Question:

Sounds terrific but I do have a question. If i can’t see very well anyway do these still need to be tied in the dark. I’ll wait for your answer. Thanks Larry

Absolutely!  That is why the flys appear way out of proportion to a seasoned fly tier.  The wings are too long to aid in locating the hook eye via touch.  The tail is too long to let you know which end has the eye.  The clump of feathers is tied around the hook to allow the fly to float no matter which way it lands on the water.  It often floats side- ways anyway. — Wayne To Fish is Human….To Release Divine!

Response:

Sounds terrific but I do have a question. If i can’t see very well anyway do these still need to be tied in the dark. I’ll wait for your answer. Meanwhile I am working to develop a fly that will penetrate up to 1 inch of ice to make the wait for spring a bit better. I am making progress but tend to snap the top 7 or 8 inches from my rods. Perhaps a smaller rod is the answer, I will keep you posted. Thanks Larry

A fourteen foot beachcaster, using a slightly modified pendulum cast, ( more or less straight up !! ), a  steel crash helmet and heavy kevlar shoulder padding, coupled with titanium reinforced body armour, ( in case "straight up" is taken too literally ),coupled with an eight ounce reversed squid pirk, with the tangs removed. Should do the trick. While practising at the week-end ( only with a six ounce reverse torpedo lead ), a guy from the local club, who reckoned he was a fair caster, asked to try my gear, as he had the pedulum cast which I was demonstrating to a few blokes from the local club, off to a fine art. Always willing to learn, I handed him my gear, warned him that the reel had neither magnetic nor air brakes, and that the bearings were oiled and adjusted for maximum free running, I handed him my gear, and moved to one side. One or two of the spectators, obviously acquainted with the talents of our worthy, made a few comments to the effect of "Give it some welly Dave", "Go on Dave, show him how its done", and similar encouraging remarks. Spurred on by this, and after a few moments of silent concentration, Dave reached out with the rod, rose to his full height, and began to whirl at considerable speed. Pirouetting with the consummate grace of a world class ballet dancer, rising up on his toes, and simultaneously heaving with the sheer brute force of a professional hammer thrower, issuing a long and ululating grunt which would have shamed a raging gorrila into immediate submission,  he blasted off a cast which would surely have been close to a world record, if only it had gone forwards, carrying the line with it.  However, due to a slight miscalculation on his part ( The technical term for this particular miscalculation,  is apparently, "F&%

Question:

Peter,     I don’t know the Ross Colorado, but I have several Gunnison and Cimarron reels from Ross, and the drags are anything but wimpy.  The thing I like most about them is that they will adjust from dead zero to enough to hold back a 20 pound salmon heading back to the salt. I’ve also controlled Pike up to 25 pounds with these reels, and I’ve never wanted the drag as tight as it can go. Chas

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Somebody had asked a while back about Gallatin reels but I can’t find a reference to the post anymore.  I was browsing some reel web sites yesterday and I found Gallatin’s.  It turns out that the Gallatin reels shown on the site, are rebadged Marados.  These are Korean made machined and anodized reels that sell for very reasonable prices here. I have a Marado with a click & pawl drag and I’m quite satisfied with it.  They’re robustly made and feature the proven Hardy Marquis type drag, a ball-bearing at the base of the spindle, and a nice wood handle.  I used to own a Ross Colorado CO-0 and a CO-3; I prefer the Marado (Gallatin) to the Ross (wimpy drag on the Ross.) So to whoever asked, goferit.  The Marado (Gallatin) are among the best machined reel deals on the market (assuming the Gallatin prices are as reasonable as the Canadian Marado. – $135.00 CDN for the smallest model.) Peter Visit The Streamer Page at

http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Peter,    I don’t know the Ross Colorado, but I have several Gunnison and Cimarron reels from Ross, and the drags are anything but wimpy.  The thing I like most about them is that they will adjust from dead zero to enough to hold back a 20 pound salmon heading back to the salt. I’ve also controlled Pike up to 25 pounds with these reels, and I’ve never wanted the drag as tight as it can go. Chas

The Colorado has only a click & pawl drag with a single pawl and a very wimpy spring.  It comes with two springs but even with the heavy one installed, there isn’t half the resistance of a typical Hardy Marquis.  It’s very easy to overspool them if you strip line out too quickly.  They are nicely made but Ross should have copied Hardy instead of the drag design they’ve used. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

The Colorado has only a click & pawl drag with a single pawl and a very

wimpy spring.    A very wimpy spring that doesn’t last very long.  I have a couple of Colorados, shame on me for being fooled twice. One failed me miserably at the Ennis clave, and the local fly shops didn’t have a spare spring for sale. The other failed on an extended backpacking trip, causing the fishing to be a frustrating experience. When they fail, the spring loses it’s "springiness" all of a sudden, and the reel becomes a free spooling birdsnest. If you have a Colorado that hasn’t failed yet, ALWAYS carry the extra spring, because you’ll need it one day.

