Question:

I recently bought an REI New Star, a 2000 model, at significant savings over the usual price.  I like the pack; size, fit, durability, price…all suit me.  (Did I say I was new at this?)  But the stinking thing has no outside pockets, except for a couple useless mesh pockets, and no daisy chain. There are a few lash points, which I am using for tent poles and my sleeping pad. Is there a retail product, like an add-on compartment, that can be added to the pack.  I hate the idea of all this junk hanging off my otherwise sleek pack, but the lack of readily accessible pockets is maddening.  It took an act of olympic contortion just to pull a water bottle from the mesh pockets, and getting it back in the pocket was almost impossible without removing the pack. How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

Response:

Is there a retail product, like an add-on compartment, that can be added to the pack.  I hate the idea of all this junk hanging off my otherwise sleek pack, but the lack of readily accessible pockets is maddening.  It took an act of olympic contortion just to pull a water bottle from the mesh pockets, and getting it back in the pocket was almost impossible without removing the pack. How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

There are times, like climbing, skiing, or hiking through dense brush, where having a minimalist pack is preferred, with no appendages to get snagged. Most outdoor shops sell a variety of add-on pockets which attach to the various compression straps on the pack, top, sides and back. There are also some for the hip belt and shoulder straps for quick access to water, snacks, map, compass, camera, etc., without removing the pack. Happy trails, Gary (net.yogi.bear) at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Response:

If possible add a few fanny packs to the pack and use them for storage, compression and small day packs. You might want to start using a water bladder/hose assembly instead of a bottle. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently bought an REI New Star, a 2000 model, at significant savings over the usual price.  I like the pack; size, fit, durability, price…all suit me.  (Did I say I was new at this?)  But the stinking thing has no outside pockets, except for a couple useless mesh pockets, and no daisy chain. There are a few lash points, which I am using for tent poles and my sleeping pad. Is there a retail product, like an add-on compartment, that can be added to the pack.  I hate the idea of all this junk hanging off my otherwise sleek pack, but the lack of readily accessible pockets is maddening.  It took an act of olympic contortion just to pull a water bottle from the mesh pockets, and getting it back in the pocket was almost impossible without removing the pack. How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently bought an REI New Star, a 2000 model, at significant savings over the usual price.  I like the pack; size, fit, durability, price…all suit me.  (Did I say I was new at this?)  But the stinking thing has no outside pockets, except for a couple useless mesh pockets, and no daisy chain. There are a few lash points, which I am using for tent poles and my sleeping pad. Is there a retail product, like an add-on compartment, that can be added to the pack.  I hate the idea of all this junk hanging off my otherwise sleek pack, but the lack of readily accessible pockets is maddening.  It took an act of olympic contortion just to pull a water bottle from the mesh pockets, and getting it back in the pocket was almost impossible without removing the pack. How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

The Kelty Cloud has modular pockets that can be purchased separate.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently bought an REI New Star, a 2000 model, at significant savings over the usual price.  I like the pack; size, fit, durability, price…all suit me.  (Did I say I was new at this?)  But the stinking thing has no outside pockets, except for a couple useless mesh pockets, and no daisy chain. There are a few lash points, which I am using for tent poles and my sleeping pad. Is there a retail product, like an add-on compartment, that can be added to the pack.  I hate the idea of all this junk hanging off my otherwise sleek pack, but the lack of readily accessible pockets is maddening.  It took an act of olympic contortion just to pull a water bottle from the mesh pockets, and getting it back in the pocket was almost impossible without removing the pack. How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

Since some of the add-on systems are real brand specific, some people get afterkmarket pockets sewn permanently onto the packs. penny – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

I’m not a pro, but I’ve used that pack and was also frustrated by the mesh pockets, especially seeing that the compression straps go right over the pocket.  Who the heck thought up that bright idea? There is one external pocket that’s on the very top in the detachable fanny pack.  I kept small stuff in that pocket, and also used it to keep a hydration bladder.  That worked much better than fighting to get a water bottle in and out of those mesh pockets. Joel

Response:

this looks like what you’re talking about: http://www.duraflexbuckles.com/duraflex/page12_13/page12_13.htm That is it! Thank you very much!

   We get some other clips at $.15 a set if we buy 2000 sets;o)    Ed Huesers

Response:

That is it! Thank you very much! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was thinking of something smaller and lighter. You see them on the ends of shoulder straps for all kinds of bags such as camera bags and luggage; the keychain clip in a daypack, and other stuff. They commonly snap into D rings and sometimes include a swivel. Hand loops on your pack straps have them. So the hand loops on many trekking poles. For such light duty, I had in mind something in black nylon abut 1.25 inches long. The heavy metal ones are used to clip into the links os a chain.    Well, this looks like what you’re talking about: http://www.duraflexbuckles.com/duraflex/page12_13/page12_13.htm    Ed Huesers    http://www.grandshelters.com

Response:

I was thinking of something smaller and lighter. You see them on the ends of shoulder straps for all kinds of bags such as camera bags and luggage; the keychain clip in a daypack, and other stuff. They commonly snap into D rings and sometimes include a swivel. Hand loops on your pack straps have them. So the hand loops on many trekking poles. For such light duty, I had in mind something in black nylon abut 1.25 inches long. The heavy metal ones are used to clip into the links os a chain.

   Well, this looks like what you’re talking about: http://www.duraflexbuckles.com/duraflex/page12_13/page12_13.htm    Ed Huesers    http://www.grandshelters.com

Response:

Visit your local fishing (especially fly fishing) store.  They have just what you’re looking forl  Looks like a necklace with clips for all kinds of little tools.  I wouldn’t be caught dead using one, but that’s just me.  I’m not a "purist" fly fisher anyway.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Related question. –I have been wanting to use clips rather than a pocket for small items like compass, thermometer, knife, led flashlight and similar lanyard fodder. I would like to wear one lanyard and just clip the items to it or to my pack or my belt as needed. However, I need the clips. The only ones that I can find in local hardware stores are big, heavy steel ones.:-(  I would prefer light, cheap, plastic clips like you see on commercial goods. Does anyone have a source? I recently bought an REI New Star, a 2000 model, at significant savings over the usual price.  I like the pack; size, fit, durability, price…all suit me.  (Did I say I was new at this?)  But the stinking thing has no outside pockets, except for a couple useless mesh pockets, and no daisy chain. There are a few lash points, which I am using for tent poles and my sleeping pad. Is there a retail product, like an add-on compartment, that can be added to the pack.  I hate the idea of all this junk hanging off my otherwise sleek pack, but the lack of readily accessible pockets is maddening.  It took an act of olympic contortion just to pull a water bottle from the mesh pockets, and getting it back in the pocket was almost impossible without removing the pack. How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

