Question:

I read with interest the posts about Sage’s Lifetime Warranty, since about a month ago I made my first truly absurd flyfishing purchase, a Scott S3 5 weight 4 piece (I was able to get a $200.00 discount from the retail price, but that alone says how expensive they can be). All my previous experience has been with a fly rod from Walmart (literally), and an old St. Croix Legend 4 weight rod (what they now call an Imperial). With these rods you could lift a bowling ball without worrying about breaking the rod (well, not quite).  I used to wonder why other flyfishers broke rods so often, when I never really worried about it. One day with my Scott S3 showed me how fragile a fly rod can be.  I was playing a brown trout (best fish of the day) with too much of a jerking motion, and snap, the rod broke just above the first connection. I just finished composing my letter of woe to Scott, and after lunch the rod will be mailed. I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now. Memphis Jim (I can’t turn on the TV without seeing Elvis).

Response:

Scott is a *great* rod company. I’ve owned various Scott rods since 1975. I broke my STS 905-4 last year in Northern Quebec falling over a rock; all I had to send back to Scott was the lowest 14" of the handle–everything else was at the bottom of the headwaters of the Caniapiscau River. The rod was replaced promptly–no questions asked. There was *no* defect–it was a clumsy dumbass move on my part–and I was very honest and upfront with Scott by telling them that.   The lady I talked to said:  "An unconditional guarantee is just that–unconditional. Send it back to us–and we’ll ship you a new one." They did–promptly.   I have no idea if the Scott Rod Company will be around 5 years from now–but I certainly hope so.   Dave M

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read with interest the posts about Sage’s Lifetime Warranty, since about a month ago I made my first truly absurd flyfishing purchase, a Scott S3 5 weight 4 piece (I was able to get a $200.00 discount from the retail price, but that alone says how expensive they can be). All my previous experience has been with a fly rod from Walmart (literally), and an old St. Croix Legend 4 weight rod (what they now call an Imperial). With these rods you could lift a bowling ball without worrying about breaking the rod (well, not quite).  I used to wonder why other flyfishers broke rods so often, when I never really worried about it. One day with my Scott S3 showed me how fragile a fly rod can be.  I was playing a brown trout (best fish of the day) with too much of a jerking motion, and snap, the rod broke just above the first connection. I just finished composing my letter of woe to Scott, and after lunch the rod will be mailed. I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now. Memphis Jim (I can’t turn on the TV without seeing Elvis).

Response:

I fell against a tree holding my Scott G906 last year.  The section just ahead of the grip was crushed.  Scott replaced the rod without question and I got GREAT service.  I’ll buy a Scott every chance I get.  Not only for their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read with interest the posts about Sage’s Lifetime Warranty, since about a month ago I made my first truly absurd flyfishing purchase, a Scott S3 5 weight 4 piece (I was able to get a $200.00 discount from the retail price, but that alone says how expensive they can be). All my previous experience has been with a fly rod from Walmart (literally), and an old St. Croix Legend 4 weight rod (what they now call an Imperial). With these rods you could lift a bowling ball without worrying about breaking the rod (well, not quite).  I used to wonder why other flyfishers broke rods so often, when I never really worried about it. One day with my Scott S3 showed me how fragile a fly rod can be.  I was playing a brown trout (best fish of the day) with too much of a jerking motion, and snap, the rod broke just above the first connection. I just finished composing my letter of woe to Scott, and after lunch the rod will be mailed. I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now. Memphis Jim (I can’t turn on the TV without seeing Elvis).

Response:

Amen, Clark.  If these guys werent’t so busy breaking and crushing their Scott rods, maybe James Barna wouldn’t need a $200 discount to buy a new rod… Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter. Tom G

Haven’t broken one of my rod blanks yet (the fates will strike me for sure, now) but I did send back a Loomis GL3 8′ 3 wt. rod with a bend in the tip that I had not noticed when I bought it.  They replaced it with a rod that was worse (mushy action, off centre reel seat and epoxy on the seat threads).  I sent that one back to have the reel seat redone – OK after that but the action of rod no.2 wasn’t nearly as crisp as rod no.1 despite that they were supposed to be identical 3 wts.  A couple of months later, I sold rod no.2 on eBay to a guy that was looking for a slow 2/3 wt. – the Loomis fit the bill and he was a very happy camper.  I thought rod no.2 was crap – whatever floats your boat, I suppose.  Haven’t bought a Loomis product since.  They did repair and return promptly though, as  I suppose they get lots of practice. I also sent back a Hardy 3 wt. to Cortland as the handle cork cracked when fighting a nice, fat, little 16" steelhead that wasn’t supposed to be in that part of the stream.  It was repaired and returned promptly. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

