Question:

We are approaching critical mass–and a dangerous time–that of sinking poll numbers for Bush, and the revelation of the proofs that the towers were hit by missles from specially outfitted planes, and the proof that the towers came down thru controlled demoliton. That’s more than enough proof.  The website http://www.letsroll911.org is ranked as among the top 25K downloaded sites on the Internet in the past month. But with these two events closing in on the Bush administration, the falling polls, and the complicity of 9/11 getting known, may trigger another attack, and the declaration of martial law, in order to cancel the election, shut down the Internet as we know it, and to clamp down on further discussion of 9/11. Some say we are already in a partial police state,  and some say we now more everything that has been said, the Congress, the military,  the media, does nothing.  Obviously they are persuaded to do nothing. http://www.911sharethetruth.com 9-11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB–OUR NATION IS IN PERIL       – A Call to All True Patriots –    We have actively studied the questionable nature of the official version of what happened to our nation on September 11, 2001. Throughout the first year after 9-11 we ignored and did not believe those who asked us to question the official story. Like millions of Americans we believed America had been attacked by terrorists from abroad. Sadly, we are now convinced that our government committed a vicious criminal act against its own citizens for the larger purpose of swaying us to support both domestic and foreign policies mapped out in the mid and late 1990’s. 9-11 was Hitler’s Reichstag fire of 1933 and Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor masterfully coordinated to achieve the desired ends of an imperialistic role for America in the world, patriotic support at home and the erosion of our constitutional rights. In a nutshell, the war on terrorism is a cruel hoax by a misguided, out-of-democratic control small group of individuals sabotaging the best of American values. We are in the midst of a constitutional crisis combined with severe domination from an Orwellian corporate media knowingly or unknowingly being of service to the true powerbrokers behind the curtain. We feel like we are living in the "Matrix" where we can blend in, but knowing something is horribly wrong and must be exposed. The quality of life for all of our loved ones is at stake along with the hopes of millions of people for a world of peace, freedom and ecological sustainability. If just a few of you take the time to study a little more and become involved in the 9-11 truth movement we will be greatly appreciative. We strongly feel that people of all progressive movements should involve themselves in this effort to expose the truth about 9-11 and in the greatest push ever from the grassroots to nonviolently replace our current despotic leadership. It would have tremendous positive consequences to all of our progressive movements if similar to the fall of Nixon over Watergate that the Bush administration was exposed on this and replaced. This outrageous criminal act must be brought to justice and our freedoms restored. We need to reach out now to all those who may be willing to hear and break the silence. Go to site for posters, cassettes, buttons… http://www.911sharethetruth.com

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We are approaching critical mass–and a dangerous time–that of sinking poll numbers for Bush, and the revelation of the proofs that the towers were hit by missles from specially outfitted planes, and the proof that the towers came down thru controlled demoliton. That’s more than enough proof.  The website http://www.letsroll911.org is ranked as among the top 25K downloaded sites on the Internet in the past month.

Yep, it was an inside job….the planes blew up INSIDE the buildings. Gee, you are so smart.  You are right about specially outfitted planes… aircraft slamming into the side of a building would go in just like a missle.  And correct again about the controlled demolition…those terrorists must have been really skilled to be able to CONTROL the way they demolished the buildings. By the way numbnuts, watch the footage again.  The buildings did not collapse starting from the bottom.  A controlled demolition would not have been done in the basement, but would have needed to take out at least a dozen floors with the size of the buildings and taken at least a week to plan, and implement.  I think people would have gotten just a mite suspicious with work crews cutting through the structural pilings, setting shaped charges and running primer cord throughout the buildings. The quality of the steel made back when the towers were constructed was poor compared to today.  The structural tolerance was quite low.  The intense heat would collapse the pilings.  And the weight exerted by the upper floors would and did cause the lower ones to fail, causing a cascade failure.  The only way the building would have toppled is if the lower pilings were strong enough to hold back the collapsing upper floors and deflect the path of the fall.  But, as we all saw, it did not. Cease and decist your trolling.  People are getting sick of your freakish extremist "moveon.orgism". GO AWAY!!!!     *PLONK*

