Question:

Can anyone tell me about fishing oportunities on Whidbey Island in Washington state? My daughter is moving up there in September, and when I visit I’d like to do some fly fishing. I realize there are not any steams on the Island, but how about Sea run Cutts??

Response:

There is a group www.waflyfishers.com Get on the mailing list and they send fishing reports and you can ask questions etc. I am just guessing but I would say about 80% of the salmon that go into Puget Sound go past Whidby Island and the Salmon fishing is just heating up. September and October are good months also. HTH Dave —

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone tell me about fishing oportunities on Whidbey Island in Washington state? My daughter is moving up there in September, and when I visit I’d like to do some fly fishing. I realize there are not any steams on the Island, but how about Sea run Cutts??

Response:

Can anyone tell me about fishing oportunities on Whidbey Island in Washington state? My daughter is moving up there in September, and when I visit I’d like to do some fly fishing. I realize there are not any steams on the Island, but how about Sea run Cutts??

Sea-run cutts and steelhead usually can be found along the southern and eastern shore of the island.   If you are going to be a fairly frequent visitor, you should consider getting a float tube and leaving it there.  Pass Lake, just east of Deception Pass (up at the north end of the island) has excellent fishing, mainly by float tube or non-motorized boat. At certain times of year (mostly the Fall), it also would be well worth the drive to the Stilliguamish River (plenty of cutts in the Fall).  The Stilly is between Everett and Mt. Vernon on the mainland.  You can get there either by driving north across the Deception Pass bridge, and then into Mt. Vernon and south to the river or you can drive to the south end of the island (to Clinton), take the ferry, then drive north to the river (the former route takes less time).

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The best place I found for Sea-Runs on the north end of the Island was by the old ice house on the NAS Whidbey Sea Plane base (Which is an open base so access is not a problem). Fish flashy flies on a falling tide on the gravel banks which can easily be done from shore. Pass lake is good and the best fishing is usually Damsels and Chironomids, although it’s tough to go wrong with the bugger family. On Anacortes as well is Whistle Lake up under Mt Erie. It’s an uphill walk in of about a mile but very remote feeling and a mixed fishery of warm and cold water species. Don’t leave anything in your car that you expect to be there when you get back. fair warning from experience. Not a whole lot on the south end of the isalnd that I was aware of but since I lived in Anacortes it wasn’t really worth the trip. If you head up Highway 20 towards Concrete there are numerous small streams but please treat the fish with care as many you catch will not be trout but immature Steelies. I do recommend the milkshakes at the place with the fiberglass cow out in front of it, particularly the Boysenberry. I of course, am deeply envious I would love to be back out there. Cheers, Allen Epps Catonsville MD – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone tell me about fishing oportunities on Whidbey Island in Washington state? My daughter is moving up there in September, and when I visit I’d like to do some fly fishing. I realize there are not any steams on the Island, but how about Sea run Cutts?? Sea-run cutts and steelhead usually can be found along the southern and eastern shore of the island. If you are going to be a fairly frequent visitor, you should consider getting a float tube and leaving it there.  Pass Lake, just east of Deception Pass (up at the north end of the island) has excellent fishing, mainly by float tube or non-motorized boat. At certain times of year (mostly the Fall), it also would be well worth the drive to the Stilliguamish River (plenty of cutts in the Fall).  The Stilly is between Everett and Mt. Vernon on the mainland.  You can get there either by driving north across the Deception Pass bridge, and then into Mt. Vernon and south to the river or you can drive to the south end of the island (to Clinton), take the ferry, then drive north to the river (the former route takes less time).

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Question:

I’m planning a 9 day flyfishing trip to the northern Calif area and plan to visit areas like  Hat Creek, McCloud, Truckee, Owens, etc. When would be the best time to do this between early August and October? Thanks.

Response:

Skiroc,    Any time after school starts. Ernie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m planning a 9 day flyfishing trip to the northern Calif area and plan to visit areas like  Hat Creek, McCloud, Truckee, Owens, etc. When would be the best time to do this between early August and October? Thanks.

