Question:

Today I took the day off work and decided to head out to Loch Lomond in Santa Cruz California to get in some flyfishing. Loch Lomond is a beautiful lake for being so close to an urban center. It’s a reservoir in a mountain valley… and if you squint just a little and ignore all of the picnic tables and hiking paths, you would swear you’re at a lake in the high sierra. It has resident populations of bass, catfish, panfish, and is planted in the spring with rainbows.  Of course, the trout is my fish of choice. Since the lake doesn’t allow wading or float tubes, your only choice is to bring or rent a boat if you want to flyfish… renting is cheap, and they rent only rowboats, so I get a free workout thrown in. I didn’t get on the lake until 11am (had to drop my daughter off at school, etc), so I did get a late start.  Thanks to the fog, though, conditions were cool and the fish were still near the surface.  One after one, I try all the dries in my flybox.. but they’re not hitting. Strange, because they are ocassionally rising (though not very often)… to what?  That’s the big question, and one I still don’t know the answer to.  Maybe there are emergers, but I can’t see any. I also try nymphing a little bit… but no luck there either. Of course, I notice the trollers and the bait dunkers at the shore aren’t having any better luck.  A couple people had good luck earlier, before I arrived, but nobody is catching. Anyway, it was a GREAT day, even if I didn’t catch a damn thing.  I was off the water by 2pm, just when the fog burned off and the air started to heat up a little.  I WILL go back soon, it was great! Now, here’s the request for knowledge section of this post: HOW does one fish nymphs in a lake?  I’ve fished dries in high sierra lakes, and dries and nymphs in rivers, but never nymphs in lakes.  Do they need movement?  The current is moving a little in the lake.  Any advise you can give me? Also, what do you think they were rising for?  Yea, I know you weren’t there, but if you had to guess…. Thanks for the help…

Response:

HOW does one fish nymphs in a lake?  

Buy and read Gary LaFontaine’s Fishing the High Mountain Lakes. You might try dangling a small brassie (chironomid imitation) below an indicator, especially if there’s a little ripple on the surface. Works for me. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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<SNIP Also, what do you think they were rising for?  Yea, I know you weren’t there, but if you had to guess….

Chironomids. ( Midge pupa). Have a look here; http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/angling/protalk/chan/confession…. The rest of the site is worth a good look as well. TL MC

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Try this one as well; http://www.fishbc.com/adventure/angling/flies/chironomid/pupa.phtml TL MC

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Thanks! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HOW does one fish nymphs in a lake? Buy and read Gary LaFontaine’s Fishing the High Mountain Lakes. You might try dangling a small brassie (chironomid imitation) below an indicator, especially if there’s a little ripple on the surface. Works for me. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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Thanks and thanks! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have a look here; http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/angling/protalk/chan/confession…. The rest of the site is worth a good look as well. TL MC

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 Chironomids, all various colors coming off lakes or any other hatch you can identify are difficult to fish on lakes.  The trout are many times large and they are cruisers.  The difficulty in fishing for cruising trout feeding on emerging Chironomids is timing.  Timing is everything. Pick a fish out that you see break the surface one, two, cast, three!  The fish are taking Chironomids just under the surface, not on top of it.  They cruise about a foot or two under looking up.  They come up and take the food in an arch, their backs breaking the water.  This means you may have to try dangling about six to eight inches of tippet "under the water" and float the rest of the tippet and leader on top.  Lead the fish, and then twitch about an inch or two.  Dress the first few inches of leader with Xink and that includes the nymph or Chironomid pattern of your choice.  Float the rest of your leader and fly line. "The Take," is one of perpetual motion and a cruiser will hook themselves for obvious reasons.  The initial response is one of surprise.  Make sure you lower your rod tip level and sideways to the first run because it will be a duzzie! Hope this helps.  You WILL catch fish. George Gehrke "Chironomids are Cillers"

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Question:

Ok here is my sob story. I am going to Phoenix to shoot the Kachina Open a skeet tourniment which ends on the 3rd of March. I cannot fly back to DC until the 5th of March. I have a whole day to kill anyone availalbe to take wayward Marine fishing? If I had the extra $$$$ I would go with a guide. I know that it is a shot in the dark. You can check out my webpage www.isoa.net/~rausman to find out more about me and what I do. Thanks for taking the time today . Ron

Response:

