Question:

Some of the fly shops in MA offer casting classes/lessons directly, or offer arrangements with private concerns (Orvis being one). But this late in the season might make for slim pickings. I’d start working through the list of local fly shops and ask if they have anything available. Try American Angler in Salem, The Lower Forty in Worcester, Stoddards in Boston, etc. /daytripper – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Anyone know of any Fly Fishing Training schools or whatever in the Massachusetts area? Where in MA do you live? You might be better off to join a club and take advantage of their resources. I don’t know of any "schools" in MA, but there are private instructors. Orvis runs schools in Manchester, VT. see www.orvis.com George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

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Anyone know of any Fly Fishing Training schools or whatever in the Massachusetts area? Been doing a lot of other fishing but am eager to learn fly fishing… Any guidance would be appreciated. I know its coming to the end of the season, but I’ll have all winter to practice. But thats my opinion, I may be wrong.              -dennis miller

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Anyone know of any Fly Fishing Training schools or whatever in the Massachusetts area?

Where in MA do you live? You might be better off to join a club and take advantage of their resources. I don’t know of any "schools" in MA, but there are private instructors. Orvis runs schools in Manchester, VT. see www.orvis.com George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

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Question:

Can someone email me and tell me why I am only receiving political posts on this newsgroup. I haven’t received one post on flyfishing the past couple of days. I’m not kidding. Thanks. – Charlie

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My sympathies.  There are some FFing posts, but these are the minority now that Muskie has started his nonsense again.  Why people fall all over themselves to respond to his absurdly cross-posted trolls is beyond me. JR – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone email me and tell me why I am only receiving political posts on this newsgroup. I haven’t received one post on flyfishing the past couple of days. I’m not kidding. Thanks. – Charlie

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Having determined that various and sundry fly fishers, when under the influence of single malt or just a couple of good belts of booze tend to philophise and moralize, ‘they’ have determined that topics such as fishing be….gulp…carnivored. john

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone email me and tell me why I am only receiving political posts on this newsgroup. I haven’t received one post on flyfishing the past couple of days. I’m not kidding. Thanks. – Charlie

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The worst part is that ROFFians that usually jump all over most "off topic, multiple news group, self serving" (i.e. spam) posts flock to this guy like the second coming. Kinda scarey. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My sympathies.  There are some FFing posts, but these are the minority now that Muskie has started his nonsense again.  Why people fall all over themselves to respond to his absurdly cross-posted trolls is beyond me. JR Can someone email me and tell me why I am only receiving political posts on this newsgroup. I haven’t received one post on flyfishing the past couple of days. I’m not kidding. Thanks. – Charlie

Response:

Hi Charlie, I go to different news groups to talk about different subjects other than fly fishing stuff. I go to some ‘photography’ groups to learn about that subject. I go to an ‘RV’ news group for info on my used motor home. I go on a ‘Caribbean Travel’ news group to talk about places I love like Belize. I never talk about religion or politics here or at my fly shop or at fly club meetings. I am still here almost every night because like in life there are some real wonderful, lovely people here that love fly fishing and love people too. This is my favorite group that I look at every night. I can’t believe all the people here on ROFF are really fly fishers, because my customers are about 99% wonderful, lovely people. Where did we get these unhappy people. PS: I love to joke about the fact that the ’sad’ people that post here were probably not breast fed. I noticed that every sentence that I wrote has an ‘I ‘ in front of it. Does that make me a bad person? Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone email me and tell me why I am only receiving political posts on this newsgroup. I haven’t received one post on flyfishing the past couple of days. I’m not kidding. Thanks. – Charlie

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Hi Charlie, I go to different news groups to talk about different subjects other than fly fishing stuff. I can’t believe all the people here on ROFF are really fly fishers, because my customers are about 99% wonderful, lovely people. Where did we get these unhappy people.

    from that damn fool muskie, crossposting to dozens of groups full of idiots.     wayno