Response:

To minimize backroad travel. I would checkout deer hunting seasons on the places you are going. FWIW, if you are going to fish Hat Creek, and maybe wonder on East and fish Fall River, then I suggest you head on East to Alturas in California’s most Northeast county then go South on 395 to Likely California and go East into the Warner Mountains Wilderness area.  They have a Red Band strain of the McCloud Rainbow that is truly a magnificent fish to catch and release. There are a number of lakes and streams in the area that are an easy hike in with float tube.  Due to the sensitive nature of the habitat of these very special animals, this is all of the info I’ll post but for more info e-mail me. Compared to the hordes of folk at Hat Creek, Truckee and Walker, this area will knock your socks off at the lack of people.  I think Alturas, the county seat of Lompoc county has, uh 3 stoplights?  This beautiful part of the West (NW Nevada, SCentral Oregon NE California) is remote 4×4, tent camping off the road fishing on small high mountain streams and high country lakes. Unlike those other places, when the jokers run out of Powerbait here, there aint no 7/11 nearby! Enjoy! John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m planning a 9 day flyfishing trip to the northern Calif area and plan to visit areas like  Hat Creek, McCloud, Truckee, Owens, etc. When would be the best time to do this between early August and October? Thanks.

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Question:

Does anyone know of an island with good fly fishing in the Caribbean? I’m specifically talking about the Eastern Caribbean, the islands they call the Lesser Antilles. My wife wants to go on vacation there, and I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do while she lies on the beach… Thanks for any help. Simon Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

The Virgin Islands have a few flats. St John is actually very nice is many ways. You have to be careful though. I was held up at gun point in St Thomas last year when fishing probably the best flat which is off a beach that only locals go to. St John does not have that problem and is mostly a national park. I. Clair

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Question:

I fell in love with the elk-hair caddis last summer as I learned on the Logan River and Franklin Basin. But now it is obvious that dry-flys without sunny days don’t work.

It’s more like dry flies without bugs in the air won’t work. In fact, overcast days are usually more productive than sunny days. The fish are cautious of predators on sunny days. — something bogus to avoid spam)

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I started my love of fly-fishing on the Logan River in Utah.  I have recently moved to Ogden, Utah.   A few kindred soles have told me areas of the Weber and Ogden River to try.  The local fly shop (there being only one I can find in Ogden) tells me "nymphs, nymphs, nymphs". The problem is what nymphs?   I don’t have much if any experience working nymphs.  The truth is this is my first winter at fly-fishing.  I fell in love with the elk-hair caddis last summer as I learned on the Logan River and Franklin Basin. But now it is obvious that dry-flys without sunny days don’t work. What I need is a fishing buddy in the area.  Any one in the area looking for some one to fish with? Thanks, Jason

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Question:

just anwser these questens. how do you cast? how do you tell what line to use? how do you real in? how do you cast back out? what bate should i use? hi from payday8887

Response:

just anwser these questens. how do you cast? how do you tell what line to use? how do you real in? how do you cast back out? what bate should i use? hi from payday8887

Please just go here and read up on it: http://www.myhost.com/flyfishing101/ Good luck. PK

Response:

FINALLY, a helpful response to a perfectly innocent question. How can you guys respond so negatively to a beginner in a sport you care about. Lighten up and pitch in with the training or you’ll end up with another idiot on the bank spin casting. Sniping at a guy’s spelling on the internet, that’s a hoot!

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Don’t get too hung up on form.  Develop some basic techniques and then practice.

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Question:

What’s your favorite all-purpose fly line and why? So far mine is a SA Steelhead 8 wt.

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What’s your favorite all-purpose fly line and why? So far mine is a SA Steelhead 8 wt.

Mine is a Scientific Anglers Deep Water Express Shooting Head. Not a pleasant to cast, but it gets to the fish. Always have to go deep! Of course I’m on the West Coast. *peace* -Robert

Response:

What’s your favorite all-purpose fly line and why? So far mine is a SA Steelhead 8 wt.

Mine is the Scientific Anglers weight forward Ultra 3.  I have it in floating Sinshine Yellow, and sink tip in Buckskin.  Both are supple, but have a polished slippery coating.  They cast far! JB

Response:

What’s your favorite all-purpose fly line and why? So far mine is a SA Steelhead 8 wt. Mine is a Scientific Anglers Deep Water Express Shooting Head. Not a pleasant to cast, but it gets to the fish. Always have to go deep! Of course I’m on the West Coast.

My favorite in any wieght is the Wulff Triangle Taper Fly Lines.  These lines don’t last as many seasons as some others on the market but they are extremely supple, cast like a shooting head and best of all make roll casting in tight quarters a breeze. Good Fishing C. Segina

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Cortland 444 dt 5-6-7 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What’s your favorite all-purpose fly line and why? So far mine is a SA Steelhead 8 wt.

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Question:

The Bronco’s are so bad I moved away from Colorado Rather than Catch Stocked Trout or watch Dan Reeves another season. Both losers. Mr. G.

Response:

ROFLOL ! — TimW Halfordian Golfer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Bronco’s are so bad I moved away from Colorado Rather than Catch Stocked Trout or watch Dan Reeves another season. Both losers. Mr. G.