Ron, You might be in luck.  That very weekend is the International Sportsman Expo.  If you have some time to stop by the expo you there’s a lot people will be around that can give you some ideas.  Below are websites for my fly club and info about the sportsman’s expo.  Our club will have a booth at the show. Good Luck, Eric http://www.desertflycasters.com/ http://www.sportsexpos.com/consumer/pr.cfm?locationnumber=6

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I will be up at Ben Avery working the registration desk and shooting. I wish that I had the time. If you get done early on sunday come up to the range the shoot offs will be going on and I will be getting read to ride up to flagstaff. Thanks Ron

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ron, You might be in luck.  That very weekend is the International Sportsman Expo.  If you have some time to stop by the expo you there’s a lot people will be around that can give you some ideas.  Below are websites for my fly club and info about the sportsman’s expo.  Our club will have a booth at the show. Good Luck, Eric http://www.desertflycasters.com/ http://www.sportsexpos.com/consumer/pr.cfm?locationnumber=6

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Since I’ve relocated to Massachusetts, I can’t help. But I can tell you to head north out of Phoenix on I-17, take Rt. 260 toward Cottonwood, and head north on 89A. For the full effect, take Hwy 69 into Prescott and then follow 89A all the way to Flagstaff. Oak Creek Canyon is God’s Country – one of the most beautiful places on earth. Not to mention all the high desert and red rock area you’ll pass along the way. You may decide not to fish because you’ll be stopping every five minutes to take pictures. Believe me, you can easily kill the entire day. I’ve done it several times while (not?) attending seminars in Phoenix. Tim Very jealous, and longing for the Great West.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok here is my sob story. I am going to Phoenix to shoot the Kachina Open a skeet tourniment which ends on the 3rd of March. I cannot fly back to DC until the 5th of March. I have a whole day to kill anyone availalbe to take wayward Marine fishing? If I had the extra $$$$ I would go with a guide. I know that it is a shot in the dark. You can check out my webpage www.isoa.net/~rausman to find out more about me and what I do. Thanks for taking the time today . Ron

Response:

Yes I am retiring soon. So sign me up for that PFC program. Ron

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am going to Phoenix to shoot the Kachina Open a skeet tourniment which ends on the 3rd of March. I cannot fly back to DC until the 5th of March. I have a whole day to kill anyone availalbe to take wayward Marine fishing? If I had the extra $$$$ I would go with a guide. Hey Gunny, are you retiring from the Marines this summer?  We have some old decrepit retirees in this bunch, so welcome aboard as a PFC and a newly retired Marine. If you’re not retiring, then unregard the foregoing. Many years ago I did some competitive shooting in the Air Force, never made it to the Nationals though, they wouldn’t allow flintlock muskets.  Naw, we just fooled around with M1 Garands and 1917 03A3 Springfields. Can’t help you out with your dilemma in Phoenix though, but have a good time. Frank Church USAF RETIRED

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I am going to Phoenix to shoot the Kachina Open a skeet tourniment which ends on the 3rd of March. I cannot fly back to DC until the 5th of March. I have a whole day to kill anyone availalbe to take wayward Marine fishing? If I had the extra $$$$ I would go with a guide.

Hey Gunny, are you retiring from the Marines this summer?  We have some old decrepit retirees in this bunch, so welcome aboard as a PFC and a newly retired Marine. If you’re not retiring, then unregard the foregoing. Many years ago I did some competitive shooting in the Air Force, never made it to the Nationals though, they wouldn’t allow flintlock muskets.  Naw, we just fooled around with M1 Garands and 1917 03A3 Springfields. Can’t help you out with your dilemma in Phoenix though, but have a good time. Frank Church USAF RETIRED

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Question:

" so I my be incommunicado for a while anyway.

so what’s different? –waldo

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The cash register at your shop communicated just fine with me today, as did Tommy. Damn that fella can sell! Op

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – " so I my be incommunicado for a while anyway. so what’s different? –waldo

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<SNIP Op  –but maybe I will be able to afford to sex– Unlike ISP

Question:

Hello: Anyone have any experiences with either a RS2 or Usual? How fished? Sizes/colors for modest size streams? Any pix on the web for the Usual?   ( have found some on the RS2) Thanks, Bob

Response:

Bob, I can’t help with the RS2, but the Usual, in many variations, is one of my favorite patterns. I normally tie sizes #12 to #18, and occasionally smaller. This is a dry fly that is tyed with the fur from the rear feet of the Snowshoe Hare to form the wing and tail, and in the case of the original pattern, the body. Snowshoe Hare is available in a range of natural and dyed colors, so a number of insects can be imitated. This has become quite a popular pattern, so a search of the fly fishing web sites should turn up quite a bit of information, including photos. George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

Response:

Hi Bob, I don’t know the RS2 but I am familiar with the Usual.  The fly was invented by Francis Betters for the Ausable River in New York.  The section in front of his fly shop under Whiteface Mountain is fast flowing pocket water for which this fly is ideal – it floats like a cork.  However, I have caught fish in all kinds of water east and west, including fast-flowing freestone streams, limestone spring creeks and stillwaters (ponds) and by just about every technique, both casting to risers and prospecting.  A size 14 Usual is one of three dry flies from which I always select to start fishing; the other two being a size 12 Grey Fox Variant (Flick) and a size 12 Mini-muddler. I am not sure of the exact historical details, but the fly was popularized in Toronto by Bill Phillips who was a member of the Izaak Walton Fly Fishermen’s Club (now Izaak Walton Fly Fisher’s Club) in the 1970’s and who knew Betters and fished the Ausable.  Betters probably invented the fly in the late1960’s or early 1970’s.  For a long time the Usual was virtually a cult fly, unknown outside of the Adirondacks and a group of fly fishers around Toronto.  This was probably because snowshoe hare was so hard to find; almost nobody besides Betters sold the material.  My guess is that this was because snowshoe hare has no commercial value and most fly-tying furs then were byproducts of the fashion trade.  Betters probably trapped or shot his own animals for his flies.  Fortunately, snowshoe hare’s feet are now widely available, possibly because word of mouth growth in popularity of the Usual has made it feasible to trap them for the fly-tying market.  I believe you can even find them in Orvis shops now.  Make sure you use genuine snowshoe hare and do not even think of subtituting rabbit –  snowshoe hare has a very, very high content of natural oils and there is no real substitute.  I posted photographs of the fly on alt.binaries.pictures.fishing a while ago in response to another enquiry in this newsgroup but they might have expired by now.  If you don’t have any luck finding pictures on the web, I will be happy to e-mail them to you. Best regards, Yuji Sakuma – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello: Anyone have any experiences with either a RS2 or Usual? How fished? Sizes/colors for modest size streams? Any pix on the web for the Usual?   ( have found some on the RS2) Thanks, Bob

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have never fished before except once at a trout farm where you drop in a line and the fish attack it. I go canoeing alot on a local reservoir and I’d like to get started fishing it. The lake has bass, trout, walleye, crappie and some others. I just got a Shimano spinning combo but I dont know how to get line on the spool or exactly how the spinning reel works. Any help/advice about spinning rods and fishing in general will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 p[0]       Have a look at the Feild and Stream Web site they have articles on filling your reel and properly setting the drag on you spinning reel as well as the proper way to use the rod to fight the fish. You can find them at http://www.fieldandstream.com/     You might also want to try having a look at the In-Fisherman Web site. They have several of the articles on line and the search engine will help you find techniques for any of the fish you are after. Their URL is http://www.in-fisherman.com     Finally you can try the web site for many of the popular tackle companies. You can find a list of many of them at http://www.acc.umu.se/~widmark/lwmanufa.html     Good luck hope this helps some Maurice. Regards,   —

Response:

I have never fished before except once at a trout farm where you drop in a line and the fish attack it. I go canoeing alot on a local reservoir and I’d like to get started fishing it. The lake has bass, trout, walleye, crappie and some others. I just got a Shimano spinning combo but I dont know how to get line on the spool or exactly how the spinning reel works. Any help/advice about spinning rods and fishing in general will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Response:

I just got a Shimano spinning combo but I dont know how to get line on the spool or exactly how the spinning reel works. Any help/advice about spinning rods and fishing in general will be greatly appreciated.

