Question:

traffic is awful (they closed down the interstate because of loose cows), it is really hard to breathe (because of smog), and it would take me half a day to get to any reasonable trout water. Have a great day!!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hamilton, Montana: 15 Oct 02 (Trip Report Begins) We are camped on the Bitterroot River at The Angler’s Roost. The weather is gorgeous, the Montana sky blue.  Fly fishing now finds one standing in a river tunnel of golden laced Aspen and Maple trees.  The fires of fused fall colors dazzles in the sun as large, fall caddis’, dance on wiffs of warm air currents.  A light breeze brushes against your face with all the sweet fregrances of fall smells, and warming pines. . . gives pause.  One cannot but help smile as the blue tuxedoed king fisher flips along in staggered flight to the other side of the river with a wiggling minnow in its mouth. The oozel also fishes along with you not that far away, and off to the left, a cutthroat trout sups upon midges. It’s going to be a good day. George Gehrke http://www.gink.com/GG-Products-Rod-BastardBambooRodKits.html

Response:

traffic is awful (they closed down the interstate because of loose cows), it is really hard to breathe (because of smog), and it would take me half a day to get to any reasonable trout water.

    i believe you could be laying out line in the nantahala river, southwestern north carolina, in less than four hours from where you live. and charlie choc can put you on some great little streams in north by god georgia.     give the lady a hand, duc! your friend in the old north state wayno

Response:

traffic is awful (they closed down the interstate because of loose cows), it is really hard to breathe (because of smog), and it would take me half a day to get to any reasonable trout water. Have a great day!!!

Suzanna You might want to check out Jimmy Jacobs.  He has published a couple books on streams in the southeast.  The fishing here doesn’t compare to that in the west but there are some streams within a couple hours drive from the metro Atlanta area.

Response:

Where is this Charlie Choc????

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – traffic is awful (they closed down the interstate because of loose cows), it is really hard to breathe (because of smog), and it would take me half a day to get to any reasonable trout water.     i believe you could be laying out line in the nantahala river, southwestern north carolina, in less than four hours from where you live. and charlie choc can put you on some great little streams in north by god georgia.     give the lady a hand, duc! your friend in the old north state wayno

Response:

Where is this Charlie Choc????

Right here. <g I live in the Atlanta area and fish mostly Noontootla Creek these days, which isn’t that far – about an hour and a half for me, and doesn’t get blown out easily by rain. There is some nice water around Robbinsville NC (Snowbird and Santeetlah), where some of the NC contingent is gathering next week which is around a 3 hour drive, as is Tellico if you like bigger fish and more crowded fishing. Have you ever checked out the site: http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ngto/ ? It has a lot of good information about streams in north Georgia. — Charlie…

Response:

Hamilton, Montana: 15 Oct 02 (Trip Report Begins) We are camped on the Bitterroot River at The Angler’s Roost. The weather is gorgeous, the Montana sky blue.  Fly fishing now finds one standing in a river tunnel of golden laced Aspen and Maple trees.  The fires of fused fall colors dazzles in the sun as large, fall caddis’, dance on wiffs of warm air currents.  A light breeze brushes against your face with all the sweet fregrances of fall smells, and warming pines. . . gives pause.  One cannot but help smile as the blue tuxedoed king fisher flips along in staggered flight to the other side of the river with a wiggling minnow in its mouth. The oozel also fishes along with you not that far away, and off to the left, a cutthroat trout sups upon midges. It’s going to be a good day. George Gehrke http://www.gink.com/GG-Products-Rod-BastardBambooRodKits.html

Response:

oh yea…sounds like a real good day … up there… enjoy….

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hamilton, Montana: 15 Oct 02 (Trip Report Begins) We are camped on the Bitterroot River at The Angler’s Roost. The weather is gorgeous, the Montana sky blue.  Fly fishing now finds one standing in a river tunnel of golden laced Aspen and Maple trees.  The fires of fused fall colors dazzles in the sun as large, fall caddis’, dance on wiffs of warm air currents.  A light breeze brushes against your face with all the sweet fregrances of fall smells, and warming pines. . . gives pause.  One cannot but help smile as the blue tuxedoed king fisher flips along in staggered flight to the other side of the river with a wiggling minnow in its mouth. The oozel also fishes along with you not that far away, and off to the left, a cutthroat trout sups upon midges. It’s going to be a good day. George Gehrke http://www.gink.com/GG-Products-Rod-BastardBambooRodKits.html

Response:

Question:

Nothing ventured, nothing gained…go for it.  My experience on Lakes Michigan and Superior in a 24-ft cabin boat has been good, but I venture out with radar, GPS-chartplotter, Loran, 2 VHF radios, 2 depthfinders, and a backup 15-hp outboard motor.  And I nearly always see, at the boat launch, some crusty old fisherman heading out in a 14-ft jon boat with 25-hp outboard…amazing balls. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you.

Response:

Unless you get 4 miles to the gallon, forget it.  1/3 out, 1/3 in and a 1/3 in reserve.  Tuna requires trolling, lots at about 8-9 mph.  Not enough fuel capacity, unless the albies get inside of about 10 miles.  I have a 21′ and carry 67 gallon, and get about 2 mpg and I won’t do it.  Post a request to be a hitchhiker on the www.Coastsidefishingclub.com board and you will get a ride and live to fish again. Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you. I’ve gone 20-30 miles in the Atlantic in smaller boats than that. You really need expertise in weather observation, a high antenna on a fixed, not portable, VHF radio, an extra battery and enough smarts to know when not to go out. And bring along a spare six gallon tank and hose. Try going out in the company of a couple of boats. And buy yourself some Type I life jackets, the real deal kind, and consider an EPIRB. Make sure you have a way to climb back in your boat if you get knocked overboard. Same here.  The buddy system applies.  Dont’ quite agree with the 6 gallon tank theory, however.  That would get me about 5 miles closer before I choke…..

Response:

Hello, Thanks for the replies and will not venture out without the recommendations. No EPIRB here. Just some safety flares. The boats a 1990 Bayliner cuddy, dual batteries, reliable with rebuilt powerhead. I bought this second hand and always thought it had a 30gallon tank. I always refill the tank before a trip so dont know how much it really holds..lol. thanks! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is all well and good. It is not the size of the boat in question. The boat you mention obviously held a lot more than 30 gallons of fuel. I would also strongly suspect that he had more than a hand held VHF for emergency communication needs. Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Tred Barta made his name fishing bigeyes 85-90 miles out of Shinnecock Inlet in the "Randi Strike", a 19′ Mako CC. That was 25 years ago.