Response:

I was thinking of something smaller and lighter. You see them on the ends of shoulder straps for all kinds of bags such as camera bags and luggage; the keychain clip in a daypack, and other stuff. They commonly snap into D rings and sometimes include a swivel. Hand loops on your pack straps have them. So the hand loops on many trekking poles. For such light duty, I had in mind something in black nylon abut 1.25 inches long. The heavy metal ones are used to clip into the links os a chain. I have a few of the keychain mini’biners but since I would clip them to a D ring or cord, they should be more bulky, heavy, and expensive than ideal. The nylon ones should be dirt cheap, half the size, and half the weight of even an mini’biner but only IF I can find some. I also camp with a BSA Troop so even if I buy a bag of 50-100, I could put them to use. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have you considered using rock climbing carabiners?  The actual "for climbing use" ones probably aren’t any lighter than the steel clips you found at the hardware store, but lots of places (REI, etc.) sell lightweight keychain carabiners.  I clip a few of those on my pack and use them to attach random stuff. Related question. –I have been wanting to use clips rather than a pocket for small items like compass, thermometer, knife, led flashlight and similar lanyard fodder. I would like to wear one lanyard and just clip the items to it or to my pack or my belt as needed. However, I need the clips. The only ones that I can find in local hardware stores are big, heavy steel ones.:-(  I would prefer light, cheap, plastic clips like you see on commercial goods. Does anyone have a source? I recently bought an REI New Star, a 2000 model, at significant savings over the usual price.  I like the pack; size, fit, durability, price…all suit me.  (Did I say I was new at this?)  But the stinking thing has no outside pockets, except for a couple useless mesh pockets, and no daisy chain. There are a few lash points, which I am using for tent poles and my sleeping pad. Is there a retail product, like an add-on compartment, that can be added to the pack.  I hate the idea of all this junk hanging off my otherwise sleek pack, but the lack of readily accessible pockets is maddening.  It took an act of olympic contortion just to pull a water bottle from the mesh pockets, and getting it back in the pocket was almost impossible without removing the pack. How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

Response:

Have you considered using rock climbing carabiners?  The actual "for climbing use" ones probably aren’t any lighter than the steel clips you found at the hardware store, but lots of places (REI, etc.) sell lightweight keychain carabiners.  I clip a few of those on my pack and use them to attach random stuff.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Related question. –I have been wanting to use clips rather than a pocket for small items like compass, thermometer, knife, led flashlight and similar lanyard fodder. I would like to wear one lanyard and just clip the items to it or to my pack or my belt as needed. However, I need the clips. The only ones that I can find in local hardware stores are big, heavy steel ones.:-(  I would prefer light, cheap, plastic clips like you see on commercial goods. Does anyone have a source? I recently bought an REI New Star, a 2000 model, at significant savings over the usual price.  I like the pack; size, fit, durability, price…all suit me.  (Did I say I was new at this?)  But the stinking thing has no outside pockets, except for a couple useless mesh pockets, and no daisy chain. There are a few lash points, which I am using for tent poles and my sleeping pad. Is there a retail product, like an add-on compartment, that can be added to the pack.  I hate the idea of all this junk hanging off my otherwise sleek pack, but the lack of readily accessible pockets is maddening.  It took an act of olympic contortion just to pull a water bottle from the mesh pockets, and getting it back in the pocket was almost impossible without removing the pack. How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

Response:

I am not sure what plastic clips you are referring to.  I have an old style metal shower curtain ring on my pack for hanging wet sox, but I have used it for haning other items as well.  Wal-Mart carries them.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Related question. –I have been wanting to use clips rather than a pocket for small items like compass, thermometer, knife, led flashlight and similar lanyard fodder. I would like to wear one lanyard and just clip the items to it or to my pack or my belt as needed. However, I need the clips. The only ones that I can find in local hardware stores are big, heavy steel ones.:-(  I would prefer light, cheap, plastic clips like you see on commercial goods. Does anyone have a source?

Response:

Related question. –I have been wanting to use clips rather than a pocket for small items like compass, thermometer, knife, led flashlight and similar lanyard fodder. I would like to wear one lanyard and just clip the items to it or to my pack or my belt as needed. However, I need the clips. The only ones that I can find in local hardware stores are big, heavy steel ones.:-(  I would prefer light, cheap, plastic clips like you see on commercial goods. Does anyone have a source? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently bought an REI New Star, a 2000 model, at significant savings over the usual price.  I like the pack; size, fit, durability, price…all suit me.  (Did I say I was new at this?)  But the stinking thing has no outside pockets, except for a couple useless mesh pockets, and no daisy chain. There are a few lash points, which I am using for tent poles and my sleeping pad. Is there a retail product, like an add-on compartment, that can be added to the pack.  I hate the idea of all this junk hanging off my otherwise sleek pack, but the lack of readily accessible pockets is maddening.  It took an act of olympic contortion just to pull a water bottle from the mesh pockets, and getting it back in the pocket was almost impossible without removing the pack. How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues?

Response:

I have a Gregory Reality with mesh pockets that have compression straps that go over them.  I put my stove bottle and water filter in the mesh pockets. The compression straps keep them from falling out.  I like the system.

Good point – I take back my blanket condemnation of the idea.  So they’re good for fuel and other stuff, bad for water bottles. Joel

Response:

In cold temps I carry a water bottle on my pack belt in a special holder(Gregory sells these too).  When it warms up I use a hydration bag and drinking tube.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a Gregory Reality with mesh pockets that have compression straps that go over them.  I put my stove bottle and water filter in the mesh pockets. The compression straps keep them from falling out.  I like the system. Good point – I take back my blanket condemnation of the idea.  So they’re good for fuel and other stuff, bad for water bottles. Joel

Response:

I have a Gregory Reality with mesh pockets that have compression straps that go over them.  I put my stove bottle and water filter in the mesh pockets.  The compression straps keep them from falling out.  I like the system. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How do you pros handle quick accessibliltity issues? I’m not a pro, but I’ve used that pack and was also frustrated by the mesh pockets, especially seeing that the compression straps go right over the pocket.  Who the heck thought up that bright idea? There is one external pocket that’s on the very top in the detachable fanny pack.  I kept small stuff in that pocket, and also used it to keep a hydration bladder.  That worked much better than fighting to get a water bottle in and out of those mesh pockets. Joel

Response:

Question:

  There’s fish in there all year round, but in the winter it’s also stocked with rainbows.  The fish spread out over the length of the "clear ditch" and are very spooky.  The banks are also very high, which makes it difficult to be stealthy.  It’s known as my state’s most technically demanding flyfishing.  

Good report Bruce. The spooky fish sure are a switch from the Juan’s. Learn how to take these fish, Bruce. They’ll teach you alot. Willi

Response:

 We’ve recently moved to the north end of town, …

Thanks for the report, Bruce. Some have had success fishing over recently stocked fish using a "brown wooly booger" slapped heavily on the surface. Matching the trout chow hatch, as it were. I wouldn’t want to embarrass anyone by divulging this "technique", but it’s been known to work on the stocker sections of the Watauga. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Some have had success fishing over recently stocked fish using a "brown wooly booger" slapped heavily on the surface. Matching the trout chow hatch, as it were. I wouldn’t want to embarrass anyone by divulging this "technique", but it’s been known to work on the stocker sections of the Watauga.

Haven’t tried that one. But how about this one: sixteen beadhead pheasant tail nymphs tied in tandem. Toss that rig into the pool and it looks just like a pellet shower. Works every time! –Steve

Response:

You’ve been hanging around Louie to long. Flies aren’t supposed to get wet. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some have had success fishing over recently stocked fish using a "brown wooly booger" slapped heavily on the surface. Matching the trout chow hatch, as it were. I wouldn’t want to embarrass anyone by divulging this "technique", but it’s been known to work on the stocker sections of the Watauga. Haven’t tried that one. But how about this one: sixteen beadhead pheasant tail nymphs tied in tandem. Toss that rig into the pool and it looks just like a pellet shower. Works every time! –Steve

Response:

Rumor has it that one Waldosomebodyorother has ingeniously adapted a cotton candy machine to spin Trout Chow and glycerine into pseudo hair/hackle.  Deadly flies made from this marvelous "natural" and "organic" product are being manufactured by the millions in third world country slave labor camps and being readied for release as the Trout-O-Matic early in the Spring. Tom  (rumormonger) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  We’ve recently moved to the north end of town, … Thanks for the report, Bruce. Some have had success fishing over recently stocked fish using a "brown wooly booger" slapped heavily on the surface. Matching the trout chow hatch, as it were. I wouldn’t want to embarrass anyone by divulging this "technique", but it’s been known to work on the stocker sections of the Watauga. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

 We’ve recently moved to the north end of town, near the east bank of the Rio Grande.  I’m on a dirt road for the first time in my life, and we’re the only home among six on our road that has no livestock.  Not fancy, but you can see the stars at night and we like it. On the west side of the river there’s a little old apple farming town that’s almost been swallowed by urban sprawl.  That little town has protected itself with zoning laws designed to preserve it’s rural characther, and it’s worked.  There’s also a spring creek running through that little town, next to the Rio Grande.  The creek was remanufactured (probably over 100 years ago) to run through a man made channel and it looks like an irrigation ditch.  Unlike all of the other ditches that make up the Albuquerque drain system, however, this one runs clear and cold all year long and has lots of aquatic plant life and insects.  There’s fish in there all year round, but in the winter it’s also stocked with rainbows.  The fish spread out over the length of the "clear ditch" and are very spooky.  The banks are also very high, which makes it difficult to be stealthy.  It’s known as my state’s most technically demanding flyfishing.  In five previous tries, usually consisting of a couple hours of fishing, I’ve caught a grand total of one pretty large rainbow. Thursday afternoon, I tried again, this time with a good friend from work.  We parked near another ditch, a muddy one, and started to get rigged up.  A fellow walking down the opposite bank asked if my truck was ok (maybe he thought I was parking in a strange place).  My friend asked if there’s a better place to park to fish the clear ditch, and our new friend obliged us by pointing me to a better place to park than I’ve ever discovered before, just through a small gate to a prime stretch of water.  My truck was the only vehicle there, but this spot was obviously not a secret.  You could tell people park there often. When we got to the ditch, there was no problem finding fish.  In the first depression we spotted a couple little rainbows that we managed not to spook.  No luck.  My friend was fishing tiny dries and I, tiny nymphs.  We moved all over and tried every trick we know to no avail. We’d fish where we saw fish and none of them were interested in our imitations.  There was a terrific hatch of small mayflies but our stocker friends in front of us weren’t feeding on them actively.  A couple of times, in frustration, we stood up on the bank and showed ourselves to the fish and instead of the two or three we had spotted, twenty or thirty of them would begin swirling in front of us but they wouldn’t leave the depression they were sitting in.  We weren’t catching any fish, but we were having fun trying. More fishermen appeared in our primo stretch of water.  The bait guys (two of them) kept their distance and fished from the bushes, drifting single eggs to the fish with no luck.  The other fly fishermen, however, were not a shy, asking us how we were doing, spooking fish as they walked past us up on the streambank.  There were four other fly fishermen, all kids, and they had no clue about fishing manners, but they were just kids and they were nice.  And we weren’t catching any fish anyway. I spotted a 15" carp and before i could cast to him, while trying to get into postition, lost sight of him.  He was real spooky.  My friend and I spent some more time walking to get away from the others and I had told my friend to keep an eye out for larger carp.  He called me over because he had spotted a ‘white’ fish and wanted me to drift my nymph to it.  He thought maybe it was a smaller carp an it was sitting on the bottom. My glasses must be better than his because i could tell right away that it was a white goldfish about 7 inches long, and he was flanked in the water by no less than 4 other goldfish, all gold.  Those goldfish must be selective feeders.  I tried midges, scuds, mayflies, all to no avail.  I thought SJ fish were selective!  Well, it got dark and we went home. So, if anyone wants to visit me and sight fish for goldfish, let me know bruce h — bare your soul let your spirit burn out along the road to no return – r.e. keen

Response:

Question:

I set the hook and landed a beautiful brookie.  Someone once told me that trout are like women — find out what they want and give it to them!  Well, I found out what they wanted and  caught several more before leaving for dinner.   On Thursday there were 15 people at the island — mostly locals.  Fishing was tough.  I fished all my "spots" using the caddis with the emerger dropper, and caught a few fish.  I used an old trick – jiggling the Goddard caddis, and landed several nice salmon.  The brookies would not take a moving fly, but the salmon seemed to love it. I arrived at the island Friday morning to be greeted with a hefty hail from none other that ROFF’s very own Salmon Fly.  Paul emerged from the woods on the far side of the third current just as I was stepping out of the boat.  I made a mad dash to the wing dam and "my" spot before he could get there.  <g He fished his way over and a half hour later we took a break and talked for awhile.  He was catching fish and I was too, so we were happy.  It started to rain and I switched to a caddis nymph.  On the second or so cast my line stopped like it ran into a stone wall.  Fish!  I set the hook and could tell it was a big fish.  I told Paul I thought it was a big brookie.  Then I saw the yellow flash and knew it was a big fish, but not a brookie or a salmon.  A four pound sucker had taken my fly.  This was not a good thing, especially with Paul fishing next to me laughing.  I would not report such a catch, but Paul was there, saw the whole thing.  Soon the skies opened and it poured like hell for an hour or so.  Fishing was not good. The dam keeper lowered the water flow to 900 cfs, the "ideal" flow.  It usually takes a day for the fish adjust to a change in the water flow.  I took a nice 18 inch brookie out of the head of the pool (were the 23 inch trout was taken), and some small (10 – 14 inch) salmon before calling it a day. The lake is full and hopefully will remain so throughout the season.  Last year, they recorded a water temp in September of 72 degrees — the highest ever recorded.  Normal temp should be no higher than 66, with 62 the norm.  Here’s hoping the clave has good water come September!!!!! Our trip home on Saturday morning was uneventful.  We arrived home to a cavalcade of color — all of Jo’s rhododendron and mountain laurel were in full bloom.  And the lawn looks like a hay field!  Tomorrow’s another day. And then on Monday I head back to the Rapid, hoping the damn keeper hasn’t increased the flow. Dave LaCourse

Response:

… Here’s hoping the clave has good water come September!!!!!

As clavemeister you’re obligated to do more than "hope", damnit. Hell, Waldo put the triple whammy "no rain" mojo in the mail to Wolfgang knowing that we were riding down together and you saw what happened at Waldo’s Spring Fling. Get busy workin’ on that weather, Chief. Nice trip report. Trip reports are my favorite read, thank you, sir. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Forty writes: Get busy workin’ on that weather, Chief.

We *want* rain to fill the lake.  But if the new owners of the dams do not know how to run their flow properly, all the rain in the world ain’t gonna help. Waldo’s got a mojo, huh? Forgot in the report: Two moose (one going in, one out), two deer, 1 eagle, 1 osprey, and a whole bunch of loons and ducks.  And it was cold:  40 degrees *in the cabin* on Tuesday morning! Dave LaCourse

Response:

 Dave,  I went "hunting" last week Got two rolls of Elk.One roll at about 40 yds.The other varies from 80-200 yds.Another roll of mountain goat. More fun than sittin home thinking about my ills. —  Don Thompson  Zoomie(BushBug)  ACA#3460  TLCB#335  Any Time, Any Place  Pull the chocks, lets get this kite in the air.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Forty writes: Get busy workin’ on that weather, Chief. We *want* rain to fill the lake.  But if the new owners of the dams do not know how to run their flow properly, all the rain in the world ain’t gonna help. Waldo’s got a mojo, huh? Forgot in the report: Two moose (one going in, one out), two deer, 1 eagle, 1 osprey, and a whole bunch of loons and ducks.  And it was cold:  40 degrees *in the cabin* on Tuesday morning! Dave LaCourse

Response:

Waldo’s got a mojo, huh?

that’s what the ladies down at pappy’s tell me… just returned from dinner at the Texas Roadhouse with Marie & IJ. Joe said he owed Jeffie a steak but he’d rather buy me one… I ordered that big 16 oz. Ribeye…. thanks Jeff…tater and salad were good also IJ and I fished the S. Toe today…. IJ was catching fish left and right where wuffie couldn’t nary a rise….. the water is at least a foot and a half lower than when trip, ken, wolf, and i went there during the clave. if we don’t get some serious rain soon, i might as well pack up the trout gear until fall. I caught a bunch (& missed a bunch) also including a spectacularly colored brookie of about 10-12 inches. All mine were caught on a size 14 black foam beetle. Man that’s a great summertime pattern. I fished the same fly the whole day and it’s none the worse for wear. we didn’t even fish upper wilson’s…. water was so low it was disheartening. great report dave…..congrats on the suckah …. see ya in september. walt

Response:

Waldo’s got a mojo, huh? that’s what the ladies down at pappy’s tell me…

        oh, for god’s sake.  let’s get back to reality…  if we don’t get some serious rain soon, i might as well pack up the trout gear until fall.

        that’s strange.  last week when dash riprock and i were up on eagle and snowbird, it was all we could do to wade.  high, murky water, and rains morning and night.  i kept thinking forty was fishing just ahead of us. I caught a bunch (& missed a bunch) also including a spectacularly colored brookie of about 10-12 inches. All mine were caught on a size 14 black foam beetle. Man that’s a great summertime pattern. I fished the same fly the whole day and it’s none the worse for wear.

        yeah, and a little prince nymph as a dropper puts the beetle in the film.  killer rig in low water.         waldo:  let’s slap the piggy week after next.  i got to try a case this coming week, but then a couple play days open up. wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Waldo’s got a mojo, huh?

Correction:  Waldo HAD a mojo.  I got it now and you bastards ain’t gonna see it cuz I can’t make the fall ball.  Will save it for next spring and will only use it THEN if I get an iron clad guarantee that I will be treated better than I was this year.  To whit; Waldo, I want to see fish in the south Toe!  And I want to see some of these alleged Brookies y’all claim to have down there. Wolfgang who is beginning to feel petulant

Response:

So I guess the Upper Creek exercise regiment was not good enough for you! Opie     –Petulant and Frenzied, I’m in a petulant frenzy–

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Waldo’s got a mojo, huh? Correction:  Waldo HAD a mojo.  I got it now and you bastards ain’t gonna see it cuz I can’t make the fall ball.  Will save it for next spring and will only use it THEN if I get an iron clad guarantee that I will be treated better than I was this year.  To whit; Waldo, I want to see fish in the south Toe!  And I want to see some of these alleged Brookies y’all claim to have down there. Wolfgang who is beginning to feel petulant

Response:

Wolfgang who is beginning to feel petulant

Well, I guess that is better than when you were flatulent <g Warren X#-[

Trout Dwellers Unite! Western Conclave Guru For info: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/sp_ROFF_people/wclave/wclave.html

Response:

Question:

Thinking of Belize next Feb/March primarily for diving. Anyone got any information good/bad

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I was there a number of years ago and plan to go back. Inaddition to the usual dive cites, Check out Placentia on the coast. — Dennis Gibbons CN35-207 S/V Dark Lady

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thinking of Belize next Feb/March primarily for diving. Anyone got any information good/bad

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The diving’s great, as there is a barrier reef off the coast (I think I read that it’s the second largest in the world after Australia).  We saw intense coral formations, lots of beautiful fish, whale sharks, rays, etc. Where we were in Placencia, there was NO diving off of the beach. typically the dive boats took us out to one of the cayes. Callen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thinking of Belize next Feb/March primarily for diving. Anyone got any information good/bad

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Thinking of Belize next Feb/March primarily for diving. Anyone got any information good/bad

There are tons of terrific Web sites on Belize.  I believe that Belize has more Web sites than any other country its size in the world.  Beisides our own Web edition, I especially like the Belize by Natural Light sites and the AmbergrisCaye.com site. I edit and publish a magazine on Belize — e-mail us if you have questions, and we’ll try to answer them. –Lan Sluder Lan Sluder Editor & Publisher BELIZE FIRST MAGAZINE Free Web edition (600 + pages of ad-free information) at http://www.turq.com/belizefirst/

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Hi We went to Belize in February ‘97 and had an amazing time. Stayed in Belize City and did some day trips, then San Pedro for a couple of days. The snorkelling was incredible, so I imagine the diving is even better. Macy’s in Belize City is great place to eat. Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thinking of Belize next Feb/March primarily for diving. Anyone got any information good/bad

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Thinking of Belize next Feb/March primarily for diving. Anyone got any information good/bad

Hi Bernie, Belize is great because they have not ruined it yet. It is still pretty untouched. Get a Belize guide book by Moon Publications. Most divers stay out on Ambergris Cay in or near the town of San Pedro.  You are in a nice little town on an island of the coast from Belize City. You can also stay out at one of the remote dive lodges on one of the three atolls off the coast past the reef in the Blue Water. On Turneffe Atoll, you can stay at Black Bird Resort, Turneffe Flats Lodge or Turneffe Island Lodge. On Lighthouse Atoll, you can stay at Lighthouse Reef Resort where they have the famous Blue Hole. On Glover’s Atoll, you can stay at Manta Reef Resort. This is one of the most remote palces in Belize. On South Water Cay, you can stay at the Blue Marlin Lodge right of the barrier reef. All these places have web sites now. I go to Belize to fly fish for bonefish, tarpon, permit and snook. I can help you there if you need any. I like Placencia too.  www.placencia.com Look at the Belize First site.

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Question:

The fall is a great time for fishing the West. My wife and I do our annual regular 2 week car bum in Sept/Oct. Best time for avoiding crowds and in the NW in particular is argueably the best season. Suggest you read Ted Leason’s book for a rundown on the basics of year rounded fishing in the NW. Dave

Hey George, I don’t think David is any sort of traitor. Hell, I’ve bummed around a good part of Idaho for the last 15 years, kayaking and fishing in the summer. I’ve also been on this newsgroup since quite a while before you started posting here. I don’t post much now because I’m making my own bamboo rods and don’t intend to go the Bastard route, I’ve had my fill of the C&R debate so mainly I lurk now with an occasional comment. Hell man, I even have a bottle of Gink on my vest!! Watch out, I may even drop in on your facility unannounced one day! Cheers. Jon

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thought I’d probe you guys for a few suggestions. My wife and I are going out west in early fall to scope out some property. As part of this trip, we want to take a week for flyfishing (both are avid ff). I am looking for some suggestions as to good places to try. We have fished Montana extensively in the summer but never in the fall. We figured we could go to the Red Lodge or Bozeman area and bum around or perhaps get a guide to float the Yellowstone. Is this a good time (or even worthwhile) to float the Yellowstone (I figure around the big bend area might be best; this is one river we have never fished)? Suggestions? Our other thought is to go to Oregon. We have friends there and could combine the goals of the trip. Again, is this a decent time to go and where would you suggest? We have some free airline tickets coming up and are pretty flexible. The main thing we want to avoid is being shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of people (its OK for us to be around people, I just would prefer to avoid being in a crowd of urban maniacs going after some standard steelhead run near a metropolitan area, if you know what I mean). Anyway, all suggestions are appreciated. We are both pretty comfortable with doing exploratories and the general wilderness adventure scene. I know this request is pretty general. Its the fall season fishing that we are relatively unfamiliar with out there. Thanks for any input. Jon McAnulty

–Jon, If you have never fished the Deschutes river (Oregon) in the fall your missing one of the best rivers in the world to catch steelhead on a fly on the surface.   There will be plenty of room without many fishermen if you go in Oct.   October is when the big "B" class Idaho fish enter the river (15-25lb).   A 20lb steelhead in a fast moving river on a fly rod is a fish of a life time.   Drop me a line if you want more info. Sharp Hooks, Pat Holdzit Fishing Products Inc. http://www.holdzit.com Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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The full title is "The Habit of Rivers," (Reflections on Trout Streams and Fly Fishing), by Ted Leeson. Its literate and then some, and a useful perspective on NW fishing. Dave

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Thanks for the reply. Any title on that book? I suspect it is obvious but an exact title would help as I will probably have to order it. Thanks again. Jon

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The fall is a great time for fishing the West. My wife and I do our annual regular 2 week car bum in Sept/Oct. Best time for avoiding crowds and in the NW in particular is argueably the best season. Suggest you read Ted Leason’s book for a rundown on the basics of year rounded fishing in the NW. Dave

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thought I’d probe you guys for a few suggestions. My wife and I are going out west in early fall to scope out some property. As part of this trip, we want to take a week for flyfishing (both are avid ff). I am looking for some suggestions as to good places to try. We have fished Montana extensively in the summer but never in the fall. We figured we could go to the Red Lodge or Bozeman area and bum around or perhaps get a guide to float the Yellowstone. Is this a good time (or even worthwhile) to float the Yellowstone (I figure around the big bend area might be best; this is one river we have never fished)? Suggestions? Our other thought is to go to Oregon. We have friends there and could combine the goals of the trip. Again, is this a decent time to go and where would you suggest? We have some free airline tickets coming up and are pretty flexible. The main thing we want to avoid is being shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of people (its OK for us to be around people, I just would prefer to avoid being in a crowd of urban maniacs going after some standard steelhead run near a metropolitan area, if you know what I mean). Anyway, all suggestions are appreciated. We are both pretty comfortable with doing exploratories and the general wilderness adventure scene. I know this request is pretty general. Its the fall season fishing that we are relatively unfamiliar with out there. Thanks for any input. Jon McAnulty

– Mr. G. ‘all’s fair with fur or feather’ http://www.gink.com http://www.rodbuilding.com http://www.xink.com 509-243-4100 or 5500

Question:

I will be leaving March 14th to fish Baja, anyone have any experience or recommendations for fly’s to use. Thank You Dan

Hi Dan, I think that white is a good basic color for saltwater streamers and then put green, or blue or red on top. Green over yellow is also good. Flash is good. I would use 2/0 to 5/0 hooks and flies from 3 to 6 inches. We like poppers or popper heads in front of streamers. I mostly hear that the summer months are better for fly fishing in Baja. I guess May through October with June and July being very popular from Mulege to La Paz. Most anglers that go down in the winter return with stories of mostly trolling with flies. I am sure there are exceptions and I’m sure their are some experts that have wired in the winter. To motor out in the Sea of Cortez, stop the motor and cast, you need lots of fish. That is way we have gone to Loreto for the last 15 years in July.  On a good year, you can park the boat on a sargassum patty and cast popper for schooling Dorado from 10 to 20 pounds and bigger. I wish the fly fishing was better in the winter because it is hot as hell in the summer. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

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You might check <Baja on the Fly  by Nick Curcione, Amato Publications, 503/ 653-8108

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I will be leaving March 14th to fish Baja, anyone have any experience or recommendations for fly’s to use.

There are 2,000 miles of shoreline down there.  You don’t mention if you are using a boat, what weight rod, target species.  Can’t help you much unless you give more info… -John Thank You Dan

–        My Policy is to ALWAYS Blame the Computer

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yea I have a suggestion take me     well anyways thought id try good luck – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I will be leaving March 14th to fish Baja, anyone have any experience or recommendations for fly’s to use. Thank You Dan

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I will be leaving March 14th to fish Baja, anyone have any experience or recommendations for fly’s to use. Thank You Dan

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<www.bajafly.com

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Question:

Waders are primarily designed to keep you dry. A wet suit is primarily designed to keep you warm, but it can only do this efficiently if the layer of water between the suit and your body is not constantly changed, this layer of water warms to near body temperature and provides extra insulation, there is still heat loss, but it is more gradual, and the suit is "water conditioned" preventing sweat build up etc.  I used to dive in the English North sea  in winter, and our maximum time with a wet suit was about 40 minutes, any more than that and you  will be at serious risk of exposure and hypothermia ( as a matter of interest, without the suit you will almost certainly  be dead in less than fifteen minutes ! )   When diving with a neoprene  wet suit a heavy lead belt is required to overcome the buoyancy of the suit, or you will simply not be able to submerge. The amount of time you can spend in the water in a wet suit is very limited indeed ( see above ), you will eventually get very cold indeed, because while the heat loss is gradual, it is constant, and the effects of prolonged exposure to water, especially saltwater are extremely deleterious to the skin, and your body chemistry. If you wade in dangerous water, wherever it may be you ought to take sensible precautions. Suitable waders for the temperature of the water  ( if it

Question:

I am in Lake in the Hills, IL, and although the air near my house is thick with the scent of blooming clover, I have seen no bees, honey, bumble or otherwise.

Interesting. I’m quite close to you (Lake Zurich, IL) and our bee population seems fine… Network Administrator                         Phone: (847) 491-3691 MEAS, Northwestern University Evanston, IL                            http://www.tech.nwu.edu/support

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Here in Syracuse, NY, no honey bees for the last 2 or 3 years.  There seem to be a LOT of bumblebees now, though.

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Seems the same around here as the past two years. No, I take that back. Slightly better. I saw a honey bee last week. That’s only one, count it, one, bee. (*sob!*) But then that’s a few weeks earlier than last two years…. But I have two resident bumblebee nests this year (Yay!), and they did a nice job pollinating my raspberries! Through deer netting even! DT zone 5/6

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I am in Lake in the Hills, IL, and although the air near my house is thick with the scent of blooming clover, I have seen no bees, honey, bumble or otherwise.

Interesting. I’m quite close to you (Lake Zurich, IL) and our bee population seems fine… Odds are that you have a beekeeper near you. Dave Green   Heminway, SC   29554 http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html

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Lots of honeybees here in the Finger Lakes area of NY. I had to laugh watching them on the chive flowers-their weight slowly bending the chive to the ground. All of our fruit trees are loaded with fruit too, unlike last year. — These opinions are mine and you have to get your own.. Judy Scott Cornell University Ithaca, NY

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I didn’t see any honey bees at all.  However, we’ve been having summer squashed producing very well, sunburst, crookneck, yellow, and pale green zukes plus cucumbers.  We’ve also been picking pole beans for 4 week now.  We live in Southern California.  I wondered how these goodies pollinated.  I saw only one bumblebee in the garden, she looked real busy, though, it’s hard to believe that she could do all the works. Until this morning, I went to dump kitchen scrap to the compost pile and notice 2 fat and fuzzy honey bees got real busy inside a male squash blossom.  The mystery was solved and I’m so happy to spot them.  We both work full time with two little children so we can only work in the garden after coming home from work and on the weekends.  I guess the bees like to feed in private! Happy gardening, Ning Ridenoure (sorry, no e-mail)

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I didn’t see any honey bees at all.  