Response:

The Colorado has only a click & pawl drag with a single pawl and a very wimpy spring.   A very wimpy spring that doesn’t last very long.  I have a couple of Colorados, shame on me for being fooled twice. One failed me miserably at the Ennis clave, and the local fly shops didn’t have a spare spring for sale. The other failed on an extended backpacking trip, causing the fishing to be a frustrating experience. When they fail, the spring loses it’s "springiness" all of a sudden, and the reel becomes a free spooling birdsnest. If you have a Colorado that hasn’t failed yet, ALWAYS carry the extra spring, because you’ll need it one day.

I called the Ross factory about the springs and their rep told me that they had built the Colorado this way to replicate the "traditional" feel of a click-drag reel.  IMHO, if they wanted to do that, they should have stuck to a traditional design. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Somebody had asked a while back about Gallatin reels but I can’t find a reference to the post anymore.  I was browsing some reel web sites yesterday and I found Gallatin’s.  It turns out that the Gallatin reels shown on the site, are rebadged Marados.  These are Korean made machined and anodized reels that sell for very reasonable prices here. I have a Marado with a click & pawl drag and I’m quite satisfied with it.  They’re robustly made and feature the proven Hardy Marquis type drag, a ball-bearing at the base of the spindle, and a nice wood handle.  I used to own a Ross Colorado CO-0 and a CO-3; I prefer the Marado (Gallatin) to the Ross (wimpy drag on the Ross.)   So to whoever asked, goferit.  The Marado (Gallatin) are among the best machined reel deals on the market (assuming the Gallatin prices are as reasonable as the Canadian Marado. – $135.00 CDN for the smallest model.) Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Question:

Hello all, for those of you who expressed interest here is the address of my new website. It has been up for five minutes, and I rather bashed it together yesterday and today, so don’t expect too much at first.  There is not a lot there at the moment, but I will be adding to it almost daily for a while.

Got a problem, Mike. I couldn’t contact your server. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Never mind. I got it. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Hi Mike,    I am happy you found a Webb site for your great work.  The picture of that handsome young fellow holding the fly rod on the main page loaded a little slow and was a little dark.  I down loaded it, converted it to a compressed jpg file and tweaked the brightness a little.  It reduced the volume from 200K to 56K.  I think that would probably be better.  An there is one other thing you might think about changing.  As the picture was slowly loading I could read the first line under the picture which said " I hope you enjoy this site, please leave"  :-) Your friend, Ernie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, for those of you who expressed interest here is the address of my new website. It has been up for five minutes, and I rather bashed it together yesterday and today, so don’t expect too much at first.  There is not a lot there at the moment, but I will be adding to it almost daily for a while. http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/ Hope you enjoy it — "In order to achieve what is possible, one must constantly attempt the impossible"

Response:

http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/ Hope you enjoy it

Congrats Mike!  A job well done. bc. — The fruit derived from labor is the sweetest of all pleasures. — Marquis De Vauvenargues

Response:

Thanks Mike! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/

Response:

Mike, Thanks for posting your stories, flies, and other things.  It’s valuable information and an enjoyable read.  Now you have control of your site and it looks great.  It came up and quickly for me. Vern – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks Mike! http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/

Response:

Hello all, for those of you who expressed interest here is the address of my new website. It has been up for five minutes, and I rather bashed it together yesterday and today, so don’t expect too much at first.  There is not a lot there at the moment, but I will be adding to it almost daily for a while. http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/ Hope you enjoy it — "In order to achieve what is possible, one must constantly attempt the impossible"

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – says… Hello all, for those of you who expressed interest here is the address of my new website. It has been up for five minutes, and I rather bashed it together yesterday and today, so don’t expect too much at first.  There is not a lot there at the moment, but I will be adding to it almost daily for a while. http://www.connor.via.t-online.de/ Hope you enjoy it — "In order to achieve what is possible, one must constantly attempt the impossible" Hey! That’s pretty good Mike! I was poking in around the Yorkshire Flies area and I liked the work! I have yet to tie a soft hackle and I was curious how you fish these in still waters…

