and all are not

inexpensive…. so I will pass on a specific recommendation of a rod…. I have seen and cast in a yard the St. Croix series and they look promising…. but have not fished them. have fun Alan E. Hoover Anglers’ Rest Powhatan, Va        *the trout teach many, lessons*

Response:

Question:

Humor is the Best Antidote A recent opinion/commentary by Salem, Oregon newspaper reporter Henry Miller tersely contended among other things, that fly angling and spinfishing with casting bubble and a fly, are one and the same.   Inspired by Miller’s profound ignorance of flyfishing and it’s centuries-old heritage, I hearby present The Henry Miller, a new genre of fly angling humor: "Henry Miller is so dumb…" …he thinks fly dressing is made by Kraft and sold at Waremart. …he thinks a streamer is someone who fishes…what else?  Streams. …he thinks a roll cast is tossing bread to the ducks on Mill Creek. …he thinks Korkers are steelhead baits. …he thinks a double haul is two truck loads of top soil. …he thinks a dry fly is a no-drinks America West flight. …he thinks Mustad 9672 is a television program. …he thinks stripping line is a single’s bar come-on. …he thinks a riffle is a 30.06. …he thinks pocket water is a very small canteen. …he thinks herl means projectile regurgitation. …he thinks Sage is a kitchen spice. …he thinks a Royal Coachman is Prince Charles’ chauffeur. …he thinks fly casting refers to actor Jeff Goldblum. …he thinks a blood knot is a marriage of cousins. …he thinks 4X refers to a brand of condom. …he thinks dubbing is a lip sink. …he thinks The Big Horn is taking "cuts" in a movie line. …he thinks a fly rod is an insect’s reproductive appendage. …he thinks rod wraps are corporal punishment. …he thinks Orvis refers to a mouth, nose, or ear. …he thinks mending a line means equivocation. …he thinks a graphite rod is a pencil. …he thinks Haig-Brown is a fly pattern. …he thinks catch and release is a sin. …he thinks fish wrapper doesn’t refer to his column. Send your Henry Millers to: Jon Hazen – List Keeper Jon Hazen

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Humor is the Best Antidote A recent opinion/commentary by Salem, Oregon newspaper reporter Henry Miller tersely contended among other things, that fly angling and spinfishing with casting bubble and a fly, are one and the same. Inspired by Miller’s profound ignorance of flyfishing and it’s centuries-old heritage, I hearby present The Henry Miller, a new genre of fly angling humor: "Henry Miller is so dumb…" …he thinks fly dressing is made by Kraft and sold at Waremart. …he thinks a streamer is someone who fishes…what else?  Streams. …he thinks a roll cast is tossing bread to the ducks on Mill Creek. …he thinks Korkers are steelhead baits. …he thinks a double haul is two truck loads of top soil. …he thinks a dry fly is a no-drinks America West flight. …he thinks Mustad 9672 is a television program. …he thinks stripping line is a single’s bar come-on. …he thinks a riffle is a 30.06. …he thinks pocket water is a very small canteen. …he thinks herl means projectile regurgitation. …he thinks Sage is a kitchen spice. …he thinks a Royal Coachman is Prince Charles’ chauffeur. …he thinks fly casting refers to actor Jeff Goldblum. …he thinks a blood knot is a marriage of cousins. …he thinks 4X refers to a brand of condom. …he thinks dubbing is a lip sink. …he thinks The Big Horn is taking "cuts" in a movie line. …he thinks a fly rod is an insect’s reproductive appendage. …he thinks rod wraps are corporal punishment. …he thinks Orvis refers to a mouth, nose, or ear. …he thinks mending a line means equivocation. …he thinks a graphite rod is a pencil. …he thinks Haig-Brown is a fly pattern. …he thinks catch and release is a sin. …he thinks fish wrapper doesn’t refer to his column.

…he thinks steelhead is the ammo for a 30.06. …he thinks nymph is the synonym for nymphet. …he thinks A River Runs Through It is Chicago’s motto. …he thinks a leader is Bill or Newt (take your pick!). Musconet

Response:

Humor is the Best Antidote A recent opinion/commentary by Salem, Oregon newspaper reporter Henry Miller tersely contended among other things, that fly angling and spinfishing with casting bubble and a fly, are one and the same.  

