Question:

You might try http://www.paflyfish.easetech.com/ There is a listing of fly shops (though I’m sure not complete) and a bullitin board wherre you can post your questions. Pretty active. It seems to be THE place to go to find out about Pa trout matters.

I tried that one out. The nearest fly shops were down in Williamsport. I was kinda hoping to find one right in Canton, preferably staffed by a cute young lady with a soft spot for engineers on quests. Hope springs eternal and all that… My work firewall won’t let me into the forum section, so I haven’t posted questions yet. Barring any particular solutions, I can just use general solutions: Be polite, bring five sizes of Adams and tie on 7x. You picked (or had fantastic dumb luck) a great area to fish and nearly the perfect time of year to go.

One of my friends just bought a new digital camera so I’ll post pictures of the scenery. I was in Bucks County last weekend and the trees were just starting to turn. I think by the time I get to Bradford County they’ll be mostly done, but the state of the leaves is really just a part of the whole experience. Brookies in the fall? You will be dazzled.

I hope so. It has the ingredients to become maudlin and possibly even mawkish. If the fish are even a tenth as beautiful as I remember (assuming I catch one), I might just begin to cry from the sheer emotional power of touching my inner child. At worst, I’ll start watching Lifetime or Oxygen… Kiyu

Thanks for the suggestion. Steve "I can see the mountains, I can see the sky, and it’s all too pretty for a man to want to die." -Johnny Cash, "25 Minutes to Go"

Response:

"You never even called me by my name"… Steve Goodman (City of new orleans) wrote it and sent it to David Allan Coe telling him it was the perfect country/western song, Coe replied saying it wasn’t because it didn’t mention pick up trucks, being drunk, trains, Momma, Prison or dying. Goodman wrote an additional verse sent it back and Coe recorded it. That verse went like this… "I was drunk, the day my Mom, got outta prison, and I went to pick her up in the rain, but before I could get to the station in my pick up truck, she got runned over by a damned old train…." Great sing along swing song I used to do at every gig, and if we forgot to include it the requests ensured we did. A good song, but just as good a laugh. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Frank Reid" No one has written a country western song about it, I could, but probably wont….. Clark To quote an intro off a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young album, "Here’s a song guaranteed to bring you right down.  Its called, "Don’t let it bring you down."" Who was it that said the perfect country western song’s gotta have "trucks, trains, mothers" and a few other things? — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

"Brian D. Nelson" Wasn’t that Merle?? Nope, David Allan Coe sang it, Steve Goodman wrote it. Clark

Response:

"I was drunk, the day my Mom, got outta prison, and I went to pick her up in the rain, but before I could get to the station in my pick up truck, she got runned over by a damned old train…."

Clark, I know you will remember the bit by Billy Connolly (or as he says, Big Bill Connolly, the man who put the c**t in Country Music). He was the big scottish guy in "Head of the Class" for the US readers. The bit deconstructs the genre in a humorous yet accurate way, talking about the tragedy, lost love, alcohol that form the common or garden country song. He tops the bit off with this little number: http://www.btinternet.com/~sarsen/billy/bc-candw.html Note the part that says "Country and Western Sounds" went like: Yo de lay eeeee .. lay eeee .. lay eeeee Wooo Wooo You know what I mean Cheers, — Gary M (remove ‘x’s from email address)

Response:

When I was a kid and I lived on the Western slopes of the Rockies, my father and I went fishing for brookies in small alpine creeks. We used spinning gear and worms and enjoyed the summer sunshine. My father was a very busy man and these trips were the highlight of our time in Colorado. We got up before light and dressed heavily because even in July the overnight temperatures would drop to near freezing. There was a perfunctory attempt at packing lunch, usually a block of cheese, leftover steak, two sodas, a sixpack and the obligatory thermos of coffee. Sometimes it was just the coffee and the sixpack. We drove out to Steamboat Springs, stopped at the same gas station for worms and headed up towards Hahn’s Peak. At first we went for the little brookies in the streams that flowed into Steamboat Lake. Later, Dad got a little twelve-foot aluminum boat and we trolled Steamboat Lake for rainbows, and then after we moved, bass in small lakes. No matter where I go or how I fish, I remember how perfect those little brookies were. The biggest we ever caught was eight inches and six was the norm. They all came from those sun-soaked little creeks where the water was so cold it hurt your feet and all the while, Hahn’s Peak looked down in all its purple benevolence. I’m older, and my third-grade enthusiasm is tempered with a little knowledge and a little skill. I know that those little brookies were invaders; they probably should have been cutthroats. It doesn’t change how beautiful they were or how great it was to be ten years old and fishing with Dad. In two weeks, I going with my friends to a cabin on the border between Bradford and Tioga Counties. According to the Pennsylvania Fishing and Boating Commission, there is a Class A Wild Trout Stream right in the little town of Canton, with a population of native brookies, wild and sustaining. Rathbone Creek, it is called. This will be my first chance at wild brookies, and more importantly, my first chance at natives: fish that have lived in that area since the glaciers retreated twelve thousand years ago. I’ve left the worms and the spinning rods behind (for the most part), and since I’ve taken up fly fishing I’ve considered a native brookie on a dry fly to be very meaningful and a fishing milestone. I think it will be almost a exciting as hooking my first steelhead (though not as dramatic). I’d like some help in this quest: Is there a fly shop in the vicinity of Canton? Is there public access to this Rathbone Creek? Is Rathbone the right idea? We’re not hooligans and we won’t trash anybody’s favorite spots. Thanks, Steve

Response:

… since I’ve taken up fly fishing I’ve considered a native brookie on a dry fly to be very meaningful and a fishing milestone. …

You’re a man after my own heart. I can’t help you with your Pennsylvania quest but you would be right at home in North Carolina. Uncle Waldo at ezflyfish could set you right up. Good luck. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

… since I’ve taken up fly fishing I’ve considered a native brookie on a dry fly to be very meaningful and a fishing milestone. … You’re a man after my own heart. I can’t help you with your Pennsylvania quest but you would be right at home in North Carolina. Uncle Waldo at ezflyfish could set you right up. Good luck.

I’ll second all of that and add that if you’re ever in Wisconsin or upper Michigan we can show you LOTS of native brookies. Wolfgang

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … since I’ve taken up fly fishing I’ve considered a native brookie on a dry fly to be very meaningful and a fishing milestone. … You’re a man after my own heart. I can’t help you with your Pennsylvania quest but you would be right at home in North Carolina. Uncle Waldo at ezflyfish could set you right up. Good luck. I’ll second all of that and add that if you’re ever in Wisconsin or upper Michigan we can show you LOTS of native brookies. Wolfgang

    gotta go there and do that.  it wouldn’t be maudlin, would it? yfitons wayno

Response:

I’ll second all of that and add that if you’re ever in Wisconsin or upper Michigan we can show you LOTS of native brookies. Wolfgang    gotta go there and do that.  it wouldn’t be maudlin, would it? yfitons wayno

just don’t trip over the meniscus Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … since I’ve taken up fly fishing I’ve considered a native brookie on a dry fly to be very meaningful and a fishing milestone. … You’re a man after my own heart. I can’t help you with your Pennsylvania quest but you would be right at home in North Carolina. Uncle Waldo at ezflyfish could set you right up. Good luck. I’ll second all of that and add that if you’re ever in Wisconsin or upper Michigan we can show you LOTS of native brookies. Wolfgang     gotta go there and do that.  it wouldn’t be maudlin, would it? yfitons wayno

Nope…….um……not on a school day anyway.  Weekends…..well, you know.   Wolfgang bring cheese!

Response:

You might try http://www.paflyfish.easetech.com/ There is a listing of fly shops (though I’m sure not complete) and a bullitin board wherre you can post your questions. Pretty active. It seems to be THE place to go to find out about Pa trout matters. You picked (or had fantastic dumb luck) a great area to fish and nearly the perfect time of year to go. Brookies in the fall? You will be dazzled. Kiyu

Response:

    gotta go there and do that.  it wouldn’t be maudlin, would it? yfitons wayno

No one has written a country western song about it, nor has anyone reported their rod missing.  I would give it a 0.2 on the maudlin potentiometer. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

"Frank Reid" No one has written a country western song about it, I could, but probably wont….. Clark

Response:

"Frank Reid" No one has written a country western song about it, I could, but probably wont….. Clark

To quote an intro off a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young album, "Here’s a song guaranteed to bring you right down.  Its called, "Don’t let it bring you down."" Who was it that said the perfect country western song’s gotta have "trucks, trains, mothers" and a few other things? — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

Who was it that said the perfect country western song’s gotta have "trucks, trains, mothers" and a few other things?

David Allan Coe "…and he told me it was the perfect country and western song I wrote him back a letter and told him it was NOT the perfect country and western song because he hadn’t said anything about Momma, or trains, or trucks, or prison, or gettin’ drunk…" — Charlie…

Response:

Who was it that said the perfect country western song’s gotta have "trucks, trains, mothers" and a few other things?

Wasn’t that Merle?? — Tight Lines! Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana www.diamondnoutfitters.com

Response:

"…and he told me it was the perfect country and western song I wrote him back a letter and told him it was NOT the perfect country and western song because he hadn’t said anything about Momma, or trains, or trucks, or prison, or gettin’ drunk…"

"I was drunk the day my ma got out of prison…" Joe F.

Response:

<Snipped "I was drunk the day my ma got out of prison…" Joe F.

Thanks, by the way, this is cool.  Joe’s comment on Charlie’s post arrived on my server first.  Still can’t see Charlie’s post. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

"I was drunk the day my ma got out of prison…" Joe F.

Since I can’t see Charlie’s post, who was it? — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

"I was drunk the day my ma got out of prison…" Joe F. Since I can’t see Charlie’s post, who was it?

David Allan Coe. — Charlie…

Response:

"Frank Reid" No one has written a country western song about it, I could, but probably wont….. Clark To quote an intro off a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young album, "Here’s a song guaranteed to bring you right down.  Its called, "Don’t let it bring you down.""

And then he adds, "It starts out kinda slow and then fizzles out altogether." Russell Some of these threads start out slow. It’s getting them to fizzle out that’s hard.

Response:

Question:

Turn the Sage (with apologies to Bob Seager *and* Metallica): Here I am, On the road again, There I am, Totin’ the Sage, Here I go, Fishing afar again, There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

Response:

See ya there buddy….leaving tomorrow night…will be arriving with DT and SF…I know you check the web on the road ( I think )… ND#1  ( good song )

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Turn the Sage (with apologies to Bob Seager *and* Metallica): Here I am, On the road again, There I am, Totin’ the Sage, Here I go, Fishing afar again, There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

Response:

Sage doesn’t make a bamboo… I was thinking more along the lines… On the road again I just can’t wait to get on the road again. The life I love is fly fish’n with my friends, And I can’t wait to get on the road again T-14 hours and counting. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Turn the Sage (with apologies to Bob Seager *and* Metallica): Here I am, On the road again, There I am, Totin’ the Sage, Here I go, Fishing afar again, There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

Response:

There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

        me, too, zimbo…that is, if i can even *find* raleigh, nc, at this time of the morning.         i plan to plant the regimental flag of the 55th north carolina, army of northern virginia, further north than it has ever been.         wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Ditto…….T 1 1/2 hours ND#1

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sage doesn’t make a bamboo… I was thinking more along the lines… On the road again I just can’t wait to get on the road again. The life I love is fly fish’n with my friends, And I can’t wait to get on the road again T-14 hours and counting. Paul Turn the Sage (with apologies to Bob Seager *and* Metallica): Here I am, On the road again, There I am, Totin’ the Sage, Here I go, Fishing afar again, There I go, Off to Maine. –Steve

Response:

…         i plan to plant the regimental flag of the 55th north carolina, army of northern virginia, further north than it has ever been.

How quaint. Reminds me of another regimental flag of the treasonous states captured by a Minnesota regiment of the Army of the Potomac and recently found in the vaults of the Minnesota Historical Society. Some bunch of history minded Johnnie Rebs from Ole Virginny wanted Minnesota to return their flag. Gov. Jesse Ventura, bless his pointy little head, told ‘em to forget about it, "we took it fair and square" was his official response. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Some bunch of history minded Johnnie Rebs from Ole Virginny wanted Minnesota to return their flag. Gov. Jesse Ventura, bless his pointy little head, told ‘em to forget about it, "we took it fair and square" was his official response.

That’s why I really like Jesse. No mealy-mouthed pussy footing around the issues. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

the issues.

I bet he didn’t even have to take a poll before that response either. Damn I miss Barry Goldwater. Big Dale

Response:

. Damn I miss Barry Goldwater.

No shit. He was a true conservative, the kind that made me a R in my younger days. He had crazy ideas like the government staying out of people’s bedrooms, fiscal responsibility, stuff like that. And he was a pretty comitted environmentalist. Oh, no, wait. That’s not the Republican platform. Goldwater must’ve been just another damn liberal! — "Number 3: Put education first."  – from Geo. W.’s campaign website, list of his top ten concerns

Response:

. Damn I miss Barry Goldwater. No shit. He was a true conservative, the kind that made me a R in my younger days. He had crazy ideas like the government staying out of people’s bedrooms, fiscal responsibility, stuff like that. And he was a pretty comitted environmentalist. Oh, no, wait. That’s not the Republican platform. Goldwater must’ve been just another damn liberal!

Don’t forget, towards the end the conservatives talked about kicking him out for his stance on abortion. — Charlie…

Response:

bedrooms, fiscal responsibility, stuff like that. And he was a pretty comitted environmentalist. Oh, no, wait. That’s not the Republican platform. Goldwater must’ve been just another damn liberal!

I prefer to think that he was a liberterian before the tern was invented. He made points with me when he said that he thought Buchanen was a good democrat. Big Dale

Response:

Yeah, though a libertarian won’t do anything to protect the environment (actually, won’t do anything to stop any private citizen from doing anything bad to any other private citizen short of the classic nine common-law felonies). P.S. Free bicentennial brownie button to anyone who can name those nine felonies. Here’s a hint (prepare for nostalgia, you law docs): mr and mrs lamb. Even more extra credit for anyone who remembers the two apple-stealing cases. — "If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic" — Harry S. Truman

Response:

Question:

Does anyone know where the cheapest mail order prices are on the WWW for flyfishing accesories-flyting supplies, line,rods,etc? Thanks in advance, Alan

Response:

Go to WWW.HOOKHACK.COM, take 20% off prices by saying you saw the item on the web. They’re the best!!!!

Response:

Question:

I read somewhere that using Armour-All will make your line more susceptible to UV damage.  I can’t remember the source, but it stuck in my head. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some old fart (hope he doesn’t read this NG) here in Boulder taught me this one: When your line gets grungy and needs some TLC, soak a soft cloth in Armour-all and wipe the grime off. This not only cleans your fly line, but it lubes it up so it slides through the guides with ease. Ben Holmes Boulder, CO

Response:

I thought that this NG decided about 12 months ago that Amour-all wasn’t the best thing for fly lines Okay, so we’ve decided that Armour-All sucks. Now… what about Murphy’s Oil-Soap. It cleans every thing else known to man. Why not clean fly lines?

Don’t know about Murphy’s specifically, but what I’ve seen is that the best line cleaner is soap and water.  YMMV. — Bob Jarvis Mail address hacked to foil spammers!

Response:

I’ve used Armor-all on my fly lines too, and it works well. BUt, there are ecological factors to think about when using such a product.  Armor-all doesn’t have alcohol or solvents, but I’m sure there are trace elements of toxins to fish. I’d much rather be safe than sorry.   Tim: Nobody told me that. I’ve been doing this to my 444 lines for three seasons (years) now and I have to report that I’m on my 4th season (year) with two of them. They still float, they slide like grease through a goose through my guides, and they are in one nice shiny piece. Armour All is a water based silicone solution, not at all unlike other dressings that cost much more. If the NG has decided that it is bad for my lines, well, someone should have told that to my lines.

John W. Kramer                           Clearwater Outfitters                   WE ENDORSE CATCH AND RELEASE (717) 938-3423

Response:

Ohhh NOOOOOOOO,  Here we go again – this thread comes up all the time !!! DO NOT use Armour All – use soapy (read dish detergent) water and then just dry the line – like by casting it a few times. AA will build up and wreck your line’s finish after a while and if you live where there is no year round fishing it will gum up on the reel after time. That’s all I’m gonna say this time (see I can restrain myself gang) Bill Some old fart (hope he doesn’t read this NG) here in Boulder taught me this one: When your line gets grungy and needs some TLC, soak a soft cloth in Armour-all and wipe the grime off. This not only cleans your fly line, but it lubes it up so it slides through the guides with ease. Ben Holmes Boulder, CO

– Bill Curry Tight Lines Guide Service Lockeport, Nova Scotia, Canada http://www.tightlines.ns.ca

Response:

I thought that this NG decided about 12 months ago that Amour-all wasn’t the best thing for fly lines

Okay, so we’ve decided that Armour-All sucks. Now… what about Murphy’s Oil-Soap. It cleans every thing else known to man. Why not clean fly lines? Bryce

Response:

Tim: Nobody told me that. I’ve been doing this to my 444 lines for three seasons (years) now and I have to report that I’m on my 4th season (year) with two of them. They still float, they slide like grease through a goose through my guides, and they are in one nice shiny piece. Armour All is a water based silicone solution, not at all unlike other dressings that cost much more. If the NG has decided that it is bad for my lines, well, someone should have told that to my lines. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This thread again? I thought that this NG decided about 12 months ago that Amour-all wasn’t the best thing for fly lines — Tim Wohlford header return goes to a nasty spammer…. Uh Oh!  Here we go again! Bob Scott  (guilty in the past)

Response:

I thought that this NG decided about 12 months ago that Amour-all wasn’t the best thing for fly lines

Yes, for only the third or fourth time since ‘94 that I’m aware of. Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools Mt. Shasta Fly Fishing Schools http://www.thegrid.net/flyfish

Response:

Jesus H. Christ on a crutch!!  I’m on Social Security and that definitely  puts me in the old fart category, which By God, I worked for, and am proud  of!  Why is it these politically correct weenies feel they have to step in  "mind our manners for us?"  Enough of this crap already!!  Chances are,   that old fart Ben alludes to couldn’t care less that moniker is applied   to him, and if he did, isn’t it HIS place to make the admonishment? And   I’m sure you PC weenies noticed I took the Lord’s name in vain, at this   age, I’ll do anything I damn well please, PC’ers can stuff it. Get a life!   There, I feel better now. Where the hell are my crutches?   Frank (politically incorrect) in Elkhart, IN – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Ben, Some manners, please?   A great many in this group fall into what you seem to think is an age group to insult. Everybody is heading for that time of life.  Take a look forward, if you can. When you say you hope "he" doesn’t read this NG, you show that you realize you’re using a derisive term. How about if we all try to make the world, and especially the flyfishing world, a better world? If you appreciate what "he" taught you, why not call him "some nice old guy?" Regards, Jess Some old fart (hope he doesn’t read this NG) here in Boulder taught me this one: When your line gets grungy and needs some TLC, soak a soft cloth in Armour-all and wipe the grime off. This not only cleans your fly line, but it lubes it up so it slides through the guides with ease. Ben Holmes Boulder, CO

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jesus H. Christ on a crutch!!  I’m on Social Security and that definitely  puts me in the old fart category, which By God, I worked for, and am proud  of!  Why is it these politically correct weenies feel they have to step in  "mind our manners for us?"  Enough of this crap already!!  Chances are,   that old fart Ben alludes to couldn’t care less that moniker is applied   to him, and if he did, isn’t it HIS place to make the admonishment? And   I’m sure you PC weenies noticed I took the Lord’s name in vain, at this   age, I’ll do anything I damn well please, PC’ers can stuff it. Get a life!   There, I feel better now. Where the hell are my crutches?   Frank (politically incorrect) in Elkhart, IN

       Three cheers; I rather refer to myself as an oldy but goody, however if refered to affectionatly as an old fart I’ll take that. Weuns older guys, by reason of survival and longevity have earned the right to accept any name we choose. That said, this farts for you.                                                       John Popp                                                      in Sanford Fl.

Response:

I think there is confusion here about Armour All. I am confused too. Isnt there a bunch of stuff in spray bottles called Armour All? The cleaners are solvents and bad on lines. The preservatives are water based and don’t clean but rather make plastic etc shine. I’m sure there is more then one product. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Tim: Nobody told me that. I’ve been doing this to my 444 lines for three seasons (years) now and I have to report that I’m on my 4th season (year) with two of them. They still float, they slide like grease through a goose through my guides, and they are in one nice shiny piece. Armour All is a water based silicone solution, not at all unlike other dressings that cost much more. If the NG has decided that it is bad for my lines, well, someone should have told that to my lines. This thread again? I thought that this NG decided about 12 months ago that Amour-all wasn’t the best thing for fly lines — Tim Wohlford header return goes to a nasty spammer…. Uh Oh!  Here we go again! Bob Scott  (guilty in the past)

Response:

Ummmm, Jesse, no harm meant – the old fart is my dad. Fact is he did read it, and it was his advice for you to lighten up just a bit. But, to keep from rubbing you into a chaffe I’ll refer to him as "some nice old guy" from this day forward. Regards, Ben – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Ben, Some manners, please?   A great many in this group fall into what you seem to think is an age group to insult. Everybody is heading for that time of life.  Take a look forward, if you can. When you say you hope "he" doesn’t read this NG, you show that you realize you’re using a derisive term. How about if we all try to make the world, and especially the flyfishing world, a better world? If you appreciate what "he" taught you, why not call him "some nice old guy?" Regards, Jess Some old fart (hope he doesn’t read this NG) here in Boulder taught me this one: When your line gets grungy and needs some TLC, soak a soft cloth in Armour-all and wipe the grime off. This not only cleans your fly line, but it lubes it up so it slides through the guides with ease. Ben Holmes Boulder, CO

Response:

Some old fart (hope he doesn’t read this NG) here in Boulder taught me this one: When your line gets grungy and needs some TLC, soak a soft cloth in Armour-all and wipe the grime off. This not only cleans your fly line, but it lubes it up so it slides through the guides with ease. Ben Holmes Boulder, CO

Response:

Uh Oh!  Here we go again! Bob Scott  (guilty in the past)

Response:

Some old fart (hope he doesn’t read this NG) here in Boulder taught me this one: When your line gets grungy and needs some TLC, soak a soft cloth in Armour-all and wipe the grime off. This not only cleans your fly line, but it lubes it up so it slides through the guides with ease.

So being an old fart: 1.  He probably had a secret stash of ancient Armorall of "classic formulation."  After long debate, posters seem to agree the Armorall you can buy nowadays damages the finish on the fly lines you can buy nowadays. 2.  He did not think of soap.  The best way to clean normal angling dirt off fly lines is to wash them with dilute liquid detergent. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

This thread again? I thought that this NG decided about 12 months ago that Amour-all wasn’t the best thing for fly lines — Tim Wohlford header return goes to a nasty spammer…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some old fart (hope he doesn’t read this NG) here in Boulder taught me this one: When your line gets grungy and needs some TLC, soak a soft cloth in Armour-all and wipe the grime off. This not only cleans your fly line, but it lubes it up so it slides through the guides with ease. Ben Holmes Boulder, CO

Response:

Hi Ben, Some manners, please?   A great many in this group fall into what you seem to think is an age group to insult.   Everybody is heading for that time of life.  Take a look forward, if you can. When you say you hope "he" doesn’t read this NG, you show that you realize you’re using a derisive term. How about if we all try to make the world, and especially the flyfishing world, a better world? If you appreciate what "he" taught you, why not call him "some nice old guy?" Regards, Jess – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some old fart (hope he doesn’t read this NG) here in Boulder taught me this one: When your line gets grungy and needs some TLC, soak a soft cloth in Armour-all and wipe the grime off. This not only cleans your fly line, but it lubes it up so it slides through the guides with ease. Ben Holmes Boulder, CO

Response:

Question:

OK Tim.  Your punishment is to suffer 30 lashes with a #1 fly line, then stand naked in the sun and recite the following: This is my rod I called it a pole I ask god’s forgiveness to save my poor soul. —                                                            -dnc- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I guess I have to invest in another pole. Timothy Murphrey North Pole Alaska Timothy, the word is "rod", not pole.  You use garden hackle when you fish with a pole, you know those wiggly things. Ernie Harrison

Response:

Tim, See what I mean? —                                                            -dnc- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ernie Harrison writes: Timothy, the word is "rod", not pole.  You use garden hackle when you fish with a pole, you know those wiggly things. Ernie Harrison The difference between a "rod" and a "pole" is about $350. Dave L.

Response:

Hey, never mind. The silicon jelly I have works fine on dry flies. My wife and I went fishing on a pond just near the house, which is stocked with trout. Not bad for my second time. I even learned a few things, and what’s more, I think I retained the knowledge of  said lessons!  Even my wife tried it out(she’s not much for fishing), and she really likes fly fishing now, so I guess I have to invest in another pole. By the way, there’s some lakes here with pike in them. They behave differently (a little) from river pike. Would they hit flies, and what kind? Timothy Murphrey North Pole Alaska

Response:

I guess I have to invest in another pole. Timothy Murphrey North Pole Alaska

Timothy, the word is "rod", not pole.  You use garden hackle when you fish with a pole, you know those wiggly things. Ernie Harrison

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Ernie Harrison writes:

I guess I have to invest in another pole. Timothy Murphrey North Pole Alaska

Timothy, the word is "rod", not pole.  You use garden hackle when you fish with a pole, you know those wiggly things. Ernie Harrison The difference between a "rod" and a "pole" is about $350. Dave L.

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Question:

Hello all, A lucky friend is going to be visiting near Wells, B.C. (near Quesnel) at the end of March. He is really keen to take up fly fishing and wants to start up there…now I know the summer lake fishing in the Cariboos is fantastic, but I have no earthly idea what happens up there in March — isn’t everything still frozen solid, or would some nymphing in the local rivers be possible (and legal)? I kind of hate to tell the guy he’s going to have to wait for mid-April on the Credit since he’s never been to B.C. before in his life (and what better place to get the flyfishing bug!) Many thanks, — K.G. (Kat) Cruickshank, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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I have fished that area as well as many others in B.C..I have ice fished in Feb. but never later.Ice doesn’t leave most lakes until April-some in May.I believe that most trout streams are closed in March.

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I have fished that area as well as many others in B.C..I have ice fished in Feb. but never later.Ice doesn’t leave most lakes until April-some in May.I believe that most trout streams are closed in March.

The lakes with the exception of some very large lakes will likley be iced. The ice will possibly be mushy and unsafe. Rivers are closed. Stay home tie some flys or paint the house. Ralph H

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Rivers are closed. Stay home tie some flys or paint the house. Ralph H

Thanks Ralph and DH, that’s as I suspected. My poor friend won’t be happy to hear it, but maybe I can talk him into going on a road trip there this summer…=) at least he’ll get to do some location scouting. — K.G. (Kat) Cruickshank, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, A lucky friend is going to be visiting near Wells, B.C. (near Quesnel) at the end of March. He is really keen to take up fly fishing and wants to start up there…now I know the summer lake fishing in the Cariboos is fantastic, but I have no earthly idea what happens up there in March — isn’t everything still frozen solid, or would some nymphing in the local rivers be possible (and legal)? I kind of hate to tell the guy he’s going to have to wait for mid-April on the Credit since he’s never been to B.C. before in his life (and what better place to get the flyfishing bug!) Many thanks, — K.G. (Kat) Cruickshank, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cariboo in  March In late march there should be some lakes open. Check the weather channel and there are some sites on the web like the City of Kamloops that will give you some adresses to look up.Also take into consideration the higher the altitude the latter the thaw. Steven  

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Question:

Any experiences with Gore-Tex waders in saltwater? I want to replace a hot sweaty and heavy pair of Gralites.

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I have several friends who used Simms/Gore-Tex waders this past summer while fishing stripers in Maine–  no problems.

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I have several friends who used Simms/Gore-Tex waders this past summer while fishing stripers in Maine–  no problems.

Hi I’ve guided using Simms GorTex wader the past couple of year.  They are the best thing I’ve done for myself in the interest of comfort in year.   They are definitely worth the price when you compare to your personal comfort. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 catalog)

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I have used a fiberglass drift boat (16ft) for several years now on the Deschutes, upto class 4 whitewater.  Great boat.  If you plan on hitting a few rocks wood is not a good choice.  lots of maintenance-drying out, snding, refinishing 9but they are beautiful.  Company in Portland that sells plans and kits (Greg tatman- adds in flyfishing magazines).  The bow or stern depends on definition-  pointed part goes downriver but you row the other way-  anchor system goes on the broad end, but if lake fishing you need one on the pointed end as the boat will spin very easily in any wind.  Most driftboats will also take up to 10 hp motor.  I have 36lb thrust elecric for my and moves boat very well.  Aluminum is very durable but also noisy.  Definitely a 16ft for three people.  Enjoy

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Hi, My name is Al Beatty and I’m one of a few guides who use a wood drift boat.  You definitely want a 16′ boat for three people; a 14′ boat is too "squirrely" especially in the wind.  I guide in Montana and wind is a definite concern regarding drift boats.  Don Hill makes a really great wood drift boat and also has plans if you want to build your own.  You can find his address in most fly fishing magazines or ask your local fly shop. Normally you run a drift boat down the river bow first and usually the anchor is located on the stern of the boat. Good luck! Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Catalog Available 406-585-0745 (phn & fax)

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Either the Macenzie design(square front) or the Rogue is quite acceptable. Yes the wood  boats are more maintenance but also offer the greatest pleasure.Ever seen photographs of finished wood boats on the river? Compared to plastic or Aluminun there is no comparison.Also a wood boat,contrary to most opinions, is an easier rowing boat; wood boats float upside down!They also don’t blow around in the wind as bad as glass boats,especially the glass boats with rolled gunnels. One downside to a wood boat is lack of watertight storage but that is overcome with dry bags. www:http://www.accessone.com/~davy

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Agree with you comments.  Built a 17′ Rogue River and it has been a jewel to fish from.  Had a fiberglass one previouly.  The wood, drift easier, is easier to handle in big water, is not affected by the wind very much and tracks perfectly.  It is muck quieter and a lot warmer then the fiberglass and metal.  Floated the Keani this week.  Air tempeture was 20 degrees but yet the bottom of the boat was comfortable. — Gene Dobrzynski, Eagle River, Alaska

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 One of the things you forgot to mention was weight. Aluminum being the lightest, then fiberglass and wood. Ernie Harrison

Hmmmm. I’ll agree that aluminum boats are the sturdiest…hands down. But lightest? Not the ones I’ve seen. I remember guiding with Doug McClelland (former TU president, or some such) a few years ago. Doug’s Aumaweld was so heavy I nearly busted a gut trying to help him get it off the trailer. I wonder if anyone has the real weights: say what a 16 Lavro, ClackaCraft or SlideRite weighs compared to an Alumaweld, Willie’s or whatever.   One last point about Aluminum boats: steelhead guides who backtroll plugs like the sharp, molded chine of an aluminum boat, becuase it acts like a keel, and makes it easier to hold a "track" down through a good run. But every silver lining has its pepto bismol counter part…..that sharp, hard chine catches the water too hard when you are rowing sideways to a fast current. Try pulling out into a fast current after eddying out behind a mid-river bolder (with an aluminum driftboat)…..then you’ll get an appreciation for a smooth, rounded chine (like you get in a molded boat).   If you do decide to buy a molded boat, get the stiffest one you can find. Soft bottoms and flexible sides just create lost motion in the rowing process, which makes ’soft’ boats harder to row, and slower to move. —

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I am not sure that Irish and Scots Gillies would agree with your sentiments about glass fibre boats.  Their experience, and I lived to tell the tale, is that properly built wooden boats will take more punishment than GRP – especially when rocks are invisible just below the surface and you only find out they are there too late.  GRP is so easy to look after, which is why that is my choice on Loch Ness (no rocks!) Good fishing Oliver Inverness-shire

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Mike, it is unfortunate that a person can’t get all of the good features in one boat.  One of the things you forgot to mention was weight. Aluminum being the lightest, then fiberglass and wood. There was an article several years ago in Flyfishing about a fellow who recovered drift boats that people lost on Oregon’s salmon and steelhead rivers.  It was amazing what the water had done to these boats.  The fiberglass and wood boats were mostly damaged beyond repair.  The welded aluminum boats were generally all recoverable. Ernie Harrison

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I’m considering building a MacKenzie River drift boat, for use both on local rivers and smaller lakes.  This design is alleged to be quite adequate for drifting and much better for motoring than the Rogue River style drift boat. Does anyone have experience drift-fishing with this type of boat?  Do you drift with bow or stern downstream?  I assume you anchor bow-upstream…but can you mount an anchor bracket on the bow?  For three people, is a 14′ OK or should I go 16′?  Any experience or observations on this type of boat are welcome. Thanks.