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We are approaching critical mass–and a dangerous time–that of sinking poll numbers for Bush, and the revelation of the proofs that the towers were hit by missles from specially outfitted planes, and the proof that the towers came down thru controlled demoliton. That’s more than enough proof.  The website http://www.letsroll911.org is ranked as among the top 25K downloaded sites on the Internet in the past month. But with these two events closing in on the Bush administration, the falling polls, and the complicity of 9/11 getting known, may trigger another attack, and the declaration of martial law, in order to cancel the election, shut down the Internet as we know it, and to clamp down on further discussion of 9/11. Some say we are already in a partial police state,  and some say we now more everything that has been said, the Congress, the military,  the media, does nothing.  Obviously they are persuaded to do nothing. Yup – and yet the media still refuses to even question the wacko bush conspriracy explanation for 9-11.  Thank gof for the net or it would truly be hopeless.

What does gof have to do with anything. — Retired military and damn proud of it.

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Yup – and yet the media still refuses to even question the wacko bush conspriracy explanation for 9-11.  Thank gof for the net or it would truly be hopeless. Indeed.  Being uncensored,

Free press would also be uncensored.                                       the net provides the ideal soapbox for every paranoid conspiracy theorist who knows how to use a keyboard.

Which does not mean that everything on the net or in ng’s that does not conform to your beliefs is conspiracy theory. Expressions like "conspiracy theory" appeal to the irrational side of people, and so serve only to cloud the issues. The official story of 9/11 is also a conspiracy theory: several people conspired to execute the attacks; and the story is no more than a theory because there is only precious little evidence to support it. And of all the conspiracy theories so far presented, the official story is among the silliest. Matti P.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Which does not mean that everything on the net or in ng’s that does not conform to your beliefs is conspiracy theory. This is true.  Yet, just because it does not conform to my beliefs does not automatically mean that it is accurate. Expressions like "conspiracy theory" appeal to the irrational side of people, and so serve only to cloud the issues. The official story of 9/11 is also a conspiracy theory: several people conspired to execute the attacks; and the story is no more than a theory because there is only precious little evidence to support it. Perhaps then I should have used the full term "paranoid conspiracy theory" – addressing those ideas that attempt to explain facts that have already been explained, but in a far more bizarre and usually convoluted manner that reassures the wannabe Fox Mulder that The Truth Really Is Out There, and that THEY do not want you to know about it.  It is really only a desire on the part of the theorist to demonstrate their ability to outwit THEM, despite all the barriers THEY supposedly put in the theorists’ way.

I understood your point; just wanted to clarify terms. And of all the conspiracy theories so far presented, the official story is among the silliest. Oh, by no means.  In my experience, by far the silliest theory yet put forward is by the Paranoid Conspiracy Theorists (PCTs) themselves.

Please note: I said "among the silliest", not "the silliest". Matti P. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -This is the notion that the attack on the Pentagon was carried out not by a terrorist in a hijacked 767, but by a remote-controlled drone plane or missile, packed with explosives and painted (this is priceless) in American Airlines livery to fool onlookers (who presumably cannot tell the difference between a liner and a missile or fighter), whilst the actual 767 was landed at an airport nearby having been flown OVER the Pentagon in the confusion.  The passengers were later ‘disappeared’ by the CIA. There are more holes in this ludicrous ‘explanation’ than in a standard fishing net – and yet it is passed reverently from PCT to PCT as though it is some holy gospel of truth.  In comparison to that, at least to those who have even the slightest grip on the real world, the official line, whilst perhaps open to question in some areas, seems to make far more sense. — Midjis

