Question:

I will be fishing Shasta Lake in California the last week in April from a boat, float tube and shore.  What fly patterns should I use for this lake and this time of year ? TIA, Bob

Response:

Ask the boys at:  http://www.theflyshop.com/ in Redding, CA…this is right up their alley…… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be fishing Shasta Lake in California the last week in April from a boat, float tube and shore.  What fly patterns should I use for this lake and this time of year ? TIA, Bob

Response:

I will be fishing Shasta Lake in California the last week in April from a boat, float tube and shore.  What fly patterns should I use for this lake and this time of year ? TIA, Bob

Hi Bob, That is a great time for bass and trout. There are thread fin shad in the lake that can be anywhere from 1/2" to 2" long that all the fish feed upon. The fish are all near the surface in the fall, winter and spring so fly fishing will be great. Hal Janssen developed a mylar shad imitation many years ago that is one of the standard patterns in most CA valley reservoirs. Another fly is a #6/8 brown woolly bugger for an attractor pattern for bass. I would have a floater if you find them ‘busting’ on top(most of that in the fall). Then I would have a full sinking line to get down about 10 feet. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

Response:

Question:

I like the foothills trail, and its connectors. a good 3 day is from upper whitewater falls to laurel valley. great views of lake joccassee, waterfalls, river crossings are bridged. Another three day is from Table rock to Ceasers head, side trail to top of Raven Cliff falls.

Response:

East-West hike through North Carolina’s portion of the Great Smoky Mountains Natioal Park.  Avoid the crowded AT. Enjoy your trip. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go? Thanks for any advice…please email direct — Jason Daniels

Response:

The best hike I’ve done in the east started on US Hwy 64 in NC, near Sapphire.  It consisted of going down the Horsepasture River, connecting with the Foothills Trail near the Lake Jocassee shore, over to the Toxaway River and back up the Toxaway to US Hwy 64.  It took 3.5 days, had some trail and some bushwhacking, a nice rappel down Windy Falls on the Horsepasture R. and was in some of the least travelled, most beautiful country I had been to in that area.

Response:

New York’s Adirondak High Peaks! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go?

Response:

Spruce Knob area of West Virginia very nice, the head of seneca is great. Day hikes to the big falls of seneca, to the top of spruce knob, highest point in WVA.  Also close to Seneca Rocks an easy place to spend a day. To see pics of area, follow link to my home page. http://www.ncweb.com:80/users/crbock/ CRBO

Response:

If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go? Thanks for any advice…please email direct — Jason Daniels

Consider the Northville-Placid Trail. Length; 133 miles. 5 days going north to Wakely Dam or 5 days going south, and come back next year to finish. E-mail for more info. Rick Beardsley Olmstedville, which is arguably the center of the Adirondacks and thusly the universe

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If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go?

I’d go to Maine, but that’s not within your parameters. Gerry

Response:

I’d go to Dolly Sods wilderness in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. If you like to hike long distances it might be too small for 5 days, but is a great 3-day place. And if you want to do a leisurely 5-day, you can find plenty of things to occupy your time. It may not be quite as spectacular an area as some places farther north or farther south. But it has got a peculiar landscape that is dramatic, spectacular in its own right, intriguing and quite wild. I’ve been there dozens of times and, each time, I find something new and amazing.

As a former West Virginian (and no, I’m not unusually intimate with any of my family members, thank you) I have to agree that Dolly Sods is gorgeous, but it’s no place to go for a 3-5 nighter–way too small. There are other places nearby that are fantastic, so if you don’t mind leaving the wilds and re-entering, it’s an excellent area. A great place is the ridge that you can see above and behind Seneca Rocks. There’s a trail along the entire length. You will have to decend for water, though. I always considered Cranberry Glades wilderness kind of boring, as WV hiking goes. It is quite vast though. — –your favorite soils professional

Response:

If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike:

Cranberry back country, Monongahela National Forest, West (by god!) Virginia. jeff Republicanism:  The haunting fear that someone poor may be happy.

Response:

I’d go to Dolly Sods wilderness in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. If you like to hike long distances it might be too small for 5 days, but is a great 3-day place. And if you want to do a leisurely 5-day, you can find plenty of things to occupy your time. It may not be quite as spectacular an area as some places farther north or farther south. But it has got a peculiar landscape that is dramatic, spectacular in its own right, intriguing and quite wild. I’ve been there dozens of times and, each time, I find something new and amazing. Rob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go? Thanks for any advice…please email direct — Jason Daniels

Response:

Jason, You might want to consider Vermont’s Long Trail.  It runs along the spine of the Green Mountains.  The nice thing about it is that you can see Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks and the White Mountains from Vermont summits. Let me know if you would like more info. James Ehlers Underhill, Vermont Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

Response:

If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go?