 Perhaps a new poll is in order:  How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty  on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty,  lifetime warranty, no matter.    Tom G  I have returned many items over the years; my "satisfaction level" runs the whole range. Best of the best: Galvan reels- I called them and asked for a replacement part (my fault it broke), and they replaced the whole thing for free. St Croix rods- Super fast replacement, didn’t charge for shipping, didn’t care that I broke the rod in a bicycle accident. REC Components- Sent free parts to replace the ones I’d stupidly lost. Cabelas- No questions asked, ever. Okay service, but not dazzling: Sage- Two week turnaround, they always seem to charge for shipping. Cortland- Slow turn around time. Ross reels- They took care of the problem, but it shouldn’t be sooo recurring. Crappy service, they’ve lost a customer: Redington- Kept a returned custom rod, forcing me to replace all the components. Redington again- Required the original bill of sale (which I didn’t have) on a pair of waders with a supposed four year unconditional warranty, even though they’d only been selling those waders for two years. Trout Traps- "Nobody’s ever made that complaint, it must be your imagination." Worst of the worst: Airflo lines: "Uhh, you’re shit out of luck son."

Response:

      Fuck Redington and all the re-labled imported crap they sell. I will never spend another penny on their crap. Did you consider calling them and asking about obtaining the original? They are a pretty good group of guys to work with and I bet you could have received the original hardware.  The stuff may be re-labled, but it’s not all crap.

    Yup, I called them and they told me to piss off, they’d already discarded it. I met Jim Murphy a few years ago and he seemed like a pretty decent guy, but he has some bozos working for him. Anybody who builds rods would have known what to do, but nobody at Redington builds them, they are strictly a marketing operation. And their stuff may not be all crap, but none of it is made in this hemisphere.

Response:

Not bad for a bunch of them jamokes & scaramouches.   Meow. <vbg

Man, there’s nothing like a good Tony Germuga reference to brighten one’s day. Thanks, Joe. It’s the classics that keep ya coming back . – Sid …waiting for DaveS’s next installment in the "Two Dogs Fucking" saga.

Response:

Brought it into my flyshop (Coleman’s), No charge, not even shipping. Not bad for a bunch of them jamokes & scaramouches.   Meow. <vbg Joe F.

<SPLORK VANG MU — Scott Reverse first field of address to reply

Response:

    Fuck Redington and all the re-labled imported crap they sell. I will never spend another penny on their crap.

Did you consider calling them and asking about obtaining the original?   They are a pretty good group of guys to work with and I bet you could have received the original hardware.  The stuff may be re-labled, but it’s not all crap.

Response:

    Since everybody else is telling rod replacment stories, here’s my latest one.     A couple of years ago, I donated a 8′ 2wt Redington to a clave raffle. The rod was almost new, I’d fished it for less than hour. This was a custom built rod by a fairly experienced rod builder (me). The first time Willi took it out, the tip section snapped off. I returned the rod to Redington and recieved the entire rod back, along with a new tip section, so I was able to re-use all the old parts and face no out of pocket expenses, other than shipping.     Willi gave the rod to Warren last year. Warren didn’t even get it out of the tube; on a flight to somewhere, Warren got to his destination and removed the rod from the tube and found the tip section snapped off. I again returned the rod to Redington and they replaced it, but this time they kept the original, forcing me to buy all the parts I’d need to finish it. The parts they returned miked out exactly the same as the ones I sent in, so I think this is their not-so-subtle way of "taking care of" a problem customer (assuming they keep records of multiple returns).     Fuck Redington and all the re-labled imported crap they sell. I will never spend another penny on their crap.

Response:

Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

Tom, I’ve used the warranties on a number of products. 1. Patagonia waders. – Replaced with a new pair.  Initial estimate for replacement was 3-4 mos.  Ended up getting a new pair within a month. 2. Patagonia wading boots. – Replaced with a new pair. 3. Redington waders. – Replaced with a new pair.  Purchased first pair when I thought the Patagonia waders would take 3 mos to be replaced. 4. Scott Fly Rod – Repaired within a week. —  Nice shirt. Do they sell mens clothes where you bought that?

Response:

  Just for fun, I managed to break the same   six weight again on my very next trip to Minnesota (this on a 32" long   channel cat that ate my clouser and proceeded to tear up about 100 yards of   river, break my rod tip in two places at the landing point with violent   twisting, and then drove the hook into my thumb just for grins). The only rod I ever broke on a fish was on a Catfish too (no warranty though). They are POWERFUL fish. It was a Cat close to twenty pounds that took a tiny fly I use for Crappie. Willi

Response:

Brought it into my flyshop (Coleman’s), No charge, not even shipping.