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Which does not mean that everything on the net or in ng’s that does not conform to your beliefs is conspiracy theory. This is true.  Yet, just because it does not conform to my beliefs does not automatically mean that it is accurate. Expressions like "conspiracy theory" appeal to the irrational side of people, and so serve only to cloud the issues. The official story of 9/11 is also a conspiracy theory: several people conspired to execute the attacks; and the story is no more than a theory because there is only precious little evidence to support it. Perhaps then I should have used the full term "paranoid conspiracy theory" – addressing those ideas that attempt to explain facts that have already been explained, but in a far more bizarre and usually convoluted manner that reassures the wannabe Fox Mulder that The Truth Really Is Out There, and that THEY do not want you to know about it.  It is really only a desire on the part of the theorist to demonstrate their ability to outwit THEM, despite all the barriers THEY supposedly put in the theorists’ way. And of all the conspiracy theories so far presented, the official story is among the silliest. Oh, by no means.  In my experience, by far the silliest theory yet put forward is by the Paranoid Conspiracy Theorists (PCTs) themselves.  This is the notion that the attack on the Pentagon was carried out not by a terrorist in a hijacked 767, but by a remote-controlled drone plane or missile, packed with explosives and painted (this is priceless) in American Airlines livery to fool onlookers (who presumably cannot tell the difference between a liner and a missile or fighter), whilst the actual 767 was landed at an airport nearby having been flown OVER the Pentagon in the confusion.  The passengers were later ‘disappeared’ by the CIA. There are more holes in this ludicrous ‘explanation’ than in a standard fishing net – and yet it is passed reverently from PCT to PCT as though it is some holy gospel of truth.  In comparison to that, at least to those who have even the slightest grip on the real world, the official line, whilst perhaps open to question in some areas, seems to make far more sense. — Midjis

But there is conclusive physical evidence that no 767 hit the Pentagon, in fact no evidence of fusilage of any plane found.. The fact that two, one piece that does not match photographed on the lawn points to conspiracy. There was no American Airlines flight 77 scheduled to fly that day. There is conclusive physical evididence that no  passenger jet plane hit the 1st tower or penetrated it. {The film shown shown the following day  9/12, was  crudely edited.  You can see it by looking for the evidence "first plane")  There is only three small holes in the building, none greater that a few feet. There was no American Airlines flight 11 scheduled to fly that day.  What few eye witnesses say a very small plane, holding no more than 10-12 seats, or "a missle with wings".  Check out the examination of that flight and the photos  on thewebfairy.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The sheer volume of web articles devoted to the idea that there is ‘conclusive physical evidence’ of anything of the sort is absolutely staggering.  Particularly since there is no such evidence. Patently false. Yes, it is easy to say that, is it not?  But I would be interested to see you provide some of this supposed evidence – and try to do slightly better than the photos you directed me to in the other thread. — Midjis ~~ ama semper quisquis noces

Blow me.

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The sheer volume of web articles devoted to the idea that there is ‘conclusive physical evidence’ of anything of the sort is absolutely staggering.  Particularly since there is no such evidence. Patently false. Yes, it is easy to say that, is it not?  But I would be interested to see you provide some of this supposed evidence – and try to do slightly better than the photos you directed me to in the other thread.

http://www.aeronautics.ru/img/img006/sweetdeal_title.jpg This one doesn’t NECCESARILY prove anything, other than that a KC-767 prototype did in fact exist, but it’s very telling nevertheless. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Midjis ~~ ama semper quisquis noces

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Question:

Here’s what I’ve seen and used with success to date in the Mid-Hudson valley waters to date. Current Hatches: Midges Small black stoneflies – lots of them Early Black and Early Brown- Stonefly Hendrickson – just started last few days, but lots of activity now. So try….. Nymphs& Streamers:     Zug Bug     B.H. Prince #10-16     Hares Ears, bead-head, regular, or flashback #8-18     Pheasant Tail, bead-head, soft-hackle, regular, and flashback #12-18,     Golden or Yellow Stonefly #6-14     Scuds #12-18, primarily olive has been successful for me     Brassies #16-20     Early Black and Early Brown Stonefly #12-14     Wooly Buggers-all sizes and colors     Zonkers – White, Olive, and Black #2-8 If you can find anything feeding on the surface yet, try for dry flies:     Griffiths Gnat #20-26     Midge Pupa #20-26 Good luck!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there anyone ot there who could tell me what to use in stream’s this time of year.

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Is there anyone ot there who could tell me what to use in stream’s this time of year.The water has settled down now,and is farely clear.I’m just learning about fly fishing.I think it is a beautiful art of fishing.If anyone would be so kind to help me with an answer i would be grateful.                                                        dgn4529 Take Care!

