Question:

Trolling?  No, I will leave that to you. I happen to have a lifetime of experience with "Gothic Egos". Who cares?  Well, we know who doesn’t care, right Hantz? George Gehrke "no fish is as large as a gothic ego"

Response:

Kiss Catch & Release good bye

Response:

Kiss Catch & Release good bye

Maybe yes, maybe no. Might keep some to eat, might catch so many that there’s no room for them. Either way, who cares? There’s plenty of fish in the sea. I hardly think C&K-ing some sea trout is gonna damage the ecosystem. But what’s it to you, anyway? Trolling? riverman

Response:

Question:

: Stephen, : Good story – I’ve not yet trout fished in Victoria, but I was down Victoria : way over the last four or five days working at Warragul (very exciting). I : drove over the Goulburn River and King Parrot Creek between Seymour and Yea. : How far from there do you fish? Geeze I hope you didn’t get fried … King Parrot produced my second trout I used to get there regularly, but the Breakaway is a lot further upstream on the Goulburn, and this is where I spend most of my time up that way now.   By Seymour, the Goulburn becomes a bit too cloudy for fly-fishing but its still good at the King Parrot … and even if not the Parrot is/was a lot of fun. IMO Better fishing is to be had in the Kiewa, King, Ovens Rivers … but its a little far – even for a weekend. BTW: I look forward to seeing more about your Sunday mornings Steve — http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~steve/fush/

Response:

SNIPPED Geeze I hope you didn’t get fried …

I was at a three day outdoor truck show – we got fried (up to 38), frozen (down to 10), wet (pissed down) and wind blown (white caps in farm dams). Damn good fishing weather ! JK

Response:

: I was at a three day outdoor truck show – we got fried (up to 38), frozen : (down to 10), wet (pissed down) and wind blown (white caps in farm dams). : Damn good fishing weather ! *laugh* Pretty standard summer fair steve — http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~steve/fush/

Response:

Damn, it was 3 AM this morning, and there I was wide awake and full of anticipation.

Oh yes!  I know that feeling. I look forward to meeting them all again…’Sfunny how you remember the good, the poignant, the others just fade away in memory.

Having shoveled snow once again this morning, yours was a welcome story. Mu, in the northern hemisphere.

Response:

Stephen, Good story – I’ve not yet trout fished in Victoria, but I was down Victoria way over the last four or five days working at Warragul (very exciting). I drove over the Goulburn River and King Parrot Creek between Seymour and Yea. How far from there do you fish? Cheers JK

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Damn, it was 3 AM this morning, and there I was wide awake and full of anticipation.  Yes, I enjoy my fishing that much, I wake at ungodly hours wondering if its time to get going. Some days 3am would be right but not today, I’m doing an afternoon in the hills and evening rise on the meadows … silly brain.  As much as it can be frustrating I think I actually enjoy the sense of anticipation that is apparently triggered by the pre-trip rituals – cleaning the line, replenishing the boxes, cleaning specs and checking leaders. The time of year brings me to change water – a change due about now – these changes bring on nostalgia attacks replete with memories of past conquests and some characters. Simon and I met at the upper limits of an upstream stroll from the Breakaway Bridge on the Goulburn river.  The usual banter resulted in my showing Simon where I’d had a couple of fish and picking a nymph from his box, showing him where to cast it.  To sit back and watch him catch his first fish from the Goulburn after a "couple of years of tryin’" was by far the best thing about that day … by the grin on his face you’d reckon he had a five pounder … I haven’t seen him to talk to since, though I’ve seen him on the other bank while he watched a mate fish … This time last year I encountered Kurt at the Breakaway a couple of times. Kurt is what you’d describe as a character and, as with most characters, he tends to use or elicit colourful language so you may wish to skip the next paragraph or two. My first whiff of Kurt  was literally that – a waft of roll-your-own tobacco smoke carried on the breeze.   The grass along this section is over head high and my call bought no response … never mind I was still basking in the afterglow of having a good fish inhale my fly. Another whiff, a lot stronger this time, and there he was built like a drover’s dog, salt and pepper beard – moustache stained below the nostrils. Pointing to his fag end – "G’day, I’ve been smellin’ you for 10 minutes." "Yeah, I’m a smelly curt." Well with a comeback like that how could you not get on with the retired coot – a week at home with the missus, a week on the wallaby fishin’ – quite a life I’d say. The thing that was really memorable about Kurt was his language – "Effing curt" this or that … yet he never called me as much as a dopey bugger when I hung up in the greenery … he never cursed fish that got off – "Too effing tight/loose, Kurt", water "When will you learn to Effing read the water Kurt, Effwit!", trees or even other anglers who wandered to close. We shared the same backwaters – usually well away from each other sometimes together – He showed me a few things about those backwaters, how to fish them long where I prefer to fish them short.  He did have a pet hate, never ever under any circumstances should you even think of tying let alone use "one of those pheasant tails with the peacock thorax".  The last phrase dripped with such loathing I didn’t press him … perhaps this year. That was then, today is a different water, one where: I’ve showed a Scot the virtues of a Yellow Humpy, Spotted for John while he cast his lures, got skunked with Louis of Chile … One evening I met a bloke at the access – a bloke with a flyrod and a mobile phone – "Waiting for the surgeon to call …". His pallor should have tipped me that he wasn’t that well, of course it may have been a loved one but I doubt it … an offer to walk with him was rejected. He’d "stay near the car and fish the nearby pools- I just want to fish a bit."  He and the car were gone when I returned- I don’t remember the fishing that night, but I do remember him. I look forward to meeting them all again…’Sfunny how you remember the good, the poignant, the others just fade away in memory. steve — http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~steve/fush/