Adirondacks or Catskills in New York White Mountains in New Hampshire

Response:

If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go? Thanks for any advice…please email direct — Jason Daniels

Response:

Question:

I am planning a camping/Flyfishing trip to Colorado in July and am looking for suggestions on which region is the best and also need info on specific sights. Please e-mail your response if possible. Thanks Craig Cottrell

Response:

I am planning a camping/Flyfishing trip to Colorado in July and am looking for suggestions on which region is the best and also need info on specific sights. Please e-mail your response if possible. Thanks Craig Cottrell

It’s a pretty big state. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

I am planning a camping/Flyfishing trip to Colorado in July and am looking for suggestions on which region is the best and also need info on specific sights. Please e-mail your response if possible. Thanks Moe Skeeter writes: It’s a pretty big state.

The Rocky Mountains are the best. CQ

Response:

I am planning a camping/Flyfishing trip to Colorado in July and am looking for suggestions on which region is the best and also need info on specific sights. Please e-mail your response if possible. Thanks Moe Skeeter writes: It’s a pretty big state. The Rocky Mountains are the best.

Good point. Try them. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

: I am planning a camping/Flyfishing trip to Colorado in July and am : looking for suggestions on which region is the best and also need : info on specific sights. Please e-mail your response if possible. : Thanks : Moe Skeeter writes: : It’s a pretty big state. : The Rocky Mountains are the best. : Good point. Try them. Start in the south and work your way north, please. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

Question:

Anyone able to help with my problem?  Lately I have been finding it difficult to get my leaders to lay down reasonably straight no matter what size or kind of fly I am fishing.  At times I am able to accomplish this by timing my cast (by accident of course) so that the leader hits the water just as it unrolls from the forward cast.  This technique plays havoc with a soft presentation though! Jay Kidwell

Response:

Anyone able to help with my problem?  Lately I have been finding it difficult to get my leaders to lay down reasonably straight no matter what size or kind of fly I am fishing.  At times I am able to accomplish this by timing my cast (by accident of course) so that the leader hits the water just as it unrolls from the forward cast.  This technique plays havoc with a soft presentation though! Jay Kidwell

How does the leader land on the water ? What kind of leader are you using ? Does the line lay straight ? What kind of line do you use ? I have personally found knotted leaders to be better than tapered ones and braided leaders to be better than knotted ones as far as presentation goes. Also, depending on the stream, if you are fishing with dries sometimes you rally do not want a straight leader.   I read somewhere (in one of the famous books, of course I do not remember which) a technique that helps reducing significantly the drag problems that are very common when fishing spring creeks where the current differential on the surface can vary significantly thus making a perfect dead drift presentation rather hard, even when using the S cast. The author suggested to aim at the points of the trees on the opposite bank  and not at your level as one usually does.  As a result, the line will straighten in the air, then fall in the water and the leader will come down in loose coils.   Consequently the resulting drift is much longer than usual.  I have tried the technique in several occasions with very good results. Maybe you are aiming too high when you finish your cast. Or, maybe you finish your cast too soon, I find that when I am tired or lazy I tend not to perform the forward cast with too small of a movement, and as a result the leader does not straighten well.. Tight lines -Vittorio

Response:

Could be a number of things.  Begin with a new soft leader and then add plenty of tippet material and stretch that leader out.  Pause a touch longer on your back cast and they cast to a point a little higher than your normal cast.  Your line and leader should lay out parallel to the water and then gently float down.  If not, you either have an unballanced outfit our your technique may be slightly off.  In either case, have another experienced fly fisher help you out.  Try other outfits and that should tell you if it is you or your outfit. Don’t use your nymphing outfit to expect to lay a delicat #28 within a couple of inches of where you want it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Anyone able to help with my problem?  Lately I have been finding it difficult to get my leaders to lay down reasonably straight no matter what size or kind of fly I am fishing.  At times I am able to accomplish this by timing my cast (by accident of course) so that the leader hits the water just as it unrolls from the forward cast.  This technique plays havoc with a soft presentation though! Jay Kidwell

Response:

Have you switched brands lately?                                           …Steven

Response:

Anyone able to help with my problem?  Lately I have been finding it difficult to get my leaders to lay down reasonably straight no matter what size or kind of fly I am fishing.  At times I am able to accomplish this by timing my cast (by accident of course) so that the leader hits the water just as it unrolls from the forward cast.  This technique plays havoc with a soft presentation though! Jay Kidwell