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Question:

I just got an old willow creel from a friend. The willow look pretty dry and there is no varnish to protect it. Since i want to use it when i’m fly fishing should i put something on it , if so what should i use; Varnish, linseed oil…….or is there any special product i should know of? Thanks for your help! Before you buy.

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I just got an old willow creel from a friend. The willow look pretty dry and there is no varnish to protect it. Since i want to use it when i’m fly fishing should i put something on it , if so what should i use; Varnish, linseed oil…….or is there any special product i should know of?

Yo Robert.   I’m heading down to the fly shop today.   You get the latest FFA yet? Joe F.

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Willow creels require no maintenance apart from a wash now and again. Line the creel with damp grass before placing fish in it. You may also soak the creel in the stream before placing fish in it.  The evaporation which then ensues helps keep the fish cool.  The grass also prevents too much slime from soaking into the creel itself and producing the most horrendous stink. TL MC — "If you have tried everything you know, and nothing works, then perhaps it is time to accept that you don

Question:

What is there to do in Belize? I have been told that it has the best fly fishing in the world. But I would like to more about the country. Is the snorkelling good, scuba diving and beaches worth the trip? And what about the Mayan ruins, tropical rain forest and anything else you can tell me?

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What is there to do in Belize? I have been told that it has the best fly fishing in the world. But I would like to more about the country. Is the snorkelling good, scuba diving and beaches worth the trip? And what about the Mayan ruins, tropical rain forest and anything else you can tell me?

We stayed in Placencia in May 2000 and stayed at the Rum Point Inn.  The beaches were okay but not good for walking out into the water and swimming – full of turtle grass.  The Mayan ruins – we visited Lubantuum and Nimli Punit – were amazing, particularly Lubantuum.  There was no snorkeling from the beach, but a one hour boat ride got us out to some amazing places for both snorkeling and scuba diving.  Absolutely breathtaking.  We didn’t go on the Monkey River tour or to the Jaguar preserve (ran out of $$) but friends who did go said it was well worthwhile. May seems to be an off-season so it’s hard to tell whether we visited at the best time. We weren’t crazy about Placencia or the Rum Point Inn, but I’ve heard others extoll the virtues of both.  We definitely enjoyed the snorkeling and Mayan ruins, and would recommend it for that.

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Question:

Hi,     I’ll be fishing with a reservation guide on the Quinault river (WA state) on Oct 19th.  We’re going for Kings and Silvers.  She knows nothing about flyfishing and I’ll be the only one in my party bringing a flyrod.  If there’s anyone out there familiar with the area I would appreciate exchanging emails cause I really would rather not go cold. I’m pretty new at salmon fishing. Here are some starter questions I have: What flies are best? What is a good line/leader set up (I’m bringing a 10′ 8wt)? Any other tips for this area in the Oct. time of year? Thanks!                         Ken

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I went with a guide a couple of years ago on the Quinault, looking for Kings. Fishing was just fair for most parties, although two of us stuck to our guns with flys and were fishless late in the afternoon. The guide finally hooked into a 20 lb King (he said it was a Steelhead, go figure) using a 6" dayglo orange flatfish. He handed me the rod and it was a lot of fun. So I would suggest big colorful streamers. Maybe even reeaally big, like a bunny bug in bright colors. Always have some dark ones too, especially purple. The 8wt will be ok for the Silvers and smaller Kings, but the Quinault has been know to produce 60lb Kings, so if you do hook one of those, god help you, and just hope that your party has the patience to wait an hour or more for you to land it, if it doesn’t break you off (or bust your rod!) Bring your rain gear and a thermos of hot coffee! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi,     I’ll be fishing with a reservation guide on the Quinault river (WA state) on Oct 19th.  We’re going for Kings and Silvers.  She knows nothing about flyfishing and I’ll be the only one in my party bringing a flyrod.  If there’s anyone out there familiar with the area I would appreciate exchanging emails cause I really would rather not go cold. I’m pretty new at salmon fishing. Here are some starter questions I have: What flies are best? What is a good line/leader set up (I’m bringing a 10′ 8wt)? Any other tips for this area in the Oct. time of year? Thanks!                         Ken