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. Bill Kiene wrote I go to different news groups to talk about different subjects other than fly fishing stuff. I can’t believe all the people here on ROFF are really fly fishers, because my customers are about 99% wonderful, lovely people. Where did we get these

unhappy people. "Wayne Harrison" wrote from that damn fool muskie, crossposting to dozens of groups full of idiots.     wayno

Wayno, I looks to me like you just said ROFF is full of idiots.   Is that what you meant? Ernie

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Hey if the shoe fits… Although I like to think of myself as an Educated Idiot. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – . Bill Kiene wrote I go to different news groups to talk about different subjects other than fly fishing stuff. I can’t believe all the people here on ROFF are really fly fishers, because my customers are about 99% wonderful, lovely people. Where did we get these unhappy people. "Wayne Harrison" wrote from that damn fool muskie, crossposting to dozens of groups full of idiots.     wayno Wayno, I looks to me like you just said ROFF is full of idiots.   Is that what you meant? Ernie

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*I* certainly hope not! — Opie  **Panhandling for a better tomorrow!**

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I noticed that every sentence that I wrote has an ‘I ‘ in front of it. Does that make me a bad person? Bill Kiene

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PS: I love to joke about the fact that the ’sad’ people that post here were probably not breast fed

Well Bill, you’re probably right about that.  The proof is, I was breast fed, and still am, and I’m a nice guys. I noticed that every sentence that I wrote has an ‘I ‘ in front of it. Does that make me a bad person?

You and I ain’t bad Bill, I ain’t so sure about the rest of this bunch. Frank (love them nips) Church Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

—–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

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I, I, me, me, my.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – *I* certainly hope not! — Opie  **Panhandling for a better tomorrow!** I noticed that every sentence that I wrote has an ‘I ‘ in front of it. Does that make me a bad person? Bill Kiene

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Question:

1996 Astro 15 footer 90 HP mercury outboard motorguide RF trolling motor custom cover custom trailor.                                $7995.00 Call Tom Bauer 1-908-686-2800

Response:

Hi Guys, I just started coming to this news group in addition to the fly fishing newsgroups I subscribe to.  I was once such a hard core bass fisherman that I never went fishing without my boat.  Now I do both stream and lake fishing with my first love being fishing for bass and preferably with a fly rod. Being on this group is great!  However, I am surprised at the amount of advertising showing up here.  Is this a valid forum for advertising your used fishing gear? Pete

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 1996 Astro 15 footer 90 HP mercury outboard motorguide RF trolling motor custom cover custom trailor.                                $7995.00 Call Tom Bauer 1-908-686-2800

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I believe personal gear is ok.  Trying to pass off comercial for personal is a no no. Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Guys, I just started coming to this news group in addition to the fly fishing newsgroups I subscribe to.  I was once such a hard core bass fisherman that I never went fishing without my boat.  Now I do both stream and lake fishing with my first love being fishing for bass and preferably with a fly rod. Being on this group is great!  However, I am surprised at the amount of advertising showing up here.  Is this a valid forum for advertising your used fishing gear? Pete 1996 Astro 15 footer 90 HP mercury outboard motorguide RF trolling motor custom cover custom trailor.                                $7995.00 Call Tom Bauer 1-908-686-2800

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The Guidelines allows posting of personal advertisements, as long as the subject specifies ‘For Sale.’ — Go fishing. And may your fish be as big as your tales!    Columbia SC, Lake Murray

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Thanks. Pete

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Guidelines allows posting of personal advertisements, as long as the subject specifies ‘For Sale.’ — Go fishing. And may your fish be as big as your tales!    Columbia SC, Lake Murray

Response:

Question:

hello all.  I need some help. A few years back my mother bought me a fly rod at a yard sale. it is a hand crafted 6 sided bamboo fly rod.  it is all stamped " made in occupied japan" some one told my father that it was worth any where from $1,000 – $10,000 depending on the condition of it. I have a couple pictures of it.  drop me an e-mail if you would like to see them.  thanks. any information on it would be greatly appreciated. please e-mail me with any info.

Response:

cdragon Japanese bamboo rods are low cost rods, you can probably get $50 to $75 on eBay. Ernie Harrison See Ernie’s Fly-Fishing Stuff:   http://home.pacbell.net/ernie2 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hello all.  I need some help. A few years back my mother bought me a fly rod at a yard sale. it is a hand crafted 6 sided bamboo fly rod.  it is all stamped " made in occupied japan" some one told my father that it was worth any where from $1,000 – $10,000 depending on the condition of it. I have a couple pictures of it.  drop me an e-mail if you would like to see them.  thanks. any information on it would be greatly appreciated. please e-mail me with any info.

Response:

writes: hello all.  I need some help. A few years back my mother bought me a fly rod at a yard sale. it is a hand crafted 6 sided bamboo fly rod.  it is all stamped " made in occupied japan" some one told my father that it was worth any where from $1,000 – $10,000 depending on the condition of it.

They lied to your father, some handcrafted bamboo fly rods are worth in excess of $1,000 with rare Gillum, Dickerson or Garrison rods going in excess of $10K. Unfortunately for you,  yours is one of the mass produced models that came from asia post WWII. Depending on the buyer and their level of knowledge perhaps $10 – $250 if you find a sucker. Sorry if this sounds rough to you. Now if it was a Garrison, Dickerson or a Gillum….. For verification of what I say you can check www.gorp.com/bamboo.htm http://home1.gte.net/jfoster/ http://flyfishing.miningco.com/msub13.htm http://www.freeyellow.com/members5/ronsrods/index.html Wayne Knight (remove nospam to respond via mail) Expert in the creation of  wind knots and tailing loops.

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Question:

I have a couple of days free in Seattle at the end of June. Any FF recommendations (river, not lake). Appreciate all advice. Thanks. George

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  Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly   I have a couple of days free in Seattle at the end of June.   Any FF recommendations (river, not lake).   Appreciate all advice.   Thanks.   George

June can often times be pretty marginal in Western Washington because of runoff from the snowpack.  This year, we have a snowpack in the Cascades that is twice that of the average (biggest in over 20 years).  The rivers may be pretty high in June this year… That not withstanding, there are many steelhead guides that cover the rivers around Seattle.  If you only have a day or two, it might be worth looking into going out with a guide. I’ve not ever fished with a guide around here, so I can’t suggest any firsthand.  I can suggest some folks based on what I’ve heard.  Email for more details. -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html email: replace the "this_address_is_wrong" with "tgades"

Response:

I have a couple of days free in Seattle at the end of June. Any FF recommendations (river, not lake). Appreciate all advice. Thanks. George

Summer steelhead should be good on the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, a fly fishing only river 1 1/2 hour drive north of Seattle. — Shinji Unno                     Karaoke Party in Seattle, WA, USA? Also a steelhead fly fisher               http://www.sbkaraoke.com

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Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Fly Fishers, Since fishing the winter season in SE Minnesota I have encountered a problem with ice formation along the fly line and leader and in the line guides of the fly rod.  I’m sure this must be a common problem. Has anyone worked out a solution?  Please write. The absolute best way to avoid ice formation on your guides during winter is to travel far enough south to where the only ice that forms is meant for "pina coladas". I used to try flyfishing in winter too, until a bad fall caused by frozen felts on the shelf ice dumped me in the river. It was days before I finally got the chill out and weeks before my back quit aching. Since then, I wait until it warms up several degrees above freezing before venturing out. Tight lines! Guy

I guess you don’t go winter steelheading then???

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Dear Fly Fishers, Since fishing the winter season in SE Minnesota I have encountered a problem with ice formation along the fly line and leader and in the line guides of the fly rod.  I’m sure this must be a common problem. Has anyone worked out a solution?  Please write.  