BEING A RESIDENT OF OREGON, I THOUGHT I’D ADVISE YOU THAT MR. MILLER’S USE OF THE TERM FLY ANGLING IS CORRECT IN IT’S COMPARISON TO SPIN FISHING WITH A FLY AND BUBBLE. HERE ON THE NORTH UMPQUA WE HAVE 35 MILES OF FLY ANGLING ONLY WATER. AND YES, FISHING WITH A FLY AND BUBBLE AS WELL AS WITH CONVENTIONAL FLYFISHING TACKLE IS ALLOWED. IT IS "FLY ANGLING" NOT "FLYFISHING" PERHAPS YOUR HUMOR MIGHT BE REDIRECTED! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Inspired by Miller’s profound ignorance of flyfishing and it’s centuries-old heritage, I hearby present The Henry Miller, a new genre of fly angling humor: "Henry Miller is so dumb…" …he thinks fly dressing is made by Kraft and sold at Waremart. …he thinks a streamer is someone who fishes…what else?  Streams. …he thinks a roll cast is tossing bread to the ducks on Mill Creek. …he thinks Korkers are steelhead baits. …he thinks a double haul is two truck loads of top soil. …he thinks a dry fly is a no-drinks America West flight. …he thinks Mustad 9672 is a television program. …he thinks stripping line is a single’s bar come-on. …he thinks a riffle is a 30.06. …he thinks pocket water is a very small canteen. …he thinks herl means projectile regurgitation. …he thinks Sage is a kitchen spice. …he thinks a Royal Coachman is Prince Charles’ chauffeur. …he thinks fly casting refers to actor Jeff Goldblum. …he thinks a blood knot is a marriage of cousins. …he thinks 4X refers to a brand of condom. …he thinks dubbing is a lip sink. …he thinks The Big Horn is taking "cuts" in a movie line. …he thinks a fly rod is an insect’s reproductive appendage. …he thinks rod wraps are corporal punishment. …he thinks Orvis refers to a mouth, nose, or ear. …he thinks mending a line means equivocation. …he thinks a graphite rod is a pencil. …he thinks Haig-Brown is a fly pattern. …he thinks catch and release is a sin. …he thinks fish wrapper doesn’t refer to his column. Send your Henry Millers to: Jon Hazen – List Keeper Jon Hazen

Response:

Humor is the Best Antidote A recent opinion/commentary by Salem, Oregon newspaper reporter Henry Miller tersely contended among other things, that fly angling and spinfishing with casting bubble and a fly, are one and the same.  

Menard) spat: BEING A RESIDENT OF OREGON, I THOUGHT I’D ADVISE YOU THAT MR. MILLER’S USE OF THE TERM FLY ANGLING IS CORRECT IN IT’S COMPARISON TO SPIN FISHING WITH A FLY AND BUBBLE. HERE ON THE NORTH UMPQUA WE HAVE 35 MILES OF FLY ANGLING ONLY WATER. AND YES, FISHING WITH A FLY AND BUBBLE AS WELL AS WITH CONVENTIONAL FLYFISHING TACKLE IS ALLOWED. IT IS "FLY ANGLING" NOT "FLYFISHING" PERHAPS YOUR HUMOR MIGHT BE REDIRECTED!

Oh my god…a knitpicker…without a sense of humor or a lowercase keyboard.   "Better get the gaff and the bat for this one."  :) Inspired by Miller’s profound ignorance of flyfishing and it’s centuries-old heritage, I hearby present The Henry Miller, a new genre of fly angling humor: "Henry Miller is so dumb…" …he thinks The Big Horn is taking "cuts" in a movie long line. …he thinks fish wrapper doesn’t refer to his column.

Jon Hazen

Response:

Question:

One thing to consider if you want to FF from a canoe is that you’ll be only marginally higher out of the water than if you are in a float tube; you can stand up in a cartopper, but a canoe …. Consequently, you might want to consider a longer rod (as the tubers often pack). A 10ft rod will keep your backcast drier than an 8ft one. Or, preferably, work on your casting to keep the back cast out of the water.   Sitting in a canoe you’re at least as high out of the water as you typically are when wading.  So, if you’re hitting the water behind you in a canoe, you’re almost certainly doing the same thing when wading–i.e., you casting could use some help. And improving your casting is cheaper than buying another, longer rod. Emil

I would have to agree there.  Canoes are great.  I use one on Lake Cayuga in NY, and I dont know about anyone else, but if you are somewhat able, I have never had any problems standing. Jon

Response:

I’ve found that if you’re right-handed, it helps to cast from the right side of the canoe, parallel with its length, i.e. not across the beam. And try not to let the stripped line get tangled up in the paddle, float jacket and six-pack and/or your ankle in the bottom of the boat. When the mother of all basses hits, you don’t want to be pulled overboard to your doom like some freshwater Captain Ahab. Course, I could think of worse ways to go…. Sent Via SportsNet On-Line Services Toronto’s Premier Sports and Recreation Service Modem: 416-223-2463    Phone: 416-223-2250 Ext. 33

Response:

Good for you!  I’m convinced float tubes became popular when folks no longer had time to lean to paddle.  For range, keeping dry and all-round fun canoes are are wonderful.  now if you want to get really frisky learn to pole upstream. — ** Louis Bignami, Publisher         http://www.finefishing.com Fine Fishing Internet Magazine                "largest fishing mag on the Net" **

Response:

best thing about fishing from a canoe…even if the fish aren’t bitin’ you’re, well, in that canoe… Tim Walker

Response:

Personally, I love canoes too,they are just prettier and much more versatile than any other watercraft, especially when you add options to a standard canoe. Consider these advantages: -Canoes are inherently more hydrodynamic than a john boat, and move through the water with less effort (how much less depends on hull shape.) -Because they’re streamlined at both ends, canoes move forward easily yet still easily "hold" in a good spot against a swift river current hitting the stern. -A kneeling canoeist can be as stealthy as a float tuber and cover much more water. (Though admittedly, a float tuber can move without having to put the rod down.) – A long, narrow, fast canoe can be converted to a "john boat like"  slow, stable craft by adding solid foam or inflatable sponsons (aka swimmies or water wings). These canoe ‘training wheels’ install in seconds and may not add much drag at all.  They’re a God send when you want to stand up to spot fish or when running unfamiliar big rapids. -Adding gunnel mounted oarlocks or a rowing frame to an already fast canoe will get the lone angler across the lake or up the river faster than any other non-motorized fishing craft (including a kayak). – There are "collapsible canoes" available from Ally and ScanSports which can store in a closet, or travel in the trunk of compact car, a float plane or as checked baggage on an airliner. -You can add a motor mount to almost any canoe for long hauls against wind or current. I could go on, but if you’re only going to get one craft to handle every possible fly fishing situation, get a canoe.  This doesn’t rule out the possibility that for the type of fishing you do most, another craft may be just as good or better.  You be the judge. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When considering a canoe for fishing, make sure you can easily paddle it. Beamy boats are great for short hauls but if you’re going to where the fish are and the other guys in the beamy boats aren’t get a boat that you can paddle.  A solo boat is okay if you don’t have or don’t want any friends.  Suggest a boat in the 14 to 15 foot range that could handle a center paddling position ( add a seat yourself) and then you’d have a boat that could get you there. Good tumblehome to make paddling a little easier.  Suggest learning to fish from the seated or kneeling position…or if you’re real good try standing on the gunwhales 8/]) TK

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: When considering a canoe for fishing, make sure you can easily paddle it. : Beamy boats are great for short hauls but if you’re going to where the : fish are and the other guys in the beamy boats aren’t get a boat that you : can paddle.  A solo boat is okay if you don’t have or don’t want any : friends.  Suggest a boat in the 14 to 15 foot range that could handle a : center paddling position ( add a seat yourself) and then you’d have a boat : that could get you there. Good tumblehome to make paddling a little : easier.  Suggest learning to fish from the seated or kneeling : position…or if you’re real good try standing on the gunwhales 8/]) One thing to consider if you want to FF from a canoe is that you’ll be only marginally higher out of the water than if you are in a float tube; you can stand up in a cartopper, but a canoe …. Consequently, you might want to consider a longer rod (as the tubers often pack). A 10ft rod will keep your backcast drier than an 8ft one. — 3798 Woodland Drive     voice: (604) 368-9315 Trail, BC               data:  (604) 368-9341

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : When considering a canoe for fishing, make sure you can easily paddle it. : Beamy boats are great for short hauls but if you’re going to where the : fish are and the other guys in the beamy boats aren’t get a boat that you : can paddle.  A solo boat is okay if you don’t have or don’t want any : friends.  Suggest a boat in the 14 to 15 foot range that could handle a : center paddling position ( add a seat yourself) and then you’d have a boat : that could get you there. Good tumblehome to make paddling a little : easier.  Suggest learning to fish from the seated or kneeling : position…or if you’re real good try standing on the gunwhales 8/]) One thing to consider if you want to FF from a canoe is that you’ll be only marginally higher out of the water than if you are in a float tube; you can stand up in a cartopper, but a canoe …. Consequently, you might want to consider a longer rod (as the tubers often pack). A 10ft rod will keep your backcast drier than an 8ft one.

Or, preferably, work on your casting to keep the back cast out of the water.   Sitting in a canoe you’re at least as high out of the water as you typically are when wading.  So, if you’re hitting the water behind you in a canoe, you’re almost certainly doing the same thing when wading–i.e., you casting could use some help. And improving your casting is cheaper than buying another, longer rod. Emil Department of Education Phone:  (607) 255-2267 419 Kennedy Hall                Fax:    (607) 255-7905 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853

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‘Course, I just think that canoes are wonderful so I’m biased. I can also cast 50′ easily from a sitting position, about as far as I need

to. Any recomemndations for the best 1 person canoe for streams and rivers? Thanx, Mike

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‘Course, I just think that canoes are wonderful so I’m biased. I can also cast 50′ easily from a sitting position, about as far as I need to. Any recomemndations for the best 1 person canoe for streams and rivers? Thanx, Mike

Mike,  I would take a serious look at the OldTown line of canoes. They have a few models that are ideal for your situation. I have the Dicovery 133K and it is a dream to fish from. The ruggedness coupled with the 40 1/2" beam makes it a great fly fishing vessel.                                     Best of Luck,                                                    Jay              /Leave nothing but footprints                                               /                                              /                                             /                                            /                                           /                                       O  /                                       |_/o                                       |                                      / |

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Does anyone have any information or experience in flyfishing in China, Tibet, etc.?

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I do know that the Tibetan people consider the trout, or native fish, that live in the lakes and rivers of Tibet,sacred and holy, and being Buddhists, might get upset about even harming the fish. Even catch and release. I would be tempted to cast a parachute adams in the river though!! I have spent some time in Kashmir and Ladakh, and both have beautiful waters. I know they have good fishing in Kashmir, but, one wouldn’t want to go there now. My 2 bits, Stu

: Does anyone have any information or experience in flyfishing in China, : Tibet, etc.?

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