I saw the description of technique on the first page… Care to elicidate? The pond I fish is rather small so no current and some days there is very little if any wind! — Michael Era

Question:

ya, in n.w montana there are hangers around for rent.–60 a month for a 3 sided no door-100 for a door and dirt floor–200 concrete floor ,paved runway, electricity free. cheaper in some smaller areas. 500 a month for a 2 bedroom house or 80,000 to buy. all kinds of real backcountry strips, wilderness and forest service. look at the great falls sectional. within an hour you are in real wilderness with great fishing, camping ,hunting on the strips. northern idaho and n.w. montana are hard to beat. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there any anywhere in the West, like Wyoming, CA, NV, MT, ID?  I’m in the East and ready to go west.  Would you e-mail me if you don’t want to post in the group. Airports and hangar space are endangered species here in the East but get no protection.  My trusty ol’ taildragger and I are ready to go back out west where I can fly a little while I finish a homebuilt bushplane. I’m pushing 60 and need to hurry. Before you buy.

Response:

I have 20+ year rights to one spot in an excellent community hanger ($15,000) as well as an individual hanger ($25,500) at Shelby, NC (EHO).  Email for detail if serious.  You don’t have to go West only to Western North Carolina. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there any anywhere in the West, like Wyoming, CA, NV, MT, ID?  I’m in the East and ready to go west.  Would you e-mail me if you don’t want to post in the group. Airports and hangar space are endangered species here in the East but get no protection.  My trusty ol’ taildragger and I are ready to go back out west where I can fly a little while I finish a homebuilt bushplane. I’m pushing 60 and need to hurry. Before you buy.

Response:

  The individual hanger is no longer available.    Jerry

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have 20+ year rights to one spot in an excellent community hanger ($15,000) as well as an individual hanger ($25,500) at Shelby, NC (EHO).  Email for detail if serious.  You don’t have to go West only to Western North Carolina. Is there any anywhere in the West, like Wyoming, CA, NV, MT, ID?  I’m in the East and ready to go west.  Would you e-mail me if you don’t want to post in the group. Airports and hangar space are endangered species here in the East but get no protection.  My trusty ol’ taildragger and I are ready to go back out west where I can fly a little while I finish a homebuilt bushplane. I’m pushing 60 and need to hurry. Before you buy.

Response:

Is there any anywhere in the West, like Wyoming, CA, NV, MT, ID?  I’m in the East and ready to go west.  Would you e-mail me if you don’t want to post in the group. Airports and hangar space are endangered species here in the East but get no protection.  My trusty ol’ taildragger and I are ready to go back out west where I can fly a little while I finish a homebuilt bushplane. I’m pushing 60 and need to hurry. Before you buy.

Response:

James (???) Seriously?  OK.  Right now, at RSL (Russell, Kansas) I know of one NEW T-Hangar (Erect-A-Tube) that was built this spring for sale, in a group of 8 I believe, with power, concrete, bi-fold doors, concrete ramp.  The deal was, the people bought the hangars (materials and concrete price), city erected them and poured the concrete.  IIRC, one can be yours for right at $10K.  The city wouldn’t start the project before they were ALL sold, so a local vet that wanted one for his 180 Cherokee bought two that finished them up. Alternatively, if you want to build your own, you’re welcome to lease the property on the field to build on for long term (99 years IIRC) and build whatever you like, as long as you put an airplane in it.  Housing is dirt cheap with the farm economy in the toilet and most of the Oil guys just barely getting by right now.  Expect to pay 30% or less for a home around here than you would for an equivalent one in any metro area or anywhere back east. RSL is not unique.  There are lots of places that have similar situations. Look for small towns that are not served by commuters, but with nice airports, that are looking for, and in fact even actively courting, new planes to come in. BTW-There is an EAA Chapter at RSL and several homebuilts there now. I personally pay a total of $75/month for a 50X30 Brick T-hangar with an office and power (It’s an end T and the office is the dead space.)  In short, there are hangars and airports in the Midwest anyway, that are actively seeking your airplane. Happy hunting. — John Stricker "I didn’t spend all these years getting to the top of the food chain just to be a vegetarian" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there any anywhere in the West, like Wyoming, CA, NV, MT, ID?  I’m in the East and ready to go west.  Would you e-mail me if you don’t want to post in the group. Airports and hangar space are endangered species here in the East but get no protection.  My trusty ol’ taildragger and I are ready to go back out west where I can fly a little while I finish a homebuilt bushplane. I’m pushing 60 and need to hurry. Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

Has anyone had the chance to use these rods before?  I saw them at the Flyfishing Retailers Expo in Saltlake City and was quite impressed with them.  They seem really good looking, made in Florida by a new company. Components and quality seems to belie the fact that they are only priced around $100-200!  I’m going to get one to try out and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them.  I’m not endorsing or promoting them or am anyway associated with them.  Enuf said! Before you buy.