The absolute best way to avoid ice formation on your guides during winter is to travel far enough south to where the only ice that forms is meant for "pina coladas". I used to try flyfishing in winter too, until a bad fall caused by frozen felts on the shelf ice dumped me in the river. It was days before I finally got the chill out and weeks before my back quit aching. Since then, I wait until it warms up several degrees above freezing before venturing out. Tight lines! Guy  

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Dear Fly Fishers, Since fishing the winter season in SE Minnesota I have encountered a problem with ice formation along the fly line and leader and in the line guides of the fly rod.  I’m sure this must be a common problem. Has anyone worked out a solution?  Please write.   Thank you Renner Anderson

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: Since fishing the winter season in SE Minnesota I have encountered a : problem with ice formation along the fly line and leader and in the : line guides of the fly rod.  I’m sure this must be a common problem. No kidding.  I will often hold the rod in the river for awhile, working the line in-and-out.  If the water’s cold this is not enough and I have to break it off the rod and line by hand.  Bummer.  I advise: be sure to keep the line and tip-top fairly clean otherwise you may be unable to reel the fatter part of the line in when mr. big is on.  I may be sensitive, but I’ve felt stupid breaking the ice off the rod while the steelie is jumping around at the other end.  Keeping the line well-treated helps.   I am ready to learn a better way,   rork.

Response:

Dear Fly Fishers, Since fishing the winter season in SE Minnesota I have encountered a problem with ice formation along the fly line and leader and in the line guides of the fly rod.  I’m sure this must be a common problem. Has anyone worked out a solution?  Please write. Thank you Renner Anderson

heat tapes works good for me…run it off a 9volt battery pack.

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Question:

Harrison River in British Columbia has lots of big (to 25lbs.), strong (I’ve broken at least one reel) salmon.  Chums are not great to eat, but for us catch & release people they can be fun.  Small pink marabou flies fished deep can be great.  Downstream from the bridge is a favorite spot. Help!  I’d really like more information on this fishery.  Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks!  :-) P.S. Please E-MAIL me your response (I am usually out fishing, so I don’t have time to MONITOR this bulletin board…but email gets to me no problem).  Thanks K Lawson

Response:

I’ve fished the Harrison for a number of years. You want chums try flour red or orange glo-bug yarn with a tinsel body. Dead drift with a type 4 sink tip. For a change of pace try cutts part on the east shore. More my style. I find the big dogs  (and if you’ve been fishing in BC as long as me you’d call them dogs) kind of boring after getting over the initial novelty of big fish on the fly. But lots of people enjoy these hard pulling fish and if that’s you’re cup of tea – you know where they are. Should continue into Nov. Try the chehalis just up the Morris Valley road by the Sasquatch Inn for mondo dogs and lots of coho. Good cutts in Dec and steelhead show in late Dec- Jan. Gets very crwoded tho’ Best of luck!

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Question:

I am planning a short trip to the Bay Area in mid-march. Can anyone suggest good trout waters within a couple hours of San Francisco?

Response:

Because the general trout season doesn’t open until May 1st, trout waters are hard to come by near San Francisco in mid-March.  However, there is one trout stream that remains open, about a one and a half hour drive. It’s called Putah Creek.  It’s a tailwater, flowing out of a man-made reservoir, called Lake Berryessa.  It’s a bit north of a town called Vacaville, east of San Francisco off Highway 80, on the way to Sacramento.  Easy to find on a map.  Make local inquiries as to how to get to the section below the dam. If you want to get into some big trout, (and I’m talking 6-8 lbs.) drive north on Highway 5 for about 3 1/2 hours.  Between the towns of Anderson and Red Bluff, on the Sacramento River, a guide can be had to float you through that water.  This is a blue ribbon fishery, and open at this time of year.  Make inquiries for guides, etc.  through the "Redding Fly Shop."  Their phone number is (916) 222-3555. Those guys really know the water in that area, and can put you into good fishing, and will arrange good guides for you. Tight Lines! Old Deep