Hi Jay There are a lot of reasons your leader may not be straightening out but the most common is feeding slack line into the cast at the wrong time. Many casters develop a tendency to feed extra line just as they start the forward cast there by killing the transfer of energy from the rod to the line. This could be your problem. A couple of solutions: visit your local fly shop for a lesson or contact the Federation of Fly Fishers at 406-585-7592 and get the info on a club near you. Join the club and get help from a new friend. Good luck. — Tight Lines ….. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products http://www.btsflyfishing.com

Response:

Anyone able to help with my problem?  Lately I have been finding it difficult to get my leaders to lay down reasonably straight no matter what size or kind of fly I am fishing.  At times I am able to accomplish this by timing my cast (by accident of course) so that the leader hits the water just as it unrolls from the forward cast.  This technique plays havoc with a soft presentation though! Jay Kidwell

Try stopping your rod on your forward cast,this will exert enough power for your tip to turn your line over. Practice false casting with a piece of yarn in lieu of a fly on your tippet and make an effort to stop your rod on the forward cast at about 10 o’clock-this will help. Fred

Response:

Question:

I will be fishing the Rock Creek Area the first week of August and am looking for an area with accomodations and good fishing someplace in between there and Seattle. I don’t want to "double-back" ie: fish the madison then go back towards Missoula. Any ideas?

Response:

I will be fishing the Rock Creek Area the first week of August and am looking for an area with accomodations and good fishing someplace in between there and Seattle. I don’t want to "double-back" ie: fish the madison then go back towards Missoula. Any ideas?

I don’t follow what you’re saying…Rock Creek..the one I know…is only 20 miles east of Missoula..the madison is 200 miles southeast…so are you saying you want to fish Rock Creek and then head down to the Madison and then on to Seattle?  If you fish Rock Creek stay with Doug at the Rock Creek Mercantile…down on the Madison the West Fork cabins are an excellent place to stay..between the Madison and Seattle i think you’ll find that it’s difficult to get there from there…have fun trying though…you’ll drive by some pretty good fishing in Idaho while you figure out the easiest way to cross that state from east to west.

Response:

: I will be fishing the Rock Creek Area the first week of August and am : looking for an area with accomodations and good fishing someplace in : between there and Seattle. I don’t want to "double-back" ie: fish the : madison then go back towards Missoula. Any ideas? : I don’t follow what you’re saying…Rock Creek..the one I know…is only : 20 miles east of Missoula..the madison is 200 miles southeast…so are : you saying you want to fish Rock Creek and then head down to the Madison : and then on to Seattle?   I think he is saying he wants to fish Rock Creek then head west.  Two options… stay on I-90 past Kellogg-Wallace, then head south down a bad road to the St. Joe.  Lots of tunnels blasted through rock and wonderful to drive, except when it washes out, which is often.  Look closely at a map and you will see the road I suggest.  There are some cabins down at the St. Joe Inn, but don’t expect a palace.   The easier (and I think you will find better fishing than Rock Creek) is to go through Missoula down to Lolo and head over into Idaho on Highway 12. This will run you along the Lochsa, which joins the Selway to form the Middle Clearwater which joins the South Fork, then the North Fork to form the Clearwater, which joins the Snake, which joins the Columbia which fills the entire Pacific Ocean.  As you might imagine, great fishing is found all along the road but it changes from a small stream to a fairly large stream (g) the farther you go. As for accomodations, I suggest you spend a day or two at Three Rivers Lodge, located at the bottom of the Lochsa at the confluence with the Selway.  This lodge is located about 90 miles from Missoula and has budget cabins or less modest cabins.  It is right on the Lochsa river, but you can also follow the Selway with a road that continues for 20 miles until it reaches the wilderness boundary.  There is also camping available all along the rivers.  The fishing tends to be better for cutthroat and ‘bows the higher you go on any of these rivers.  I should also mention there is the largest steelhead hatchery in the US on the Clearwater near Orofino and there is also a salmon hatchery near Kooskia on the same river.  (Salmon are extremely rare to find, though, but steelhead are a major trophy during the right time of the year.  The Clearwater is fairly large, and a drift boat is recommended.)  Both the Lochsa and the Selway are among the best whitewater rivers in the US.   To get back on the route to Seattle, you can take the long way along the Columbia river, or when you get to Lewiston take highway 195 to Pullman and then continue back up to I-90 in Spokane.  (Or take Highway 26 out of Colfax.)  Look at a map… but the fishing is great in N. Idaho. There you have it… better than a travel agent or and "adventure guide." — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

To get back on the route to Seattle, you can take the long way along the Columbia river, or when you get to Lewiston take highway 195 to Pullman and then continue back up to I-90 in Spokane.  (Or take Highway 26 out of Colfax.)  Look at a map… but the fishing is great in N. Idaho. There you have it… better than a travel agent or and "adventure guide." — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

There ya go! And you never mentioned fishing in my favorite M*nt*n* stream the B** *ol* !!

Response:

Question:

Can any one tell me about the Boston Whaler Commercial model Boats. I’m Looking for a boat for flyfishing. Primary use is on the Cheasapeake Bay and Tributaries. Need Opinions on the the Whaler model:"Ultility 17" Seems like a good boat for shallow as well as deeper water. Owners please respond! Thanks Nick DelleDonne "The Evening Rise Fly Angler’s Shop" Intercourse, PA 17534

Response:

Can any one tell me about the Boston Whaler Commercial model Boats. I’m Looking for a boat for flyfishing. Primary use is on the Cheasapeake Bay and Tributaries. Need Opinions on the the Whaler model:"Ultility 17" Seems like a good boat for shallow as well as deeper water. Owners please respond! Thanks Nick DelleDonne "The Evening Rise Fly Angler’s Shop" Intercourse, PA 17534

It’s a nicely made and finished boat. Good for shallow and deep water, but it rides *very* hard. As in, bounce-bounce-bounce. — P.O. Box 7575  Jacksonville, Florida 32238 – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - I am the Shopping Cart that nicks at your paint-job.

Response:

Question:

Yes, REAL hand-tied. Saw an article a few years back about a company in Scotland with a room of ladies tying without vises. Maybe traditional in the Islands? mayfly

Hand-tied flies, what about it? As far as I know Hardys famous flies were all hand-tied. Tying without a vise is going through some sort of renaissance.

Response:

(LinerLock) writes: My wife gave the video "Lee Wulff on the Beaverkill" to me for Christmas. Mr. Wulff was in his 80’s when the video was shot.  In it, he ties four flies, all without a vise.  I believe that one was a Royal Wulff in size 18.  My impression is that he tied all of his flies without a vise.  Of course, I don’t think that they were as pretty as the ones you reference on ESPN.

You can see a smple of how this is done in Darrell Martin’s book Fly Tying Methods on page 253, chapter 30 "Sans-Vise Tying". You can also see how to tie atlantic salmon flies without a vise in the book How To Dress Salmon Flies by T.E. Pryce-Tannat (originally published in 1914) or Salmon Flies by George Kelson (originally published in 1895). both are currently available in reprint.                                            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:

Lee tied all of his flies in his hands.  In the early 70’s, he and Joan gave a clinic for the old Garcia Company.  After dinner their 12-year old tied a #12 Royal Wulff in  his fingers. It can be done.  Grasp the hook between the thumb and third finger of the left hand.  Use the index and middle finger to position material.  Half hitch after tying each part of the fly.  It seems to be easier without a bobbin. A vise is faster, and mistakes are easier to correct.  I suspect Lee’s in-hand tied flies were all part of the mystique he created for himself.

Response:

My wife gave the video "Lee Wulff on the Beaverkill" to me for Christmas. Mr. Wulff was in his 80’s when the video was shot.  In it, he ties four flies, all without a vise.  I believe that one was a Royal Wulff in size 18.  My impression is that he tied all of his flies without a vise.  Of course, I don’t think that they were as pretty as the ones you reference on ESPN. Johnny Johnson

Perhaps the best tyer to eschew a vice was an Idahoan named Bing Lemke.  Mr. Lemke passed on a few years ago.  Mr. Lemke had hands that looked like he worked in a slaughter house, they were big and rough with deep wrinkles.  But Bing’s fame came from the extended body may flies he tied on size 28 and 32 hooks.  Yes sizes 28 and 32.   Yes he used no vice.  The hooks were specially provided to him by Mustad — I think they were model 540K, but I could be wrong.  The flies were beautiful and the photos I have seen show six or eight flies lined up on a match stick.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) Bing never was featured on ESPN.

Response:

(Spin4trout) writes: The employees weren’t using a vise, just their hands while tying. Now

that’s a skill. My wife gave the video "Lee Wulff on the Beaverkill" to me for Christmas. Mr. Wulff was in his 80’s when the video was shot.  In it, he ties four flies, all without a vise.  I believe that one was a Royal Wulff in size 18.  My impression is that he tied all of his flies without a vise.  Of course, I don’t think that they were as pretty as the ones you reference on ESPN. Johnny Johnson

Response:

Did any of you catch the recent ESPN FF show about salmon fishing in Ireland. They showed a company making REAL hand-tied flies. The employees weren’t using a vise, just their hands while tying. Now that’s a skill. Don Burns

Yes, REAL hand-tied. Saw an article a few years back about a company in Scotland with a room of ladies tying without vises. Maybe traditional in the Islands? mayfly

Response:

Question:

I just purchased a fish brag camera and I used the following criteria. 1. Would focus to 2 feet (couldn’t find one for less than $200 that did. 2. Zoom to 70mm so the 2 feet macro could still zoom in on a 1lb trout. 3. Flash (manually addustable to on, off, and fill) so I could take pictures of those lunkers you catch at dusk. 4. Most importantly it needs to be small enough to fit into a water tight container. My container of choice is a sandwitch zip lock bag. The sales person thought me a little strange when I tried a bunch of cameras on my ziplock.

Response:

  I do a lot of aggressive wading in small creeks and sometimes slip! For my money you can’t beat the 35 mm Kodak Funsaver or Fuji equivalent. At 12$, it’s no big loss if you fall in, and the pictures are excellent. I always carry one in my pack.

Response:

 I do a lot of aggressive wading in small creeks and sometimes slip! For my money you can’t beat the 35 mm Kodak Funsaver or Fuji equivalent. At 12$, it’s no big loss if you fall in, and the pictures are excellent. I always carry one in my pack.

I carry something similar: a cheap camera with flash that cost all of $15.  Takes good pictures and if it takes a dip, well, no big deal!  Getting a water-resistant camera is great but it doesn’t help if you drop it in thirty feet of water! Brian Austin

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Al-      I read with interest your comment about you Minolta Dual 35.  It makes me wonder if it’s the camera I’ve been looking for.  After twice dunking my Nikon 35mm,  and lugging this beast with the big zoom lens, I’ve decided to get a smaller camera to take astream.  Problem is, I want something I can also use to capture photos of insects, and I wonder if your camera would focus that close….or if a close-up magnifier for the lens is available.  How close will yours focus?   Thanks for the information. John Long I haven’t found any of the <$250 cameras that focus under 2 feet

The Pentax zoom90-WR has a macro focus (1.6′-2.5′) and is water resistant. 38-90mm for normal focus 2.6′ to infinity. Has a removable remote pushbutton for group photos. Built-in flash and other good stuff. Auto-focus works great. Except when rushing to take pictures of Scotish trout streams thru the windows of a moving Britrail train and one forgets the infinity-focus-hold button. Perfectly in-focus window panes every time. <G Really not the camera’s fault. IR focus finds the closest thing including the window glass. da! Oliver (of Inverness), are you out there? Want to send me some of your photos? River runs along the tracks somewhere between Edinburgh and Inverness. Don Burns

Response:

I think it admirable that you would want to buy an About-To-Be-Released-Fish a little parting gift to show your appreciation for a job well done.  A camera is just right!.  Make it a poloroid and he can take pictures of the spawn !  But, you better decide fast, he’s starting to dry out. Tim Walker

Response:

I use an Olympus Infinity Twin.  Small, weatherproof, (I dropped it in the water twice and no problems,) auto everything, 35mm & 70mm, cost about $200.

Response:

Check out the Olympus Stylus Zoom.  This is probably the most compact zoom lens point and shoot camera made.  It has a 35-70 mm lens, a sliding lens cover, and is water repellent.

Response:

After 20 years of full time guiding.20,000+miles of whitewater driftboating,11 years of outdoor TV production and orange boxes full of slides i reccomend the Minolta Weathermatic.Most Other cameras require 2 hands for macro operation.Have you got three hands ? Use the reccomended film for great results. Good Luck & Tight Lines

Response:

I have been waiting days for the original question to pop up before I answered this one, but it doesn’t look like it will show.        Another camera to check out is the Olympus Stylus.   It is small enough to fit in your pants pocket and it will (supposedly) survive a dunk in the water.  It has an adjustable zoom lens (30 to 70mm) and you can control the flash if you want to turn it off or force it on for back lit shots.  I think I paid about $200 for mine.  I’ve been taking it fishing the last three years and it has never given me a problem.   Rob Gregoire

Response:

Al-      I read with interest your comment about you Minolta Dual 35.  It makes me wonder if it’s the camera I’ve been looking for.  After twice dunking my Nikon 35mm,  and lugging this beast with the big zoom lens, I’ve decided to get a smaller camera to take astream.  Problem is, I want something I can also use to capture photos of insects, and I wonder if your camera would focus that close….or if a close-up magnifier for the lens is available.  How close will yours focus?   Thanks for the information. John Long

I haven’t found any of the <$250 cameras that focus under 2 feet

Response:

writes: Does anyone have a favorite make/model camera for those quick-shots of/for either the trout-to-be-released or wildlife that suddenly cross the stream…?  Ideally needs to hang around neck.    

