Question:

You know yore from Arkansas if:

Oh palms thankyou for a great laugh. Jeanne

Response:

This is very funny – I have already forwarded it to some friends! Helen

Helen me too. LOL Jeanne

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is very funny – I have already forwarded it to some friends! Helen You know yore from Arkansas if: 34. Your working TV sits on top of your non-working TV. I thought that was Ashtabula, Ohio.

  Nonsense – they’re much classier in Ashtabula. Ghoulagirl. "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."                                         – Obi-Wan Kenobi, "Star Wars".

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is very funny – I have already forwarded it to some friends! Helen You know yore from Arkansas if: 34. Your working TV sits on top of your non-working TV. I thought that was Ashtabula, Ohio. Marley Hey, I *like* Ashtabula! Nancy

You *know* Astabula???  I like Jefferson. Marley

Response:

You know yore from Arkansas if: 1. You take your dog for a walk and you both use the same tree.

BTDT 18. You’ve been involved in a custody fight over a hunting dog.

BTDT but not a hunting dog. 23. You know how many bales of hay your car will hold.

Yup. 24. You have a rag for a gas cap.

BTDT And I’m from NY.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You know yore from Arkansas if: 1. You take your dog for a walk and you both use the same tree. BTDT 18. You’ve been involved in a custody fight over a hunting dog. BTDT but not a hunting dog. 23. You know how many bales of hay your car will hold. Yup. 24. You have a rag for a gas cap. BTDT And I’m from NY.

Gasp!  Your last name’s not "Clinton", is it? P2P

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is very funny – I have already forwarded it to some friends! Helen You know yore from Arkansas if: 34. Your working TV sits on top of your non-working TV. I thought that was Ashtabula, Ohio. Marley Hey, I *like* Ashtabula! Nancy You *know* Astabula???  I like Jefferson. I spent the night in an old hotel in Ashtabula once, though I forget why.  It was nice, kinda like stepping into 1956 Mayberry.  I kept waiting for Aunt Bea in her apron to bring out more hot rolls and home made jam from the kitchen.

Is Ashtabula on the coast, by any chance? I have a vague memory of hearing it mentioned on a local radio station when we were on board ship, on the east coast. Helen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nancy "Well if you think I am going to stand for this lying down, you had better think again!"      Celeste  12/30/96

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I spent the night in an old hotel in Ashtabula once, though I forget why.  It was nice, kinda like stepping into 1956 Mayberry.  I kept waiting for Aunt Bea in her apron to bring out more hot rolls and home made jam from the kitchen. Is Ashtabula on the coast, by any chance? I have a vague memory of hearing it mentioned on a local radio station when we were on board ship, on the east coast. No, Ashtabula is inland, in a small time warp located in northeastern Ohio.  If there’s any water involved, it might be the "coast" of Lake Erie, but I don’t really remember and I’m too lazy to haul out my atlas to even check to see if I’ve got the right lake.  BTW, years ago Lake Erie was such a joke that it could barely qualify as being a body of water–I mean, it was wet like water, but it did catch fire at least once.  I hear it’s better now… Nancy

Yes, it’s on Lake Erie and even has a port, though I seriously doubt any real ships ever land there.  It also has a beach, which a least when I was hanging there, was a blacktop parking lot.  The city is the drug capital of the world and many strange characters inhabited the area.  One afternoon I was staking out a suspected killer (don’t ask!) when I noticed I’d locked my keys in my car.  oh oh.  A whole crowed of nice Baltic immigrants offered assistance with coat hangers.  It was rather humiliating and halted my career in professional snooping for years to come. Marley – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

<snip I once ran into a group of Baltic immigrants on a beach, and for some unknown reason the men all seemed to be wearing their Speedo-type swimsuits backwards.  It was *not* a nice effect, no matter how dapper they seemed to think they looked.

*They* must have invented THONGS!!!! LOL Helen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nancy "Well if you think I am going to stand for this lying down, you had better think again!"      Celeste  12/30/96

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I spent the night in an old hotel in Ashtabula once, though I forget why.  It was nice, kinda like stepping into 1956 Mayberry.  I kept waiting for Aunt Bea in her apron to bring out more hot rolls and home made jam from the kitchen. Is Ashtabula on the coast, by any chance? I have a vague memory of hearing it mentioned on a local radio station when we were on board ship, on the east coast. No, Ashtabula is inland, in a small time warp located in northeastern Ohio.  If there’s any water involved, it might be the "coast" of Lake Erie, but I don’t really remember and I’m too lazy to haul out my atlas to even check to see if I’ve got the right lake.  BTW, years ago Lake Erie was such a joke that it could barely qualify as being a body of water–I mean, it was wet like water, but it did catch fire at least once.  I hear it’s better now… Nancy Yes, it’s on Lake Erie and even has a port, though I seriously doubt any real ships ever land there.  It also has a beach, which a least when I was hanging there, was a blacktop parking lot.  The city is the drug capital of the world and many strange characters inhabited the area. You mean…Aunt Bea?  OH NOOOOOoooo…  I thought that was homemade jam…

I don’t remember any Aunt Bea’s but there were some whacked out locals. One afternoon I was staking out a suspected killer (don’t ask!) I actually did that once myself.  Just once.  I got into it without entirely understanding the situation, and I got tired of it really quickly.

I was working on a capital murder retrial.  We won but the real killer walked anyway.  He was supposedly the bastard son of one of the local chiefs of police and a snitch. when I noticed I’d locked my keys in my car.  oh oh.  A whole crowed of nice Baltic immigrants offered assistance with coat hangers.  It was rather humiliating and halted my career in professional snooping for years to come. I once ran into a group of Baltic immigrants on a beach, and for some unknown reason the men all seemed to be wearing their Speedo-type swimsuits backwards.  It was *not* a nice effect, no matter how dapper they seemed to think they looked. Nancy

Oh, please . It’s very late here. I spent a few hours on a train  once with some Estonian women in sweaters adorned with gold lame tigers. Marley Marley – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Well if you think I am going to stand for this lying down, you had better think again!"      Celeste  12/30/96

Response:

You know yore from Arkansas if: 1. You take your dog for a walk and you both use the same tree. 2. You can entertain yourself for more than an hour with a fly swatter. 3. Your property has been mistaken for a recycling center. 4. Your boat has not left the driveway in 15 years. 5. You burn your yard rather than mow it. 6. You think the Nutcracker is something you did off the high dive. 7. The Salvation Army declines your mattress. 8. Your entire family sat around waiting for a call from the governor to spare a loved one. 9. You offer to give someone the shirt off your back and they don’t want it. 10. You have the local taxidermist on speed dial. 11. You come back from the dump with more than you took. 12. You keep a can of Raid on the kitchen table. 13. Your wife can climb a tree faster than your cat. 14. Your grandmother has "Ammo" on her Christmas list. 15. You’v! ! e been kicked out of the zoo for heckling the monkeys. 16. You think a subdivision is part of a math problem. 17. You’ve bathed with flea and tick soap. 18. You’ve been involved in a custody fight over a hunting dog. 19. Your kids take a siphon hose to show and tell. 20. You think a hot tub is a stolen indoor plumbing fixture. 21. You took a fishing pole to Sea World. 22. You go to the stock car races and don’t need a program. 23. You know how many bales of hay your car will hold. 24. You have a rag for a gas cap. 25. Your father executes the "Pull my finger" trick during Christmas dinner. 26. Your house doesn’t have curtains but your truck does. 27. You wonder how service stations keep their restrooms so clean. 28. You can spit without opening your mouth. 29. You consider your license plate personalized because your father made it. 30. Your lifetime goal is to own a fireworks stand. 31. You sit on your roof at Christmas! ! time hoping to fill your deer quota. 32. You have a complete set of salad bowls and they all say Cool Whip on the side. 33. The biggest city you’ve ever been to is Wal-Mart. 34. Your working TV sits on top of your non-working TV. 35. You thought the Unabomber was a wrestler. 36. You’ve used your ironing board as a buffet table. 37. You think a quarter horse is that ride in front of K-Mart. 38. Your neighbors think you’re a detective because a cop always brings you home. 39. A tornado hits your neighborhood and does a $10,000 worth of improvement. 40. You’ve used a toilet brush as a back scratcher. 41. You’ve asked the preacher "How’s it hangin’?" 42. You missed 5th grade graduation because you had jury duty. 43. You think fast food is hitting a deer at 65 mph. 44. Somebody tells you that you’ve got something in your teeth and you take them out to see what it is. P2P

Response:

22. You go to the stock car races and don’t need a program.

Uh-Oh!! 23. You know how many bales of hay your car will hold.

Double Uh-Oh!! Becky Young ….Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower, We will grieve not; rather find strength in what remains behind — William Wordsworth

Response:

You know yore from Arkansas if:

snip 39. A tornado hits your neighborhood and does a $10,000 worth of improvement.

  This one struck me as really funny for some reason – ROR! Ghoulagirl. "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."                                         – Obi-Wan Kenobi, "Star Wars".

Response:

This is very funny – I have already forwarded it to some friends! Helen

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You know yore from Arkansas if: 1. You take your dog for a walk and you both use the same tree. 2. You can entertain yourself for more than an hour with a fly swatter. 3. Your property has been mistaken for a recycling center. 4. Your boat has not left the driveway in 15 years. 5. You burn your yard rather than mow it. 6. You think the Nutcracker is something you did off the high dive. 7. The Salvation Army declines your mattress. 8. Your entire family sat around waiting for a call from the governor to spare a loved one. 9. You offer to give someone the shirt off your back and they don’t want it. 10. You have the local taxidermist on speed dial. 11. You come back from the dump with more than you took. 12. You keep a can of Raid on the kitchen table. 13. Your wife can climb a tree faster than your cat. 14. Your grandmother has "Ammo" on her Christmas list. 15. You’v! ! e been kicked out of the zoo for heckling the monkeys. 16. You think a subdivision is part of a math problem. 17. You’ve bathed with flea and tick soap. 18. You’ve been involved in a custody fight over a hunting dog. 19. Your kids take a siphon hose to show and tell. 20. You think a hot tub is a stolen indoor plumbing fixture. 21. You took a fishing pole to Sea World. 22. You go to the stock car races and don’t need a program. 23. You know how many bales of hay your car will hold. 24. You have a rag for a gas cap. 25. Your father executes the "Pull my finger" trick during Christmas dinner. 26. Your house doesn’t have curtains but your truck does. 27. You wonder how service stations keep their restrooms so clean. 28. You can spit without opening your mouth. 29. You consider your license plate personalized because your father made it. 30. Your lifetime goal is to own a fireworks stand. 31. You sit on your roof at Christmas! ! time hoping to fill your deer quota. 32. You have a complete set of salad bowls and they all say Cool Whip on the side. 33. The biggest city you’ve ever been to is Wal-Mart. 34. Your working TV sits on top of your non-working TV. 35. You thought the Unabomber was a wrestler. 36. You’ve used your ironing board as a buffet table. 37. You think a quarter horse is that ride in front of K-Mart. 38. Your neighbors think you’re a detective because a cop always brings you home. 39. A tornado hits your neighborhood and does a $10,000 worth of improvement. 40. You’ve used a toilet brush as a back scratcher. 41. You’ve asked the preacher "How’s it hangin’?" 42. You missed 5th grade graduation because you had jury duty. 43. You think fast food is hitting a deer at 65 mph. 44. Somebody tells you that you’ve got something in your teeth and you take them out to see what it is. P2P

Response:

This is very funny – I have already forwarded it to some friends! Helen You know yore from Arkansas if: 34. Your working TV sits on top of your non-working TV.

I thought that was Ashtabula, Ohio. Marley

Response:

Question:

Hard to compare a 50.00 pair of pants to an 800.00 appliance.

Cabelas should take an example from L.L.Bean.  While in high school I

bought  a pair of wool hunting pants with leather lined pockets.  About ten years later (I had gone into the Navy) I found them in

my closet.  The pants were in great shape but the leather pockets had dry rotted and fell apart.   Okay, they repair there boots

I’ll call and see if I can get a new set of pockets (I fully expected to pay).  L.L.Bean said to send them the pants and they would

look at them.   A month later I get a new pair in the mail with a letter saying that satisfaction is garrenteed for life and they

felt the leather should have outlasted the wool.  No Charge! When you are a top of the line company and treat your customers like your

job depends on each one (which it does) you form a brand – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – loyalty that makes your company solid and secure. — Bill Pentheny Adams Co. (Pa) Bassmasters Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief & Rescue www.cbrrescue.org

Response:

Walter! L L Bean, Pants, $50.00? I need the catalog they send you. Best Mike N

Response:

Cabelas should take an example from L.L.Bean.  While in high school I bought  a pair of wool hunting pants with leather lined pockets.  About ten years later (I had gone into the Navy) I found them in my closet.  The pants were in great shape but the leather pockets had dry rotted and fell apart.   Okay, they repair there boots I’ll call and see if I can get a new set of pockets (I fully expected to pay).  L.L.Bean said to send them the pants and they would look at them.   A month later I get a new pair in the mail with a letter saying that satisfaction is garrenteed for life and they felt the leather should have outlasted the wool.  No Charge! When you are a top of the line company and treat your customers like your job depends on each one (which it does) you form a brand loyalty that makes your company solid and secure. — Bill Pentheny Adams Co. (Pa) Bassmasters Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief & Rescue www.cbrrescue.org

Response:

Maybe it is just me, but seems fair.  Buy something, do not get around to using it for a year, see the same thing for less or a better item, send back old unit for full credit.  Looks to me like a way for a company to end up Enron Style. As to Cabelas.  Ordered a reconditioned MinnKota 65 AP -60" shaft last Thursday.  They said should be here on the 16th.  Arrived today, $13 shipping for both items (also bought a retractable mount) from Nebraska to Calif. Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, despite my best efforts in discussing this with Cabelas, it turns out they will NOT let me exchange my Minn Kota for the one with the internal transducer.  Darn!  They apparently have a 60-day window after purchase & will not help once the 60 days have passed.  I really thought they might help me since I explained that the motor is still in the box.  So fellas, remember this policy.  That motor was $750+, so apparently "how good a customer you are" plays no part in this policy.  I don’t know how this experience will affect my future orders with Cabelas.  Opinions? Warren2 Thanks fellas, I like what I’m hearing.  I’m gonna give this a go & let y’all know how I make out. Warren2 I can only say I buy almost exclusively from Cabaleas because of their excellent service. I bought two Guest chargers  from them and both  of them was faulty One wouldn’t shut off and the other wouldn’t charge I Called them and told them I couldn’t get to it as it was at my cottage 500 miles away. No problem  I got a replacement and it too was faulty  I sent them all back at this time and got credit. I had to eat the battery the charger burned up but this was not Cabaleas fault. I ended up ordering two new Duel Pro Chargers and haven’t had any further problems The point is the girl said she would make a note on my acct of the bad chargers and  she did. Cabeleas gets a A+ in my book I will be ordering my new fish finder from their as well as some fly fishing equipment. Their good service will net them several hundred dollars in sales from me JMO — Highlander

Response:

You are 100% correct in saying this Bill, I won’t hold it against Cabelas. It’s been 5 months or so, not quite a year.  I’m just cryin the blues I guess, it’s been a rough week old buddy. Warren2

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Maybe it is just me, but seems fair.  Buy something, do not get around to using it for a year, see the same thing for less or a better item, send back old unit for full credit.  Looks to me like a way for a company to end up Enron Style. As to Cabelas.  Ordered a reconditioned MinnKota 65 AP -60" shaft last Thursday.  They said should be here on the 16th.  Arrived today, $13 shipping for both items (also bought a retractable mount) from Nebraska to Calif. Bill Well, despite my best efforts in discussing this with Cabelas, it turns out they will NOT let me exchange my Minn Kota for the one with the internal transducer.  Darn!  They apparently have a 60-day window after purchase & will not help once the 60 days have passed.  I really thought they might help me since I explained that the motor is still in the box.  So fellas, remember this policy.  That motor was $750+, so apparently "how good a customer you are" plays no part in this policy.  I don’t know how this experience will affect my future orders with Cabelas.  Opinions? Warren2 Thanks fellas, I like what I’m hearing.  I’m gonna give this a go & let y’all know how I make out. Warren2 I can only say I buy almost exclusively from Cabaleas because of their excellent service. I bought two Guest chargers  from them and both  of them was faulty One wouldn’t shut off and the other wouldn’t charge I Called them and told them I couldn’t get to it as it was at my cottage 500 miles away. No problem  I got a replacement and it too was faulty  I sent them all back at this time and got credit. I had to eat the battery the charger burned up but this was not Cabaleas fault. I ended up ordering two new Duel Pro Chargers and haven’t had any further problems The point is the girl said she would make a note on my acct of the bad chargers and  she did. Cabeleas gets a A+ in my book I will be ordering my new fish finder from their as well as some fly fishing equipment. Their good service will net them several hundred dollars in sales from me JMO — Highlander

Response:

Well, despite my best efforts in discussing this with Cabelas, it turns out they will NOT let me exchange my Minn Kota for the one with the internal transducer.  Darn!  They apparently have a 60-day window after purchase & will not help once the 60 days have passed.  I really thought they might help me since I explained that the motor is still in the box.  So fellas, remember this policy.  That motor was $750+, so apparently "how good a customer you are" plays no part in this policy.  I don’t know how this experience will affect my future orders with Cabelas.  Opinions? Warren2

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks fellas, I like what I’m hearing.  I’m gonna give this a go & let y’all know how I make out. Warren2 I can only say I buy almost exclusively from Cabaleas because of their excellent service. I bought two Guest chargers  from them and both  of them was faulty  One wouldn’t shut off and the other wouldn’t charge I Called them and told them I couldn’t get to it as it was at my cottage 500 miles away. No problem  I got a replacement and it too was faulty  I sent them all back at this time and got credit. I had to eat the battery the charger burned up but this was not Cabaleas fault. I ended up ordering two new Duel Pro Chargers and haven’t had any further problems The point is the girl said she would make a note on my acct of the bad chargers and  she did. Cabeleas gets a A+ in my book I will be ordering my new fish finder from their as well as some fly fishing equipment. Their good service will net them several hundred dollars in sales from me JMO — Highlander

Response:

Thanks fellas, I like what I’m hearing.  I’m gonna give this a go & let y’all know how I make out. Warren2

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can only say I buy almost exclusively from Cabaleas because of their excellent service. I bought two Guest chargers  from them and both  of them was faulty  One wouldn’t shut off and the other wouldn’t charge I Called them and told them I couldn’t get to it as it was at my cottage 500 miles away. No problem  I got a replacement and it too was faulty  I sent them all back at this time and got credit. I had to eat the battery the charger burned up but this was not Cabaleas fault. I ended up ordering two new Duel Pro Chargers and haven’t had any further problems The point is the girl said she would make a note on my acct of the bad chargers and  she did. Cabeleas gets a A+ in my book I will be ordering my new fish finder from their as well as some fly fishing equipment. Their good service will net them several hundred dollars in sales from me JMO — Highlander

Response:

I can only say I buy almost exclusively from Cabaleas because of their excellent service. I bought two Guest chargers  from them and both  of them was faulty  One wouldn’t shut off and the other wouldn’t charge I Called them and told them I couldn’t get to it as it was at my cottage 500 miles away. No problem  I got a replacement and it too was faulty  I sent them all back at this time and got credit. I had to eat the battery the charger burned up but this was not Cabaleas fault. I ended up ordering two new Duel Pro Chargers and haven’t had any further problems The point is the girl said she would make a note on my acct of the bad chargers and  she did. Cabeleas gets a A+ in my book I will be ordering my new fish finder from their as well as some fly fishing equipment. Their good service will net them several hundred dollars in sales from me JMO — Highlander

Response:

I bought a 74# MK Maxxum from Cabelas in the fall.  Now I get the new Catalog & they now have the same motor, only on the new model the transducer is inside the drive unit.  Two questions for you guys: 1) How do the internally-housed transducers compare sensitively to the externally mounted ones? 2) My motor is still in the box, never opened.  Will Cabelas swap me the newer version for the one I have? Warren2

Response:

You’d still come out ahead with Cabela’s. You will get full credit and only pay get free shipping on the replacement item. You will get stuck with shipping the motor back, but you will take a bath on eBay. — Citizen Fisherman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I bought a 74# MK Maxxum from Cabelas in the fall.  Now I get the new Catalog & they now have the same motor, only on the new model the transducer is inside the drive unit.  Two questions for you guys: 1) How do the internally-housed transducers compare sensitively to the externally mounted ones? Dunno. 2) My motor is still in the box, never opened.  Will Cabelas swap me the newer version for the one I have? Ask Cabela’s. But know that you or they will have to eat shipping charges.  Probably you.   How ’bout selling the older motor here or on eBay?

Response:

I bought a 74# MK Maxxum from Cabelas in the fall.  Now I get the new Catalog & they now have the same motor, only on the new model the transducer is inside the drive unit.  Two questions for you guys: 1) How do the internally-housed transducers compare sensitively to the externally mounted ones?

Dunno. 2) My motor is still in the box, never opened.  Will Cabelas swap me the newer version for the one I have?

Ask Cabela’s. But know that you or they will have to eat shipping charges.  Probably you.   How ’bout selling the older motor here or on eBay?

Response:

…imagine if computer dealers would do that….I’d gladly pay shipping charges to upgrade every six months…let us know how it turns out, eh.

I bought a 74# MK Maxxum from Cabelas in the fall.  Now I get the new

Catalog & they now have the same motor, only on the new model the transducer is inside the drive unit.  Two questions for you guys: 1) How do the internally-housed transducers compare sensitively to the

externally mounted ones? Dunno. 2) My motor is still in the box, never opened.  Will Cabelas swap me the

newer version for the one I have? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ask Cabela’s. But know that you or they will have to eat shipping charges.  Probably you.   How ’bout selling the older motor here or on eBay?

Response:

I buy a ton of stuff from Cabela’s, and they have the best customer service in the business, hands down. You probably don’t even need an RMA. Go to cabelas.com and get the live chat and you can take it up with them there. I’m sure you’ll be pleased. — Citizen Fisherman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I bought a 74# MK Maxxum from Cabelas in the fall.  Now I get the new Catalog & they now have the same motor, only on the new model the transducer is inside the drive unit.  Two questions for you guys: 1) How do the internally-housed transducers compare sensitively to the externally mounted ones? 2) My motor is still in the box, never opened.  Will Cabelas swap me the newer version for the one I have? Warren2

Response:

Question:

You want skeeters?  Try Western Montana.  Mosquitos are their state bird!  After they drained me, they even offered me a glass of orange juice! Gus Weber

If the Red Cross could train them, they wouldn’t need volunteers.

Response:

I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing.

Hahahaha!  Those flies are deadly…… nothing compared to the skeeters in Bismark, ND though. Did you go to the Vietnam Memorial? Hunter

Response:

Thanks again Bob. On my recent trip to CO this past August we were going to stay at The Spa because they now have a small RV park with hookups for about 6 or so RVs, but alas only for fully self contained units and they don’t allow pets.  The massages across the street are excellent BTW. We ended up right outside town at a RV park right on the San Juan River (I think it’s called Riverview, it’s on the left as you are leaving town on Hwy 160 going toward Wolf Creek Pass) with a nice little pond of their own. Very friendly and helpful people.  I’ve been there before. The other thing I might mention is that just before you get to Wolf Creek Pass there is a turnout on the right that lets you take a nice hike up to the headwaters of the San Juan River.  It’s a nice (uphill) hike and the falls at the top are beautiful. — Peace, Love and Serenity, Madeleine

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A few notes of passing interest…. Chama, New Mexico I stayed in the Rio Chama RV Park, a nice piece of cottonwood bottom right along the river, next to a trestle bridge for the Cumbres and Toltec steam excursion train.  The Station is about a half mile west. While watching the horrible news on TV that evening, I heard a couple of loud spaced reports, like shotguns going off nearby.  I thought, "It’s black powder season – but in town?" I went down to the tracks and met one the guys who ride around in golf carts helping people park their houses.  He was walking back from the woods along the track. "Somebody shooting down here?" "Nah.  That was me.  Firecrackers.  Them bears are tryin’ to climb the fence again." It turns out that a sow and 2 cubs had been getting into the garbage cans, and apparently tore up a screen door the day before.  One of the weapons used by the Forest Service to control them is rubber bullets, which are packed with a light powder charge into a 12 gauge shotgun shell.  On request, they pass them out in small numbers to residents. I heard one fellow laughing about his "doofus" neighbor who picked up a few and then realized he only had a 20 gauge to shoot them with. Pagosa Springs, Colorado I have been coming to Pagosa to ski for 20 years.  I always stayed at the Spa Motel, to make use of the hot spring baths, the swimming pool, and the occasional massage.  One of my favorite memories of this place is the year it snowed so much the ticket office at Wolf Creek was buried, and the whole enterprise was shut down for days.  I eventually escaped to Purgatory, pointing my Bronco carefully down the middle of the white space between the humps of the fencing along the buried highway, hoping to stay on the road.  But the night before I left, I spent an interesting hour in the warm swimming pool, watching those big heavy flakes crowd down out of the black sky, plopping into the pool around me.  I’m sure they didn’t really hiss as they hit the water, but that’s the way I remember it. The swimming pool is still ok, but I am sorry to report the indoor soaking pool is not being maintained properly.  This may be just one bad day, so check it out if you come through.  They give out flannel sheets to wrap up in when you are steaming, and you can lay back on benches and drift off till you cool down and go back in.  The water is still 108 degrees, or maybe more, but when I went it hadn’t been cleaned in a while.  There was stuff floating on the surface, and it had an oily feel, and the whole room smelled like some sort of nasty soup or old dish water. The good news is that the place across the street (The Springs) is greatly improved from my last visit.  These are a series of outdoor pools (bathing suit required) in tiers down to the river, going from 110 degrees down to tepid.  If I were just a little bit younger, I’d have to say the babes in string bikinis ain’t so hard to look at, either.  $12 for the day.   I’m talking about the pools. Creede, Colorado I was wandering desolately down the main street, beseeching complete strangers for access to a phone line so I could e-mail you guys, when I saw a large orange tabby limping across the street.  She was collared, tagged, and belled.  Her left rear foot was held up high, and it looked like something red stained the paw. I ducked into the Kentucky Belle, which is a grocery store, and told the clerk it looked like someone’s cat was hurt. "Big orange cat?" "Yeah." "That’s the town cat.  She don’t belong to anyone special.  She got froze to a bridge." The girl was checking out groceries and talking over her shoulder. She was obviously busy, so I didn’t press her, though now I wish I had.  This was a healthy animal, with an imperious air only slightly spoiled by the her legged gait.  On closer inspection, the red stuff on her paw looked like some kind of medicine. The Town Cat.  I guess if you’re going to get stuck to a bridge, this is the place to do it. Between Mora and Angelfire, New Mexico I’ve noticed the black flies here are bigger and slower than the ones I’m used to in Texas.  And louder.  If you happen to leave your door open during your nap, they’ll make you dream in black and white, of old war movies.  Spitfires and B-29s.  Since I never know when a nap is coming at me, I am apt to do this. I bought a fly swatter at the Wal-Mart in Las Vegas, N.M.  Actually they came packaged in pairs, which I took as an omen.  Never know when you might need back-up. In all fairness, though, I have to say they are a tough, tenacious bunch.  I was particularly impressed with a certain Sampson of their lot.  I decided to skip Taos on the way up.  It’s a good town for walking, but finding a place to park the Behemoth I’m living in just didn’t seem attractive to me this time round.  The traffic is crazy there around the square, and you can’t avoid it. So I took a winding narrow road out of Mora, past Coyote Creek State Park.  When the road opened up a bit approaching Angelfire, I stopped in a turnout, arranged a nice view of the Sangre de Cristos, and made a sandwich.  A few flies got in, so I lay about with the swatter till they granted me a funereal peace. After I got back in the truck and started off down the hill, I noticed through the windshield that one of these smug odious vermin had made himself a perch exactly where the hood ornament would be, if I had one.  I sped up to 30 mph.  He was unconcerned.  40 mph.  He couldn’t care less.  50 mph.  If a fly could yawn, he would.  As I approached 60 mph, I saw him hunker down a little on the slick surface of the paint.  Got you now, sucker. But as luck would have it, a car slowed down in front of me, approaching a curve, and I had to let up.  I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing.  As I slowed down to 30 mph, the devil flew away.  But I cannot say blew away.  He left calmly, at a time and place of his own choosing. And that’s it for now. Bob

Response:

You want skeeters?  Try Western Montana.  Mosquitos are their state bird!  After they drained me, they even offered me a glass of orange juice! Gus Weber – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing. Hahahaha!  Those flies are deadly…… nothing compared to the skeeters in Bismark, ND though. Did you go to the Vietnam Memorial? Hunter

Response:

No, I’ve been before, and this week I just didn’t need the depression it brought on.

full of Harleys. Their owners were mostly pretty scary looking…. ……there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. I had to leave I was a mess, I can’t take it when other people cry….. it was heartbreaking to be there…. Hunter

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks again Bob. On my recent trip to CO this past August we were going to stay at The Spa because they now have a small RV park with hookups for about 6 or so RVs, but alas only for fully self contained units and they don’t allow pets.  The massages across the street are excellent BTW. We ended up right outside town at a RV park right on the San Juan River (I think it’s called Riverview, it’s on the left as you are leaving town on Hwy 160 going toward Wolf Creek Pass) with a nice little pond of their own. Very friendly and helpful people.  I’ve been there before. The other thing I might mention is that just before you get to Wolf Creek Pass there is a turnout on the right that lets you take a nice hike up to the headwaters of the San Juan River.  It’s a nice (uphill) hike and the falls at the top are beautiful.

Thanks yourself.  I am going back through Pagosa this weekend.  They are having a big festival and balloon ascension, and besides it’s on the way to the fleshpots of Durango.  I give Riverview a look.  I went to the falls years ago, and I think I’ll revisit. Now I’ve got to go unload my wallet and get some flyfishing lessons for tomorrow.  Hectic pace out here.  :) Bob

Response:

I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing. Hahahaha!  Those flies are deadly…… nothing compared to the skeeters in Bismark, ND though. Did you go to the Vietnam Memorial? Hunter

No, I’ve been before, and this week I just didn’t need the depression it brought on. It’s a good display, though.  There’s another in California with a lot of good sculpture.  It’s off IH5, but right now I can’t look it up, I’m stuck in a phone booth.  Later. Bob

Response:

A few notes of passing interest…. Chama, New Mexico I stayed in the Rio Chama RV Park, a nice piece of cottonwood bottom right along the river, next to a trestle bridge for the Cumbres and Toltec steam excursion train.  The Station is about a half mile west. While watching the horrible news on TV that evening, I heard a couple of loud spaced reports, like shotguns going off nearby.  I thought, "It’s black powder season – but in town?" I went down to the tracks and met one the guys who ride around in golf carts helping people park their houses.  He was walking back from the woods along the track. "Somebody shooting down here?" "Nah.  That was me.  Firecrackers.  Them bears are tryin’ to climb the fence again." It turns out that a sow and 2 cubs had been getting into the garbage cans, and apparently tore up a screen door the day before.  One of the weapons used by the Forest Service to control them is rubber bullets, which are packed with a light powder charge into a 12 gauge shotgun shell.  On request, they pass them out in small numbers to residents. I heard one fellow laughing about his "doofus" neighbor who picked up a few and then realized he only had a 20 gauge to shoot them with. Pagosa Springs, Colorado I have been coming to Pagosa to ski for 20 years.  I always stayed at the Spa Motel, to make use of the hot spring baths, the swimming pool, and the occasional massage.  One of my favorite memories of this place is the year it snowed so much the ticket office at Wolf Creek was buried, and the whole enterprise was shut down for days.  I eventually escaped to Purgatory, pointing my Bronco carefully down the middle of the white space between the humps of the fencing along the buried highway, hoping to stay on the road.  But the night before I left, I spent an interesting hour in the warm swimming pool, watching those big heavy flakes crowd down out of the black sky, plopping into the pool around me.  I’m sure they didn’t really hiss as they hit the water, but that’s the way I remember it. The swimming pool is still ok, but I am sorry to report the indoor soaking pool is not being maintained properly.  This may be just one bad day, so check it out if you come through.  They give out flannel sheets to wrap up in when you are steaming, and you can lay back on benches and drift off till you cool down and go back in.  The water is still 108 degrees, or maybe more, but when I went it hadn’t been cleaned in a while.  There was stuff floating on the surface, and it had an oily feel, and the whole room smelled like some sort of nasty soup or old dish water. The good news is that the place across the street (The Springs) is greatly improved from my last visit.  These are a series of outdoor pools (bathing suit required) in tiers down to the river, going from 110 degrees down to tepid.  If I were just a little bit younger, I’d have to say the babes in string bikinis ain’t so hard to look at, either.  $12 for the day.   I’m talking about the pools. Creede, Colorado I was wandering desolately down the main street, beseeching complete strangers for access to a phone line so I could e-mail you guys, when I saw a large orange tabby limping across the street.  She was collared, tagged, and belled.  Her left rear foot was held up high, and it looked like something red stained the paw.   I ducked into the Kentucky Belle, which is a grocery store, and told the clerk it looked like someone’s cat was hurt. "Big orange cat?" "Yeah." "That’s the town cat.  She don’t belong to anyone special.  She got froze to a bridge." The girl was checking out groceries and talking over her shoulder. She was obviously busy, so I didn’t press her, though now I wish I had.  This was a healthy animal, with an imperious air only slightly spoiled by the her legged gait.  On closer inspection, the red stuff on her paw looked like some kind of medicine. The Town Cat.  I guess if you’re going to get stuck to a bridge, this is the place to do it. Between Mora and Angelfire, New Mexico I’ve noticed the black flies here are bigger and slower than the ones I’m used to in Texas.  And louder.  If you happen to leave your door open during your nap, they’ll make you dream in black and white, of old war movies.  Spitfires and B-29s.  Since I never know when a nap is coming at me, I am apt to do this. I bought a fly swatter at the Wal-Mart in Las Vegas, N.M.  Actually they came packaged in pairs, which I took as an omen.  Never know when you might need back-up. In all fairness, though, I have to say they are a tough, tenacious bunch.  I was particularly impressed with a certain Sampson of their lot.  I decided to skip Taos on the way up.  It’s a good town for walking, but finding a place to park the Behemoth I’m living in just didn’t seem attractive to me this time round.  The traffic is crazy there around the square, and you can’t avoid it. So I took a winding narrow road out of Mora, past Coyote Creek State Park.  When the road opened up a bit approaching Angelfire, I stopped in a turnout, arranged a nice view of the Sangre de Cristos, and made a sandwich.  A few flies got in, so I lay about with the swatter till they granted me a funereal peace. After I got back in the truck and started off down the hill, I noticed through the windshield that one of these smug odious vermin had made himself a perch exactly where the hood ornament would be, if I had one.  I sped up to 30 mph.  He was unconcerned.  40 mph.  He couldn’t care less.  50 mph.  If a fly could yawn, he would.  As I approached 60 mph, I saw him hunker down a little on the slick surface of the paint.  Got you now, sucker. But as luck would have it, a car slowed down in front of me, approaching a curve, and I had to let up.  I didn’t want to explain the cause of my injuries to the attending physician, if Angelfire has such a thing.  As I slowed down to 30 mph, the devil flew away.  But I cannot say blew away.  He left calmly, at a time and place of his own choosing. And that’s it for now. Bob

Response:

Question:

. Cheap rod a child can use I should have mentioned, this is for a 2 year old. Rick

Depends on fishing habits and conditions. Your normal habits will of course have to change, mainly taking turns while the "sitter" of the moment explores nature, a little splashing, turning over rocks, touching moss-bark-worms-mud etc. a chest pak carrier (with the child facing forward) provides security, restraint, and mobility.  Of course the child will not remember it later but you will, as a most wondrous phase in your lives. I can tell you that as the family grows your fishing habits will continue change culminating with a trip with the grand children. Maybe if you are as lucky as me, Great grand children and the realization of how blessed your life has been and what fun fishing buddies you have.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Find another couple with the same problem. Their passion doesn’t have to be fishing, could be golf, tennis, whatever.  The couples take turns looking after the other’s child.  Since the visiting child gets to play with a new playmate and toys, interest should not be a problem. Peter Damn!  I hate it when people give sound and thoughtful advice. Opie  –Planning for the Past– Really.  I was waiting for some wag to suggest giving the kid a box of treble hooks the night before and then letting the doctors and your HMO take care of it from there, or something in equally poor taste…<G. Seriously, I liked the idea of taking the child, but the parents taking turns fishing.  Heck, by three or four, I was fishing – not quite with a fly yet, and not quite catching much (I’m not sure if I even had a complete hook – hey, if it’s not dynamite or electricity, it’s called _fishing_, not catching), but it taught me patience, etc. If that’s not practical, Peter’s idea seems pretty decent – maybe even find another couple in similar position (or even better, one non-fisher) and three can fish while one watches the kiddos. TC, R

BRAGGING RIGHTS::: At four my great grandson caught his first trophy large mouth, "gramps" cast,(we hadn’t known he was a lefty then) and lipped it. He did the rest. 21.5" of galloping bass, I’m surprised you didn’t hear me whooping.

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Will send you a video one day just to prove it )

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Admittedly I would never take my kids fishing they are obnoxious and annoying. LOL.  This is one of the funniest lines I’ve read on ROFF (I hope you intended it that way) and a sure candidate for Brutally Honest Comment of the Year. JR

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"Jo" < Admittedly I would never take my kids fishing they are obnoxious and annoying.

… Bad habits can be broken…… john

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You havent met my kids with a fishing rod 2 out of three are officially hyperactive and the other one is a budding self absorbed model god forbid any dirt attaching itself to that one. Fishing is actually stressful with them.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Jo" < Admittedly I would never take my kids fishing they are obnoxious and annoying. … Bad habits can be broken…… john

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not much will stop a fishing couple from fishing, but lack of child care will do it. I’m wondering how others have handled this at fishing destinations? Lodges with kids programs? Day cares in town? I know that it’s always possible to hire a local person as a sitter, but I’m thinking more about organized, professional care which will be more fun for the child. TIA, Rick

I’ve got an almost-two year old myself, and I went on two vacations in two months–Maui in December and Orlando in January. During the trip to Maui, my mother came up from Raleigh, NC to PA and stayed at our house with the baby.  Baby sleeps in her own bed, gets spoiled by grandma for 8 days, loves it.  Baby learns to say "Hawaii" and locate the islands on the globe.  Mom & Dad enjoy the islands for a week. During the trip to FL, my grandmother & aunt (both live practically next door) shared the same duties as my mom did a month earlier.  Baby sleeps in own bed, gets spoiled by auntie & great-grandma for a 4-day weekend.  Mom & Dad bring home ‘mouse ears’ for baby, in an effort to remove the mouse ears, baby snaps elastic chin strap against face, cries vigorously.  Mom & Dad supress laughter (mostly). My tactic so far has been simple:  don’t take the kid. I share your dilemma.  Life with two year old is not really the ideal situation for spending day after day astream, especially if Mom wants to go fishing as badly as Dad does… The ‘find a couple and share babysitting’ plan is a good one.  You could probably get 6 weekends/year from that plan.  One weekend/month/couple:  one month you babysit, one month they babysit. If your life is anything like mine (hectic), one weekend every other month is probably as often as you can get away. Basically, my advice is this:  FAMILY.  Grandparents, great- grandparents (if your child is so lucky) aunts & uncles, etc.  They’re the best babysitters money can buy (free), and they’ll treat your child like family–obviously.  And most kids think of grandma or a favorite aunt/uncle as being at least as fun as the county fair, if not better. If you can get a family member to staty at your house, so much the better.  Thell them to pay-per-view anything they’d like, give them some $$$ for ordering pizza, etc., and make sure they know where the local park is and how to get there. If you don’t have any family in driving distance, consider moving. Unless, that is, you live far from family by design. <g  In which case I have no worthwhile advice for you. Some weekends, I’d give anything for a few hours of privacy (wink wink, nod nod) with the spousal unit.  I don’t care if the baby lives on M&Ms and Potato Chips for the entire weekend–just make sure there’s no crying in the background when I call to see how things are and I’ll have a good time without baby. With the upcomping Penns Clave, the wife & I are considering buying a big cabin tent (we live less than an hour from Coburn) and taking baby camping for the first time.  I’ve got some misgivings about exposing wife and baby to ROFFians, but it’s a possibility.  Wife doesn’t fly fish (yet), and baby will probably want to throw rocks in creek all day, but I’ve yet to find a better way to spend lots of time at the Clave.  Since we’re less than an hour from home, the worst that could happen is that we all go home at night. Tom G constantly struggling to find time to fish

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Not only family but friends are good resources.  Last time we took boys fishing (one good ol’ boy and one city boy), we went with Ol’ Whiskerface’s buddy.  One day, I’d take the kids sightseeing (indian ruins, big rocks, A&W rootbeer), the next day one or both menfolks would take one or both boys fishing, while I caught dinner.  We kinda "spread the wealth."  Now both boys all groan up and never call their mother.  Enjoy the little beggers while you can. Bob’s Wife in El Paso. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m wondering how others have handled this at fishing destinations? Basically, my advice is this:  FAMILY.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Find another couple with the same problem. Their passion doesn’t have to be fishing, could be golf, tennis, whatever.  The couples take turns looking after the other’s child.  Since the visiting child gets to play with a new playmate and toys, interest should not be a problem. Peter Damn!  I hate it when people give sound and thoughtful advice. Opie  –Planning for the Past–

Really.  I was waiting for some wag to suggest giving the kid a box of treble hooks the night before and then letting the doctors and your HMO take care of it from there, or something in equally poor taste…<G. Seriously, I liked the idea of taking the child, but the parents taking turns fishing.  Heck, by three or four, I was fishing – not quite with a fly yet, and not quite catching much (I’m not sure if I even had a complete hook – hey, if it’s not dynamite or electricity, it’s called _fishing_, not catching), but it taught me patience, etc. If that’s not practical, Peter’s idea seems pretty decent – maybe even find another couple in similar position (or even better, one non-fisher) and three can fish while one watches the kiddos.   TC, R – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Life as you knew is over. Some good tips in this thread but none that will make it like it was.  One reason there is so many geezers in roff is they have to wait till the kids leave and the dog dies to get back to fly fishing.  Fish when you can enjoy the kid. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not much will stop a fishing couple from fishing, but lack of child care will do it.

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Not much will stop a fishing couple from fishing, but lack of child care will do it. I’m wondering how others have handled this at fishing destinations?      None of my exes ever minded being left back at the cabin to watch the kids. Ummm, let me reword that, umm oh cripes, I think I’m starting to understand something.                   Charlie,                   getting in touch with my feminine side

    I think I know what you’re saying. My wife, when annoyed one time after I came home from a six hour round, asked me if I ever wondered why the 3 other guys in my Sunday morning foursome are all divorced.                                     Kelly

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[snip]     I think I know what you’re saying. My wife, when annoyed one time after I came home from a six hour round, asked me if I ever wondered why the 3 other guys in my Sunday morning foursome are all divorced.                                     Kelly

the answers are: "Because I have a wonderful wife and their wives were real B^%$^s"  or "Now don’t go putting any silly ideas in my head"

Response:

I was expecting to hear something about lodges with rivers and kid programs, but I’d forgotten the warmth, creativity and thoughtfulness of this list. Several of the responses had me roaring with laughter. Thanks. Rick

Response:

I was expecting to hear something about lodges with rivers and kid programs, but I’d forgotten the warmth, creativity and thoughtfulness of this list. Several of the responses had me roaring with laughter. Thanks. Rick

All in a days work, Rick! As a single guy for 42 years, you damn sure don’t want a serious reply from me.  Besides, I wouldn’t have a clue what to suggest.  But I have heard that bears are nurturing critters, to a point. Opie  –Planning for the Past–

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Seriously I think the only thing that would come close is taking the kid,…I have a friend who had been fly fishing with her dad since the age of 3 she is now 50 and coaches top fly fishers herself. Some of us are really lucky to have understanding spouses, in fact mine cancelled a golf afternoon without a blink because I planned to go fishing away for a weekend and forgot to tell him. Admittedly I would never take my kids fishing they are obnoxious and annoying.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was expecting to hear something about lodges with rivers and kid programs, but I’d forgotten the warmth, creativity and thoughtfulness of this list. Several of the responses had me roaring with laughter. Thanks. Rick

Response:

Admittedly I would never take my kids fishing they are obnoxious and annoying.

LOL.  This is one of the funniest lines I’ve read on ROFF (I hope you intended it that way) and a sure candidate for Brutally Honest Comment of the Year. JR

Response:

Not much will stop a fishing couple from fishing, but lack of child care will do it. I’m wondering how others have handled this at fishing destinations? Lodges with kids programs? Day cares in town? I know that it’s always possible to hire a local person as a sitter, but I’m thinking more about organized, professional care which will be more fun for the child. TIA, Rick

Response:

Cheap rod a child can use

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not much will stop a fishing couple from fishing, but lack of child care will do it. I’m wondering how others have handled this at fishing destinations? Lodges with kids programs? Day cares in town? I know that it’s always possible to hire a local person as a sitter, but I’m thinking more about organized, professional care which will be more fun for the child. TIA, Rick

Response:

. Cheap rod a child can use I should have mentioned, this is for a 2 year old. Rick

Response:

Not much will stop a fishing couple from fishing, but lack of child care will do it. I’m wondering how others have handled this at fishing destinations?

Each of you fish half a day. There’ll be plenty of time for romance fishing when the kid’s older. –Steve (hey, you asked…)

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Children are God’s way of telling you that you have no business enjoying life. As toddlers they take up your time because they are helpless otherwise. As adolescents they must be shuttled to and fro from one activity to the next. As teenagers they are mean, nasty, vulgar little shits that may or may not require bail. As young adults they seem to have finally gotten their shit together, but will eventually destroy what is left of your sanity. As full grown adults they will fight with their siblings over some supposed fortune you are planning to leave, and then place you and your spouse in separate retirement homes. Realize of course that I speak from experience as a single guy.  BTW, mom and dad left me with nothing and they are presently communicating via the USPS, because I wouldn’t pay to have phone installed in their rooms at Shady Lake and Happy Trails Retirement Centers. Opie  –Bastard Son–

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not much will stop a fishing couple from fishing, but lack of child care will do it. I’m wondering how others have handled this at fishing destinations? Lodges with kids programs? Day cares in town? I know that it’s always possible to hire a local person as a sitter, but I’m thinking more about organized, professional care which will be more fun for the child. TIA, Rick

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not much will stop a fishing couple from fishing, but lack of child care will do it. I’m wondering how others have handled this at fishing destinations? Lodges with kids programs? Day cares in town? I know that it’s always possible to hire a local person as a sitter, but I’m thinking more about organized, professional care which will be more fun for the child. TIA, Rick

Find another couple with the same problem. Their passion doesn’t have to be fishing, could be golf, tennis, whatever.  The couples take turns looking after the other’s child.  Since the visiting child gets to play with a new playmate and toys, interest should not be a problem. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Find another couple with the same problem. Their passion doesn’t have to be fishing, could be golf, tennis, whatever.  The couples take turns looking after the other’s child.  Since the visiting child gets to play with a new playmate and toys, interest should not be a problem. Peter

Damn!  I hate it when people give sound and thoughtful advice. Opie  –Planning for the Past–

Response:

Damn!  I hate it when people give sound and thoughtful advice. Opie  –Planning for the Past–

It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it. Peter

Response:

Not much will stop a fishing couple from fishing, but lack of child care will do it. I’m wondering how others have handled this at fishing destinations?

     None of my exes ever minded being left back at the cabin to watch the kids. Ummm, let me reword that, umm oh cripes, I think I’m starting to understand something.                   Charlie,                   getting in touch with my feminine side

Response:

Question:

Awhile ago I posted a question about using horses for flyfishing (for riding to the spots, not for materials), and got some helpful replies. Well, I’m gonna do it. I found a place to pasture a horse about five miles from Stanley, for $35 a month! I can’t imagine what it would cost me to keep a horse in Menlo Park, CA. It would be a choice between that and sending my kids to college. It’s a beautiful pasture on 40 acres owned by a crusty oldimer who used to live in my cabin way back when. I think he’ll show this greenhorn the ropes. His place is right at the foot of the Sawtooths, next to some beautiful country with high lakes. I’ve found I’m too old to hump my gear up to the high country. I figure $2000 or so for a good horse (I’ll start with one, then maybe get another), $1000 for a trailer, $500 or so for tack, and pocket change for shots, shoeing, and whatnot, and I’m in business. I just don’t know if I can wait for next spring. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

RW, EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWW   HEE HEEEE HAW!!!!!!   HHOOOOOOOOOOOOO As the "bank" side of a four horse stable for my daughter I got a tremendous laugh out of your post!! Thanks for the moments of "unbridled" (to make a poor horse pun) laughter – horse laughter even. You have made my day brighter! The down side is that if you think   " I figure $2000 or so for a good horse (I’ll start with one, then maybe get another), $1000 for a trailer, $500 or so for tack, and pocket change for shots, shoeing, and whatnot, and I’m in business. I just don’t know if I can wait for next spring. " is a realistic budget for

messin’ with horses you got "anuther think" coming. They can get pretty expensive – and I didn’t see any mention of YOUR medical bills Best of luck, but it sounds like someone offered to "git chew inna horse bidness right". GB

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Awhile ago I posted a question about using horses for flyfishing (for riding to the spots, not for materials), and got some helpful replies. Well, I’m gonna do it. I found a place to pasture a horse about five miles from Stanley, for $35 a month! I can’t imagine what it would cost me to keep a horse in Menlo Park, CA. It would be a choice between that and sending my kids to college. It’s a beautiful pasture on 40 acres owned by a crusty oldimer who used to live in my cabin way back when. I think he’ll show this greenhorn the ropes. His place is right at the foot of the Sawtooths, next to some beautiful country with high lakes. I’ve found I’m too old to hump my gear up to the high country. I figure $2000 or so for a good horse (I’ll start with one, then maybe get another), $1000 for a trailer, $500 or so for tack, and pocket change for shots, shoeing, and whatnot, and I’m in business. I just don’t know if I can wait for next spring. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Care to post some useful information?  Not that I don’t appreciate your solid-caps onomatopoetic laughter, but if you think rw has his numbers way off, how about telling him why instead of making fun of him.  I have more than a little horse experience myself and those numbers sound pretty close to me. Do you take yours to a hairdresser or what?

Doesn’t everybody take their horse to the hairdresser and get it manicured?!?! You must not have cared for your horse if you didn’t call the vet everytime it farted, coughed or sneezed because those are signs of serious illness! Especially the farting "Doc, I just don’t know what to do.  My horse keeps breaking wind even at a standstill!" On a serious note, I would look to spend a little more than $1000 for a trailer and $500 for tack.  Make sure to check the floor of the trailer.  Not a good idea to buy a trailer then have to fix it.  And make sure to actually sit in the saddle and make sure it is comfortable (preferably on the intended horse). When I say comfortable I mean for the horse AND you.   Just some suggestions. Besides, what’s the worst that can happen?  Find out it isn’t going to work out and then sell everything? Warren

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Doesn’t everybody take their horse to the hairdresser and get it manicured?!?! You must not have cared for your horse if you didn’t call the vet everytime it farted, coughed or sneezed because those are signs of serious illness! Especially the farting "Doc, I just don’t know what to do.  My horse keeps breaking wind even at a standstill!" On a serious note, I would look to spend a little more than $1000 for a trailer and $500 for tack.  

Probably right. When I actually start buying things I tend to spend far more than my minimum estimates because I’d rather have nice things, as long as I get value for my money. Of course, I’ll have to reserve a few thousand for hairdressing and manicures. On a side note, lots of people ride Harley Davidson motorcycles around here. I’ve had a few bikes and I’ve always wanted a Harley, so I was musing about getting one. Then I thought about the comparatively low cost of a horse and how many more hours of enjoyment I’d get out of it, and there was no contest. Probably after I get the horse I’ll start thinking about Harleys again. Make sure to check the floor of the trailer.  Not a good idea to buy a trailer then have to fix it.  And make sure to actually sit in the saddle and make sure it is comfortable (preferably on the intended horse). When I say comfortable I mean for the horse AND you.   Just some suggestions.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions, WFin66. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

RW, Write back in a few years. By then you will have been educated. Without the experiential wisdom you are just speculating. Good luck with your horse scheme, but my point is that you WILL need to budget more than "pocket change" for the expenses you mentioned. Glen

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – To all – I couldn’t help myself… I hope RW dosen’t take it as a flame – wasn’t meant that way. On the other hand, when he mentioned those "pocket change" items – maybe he has BIG POCKETS and LOTS OF CHANGE!! $2000 for a horse and $1000 for a trailer. Do you expect shots, shoeing, and so on to be significant compared to that? Perhaps unlike your daughters, I’m not real sentimental about animals (except for my Golden Retriever). If I were looking at a bottomless pit of medical expenses for an animal I’d cut my losses. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

RW, Write back in a few years. By then you will have been educated. Without the experiential wisdom you are just speculating. Good luck with your horse scheme, but my point is that you WILL need to budget more than "pocket change" for the expenses you mentioned. Glen

I’ll do that. The "pocket change" phrase was hyberbole. BTW, I’m not merely speculating. Like everything I do that requires significant outlays of cash, I’ve been looking into it pretty carefully. I’ve long wanted a horse or two, but having them at my California residence would be an absurd waste of money — something for billionares in Woodside. Here in Idaho it looks like a bargain, plus I’d be pasturing them right next to some great country. Most enjoyable things require some money (at least, the things I enjoy), but I’m no sucker, which you implied I was, and which frankly pissed me off. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Gee RW, as I mentioned before, my comments were NOT made to, as you say it "piss you off", but I DID find a GREAT deal of humor in your original thesis. This message sounds much more rational, as though you are now considering the big picture. I too enjoy the horses. I have liked them for years and only bought some in the past few years. We were terribly naive when we got started (we actually thought ONE bale of hay was significant!! – now we buy *hundreds* of bales in one trip). No, we do not go to the horseyhairdresser, but we DO take VERY good care of ALL our animals. Perhaps I was too flip in my original response to the group. I truly would not want to see anyone have a bad horse experience and it sounded like that is where you were headed. So sorry I hurt your feelings! Glen

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – RW, Write back in a few years. By then you will have been educated. Without the experiential wisdom you are just speculating. Good luck with your horse scheme, but my point is that you WILL need to budget more than "pocket change" for the expenses you mentioned. Glen I’ll do that. The "pocket change" phrase was hyberbole. BTW, I’m not merely speculating. Like everything I do that requires significant outlays of cash, I’ve been looking into it pretty carefully. I’ve long wanted a horse or two, but having them at my California residence would be an absurd waste of money — something for billionares in Woodside. Here in Idaho it looks like a bargain, plus I’d be pasturing them right next to some great country. Most enjoyable things require some money (at least, the things I enjoy), but I’m no sucker, which you implied I was, and which frankly pissed me off. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Perhaps I was too flip in my original response to the group. <

Pretty hard to be *too* flip!  <g

Response:

RW, EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWW   HEE HEEEE HAW!!!!!!   HHOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Care to post some useful information?  Not that I don’t appreciate your solid-caps onomatopoetic laughter, but if you think rw has his numbers way off, how about telling him why instead of making fun of him.  I have more than a little horse experience myself and those numbers sound pretty close to me.  Do you take yours to a hairdresser or what? — Levi I have been through some terrible things in my life – some of which actually happened.  –Mark Twain

Response:

RW, EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWW   HEE HEEEE HAW!!!!!!   HHOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Hey! Attributions are in order – lest you be accused of plagiarizing the best line that Chill Wills ever delivered… /daytripper (lessee who remembers…)

Response:

RW, EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWW   HEE HEEEE HAW!!!!!!   HHOOOOOOOOOOOOO Care to post some useful information?  Not that I don’t appreciate your solid-caps onomatopoetic laughter, but if you think rw has his numbers way off, how about telling him why instead of making fun of him.  I have more than a little horse experience myself and those numbers sound pretty close to me.  Do you take yours to a hairdresser or what?

Ha! Good one, Levi. I can just picture his daughters’ horses with little ribbon curliques in their manes. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

To all – I couldn’t help myself… I hope RW dosen’t take it as a flame – wasn’t meant that way. On the other hand, when he mentioned those "pocket change" items – maybe he has BIG POCKETS and LOTS OF CHANGE!!

$2000 for a horse and $1000 for a trailer. Do you expect shots, shoeing, and so on to be significant compared to that? Perhaps unlike your daughters, I’m not real sentimental about animals (except for my Golden Retriever). If I were looking at a bottomless pit of medical expenses for an animal I’d cut my losses. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

The immortal "Dr. Strangelove", of course. That was Slim Pickins. My favorite Chill Wills movie was probably "The Rounders" (unless you count the "Over the Hill Gang" TV stuff, that was great).

On the other hand, Slim Pickens DID deliver that line in a most artful fashion in Dr. Strangelove and in one of the most memorable scenes in movie history. Wolfgang (Whose practice in ducking and covering still serves him well to this day)

Response:

Question:

I just got back from the White river,fished nymphs,midges,and sow bugs, caught some fish.I fished an olive wooley bugger tied sparce size10 and caught MANY fish!

Response:

april, is there any dryfly fishing at that time.   Are there any place I can go to wade (I’m assuming that the white river isn’t a good place to wade from my father-in-law’s description). How about Big browns and streamers?

I have never fished the area in April, but the White can be a good river to wade depending on how much water is being released from the dam at Bull Shoals.Dale Fulton runs Blue Ribbon Flies in Mountain Home. He would be a fantastic point of contact because he is extremely knowledgable. His E-mail is like most other rivers in that sometimes dry flies work and sometimes they don’t. I prefer to fish with soft hackles so that is what I use a lot. A local pattern known as the Red Ass has done real well for me.I always take some small olive woolly buggers as well. Some people use carcass flies as well due to the turbines. Hope this helps a bit and you have a great time Big Dale

Response:

Chris wrote;My spring break is coming up and I was thinking about heading down to the White River in the Ozark’s of Arkansaw.. Any comments on this area from the group? Are there good places to camp down there? I always enjoy tne Mountain Home area: There is a great state park on the White River  just below thaedam at Bull Shoals. The Sow Bug Roundup is March 19 and 20th in Mountain Home. Enjoy spring break. Don’t forget that the Norfolk river has more sow bugs than any other place on earth.

Ok, where are good flyfishing waters.  I’ll be down there in april, is there any dryfly fishing at that time.   Are there any place I can go to wade (I’m assuming that the white river isn’t a good place to wade from my father-in-law’s description). How about Big browns and streamers?

Response:

Ok, where are good flyfishing waters.  I’ll be down there in april, is there any dryfly fishing at that time.

There is rarely any dry fly fishing on the White or the North Fork. I’ve heard rumors of an occasional caddis hatch. Are there any place I can go to wade (I’m assuming that the white river isn’t a good place to wade from my father-in-law’s description).

Your father-in-law is correct. The generators at the Bull Shoals Dam are alleged to have a schedule, (check at the fly shop in Mountain Home), but in my experience anytime somebody in Oklahoma turns on their air conditioner the siren goes off and the riffle you were fishing is very quickly under 4 feet of water. DANGEROUS wading. I suggest the North Fork River for wading. Sow bugs. Sow bugs. Sow bugs. How about Big browns and streamers?

If that’s your cup of tea you’ll probably need a boat to float the White. Many outfitters and guides in the area, few that cater to flyfisherman. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, where are good flyfishing waters.  I’ll be down there in april, is there any dryfly fishing at that time. There is rarely any dry fly fishing on the White or the North Fork. I’ve heard rumors of an occasional caddis hatch. Are there any place I can go to wade (I’m assuming that the white river isn’t a good place to wade from my father-in-law’s description). Your father-in-law is correct. The generators at the Bull Shoals Dam are alleged to have a schedule, (check at the fly shop in Mountain Home), but in my experience anytime somebody in Oklahoma turns on their air conditioner the siren goes off and the riffle you were fishing is very quickly under 4 feet of water. DANGEROUS wading. I suggest the North Fork River for wading. Sow bugs. Sow bugs. Sow bugs. How about Big browns and streamers? If that’s your cup of tea you’ll probably need a boat to float the White. Many outfitters and guides in the area, few that cater to flyfisherman. — Ken Fortenberry

Don’t forget the Yuk Bugs…..the browns love em’ at night… Greg H.

Response:

Chris wrote;My spring break is coming up and I was thinking about heading down to the White River in the Ozark’s of Arkansaw.. Any comments on this area from the group? Are there good places to camp down there?

I always enjoy tne Mountain Home area: There is a great state park on the White River  just below thaedam at Bull Shoals. The Sow Bug Roundup is March 19 and 20th in Mountain Home. Enjoy spring break. Don’t forget that the Norfolk river has more sow bugs than any other place on earth. Big Dale

Response:

My spring break is coming up and I was thinking about heading down to the White River in the Ozark’s of Arkansaw.. Any comments on this area from the group? Are there good places to camp down there?

Response:

Question:

I will be in the north-west at the end of august and beginning of september. where are the best fly fishing spots? i have a car and i am willing to drive around. thank you so much for your help. breckwm

Response:

I will be in the north-west at the end of august and beginning of september. where are the best fly fishing spots? i have a car and i am willing to drive around. thank you so much for your help.

Be sure to check out some of the following locations: Idaho – St Joe River, Coeur d’Alene River Montana – Madison, Gallatin, Yellowstone River and Yellowstone Park Flies – Hoppers, Bead Head Nymphs, attractors, caddis Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

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: Be sure to check out some of the following locations: : Idaho – St Joe River, Coeur d’Alene River Mr. Beatty is reminding you of the spots along the freeway.  You might want to keep looking at the map. : Flies – Hoppers, Bead Head Nymphs, attractors, caddis I agree. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

Central Washington: try the Yakima River from above the Roza dam pool to Lake Easton. Water levels drop after Labor day as irrigation needs fall off. good floating in upper canyon, above Ellensburg and below Cle Elum. Cle Elum lodging-Timber Lodge (509) 674-5966;  good flyshop in E’burg on south Main (but I don’t remember name). Fishing is catch and release, barbless hooks.  I try to get in a day or three every Sept-Oct. Tight lines! John Dodge

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try the tributaruies of the skykomish along highway 2.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be in the north-west at the end of august and beginning of september. where are the best fly fishing spots? i have a car and i am willing to drive around. thank you so much for your help. breckwm

Response:

Question:

I just purchased a fish brag camera and I used the following criteria. 1. Would focus to 2 feet (couldn’t find one for less than $200 that did. 2. Zoom to 70mm so the 2 feet macro could still zoom in on a 1lb trout. 3. Flash (manually addustable to on, off, and fill) so I could take pictures of those lunkers you catch at dusk. 4. Most importantly it needs to be small enough to fit into a water tight container. My container of choice is a sandwitch zip lock bag. The sales person thought me a little strange when I tried a bunch of cameras on my ziplock.

Response:

  I do a lot of aggressive wading in small creeks and sometimes slip! For my money you can’t beat the 35 mm Kodak Funsaver or Fuji equivalent. At 12$, it’s no big loss if you fall in, and the pictures are excellent. I always carry one in my pack.

Response:

 I do a lot of aggressive wading in small creeks and sometimes slip! For my money you can’t beat the 35 mm Kodak Funsaver or Fuji equivalent. At 12$, it’s no big loss if you fall in, and the pictures are excellent. I always carry one in my pack.

I carry something similar: a cheap camera with flash that cost all of $15.  Takes good pictures and if it takes a dip, well, no big deal!  Getting a water-resistant camera is great but it doesn’t help if you drop it in thirty feet of water! Brian Austin

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Al-      I read with interest your comment about you Minolta Dual 35.  It makes me wonder if it’s the camera I’ve been looking for.  After twice dunking my Nikon 35mm,  and lugging this beast with the big zoom lens, I’ve decided to get a smaller camera to take astream.  Problem is, I want something I can also use to capture photos of insects, and I wonder if your camera would focus that close….or if a close-up magnifier for the lens is available.  How close will yours focus?   Thanks for the information. John Long I haven’t found any of the <$250 cameras that focus under 2 feet

The Pentax zoom90-WR has a macro focus (1.6′-2.5′) and is water resistant. 38-90mm for normal focus 2.6′ to infinity. Has a removable remote pushbutton for group photos. Built-in flash and other good stuff. Auto-focus works great. Except when rushing to take pictures of Scotish trout streams thru the windows of a moving Britrail train and one forgets the infinity-focus-hold button. Perfectly in-focus window panes every time. <G Really not the camera’s fault. IR focus finds the closest thing including the window glass. da! Oliver (of Inverness), are you out there? Want to send me some of your photos? River runs along the tracks somewhere between Edinburgh and Inverness. Don Burns

Response:

I think it admirable that you would want to buy an About-To-Be-Released-Fish a little parting gift to show your appreciation for a job well done.  A camera is just right!.  Make it a poloroid and he can take pictures of the spawn !  But, you better decide fast, he’s starting to dry out. Tim Walker

Response:

I use an Olympus Infinity Twin.  Small, weatherproof, (I dropped it in the water twice and no problems,) auto everything, 35mm & 70mm, cost about $200.

Response:

Check out the Olympus Stylus Zoom.  This is probably the most compact zoom lens point and shoot camera made.  It has a 35-70 mm lens, a sliding lens cover, and is water repellent.

Response:

After 20 years of full time guiding.20,000+miles of whitewater driftboating,11 years of outdoor TV production and orange boxes full of slides i reccomend the Minolta Weathermatic.Most Other cameras require 2 hands for macro operation.Have you got three hands ? Use the reccomended film for great results. Good Luck & Tight Lines

Response:

I have been waiting days for the original question to pop up before I answered this one, but it doesn’t look like it will show.        Another camera to check out is the Olympus Stylus.   It is small enough to fit in your pants pocket and it will (supposedly) survive a dunk in the water.  It has an adjustable zoom lens (30 to 70mm) and you can control the flash if you want to turn it off or force it on for back lit shots.  I think I paid about $200 for mine.  I’ve been taking it fishing the last three years and it has never given me a problem.   Rob Gregoire

Response:

Al-      I read with interest your comment about you Minolta Dual 35.  It makes me wonder if it’s the camera I’ve been looking for.  After twice dunking my Nikon 35mm,  and lugging this beast with the big zoom lens, I’ve decided to get a smaller camera to take astream.  Problem is, I want something I can also use to capture photos of insects, and I wonder if your camera would focus that close….or if a close-up magnifier for the lens is available.  How close will yours focus?   Thanks for the information. John Long

I haven’t found any of the <$250 cameras that focus under 2 feet

Response:

writes: Does anyone have a favorite make/model camera for those quick-shots of/for either the trout-to-be-released or wildlife that suddenly cross the stream…?  Ideally needs to hang around neck.    

I used the Minolta Weathermatic dual 35 (point and shoot with closeup lens) and hung it from my belt or from the d-ring on the back of my vest. Took it everywhere including AK and performed beautifully.  Not as much control ans my old manual SLR but great photos I use in slide shows.  When the camera was about a year and a half old the motor drive died which made the thing useless and Minolta will fix it for about as much as it costs to buy a new one.  Good while it lasted but…….                                                     Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Schools Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

Response:

Hi I use a Minolta Dual 35.  It has two internal lenses, has auto focus, film advance, and is water proof to 18 feet.  I’ve never taken it that deep but do push it under the water to take pictures of landed/released fish.  You can usually buy them at KMart for around $200.00.  Photo magazines have adds in the back – I bought my Minolta at Cambridge Camera in New York City for $187.00 Good Luck Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (catalog avialP

Response:

 I just bought an Olympus and am happy but I’d like to discuss the criteria for a good fishing camera that I used for the purchase. 1. Macro lens to get up close – some go to 2 ft. 2. Built in flash – I catch a lot of fish at dusk and need more light. 3. Small enough to fit into my custom waterproof bag. This is a sandwitch size ziplock bag. I also own lots of better equipment from Nikons to 4×5 field cameras. I’m finnally not too frighted to wade with my new camera.  I experimented with a cardboard one time use camera and found the pictures sharp enough for rememberance and braging to my buddies.

Response:

Hi Steve, I guide in the Keys and a carry a couple slr’s in the boat. Sometimes though  they are hard to get too. Last year I bought an Olympus 2000  to  keep in my pocket. I got some of my best pictures of the year with it.   They have a slightly larger model in the series with a longer zoom with a motor drive which is semi water proof.  Of course it’s more expensive but I do wish I  had  bought  it  more the increased  versatility. I’m tickled with the 2000 though, the light meter did some great  things for me on a couple shots. Ben

Response:

Does anyone have a favorite make/model camera for those quick-shots of/for either the trout-to-be-released or wildlife that suddenly cross the stream…?  Ideally needs to hang around neck.    