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: I am planning a short trip to the Bay Area in mid-march. Can anyone : suggest good trout waters within a couple hours of San Francisco? Here are the Lakes that are now open: From nearest to the farthest: Lake Merced: Right in the Heart of San Francisco San Pablo Dam Reservoir: Take San Pablo Dam Road in Richmond Lake Del Valle: This is south of Livermore Parkway Lake: Private lake, open to anyone even without a license for a fee Lake Chabot Lake Berryessa: Napa County Lake Pardee Lake Camanche Lake Amador

Response:

writes: If you want to get into some big trout, (and I’m talking 6-8 lbs.) drive north on Highway 5 for about 3 1/2 hours.  Between the towns of Anderson and Red Bluff, on the Sacramento River, a guide can be had to float you through that water.  This is a blue ribbon fishery, and open at this time of year.  Make inquiries for guides, etc.  through the "Redding Fly Shop." Their phone number is (916) 222-3555. Those guys really know the water in that area, and can put you into good fishing, and will arrange good guides for you.

Be sure to call ahead to check on flows.  You can wade the Lower Sac in the town of Redding and down to Anerson when the flows are 4000cfs or lower.  5000cfs gets a little tough to wade and above 8000cfs you can use a boat, but probably won’t find many fish.  Currently the Lower Sac flows are 35,000 cfs.  We had some warm weather which filled Shasta lake up too much from run-off so they are dumping it like crazy now. If the flows are good in March, there are usually great caddis hatches and both good nymphing and dry fly fishing.   About 2 hrs out of SF you can fish the Mokulemne River below Comanche Dam or the lower part of the Stanislaus River.  Both can be good in March. Also may be decent Striper fishing in the Delta then.                                             Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

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Question:

Seeking fishing experiences on the private waters of Oasis Springs, CA. Specifically: type of water, cost, lodge accomodations,  and maximum number permitted daily. Thanks, Norm Norm Hanami

Response:

Yes, I’ve fished Oasis Springs Ranch.  It was the dumbest trout

experience I have nothing good to say about this place. I didn’t like dealing with the people, to the point of feeling cheated. And, I’ve heard from others (I never actually got there, and lost my deposit) exactly what the other posts said. That is, there’s one decent stretch, it’s hatchery fish, and the brochure is full of bull. Jack Formerly

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Went there the first year to check it out.  Beautiful lodge.  Nice location.  Huge "native" fish with very rubbed noses and fins.  Oh well. Varied stretches of water, from deep pool to riffles & runs.  Also great fishing below PGE transfer pipe up one of the arms.  Struck me as an odd combination. . . Since then i’ve had several friends go there and have a great time.  They have all sorts of other distractions, tennis court, i think horse riding as well.  Good location for a weekend get away with a non-fishing SO or something.  There have been some intro classes up there for new fishers, also. just my #22 –jim *                                                     *

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Norm, I get a flyer from these folks about twice a year. Never tried ‘em, but it seems like a nice outfit. Try calling ‘em (800) 642-4150 or (916) 474-1943.

Response:

Yes, I’ve fished Oasis Springs Ranch.  It was the dumbest trout experience I’ve ever had.  Caught endless numbers of of 4-6 lb. football shaped rainbows….straight out of some brood hatchery around Redding.  The waters? The brochure says "5 1/2 miles of prime stream.  It’s more like 400 yards of prime, since a PGE flume is a short distance above the lodge, which removes most of the water from the upper stream and shoots it back into the lower stream. (There is a dam just below the lodge, which is where the football shaped big ones hang out.  Give them anything black and ugly on a sinking line…they are stupid trout, and will apparently eat anything coming near the dam that looks like food.) The lodge itself is prime, and the grounds are pleasant, food better than average. My advice?  Take your signifigant other, have a restful time, but don’t expect a quality flyfishing experience.