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Your setup sounds just right, I’de trust your guide but an october caddis in a 6 to 4 for a floating line and a kaufmans stone fly dark for a sink tip shooting head line for steelhead… fish the spots the guide recommends as the water will be all yours and very under fished, excellent choice… just a thought… I’de be glad to answer any other questions you may have at

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi,    I’ll be fishing with a reservation guide on the Quinault river (WA state) on Oct 19th.  We’re going for Kings and Silvers.  She knows nothing about flyfishing and I’ll be the only one in my party bringing a flyrod.  If there’s anyone out there familiar with the area I would appreciate exchanging emails cause I really would rather not go cold. I’m pretty new at salmon fishing. Here are some starter questions I have: What flies are best? What is a good line/leader set up (I’m bringing a 10′ 8wt)? Any other tips for this area in the Oct. time of year? Thanks!                        Ken

Hi Ken, I don’t know that river, but Oct is a great month to fish in the Northwest for steelhead. There might be some fall Kings, late Silvers and some Sea run Cutthroats too? I would have a floating line and a T-300 or similar line. Get some stiffer 71/2 foot 0x to 2x leaders and matching tippet material. Get some black flies like a Bunny Leeches, Egg Sucking Bugger or any black steelhead patterns. Get some bright colored flashing flies in orange or chartreuse. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

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Question:

hello fellow brewers.  I noticed an article in the local paper that cuaght my interest…. Washington AP – Fellowships fund strange, unusual post-graduate projects  ….. "Christian T. De Benedetti of Newberg, Ore., who is studying at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., is going to Senegal, Niger, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Germany to study beer making.  He has brewed his own beer and worked with barrels and casks in Oregon’s beverage industry.".    Oh man, some guys have all the luck.  Ok minus the air fare and lodging, i wonder how many pints his fellowship will buy?  They don’t indicate exactly how much he was awarded for the fellowship, but another recipient was allowed $16,000 to go fly fishing in exotic locations! Congratulations Christian! tas — Terry A. Stinnett, Ph.D.             Dept of Applied Behavioral Studies         Oklahoma State University       Stillwater, OK 74078-3063      

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I bet that’s a Watson Fellowship. They’re awarded to liberal arts undergraduates who have a dream to pursue some special topic for one year. Many are pretty unusual (both the dreams and the undergraduates, I guess!). The project does not have to be practical. Just passionate. I used to sit on a committee to select the local Watson nominees. Neat job. JEG – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hello fellow brewers.  I noticed an article in the local paper that cuaght my interest…. Washington AP – Fellowships fund strange, unusual post-graduate projects  ….. "Christian T. De Benedetti of Newberg, Ore., who is studying at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., is going to Senegal, Niger, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Germany to study beer making.  He has brewed his own beer and worked with barrels and casks in Oregon’s beverage industry.".    Oh man, some guys have all the luck.  Ok minus the air fare and lodging, i wonder how many pints his fellowship will buy?  They don’t indicate exactly how much he was awarded for the fellowship, but another recipient was allowed $16,000 to go fly fishing in exotic locations! Congratulations Christian! tas — Terry A. Stinnett, Ph.D.             Dept of Applied Behavioral Studies         Oklahoma State University       Stillwater, OK 74078-3063

– John Gastineau                  "The indoor life is the next best NCSU Physics                     thing to premature burial." Raleigh, NC, USA                 Edward Abbey

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Question:

I pulled open a drawer where I keep all kinds of eyes for tying fishing flies.  As I was getting set to tie some bonefish flies, I realized that a lot of my bead chain had come out of any pouch that it had been in.  Some of the bead chain is old standard stuff, some is Stainless, which I’d like to use on my bonefish flies.   Anyone know of an easy way to tell which is the stainless eyes? (besides letting it sit in salt water for a few days/weeks) Weird question, but I would hope some metallurgist fly-fisherman might know the easy answer! TIA… Steve

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I pulled open a drawer where I keep all kinds of eyes for tying fishing flies.  As I was getting set to tie some bonefish flies, I realized that a lot of my bead chain had come out of any pouch that it had been in.  Some of the bead chain is old standard stuff, some is Stainless, which I’d like to use on my bonefish flies. Anyone know of an easy way to tell which is the stainless eyes? (besides letting it sit in salt water for a few days/weeks) Weird question, but I would hope some metallurgist fly-fisherman might know the easy answer! TIA… Steve