Advise you to take your reel to your local bait shop or sporting goods store. They will fill your reel usually for 2 or 3

Question:

ROFLMAO Thanks, that made my day, Tim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – August 12, 1998  Denver The Albanian Flyfishing Team, still reeling (as it were) from its dismal showing in the world flyfishing championship recently concluded in Poland, today announced its endorsement of the famous Banjo Minno.  Some observers speculated that the 50 free banjo minnos and $10 gift certificate provided by the manufacturer were the motivating factors in the endorsement, but team members assured the press conference that product quality and fishing results alone secured this valuable addition to the banjo minno family of users. "We’re off to Canada tomorrow", said Romczky Xudycz, team captain, "at the invitation of two guys that host a nationwide TV program on fishing.  Our fame is assured".

Response:

If I ordered two of them would I have "Dueling Banjos"? — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh

Response:

If I ordered two of them would I have "Dueling Banjos"?

Only if you fished them simultaneously from the same rod — Good Fishing and Tight Lines             | /              |/    (         /|     —     / | C. Michael Bullard

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how much would it be to buy one? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The whole Banjo fishing system sounds like a winner.. but I play guitar… damn.. edwin                               Banjo Mino Catch More Fish Than You Ever Dreamed Possible! The world’s first genetic response fishing lure!    * Specially designed to trigger the genetic response that makes      fish instinctively attack and eat their pray    * The body of the minnow wiggles naturally as it swims    * Why it works: we took the hook out of the back and moved it to      the mouth    * Neutral buoyancy-so it neither floats to the surface or goes      crashing to the bottom    * Complete 110 piece fishing system    * Bonus gifts: 4 Banjo Frogs, instructional video, and lure box

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ROFLMAO Thanks, that made my day, Tim August 12, 1998  Denver The Albanian Flyfishing Team, still reeling (as it were) from its dismal showing in the world flyfishing championship recently concluded in Poland, today announced its endorsement of the famous Banjo Minno.

        (snip)         of course, everybody knows they won’t have a chance in hell for success until they turn to wholesale use of sinking line…         a. wayne harrison

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Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The whole Banjo fishing system sounds like a winner.. but I play guitar… damn.. edwin                               Banjo Mino Catch More Fish Than You Ever Dreamed Possible!

August 12, 1998  Denver The Albanian Flyfishing Team, still reeling (as it were) from its dismal showing in the world flyfishing championship recently concluded in Poland, today announced its endorsement of the famous Banjo Minno.  Some observers speculated that the 50 free banjo minnos and $10 gift certificate provided by the manufacturer were the motivating factors in the endorsement, but team members assured the press conference that product quality and fishing results alone secured this valuable addition to the banjo minno family of users. "We’re off to Canada tomorrow", said Romczky Xudycz, team captain, "at the invitation of two guys that host a nationwide TV program on fishing.  Our fame is assured".

Response:

The whole Banjo fishing system sounds like a winner.. but I play guitar… damn.. edwin – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –                               Banjo Mino Catch More Fish Than You Ever Dreamed Possible! The world’s first genetic response fishing lure!    * Specially designed to trigger the genetic response that makes      fish instinctively attack and eat their pray    * The body of the minnow wiggles naturally as it swims    * Why it works: we took the hook out of the back and moved it to      the mouth    * Neutral buoyancy-so it neither floats to the surface or goes      crashing to the bottom    * Complete 110 piece fishing system    * Bonus gifts: 4 Banjo Frogs, instructional video, and lure box

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Question:

Does anyone know of any newsgroups relating to Oregon’s fly fishing?

Response:

Hi Leif:  Iive in Clackamas and read this newsgroup pretty regularily and occaisionally post a note here.  What,s wrong with this group?

Response:

Does anyone know of any newsgroups relating to Oregon’s fly fishing?

Don’t know of any specifically for Oregon but recently joined an International news group called "The Fly Fishing List". It is excellent. Some folks from The West on it. There are lots of sites on the Net from Oregon that offer loads of info such as The Virtual Flyshop at www.flyshop.com They even have a chat room. Many others also. I’m sure a search would turn up more web sites than you’d ever want to peruse. The Gorge Fly Shop has a site I recall also. Anyone can start a news group I understand, but apparently it is quite a *chore*. Good Luck!