Response:

The Bronco’s are so bad I moved away from Colorado Rather than Catch Stocked Trout or watch Dan Reeves another season. Both losers. Mr. G.

Mr.G:  Dan Reeves is no longer head coach of the Broncos. "Stalked trout?". Sounds like you need to visit the http://www.nfl.com website rather than flame a football team on a fly fishing news group!  Better yet go to comp.sys.intel where you can participate in complaining over Win95. Or better yet again… just go fishing!  ;-) Kurt Weiss

Response:

Washington’s loss is Colorado’s gain. I suppose you enjoy watching the f***ing Seahawks? Jeff Runner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Bronco’s are so bad I moved away from Colorado Rather than Catch Stocked Trout or watch Dan Reeves another season. Both losers. Mr. G.

Response:

The Bronco’s are so bad I moved away from Colorado Rather than Catch Stocked Trout or watch Dan Reeves another season.

Elway aside, it’s really no fun catching trout in those "Rectangular" States anyway…                            - jqt –

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Question:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA. Dave Felter

Response:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA. Dave Felter

one thing about runoff, well two things…. 1) you can always, always fish no matter how high or muddy and nail nice ones. 2) you can always, always go high enough in altitude to the sources which should be in fine shape. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA.

The rivers are dropping and clearing.  I think you’ll have good fishing. 2) you can always, always go high enough in altitude to the sources which should be in fine shape.

How heavy does my sink-tip have to be to get my fly down in the snow-field? — -Wayne Trzyna

Response:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA. The rivers are dropping and clearing.  I think you’ll have good fishing. 2) you can always, always go high enough in altitude to the sources which should be in fine shape. How heavy does my sink-tip have to be to get my fly down in the snow-field?

then you’re getting too high, Wayne…<g… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA. Dave Felter

The hydrographs I have seen show the West Slope to be about 10-14 days behind the East Slope for runoff. On the East Slope runoff is only now slowing substantially. My forecast is that it will be another week or two before levelling off to something like normal summer conditions; the west slope should follow by another week or so. Still fishable, though. Ken Clark Ft. Lupton, CO

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Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [some deleted] The gist was that FFF is in serious money trouble.  He didn’t give any details, so I don’t know how it happened, who is/are responsible, or what is being done to correct the situation, but one thing the organization is doing is raising annual dues to $29.00 to counter a dramatic decrease in membership. Greetings Granite. What on earth could the FFF done that would result in a *dramatic decrease* in membership ? "Hmmm….", he ponders deeply. Very interesting indeed. Is "the new flyfishing craze that is sweeping America" ebbing ? One can only hope. TimW

Amen to that.  I’m ready to pounce on all that barely used second-hand gear that will undoubtedly flood the classifieds if such an ebb occurs. Brett

Response:

Here is a forwarded response for wondering readers: To: Dave Richards Dave: A copy of your note about the Federation’s troubles was forwarded to me tonight, and I thought your questions deserved an answer. The simple answers are: — Yes, the Federation has financial problems. Who doesn’t? — Yes, membership is down. But that can be remedied. — No, we’re not even close to shutting down. Frankly, I see too many opportunities to even think about closing shop. I stepped in as president in August, not because I have any wish to preside over the Federation’s demise, but because there are so many things I want to do. And I intend to be quite aggressive in doing them. A few examples: — The FFF Clubwire. Quite an innovative news service intended to help club and council newsletter editors, who in the past have had to beg, borrow, steal material to fill their pages. Now, they have routine access to information from the Federation about education activities, conservation issues, Federation news and fly-fishing in general. This free service is available by E-mail to every FFF chapter and has been getting enthusiastic response since its introduction this past summer. — The Flyfisher is being redesigned to deliver a more-targeted message to our members. You’ll see the first changes in this upcoming issue. — You mentioned the upcoming increase in dues, but you’ve been given misleading information about the reason. I asked the board of directors in August to approve the increase, not to bail out our finances, but to allow the national office to begin paying money back to the councils. Simply put, national will rebate $5 back to the councils for every member they add as off Aug. 1, 1996. I don’t deny that I hope such a program will inspire the councils to work harder to generate more members, but the reasons go beyond that. The councils carry a great deal of responsibility and do a lot of the Federation’s work, and it’s about time they started getting some financial support from national. — In the past year or so, we’ve distributed something like $20,000-$25,000 in free rods and lines for clubs to use in their education programs. Perhaps you’re more interested in conservation matters. If so, it’s that much more important to keep the Federation around. We were instrumental in having the National Marine Fisheries Service invoke the Endangered Species Act in protecting West Coast steelhead this year; we sponsored the first symposium ever on saving searun cutthroat trout; we have been active in banning gill nets along the Gulf of Mexico; we joined a coalition to get the Magnuson Act reauthorized by Congress; we are sponsors of next year’s Wild Trout symposium; we are the experts on the relicensing of hydro dams and have been especially effective with this issue in the Great Lakes area; and we were an important voice in opposing the New World Mine adjacent to Yellowstone Park. And in a couple weeks, we’re hosting the only public forum (via our newly opened International Fly Fishing Center) designed to explain what’s going on with the damaged spring creeks near Livingston, Mont. We won’t take sides in this difficult situation, but we think it’s important that everyone have the chance to hear all the arguments. Please accept my apologies if I’m pummeling you with stuff. But I’m at work, it’s late and I’m trying to go home. If you still need answers, let me know. I’m happy to give them. In the meantime, let me assure you that the problems we face can and will be handled, and you’re going to see a much more active Federation than you might have otherwise expected. And pardon me if I revert to one of my favorite Mark Twain quotes: The news of our death is much exaggerated. Regards, Tom Jindra