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Question:

Any west coast trail experts out there?  Please feel free to answer some, all, or none of these questions.  I have read the Sierra Club guidebook, now I’m looking for a little more personal and/or personal advice" (paraphrased quotation). I’m planning my trip in May.  Am I setting myself up for a lot of mud and rain? One book implied that the average rainfall in May is not too bad. If I hit the low tides I’m hoping to do a bunch of beach walking, so that might get rid of the mud.  Comments? I’ve got favorable tides (low tides in the afternoon) from May 13 That gives me, say, 8 days of reasonable tides for beach walking. My wife and I aren’t very good at getting up early, so an ideal tide would maybe reach it’s low at 15:00.  We’d then hike from 12:00 to 16:00 and not worry about getting caught by rising tides. It sounds like the southern section is where I’ll really apreciate low tides (to get around Owens pt, for example) so I’m thinking of flying or driving out to the Island on the 8th-10th, leaving the car in Victoria, taking the bus (or the bus and The Lady Rose) to Bamfield, starting to hike on the 12th.  Then if we spend the planned 10 days/9 nights we’ll get out on the 21st. That’ll give us the 21st/22nd to get to Victoria (is this hard?  Does the Knight Limousine Service still operate?) to reclaim our car and the 22nd to the 24th to drive back to Calgary (or fly back, sans car of course.) Sound reasonable? If you had 10 days to spend on the trail, how many of them would you hike?  Would you hike all 10 (an average of 7.5 km/day?) or would you spend a day or two in the middle somewhere just beachcoming and relaxing and seducing your spouse or S/O . (Is it *possible* to seduce your spouse or s/o if you’re both soaking wet from all the rain and you only have freeze-dried food?).  Where’s the best place for these sort of activities? Where’s the best fishing?  How can I find out more about the fishing? I’m not normally a fisherman, but hey, I’ve got 10 days.  And if I catch some fish I could even stretch our food supply to 11 or 12 days. How warm can I expect it to be? How hard is it *really* to cross Nitinat Narrows?  Does anyone actually ever have to wait for more then a day for the friendly Indians to ferry you across in May?  If so, should I hike from the south to the north so that I can relax after the crossing on the better beaches in the north half?  (Or are the better beaches in the south?) THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.  Please, if you’re too busy to answer all my questions, just email me something.  If I get enough somethings it will be better then one detailed response. (Man, am I ever looking forward to this vacation!) — "Wow, it’s like a ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ fantasy but without the "Dilbert" talking about Internet. — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — John E. Abraham                 ryryryryry   /    Mathematical Modelling ******* Current research:  Transportation and Land Use Interaction ******* trombone/piano/harmonica blues/jazz/rock player < backpacker < traveller

Response:

People have swum the English Channel and the Nitinat Narrows would be considerably easier but the full pack would make it interesting. It is just as well I waited the 15 minutes for the boat ride.

Natural selection in action. Please DO NOT attempt to swim across Nitinat Narrows.  It is a tidal surge channel with dangerous undercurrents.  It may look relatively calm compared to the ocean nearby, but strong swimmers have died trying to cross. I have never heard of someone foolish enough to try.  Every book, map, etc. states that people have died, and it is passable only by boat.

Artificial selection in action.   Resident Cynic, Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers   {uunet,mailrus,other gateways}!ames!eugene Second Favorite email message: Returned mail: Cannot send message for 3 days A Ref: Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning, vol. 1, G. Polya

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I’m planning my trip in May.  Am I setting myself up for a lot of mud and rain?