Response:

They seem really good looking, made in Florida by a new company. Components and quality seems to belie the fact that they are only priced around $100-200!  I’m going to get one to try out and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them.  I’m not endorsing or promoting them or am anyway associated with them.

To answer your question I have not heard of them, but now I have a question. Do you have a contact for the company or the ownership of this company, I have heard that len codella’s son was involved in a new graphite rod co. Len used to be with T&T who once had a line of rods called the Heritage series which they dropped, I think about the time Len left. If this is Len’s son’s company and if they are based on the old Heritage action I’m gonna have to buy a few. Thanks Wayne Knight (remove nospam to respond via mail) Expert in the creation of  wind knots and tailing loops.

Response:

A member of my TU chapter has been selling those Heritage rods.  I don’t know much about where they’re from (maybe Korean blanks?) but I liked the feel of them when we had a chance to try them out last spring.  We bought a bunch of them to replace the aging Cortlands we use in our flycasting classes – very good value.  We’re also going to raffle off a couple this year for fundraisers. –Stan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Has anyone had the chance to use these rods before?  I saw them at the Flyfishing Retailers Expo in Saltlake City and was quite impressed with them.  They seem really good looking, made in Florida by a new company. Components and quality seems to belie the fact that they are only priced around $100-200!  I’m going to get one to try out and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them.  I’m not endorsing or promoting them or am anyway associated with them.  Enuf said!

Response:

Cool! I will be calling them about buying a few.  I will keep you all updated.  This much I was told when I talked to them at the convention, they are somehow in league with Teton/Tioga folks, and that they roll their own blanks and are based in Florida.  They have only apparently been in business for 9 months and are currently trying to buuld up an inventory.  Presently they are unable to keep up with demand..or so I’ve been told. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A member of my TU chapter has been selling those Heritage rods.  I don’t know much about where they’re from (maybe Korean blanks?) but I liked the feel of them when we had a chance to try them out last spring.  We bought a bunch of them to replace the aging Cortlands we use in our flycasting classes – very good value.  We’re also going to raffle off a couple this year for fundraisers. –Stan Has anyone had the chance to use these rods before?  I saw them at the Flyfishing Retailers Expo in Saltlake City and was quite impressed with them.  They seem really good looking, made in Florida by a new company. Components and quality seems to belie the fact that they are only priced around $100-200!  I’m going to get one to try out and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them.  I’m not endorsing or promoting them or am anyway associated with them.  Enuf said!

Before you buy.

Response:

I’m interested in learning more. Do you have a contact, telephone #, City? Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cool! I will be calling them about buying a few.  I will keep you all updated.  This much I was told when I talked to them at the convention, they are somehow in league with Teton/Tioga folks, and that they roll their own blanks and are based in Florida.  They have only apparently been in business for 9 months and are currently trying to buuld up an inventory.  Presently they are unable to keep up with demand..or so I’ve been told. A member of my TU chapter has been selling those Heritage rods.  I don’t know much about where they’re from (maybe Korean blanks?) but I liked the feel of them when we had a chance to try them out last spring.  We bought a bunch of them to replace the aging Cortlands we use in our flycasting classes – very good value.  We’re also going to raffle off a couple this year for fundraisers. –Stan Has anyone had the chance to use these rods before?  I saw them at the Flyfishing Retailers Expo in Saltlake City and was quite impressed with them.  They seem really good looking, made in Florida by a new company. Components and quality seems to belie the fact that they are only priced around $100-200!  I’m going to get one to try out and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them.  I’m not endorsing or promoting them or am anyway associated with them.  Enuf said! Before you buy.

Response:

Well, i just spoke to Phil who was the older gentleman I met at the show.  He said that they are at the moment unable to keep up with the orders and it’ll be at least two mths before he’s caught up.  They can only make about 500 rods a week at the moment.  He is going to try to get me a 6wt and an 8 wt to test out.  They also have spey rods and their travel rods won’t be available till next year. I did manage to get more info about the rods: They don’t have the warranties that Redington has, nor do they come with fancy tubes and cases.  Most of the rods are black on black, stainless SIC stripping guides, stainless snake guides, aluminum reel seats on the saltwater models, wood on the others.  Nice finish on the rods in my opinion. Phil also said that for those of you who are interested, your best bet is to contact your nearest Teton/Tioga dealer abt the rods. I’ll let you all know when I get the rods. Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

Can anyone recommend any winter fishing locations in WV? DCB

Response:

Talk to Oakey at Cranberry Wilderness Outfitters in Fenwick.  I’ve fished with him before.  He told me of a few places. Thinking of calling him myself.  Sorry, don’t have the number with me.  The area code is 304. Good luck.