Hi Steve Using a magnet is a good starting point in that (in my experience) even the highest-quality stainless steel exhibits some magnetic properties. I have three kinds of bead chain; chrome plated mild steel, shiny stainless steel and chrome plated brass.  A magnet should enable you to tell these three apart, in that brass won’t be even faintly magnetic. Hope that helps  Russ

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Anyone know of an easy way to tell which is the stainless eyes? (besides letting it sit in salt water for a few days/weeks)

I believe that a magnet will not attract stainless steel. Dave

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In general the stainless will not be "ferromagnetic" and will, therefore, not be attracted to a magnet, unlike the steel bead, which will.  Although this is not always the case I would take about any odds that it will work, as ferritic stainless is rare….make that very rare. dave

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: I pulled open a drawer where I keep all kinds of eyes for tying : fishing flies.  As I was getting set to tie some bonefish flies, I : realized that a lot of my bead chain had come out of any pouch that it : had been in.  Some of the bead chain is old standard stuff, some is : Stainless, which I’d like to use on my bonefish flies.   : : Anyone know of an easy way to tell which is the stainless eyes? : (besides letting it sit in salt water for a few days/weeks) : : Weird question, but I would hope some metallurgist fly-fisherman might : know the easy answer! : : TIA… : : Steve Austenitic stainless steel will not attract a magnet.   Martensitic stainless steel *will* attract a magnet. So, one has to be careful.  Now, what you do have going for you is that austenitic stainless steel is the most corrosion resistant and thus might be the best choice for saltwater use.  However, martensitic is the type that can be the strongest.  As far as the other type of stainless, ferritic, I am not sure, but I think that also might attract a magnet.  As I said, one has to be careful. Good luck. Kind regards, Steve Kernosky Michigan Tech Univ.

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Stainless steel is generally not attracted to a magnet nearly as strongly as regular steel because of the increased content of other metals, i.e. nickel and others.  If you have a small magnet, you might try this until a *real* metal expert replies.  longspeer

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Anyone know of an easy way to tell which is the stainless eyes? (besides letting it sit in salt water for a few days/weeks) I believe that a magnet will not attract stainless steel.

Russel and Dave- You are both right on.  Thanks for the tip… Steve

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The technical stuff all sounds great – if you are trying to tell between Stainless and Mild Steel, the simple way is to make sure the item is clean (and not sharp) and taste it – stainless does not taste of anything, mild steel has a , well, metallic sort of taste. Dont hook yourself. hope it helps.

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snip Anyone know of an easy way to tell which is the stainless eyes? (besides letting it sit in salt water for a few days/weeks) Weird question, but I would hope some metallurgist fly-fisherman might know the easy answer! TIA… Steve

I believe that stainless steel is not a ferromagnetic material, and therefore will not be attracted to a magnet. — Brian Charles

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: : The technical stuff all sounds great – if you are trying to tell : between Stainless and Mild Steel, the simple way is to make sure the : item is clean (and not sharp) and taste it – stainless does not taste : of anything, mild steel has a , well, metallic sort of taste. : : Might look a little silly. : :   : Dont hook yourself. : : That would look even worse. Just try explaining *that* to the wife. : : -DLB I guess I’ve come into this thread late, but has anyone mentioned that stainless steels (cept 17-4 HT or 18-8 HT) has very low to none magnetic capability. To determint it quickly I use a strong magnet. Mild steel is easy determined this way. Bob — Bob San Jose, Ca

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Hi, try using a good magnet. The stainless steel will roll to the magnet quicker. Good uh ? fishing.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – snip Anyone know of an easy way to tell which is the stainless eyes? (besides letting it sit in salt water for a few days/weeks) Weird question, but I would hope some metallurgist fly-fisherman might know the easy answer! TIA… Steve I believe that stainless steel is not a ferromagnetic material, and therefore will not be attracted to a magnet. — Brian Charles