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I used a wood drift for several years in Oregon on the coast streams.  A lot of maintenance, thats for sure. But its the best flyfishing platform I’ve ever used. The fiberglass boats seemed to float higher, draw less water, and be more durable.

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"There is an aluminum welded drift boat (Alumnaweld?) which is probably the most durable of all the drift boats and very low maintenance.. Ernie Harrison" Ernie, Alumaweld, the original welded aluminum driftboat.  For more contemporary designs in aluminum, see FishRite and/or Willie Boats. IMHO, Aluminum….noisy, durable, cold, NOT slippery unless bottom is treatet with Gluvit or plastic.  Capable of being made with a hard chine so hold well n water for backtrolling etc. Fiberglass…durable, quieter than aluminum, slippery, flexible rather than a rigid bottom like aluminum, rounded or soft chines. Wood…quietest and warmest, hard chines, classic craftmanship (Rays River Boats of Portland Oregon are some of the best), may be constructed with West System Epoxy techniques to reduce maintenance requirements.  Also, the only naturally buoyant construction material and the lowest center of gravity.                           Mike in PDX                "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                                            Tom McGuane

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writes: The fiberglass boats seemed to float higher, draw less water, and be more durable.

There is an aluminum welded drift boat (Alumnaweld?) which is probably the most durable of all the drift boats and very low maintenance.. Ernie Harrison

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I have used a fiberglass drift boat (16ft) for several years now on the Deschutes, upto class 4 whitewater.  Great boat.  If you plan on hitting a few rocks wood is not a good choice.  lots of maintenance-drying out, snding, refinishing 9but they are beautiful.  Company in Portland that sells plans and kits (Greg tatman- adds in flyfishing magazines).  The bow or stern depends on definition-  pointed part goes downriver but you row the other way-  anchor system goes on the broad end, but if lake fishing you need one on the pointed end as the boat will spin very easily in any wind.  Most driftboats will also take up to 10 hp motor.  I have 36lb thrust elecric for my and moves boat very well.  Aluminum is very durable but also noisy.  Definitely a 16ft for three people.  Enjoy

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Question:

Howdy to all brooky fishermen;  I’m heading to Algonquin park in the spring for some of those big river speckles.  I need some advice on the best time in the spring to go in regards to the best fishing, and the least black- flies.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Worst black fly and best brooky fly season are perfectly correlated.  (God knew you were coming.) — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Howdy to all brooky fishermen;  I’m heading to Algonquin park in the spring for some of those big river speckles.  I need some advice on the best time in the spring to go in regards to the best fishing, and the least black- flies.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. Chris Chris Lanthier    

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Question:

I’ll be camping in the area of Roscoe, N.Y. next week. Any tips on what’s been working successfully in the local streams? (Since I’ve typically fished in California. I have no knowledge of upstate N.Y. fishing).

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I’ll be camping in the area of Roscoe, N.Y. next week. Any tips on what’s been working successfully in the local streams? (Since I’ve typically fished in California. I have no knowledge of upstate N.Y. fishing).

I’d check with the local fly shops–they’re several in the Roscoe area.   Conditions change rapidly at this time of year, and the the shop owner ought to be knowledable. Good luck, Emil Department of Education Phone:  (607) 255-2267 419 Kennedy Hall                Fax:    (607) 255-7905 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853

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I’ll be camping in the area of Roscoe, N.Y. next week. Any tips on what’s been working successfully in the local streams? (Since I’ve typically fished in California. I have no knowledge of upstate N.Y. fishing). I’d check with the local fly shops–they’re several in the Roscoe area.   Conditions change rapidly at this time of year, and the the shop owner ought to be knowledable. Good luck, Emil

Just got back from a weekend in the Roscoe area. The water is very low, but fishable. BUT trout are few and far between. The low water seems to have driven most of the fish out.    Your best bet is to head down to the East Branch. We had good fishing in the special reg area upstream from Fishs Eddy. We saw light cahills, slate drakes (isonychia), sulphurs, tiny blue wing olives, yellow cranefly, and all types of caddis. They are releasing water from the dam, which has the water up about a foot, but it is running clear    The West branch is high and discolored from NY releasing water full bore for the last few months.  People are fishing it, but your better off on the East Branch. Todd R. Seigfried    aluxpo.att.com!trs *  Todd Seigfried’ Custom Flies                                       * *  Custom flies, fly tying instruction, Licensed Delaware River Guide *

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Just got back from a weekend in the Roscoe area. The water is very low, but fishable. BUT trout are few and far between. The low water seems to have driven most of the fish out.

Ahem.  There are plenty of fish in the Beaverkill.  They are just hard to catch.  I was also in the Roscoe area last weekend, fishing the Beaverkill and Willowemoc.  I saw plenty of fish, especially in the riffles and deeper pools.  But they were not feeding on the surface despite good hatches of BWOs and other flies.  Managed a few on nymphs, and it is tough fishing.  But there are plenty of fish in the river.

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