Response:

Question:

Ask Kiene about Shad. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’d love some suggestions for locations to fly fish near Sacramento or Napa….. I’m forced to be in the area in the evenings and have all of my fishing gear, but just don’t have the time to make it to the redding area. Thanks for the help, tight lines. Marc! assistants at 800/4000 FLYor better visit the  Kiene’s Fly Shop, 2654 Marconi Avenue, Sacramento, and they will tell you all you need to know. They are great fellows, they know the area and it’s one of the nicest fly shops i have visited! //Thorsten

Response:

I’d love some suggestions for locations to fly fish near Sacramento or Napa….. I’m forced to be in the area in the evenings and have all of my fishing gear, but just don’t have the time to make it to the redding area. Thanks for the help, tight lines.

Response:

I’d love some suggestions for locations to fly fish near Sacramento or Napa….. I’m forced to be in the area in the evenings and have all of my fishing gear, but just don’t have the time to make it to the redding area. Thanks for the help, tight lines.

Marc! assistants at 800/4000 FLYor better visit the  Kiene’s Fly Shop, 2654 Marconi Avenue, Sacramento, and they will tell you all you need to know. They are great fellows, they know the area and it’s one of the nicest fly shops i have visited! //Thorsten

Response:

I’d love some suggestions for locations to fly fish near Sacramento or Napa….. I’m forced to be in the area in the evenings and have all of my fishing gear, but just don’t have the time to make it to the redding area. Thanks for the help, tight lines.

Marc! Kiene’s Fly Shop, 2654 Marconi Avenue, Sacramento, or call him or his assistants at 800/4000 FLY and they will tell you all you need to know. //Thorsten

Response:

Question:

GRAND CANYON TRIP REPORT (a fictitious account)

 Nicely written/related.  Reading your account makes me yearn for the Canyon.  Hmmmm, wait 17 years, pay $700 plus in fees and risk the no-mercy permit system, or go now, avoid the inane bureaucracy and risk $3000-4000 Happy Boating, Chris Donohue WSU – Pullman, WA "I used up all my sick days, so I’m calling in dead."                                                         – Anonymous

Response:

GRAND CANYON TRIP REPORT (a fictitious account)

Great story;  what an adventure!  But, if the following is true: If one is to plan a clandestined run of the Canyon, best to do it during the off-season when not many people are likely to be encountered.  And of course, don’t get caught.  I hear the fine for running the Canyon without a permit is in the $3000-4000 range!!!   WOWWW!

why not just get a "cancellation permit" and run the river legal? Are there not plenty of open slots off season? — Chris

Response:

GRAND CANYON TRIP REPORT (a fictitious account)

Hummm!!! "Fictitious account"????  Sounds fishy to me.  A few months ago Rocky wants to know from this group how to avoid rangers with radios on the Grand and now this story??!!!?  :-)

Response:

| GRAND CANYON TRIP REPORT (a fictitious account) | | | Hummm!!! "Fictitious account"????  Sounds fishy to me.  A few months ago | Rocky wants to know from this group how to avoid rangers with radios on | the Grand and now this story??!!!?  :-) He was prob’ly just researchin’ the story just like any other fiction writer would. Of course, perhaps there was _other_ research involved in ensuring the story had dramatic impact and audience appeal with a feeling of truth. Let’s see what other tales Rocky comes up with. SYITP (see you in the pool) Ken

Response:

why not just get a "cancellation permit" and run the river legal? Are there not plenty of open slots off season? — Chris

Actually I tried calling over 40 times last fall and didn’t get a cancellation.  They can be had, but it’s getting tougher and tougher to get them.  I don’t think it’s any easier getting cancellations in winter than in other months, because they reserve so few for the off-season anyway. -Rocky

Response:

What would the probablity of success be? ;-

Response:

What would the probablity of success be? ;-

Probability best if you go November or December.  Good if you go January or February, or October.  Next time I hear Joe plans on going in October because there’s no motorized rafts permitted that month and the weather is still pretty warm (highs 80s).   -Rocky

Response:

: why not just get a "cancellation permit" and run the river legal? : Actually I tried calling over 40 times last fall and didn’t get a            ^ : cancellation. : -Rocky Ummm, don’t you mean ‘Joe’ called? Steve — Steve Cramer                     Test Scoring & Reporting Services      Sometimes you never can University of Georgia                    always tell what you Athens, GA 30602-5593                      least expect the most.

Response:

: why not just get a "cancellation permit" and run the river legal? : Actually I tried calling over 40 times last fall and didn’t get a           ^ : cancellation. : -Rocky Ummm, don’t you mean ‘Joe’ called? Steve —

Oh, NO, Rocky didn’t mean "I" as in the first person.  He meant "I" as in an *initial*.  Another initial that Joe uses is "G". Isn’t that right, Rocky? Jackie                                  _                        _   _        _   _                     \                      / /       / /                     \                        "          "                         `                                        ,sSSs,,                         )w/(       ,sSS..)/{)                       <<..       sSSS_v)/                      )<*      sSS[(_]___         o                                                 o                             \     o      o                                              \  o            o                                  `                                                    o           o               o                                                  o GASP! – A forum for Gulf (of Mexico) Area Sea Paddlers http://www.intelenet.net/clubs/gasp/

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GRAND CANYON TRIP REPORT (a fictitious account)      The Grand Canyon is perhaps the finest river trip in the world.  A minimum of 225 miles must be traversed through the canyon to be able to put-in and take-out on roads.  The Colorado runs through the National Park in this area, and a permit is required.  It is a BIG DEAL.  Only approximately 350 private permits are issued per year.  If you put your name on the waiting list last year, you go behind 6000 other permit seekers.  That translates to 6000/350=17 YEARS before you get your permit!!!  Granted, for each permit you can have 20 people and stay in the canyon 14-30 days, but is there a place for the non-wealthy person that wants to go on a shorter trip, alone, or with only one or two others?  Should he/she just wait 17 years for such a permit, and then put to waste all those people spots and extra time that the permit allows?  For some, this is just too outrageous.  Better to become an outlaw and do the run without a permit.      Such was the attitude of one adventure seeker I know ("Joe").   Sometime in December, when a week could be taken off, the trip was planned.  Carefully -mind you.  Timing is critical.  No motorized craft are permitted in the canyon from September 15-December 15.  One doesn’t want a ranger speeding up behind you and catching you.  Such an event happened to me in Canyonlands National Park in 1994 when I was doing a solo trip from Loma to Hite through Cataract Canyon.  It would be nice to be able to locate rangers in the canyon to avoid any contact.  A CB radio was brought along.  At the South Rim, the rangers would not tell Joe what frequency they used.  All he got out of them was "the radios don’t work down in the canyon."  Perhaps they use special frequencies reserved for law enforcement people.  Hence the CB was not taken on the river.  How about put-ins?  Lees Ferry is the normal spot swarming with rangers, though Joe, having never done the Canyon before, didn’t know what the Lees Ferry area looked like.  Instead, he tried to put in 15 miles upstream at Glen Canyon Dam.  Upon arrival at Glen Canyon Dam, he noticed that there was no road down to the river there, and the walls are nearly vertical.  In the Dam visitor center, a kind woman informed Joe that there was a trail down to the river on river left just below the dam, but it was treacherous and takes about a half hour down.  Joe decided that this wasn’t the best idea, so decided to take his chances at Lees Ferry, perhaps launching at night when nobody could see.  Joy entered Joe’s heart when the lady informed him that they were releasing 13000-19000 cfs from the dam.  He had thought there would only be 8000 cfs in the river (as stated on the Colorado Flow Page).   More water = faster travel and funner rapids!      Off to Lees Ferry he went, arriving in the afternoon about 2 pm.   From the highway, a road several miles long leads down to the river at Lees Ferry.  It seemed terribly easy to get down to the river without anybody spotting him.  He settled on a spot by the Paria Riffle, just downstream of the Paria River, by some mobile home type areas, but right next to the water.  There was a nice large parking area and lots of shrubs/trees that the clandestined activitiy of loading the kayak could be accomplished at.  The normal put-in spot could be viewed about a half mile upstream.  The plan was to get everything out/off of the truck (the kayak as quickly as possible, since such a sight is a dead give-away), load up everything into the kayak, then drive back up to the little town of Marble Canyon and find somebody to drive the truck to near the take-out – Las Vegas.  Joe was thinking of finding a party of two or more going to Las Vegas, and having them leave his truck in the Excaliber (or Luxor) parking lot.  Joe would then return to the boat at dusk and launch.  At the takeout (Temple Bar on Lake Mead), he would get a lift into Las Vegas, drive back and pick up the kayak.  Such was the plan.  As he was loading the kayak, a car drove by and then down to the same spot Joe was at.  Very apprehensive at first, Joe hid everything that might give away his planned activity and approached the vehicle.   The Gods were in Joe’s favor!  The vehicle contained three foreigners – an Aussie, an Englishwoman, and an Israeli all in their 20s-early 30s.   