Response:

Be nice Harry… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, Thanks for the replies and will not venture out without the recommendations. No EPIRB here. Just some safety flares. The boats a 1990 Bayliner cuddy, dual batteries, reliable with rebuilt powerhead. I bought this second hand and always thought it had a 30gallon tank. I always refill the tank before a trip so dont know how much it really holds..lol. thanks! This is all well and good. It is not the size of the boat in question. The boat you mention obviously held a lot more than 30 gallons of fuel. I would also strongly suspect that he had more than a hand held VHF for emergency communication needs. Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Tred Barta made his name fishing bigeyes 85-90 miles out of Shinnecock Inlet in the "Randi Strike", a 19′ Mako CC. That was 25 years ago.

Response:

Be nice Harry…

How can he? He’s the consummate evildoer of this NG. — Skipper

Response:

Hello, Thanks for the replies and will not venture out without the recommendations. No EPIRB here. Just some safety flares. The boats a 1990 Bayliner cuddy, dual batteries, reliable with rebuilt powerhead. I bought this second hand and always thought it had a 30gallon tank. I always refill the tank before a trip so dont know how much it really holds..lol. thanks!

Yikes!  Is it a Force outboard?  I wouldn’t trust that setup, 13 years old, offshore.  Especially if you don’t know how much gas it holds.  How old are the batteries?  Do you have towing insurance?  Just some more questions to think about…

Response:

JAX has just reduced his percentage of useful posts to about 8% with the latests posts…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ben thur, dun dat writes to tell us just how scared he is of the water with: (way to go, bt,dd) geesh.  another guy tied to the dock when the wind is greater than 8 knots and telling how safety conscious he is. Like Harry, I would strongly suggest an installed VHF with tall antenna – hand held only broadcast 3-5 miles with their 3 watt output max. (you might get a little better in ideal conditions – but don’t bet your life on it! Installed will get you up to around 25 mile range fairly reliably (potential further)- 25 watts out put makes a world of difference. I also agree that EPIRB would be a good idea. But definitely do not trust the hand held VHF to get you help in a jam. Dan touched on what may be an even bigger concern – 30 gallon gas tank. You state that you have a 120 HP. Is this an outboard or I/OF? What is your gas consumption = MPG? If this is a gas I/OF – very common in 20′ cuddies I would be very concerned about getting out 20 miles and back on that amount of fuel. If you hit any surprises in weather – cut MPG in half or more! Most I/Os on that size boat will get around 2 -3 MPG in reasonably calm conditions. Not a lot of room for error. Weather is the real wildcard. Pick your days and keep an eye on the sky. I have been out 20 miles in a center console about that size off Hatters, NC. It is doable…but keep a real close eye on the weather — gets pretty breezy & rough in the area you are talking about. I fished on a charter in that basic area a couple of years ago – charter boat was mid 30′ bridge boat – we got tossed around pretty good. About six weeks ago I was fishing out of Ft. Lauderdale.  We ended up a bit over 20 miles out before we gave up on fishing and decided to go to Bimini (Bahamas).  I found it on my GPSmap 76 and off we went.  It was 58 miles from port to port and we made the trip back in just over two hours.  The amazing part is that we burned only 28 gallons of gas on this 116 mile round trip with at least a hour of trolling included.  We were in my 20′ center console with a 115 four stroke. It’s all a matter of sea conditions and the weather.  This was an incredibly flat day with clear skies.  We were prepared to leave the boat in Bimini and fly back as a last resort if the weather went to hell on us.  This was one of those stupid "so I can say I was there" trips. Typically I will go out only 15 – 20 miles.  At that point there are still plenty of other boats in the area and usually cell phone coverage if the VHF craps out. Are you sure you only have a 30 gallon fuel tank?  That would be my #1 concern.  The handheld VHF would be right there at #2. Dan Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you.

Response:

Well, I’ve never been "offshore" except twice around Cape Caution, but…    I agree about the redundancy. Get, at the least, a good "get-you-home" kicker with a separate fuel tank.    An in-dash VHF is under $200 – why not? And it sounds like an EPIRB is a good idea too.    Another good idea would be an inflatable dinghy to get into if the boat DOES sink. "Real" offshore boats have special emergency rafts that autoinflate, etc. but you probably don’t need to go that far.    And I can never understand boaters who don’t know how much fuel they carry, or what their range is! DEFINELY find out what your range is, and the range of your kicker, before venturing any distance. Lloyd Sumpter "Valkyrie" Campion 18 – 20 gals, 110mile range – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, Thanks for the replies and will not venture out without the recommendations. No EPIRB here. Just some safety flares. The boats a 1990 Bayliner cuddy, dual batteries, reliable with rebuilt powerhead. I bought this second hand and always thought it had a 30gallon tank. I always refill the tank before a trip so dont know how much it really holds..lol. thanks! This is all well and good. It is not the size of the boat in question. The boat you mention obviously held a lot more than 30 gallons of fuel. I would also strongly suspect that he had more than a hand held VHF for emergency communication needs. Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Tred Barta made his name fishing bigeyes 85-90 miles out of Shinnecock Inlet in the "Randi Strike", a 19′ Mako CC. That was 25 years ago.

Response:

Your comments on redundancy are right on the money in my experience. On the other hand, I’ve seen those "gentle blue water rollers" break onto the deck of a 50 footer.  On a 50 foot boat that just creates a little commotion for a few seconds, but in a 20 foot cuddy you’re likely to get a sinking sensation. Looking beyond gear failure, there are some other risks difficult to avoid such as late afternoon thunderstorms, fast moving cold fronts, and breaking conditions in the inlets caused by tide and offshore swells.  Things can change in a hurry even on a day that starts board flat and looks stable.  Important to remember that small boats have small safety margins. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I always have been told and adhered to the redundancy rule. A backup for everything when going off-shore. Such as engines, fuel tanks, radios, batteries(you got that covered), safety equipment, food, water etc. Are you sure you want to trust everything to your set up with no redundancy? I spend my time in the mid Chesapeake Bay in a 26′ Bayliner. The rollers there can get pretty nasty with high frequency four to six footers. I’ve been told blue water rollers are more gentle because of the lower frequency. Your seamanship is to be applauded, but I suggest you adopt more redundancy.

Response:

I always have been told and adhered to the redundancy rule. A backup for everything when going off-shore. Such as engines, fuel tanks, radios, batteries(you got that covered), safety equipment, food, water etc. Are you sure you want to trust everything to your set up with no redundancy? I spend my time in the mid Chesapeake Bay in a 26′ Bayliner. The rollers there can get pretty nasty with high frequency four to six footers. I’ve been told blue water rollers are more gentle because of the lower frequency. Your seamanship is to be applauded, but I suggest you adopt more redundancy. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, Thanks for the replies and will not venture out without the recommendations. No EPIRB here. Just some safety flares. The boats a 1990 Bayliner cuddy, dual batteries, reliable with rebuilt powerhead. I bought this second hand and always thought it had a 30gallon tank. I always refill the tank before a trip so dont know how much it really holds..lol. thanks! This is all well and good. It is not the size of the boat in question. The boat you mention obviously held a lot more than 30 gallons of fuel. I would also strongly suspect that he had more than a hand held VHF for emergency communication needs. Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Tred Barta made his name fishing bigeyes 85-90 miles out of Shinnecock Inlet in the "Randi Strike", a 19′ Mako CC. That was 25 years ago.

Response:

ben thur, dun dat writes to tell us just how scared he is of the water with: (way to go, bt,dd) geesh.  another guy tied to the dock when the wind is greater than 8 knots and telling how safety conscious he is. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Like Harry, I would strongly suggest an installed VHF with tall antenna – hand held only broadcast 3-5 miles with their 3 watt output max. (you might get a little better in ideal conditions – but don’t bet your life on it! Installed will get you up to around 25 mile range fairly reliably (potential further)- 25 watts out put makes a world of difference. I also agree that EPIRB would be a good idea. But definitely do not trust the hand held VHF to get you help in a jam. Dan touched on what may be an even bigger concern – 30 gallon gas tank. You state that you have a 120 HP. Is this an outboard or I/OF? What is your gas consumption = MPG? If this is a gas I/OF – very common in 20′ cuddies I would be very concerned about getting out 20 miles and back on that amount of fuel. If you hit any surprises in weather – cut MPG in half or more! Most I/Os on that size boat will get around 2 -3 MPG in reasonably calm conditions. Not a lot of room for error. Weather is the real wildcard. Pick your days and keep an eye on the sky. I have been out 20 miles in a center console about that size off Hatters, NC. It is doable…but keep a real close eye on the weather — gets pretty breezy & rough in the area you are talking about. I fished on a charter in that basic area a couple of years ago – charter boat was mid 30′ bridge boat – we got tossed around pretty good. About six weeks ago I was fishing out of Ft. Lauderdale.  We ended up a bit over 20 miles out before we gave up on fishing and decided to go to Bimini (Bahamas).  I found it on my GPSmap 76 and off we went.  It was 58 miles from port to port and we made the trip back in just over two hours.  The amazing part is that we burned only 28 gallons of gas on this 116 mile round trip with at least a hour of trolling included.  We were in my 20′ center console with a 115 four stroke. It’s all a matter of sea conditions and the weather.  This was an incredibly flat day with clear skies.  We were prepared to leave the boat in Bimini and fly back as a last resort if the weather went to hell on us.  This was one of those stupid "so I can say I was there" trips. Typically I will go out only 15 – 20 miles.  At that point there are still plenty of other boats in the area and usually cell phone coverage if the VHF craps out. Are you sure you only have a 30 gallon fuel tank?  That would be my #1 concern.  The handheld VHF would be right there at #2. Dan Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you.

Response:

Like Harry, I would strongly suggest an installed VHF with tall antenna – hand held only broadcast 3-5 miles with their 3 watt output max. (you might get a little better in ideal conditions – but don’t bet your life on it! Installed will get you up to around 25 mile range fairly reliably (potential further)- 25 watts out put makes a world of difference. I also agree that EPIRB would be a good idea. But definitely do not trust the hand held VHF to get you help in a jam. Dan touched on what may be an even bigger concern – 30 gallon gas tank. You state that you have a 120 HP. Is this an outboard or I/OF? What is your gas consumption = MPG? If this is a gas I/OF – very common in 20′ cuddies I would be very concerned about getting out 20 miles and back on that amount of fuel. If you hit any surprises in weather – cut MPG in half or more! Most I/Os on that size boat will get around 2 -3 MPG in reasonably calm conditions. Not a lot of room for error. Weather is the real wildcard. Pick your days and keep an eye on the sky. I have been out 20 miles in a center console about that size off Hatters, NC. It is doable…but keep a real close eye on the weather — gets pretty breezy & rough in the area you are talking about. I fished on a charter in that basic area a couple of years ago – charter boat was mid 30′ bridge boat – we got tossed around pretty good.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – About six weeks ago I was fishing out of Ft. Lauderdale.  We ended up a bit over 20 miles out before we gave up on fishing and decided to go to Bimini (Bahamas).  I found it on my GPSmap 76 and off we went.  It was 58 miles from port to port and we made the trip back in just over two hours.  The amazing part is that we burned only 28 gallons of gas on this 116 mile round trip with at least a hour of trolling included.  We were in my 20′ center console with a 115 four stroke. It’s all a matter of sea conditions and the weather.  This was an incredibly flat day with clear skies.  We were prepared to leave the boat in Bimini and fly back as a last resort if the weather went to hell on us.  This was one of those stupid "so I can say I was there" trips. Typically I will go out only 15 – 20 miles.  At that point there are still plenty of other boats in the area and usually cell phone coverage if the VHF craps out. Are you sure you only have a 30 gallon fuel tank?  That would be my #1 concern.  The handheld VHF would be right there at #2. Dan Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you.

Response:

Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy?

Tred Barta made his name fishing bigeyes 85-90 miles out of Shinnecock Inlet in the "Randi Strike", a 19′ Mako CC. That was 25 years ago.

Response:

This is all well and good. It is not the size of the boat in question. The boat you mention obviously held a lot more than 30 gallons of fuel. I would also strongly suspect that he had more than a hand held VHF for emergency communication needs.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Tred Barta made his name fishing bigeyes 85-90 miles out of Shinnecock Inlet in the "Randi Strike", a 19′ Mako CC. That was 25 years ago.

Response:

30 gallons sounds awfully small for a 20 ft. boat.  

Agreed.  And 120Hp seems like a very small engine, as well. My 18′ CC has a 150HP Merc OB and a 60-gallon tank.   I would strongly advise against going further out, without making some major adjustments in his capabilities. e.g. installing more fuel capacity, and being almost fanatical about weather-watching. I’ve been 40-50 miles out (in a commercial fishing boat) in the Pacific out of Oregon, and it was pretty scary.  Unlike the short-period waves we have in the Gulf, these were HUGE rollers, a city block or more thick.  I’d hate to be out there when they started kicking up. 120hp and 30 gallons of gas, in a 20 footer? No way. Ron M.

Response:

Jim,     I’d be surprised if your handheld VHF was strong enough, 25 miles out, to reach shore without an external antenna. Paul — "The opinions expressed in the article are the opinions of the author, not of Ford Motor Company. " – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you.

Response:

I go out about 20 miles off Boston Harbor sometimes in my 19 foot boat, but only when there is flat water and a stable high presure area in place with little chance of bad weather kicking up. I keep my vhf on and monitor the weather channel and radio stations for any surprize weather. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you.

Response:

About six weeks ago I was fishing out of Ft. Lauderdale.  We ended up a bit over 20 miles out before we gave up on fishing and decided to go to Bimini (Bahamas).  I found it on my GPSmap 76 and off we went.  It was 58 miles from port to port and we made the trip back in just over two hours.  The amazing part is that we burned only 28 gallons of gas on this 116 mile round trip with at least a hour of trolling included.  We were in my 20′ center console with a 115 four stroke. It’s all a matter of sea conditions and the weather.  This was an incredibly flat day with clear skies.  We were prepared to leave the boat in Bimini and fly back as a last resort if the weather went to hell on us.  This was one of those stupid "so I can say I was there" trips. Typically I will go out only 15 – 20 miles.  At that point there are still plenty of other boats in the area and usually cell phone coverage if the VHF craps out. Are you sure you only have a 30 gallon fuel tank?  That would be my #1 concern.  The handheld VHF would be right there at #2. Dan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you.

Response:

30 gallons sounds awfully small for a 20 ft. boat.  I’ve got a 26′ powercat with twin 150’s and 180 gallons of fuel and I am always a little nervous (rightly so) about going off more than 20 miles.  A handheld VHF will NOT cut it, as Dan mentioned, nor the 30 gallon fuel tank.  You just can’t trust the weather service with forcasts.  They might say that the winds will pick up in 24 hours, but all of the sudden, you are in 20 kt winds.  Then you are in real trouble.  Usually I burn about 65 gal on a normal 12 hour trolling trip, but once, when the weather turn on me prematurely, it took about 130 gal to get home in terribly steep head seas. In general, I wouldn’t recommend it.  I’m usually the smallest boat out in the deep and I definitely feel it when the weather turns.  There are way too many things that go wrong. BTW, you didn’t mention an EPIRB in your list… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you.

Response:

Hello, I fish regularly at Halfmoon Bay up to Pacifca (CA) for salmon, halibut, etc. I want to go out farther for Albacore but have never ventured more than a couple miles offshore. I have fished through 10ft swells but never any high winds. With my etrex GPS and handheld VHF, can I go out 25 miles offshore in my 120HP, 30gallons, 20ft cuddy or does that sound crazy? Any opinions would be appreciated…thank you.

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Question:

I am planning a trip to Ontario this summer and want to try flyrodding for Northerns. Can anyone tell me how to rig and what lures to use. I’m experienced at pike fishing but have never tried using a fly rod. Thanks!    

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Ernest, Get Barry Reynolds book Pike on the Fly from Johnson Books.  Barry spends   a LOT of time in Manitoba and Ontario fishing for pike with flies and his   book has everything you need to get started.  He also has a video called   The Flyrodders Guide to Pike on a Fly that is very good. Gregg

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: I am planning a trip to Ontario this summer and want to try flyrodding : for Northerns. Can anyone tell me how to rig and what lures to use. : I’m experienced at pike fishing but have never tried using a fly rod. : Thanks!     A few years ago, I got the idea that I’d like to try Northern fishing with a fly and proceeded to tie a bunch of brightly colored saltwater patterns on BIG hooks.  I also bought a ten-weight rod, learned to tie a bimini twist and then didn’t manage to make the trip. Seriously, though, I think that any of the big saltwater patterns (Lefty’s Deceiver et al.) would do well.

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…I’m experienced at pike fishing but have never tried using a fly rod. Thanks!

PIKE?!? (I hate them I guess practically any fly will do… maybe you should tie a duck or a frog… they eat practically anything that moves -F-

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Question:

I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it??

If they are feeding then why not cast a fly to them? richard

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I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it?? arjay

    Since you are a newbie, don’t believe anything anyone says about this. All you need to know is ….. if the fish don’t bite on your offering yet are obviously feeding ….. change your offering.     Did you know there is a conspiracy to take all of your money.  Oh yes! Tackle manufacturers have been investing in raising and then planting fish that ignore your bait.  If you are hooked on fishing…..you will spend the rest of your life spending huge amounts of money in the never ending attempt to find what the fish like to eat.     Some day you will think you know what it is and you will tell a newbie what to do.  He will embarrass you in front of everybody when he doesn’t catch anything.         Dan in Quebec

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A funny story about trout. I was fishing at the Chatfield Spillway near Denver and saw a whole spillway full of Rainbow Trout surfacing and jumping all over the place. I and three other people broke out our flyrods and used everything we had and didn’t catch anything. A game warden came by and started laughing hysterically at us. I asked him what was up and he said "it was feeding time at the hatchery." These stocker trout "beg" for food at a certain time of the day, depending upon where the sun is in the sky.  They’ll hop out of the water and just hang out.  After being in the water for a while, they stop it, but the first week it annoys the heck out of fisherman. Dan Dow

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Are they jumping out of the water, clearing it.  Those are often carp, and all I can figure is they jump for joy, not feeding!  They do this a lot early in the morning If you are seeing swirls in the water rather than fish clearing it, they are probably feeding on something on the surface.  Try topwater or flies I wrote an article on my site about an experience I had.  Kept seeing fish come to the top at Lake Oconee here in GA.  Could not get them to hit.  One finally came up right at the boat and I saw it – a brown bullhead!    I caught one later on a plastic worm. Ronnie http://fishing.about.com

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I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it?? arjay

–When salmon are jumping and rolling on the surface, you might as well sit back and watch the show.  The biters are on the bottom of the stream or river, not up on top. Sharp Hooks, Pat Holdzit Fishing Products Inc. http://www.holdzit.com Before you buy.

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I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it?? arjay

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Hi arjay, It depends.  One area (on a river) where I fish often, the Sturgeon will "go nuts" at about dusk, these are very big fish jumping out of the water like a breaching whale.  The Sturgeon jump typically has no effect on the bite of Catfish, Bass, Walleye and Crappie that are common in the area. On the other hand, if the fish you are fishing for is surfacing and you are fishing worms on the bottom, you are probably in for a long sit.  You would need to target your bait and presentation to the feeding activity of the fish.  One afternoon last week, I was at the spot mentioned above fishing crawlers on the bottom.  Some fish was feeding sporadically on the surface and I was getting no bite.  I threw out a crawler under a float, about 15" below the surface.  The float drifted with the current into the "strike zone" where the mystery fish was surfacing and the float was down.   I was on to a pretty good bass. Jumping alone can only offer you clues.  Anytime the bite is slow, you should change the presentation (possibly many times).  If the change in presentation doesn’t work, you might want to change location. As far as selectivity… could be!  Depends on the fish.  Trout will often be completely selective, but usually not this late in the season.  Next time you get to the lake, bring a grasshopper or attractor fly and a big float. Place the float about 2-3′ above the fly and use the weight on the float to cast. Good Luck! Hope this helps, Fritz

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a newbie to fishing, but after a dozen or so trips to local lakes, I have found that I get few or no bites on bait or lures when fish are jumping.  I assume the jumping is for insects on the surface, but it’s hard to believe the fish are so selective and coordinated that they switch from one food type to another just like that.  Anyone have similar experience? and any ideas about it?? arjay

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Question:

Hey Folks – Was fishing a small river in Washington a couple of years ago and ran into numerous two-handed rods. I understand that you can mend line more effectively and cover more water than with conventional tackle, but when my brother was fishing a run on this small river some guy on the other side waded in behind him and ended up swinging his fly just a couple of feet from where my brother was standing, and into virtually the same water he was covering. I saw this a number of times on this two-day trip, and really could not understand what the hell these guys were doing. I concluded, perhaps mistakenly, that these two-handed rodders were new to the sport of flyfishing, as they didn’t seem to understand the error of their ways. I have been dirtbagged plenty in twenty years of steelheading, but getting dirtbagged by a flyfisherman was relatively new to me until I started running into some of these double-handers. Have any of you run into similar experiences with two-handed rodders? -Charlie Miller

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey Folks – Was fishing a small river in Washington a couple of years ago and ran into numerous two-handed rods. I understand that you can mend line more effectively and cover more water than with conventional tackle, but when my brother was fishing a run on this small river some guy on the other side waded in behind him and ended up swinging his fly just a couple of feet from where my brother was standing, and into virtually the same water he was covering. I saw this a number of times on this two-day trip, and really could not understand what the hell these guys were doing. I concluded, perhaps mistakenly, that these two-handed rodders were new to the sport of flyfishing,

Very well established style of fly-fishing called Spey fishing, originally developed on the river Spey in Scotland. Two handed rods of great length (14-16′) which are popular on big rivers such the Thompson in B.C. as they didn’t seem to understand the error of their ways.

Good heavens!!!!!! such manners from a fly fisherman, will wonders never cease.  I have been dirtbagged plenty in twenty years of steelheading, but getting dirtbagged by a flyfisherman was relatively new to me until I started running into some of these double-handers. Have any of you run into similar experiences with two-handed rodders?

It just goes to show that such behaviour is not alien to the haughty-taughty fly fishing community. I love fly-fishing but there is nothing worse than the elitist attitude I come across among some fly fisherman.

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…  I love fly-fishing but there is nothing worse than the elitist attitude I come across among some fly fisherman.

NOTHING worse ? Cheap scotch, cancelling Cheers, the designated hitter rule, novels by Robert J. Waller ? NOTHING worse ? Awww c’mon. — Ken Fortenberry Illini 3 – Tar Heels 1

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…  I love fly-fishing but there is nothing worse than the elitist attitude I come across among some fly fisherman. NOTHING worse ? Cheap scotch, cancelling Cheers, the designated hitter rule, novels by Robert J. Waller ? NOTHING worse ? Awww c’mon. — Ken Fortenberry Illini 3 – Tar Heels 1

    bad salmon, regular season baseball games, the nba, soccer without women (either before, during, or after), cigarettes, chiggers, driving to work, district attorneys, the morning after, the afternoon before…surely there’s more? wayno

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[snipped] I agree with most of those bullets, Mike except… the night before the morning after

Actually, I rather enjoy that part ;^) the Broncos

LOL! Oh, how the mighty have fallen ;^) /daytripper (With the undefeated Patsies)

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Daytripper wrote : [snipped] I agree with most of those bullets, Mike except… the night before the morning after Actually, I rather enjoy that part ;^) the Broncos LOL! Oh, how the mighty have fallen ;^) /daytripper (With the undefeated Patsies)

  Oh yeah!  Well, while you spend Sunday with your nose glued to the tube, I’m going fishing. (Damn Broncos)

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The memory of Tripper’s sneakers.  It will stay with me for a long, long time.

Yeah – but they weren’t a problem on the river (though only because I don’t wear them on the river ;^) /daytripper (careful – or I’ll dig ‘em up and mail ‘em to ya!)

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   bad salmon, regular season baseball games, the nba, soccer without women (either before, during, or after), cigarettes, chiggers, driving to work, district attorneys, the morning after, the afternoon before…surely there’s more?

Postseason baseball games, soccer even with women, menthol cigarettes, sand fleas, parking at school, the night before the morning after, the City and County of Denver, being on the receiving end of an iron-wrist takedown, Ford trucks, three-two beer, jello shots, the Broncos, minor but persistent cases of the flu, not being able to fish for a few weeks, my fiancee being on the other side of the freakin’ Pacific Ocean… Like an instructor of mine once said: "sometimes, it just sucks to be you." I have to settle for being young, healthy, and solvent and seeing the sunset over the Rockies as I drink beer in the backyard every evening. The next line is true. The last line is false.

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 too much coke… not enough rum     and to think; back in the early eighties, it was just the other way around. wayno

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Day Tripper: <<These are definately worse but seldom a problem on the river. True – but you left out jet skis – which often are… /daytripper The memory of Tripper’s sneakers.  It will stay with me for a long, long time. Dave L.

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True – but you left out jet skis – which often are…

Aren’t those what PETA uses to harass fishermen (might as well drag their sorry asses in this<g)… — Charlie…

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wayno: <<district attorneys, ROFL.   BTW, counselor, when the hell are you gonna be at this Smoky thing?  Last I heard you were going to be there Sat – Tues., but I have heard tell you will be there until Thurs.  What’s up? Louie, who has wanted to do Hazel for sooooooo long!

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 Aww hell you’re right Ken, there ARE things worse than that; warm beer, Japanese shitbox cars on lowered suspensions with big boom box stereos,  the Americanization of our beloved hockey by Bettman (the commisioner) These are definately worse but seldom a problem on the river. True – but you left out jet skis – which often are… /daytripper

  Last Saturday I was on the Harrison river in my 18′Hewescraft. boats were everywhere and travelling up and down the river chasing the sockeye, and pink salmon. A disquieting noise began to emerge from down river that grew louder and louder. All of a sudden we see a long line of jet skis coming up the river like a pack of jungle dogs. I counted  29 jetskis all in a row like some gang of  Hawgs riders looking for anyone to defy them. An amazing site. If you think jet skis are bad now, just wait. It will only get worse as they drive all other boaters of the water. Stevo the future-fearer

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 Aww hell you’re right Ken, there ARE things worse than that; warm beer, Japanese shitbox cars on lowered suspensions with big boom box stereos,  the Americanization of our beloved hockey by Bettman (the commisioner) These are definately worse but seldom a problem on the river.

True – but you left out jet skis – which often are… /daytripper

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     bad salmon, regular season baseball games, the nba, soccer without women (either before, during, or after), cigarettes, chiggers, driving to work, district attorneys, the morning after, the afternoon before…surely there’s more? Ill mannered dogs, cell phones in cars, collection agencies, interruptions at dinner (or any other meal), major American brewers, cats, black flies, internal combustion engines, canned soup, Wonder "Bread" (the real wonder is that they get away with calling it bread), insurance sales people, insurance actuaries, insurance companies, muggers, buggers, huggers, Barney, Paul Hogan, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Clinton, the various Georges and other Bushes, what’s his name-the dipshit New York DJ just had his own movie last year, Ryan

Yikes, I’ve really started something here, so I guess I’ll continue; Revenue Canada, photoradar, gridlock, poachers, the Dallas Stars, Toronto, drive-by shootings, river mechanics, too much coke… not enough rum,  blown-out rivers, outboards that won’t start, commercial fisherman, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

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…  I love fly-fishing but there is nothing worse than the elitist attitude I come across among some fly fisherman. NOTHING worse ? Cheap scotch, cancelling Cheers, the designated hitter rule, novels by Robert J. Waller ? NOTHING worse ? Awww c’mon.

  Aww hell you’re right Ken, there ARE things worse than that; warm beer, Japanese shitbox cars on lowered suspensions with big boom box stereos,  the Americanization of our beloved hockey by Bettman (the commisioner) These are definately worse but seldom a problem on the river. Cheers (the salutation, not the series) Stevo the hockey starved

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    bad salmon, regular season baseball games, the nba, soccer without women (either before, during, or after), cigarettes, chiggers, driving to work, district attorneys, the morning after, the afternoon before…surely there’s more?

Ill mannered dogs, cell phones in cars, collection agencies, interruptions at dinner (or any other meal), major American brewers, cats, black flies, internal combustion engines, canned soup, Wonder "Bread" (the real wonder is that they get away with calling it bread), insurance sales people, insurance actuaries, insurance companies, muggers, buggers, huggers, Barney, Paul Hogan, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Clinton, the various Georges and other Bushes, what’s his name-the dipshit New York DJ just had his own movie last year, Ryan

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Question:

Try rec.outdoors.fishing.fly Sorry can’t help you with the hatch.

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: Folks, : Is there a flyfishing newsgroup? If so, would most appreciate the : address. I can’t seem to get my server to list all the available groups. : Thanks and would really appreciate e-mail. : BTW, anyone know what kind of hatch might be going on at a subalpine : lake (9,000) in western Montana? This for a novel I’m writing. rec.outdoors.fishing.fly rec.outdoors.fishing.fly.tying

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Folks, Is there a flyfishing newsgroup? If so, would most appreciate the address. I can’t seem to get my server to list all the available groups. Thanks and would really appreciate e-mail. BTW, anyone know what kind of hatch might be going on at a subalpine lake (9,000) in western Montana? This for a novel I’m writing.

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Question:

What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify? I have fished with some Master Anglers. They are those guys that never brag and always catch something when it is really tough. Everyone can improve their fishing skills, but most of us will never get to that level. In the last thirty years I have fished with or near some great fly fisherman. Many of us are good anglers, but there is only a handful of great ones. Many of the best are only know locally for their great skill and will not be writen about in magazine articles.  There are also some great anglers that don’t fly fish.

A Master Angler?  One who fishes humbly, always in wonder. Musconet

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify? [much good stuff deleted] Is a Master Angler old? Often. But not always. Its an attitude first more than ability. By itself partial knowledge is grenade. Or it is a tool. The partition is in its administration . This is wisdom. And above all else a Master Angler is Wise Taken from the pages of Master Angler . . . . — Bob Sheedy Arctic Fire Software Home of THE FISHING LOG and MASTER ANGLER http://www.articfire.com/arcfire/fishing.htm

Really good post! I was told a story by someone I now know to be a Master Angler. Apparently, while at a meeting of some Ministry mucky mucks and some fishing types a survey was conducted by one of the Ministry types to help them better understand the sports demographics and socio/economic impact. Among the many questions was one asking the anglers to classify themselves as to their ability. The categories were, beginer, novice, intermediate and expert. Several years later, the person who had developed the survey was bumped into again by the story teller.  Being a curious sort he asked what the survey results had revealed.   Apparently the most significant information gleaned from the survey was the anglers assesment of their abilities.   15% beginers, 25% novice, 50% intermediate and 10% expert. The conclusion drawn was that despite popular perception, only 10% of anglers are indeed liars! Mind you, this was several years ago. Mike

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I know this much: anyone who believes him/herself to be a master angler is definitely not one; I don’t care what kind of silly badge they’ve been awarded. Not everything in life was created to be mastered. You can’t master angling any more than you can master the water the sky or time itself. Spinolio

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I know this much: anyone who believes him/herself to be a master angler is definitely not one; I don’t care what kind of silly badge they’ve been awarded. Not everything in life was created to be mastered. You can’t master angling any more than you can master the water the sky or time itself. Spinolio

Being from the 28 th century, sent here to save one trout through C&R that will reshape mankinds future course and take us to the next plateau in human development, I must object to the reference of our inability to control time! If you only knew. Mike

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anyone, who allows fishing to take them to that place unencumbered by social pressures of any kind. TimW

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A Master Angler is anyone who takes a kid fishing for the day and both return home with a smile.

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What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify? I have fished with some Master Anglers. They are those guys that never brag and always catch something when it is really tough.

This isn’t always correct.  The master anglers I know brag, but in a sneaky way.   Master Angler (MA):  Nice day out, how you doing? Average Angler(AA):  Oh, really well, I got 4 fish.  How bout you? MA: I guess I did ok. AA: how many fish did you catch? MA: Oh, somewhere around 20. It’s the humbling factor.  Of course the Master angler actually has caught that many. Carl carl

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Any Angler with a MasterCard. TimW

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Any Angler with a MasterCard. TimW

Clearifying ranks: 1)  Beginner      Doesn’t know how to spell MasterCard 2)  Intermediate  Learning how to spell MasterCard 3)  Master        Knows how to spell MasterCard 4)  The Local     Picks your pocket  George

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Anyone who knows more than I do about any flyfishing subject, and will share that knowledge, is master enough for me.

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What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify? Its a question that has many answers. In some States, Provinces all you have to do is catch a fish over a certain size and you automatically qualify. You get a certificate, badge and everything. Think about it. You tied on a hook a line and a sinker and wham. First time fishing and you qualified as an overnight success! Your name is in the Provincial or State Records and you can proudly show it to everyone. And you do. For others to be a Master Angler you have to be like the guys on TV. You need THINGS to qualify. A Bassboat with at least 200HP and at least 17 feet of solid foam filled unsinkable fibreglass because to have fun you have to be able to hit every hot spot on 145,000 acres of water every two hours. Having your name emblazoned on the side of your 4 x4 and stitched on your designer jump suit is a certain give away that you’ve made the grade. Even if you hit the dock empty handed you can shout at your friend to make sure the live well is running because you want them fresh when you get home. People at the dock will surely be impressed and if your out on the water you can give a high double handed overhand hookset and yell, "Fish on", that will definitely qualify you for something! For others fishing is a competition. First with each other and then money for first fish, biggest fish to keep things interesting. They work at it hard and the rewards gained, though spotty, and often controlled more by combinations and permutations rather than angler interventions, begin to come more frequently. Most visible in all of this is perhaps the Tournament where the winner is unquestionably revered as a Master Angler and that of some instant note. There is nothing wrong with any or all three of the above. We have all met them on and off the water every one and each has his or her niche in the sport and their justifiable claim to fame. Even fly fishermen now compete and for cash. There are however distortions developing as to who really is good at the sport and like Christ’s disciples, mainly fishermen, long dissertations of who really is the best ensue often under many guises and not just the few above. In reality the title is not acquired by way of obtaining it through instant material aquisitions, winning a tournament or Tackle Company sponsorship. All of these things are market driven aberrations which lengthen  Manufacturers Balance sheets and are maneuvered by a handful of men who set the promotions for the year just as surely as the toy manufacturers eye the December market. Slick promotions have done much for the enhancement of the sport and ensured success through valid stocking programs and stream renewals by those attracted. This is the upside. Perhaps inadvertently the Movie, "A River Runs Through It",  did more for the streams of Montana and area than any other item published in the past 30 years. It breathed life into the art of flyfishing and turned it into a big business. It also filled the waters with fishermen and floating devices to the point where the streamside watering holes, tackle shops and the on-line forums are filled with complaints of overcrowding and overuse to the point where the steady hum of who is the best is all but drowned out. The Movie was a powerful advertisement whether intended as such or not. So to is the power of  the deliberately orchestrated image building advertisement in a powerful media. When your favourite Saturday AM hero stands up and tells you that "Brand X" Lures are his secret weapon you are more likely to believe him if you just witnessed 18 minutes of watching him rip fishlips. It works! More and more I see people imitating his methods and why not! They catch fish! Lots of fish. There is another assessment to consider however . . . . Looking back over the years I look at my own development as a fisherman and see myself reflected in the others I’ve met along the banks of stream or puddling around in lakes. Although they overlap considerably there are definite identifiable peaks in the development process. There is the stage when someone first takes up the sport. The huge array of disciplines and the tackle for each can be a formidable learning process in itself long before you ever arrive at the water. Even species selection has become so specialized that you almost need a degree in ichthyology before you make your first cast. So the first stage is set by the crowd that visits a lake from time to time launches or sets up a chaise lounge and throws out a favourite bait. Success is related to fish activity and generally they are likeliest to go when they are "biting". Another stage is delineated by those who take it a step further and begin to notice feeding lanes, weed edges and other structures and the increase in success as they learn more about them. Piscatorial Prosperity begins to come even on the days when no one else is getting anything. At the end of this stage a cocky attitude begins to grow as one realizes that he is getting GOOD. Probably this is the most dangerous stage for a fisherman. At this point growth can regress into a few successful lures and techniques and since they work often and the fish kills are numerous why change? The same thread runs through flyfishing as well. Success begins to come easier and easier and the catches begin to increase to the point that they actually start going back in if such was not the philosophy from the outset. I mean if you have a fifty fish day you cannot keep them all. If you happen to match the hatch and the fish are on a feeding binge fifty fish days are a real possibility to those who can cast a fly. Then it all changes. What is the goal now?. Bigger catches? A tournament? Guiding? As humans we have to always be challenged. Its in our DNA. Should the challenge die then so does the interest whether by success or by failure. Either can stunt our progress. The Hubble telescope was designed carefully to put and end to the quest for the edges of the universe. Very quickly walls and bubbles were found as the patterns of galaxies were modeled in a 3D. Did the Universe shrink? Instead the edges were moved to awesome depths of anonymity and the modeling is showing a pattern and shape that is disquieting in its rhythm and regularity. No questions were answered rather quest beget questions. So it is when you walk to the top of the hills in the Piscatorial Pursuits and peer over the top only to witness new vistas in all their snowcapped glory.  Suddenly the realization becomes manifest in one moment of fundamental aquatic truth. You know very little about the old hookjaw himself and his habits, his environment and how he relates to it. This lack of knowledge is invigorating and interest is renewed at higher levels. The dangerous hump is passed. You are going to become a Master Angler. Article Unavailable

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What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify? [much good stuff deleted]

Here are some definitions I made up just now: beginner: the trout often makes a fool out of him novice: once in a while he catches a trout, but has no idea why intermediate: the trout sometimes don’t even know he is there expert: can catch trout when others can only catch a cold master: able to predict the strike precisely, even before it happens                                                        __ john quill taylor                                     / / writer at large                                      / /   Hewlett-Packard, Storage Systems Division    __     /_/ / Boise, Idaho U.S.A.                         /_/  __ _ Telephone: (208) 396-2328 (MST = GMT – 7)     /  \  / Snail Mail: Hewlett-Packard                    / \             11413 Chinden Blvd                 \             Boise, Idaho 83714                   _/             Mailstop 852                            _/                                                   _/       "When in doubt, do as doubters do." – jqt –                   haiti, rwanda, cuba, bosnia, … we have a list,              where is our schindler?

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify? [much good stuff deleted] Here are some definitions I made up just now: beginner: the trout often makes a fool out of him novice: once in a while he catches a trout, but has no idea why intermediate: the trout sometimes don’t even know he is there expert: can catch trout when others can only catch a cold master: able to predict the strike precisely, even before it happens

Being me, I’d say: Beginner:  "Well, I thought they were brown trout.  Are chubs good to eat?" Novice:  "I don’t know, I’ve never tried one." Intermediate: "Naw, they’re trash fish." Expert:  "I wouldn’t be caught dead with a chub, or lowlife fisherman that catch them. I’m out of here." Master: "I don’t know, let’s cook one up and see." Steve

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify? I have fished with some Master Anglers. They are those guys that never brag and always catch something when it is really tough. This isn’t always correct.  The master anglers I know brag, but in a sneaky way.   Master Angler (MA):  Nice day out, how you doing? Average Angler(AA):  Oh, really well, I got 4 fish.  How bout you? MA: I guess I did ok. AA: how many fish did you catch? MA: Oh, somewhere around 20. It’s the humbling factor.  Of course the Master angler actually has caught that many. carl

 Don’t take that for granted Carl, usually people who still take an exact tally at the end of the day/evening…really haven’t *gotten it* yet. tight_lines, steve d.

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[text deleted] Taken from the pages of Master Angler . . . .

Phew ! Glad that wasn’t written by a bait fisherman ! TimW

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What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify?

I have fished with some Master Anglers. They are those guys that never brag and always catch something when it is really tough. Everyone can improve their fishing skills, but most of us will never get to that level. In the last thirty years I have fished with or near some great fly fisherman. Many of us are good anglers, but there is only a handful of great ones. Many of the best are only know locally for their great skill and will not be writen about in magazine articles.  There are also some great anglers that don’t fly fish. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

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What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify? Much interesting stuff deleted. — Bob Sheedy

Umm, so Bob – if you fish with worms; how long before you get to be a masterbaiter? David E. Malone All opinions expressed are my own.

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Umm, so Bob – if you fish with worms; how long before you get to be a masterbaiter?

Too obvious, you should have taken the pun approach ala an earlier post. Then you could have said you saw it ‘coming’<g. Charlie…

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What is a Master Angler? Who qualifies? How do you qualify? Much interesting stuff deleted. — Bob Sheedy Umm, so Bob – if you fish with worms; how long before you get to be a masterbaiter? David E. Malone All opinions expressed are my own.

In Louisiana I’m told you need to serve 2 seasons as an apprentice, learning to bait and assisting others, another 3 seasons as a fully qualified baiter, afterwhich, and upon the unamimous consent of the Captains of the Shrimp Fleet, and by the grace of Posiedon, you can be awarded the "clenched fist (and teeth)" medal of a MASTER. This is a paraphrase of a dissertaion delivered by one Midshipman 4th Class Rollie DuCote of Gretna LA, on or about July 22nd 1970, delivered before the assembled Class of 1974, of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y., in response to a question concerning his qualifications for admission to the Academy. Rollie I hope you are listening. jg

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Question:

I’ll be in Miami the first week in October.  What’s running in the northern Keys or Biscanne Bay?  I’ve flyrodded these flats before and alothough I know big bones are there, we saw very few fish.  Of course it could have been, and probably was a bad fish day, but I might try again. Any suggestion for guides out of Miami? Adam

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Try Luis Cruz at 305-262-4330. His beeper is 305-313-8491 (when tone rings just enter your phone number including area code there is no voice message). I’ve fished with many of the best guides in the Keys, including some of the famous legends. Luis is young, knowledgeable, hardworking, and has put me into fish every trip…I’ll be doing some flyfishing for permit with him in mid-September. He’s a number one guide who knows Key Biscayne like his back yard. Bob Elliott, Rochester, NY

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I’ll be in Miami the first week in October.  What’s running in the northern Keys or Biscanne Bay?  I’ve flyrodded these flats before and alothough I know big bones are there, we saw very few fish.  Of course it could have been, and probably was a bad fish day, but I might try again. Any suggestion for guides out of Miami? Adam

This is a good time to fish because it is cooling a little and the flats are not so crowded. You might find some baby tarpon ( 10 to 30#), bonefish, permit or redfish. This is the second season, Oct/Nov. The spring, April/May/June, is the most popular time to fish southern Florida. At this time you also have the big migration of tarpon. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

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Question:

Hi, I am interested in fishing the Smith River in Virgina.  Are there any helpful flyshops in the Martinsville area? Also, what is the prefered tackle?  Any patterns that I should stock up on? Thanks, Jeff — Jeff Bailey

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Grew up there but I have not fished it in years. The best place for info is the Orvis shop in Roanoke, VA 540-345-3635 Tight Lines and Screeming Reels Phil

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Question:

Is it just me or is sea kayaking under going a rapid de-evolution ?    I can think of no other sport that is racing back to the future like it.   Skin boats,  thin wood paddles Greenland training techniques this stuff has been in use for 10,000 years .   Can any modern R.D dept. hope to come up with any thing that can withstand that test of time?

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Is it just me or is sea kayaking under going a rapid de-evolution ?    I can think of no other sport that is racing back to the future like it.   Skin boats,  thin wood paddles Greenland training techniques this stuff has been in use for 10,000 years .   Can any modern R.D dept. hope to come up with any thing that can withstand that test of time?

 I would’nt go so far as calling it a "de-evolution", the same thing happens with just about every sport out there – equipment becomes more and more sophisticated and technologicaly advanced. The original creation that started the whole process becomes lost to history. Just because I want to build a Baidarka doesnt mean I want to hold the rest of the world back – I just want something different – something that you just dont see very often, but is also recogizable as a part of past history – which is what makes it so fun. This is the reason I fly fish instead of using the latest in bait casting reels(but I use both), I also shoot a recurve bow(but I also own a compound), and I shoot black powder ( but I also have the most modern of arms). I’d be willing to bet that the modern R&D shops can and do design kayaks and canoes that are light years more efficient and durable than past boats, but evolution is the way of the world, and what better way to evolve than to look back to the past to plan for the future?

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