I used the Minolta Weathermatic dual 35 (point and shoot with closeup lens) and hung it from my belt or from the d-ring on the back of my vest. Took it everywhere including AK and performed beautifully.  Not as much control ans my old manual SLR but great photos I use in slide shows.  When the camera was about a year and a half old the motor drive died which made the thing useless and Minolta will fix it for about as much as it costs to buy a new one.  Good while it lasted but…….                                                     Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Schools 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:

Hi I use a Minolta Dual 35.  It has two internal lenses, has auto focus, film advance, and is water proof to 18 feet.  I’ve never taken it that deep but do push it under the water to take pictures of landed/released fish.  You can usually buy them at KMart for around $200.00.  Photo magazines have adds in the back – I bought my Minolta at Cambridge Camera in New York City for $187.00 Good Luck Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (catalog avialP

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 I just bought an Olympus and am happy but I’d like to discuss the criteria for a good fishing camera that I used for the purchase. 1. Macro lens to get up close – some go to 2 ft. 2. Built in flash – I catch a lot of fish at dusk and need more light. 3. Small enough to fit into my custom waterproof bag. This is a sandwitch size ziplock bag. I also own lots of better equipment from Nikons to 4×5 field cameras. I’m finnally not too frighted to wade with my new camera.  I experimented with a cardboard one time use camera and found the pictures sharp enough for rememberance and braging to my buddies.

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Hi Steve, I guide in the Keys and a carry a couple slr’s in the boat. Sometimes though  they are hard to get too. Last year I bought an Olympus 2000  to  keep in my pocket. I got some of my best pictures of the year with it.   They have a slightly larger model in the series with a longer zoom with a motor drive which is semi water proof.  Of course it’s more expensive but I do wish I  had  bought  it  more the increased  versatility. I’m tickled with the 2000 though, the light meter did some great  things for me on a couple shots. Ben

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Does anyone have a favorite make/model camera for those quick-shots of/for either the trout-to-be-released or wildlife that suddenly cross the stream…?  Ideally needs to hang around neck.    

I use the Minolta Weathermatic Dual 35. It has two lenses ( 35mm and 50 mm) Auto focus and just in case it floats.

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Take a look at the Canon Sure Shot A-1. i have owned many cameras, and now have 4 small 35s, and a serious canon single lens reflex.  my advice is, in small cameras, get either the canon above noted, or, for much better potential as you grow as a photographer, a nikon with zoom features. a. wayne harrison

I decided some time ago to forget about taking my nice cameras with $300 lenses, or even a $150 point and shoot on the stream. Now I leave the Nikons, Leicas, or  Contax’s (as if I have all of these!) in a nice warm dry place for out of stream fishing. I now just carry one of the Kodak Waterproof disposable cameras for the catch and release fishing. Gives me a lot of peace of mind.

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Take a look at the Canon Sure Shot A-1.

i have owned many cameras, and now have 4 small 35s, and a serious canon single lens reflex.  my advice is, in small cameras, get either the canon above noted, or, for much better potential as you grow as a photographer, a nikon with zoom features. a. wayne harrison

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Camera World in Portland carries the Canon A-1 SureShot for about $135.  Water resistant to about 15ft.  Not a terribly sharp lense in my estimation and auto-focus is of course SLOW (I have been using one for a year, OK, but not sharp enough for large blowups or reproduction).  My favorite was an old Fujica zone focusing, rubber coated camera.  Had a VERY sharp lense, but camera is no longer made.  Nikon used to make a sealed compact camera…no longer made.  The NIkONOS works well but is in the $500 range (used).                         Mike in PDX                "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                                            Tom McGuane

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Does anyone have a favorite make/model camera for those quick-shots of/for either the trout-to-be-released or wildlife that suddenly cross the stream…?  Ideally needs to hang around neck.     please email (or post if preferred), much thanks..and tight_lines, Steve Drossel

I have a Pentax 90WR (water resistant) and love it.