Joe asked, "Sightseeing?" and so began a productive conversation.  The three were staying at the hostel in Page and just mosying around seeing whatever there was to see.  Just PERFECT!  Out of Joe’s mouth came the plan to run the river and the need for someone to drive his truck to Las Vegas.  He offered them $40 if they’d do it.  It turns out the Israeli, named Udi, actually was not with the other two, but was just bumming rides from people going around the country.  He had to get to LA in the next couple weeks to fly home.  After about a half hour of thought, Udi agreed to take the truck.  Joe told Udi he’d give him $60 if he went so far as to leave the truck at the take-out (Temple Bar on Lake Mead) instead of Las Vegas, and this he agreed to.  Joe planned 7 more days on the river, and told Udi, "you must have the truck at Temple Bar by dusk eight days from now."    So Joe took off into the wild, still anxious about a ranger spotting him in the first few miles.        Having launched around 3:30 pm the first day, not much distance could be made.  The days are short in December (10 hours of light), so every daylight hour is precious.  Passing the Navajo Bridge after several miles with no signs of rangers, Joe knew he was out of danger.   It grew dark after he had paddled 8 or 9 miles.  Badger Creek rapid was run in twilight.  The next four miles were quite exciting in the dark. Coming up on Soap Creek he noticed a couple lights.  Afraid it might be the law, he avoided contact with the campers, but paddled just past them as the Soap Creek rapid began, pulling over to the side to camp.   Paddling though a rapid such as Soap Creek was not smart in the dark – espially never having seen it before.  Quickly setting up his tent, he settled in for a fine meal of split-pea soup, bread, and cheese (to be had the next two nights as well), with hot chocolate to top it off.   Laying in the sleeping bag, he quickly fell asleep starting to read (around 8 pm).  In the night he heard what sounded like people walking around his tent.  Waking up at 4 am, he continued to read his recently purchased book by JW Powell, "The Exploration of the Colorado and Its Canyons".  In it he read about Powell’s group travelling through Marble Canyon and then reaching the Grand Canyon.  He also brought along "Cadillac Desert" which contained an abundance of information on the politics of water control in the West.        Before the first sign of light, Joe got up and stalked over to where the other campers were.  They must have hiked in, for there was no raft by the river.  And there was only one tent, so not very many people were there.  He wasn’t worried anymore.  He went back and started on a run up Soap Creek Canyon for almost an hour (getting up the canyon probably  2 miles or so before returning).  The water had dropped during the night – he’d be paddling on 13000 cfs today.  Joe went over to meet the camping couple, who were trying their luck at fishing.  He asked if they’d take some video of him going through Soap Creek Rapid, which they obliged him.  He was off at 9 am.   The boat he paddled was an old fiberglass Phoenix, something of a hybrid sea/whitewater kayak – probably about 90 gallons, 14 ft.  It was banged up from other rivers, and had been patched a year ago.  It leaked horribly, the outfitting was falling out (in particular a loose right hip pad), but it was fast.   Luckily Joe brought a sponge and bilge pump, which he had to use every half hour to remove the inch of water that accumulated on the bottom of the kayak.  Such a large boat is not great for playing, but since Joe wasn’t planning on much of that, the Phoenix was an ideal kayak for the journey.  If he had one, a nice sea kayak would have been preferred.   Paddling most of the time he was on the water, very good time was made on the journey.  The second day he made it to Nankoweap (about 42 miles from Soap Creek), passing House Rock Rapid, Stanton’s Cave, and the beautiful Vasey’s Paradise on the way.  Initially he had trouble finding Stanton’s Cave, looking up a gully that was actually just upstream of it.  Giving up after almost an hour of searching, he continued on paddling, only to spot the cave clearly from the river.  It is fenced off inside to help promote the BLACK Bat to roost in there once more.   In the side canyons above Nankoweap several deer were spotted among the mesquite bushes.  Around mile 40 a group of 5-6 rafts was passed (clearly a private party), though no contact was made.  At Nankoweap the guidebook states there is a long rapid (Grand Canyon class 3), but which is really not more than a class one.  Joe tried to camp at side canyons with fun hikes that he would do in the morning, and also ones with driftwood that he could build a small fire for warmth with.  Such was Nankoweap.  Fires are only permitted in the off-season (October through March), and all traces must be removed.  Joe didn’t take out the ashes (very minor amounts), but usually threw them in the river.  Of course Joe did pack out all solid human waste and trash.      The next morning he rose before dawn and started on the run/hike to see the springs a few miles up the canyon, and also the Indian ruins.   The stream here is perennial, with fresh, clear, cold water running down it.  It all originates up at the springs which are a good hike away.   The water seeps out of the ground in several spots up there, and there are many reeds growing around the springs.  Going fast, running much of