Response:

I received a fairly disturbing communique recently from the head of the local chapter of the Federation of Fly Fishers.  I’m not sure when it arrived since I was out of town for a couple of weeks.  It could be old news, although I doubt it. The gist was that FFF is in serious money trouble.  He didn’t give any details, so I don’t know how it happened, who is/are responsible, or what is being done to correct the situation, but one thing the organization is doing is raising annual dues to $29.00 to counter a dramatic decrease in membership. I’m also a member of another national orgainzation unrelated to fly fishing that has undergone a similar near-disaster and has recovered.  In that case the financial disaster was directly related to bad advice from a tax attorney and fiscal incompetence on the part of the yahoos running the show.  It seems likely that something similar has tripped up FFF. I’m not interested in pointing fingers, except to say that the people responsible for mismanagement need to be put someplace where they can do no further harm and replaced with others who have a bit more savvy.  Then there is also the question of whether the organization can or even should be saved. Are there any FFF members out there with more info?  Please email me directly. Dave Richards

Response:

[some deleted] The gist was that FFF is in serious money trouble.  He didn’t give any details, so I don’t know how it happened, who is/are responsible, or what is being done to correct the situation, but one thing the organization is doing is raising annual dues to $29.00 to counter a dramatic decrease in membership.

Greetings Granite. What on earth could the FFF done that would result in a *dramatic decrease* in membership ? "Hmmm….", he ponders deeply. Very interesting indeed. Is "the new flyfishing craze that is sweeping America" ebbing ?   One can only hope. TimW

Response:

: The gist was that FFF is in serious money trouble.  He didn’t give any : details, so I don’t know how it happened, who is/are responsible, or what : is being done to correct the situation, but one thing the organization is : doing is raising annual dues to $29.00 to counter a dramatic decrease in : membership. Taxes? : I’m also a member of another national orgainzation unrelated to fly : fishing that has undergone a similar near-disaster and has recovered.  In : that case the financial disaster was directly related to bad advice from : a tax attorney and fiscal incompetence on the part of the yahoos running : the show.  It seems likely that something similar has tripped up FFF. Mmmmm, attorney-types, financial institutions, fiscal incompetence, and "yahoos" running the show. : I’m not interested in pointing fingers, except to say that the people : responsible for mismanagement need to be put someplace where they can do : no further harm and replaced with others who have a bit more savvy.  Then : there is also the question of whether the organization can or even should : be saved. I think ‘Merica is worth saving! : Are there any FFF members out there with more info?  Please email me : directly. : Dave Richards Not to muddy up Dave’s request for info, but reading his post looks like a study in current politics. It REALLY stood out. You’re on to something Dave. Remove all the incompetent leeches and start over. Bill You’re either for Perot-type changes or YOU are the problem.

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Question:

I have recently moved to Durham, NC to pursue a Ph.D. in economics at Duke University and would be interested in hooking up (no pun intended) with fellow angler(s) to fish some of the wild trout water in the western part of the state.  I have a little knowledge of the streams out that way and my time is extremely flexible between now and the beginning of September.  If you are interested, drop me a note at: Tight Lines! Randy Walsh

Response:

Randy: There’s an Orvis shop on 9th street that should be able to help.  My favorite places to fish in NC were in Stone Mountain State Park (Bullhead Creek?),Sparta on the Little River, a small stream in Whitehead nearby, and Laurel Creek (cannot remember name of town).  I understand the Davidson River near Asheville is also doing well.  You may also consider a drive to the Smith River in Virginia, which has improved drastically since I was last there.  Sorry this is so sketchy.   Have fun, Manuel Monasterio Trinity 1988

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