Response:

Damn, it was 3 AM this morning, and there I was wide awake and full of anticipation.  Yes, I enjoy my fishing that much, I wake at ungodly hours wondering if its time to get going. Some days 3am would be right but not today, I’m doing an afternoon in the hills and evening rise on the meadows … silly brain.  As much as it can be frustrating I think I actually enjoy the sense of anticipation that is apparently triggered by the pre-trip rituals – cleaning the line, replenishing the boxes, cleaning specs and checking leaders.   The time of year brings me to change water – a change due about now – these changes bring on nostalgia attacks replete with memories of past conquests and some characters. Simon and I met at the upper limits of an upstream stroll from the Breakaway Bridge on the Goulburn river.  The usual banter resulted in my showing Simon where I’d had a couple of fish and picking a nymph from his box, showing him where to cast it.  To sit back and watch him catch his first fish from the Goulburn after a "couple of years of tryin’" was by far the best thing about that day … by the grin on his face you’d reckon he had a five pounder … I haven’t seen him to talk to since, though I’ve seen him on the other bank while he watched a mate fish … This time last year I encountered Kurt at the Breakaway a couple of times. Kurt is what you’d describe as a character and, as with most characters, he tends to use or elicit colourful language so you may wish to skip the next paragraph or two. My first whiff of Kurt  was literally that – a waft of roll-your-own tobacco smoke carried on the breeze.   The grass along this section is over head high and my call bought no response … never mind I was still basking in the afterglow of having a good fish inhale my fly. Another whiff, a lot stronger this time, and there he was built like a drover’s dog, salt and pepper beard – moustache stained below the nostrils. Pointing to his fag end – "G’day, I’ve been smellin’ you for 10 minutes." "Yeah, I’m a smelly curt." Well with a comeback like that how could you not get on with the retired coot – a week at home with the missus, a week on the wallaby fishin’ – quite a life I’d say.   The thing that was really memorable about Kurt was his language – "Effing curt" this or that … yet he never called me as much as a dopey bugger when I hung up in the greenery … he never cursed fish that got off – "Too effing tight/loose, Kurt", water "When will you learn to Effing read the water Kurt, Effwit!", trees or even other anglers who wandered to close.   We shared the same backwaters – usually well away from each other sometimes together – He showed me a few things about those backwaters, how to fish them long where I prefer to fish them short.  He did have a pet hate, never ever under any circumstances should you even think of tying let alone use "one of those pheasant tails with the peacock thorax".  The last phrase dripped with such loathing I didn’t press him … perhaps this year. That was then, today is a different water, one where: I’ve showed a Scot the virtues of a Yellow Humpy, Spotted for John while he cast his lures, got skunked with Louis of Chile … One evening I met a bloke at the access – a bloke with a flyrod and a mobile phone – "Waiting for the surgeon to call …". His pallor should have tipped me that he wasn’t that well, of course it may have been a loved one but I doubt it … an offer to walk with him was rejected. He’d "stay near the car and fish the nearby pools- I just want to fish a bit."  He and the car were gone when I returned- I don’t remember the fishing that night, but I do remember him.   I look forward to meeting them all again…’Sfunny how you remember the good, the poignant, the others just fade away in memory. steve — http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~steve/fush/

Response:

Question:

Hi I am going to the flyfishing retailer show in Salt Lake City in mid September and want to go fishing for a couple of days. Can anyone recommend a good spot, and also a decent place to stay, not too expensive ($30 or so) Tight lines!