We went in May last year and had a great trip, not many people, only two out of six days rain and not much mud.  Saw a bear on the trail (A worry!), but none around campsites, although always hung our food. We took the Lady Rose after hitching to Port Alberni, which involved next to no waiting at the side of the road and then at the south end,the Port Renfrew Connector to Victoria. How hard is it *really* to cross Nitinat Narrows?  Does anyone actually ever have to wait for more then a day for the friendly Indians to ferry you across in May?  If so, should I hike from the south to the north so that I can relax after the crossing on the better beaches in the north half?  (Or are the better beaches in the south?)

Forget it and wait. The southern boardwalks were very slippery!! particularily for my wife who had some newer boots on; Did one nice loop ending head first in a bog! Do you have your permit yet?  They have started requiring permits since last year. May is not the most popular month and we got ours at about this time last year.  Call Pacific Rim National Park and they’ll have the number to book it. Ian McKirdy Canada Centre for Remote Sensing Ottawa, Ontario  K1S 0Y7 613 947-1318 om mani padme hum

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Be prepared for rain.  I went 2 years ago and was caught in a near hurricane which forced the park service to close the trail for 3 days.  80 MPH winds and 2-3 inches of rain per day for 3 days straight.  Climbing down those ladders, covered with moss, with rain slushing down, rungs missing, and feeling the support anchors pulling out while wearing a 55lb pack was quite a thrill!   Once the storm cleared, myself and 4 other hikers had the trail to ourselves.  Although one woman came down with a fever and had to be helicoptered out, and two other silly hikers tried to wade across the Carmanah River after the heavy rains and lost all their gear when they were swept off their feet and nearly washed out to sea.  Luckily they managed to get to the Carmanah lighthouse, where they too were helicoptered out.  (A huge sitka spruce had fallen across the cable crossing…and was the main reason for the trail closure.)  The rest of us waited out the storm, until the water level was below our ankles. (The tip in the WCT trail book about crossing at low tide is a joke if the rivers are swollen with rain.) Whenever possible, travel the beach route.  There’s a beautiful campsite at Owen’s point.  If you’re a purist hike to Owen’s instead of taking the launch.  On the other hand, don’t miss out on the bogs either.  The bogs have elevated cedar walkways for the most part. I had no trouble hiking the trail in 7 days.  But I wish I’d taken a few extra days.  In particular, there are some interesting side trails such as a primitive trail up the Carmanah Valley. The best tip I can give you is to park your car at the Northern end of the trail, and then pay $10 to the Pachenat Band to drive you to the Southern end along the backroads (takes 3-4 hours).  That way you end up back at your car when you are done. A boat is required to cross Ninstints narrows.  I had to wait 4 hours for a ride.  Although, at slack tide you may be able wave down a passing fisherman.  I think the fee was $5, and you can buy a cold beer from the chief. You can probably buy or bum salmon/crabs off the fishermen and natives.  I was offered a 10lb Coho while waiting at the Narrows. Don’t drink the water!  Watch for black bear.  Climbing rope is useful if you go off trail.  Checkout Adrenalin Surge channel if you have a death wish. Good luck and have fun!   -bill

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People have swum the English Channel and the Nitinat Narrows would be considerably easier but the full pack would make it interesting. It is just as well I waited the 15 minutes for the boat ride. I hitchhiked from Bamfield to Port Renfrew and was assured by a park staff person that it would be quite easy to do so. It took me ten rides and 24 hours and some walking to do it. Nearly everybody who came by gave me a ride but there are few people on the logging roads that connect the two places and they are working and only going to the next turnoff.

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People have swum the English Channel and the Nitinat Narrows would be considerably easier but the full pack would make it interesting. It is just as well I waited the 15 minutes for the boat ride.

Please DO NOT attempt to swim across Nitinat Narrows.  It is a tidal surge channel with dangerous undercurrents.  It may look relatively calm compared to the ocean nearby, but strong swimmers have died trying to cross. I have never heard of someone foolish enough to try.  Every book, map, etc. states that people have died, and it is passable only by boat. Dave Lee

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 Abraham) writes: I’m planning my trip in May.  Am I setting myself up for a lot of mud and rain?