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Take a look at the Canon Sure Shot A-1.  It’s a rugged little point and shoot with a very good lens and automatic focusing mechanism that is much better than point-and=shoots of a few years ago.  It also has a macro lens and is waterproof to something like 15 feet, plenty deep for any stream (ha) It doesn’t have a zoom lens– which I don’t find to be a drawback for fishing, but might limit your terrestrial wildlife photos.  Sells for around $225 with a date imprinting function, less without it.  Check the prices in the back of magazines like Pop Photo for the rock-bottom low $, or go to your local store for better service and a bit more $.

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Does anyone have a favorite make/model camera for those quick-shots of/for either the trout-to-be-released or wildlife that suddenly cross the stream…?  Ideally needs to hang around neck.     please email (or post if preferred), much thanks..and tight_lines, Steve Drossel

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Question:

The mission requires a boat, the Kenai is the best one to start on.  only a few minor rapids.  there is a boat rental in Anch. called Wild Alaska Rivers Co. on old seward hwy. (907-344-wild)  get a raft.  The only bummer on the trip is a lake that must be rowed across , you can also get a motor for more $.  but the trip on the skyloc lake is worth it.  Many camping possibiltiy and Bear are abundant.  A fisherman on the russian river was mauled on the butt,  lucky.  It’s the best way to avoid the crowds.   Iteleboard (Jon Y.)

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Yes, there are plenty of road accessible streams and rivers, but getting a guide is really the way to go.  Some of the rivers are quite robust and I wouldn’t want to fish them without boat access.  Also, for Kings especially, guides can quickly point out the common resting holes.   To begin, I would recommend getting the fishing regulations from the DNR and other tourist information.  These are very precise, and will point out flies only spots.Plenty of famous spots on the Kenai, but if you go for Kings it could be "combat fishing".  There are plenty of good spots off the main drag to Talkeetna…check the fishing regs for flies only locations. This can also be mobbed during the King runs.   For an absolutely fabulous car tour, drive an hour or two to Portage, put your car on the flat bed of a train to Whitier.  It goes right through the mountains…there’s no other way to get there.  Then at Whitier put the car on the fairy to Valdez (about 8 hrs.).  Fantastic views of Price William sound, glaciers, whales ect.  Spend the night at Valdez and fish the Copper River basin.  Good spots near Glenallen, without the Anchorage-based crowds (still recommedn a guide though).  From there take the dirt road to Denali, see the park, then down to fish the Talkeetna basin.  The perfect Alaska trip, and it will bring right next to some of the best fishing they have to offer.  Kings on Fly rod…WOW!  Monster rainbows…delicate char.  Lucky dog. Have a good one. Tom

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Dan:    Your query is one I have pursued for over 25 yrs.  Best suggestions:    Kenai River (if you can tolerate crowds), Deep Creek(same reservation), Anchor River (same) and a hike into Crescent Lake for greyling (float tube helpful); all above on the Kenai peninsula.  North of Anchorage try the Kepler Bradley Lakes (buy local folding maps which show lakes and raods) and further north, try lakes and streams along the Denali Hwy for wonderful greyling fishing, esp Clearwater Crk.  Local dealers at mcAfee’s fly shop and Mtn View Sprts. are helpful w/ directions. Good luck, Tom Nelson

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Hello, I’d like to go Anchorage, Alaska this summer and flyfish for any species of char, salmon, or trout without using guides or lodges.  I’d like to try to do this trip by driving from Anchorage (any distance) or taking a ferry and then wading or paddling on any streams or lakes. I’d like to camp or stay in motels.  So where and when are the best places for independent fishing, Kenai, North of Anchorage, or Kodiak, ect?  Are there any good books on the subject? Thanks in advance. Dan Janies University of Florida

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Question:

I made a nice find on a low-cost fly-tying storage box.  I bought a Flambeau 22060 toolbox that has six sliding drawers each about 12 by 8 inches.  Two are 3 inches deep and the others 2 inches deep.  The box opens on one side with a fold down panel.  The box is marketed for hand tools so the cost is resonable at $45.  For people with lots of hackes you will need a separate cedar box for storage of those large items.  Compared to nice wooden boxes and cordura/plastic fly tying boxes($100 to 300) this is a cost-effective solution I wanted to share. Question: does anyone have a mail-order source for Lamson reels that have good prices. Kent

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I made a nice find on a low-cost fly-tying storage box.  I bought a Flambeau 22060 toolbox that has six sliding drawers each about 12 by 8 inches.  Two are 3 inches deep and the others 2 inches deep.  The box opens on one side with a fold down panel.  The box is marketed for hand tools so the cost is resonable at $45.  For people with lots of hackes you will need a separate cedar box for storage of those large items.  Compared to nice wooden boxes and cordura/plastic fly tying boxes($100 to 300) this is a cost-effective solution I wanted to share.