Not bad for a bunch of them jamokes & scaramouches.   Meow. <vbg Joe F.

Response:

Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

Only once so far.  Cabelas Three Forks 3wt rod.  I busted the tip in the screen door.  They replaced it, didn’t even ask how it broke. I also have the Three Forks boot foot waders, in which I get wet (damp) from the knees down every time I use them.  Can never figure out if it’s from leaks or perspiration, so I just keep using them. Bill

Response:

I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now.

I don’t own one, but a buddy has broken three in the last 18 months, all of which were replaced without hesitation or question. It’s amazing, but I also know about five other guys who won’t touch any other brand and have not ever broken one. -G

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I fell against a tree holding my Scott G906 last year.  The section just ahead of the grip was crushed.  Scott replaced the rod without question and I got GREAT service.  I’ll buy a Scott every chance I get.  Not only for their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine! I read with interest the posts about Sage’s Lifetime Warranty, since about  a month ago I made my first truly absurd flyfishing purchase, a Scott S3 5 weight 4 piece (I was able to get a $200.00 discount from the retail  price, but that alone says how expensive they can be). All my previous experience has been with a fly rod from Walmart  (literally), and an old St. Croix Legend 4 weight rod (what they now call an Imperial). With these rods you could lift a bowling ball without worrying about breaking the rod (well, not quite).  I used to wonder why other flyfishers broke rods so often, when I never really worried about it. One day with my Scott S3 showed me how fragile a fly rod can be.  I was playing a brown trout (best fish of the day) with too much of a jerking motion, and snap, the rod broke just above the first connection. I just finished composing my letter of woe to Scott, and after lunch the  rod will be mailed. I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now. Memphis Jim (I can’t turn on the TV without seeing Elvis). Broke a Scott STS 10 weight last year on a 12 lb. Blue Fish.  Sent the rod to Scott and got it back in three weeks!  I own several Scotts! Ssteve

Response:

I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now.

I’ve never used Scott’s warranty, but I have fished mostly Scott rods for about 25 years (I have 9 Scott rods right now). Only one was ever broken, but that was prior to the warranty program’s existence and the replacement was paid for by the airline that broke it. — Charlie…

Response:

@posting.google.com: Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter. Tom G

I bought an Orvis Far and Fine.  There were some epoxy drips on the guides that bothered me.  I sent the rod in, complaining of a workmanship problem.   Got the rod back repaired in a timely fashion. Bashed a Lamson reel on the bed of Penn’s Creek–yes, I was holding it at the time. Something got misaligned, and the reel bound. Brought it into my flyshop (Coleman’s), fully expecting Carl to tell me he needed to send it back to Lamson, and that I’d have to pay for the repair.   Carl got the reel back.  They repaired the misalignment, and replaced the spool, but included the old scuffed, but fully functional spool.  No charge, not even shipping. — Scott Reverse first field of address to reply

Response:

I have found that my best fly rods (Orivs Trident) are far more delicate than any other fly or spinning rods I have ever owned.  I am thankful for the warranty and I am happy to pay an additional $100 just to get it – it has paid for itself three times over this year – and the year is not over yet!!!

If I had a car that spent so much time in the shop, I wouldn’t be calling it my "best car". Despite lifetime warrantees, a good rod shouldn’t break if someone breathes near it.  Seems like Orvis is having some QC issues. — Scott Reverse first field of address to reply

Response:

How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

Never broke a rod.  Busted the crank off an old reel once.  Put it back on with epoxy and it’s still holding ten or twelve years later.  Lost the tip section of what appears to be a 70s vintage Sears glass rod off the roof of a Geo Tracker somewhere between Milwaukee and Penn’s creek.  Still got the butt.  Haven’t investigated the warrantee or applicability of any insurance. Wolfgang

Response:

Although I dont have a Scott, I do have a few Orvis rods with the same type of warranty.  This has been a bad year for me.  In April I broke my six weight when I slipped down a snowy hill and drove the tiptop into the ground – Orvis fixed it no questions asked.  Same week I broke my 8 weight fighting a fairly good pike in a fast moving current. Sent it back in the same package as the six weight.  Just for fun, I managed to break the same six weight again on my very next trip to Minnesota (this on a 32" long channel cat that ate my clouser and proceeded to tear up about 100 yards of river, break my rod tip in two places at the landing point with violent twisting, and then drove the hook into my thumb just for grins).  Called Orvis, told them I was a dumb ass – they said that’s fine… send it back. I have found that my best fly rods (Orivs Trident) are far more delicate than any other fly or spinning rods I have ever owned.  I am thankful for the warranty and I am happy to pay an additional $100 just to get it – it has paid for itself three times over this year – and the year is not over yet!!! YMMV Joe C.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine! If you stop running across them you wont need to use that guarantee so much Clark Amen, Clark.  If these guys werent’t so busy breaking and crushing their Scott rods, maybe James Barna wouldn’t need a $200 discount to buy a new rod… Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter. Tom G

Response:

Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

1 St. Croix LU rod blank, tip section – replaced free of charge (broke in use) 3 STH casette spools – replaced free of charge (cracked) I’ll add that these were replaced by or through my local fly shop.   I don’t even know what the warranty is/was. Joe F.

Response:

Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

I had a T&T VE 907S-3 break about 6" from the tip on the 2nd day of use in Denmark this year. They repaired it under warranty, albeit slowly. — Charlie…

Response:

their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

If you stop running across them you wont need to use that guarantee so much Clark

Response:

their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine! If you stop running across them you wont need to use that guarantee so much Clark

Amen, Clark.  If these guys werent’t so busy breaking and crushing their Scott rods, maybe James Barna wouldn’t need a $200 discount to buy a new rod… Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter. Tom G

Response:

Question:

I’ve heard that big nocturnal browns hit mouse patterns like crazy. I’d love to try that sometime. From the waters I’ve fished, the Beaverhead looks like a good bet for that action. How do you fish a mouse? I suppose you give it a LOT of action. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

I have had a lot of success with big surface lures at night. The target was invariably sea-trout, ( anadromous browns), but a lot of native big browns get caught like this. These fish are hardly ever caught otherwise, and many do not even know of their existence. One excellent pattern is a large black muddler minnow, tied on a tube.  You don

Question:

Does anyone know where fish spotting gets done around Australia? I know there are some in the Gulf in the prawn season.  And I seem
to recall a magazine article some years ago about tuna spotting
somewhere.  Does anyone know where else people fly for fishing
fleets, what aircraft they use, and what the work prospects are like in that industry?  Is it worth considering as an option for a newby CPL? — – Before you buy.

Response:

Harry may still be some tuna spotting out of Port Lincoln.  Usta use aerocommanders (i think) and one Cessna push pull job (although I think thats gone).   Flights of considerable duration ranging to the far west and into WA. regards Don – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone know where fish spotting gets done around Australia? I know there are some in the Gulf in the prawn season.  And I seem to recall a magazine article some years ago about tuna spotting somewhere.  Does anyone know where else people fly for fishing fleets, what aircraft they use, and what the work prospects are like in that industry?  Is it worth considering as an option for a newby CPL? — – Before you buy.

Response:

I have seen Aero Commanders and C337’s at Ceduna SA and pretty sure some at Pt Lincoln during a fuel stop. A local flies from Triabunna (East coast Tas) with a C180 for Mackerel (I think) for the fish farms in Tas. I think he may have spotted for Tuna as well. Maybe he’ll let us know? — Bernie Samms Kingston Beach Tasmania Australia Aero Club of Southern Tasmania   www.acst.com.au Prologic Pty Ltd                           www.prologic.com.au

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Harry may still be some tuna spotting out of Port Lincoln.  Usta use aerocommanders (i think) and one Cessna push pull job (although I think thats gone).   Flights of considerable duration ranging to the far west and into WA. regards Don Does anyone know where fish spotting gets done around Australia? I know there are some in the Gulf in the prawn season.  And I seem to recall a magazine article some years ago about tuna spotting somewhere.  Does anyone know where else people fly for fishing fleets, what aircraft they use, and what the work prospects are like in that industry?  Is it worth considering as an option for a newby CPL? — – Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

Build your first one starting with a blank.  You might look at and research http://www.gink.com/shopcart/products/gehrke_rods_2.html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have made a decision. I will attempt to build my own bamboo rod! There I said it, it’s official. Now where do I start? I found one site by Bruce Conner. Very informative and inspiring. Some of the other sites seemed to lean toward substantial investments of tools. Bruce briefly describes home made and common tools that will do the job. For those of you that make your own rods, think back. What do you wish you had known then, what you know now? Where can I be pointed. Realize I have absolutely nothing, no knowledge or tools. Green as they come. Thanks boys, Jamie Here is Bruce’s site. http://kalypso.cybercom.net/~bconner/index.html?57,11

Response:

I have made a decision. I will attempt to build my own bamboo rod! There I said it, it’s official. Now where do I start? I found one site by Bruce Conner. Very informative and inspiring. Some of the other sites seemed to lean toward substantial investments of tools. Bruce briefly describes home made and common tools that will do the job. For those of you that make your own rods, think back. What do you wish you had known then, what you know now? Where can I be pointed. Realize I have absolutely nothing, no knowledge or tools. Green as they come. Thanks boys, Jamie Here is Bruce’s site. http://kalypso.cybercom.net/~bconner/index.html?57,11

Response:

Jamie, Welcome to the addiction that is bamboo.  Like all other things fly fishing, once you’ve got the bug, it’s hard to shake.  I myself have been into this thing for about nine months now and, although I haven’t built a rod yet, have found it to be a rewarding and challenging pastime.  One thing that helps is to have a lot of patience and, at times, persistence. I feel that, like fly fishing or tying, you certainly can make some considerable monetary investments when getting into this hobby.  And there is nothing wrong with those purchases if your budget allows.  But that certainly doesn’t need to be the case if you are working with a limited budget.  There is a wealth of information on the internet and in books on building your own tools and equipment, as well as info about building the rods themselves.  Certainly Bruce’s site is a _great_ starting point.  I think that it was one of the first sites I came across, if not the first. Another site that I have found very helpful is the Rodmakers’ listserve site: http://www.canerod.com/rodmakers/ .  It’s packed with helpful information.  Especially the listserve archives.  If you have any questions on a bamboo rodbuilding topic, check the archive first, it’s probably in there.  You will probably want to join the mailing list as well.  There is a link on the site. I would also recommend checking out some of the many helpful books that are out there.  You don’t even have to buy them, if you can find them in your local library.  A library near me has a copy of Everett Garrison’s book, although I’m starting to realize that this it a stroke of luck.  But you will probably end up buying one anyway: it’s a good thing to have on hand. I have read the Garrison book (_very_ detailed, but tends to be a bit anal), and I own the George Maurer book, which is excellent.  Another very good book that I have read is the one by Wayne Cattanach.  He also has videos to accompany the book, which are fun to watch. You also might want to check around and see if there are any builders near you.  You might be surprised. I think the most helpful advice I can give you as far as equipment goes is this:  if you can afford a set of planing forms, BUY THEM!  Don’t get me wrong, it is possible to build your own.  There is an excellent site by a Thomas Penrose that gives detailed instructions on doing so: http://www.geocities.com/penr0295/forms.htm .  I am building my own forms based on these plans.  But be warned, this is the part that requires a lot of patience and persistence.  Plus it’s not a whole lot of fun.  On the plus side, I have learned some things about metalworking.  But if you can afford it, buy a set.  There are people out there offering them for around $350, which isn’t too bad at all considering the amount of work it takes to build them. Anyway, good luck!  If you have any questions (and I’m sure you will) post them to the Rodmakers’ listserve.  Or drop me an email.  I’d be glad to offer what limited knowledge I can. HTH. Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have made a decision. I will attempt to build my own bamboo rod!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Another site that I have found very helpful is the Rodmakers’ listserve site: http://www.canerod.com/rodmakers/ .  It’s packed with helpful information.  Especially the listserve archives.  If you have any questions on a bamboo rodbuilding topic, check the archive first, it’s probably in there.  You will probably want to join the mailing list as well.  There is a link on the site. I think the most helpful advice I can give you as far as equipment goes is this:  if you can afford a set of planing forms, BUY THEM!  Don’t get me wrong, it is possible to build your own.  There is an excellent site by a Thomas Penrose that gives detailed instructions on doing so: http://www.geocities.com/penr0295/forms.htm .  I am building my own forms based on these plans.  But be warned, this is the part that requires a lot of patience and persistence.  Plus it’s not a whole lot of fun.  On the plus side, I have learned some things about metalworking.  But if you can afford it, buy a set.  There are people out there offering them for around $350, which isn’t too bad at all considering the amount of work it takes to build them.

Jamie, Keith gives you some good tips here. These are two excellent resources. The Penrose page is really good on certain aspects of the process.  I think the best thing to get up to speed is to read the ENTIRE archives on the rodmakers site. It took me about a month of going at it off and on but it will give you the history of a lot that is going on with the listserve now and will answer a lot of questions better than in the books (but will not answer all- so get the books). You will be way more knowledgeable at the end of that and will be able to make a lot of informed decisions about how you want to approach it, what to buy and what to make, etc. etc. Also, be sure to print out any part of the archives that strikes you as useful as you go through it and start a notebook. This will help when you remember a great tip but can’t find it with the archives search engine (Frank Stetzer’s page). Good luck. Jon

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have made a decision. I will attempt to build my own bamboo rod! There I said it, it’s official. Now where do I start? I found one site by Bruce Conner. Very informative and inspiring. Some of the other sites seemed to lean toward substantial investments of tools. Bruce briefly describes home made and common tools that will do the job. For those of you that make your own rods, think back. What do you wish you had known then, what you know now? Where can I be pointed. Realize I have absolutely nothing, no knowledge or tools. Green as they come. Thanks boys, Jamie Here is Bruce’s site. http://kalypso.cybercom.net/~bconner/index.html?57,11

Jamie, http://www.teleport.com/~gord/canelink.shtml This will get you started. Kiyu

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Question:

0] : Vision is very important in flyfishing. : …. : I wear "progressive" bifocals for everyday getting around, but at 8", my : knot-tying distance, I can see best with no glasses at all. That’s why I : find it most convenvient to wear single-prescription (not bifocal) : glasses for fishing. They’re securely fastened around my head with a : strap. I just drop them to my chest to tie knots or extract hooks from fish. : I wear contact lenses for one and only one activity — playing tennis. : They’re just perfect for that, but they’d be awful for fishing. I can’t : see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair : of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact : lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading : glasses. Why bother? : — rw to be ornery, I’ll disagree with you. I wear contacts for about -4 diopter nearsightedness and am in my 50’s, so I have about the same problem as you. I prefer the hard contacts because they pretty much take out some considerable astigmatism I would otherwise have. My solution is to use your items (2) and (3) combined in one package which is sold as "Fisherman’s Bifocals"–polarized window glass on top and clear +3 diopter magnifiers in the bottom. Which brings up a point, that for knot tying, hook threading etc., what’s needed is considerably more magnification than is wanted for comfortable reading, in my case about +2. Mike — Michael McGuire                     Hewlett Packard Laboratories  (remove x’s from email if not      Palo Alto, CA 94303-0971   a spammer) Phone: (650)-857-5491              

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I wear contact lenses for one and only one activity — playing tennis. They’re just perfect for that, but they’d be awful for fishing. I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother?

        hell fire, i am in complete accord.  before i’d go through all that song and dance just to tie on an adams, i’d just go back to the cabin, drink about half a fifth of absolut, and forget about the fishin. wayno

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Tripper: Exactly my situation.  I just ordered my first pair of bifocals last week, but ordered my new polarized sunglasses in single vision.  I have a flip focal on my hat that works great for knot tying.  Before I got it I was always having to take off my lenses to tie knots and last season I had to clean the bottom-of-the-canoe gunk from them a few times (fortunately never dropped them in a stream yet). I don’t bother flipping the flip-focals though – I find they are too distracting to have on a brim in the flipped-up state, and since I use a wide brimmed hat, not a baseball type hat, I just have them pinned on the back brim and rotate the whole hat when I need the magnifiers. I get a lot of curious looks from people who wonder why I have lenses on the back of my hat. –Stan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill.

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My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk.

With my prescription, the lenses would be an inch thick at the edges of ‘wide-field’ glasses. — Charlie…

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aw heck, you fellas with bad eyesight obviously haven’t heard of the pj prescription. pj’s eyesight for tying a knot is abysmal, or so he claims…so, whoever happens to be "lucky" enough to fish with him is conscripted to tie on his flies.  I’ve witnessed Peter Charles submit to the pj selective service on Snowbird Creek, even tied on a dropper as i recall…ain’t no more powerful prescription out there. jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother? That’s basically what I use and, to me, it’s worth the bother just for the additional peripheral vision. I can read ‘normal’ sized print without reading glasses, but that’s right at my limit. I’ve been wearing glasses since third grade (44 years) and I plain do *not* like bifocals, especially for climbing over/under things and wading. I guess it’s just a matter of what you consider the bother is; to me distorted peripheral vision is more of a bother than an extra pair of glasses. Well, here’s a third take. I’ve been nearsighted enough to need glasses to drive since high school. And now that I’m almost half as old as Louie ;^) I’m starting to have trouble threading flies (I can read books without trouble – just can’t find the damned eye with the tippet without a struggle). And I won’t risk my eyes to any potential  injury/infection/whatever by using contact lenses. My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk. /daytripper

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My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk.

        plus, having spent a full day with you on hazel creek,  i can testify that they do a helluva job as a stand-in for a groucho disguise. wayno

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, here’s a third take. I’ve been nearsighted enough to need glasses to drive since high school. And now that I’m almost half as old as Louie ;^) I’m starting to have trouble threading flies (I can read books without trouble – just can’t find the damned eye with the tippet without a struggle). And I won’t risk my eyes to any potential  injury/infection/whatever by using contact lenses. My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk. /daytripper

Yep.  That’s exactly what I use.  Sometimes, I interpose Orvis sunglasses with the built-in magnifiers but contacts I will never use. All of my hats have a flip down magnifier attached. Tom — Tom Brown The Signal Group Wake Forest, NC HEATHEN, n. A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel.                – Ambrose Bierce: The Devil’s Dictionary

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My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk.    plus, having spent a full day with you on hazel creek,  i can testify that they do a helluva job as a stand-in for a groucho disguise.

Hell, with my beak, ’stache, and dark eyebrows,  I *am* Groucho! /daytripper ("Say the secret word and I’ll kick your Roe-Ann County arse!" ;^)

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother? That’s basically what I use and, to me, it’s worth the bother just for the additional peripheral vision. I can read ‘normal’ sized print without reading glasses, but that’s right at my limit. I’ve been wearing glasses since third grade (44 years) and I plain do *not* like bifocals, especially for climbing over/under things and wading. I guess it’s just a matter of what you consider the bother is; to me distorted peripheral vision is more of a bother than an extra pair of glasses.

Well, here’s a third take. I’ve been nearsighted enough to need glasses to drive since high school. And now that I’m almost half as old as Louie ;^) I’m starting to have trouble threading flies (I can read books without trouble – just can’t find the damned eye with the tippet without a struggle). And I won’t risk my eyes to any potential  injury/infection/whatever by using contact lenses. My solution: a pair of wide-field prescription polaroids (glass) and a pair of those flip-down magnifiers that clip onto my hat bill. Effective, cheap, and low risk. /daytripper

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I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother?

That’s basically what I use and, to me, it’s worth the bother just for the additional peripheral vision. I can read ‘normal’ sized print without reading glasses, but that’s right at my limit. I’ve been wearing glasses since third grade (44 years) and I plain do *not* like bifocals, especially for climbing over/under things and wading. I guess it’s just a matter of what you consider the bother is; to me distorted peripheral vision is more of a bother than an extra pair of glasses. — Charlie…

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Vision is very important in flyfishing. The flyfisherman not only has to see tiny flies far away in sometimes turbulent water against the glare of the sun, but he has to thread spiderweb-like tippets through the eyes of those tiny flies, and then tie intricate knots. It’s pretty hard for people with impaired vision to cope with the demands of flyfishing, especially as we get older. People who are nearsighted can’t see things far away; people who are farsighted can’t see things close up. If you’re nearsighted you need a negative correction; if you’re far sighted you need a positive correction. Nearsightedness often starts at an early age (4th grade for me), but nearly everyone becomes farsighted with advancing age, as the lenses loses flexibility and the means to change focal length, so nearsighted people eventually need bifocals. I wear "progressive" bifocals for everyday getting around, but at 8", my knot-tying distance, I can see best with no glasses at all. That’s why I find it most convenvient to wear single-prescription (not bifocal) glasses for fishing. They’re securely fastened around my head with a strap. I just drop them to my chest to tie knots or extract hooks from fish. I wear contact lenses for one and only one activity — playing tennis. They’re just perfect for that, but they’d be awful for fishing. I can’t see close-up with contacts, so I’d have to wear an "extra strong" pair of reading glasses for close work. That means I’d need (1) contact lenses, (2) nonprescription sunglasses, and (3) extra-strong reading glasses. Why bother? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

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Question:

I want to purchase a float tube for use in the Tasmanian Lakes. What are the best regarded float tubes in the USA and where is the best place for me to order one? (assuming this can be done on the net) Thankyou Nicholas Brand Melboure Australia

Hi Nicholas,   I am fishing in Tasmania this November. I hear that they wade in the shallow flats of their lakes for big browns. We like J.W.Outfitters, Buck’s Bags and Wood River for the best quality in US made floating devises. Round float-tubes have been popular for the last 30 years, but we see the Wood River V-boats taking a bigger share of the market now. Pontoon boats are great, but not as popular as the old round or V-boats in volume. I would look at http://www.bobmarriotts.com/ as they sell internationally. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

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I want to purchase a float tube for use in the Tasmanian Lakes. What are the best regarded float tubes in the USA and where is the best place for me to order one? (assuming this can be done on the net) Thankyou Nicholas Brand Melboure Australia

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Question:

Will be cruising the BVIs in Feb. Thought that some light surface fishing or fly fishing would be fun. Do i need a license? Any details you can help with on tackle etc.? Thanks

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Will be bare boating Feb. Thought that light spincasting or flyfishing might be fun. Any experience? Do I need a license? Will be using the Moorings. Do they supply any fishing gear?

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Hello Deborah, Please repost, it was empty when I looked David Delcloo

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Feb. 20, 1995. Central Oregon.  First day out in an early spring for the High Desert of Central Oregon. 100 miles from my home on a nearly deserted desert lake, my first fish was 21" Lahoatan Rainbow. Caught it from the shore in about 3′ of water. I used an Olive green wolly bugger fly on an intermediate sink line. The fish was the first of about 15 I took in 4 hours of fishing. All were over 15". The second in size that day was 19", I put 2 18" back as well as 3 17".  I am told no one will believe me, and that is good because I would not want more competition for Central Oregon fishing than we already have.  We begin fishing at Ice off and fish until winter ice on.  Most of the time I fish off the bank, wading out 2′ to 3′.   The Plumber, from Bend. Oregon

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Feb. 20, 1995. Central Oregon.  First day out in an early spring for

the High Desert of Central Oregon. 100 miles from my home on a nearly deserted desert lake, my first fish was 21" Lahoatan Rainbow. Caught it from the shore in about 3′ of water. I used an Olive green wolly  bugger fly on an intermediate sink line. The fish was the first of about 15 I took in 4 hours of fishing. All were over 15". The second in size that day was 19", I put 2 18" back as well as 3 17".   I am told no one will believe me, and that is good because I would not want more competition for Central Oregon fishing than we already have.  We begin fishing at Ice off and fish until winter ice on.  Most of the time I fish off the bank, wading out 2′ to 3′.    The Plumber, from Bend. Oregon This posting was made by my brother and we didn’t get the word wrap taken care of. If you fussed with it the first time, try again now as I have edited it to fit my e-mail system. I don’t know what it did on your monitor. This is an honest posting. I envy my brother’s ability to fish … so much so that after all these years of spin-casting with quite good success, I’ve begun to fly fish like him. Last summer, he and I fished this lake. I was skunked while he caught and released several nice trout. He kept two which I took home to Idaho for SEVERAL meals. Best fishes Keith Drahn

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Feb. 20, 1995. Central Oregon.  First day out in an early spring for the High Desert of Central Oregon. 100 miles from my home on a nearly deserted desert lake, my first fish was 21" Lahoatan Rainbow. Caught it from the shore in about 3′ of water. I used

 an Olive green wolly bugger fly on an intermediate sink line. The fish was the first of about 15 I took in 4 hours of fishing. All were over 15". The second in size that day was 19", I put 2 18" back as well as 3 17".  I am told no one will believe me, a nd that is good because I would not want more competition for Central Oregon fishing than we already have.  We begin fishing at Ice off and fish until winter ice on.  Most of the time I fish off the bank, wading out 2′ to 3′.   The Plumber, from Bend. Oregon

Great job on first fish of the season, I just got mine today (3/16)!!   I’ve been trying for the last 3 days.  I live at the junction of the Clark Fork and the Bitterroot in Montana, so I should be able to hook one anytime I want.  But the weather has been hell.  First it snows a little, then rains, then the wind blows.  I have been shivering for days.  The best bet is a nymph/streamer, but I hate that.  But today it all worked.   The sun came out and about 15 minutes later, so did the bugs.  I had 3 hits but couldn’t get the fish on, just pulled it out of their mouths.  I was reading the water best I could, but getting nowhere.  Then I cast to the deeper, swifter current….the wrong place.  It was one of those times.  The fly hit the water and WHAM.  The fish wasn’t too big (10"), but it JUMPED and fought like a good Montana rainbow.  You can be I’ll be out again tomorrow.  Spring or almost-spring fishing is alright!! PS, this river water ends up going to Washington/Oregon.  I’d like to try it there some time.

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Question:

I still have not heard much information about fishing in the Herndon, Leesburg area for fly fisherman. Please E-mail me with info.

I lived in Virginia 12 years ago and used to fish a creek near Leesburg called Goose Creek.  No trout, but plenty of smallmouth and various other pan fish.  I can’t remember the road I used to] access the creek from.  I used to turn left off of Route 7 (west) prior to Leesburg.  You should be able to find it on a good map.

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I don’t know what you would consider to be "in your area", but, it’s hard to beat fly fishing in the Potomac for smallmouth bass.  Also, the Rapidan is an excellent early season spot for native brook trout.

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Abner) writes: I still have not heard much about …..

I imagine you have read Howell Raines book Fly Fishing Thru a Mid-life crisis   He talks about the area S. & W. of Washington, DC in Virginia. I thought it was an excellent book for all fly-fishers  Al

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