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    GRAND CANYON TRIP REPORT (a fictitious account)                     <big ol’ snip         realated by Rocky Contos               Thanks for the great story!  Too bad "Joe" is fictictious, sounds like     a hell of a paddler!

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Question:

Try Cortland gf1000, not expensive and very feely

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Levine) writes: I find a lot of the fun missing from fly fishing since I gave up (gave away) my fiberglass rod and went with graphite. Would appreciate feedback on specific graphite rods with a more traditional action, i.e. more flex, more like glass or bamboo.

Last year I bought a 7 foot 4 weight, parabolic action rod under the name Versatex. I believe it was manufactured in Pennsylvania. Prior to purchase I was able to compare a Fisher and a Loomis of the same length/weight ratio. Both the Fisher and Loomis were stiff as broomsticks and would not cast over 45 feet. This little Vesatex cast over 65 feet and had a nice medium action feel. I was purposely looking for a slower rod for the little ones on some of the Sierra streams. The price was about half that of the two name brands mentioned. I can’t vouch for the other rods in their line, actually I did’nt like the 9 foot 6 weight at all, but this particular model was so good that 3 other of my club members purchased one after trying mine out. — Guy Manning

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I have a Sage 490 Lightline, their slow action rod in 4 wt/9 ft. Very smooth feel, casts nicely to 60 ft, length makes for great roll casts.  I think it is about $390.  You can buy the blanks for about $150 from Sage and have someone build the rod, which saves a little money.  

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: I find a lot of the fun missing from fly fishing since I gave up : (gave away) my fiberglass rod and went with graphite. : Would appreciate feedback on specific graphite rods with a more : traditional action, i.e. more flex, more like glass or bamboo. Thomas and Thomas heritage series.  Very nice feel, with that slow cane action.  I’ve heard that the Hexagraph rods are also nice, and the winstons are pretty slow for graphite. I still like the T&T ‘tho…..     best, Hans — Hans T.H. Beernink, Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont

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I find a lot of the fun missing from fly fishing since I gave up (gave away) my fiberglass rod and went with graphite. Would appreciate feedback on specific graphite rods with a more traditional action, i.e. more flex, more like glass or bamboo.

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says… I find a lot of the fun missing from fly fishing since I gave up (gave away) my fiberglass rod and went with graphite. Would appreciate feedback on specific graphite rods with a more traditional action, i.e. more flex, more like glass or bamboo.

        Philip,         That’s easy! Powell makes two series of rod that might fit your casting tastes. The West Branch and the Signature Series are the models. Also, the Scott Rod Co. in Telluride, Co. makes an outstanding rod that has a little more back bone. There is one however that I’ve never cast or seen and that is a Hexagraph. I have seen it advertised in several of the magazines. It claims to be a bamboo rod, but made out of graphite.                                 Good luck,                                 Clint Bailey

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Question:

Does anyone know about fishing in Western Mass., particularity around Turners Falls/Greenfield and/or in Lake Quabin? I’m interested in knowing about bass, trout and/or what-ever-there-is fishing. I also love flyfishing.                  Thank you in advance!

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Does anyone know about fishing in Western Mass., particularity around Turners Falls/Greenfield and/or in Lake Quabin? I’m interested in knowing about bass, trout and/or what-ever-there-is fishing. I also love flyfishing.                 Thank you in advance!

I fished Quabin resevoir with my dad in the 60’s.  Most folks fished for lake trout.  I liked to cast spoons or spinners from shore and sometimes hooked some nice sized rainbows (19 inches).  I also liked to head up that creek which was full of brook trout at that time.  Since then I have heard that atlantic salmon have been introduced and have produced some excellent fishing.  There was a river called the icy river I think that was popular for trout.  Can’t remember where it was. Andy S.

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