I use the Minolta Weathermatic Dual 35. It has two lenses ( 35mm and 50 mm) Auto focus and just in case it floats.

Response:

Take a look at the Canon Sure Shot A-1. i have owned many cameras, and now have 4 small 35s, and a serious canon single lens reflex.  my advice is, in small cameras, get either the canon above noted, or, for much better potential as you grow as a photographer, a nikon with zoom features. a. wayne harrison

I decided some time ago to forget about taking my nice cameras with $300 lenses, or even a $150 point and shoot on the stream. Now I leave the Nikons, Leicas, or  Contax’s (as if I have all of these!) in a nice warm dry place for out of stream fishing. I now just carry one of the Kodak Waterproof disposable cameras for the catch and release fishing. Gives me a lot of peace of mind.

Response:

Take a look at the Canon Sure Shot A-1.

i have owned many cameras, and now have 4 small 35s, and a serious canon single lens reflex.  my advice is, in small cameras, get either the canon above noted, or, for much better potential as you grow as a photographer, a nikon with zoom features. a. wayne harrison

Response:

Camera World in Portland carries the Canon A-1 SureShot for about $135.  Water resistant to about 15ft.  Not a terribly sharp lense in my estimation and auto-focus is of course SLOW (I have been using one for a year, OK, but not sharp enough for large blowups or reproduction).  My favorite was an old Fujica zone focusing, rubber coated camera.  Had a VERY sharp lense, but camera is no longer made.  Nikon used to make a sealed compact camera…no longer made.  The NIkONOS works well but is in the $500 range (used).                         Mike in PDX                "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                                            Tom McGuane

Response:

Does anyone have a favorite make/model camera for those quick-shots of/for either the trout-to-be-released or wildlife that suddenly cross the stream…?  Ideally needs to hang around neck.     please email (or post if preferred), much thanks..and tight_lines, Steve Drossel

I have a Pentax 90WR (water resistant) and love it.

Response:

Take a look at the Canon Sure Shot A-1.  It’s a rugged little point and shoot with a very good lens and automatic focusing mechanism that is much better than point-and=shoots of a few years ago.  It also has a macro lens and is waterproof to something like 15 feet, plenty deep for any stream (ha) It doesn’t have a zoom lens– which I don’t find to be a drawback for fishing, but might limit your terrestrial wildlife photos.  Sells for around $225 with a date imprinting function, less without it.  Check the prices in the back of magazines like Pop Photo for the rock-bottom low $, or go to your local store for better service and a bit more $.

Response:

Does anyone have a favorite make/model camera for those quick-shots of/for either the trout-to-be-released or wildlife that suddenly cross the stream…?  Ideally needs to hang around neck.     please email (or post if preferred), much thanks..and tight_lines, Steve Drossel

Response:

Question:

I’ am trying to decide whether to buy the Orvis 4 wgt.  Brook Trout combo($295) or the L.L.  Bean 4 wgt.  Guide combo($275).  The only difference seems to be thatOrvis has a more expensive rod and L.L.  Bean has a more expensive reel and the$20 diff, which I’am not concerned with.  help me.  thanks.

Response:

: I’ am trying to decide whether to buy the Orvis 4 wgt.  Brook Trout : combo($295) or the L.L.  Bean 4 wgt.  Guide combo($275).  The only : difference seems to be thatOrvis has a more expensive rod and L.L.  Bean : has a more expensive reel and the$20 diff, which I’am not concerned : with.  help me.  thanks. I would check out the GLoomis GL3..I’ve heard great things bout them Frankie

Response:

: I’ am trying to decide whether to buy the Orvis 4 wgt.  Brook Trout : combo($295) or the L.L.  Bean 4 wgt.  Guide combo($275).  The only : difference seems to be thatOrvis has a more expensive rod and L.L.  Bean : has a more expensive reel and the$20 diff, which I’am not concerned : with.  help me.  thanks. I would check out the GLoomis GL3..I’ve heard great things bout them Frankie

…And more…*($^#&#Y  For a little more you could pick up an Orvis PM….the 8′4" is pretty nice. just another option steve d.

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: I’ am trying to decide whether to buy the Orvis 4 wgt.  Brook Trout : combo($295) or the L.L.  Bean 4 wgt.  Guide combo($275).  The only : difference seems to be thatOrvis has a more expensive rod and L.L.  Bean : has a more expensive reel and the$20 diff, which I’am not concerned : with.  help me.  thanks.

The Bean reels are heavier than the Orvis reels.  This may be good or it may be bad.  It depends on how you like to balance your outfit.  My Henry’s Fork balances nicely with a Battenkill 5/6 Disc; I do not want the extra weight of a Bean Guide reel. I am picking nits.  I am sure that you would be happy with either (or both!). — Keep your stick on the ice.

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: I’ am trying to decide whether to buy the Orvis 4 wgt.  Brook Trout : combo($295) or the L.L.  Bean 4 wgt.  Guide combo($275).  The only : difference seems to be thatOrvis has a more expensive rod and L.L.  Bean : has a more expensive reel and the$20 diff, which I’am not concerned : with.  help me.  thanks. The Bean reels are heavier than the Orvis reels.  This may be good or it may be bad.  It depends on how you like to balance your outfit.  My Henry’s Fork balances nicely with a Battenkill 5/6 Disc; I do not want the extra weight of a Bean Guide reel. I am picking nits.  I am sure that you would be happy with either (or both!).

I know this is going to start a war but…. From what I have seen LL Bean is a great clothing store but they don’t seem to produce (or re-package with their name) equipment of the quality you can get from Orvis.  I would go with the Orvis every time. Well time to climb into the bomb shelter ! Tom

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : I’ am trying to decide whether to buy the Orvis 4 wgt.  Brook Trout : combo($295) or the L.L.  Bean 4 wgt.  Guide combo($275).  The only : difference seems to be thatOrvis has a more expensive rod and L.L.  Bean : has a more expensive reel and the$20 diff, which I’am not concerned : with.  help me.  thanks. The Bean reels are heavier than the Orvis reels.  This may be good or it may be bad.  It depends on how you like to balance your outfit.  My Henry’s Fork balances nicely with a Battenkill 5/6 Disc; I do not want the extra weight of a Bean Guide reel. I am picking nits.  I am sure that you would be happy with either (or both!). I know this is going to start a war but…. From what I have seen LL Bean is a great clothing store but they don’t seem to produce (or re-package with their name) equipment of the quality you can get from Orvis.  I would go with the Orvis every time. Well time to climb into the bomb shelter ! Tom

INCOMMMMMINNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!

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        I personally wouldn’t choose a combo from either Orvis of L.L.Bean. I think you could do yourself a favor by putting your own set-up together. G.Loomis, Thomas & Thomas, and Powell make rods in your price range that offer good actions and strong warranties. As far as reels go, I would suggest a Ross Cimmeron or a Orvis Battenkill in your price range. These reels are probably more than you need for a 4 weight rod.         I hope my butting in was not taking wrong. The only thing I wanted to do is help. If I can be of further assistance my e-mail address

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I know this is going to start a war but…. From what I have seen LL Bean is a great clothing store but they don’t seem to produce (or re-package with their name) equipment of the quality you can get from Orvis.  I would go with the Orvis every time.

No war, Tom, just a difference of opinion. I think the quality of L.L. Bean fly fishing gear is every bit as good as Orvis and offers better value as well. The Angler series is a wonderful choice for someone getting into fly fishing who wants to buy stuff they will fish with for a lifetime as opposed to so much of the entry-level stuff that is just not so well made. (I suppose the Orvis Clearwater series is probably very nice, too, but I haven’t seen that stuff yet.) In addition, L.L. Bean is a model of customer service and offers their unconditional lifetime guarantee on everything they sell. I go with L.L. Bean every time I can. (And no, I don’t work for Bean’s, hold their stock, or anything else like that.) – Scott — Sustaining and Specials Engineering     voice: 508 952-4792 Xyplex, Inc.                            fax: 508 952-4887 295 Foster St.                          (Opinions, comments, etc. are mine, Littleton, MA 01460                                     not Xyplex’s…)

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Actually, the LLBean Guide & LL series rods are built on Loomis blanks. (Call ‘em up; they’ll tell you who makes any of the fishing gear for them.) The Bean guarantee is basically "whatever, forever". Friends have even sent back leaky old waders for repair/replacement/credit. Orvis rods are fine if you like the generally slower actions, and don’t mind the ugly blanks .

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I know this is going to start a war but…. From what I have seen LL Bean is a great clothing store but they don’t seem to produce (or re-package with their name) equipment of the quality you can get from Orvis.  I would go with the Orvis every time.

Misattribution.  I am a big LL Bean fan, and if the Canadian dollar were spunkier I would buy much more from them. Joke:  The Royal Canadian Mint has come up with a name for the new $2 CDN coin: an American dollar. — Keep your stick on the ice.

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Buying a rod without casting it is always tricky.  I know the bass pond sends rods out for demo’s.  Orvis rods have a consistentcy of action, that I learned to appreciate as I sold them and fished them.  The actions vary between the different class of rods but there is a consistency overall that is hard to explain.  Keep shopping and you’ll find what you like at a price you can afford.  I prefer, an early 9ft sage 1st generation 4-5 five weight, the Orvis western 9ft 3wt, 8-6 2wt and the fullflex 6wt BMckinley Mpls

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LLOOMIS   L O O M I S   L    O    O    M    I    S   REGARDS MATT

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Question:

I’ll be in Arizona at the end of March and was wondering about the flyfishing.  Any info?  Thanks, Ed Parsonage.

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I’ll be visiting Arizona in March and was wondering about the flyfishing. Any suggestions? Thanks, Ed Parsonage

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I’ll be visiting Arizona in March and was wondering about the flyfishing. Any suggestions? Thanks, Ed Parsonage

It depends upon the weather. If the high country thaw has started, try some of the lakes in the White Mountains.  The lower lakes (around Show Low) may be available by then. Martin Hewlett Dept. of MCB Univ. of Arizona Tucson, AZ

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