I’ve got a question. I know that Sevin is toxic to bees, and I don’t use it because of that fact.  I’ve been trying out less toxic pesticides, but I wonder whether they may also harm bees?  Specifically, I’m using pyrethrin spray, sulfur spray as a fungicide on my roses, and Neem oil to repel Japanese beetles.  Do any of these harm bees?  I have just planted fruit trees this year, so I know we’ll need some bees to pollinate.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just saw 2 in my garden!!! I think they are honeybees, the kind we used to call "yellowjackets" as a kid…Is this the right kind????  My tomatoes are flowering, so are the taters, not much else yet, but I am about the only place in the neighborhood that doesnt spray as far as I can tell, so maybe they rest in my yard : ) LauraA Hi Laura.  Yellowjackets aren’t honeybees.  Honeybees are fat little rascals, and brownish, generally.  Yellowjackets are skinny and have yellowish parts to them.  I <think the honeybee population is threatened by an infestation of lice which get into their hives and kill them.  All the more reason to avois spraying other bees and wasps unless they are in a place where there is a lot of traffic, or unless there are little kids around.  We need the pollinators.  John Reiner. Southwestern Illinois, 8 Miles East of the Confluence of the Miss & Mo Rivers USDA Zone 6, Border of Zone 5

John, It’s mites, not lice, that are killing the bees, although this subtle difference is only important to beekeepers, I’m sure.  (And to those of us who are, because of the mites, former beekeepers — a temporary condition I hope!!) Steve  (Maritime Climate — USDA Zone irrelevant)

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This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I just saw 2 in my garden!!! I think they are honeybees, the kind we used to call "yellowjackets" as a kid…Is this the right kind????  My tomatoes are flowering, so are the taters, not much else yet, but I am about the only place in the neighborhood that doesnt spray as far as I can tell, so maybe they rest in my yard : ) LauraA

Hi Laura.  Yellowjackets aren’t honeybees.  Honeybees are fat little rascals, and brownish, generally.  Yellowjackets are skinny and have yellowish parts to them.  I <think the honeybee population is threatened by an infestation of lice which get into their hives and kill them.  All the more reason to avois spraying other bees and wasps unless they are in a place where there is a lot of traffic, or unless there are little kids around.  We need the pollinators.  John Reiner. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; name="jrsig.txt" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline; filename="jrsig.txt" Southwestern Illinois, 8 Miles East of the Confluence of the Miss & Mo Rivers USDA Zone 6, Border of Zone 5

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I just saw 2 in my garden!!! I think they are honeybees, the kind we used to call "yellowjackets" as a kid…Is this the right kind????  My tomatoes are flowering, so are the taters, not much else yet, but I am about the only place in the neighborhood that doesnt spray as far as I can tell, so maybe they rest in my yard : ) LauraA

Yellowjackets are a kind of wasp.  They are bright yellow and not fuzzy. Honeybees are various shades of yellow-brown and golden brown and are fuzzy.  (Bumblebees are fat and usually black or brown, often with a lighter-colored patch on the last segment(s).) And for all you asparagus growers, I saw a queen yellowjacket busily removing asparagus beetle larvae from my plants the other day.   Yellojackets are indiscriminate predators of other insects but adults will often stop by a flower for a quick drink of high-energy nectar.   Honeybees eat only nectar and pollen as a general rule. Steve  (Maritime Climate — USDA Zone irrelevant)

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? — The opinions expressed in this message are my own and are not the opinions of anyone who does not hold those opinions.

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? —

   In my piedmont NC garden I havn’t seen a single honey bee this year or last.  Lots of bumble bees have taken their place so the number of bees about is about the same. — Lloyd Fortney http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney/ has links to my garden, flower, flyfishing, and travel JPEG images as well as teaching, research, and stuff like that

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I am in Rochester, N.Y. and S. Dansville, N.Y. and also have not seen any honey bees, but the bumble bees are numerous and huge.   Linda Woodward – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? —

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Much better!!  Last year we saw NO honeybees at all here in MA, but this year they’re everywhere…..lots of honeybees, and all other kinds, too! Speaking of bee-popluations, did anyone hear of the recent study that says that mint may kill the mites that have been destroying the bee larvae?  I don’t know the URL offhand, sorry, but it was interesting. (maybe websearch under bees and mint?) -Kay

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up?

A plague of bees in Houston. Bees everywhere – including my attic! You want ‘em? <g — The Marfa Mystery Lights: http://www.concentric.net/~Slaroche/MARFA.HTM (By sending me unsolicited commercial email, you agree to the Terms and Conditions as listed here: http://www.concentric.net/~Slaroche/SPAM.HTM)

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I am in Rochester, N.Y. and S. Dansville, N.Y. and also have not seen any honey bees, but the bumble bees are numerous and huge.   Linda Woodward

I am in Lake in the Hills, IL, and although the air near my house is thick with the scent of blooming clover, I have seen no bees, honey, bumble or otherwise. It’s depressing.         Paul

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? -We are supposed to have a shortage in Mich.,but my Hawthorne tree is loaded with them,

also salvia plants, nepeta, even in the Iris blooms. They seem to be all over the grounds. Barb- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The opinions expressed in this message are my own and are not the opinions of anyone who does not hold those opinions.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Goodrich) writes: Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? -We are supposed to have a shortage in Mich.,but my Hawthorne tree is loaded with them, also salvia plants, nepeta, even in the Iris blooms. They seem to be all over the grounds.