I would definitely be prepared for rain and mud.  You may be lucky and hit a dry week, but spring on the west coast trail means a healthy amount of rain. It has been a very dry winter this year so it may not be as bad as normal. One book implied that the average rainfall in May is not too bad. If I hit the low tides I’m hoping to do a bunch of beach walking, so that might get rid of the mud.  Comments?

If you plan it properly you can do a lot of beach walking.  This is the most scenic part of the trip and well worth the planning it takes to get on and off the beaches at the right times.  Remember, some beaches only have one exit trail amidst very steep cliffs and if you get caught by the tide it can be a difficult situation. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got favorable tides (low tides in the afternoon) from May 13 That gives me, say, 8 days of reasonable tides for beach walking. My wife and I aren’t very good at getting up early, so an ideal tide would maybe reach it’s low at 15:00.  We’d then hike from 12:00 to 16:00 and not worry about getting caught by rising tides. It sounds like the southern section is where I’ll really apreciate low tides (to get around Owens pt, for example) so I’m thinking of flying or driving out to the Island on the 8th-10th, leaving the car in Victoria, taking the bus (or the bus and The Lady Rose) to Bamfield, starting to hike on the 12th.  Then if we spend the planned 10 days/9 nights we’ll get out on the 21st. That’ll give us the 21st/22nd to get to Victoria (is this hard?  Does the Knight Limousine Service still operate?) to reclaim our car and the 22nd to the 24th to drive back to Calgary (or fly back, sans car of course.)

There is bus service back to Victoria, but I don’t remember the name of it. Hitch-hiking is also very possible to get back to Victoria. Lots of people will give rides to trail hikers.  Ten days is plenty of time to enjoy the trail with no need to rush. If you had 10 days to spend on the trail, how many of them would you hike?  Would you hike all 10 (an average of 7.5 km/day?) or would you spend a day or two in the middle somewhere just beachcoming and relaxing and seducing your spouse or S/O . (Is it *possible* to seduce your spouse or s/o if you’re both soaking wet from all the rain and you only have freeze-dried food?).  Where’s the best place for these sort of activities?

Five to six days of hiking is usually plenty to do the trail.  A nice side trip is up Nitinat river to Nitinat Lake.  You can camp beside the lake and do some fishing.  Usually very private for seduction type encounters.  The lake is tidal, but fresh water is available for washing, etc. Where’s the best fishing?  How can I find out more about the fishing? I’m not normally a fisherman, but hey, I’ve got 10 days.  And if I catch some fish I could even stretch our food supply to 11 or 12 days.

Depends on how much you carry, how much you eat, and how good a fisherman (person) you are. How warm can I expect it to be?

Cool during the day and cold at night. Probably not below 0 C however. How hard is it *really* to cross Nitinat Narrows?  Does anyone actually ever have to wait for more then a day for the friendly Indians to ferry you across in May?  If so, should I hike from the south to the north so that I can relax after the crossing on the better beaches in the north half?  (Or are the better beaches in the south?)

Don’t try to cross Nitinat narrows without a boat.  You will see what I mean when you get there.  Not a problem getting a boat ride across from the local natives.  They will offer to sell you some beer, and it will seem very tempting, especially if it is hot, but it can be very difficult to hike after drinking even one beer. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.  Please, if you’re too busy to answer all my questions, just email me something.  If I get enough somethings it will be better then one detailed response. (Man, am I ever looking forward to this vacation!)

Its a beautiful trip.  I’m sure that you will enjoy it very much no matter what weather you encounter. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — "Wow, it’s like a ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ fantasy but without the "Dilbert" talking about Internet. — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — John E. Abraham                 ryryryryry   /    Mathematical Modelling ******* Current research:  Transportation and Land Use Interaction ******* trombone/piano/harmonica blues/jazz/rock player < backpacker < traveller

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