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Question:

I’m investigating a position in Baker, Oregon and have been told by the recruiter that the flyfishing is "the best in the country".  I don’t know if anyone in Last Chance, ID or Steamboat, OR or Flaming Gorge, UT would disagree but I’d love to hear from someone who has fished in the creeks, rivers and lakes around Baker.  You can e-mail me at Ken

Response:

Ken, All fishing in Oregon is highly over rated.  The population has grown so fast that most streams and lakes are depleted except for the odd truckload of planters dumped  in every now and then to satisfy the bloodlust of recently arrived new Oregonians.  Recruiters are frequently reduced to lying in order to seduce those in search of a lifestiyle and environment that disappeared long ago.  The real action is in Colorado where guys like Moe Skeeter and Walleye Miller have taken steps to insure that fish are plentiful and anglers are few. I’m investigating a position in Baker, Oregon and have been told by the recruiter that the flyfishing is "the best in the country".  I don’t know if anyone in Last Chance, ID or Steamboat, OR or Flaming Gorge, UT would disagree but I’d love to hear from someone who has fished in the creeks, rivers and lakes around Baker.  You can e-mail me at Ken

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

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Question:

Heading for the Salmon River next week. Any info on the fishing would be appreciated. Thanks Mike

Response:

Mike writes: Heading for the Salmon River next week. Any info on the fishing would be appreciated. Thanks Mike

I can’t speak for all the Salmon Rivers of the world, but the one in New York is covered by a call to 315-298-2993 to either Dave Patrick or Malinda Barna who also keep as update under the FFBN AOL fishing conditions section.   They run the excellent Altmar Smokehouse fly shop right on the river.   Also Bill Fling keeps an excellent page updated at http://www.salmon-river.com Was there 2-4 May and had poor water (Very high) conditions, but with a few steelies produced on flies after a great deal of very hard work.   Am returning next week.  The fish are clearly in the water and nice fish too… But with 2000 cfs flowing were scattered badly and very difficult to get close to or find.   Corkers are highly recommended as is a good wading staff.  Small nymphs and small bright, Eztaz type flies on 5 pound long tippets … Water may be high but is exceedingly clear.  Tightlines, Alan E. Hoover Anglers’ Rest Powhatan, Va        *the trout teach many, lessons*

Response:

Mike writes:

Water on the Salmon River has been high 1700 cfs or better. Fish have been difficult but some have been taken. Four fish were taken at DSR yesterday. I’d try big, egg imitations and others in bright colors. We do have a minor stonefly hatch on currently. Bill — Bill Fling                     Tel. (315) 298-3044 SALMON RIVER ANGLERS LODGE     FAX  (315) 298-2619 P.O. Box 353                   Rt. 13, Rome Road Pulaski, NY 13142-0353   ‘SALMON RIVER/LAKE ONTARIO SPORTFISHING REPORTS’             ‘http://www.salmon-river.com’

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Anyone have anything good or bad to say about the Orvis DXR anti-reverse reels??

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Question:

: I just located a 9 ft rod and the only ID is South Bend. There is no : line wt info on the rod. It has the original cloth bag and alum case. : Does anyone know anything about these rods other than made in Indiana? Seen quite a few of those rods come into the shop. They are usally not worth much in value, but they can be good fishing tools. South Bend is still around making tackle. Jon Porter

Response:

I just located a 9 ft rod and the only ID is South Bend. There is no line wt info on the rod. It has the original cloth bag and alum case. Does anyone know anything about these rods other than made in Indiana?

Yes,  South Bend bought out Cross Rods when Wes Jordan was running the show.  As part of the deal he agreed to work for a few years for South Bend to get their rod production running smoothly.  South Bend was not real interested in making the top quality rods that Cross Rods did under Wes Jordan, but rather wanted to produce lots of rods.  Wes Jordan got all the machinery designed, built, and put into use and got out as quickly as he could. South Bend made what are known as "production" rods.  The detail work – such as making all the strips from one culm of bamboo for consistency of fiber density – were passed over in favor of quick production.  If you look at the nodes on the rod you will often find two of them side by side which makes a weak dead spot in the rod.  The varnish was usually good and the wraps were well done, but the rods were mediocre overall. They did use Tonkin cane of decent quality and many of the rods fish quite well. They are a bit heavy though.  I have a 3pc. 2 tip 9ft for a HDH (6 wt.) and it casts pretty well.  I take it out about once a year for half a day and then put it away because it is like swinging a tree through the air – HEAVY!  A South Bend in mint condition might draw as much as $150, but more likely ~$50.                                       Hope this helps,                                                   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!).

Response:

I just located a 9 ft rod and the only ID is South Bend. There is no line wt info on the rod. It has the original cloth bag and alum case. Does anyone know anything about these rods other than made in Indiana?

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