No, some types of stainless steel (typically the 400 series, I believe) are at least slightly ferromagnetic, so a magnet is not an accurate way to determine whether or not the metal is stainless steel. Unfortunately, I don’t know of any easy, reliable way to distinguish stainless steel.  Usually one can tell by appearance:  stainless steel has a relatively dull, gray sheen compared to plated materials (eg. chrome or cadmium over steel), but brighter than aluminum or pot metal alloys.  It helps to have a practiced eye – as well as some examples of true stainless steel.  Surface texture is also a good clue:  with stainless, the machine tool marks may still be evident, whereas plating will typically smooth or fill these in.   -Wes Wes Neuenschwander Seattle, WA

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Question:

May be ordered from Blu Ribbon Flies in W. Yellowstone.                         Mike in PDX                "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                                            Tom McGuane

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You can find it here and there. Check with Donegals and Castle Arms. Also, Hunters sells some silk floss. I use guderbrod’s (sp) silk. It’s inexpesive ($2-2.5 per spool) and does the job just fine. Charles (Chuck) Abbott      The MITRE Corporation "There is not a single blackfly in the Adirondacks. All are married and have large families." Henry Wells

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Dave Hughes mentions this as the best body material for soft hackles.  Does anyone know a mail order source for this rare stuff?

National Feather-Craft in St. Louis carries the silk in a variety of colors and is a large mail order house so it is easy to have them ship to you. For soft hackle flies you most likely want the silk thread (Gosmer) as opposed to the silk floss (stout). You can reach National Feather-Craft at 800-659-1707.

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 I’m trying to tie size 20-26 midge drys. I can’t find hackle any smaller than 20 on even the most primium grade necks. I am now using darlone and other synthetic materials. What does everyone else use? Also I’d like help in how to tie the synthetics to look like a palmered hackle. I always get something that looks like an elk caddis and not a hackle that goes completely around the fly.

I have the same problem.  I have heard that using half a "normal" hackle in a dubbing loop has the right effect in that it alows you to choose the hackle length, but to date I haven’t tried it.  I can see it being tough to get all the hackle fibres to lie in the same direction doing this however. If you try it, let me know how you get on Russ ps have you tried Darrel Martin’s "Micropatterns" book for ideas ?

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Hoffman. Although, I understand your dilema. It’s ver difficult to size hackle on these small ones.

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Hey, if there is anyone out there who loves to fly fish and has the time to chat a little bit with me about fly fishing, PLEASE send me an E-mail. I am senior at the University of Oregon who started to fly fish last Spring. Fly fishing in my number one priority in life right now and I want to be out there in the rivers as much as I can when the season starts. I really don’t know that many people that fly fish around here so it is kind of frustrating not to have anyone to talk with about flies, rods, fish etc. Thanks, Marcelo

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 I’m trying to tie size 20-26 midge drys. I can’t find hackle any smaller than 20 on even the most primium grade necks. I am now using darlone and other synthetic materials. What does everyone else use? Also I’d like help in how to tie the synthetics to look like a palmered hackle. I always get something that looks like an elk caddis and not a hackle that goes completely around the fly.

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Also I’d like help in how to tie the synthetics to look like a palmered hackle. I always get something that looks like an elk caddis and not a hackle that goes completely around the fly.

You could try a dubbing loop, but on a size 26 fly, that might not be practical. Try ostrich herl. Have you tried CDC? Bob Petti Endwell, NY

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Dave Hughes talks a lot about using Pearsall’s Gossamer silk thread for tying wets, especially soft hackles.  Does anyone know a mail order source for this stuff? — Jim Benenson                 Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA "To protect your rivers, protect your mountains"       Emperor Yu of China, circa 1600 B.C.

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Actually it has nothing to do with fishing…it refers to the thin thread of sanity that kept Jim Pearsall attached to this earth.

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Question:

Need info on Olympic Steelhead.  Will be in WA March 6-10.  Called some guides fish the Sol Duc and Hoh, but they are way to expensive.  Need info on possibility of taking myself and a buddy steelheading.  I’m worried that the rivers may be too high.

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Need info on Olympic Steelhead.  Will be in WA March 6-10.  Called some guides fish the Sol Duc and Hoh, but they are way to expensive.  Need info on possibility of taking myself and a buddy steelheading.  I’m worried that the rivers may be too high.

I’d suggest you call one of the Seattle area fly shops, such as Kaufmanns, Swallows Nest, Avid Angler or Patrick’s.  They should have good, up-to-date information on all the area streams, including the Olympic Peninsula.  Access on most of the major Peninsula streams is fairly limited, though there are exceptions;  a raft or drift boat can be a major advantage.  A good map is essential – the DeLorme ‘Atlas and Gazeteer’ will *generally* get you where you need to be, but forest service (Olympic National Forest) maps can be useful as well.   Stream conditions are NEVER certain – you pays your money and you takes your chances, whether visitor or local – but, in general, March tends to offer generally decent water.  But there just are no guarantees;  the whole month can be blown out or low, clear and fish-less.  One real plus of March is native (typically catch and release) fisheries on several of the local streams.  On the Peninsula, the Sol Duc comes to mind (also has some sections that are reasonably accessible).   On the subject of C&R, you might also want to check out some of the streams north of Seattle, such as the Skykomish, Skagit and Sauk. Fishing can be excellent at that time of year for very large native fish and most of these streams have pretty extensive access (though floating is still an advantage).  They also have some excellent fly water.   One last word of advice:  Guides may be expensive, but can make the difference between bust and boom, particularly on unfamiliar waters and unfamiliar fisheries.  Some streams, or even sections of streams, here fish best in ways that are not intuitive, even to experienced steelhead fly anglers.  You can easily spend months (hell, years! <g) fishing the wrong streams or the right streams wrong.  A day with a good guide at the beginning of the trip, can be parlayed into days (or even a lifetime) of successful fishing.  Any of the local shops can put you in touch with a good FF guide.  Also there are a number of excellent  independent guides, including John Farrar, who probably best exemplifies the ‘teaching guide’ approach.    (BTW, *most* Peninsula guides are, in my experience, mainly drift gear/plug fishermen;  be careful to get a full-time FF guide, no matter where you go).   -Wes Wes Neuenschwander Seattle, WA

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Question:

Non-resident fishing permit for the year is $25, for 14 days, it’s $15, and for a 3-day permit, it’s $8.  The Gasconade River is a very good river for smallmouth, largemouth, and Kentucky (spotted) bass.  Bear in mind, however, that there is a smallmouth bass experimental management area on the Gasconade from the Highway Y bridge in Pulaski County to Highway D bridge in Phelps County.  Within this area the daily limit on black bass is 6, and no more than one may be a smallmouth.  All smallmouth caught less than 18 inches must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught.  If you get bored with the Gasconade (which you might, since it’s a pretty popular river during the weekends), you might want to move your expedition to the Big Piney River, very near to the Gasconade and Rolla.  The Big Piney was recognized by Field & Stream (I think), as one of the top 5 smallmouth fisheries in the midwest.  It is a very pristine, totally unpolluted stream.  If you’d like to do some wading, and perhaps catch some trout and smallmouth, try Little Piney Creek in Phelps County.  It joins the Gasconade near Jerome Access.  I’ve been fishing this creek religiously for the past 2 years, and it’s really sucked away study time. Beautiful scenery, fiesty fish, nice people–you couldn’t pick a better place to go fishin’.                      –Jason S. Cummins                        Civil Engineering Junior                        University of Missouri-Rolla

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I have a question . . . I’m gonna be fishing this weekend on the Gasconade river (not far from Rolla, Missouri) and I’d like to know how much an out of state fishing licence costs these days.

Non-resident fishing license is $25  "    "      14-day permit   is $15  "    "       3-day permit   is $ 8              Trout  stamp    is $ 6 A $2 tag is required at all 4 trout parks. A catch-and-release weekend off-season pass is $5 for trout parks. See Missouri flyfishing page on the Web: http://www.agron.missouri.edu:80/flyfishing/license.html   –Charlie Rond

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I have a question . . . I’m gonna be fishing this weekend on the Gasconade river (not far from Rolla, Missouri) and I’d like to know how much an out of state fishing licence costs these days. Thanks in advance for your reply. Dave Fortner

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