   A lot depends on whether you have a local beekeeper, and what his/her patterns of bee movement are.  Beekeepers have striven mightily to replenish the bees lost the year before.  Beekeepers who overwintered bees in the midwest and northeast were relieved to see fairly good survival, nothing like the terrible winter of ‘95-96.      Many more northern bees (than usual) were taken south by the commercial beekeepers, because they didn’t want to risk another winter of terrible losses.    Many of the replacement bees are raised in the southeast and gulf coast area for northern beekeepers.  This spring was a rather mild one, and quite good for raising bees.  We shipped many, many truckloads of bees north out of South Carolina.  It’s not always possible with multiple loads but most beekeepers aim to have the bees back by dandelion bloom, which is closely followed by apple and pear bloom.    Many of the commercial beekeepers take the bees into fruit orchards for contract pollination, then put them out for honey production.    The bees you see may have ridden from Louisiana, Florida, or South Carolina to a Michigan orchard for two or three weeks, then were placed in a bee yard near you to catch the black locust, and later clover bloom.    Gardeners would be wise to be aware of beekeeper activity around them, which may not be easy, since some beekeepers are quite secretive. Beekeepers are wary, because so many folks are terrified of bees (especially since the Hollywood "killer bee" movies), and they fear vandalism, or community efforts to chase them out.  Gardeners ought to be smarter than this.  You might even share some of your bounty with him or her.  Commercial beekeeping becomes so intense in the spring, that few have any time to garden themselves, yet they make it possible for others.    I can certainly see the difference in this area in gardens.  I know where the bees are.  You can draw half-mile circles around the bee locations and state that within this area it is possible to grow quality melons, cantaloupe, butter beans, cukes and squash.  Outside the circle, it’s pretty iffy, unless you happen to have a bumblebee nest.  But bumblebees may only have 50 bees in the nest, and they don’t travel far.    But I am also saddened to see so many blooming butter beans, cukes, squash and other plants plastered white with Sevin dust, a violation of the label directions. We report violations on larger acreages, but mostly ignore them on gardens. Why do folks bite the hand that feeds them?  -A little knowledge, a little care, and the bees will be protected……    All in all, honeybee populations are certainly not restored to the levels of 1950 for sure, but they are quite improved from last year, wherever there are beekeepers. There is still a shortage, but not as bad, and we are becoming ever more efficient at commercial crop pollination.    If there are no kept bees, it may still be quite barren.  I have to supress a laugh every time I see a post about "attracting" honeybees.  You can’t attract what isn’t there; the energy would be better spent in attracting a beekeeper.    In a few areas wild solitary bees have increased, and may fill in gaps here and there.  But overall, the wild bees have also dwindled.  They have no protection from pesticide misuse, where honeybees may be defended by a human.    Another encouraging trend is the number of brand new beekeepers.  Many of these are in suburban environments and have started one or a few hives for the first time ever.  Bee equipment supply houses are having a banner year, with all the new startups.  I hope that some of these hobby beekeepers will go on to resupply the dwindling supply of commercial beekeepers.  I am 52, and I am usually one of the youngest at beekeeper meetings. Dave Green     Hemingway, SC   29554 Practical Pollination Page   http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? — The opinions expressed in this message are my own and are not the opinions of anyone who does not hold those opinions.

Last year I did not see a single honeybee, though we have lots of bumblebees and carpenter bees, and zillions of various little bee/wasp types in the flowers. This year, three separate times, I have seen a single (one) honeybee.         –SB in northern MD

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Nothing yet in central Va.  Breaks my heart

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Last year I didn’t see many … this year (I have many, many more flowers) I see a few every time I’m out working in the gardens.  (I’m in Orlando, FL) http://members.aol.com/wilona1/index.html Pages updated June 6, 1997 – NEW:  Handmade Baby Afghans!!! Gardening – Genealogy – Newsletter – Links

Response:

I just saw 2 in my garden!!! I think they are honeybees, the kind we used to call "yellowjackets" as a kid…Is this the right kind????  My tomatoes are flowering, so are the taters, not much else yet, but I am about the only place in the neighborhood that doesnt spray as far as I can tell, so maybe they rest in my yard : ) LauraA

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(snip)    I can certainly see the difference in this area in gardens.  I know where the bees are.  You can draw half-mile circles around the bee locations and state that within this area it is possible to grow quality melons, cantaloupe, butter beans, cukes and squash.  Outside the circle, it’s pretty iffy, unless you happen to have a bumblebee nest.  But bumblebees may only have 50 bees in the nest, and they don’t travel far.    But I am also saddened to see so many blooming butter beans, cukes, squash and other plants plastered white with Sevin dust, a violation of the label directions. We report violations on larger acreages, but mostly ignore them on gardens. Why do folks bite the hand that feeds them?  -A little knowledge, a little care, and the bees will be protected……

(snip) An excellent observation.  I don’t think most people who apply broad-spectrum pesticides really appreciate how necessary "good" bugs are to their gardens. (and maybe even some "bad" bugs, too) Even a huge jungle forest is dependent on birds, animals, and insects for pollination and seed dispersal.  It’s a system, and so are gardens. Killing every insect in a yard – beneficials included – is just plain ignorant. Maybe some good will actually come out of the mite infestation of the insecticide-weakened U. S. honeybee population, if many more people now understand that we NEED those little guys going from flower to flower. Don Chapman Bio/Organics, Inc. Camarillo CA <http://www.bio-organics.com

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I am in Lake in the Hills, IL, and although the air near my house is thick with the scent of blooming clover, I have seen no bees, honey, bumble or otherwise. It’s depressing.

I finally saw some bees today (honey and bumble) in the back yard. Much happier!         Paul

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation … <stuff deleted This year, not a peep. So, what’s up?

Adding in comments from a Colorado Front Range garden, rural Boulder County, I too have been very keen on seeing what’s happened to the bees.   There have been a few bumblebees and fewer still of any other kind. My knowledge of entomology is very limited, but the ‘others’ were what my parents in southern Wisconsin call ‘honeybees’.   for what it’s worth … elisa

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Question:

Does anyone have any tips or experience on fishing the Wissahickon in Philadelphia?

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: Does anyone have any tips or experience on fishing the Wissahickon in : Philadelphia? Get a tetannus shot before you venture in.

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Does anyone have any tips or experience on fishing the Wissahickon in Philadelphia?

What…God doesn’t know?

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I fished the Wissahickon when I was a kid. They would stock it with trout, but if you ate one that was in the water too long it tasted like soap. The stream is muddy and tough to get down to in areas near Bells Mill and Valley Green if you want to wade. I would suggest that you go upstream near Flourtown where there’s a park that has open banks and the stream is a bit shallower and, if memory serves, may be better all around for fly fishing. Good luck

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi, I am 10 years old have been fly fishing for 2 1/2 years. I would like to hear from other kids who are interested in fly fishing. Matt- North Carolina

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I am advisor to a fly fishing club at our middle school here in Bozeman.   I had our first meeting yesterday, and we had 18 students!  I did this the last two years and average 6-8 students.  I’d be interested to know if anyone else is doing anything like I am trying.  Would be interested in sharing information.  Dave Kumlien, Bozeman, MT

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(David Kumlien) writes: I am advisor to a fly fishing club at our middle school here in Bozeman. I had our first meeting yesterday, and we had 18 students!  I did this the last two years and average 6-8 students.  I’d be interested to know if anyone else is doing anything like I am trying.  Would be interested in sharing information.  Dave Kumlien, Bozeman, MT

What a great idea, Dave.  I, for one, would really like to hear of your experiences, and I may have a thought or two to throw in now and then.  By all means, keep posting! Kurt Steinbock

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Hi, I am 10 years old have been fly fishing for 2 1/2 years. I would like to hear from other kids who are interested in fly fishing. Matt- North Carolina

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