When I was growing up, my Dad had a room with bookshelves filled with 1-gallon glass jars (from commercial kitchen quantities of mayonaise, mustard, ketchup, relish…) filled with cured necks, elk and deer body fur, dyed deer tails, polar bear fur, calves tails, squirrel tails, peacock eyes, yarns, etc.  He had friends who hunted and fished and he would trade flies he tied for furs and feathers they got hunting.  Also, it used to get us kids upset because we could never pass a roadkill without Dad wanting to get out and cut the tail or something.  His collection has dwindled over the years but the idea of using glass bottles to see everything on the shelves is very appealing.  The closed jars keep out bugs and seal in the smell of all the cured flesh, fur and feathers. Dad kept his threads in wooden cigar boxes labeled by color.  He had a boxes for white, black, brown, and misc. colored threads. Each spool had its own bobbin that he hand made from old coat hangers (back when they were of sufficient guage to be worth anything).  He bought head cement in quart tins and poured it, a small amount at a time, to a baby food jar and applied it with a needle stuck eye-end-in to a small piece of wood.   His hackle pliers were made from a coat hanger as well.  He decided on the length of wire needed, flattened out the ends and bent it appropriately.  He then glued two small, thin pieces of rubber (from an old gasket he found) inside the gripping faces for the dual purpose of a better grip on large hackles and to be gentle on delicate hackles.  They worked like a charm. Except for his Universal vice, most of his tools were hand made. Flytying doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition.  A little imagination and craftsmanship is all that is needed.   These days he’s sometimes too slow to react to a rise but he’s still the best fly tier I know of.  I’d rather fish his flies than anyone else’s.   If you don’t lose them in the bushes or in the mouth of that big one you tried to force out of some fast water, you can fish the same fly all day.  Too many times I’ve had to switch flies because one I bought in a shop became unraveled in the mouth of the first trout to hit it. — Steve Hammond                            * ^ // * /     Scientific Computing Division             /* /  _][     National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO     ______

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[Original orticle deleted] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -When I was growing up, my Dad had a room with bookshelves filled with 1-gallon glass jars (from commercial kitchen quantities of mayonaise, mustard, ketchup, relish…) filled with cured necks, elk and deer body fur, dyed deer tails, polar bear fur, calves tails, squirrel tails, peacock eyes, yarns, etc.  He had friends who hunted and fished and he would trade flies he tied for furs and feathers they got hunting.  Also, it used to get us kids upset because we could never pass a roadkill without Dad wanting to get out and cut the tail or something.  His collection has dwindled over the years but the idea of using glass bottles to see everything on the shelves is very appealing.  The closed jars keep out bugs and seal in the smell of all the cured flesh, fur and feathers. Dad kept his threads in wooden cigar boxes labeled by color.  He had a boxes for white, black, brown, and misc. colored threads. Each spool had its own bobbin that he hand made from old coat hangers (back when they were of sufficient guage to be worth anything).  He bought head cement in quart tins and poured it, a small amount at a time, to a baby food jar and applied it with a needle stuck eye-end-in to a small piece of wood.   His hackle pliers were made from a coat hanger as well.  He decided on the length of wire needed, flattened out the ends and bent it appropriately.  He then glued two small, thin pieces of rubber (from an old gasket he found) inside the gripping faces for the dual purpose of a better grip on large hackles and to be gentle on delicate hackles.  They worked like a charm. Except for his Universal vice, most of his tools were hand made. Flytying doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition.  A little imagination and craftsmanship is all that is needed.   These days he’s sometimes too slow to react to a rise but he’s still the best fly tier I know of.  I’d rather fish his flies than anyone else’s.   If you don’t lose them in the bushes or in the mouth of that big one you tried to force out of some fast water, you can fish the same fly all day.  Too many times I’ve had to switch flies because one I bought in a shop became unraveled in the mouth of the first trout to hit it.

Wonderful and wonderfully written rememberance of a classic fly tier! No fishing father could hope for better than this kind of education for and memory from his son.  Well said Steve! — Steve Hammond                            * ^ // * /     Scientific Computing Division                 /* /  _][     National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO     ______

Dr. James B. Comly (Jim)        Physicist, Artificial Intelligence 1 River Road                    Phone: (518)387-5920 Schenectady, NY 12301           Fax:   (518)387-6845

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