Response:

The Provo River can fish well at times!!  The Green, but it is a bit of a drive. Good Luck, Forrest Forrest FlyFishingREVIEW.com Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Try the Provo river supposed to be second only to the Green in Utah

Response:

Two weeks ago the Provo was running to high to fish very well.  I think the Green would be best.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Try the Provo river supposed to be second only to the Green in Utah

Response:

Get out a map. When I went to school in Provo an elephants age ago, we filled our freezer with Browns from the Spanish Fork, at the south end of Utah Valley, and in the creek off the highway that runs down into Helper and the Utah coal country. There is an "American Fork" toward the north end of the Valley, that used to be pretty good too. Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Two weeks ago the Provo was running to high to fish very well.  I think the Green would be best. Try the Provo river supposed to be second only to the Green in Utah

Response:

I’ve fished the Provo River twice, in the lower tailwater section. Lots of fish, mostly nymph fishing.  Good size fish. Beautiful scenery.   The Sept. 99 issue of Fly Fisherman has a comprehensive article on the Provo.   Steve Kling

Response:

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and have flyfished for years if you want info email me directly Mike Holtum

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve fished the Provo River twice, in the lower tailwater section. Lots of fish, mostly nymph fishing.  Good size fish. Beautiful scenery. The Sept. 99 issue of Fly Fisherman has a comprehensive article on the Provo. Steve Kling

Response:

Question:

I recently inherited a split cane fly rod and would like to identify its source and possible age.  It is a 3 piece, 10′6", with spare top section, has screw type ferrules, cork grip, and wrappings approx. every inch along its length. I always thought it was a salmon rod but the last time I was allowed to use it was about 1950 in England, so my memory is a bit hazy.

It would be unlikely (though not impossible) that it’s primary function was as a salmon rod. Even today salmon in Britain are normally fished for with two-handed rods, from 12 to 15 or more feet long. You may fish for summer fish with a shorter rod but you’ll then be said to be fishing with a trout rod. It might well be one of two things: a sea-trout rod (in other words trout that migrate to sea like steelhead) and are fished for on rivers – that is if the action is quite tight and fast, or, I think more likely,  a boat rod,  for fishing for trout from a boat drifiting along on a lake with the prevailing wind. In this fashion, casts are quite short, and very soft rods were used – very often around this length. I still have one my father inherited in the 1920s from a major Irish fisherman, but I must say that I find it unfishable. I fish with split cane on the English chalkstreams, but anything of ten foot I would find very hard going

Response:

I recently inherited a split cane fly rod and would like to identify its source and possible age.  It is a 3 piece, 10′6", with spare top section, has screw type ferrules, cork grip, and wrappings approx. every inch along its length. I always thought it was a salmon rod but the last time I was allowed to use it was about 1950 in England, so my memory is a bit hazy. The only identifying mark is on the brass butt piece and that has partially worn off.  It has the inscription  " CA??ER and CO.  London  ". I’m not expecting it to be of any value, other than sentimental, but I would like to know its age and origins. Also I intend to fish with it so could somebody give me some idea of the possible line weight used with these rods.   Thanks  Ed — Ed Fenton Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Response:

Ed, I think this rod was made by (or for ?) Carter & Co., London that appears to have been a tackle store (??) that existed from 1853 till 1969. The company changed it’s name from Alfred Carter to Carter & Co. in 1901, so your rod is definitely post 1901. This is all I could find out from my books. regards Inge Solberg Houston, TX – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I recently inherited a split cane fly rod and would like to identify its source and possible age. It is a 3 piece, 10′6", with spare top section, has screw type ferrules, cork grip, and wrappings approx. every inch along its length. I always thought it was a salmon rod but the last time I was allowed to use it was about 1950 in England, so my memory is a bit hazy. The only identifying mark is on the brass butt piece and that has partially worn off.  It has the inscription  " CA??ER and CO.  London  ". I’m not expecting it to be of any value, other than sentimental, but I would like to know its age and origins. Also I intend to fish with it so could somebody give me some idea of the possible line weight used with these rods.   Thanks  Ed — Ed Fenton Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently inherited a split cane fly rod and would like to identify its source and possible age.  It is a 3 piece, 10′6", with spare top section, has screw type ferrules, cork grip, and wrappings approx. every inch along its length. I always thought it was a salmon rod but the last time I was allowed to use it was about 1950 in England, so my memory is a bit hazy. The only identifying mark is on the brass butt piece and that has partially worn off.  It has the inscription  " CA??ER and CO.  London  ". I’m not expecting it to be of any value, other than sentimental, but I would like to know its age and origins. Also I intend to fish with it so could somebody give me some idea of the possible line weight used with these rods. Thanks  Ed — Ed Fenton Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Heck, I’m no expert (for sure) but I may be able to point you in the right direction.  It does sound like a salmon rod, probably taking about an 8 to 10 weight line.  The wraps every inch or so were called "intermediate wraps" and were originally used when glues weren’t very good.  However, UK-built rods seem to value tradition and rods with intermediate wraps were available in the 1970’s (I believe from Clifford Constable — or was it J.Sharpe?).  In my web wanderings I found a site that frequently auctions cane rods in the UK (I think it is www.auctions-on-line.com, if that doesn’t work e-mail me and I’ll find it) with descriptions, etc.  Sorry I can’t help with the name of the actual maker — I only know of companies that were on the scene in the 1970’s or later (i.e., Hardy, Constable, Farlow, Sharpe, Partridge, etc.). BTW–If you do find out exactly what it is, please post a follow-up. George (Irish descent, not living in Ireland)

Response:

Question:

If you don’t mind sharing, where are the secret holes. My wife and I will be there later this week and would love a little help as I’m hoping she’ll catch something memorable and get a little hooked herself. We’ll be in the area only for a 24 hour period. We’ll be staying in manchester and the next day heading to West Lebanon, NH. Any suggestions for any other places we might hit  would also be appreciated. Ira Clair

Response:

Try the Nature Conservancy pond up on the hill above Manchester. Plenty of room to cast or wade, and some very large trout. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly If you don’t mind sharing, where are the secret holes. My wife and I will be there later this week and would love a little help as I’m hoping she’ll catch something memorable and get a little hooked herself. We’ll be in the area only for a 24 hour period. We’ll be staying in manchester and the next day heading to West Lebanon, NH. Any suggestions for any other places we might hit  would also be appreciated. Ira Clair

Response:

Bad news the legend of the Battenkill is the mith of the battenkill.  My son-in-law ans I were up there July 4th weekend all excited about fishing the great battenkill.  The average size of the fish we caught was 3"  yes thats three inches.  good luck but don’t be depressed if the big ones aren’t there

Response:

Bad news the legend of the Battenkill is the mith of the battenkill.  My son-in-law ans I were up there July 4th weekend all excited about fishing the great battenkill.  The average size of the fish we caught was 3"  yes thats three inches.  good luck but don’t be depressed if the big ones aren’t there

They really are in the ‘kill, but big browns don’t come out for the fireworks too often.     steve d.

Response:

Question:

Every time I drive from TN to NC, I look down at the Piegon River near the border by the Waterville exit.  I remember hearing that most the fish left the river due to the discharges of the Canton paper mill in Canton, NC.  Now that the mill has cleaned up it’s discharge, does anyone know if the river supports any fish? If so, do you know what patters work in this area? Thanks in advance. Steve

The Pigeon River is still on Tennessee’s (ever-growing) list of places you shouldn’t eat fish from.  I’m not sure if fishing is allowed, or if you have to catch and release, or if it’s one of Tennessee’s areas that you’d just be better off not eating fish from (kind of like the Clinch River from Oak Ridge down to five miles below where it enters the Tennessee…)   The problem is that the dioxin discharged from Canton accumulated in the sediments that the insects live in and eat.  So the trout there very efficiently concentrate this dioxin by eating lots of insects. I understand Tennessee is trying to get the river dredged out and cleaned up, but naturally the North Carolina government doesn’t care to hurt its people’s jobs for a fishing stream 45 miles away.  Looks like another drawn-out Superfund kind of battle, with not much chance of a clean-up in sight. I think I remember the warning/prohibition lasts all the way downstream to Douglas Lake. Hope this helps.         Pat

Response:

Every time I drive from TN to NC, I look down at the Piegon River near the border by the Waterville exit.  I remember hearing that most the fish left the river due to the discharges of the Canton paper mill in Canton, NC.  Now that the mill has cleaned up it’s discharge, does anyone know if the river supports any fish? If so, do you know what patters work in this area? Thanks in advance. Steve

Response:

The Dioxin Dry fly pattern works best.  It’s a three headed fly best fished with care  not to touch the fly, line, rod or water.  I agree the river is beautiful, but 30-40 years of uncontrolled pollution does not clean up in one year. The only people Champion Paper company is fooling are fools who are suckered into their commercials on TV.  If your truly interested in fishing the area for trout write me at:  Phil –    

Response:

The Dioxin Dry fly pattern works best.  It’s a three headed fly best fished with care  not to touch the fly, line, rod or water.  I agree the river is beautiful, but 30-40 years of uncontrolled pollution does not clean up in one year. The only people Champion Paper company is fooling are fools who are suckered into their commercials on TV.  If your truly interested in fishing the area for trout write me at:  Phil –    

 I thought it was more than 30-40…didn’t they open the mill in 1908?   Just curious. *                                                                       * *                                                                       * *  ENTOMOLOGIST          ANTIQUE TACKLE COLLECTOR        ALL-AROUND NUT * *                  _____/  O                                           * *                                  |                    |               * *                                  |                    |               * *                                  |                 _/ _/            * *                               _/ _/                                 *

Response:

Question:

Did anyone catch a Namaycush on a fly (wet or dry)?

Response:

: Did anyone catch a Namaycush on a fly (wet or dry)? I fish lake trout quite frequently on the fly, in the spring, just after ice-out.  I normally throw a sink-tip or sinking line.  If the laker population is largely piscivorous (fish-eating), I start near an inflowing stream where they’ll probably be gorging on baitfish in fairly shallow water.  In Switzerland, I expect bream and perch are likely forage.  In these conditions, I’ll go with some kind of a flashy streamer.  With planktivorous lake trout populations (those feeding mainly on invertebrates), some kind of an emerger pattern, matching the activity you see in the water, is usually a good bet.  I’ve never caught a _really_ big one like this, but I can assure you that a 4 kg fish on a 4 weight rod is certainly a memorable experience! In my area, flies are pretty much out of contention by mid-June, unless you’re fishing a really smal, spring-fed lake, wherein you might be able to use a fast-sinking line and get them all summer long!  Oh joy; oh bliss! Hope this helps.  Tchuss! —                                 | Dave Fluri                      |       "No me agaro ya de nada, para North Bay, Ontario, Canada      |        asi no tener nada que defender."                                 |               -Carlos Castaneda                                 |

Response:

Question:

Today UPS showed at my door with my rod and a replacement tip. No Charge! What a surprise! It seems to be a much better tip than the first one as the spline is difficult to feel. Now it is back to the wrapping bench with a smile on my face and a BIG complement to Sage. What great service they have provided to me. I hope others have been just as satisified.

I was really pleased to hear this.  I use a custom built Sage rod and love it, but was thinking of going with Orvis on a new one because of warranty.  I hope the word gets to Sage haw important such service is to their sales.

Response:

I have had a similarly positive experience with Sage. I broke the tip on my 366LL a couple of years ago and even though it was totally my fault, (slammed it with the truck tailgate) they fixed it for free. They have my loyalty. Kevin

Response:

I had a positive (in my opinion) experience too.  I had a Nova (blemished Sage blank) 490LL and broke it while casting real hard.  Sage didn’t send me a free rod tip, but replced it at nominal expense (I forget the exact price, but it was like $25).  Given that it was a Nova and not a Sage, I was pleased.

Response:

I have also had great service from SAGE, but at a price!  I broke the tip on a one year old 389LL and sent it to SAGE.  Much to my surprise, I received a replacement in 4 days.   Also to my surprise, I received a bill for $70 two weeks later.   Needless to say, my enthusiasm dropped.   With their "new" warranty policy, I guess I had bad timing.  

Response:

Iguess I must be from the wrong side of the tracks. I broke the tip on a brand new Sage 4 piece, waited almost 6 weeks for a replacement ( most of the rest of my salmon season) and paid $34 US which  hurts after conversion to my currency. I can’t get too excited about this level of service.– Jack Botsford – Executive Director                      Tel (709) 722-3069 Newfoundland Alliance of Technical Industries           Fax (709) 722-3879 Box 41, Atlantic Place, 215 Water Street St. John’s, NF, CANADA  A1C 6C9

Response:

Last June I purchased a Sage 4711 LLB blank from Patrick’s Fly Shop up in  Seattle, WA. I wrapped and finished it and a 497 RPL (I think). Took a month and a half to teach my wife (who says you can’t teach your honey) how to cast and went off to Northern Canada flyfishing. Came home and while over at the casting ponds, I asked if I could work with it. Well much to my surprise after a few casts it fractured just up from the joint. I’d been told that this might happen to two piece rods. None of this I blame on Sage’s part. I used 4wt line, but may have been casting too far. I called Patrick’s and asked about a replacement and was told to send it to Sage, which I did along with my story. And waited for a letter to advise me how much to send for the replacement. Today UPS showed at my door with my rod and a replacement tip. No Charge! What a surprise! It seems to be a much better tip than the first one as the spline is difficult to feel. Now it is back to the wrapping bench with a smile on my face and a BIG complement to Sage. What great service they have provided to me. I hope others have been just as satisified. —  Remember amateur astronomers: "keep looking for the next Universe"

Response:

Question:

We have a TU group  going into Alaska this summer to flyfish. It’s expensive but the quality is sensational. The attached letter was sent to this year’s participants. If you have any interest please e-mail me. Copy of letter:

Response:

If you send me an e-mail I will send you copy of my letter containing all the info on trip. Thanks!

Response:

Question:

I’m considering a 10-day trip in Montana’s Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Specifically I was looking at the area around Jordan Pass and Wounded Man Lake. Can anyone offer estimates about how heavily travelled this part of the world will be this summer? And how about in September? Finally, I’d welcome any suggestions about loops–on or off the trail–that might not be too popular with other hikers. Thanks much.

Response:

I’m considering a 10-day trip in Montana’s Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Specifically I was looking at the area around Jordan Pass and Wounded Man Lake. Can anyone offer estimates about how

           story;  does anyone know it?

Response:

I’m considering a 10-day trip in Montana’s Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Specifically I was looking at the area around Jordan

There was an article in Backpacker not to long ago on this area.

Response:

I’m considering a 10-day trip in Montana’s Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Specifically I was looking at the area around Jordan Pass and Wounded Man Lake. Can anyone offer estimates about how heavily travelled this part of the world will be this summer? And how about in September? Finally, I’d welcome any suggestions about loops–on or off the trail–that might not be too popular with other hikers. Thanks much.

I do not have any current information, but I couldn’t help but reply to this post as it brought back many fond memories – and perhaps some of the information will be helpful. I’ve backpacked in this area twice – once in 1976 on a 6-day trip and again in ‘78 on my honeymoon for an 8-day trip. In both cases, we approached the wilderness from the north out of Big Timber, Montana, along the Boulder River. From the end of the road, we went west on the ‘76 trip (into the Absoraka range) and east on the ‘78 trip (towards Beartooths). The latter is the area you refer to. The 6-day trip was one of my most memorable wilderness experiences. Six days in early July, moving every day, and we only saw one other person.  Fishing was outstanding, beautiful scenery (more gentle than the Beartooth neighbors to the east), perfect weather, and lots of wildlife: elk, moose, deer, and a bighorn sheep (up close and personal while sitting on top of a peak – within 15 yards). On our honeymoon (I’m a lucky guy , we headed east from the parking lot at the end of the boulder river road, then a little south, and reached the Stillwater River in 4 days. We saw a "lot" of people the first day, "a few" the second, and none for the next four days (isn’t that a surprise?:-). We were here in August, which may partly explain the greater number of people. We made about a 75 mile loop in the 8 days. Again, as we started back towards the car, we started seeing more and more people. There seemed to be a lot of outfitters hauling people in and out of base camps on horseback near, yes, Wounded Man Lake. We camped one night near Wounded Man Lake. Sorry, I don’t know the story, but there was a crippled moose at that lake! She could walk with a serious limp, but apparently not run. It is a beautiful lake and we had it to ourselves, although I didn’t do too well fishing there. However, the fishing was GREAT in some small lakes to the west of Wounded Man lake. I don’t remember their names, but they were below the pass that crossed into the headwaters of a stream that eventually flowed into Boulder River. As usual, my wife caught the biggest trout – and to think she had fly-fished for the first time in her life 5 days earlier! One interesting observation – all outfitters and at least one backpacker were carrying firearms. This is prime grizzly country. Oh yeah – and the mosquitos nearly drove my wife crazy. What a great honeymoon. You asked about September – you might want to check the hunting season schedules for that area. It looked like prime big game hunting country. Have a great trip. If you want any more specific information, let me know. I’d love to have an excuse to pull out the ol’ topos. — Harvard Townsend, Systems Manager Kansas State University Dept. of CIS, (913)532-6350

Response: