Question:

[ . . . ] "Since his graduation from Princeton summa cum laude in 1983, Walter Kirn ‘83 has studied at Oxford University, worked as an editor at Spy magazine in New York City, published an acclaimed collection of stories, My Hard Bargain, and a novel, She Needed Me, and freelanced for various publications. Six years ago, he left Manhattan for Montana, attracted by the silence and the barking dogs that keep one from going ‘too deep into the verbal jungle.’ He became New York magazine’s book critic and continues to write regularly for several New York-based national publications from Montana, where he lives with his wife, Maggie-the daughter of actress Margot Kidder and writer Tom McGuane-and their 10-month-old baby, Maisie . . . .

[ . . . ] This isn’t real, is it? Are you sure one of the _New York Magazine_ competition writers didn’t do this? E. Penrose

Response:

This is rich. In the May 31, 1999 issue of Time Magazine, featuring a Special Report: How to Spot a Troubled Kid, Walter Kirn, author of the article "Inside Ritalin" wrote a piece titled: "The Danger of Suppressing Sadness – What if Holden Caulfield had been taking Prozac?" Holden Caufield, as I’m sure you remember, was the dropout hero of J.D. Salinger’s "The Catcher in the Rye." In that article, Kirn states: " . . . . I know from my own experience with clinical depression (contracted as an adult and treated with a combination of therapy and drugs) that such diseases are real and formidable, impossible to wish away . . . ." Pshaw. Tom

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I purchased the December issue of GQ today, which because of the really hot pictures of Charlize Theron on the cover and elsewhere in the magazine, wasn’t a total waste of $3.00. The article, "Inside Ritalin," by Walter Kirn is a complete work of fiction, in my opinion, both as it related to Kirn’s ADD status – ". . . . the symptoms first appeared in junior high school . . . ." – and his experience with Ritalin – " . . . . there I am, as jazzed as any speed freak who’s just put his girlfriend in the hospital after an all-night quarrel in a motel room . . . . ," unless he was taking 800 mg. a day. Kirn is a book critic and fiction writer.  His 1999

novel "Thumbsucker" is a – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – cynical coming of age story.  "When young Justin Cobb is finally cured of his thumbsucking habit, his obsessions change to less benign ones that include sex, drugs, fly-fishing, Mormonism, and Ritalin. This comic novel is set vividly in the world of the 1980s." From the Princeton "In Review" November 3, 1999 http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_old/PAW99-00/04- 1103/1103irtx.html "Interview with Walter Kirn ‘83 "Since his graduation from Princeton summa cum laude in 1983, Walter Kirn ‘83 has studied at Oxford University, worked as an editor at Spy magazine in New York City, published an acclaimed collection of stories, My Hard Bargain, and a novel, She Needed Me, and freelanced for various publications. Six years ago, he left Manhattan for Montana, attracted by the silence and the barking dogs that keep one from going ‘too deep into the verbal jungle.’ He became New York magazine’s book critic and continues to write regularly for several New York-based national publications from Montana, where he lives with his wife, Maggie-the daughter of actress Margot Kidder and writer Tom McGuane- and their 10-month-old baby, Maisie . . . . "Q: Do you feel torn between fiction and nonfiction? "A: My primary ambition is to be a fiction writer. At some point I made a conscious decision not to teach-yet-and so the alternative was quote unquote grub street, which I think is an honorable tradition much maligned by the lofty academics of the 20th century. I write for four magazines-Vanity Fair, GQ, Time, and New York-and for each one I try to exercise a different faculty. . . . Being a critic wasn’t an aspiration of mine, but it was something I could do from Montana, where I moved six years ago . . . . "Q: Tell us about your family. "A: I grew up in a tiny Minnesota town of 500 people called Marine-on-St.-Croix. My father actually went to Princeton, Class of 1960, and was a patent attorney at 3M in Minnesota. My mother, like the mother in Thumbsucker, was a registered nurse. In its vital statistics, the family in the book very much resembles my own. But I get tired of explaining: A writer’s like the magpie, he picks everything shiny and brings it back to his nest . . . It’s mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine-it’s not transcribe." "Mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine" fairly describes Kirn’s purportedly autobiographical "Inside Ritalin." Watch out for "literary types" and save your $3.00 for something

useful. Tell us more about those pictures…. — Mark Probert Make sure your vote counts–DO NOT vote from the Banana Republic of Florida!

Response:

I read Vanity Fair regularly, and have never noticed thisWalter Kim……am I missing something?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I purchased the December issue of GQ today, which because of the really hot pictures of Charlize Theron on the cover and elsewhere in the magazine, wasn’t a total waste of $3.00. The article, "Inside Ritalin," by Walter Kirn is a complete work of fiction, in my opinion, both as it related to Kirn’s ADD status – ". . . . the symptoms first appeared in junior high school . . . ." – and his experience with Ritalin – " . . . . there I am, as jazzed as any speed freak who’s just put his girlfriend in the hospital after an all-night quarrel in a motel room . . . . ," unless he was taking 800 mg. a day. Kirn is a book critic and fiction writer.  His 1999 novel "Thumbsucker" is a cynical coming of age story.  "When young Justin Cobb is finally cured of his thumbsucking habit, his obsessions change to less benign ones that include sex, drugs, fly-fishing, Mormonism, and Ritalin. This comic novel is set vividly in the world of the 1980s." From the Princeton "In Review" November 3, 1999 http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_old/PAW99-00/04- 1103/1103irtx.html "Interview with Walter Kirn ‘83 "Since his graduation from Princeton summa cum laude in 1983, Walter Kirn ‘83 has studied at Oxford University, worked as an editor at Spy magazine in New York City, published an acclaimed collection of stories, My Hard Bargain, and a novel, She Needed Me, and freelanced for various publications. Six years ago, he left Manhattan for Montana, attracted by the silence and the barking dogs that keep one from going ‘too deep into the verbal jungle.’ He became New York magazine’s book critic and continues to write regularly for several New York-based national publications from Montana, where he lives with his wife, Maggie-the daughter of actress Margot Kidder and writer Tom McGuane- and their 10-month-old baby, Maisie . . . . "Q: Do you feel torn between fiction and nonfiction? "A: My primary ambition is to be a fiction writer. At some point I made a conscious decision not to teach-yet-and so the alternative was quote unquote grub street, which I think is an honorable tradition much maligned by the lofty academics of the 20th century. I write for four magazines-Vanity Fair, GQ, Time, and New York-and for each one I try to exercise a different faculty. . . . Being a critic wasn’t an aspiration of mine, but it was something I could do from Montana, where I moved six years ago . . . . "Q: Tell us about your family. "A: I grew up in a tiny Minnesota town of 500 people called Marine-on-St.-Croix. My father actually went to Princeton, Class of 1960, and was a patent attorney at 3M in Minnesota. My mother, like the mother in Thumbsucker, was a registered nurse. In its vital statistics, the family in the book very much resembles my own. But I get tired of explaining: A writer’s like the magpie, he picks everything shiny and brings it back to his nest . . . It’s mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine-it’s not transcribe." "Mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine" fairly describes Kirn’s purportedly autobiographical "Inside Ritalin." Watch out for "literary types" and save your $3.00 for something useful. Tell us more about those pictures…. — Mark Probert Make sure your vote counts–DO NOT vote from the Banana Republic of Florida!

Response:

~~~ Words escape me.  Rent "The Devil’s Advocate" for a good gander, and don’t break the rewind button on your VCR remote. _____

Kim……am I missing something?" ~~~ He’s not not cup of espresso.  I did a google.com search on "Walter KIRN" and came up with a lot of stuff he’s written in "New York Magazine" and "Time", each of which have on-line versions, but I had never heard of him before. "Vanity Fair" is not on-line, as far as I can tell.   This doesn’t really answer your question, though. Cheers, Tom

Response:

Magazine_ competition writers didn’t do this?" ~~~ It’s real in the same sense that the writings of Hunter S. Thompson are real. Cheers, Tom

Response:

I purchased the December issue of GQ today, which because of the really hot pictures of Charlize Theron on the cover and elsewhere in the magazine, wasn’t a total waste of $3.00. The article, "Inside Ritalin," by Walter Kirn is a complete work of fiction, in my opinion, both as it related to Kirn’s ADD status – ". . . . the symptoms first appeared in junior high school . . . ." – and his experience with Ritalin – " . . . . there I am, as jazzed as any speed freak who’s just put his girlfriend in the hospital after an all-night quarrel in a motel room . . . . ," unless he was taking 800 mg. a day. Kirn is a book critic and fiction writer.  His 1999 novel "Thumbsucker" is a cynical coming of age story.  "When young Justin Cobb is finally cured of his thumbsucking habit, his obsessions change to less benign ones that include sex, drugs, fly-fishing, Mormonism, and Ritalin. This comic novel is set vividly in the world of the 1980s." From the Princeton "In Review" November 3, 1999 http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_old/PAW99-00/04-1103/1103irtx.html "Interview with Walter Kirn ‘83 "Since his graduation from Princeton summa cum laude in 1983, Walter Kirn ‘83 has studied at Oxford University, worked as an editor at Spy magazine in New York City, published an acclaimed collection of stories, My Hard Bargain, and a novel, She Needed Me, and freelanced for various publications. Six years ago, he left Manhattan for Montana, attracted by the silence and the barking dogs that keep one from going ‘too deep into the verbal jungle.’ He became New York magazine’s book critic and continues to write regularly for several New York-based national publications from Montana, where he lives with his wife, Maggie-the daughter of actress Margot Kidder and writer Tom McGuane-and their 10-month-old baby, Maisie . . . . "Q: Do you feel torn between fiction and nonfiction? "A: My primary ambition is to be a fiction writer. At some point I made a conscious decision not to teach-yet-and so the alternative was quote unquote grub street, which I think is an honorable tradition much maligned by the lofty academics of the 20th century. I write for four magazines-Vanity Fair, GQ, Time, and New York-and for each one I try to exercise a different faculty. . . . Being a critic wasn’t an aspiration of mine, but it was something I could do from Montana, where I moved six years ago . . . . "Q: Tell us about your family. "A: I grew up in a tiny Minnesota town of 500 people called Marine-on-St.-Croix. My father actually went to Princeton, Class of 1960, and was a patent attorney at 3M in Minnesota. My mother, like the mother in Thumbsucker, was a registered nurse. In its vital statistics, the family in the book very much resembles my own. But I get tired of explaining: A writer’s like the magpie, he picks everything shiny and brings it back to his nest . . . It’s mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine-it’s not transcribe." "Mix and match, exaggerate, distort, delete, imagine" fairly describes Kirn’s purportedly autobiographical "Inside Ritalin." Watch out for "literary types" and save your $3.00 for something useful. Cheers, Tom

Response:

Question:

Tell Charlie and the others to be more respectful in the future and you will see all this nonsense disappear from this point on.

Just when you thought they couldn’t get funnier… — Charlie…

Response:

____  I can take ass chewing when its justified, but you like everyone else don’t do your homework.  Why don’t you go back to the beginning and realize that I don’t take anyone on unless they attack me unjustly. That has been the case every time.  Check the treads Tom. If what you say about Wayne is true, then I’ve been duped by him and now you. Frankly, your attack on me is also off base.  Roff has turned into a vile place and has been needing a moderator for several years now.  I can assure you, starting from scratch, I’d be the last one a moderator would need to correct. If there is correcting to do, I’d say you’re off base on this one.  If you go back and TAKE INVENTORY my friend, you will see that it was Wayne that started writing dribble to me when in fact up to that point I never did that and if so in the past, it was so minor as to be just humorous and friendly barbs about lawyers.   Go back and check Tom.  If you dare.  I never attacked Wayne because he never provoked me until the posts prior to my challenge on what possibly could cause a reasonable man to say the things he said.  Consider this. If anyone in the future, from this POINT on . . . smart mouths me, which I won’t instigate, you take note of it pal.  I don’t call you Brownie, I don’t demean your name, I don’t call you any kind of names and I’ve always treated you with respect.  But when you come charging at me fighting other people’s battles which THEY start, then I say you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong and you do not know the treads or those who start them. So, politely leave me alone regarding retorts.  I’m not here to impress you or to talk ill of you.  I would do that in private.  So you and the other feeding sharks who have no idea what the hell you’re doing, should do your home work before you. Again, from this point on, read the posts Tom before you get on my case.  I’m the the bad guy here.  Tell Charlie and the others to be more respectful in the future and you will see all this nonsense disappear from this point on. Let’s see, who throws the first stone after you Tom. I promise, it is never me. Get back to fly fishing everyone and clean up your acts before you start trying to correct me.  And don’t dig up old stuff out of context.  That also doesn’t fly anymore as it is self serving and those NEVER show the instigators I have challenged. Lately, do me a favor Tom.  Do everyone here a favor.  If EVER anyone demeans anyone in the slightest way, why don’t you point that out immediately in the future?   You be a test moderator and let’s see who gets to 10 points first. Think about it. Again, I’m not the bad guy here. Okay? — George G. Bastard Bamboo Fly Rods http://www.gink.com/ http://www.gink.com/chat

Response:

Again, from this point on, read the posts Tom before you get on my case.  I’m the the bad guy here.   Again, I’m not the bad guy here. Okay?

so which is it?  bad or not bad? <G cb

Response:

Question:

Here is a sight that claims to list the "Deadly Dozen" http://www.islandroots.com/finecast/products.htm I posted the same q a while back and told all I was going to take a poll. Let me have a day to dig up those results. Jamie http://clik.to/flyfish – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What are your favorite flies for fly fishing brookies?  I’ve had quite a bit of luck at times with muddler minows and a few other flies, but I’m really not an expert fly fisherman. What works best for you?  Which flies, and what type of presentation? — Richard Jackson Before you buy.

Response:

I always try to match the hatch. Watch what is in the air over the water or kneel down and grab some rocks to see what is there. Presentation: if you are trying to duplicate what is in the air use dry flies, in the water use wet flies – latter category almost always nymphs. WLM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What are your favorite flies for fly fishing brookies?  I’ve had quite a bit of luck at times with muddler minows and a few other flies, but I’m really not an expert fly fisherman. What works best for you?  Which flies, and what type of presentation? — Richard Jackson Before you buy.

Response:

What are your favorite flies for fly fishing brookies?  I’ve had quite a bit of luck at times with muddler minows and a few other flies, but I’m really not an expert fly fisherman. What works best for you?  Which flies, and what type of presentation? — Richard Jackson Before you buy.

Response:

What are your favorite flies for fly fishing brookies?  I’ve had quite a bit of luck at times with muddler minows and a few other flies, but I’m really not an expert fly fisherman. What works best for you?  Which flies, and what type of presentation?

I try to "match the hatch" whenever possible.  If I am fishing for dinner, I will open up the first one that I catch and see what it has been feeding on.  I usually start out with a stonefly or a Royal Coachman.  As you probably know, Brookies can be extremely frustrating to catch at times.  If you get one to follow or even take a swipe at your bait/fly/lure and he doesn’t take it, leave him alone and come back later and try again.  If a brookie has found a nice spot in the stream, he may stay within a few yards of that spot for months. — "Our eyes and hands and feet will give us the same assistance in doing mischief as in doing good; but it would not therefore be better for the world, that all mankind were blind and lame.  Arms are not to be laid aside by honest men, because carried by assassins and ruffians; they are to be used the rather for this very reason." -George Campbell (1719-1796)

Response:

Question:

I would also ask you and the others that would read this thread (because I know that the hard core guys will read it)  what is the one casting hint to give a flyfisherman. (I.E. in golf "Keep your damn head down")

"Aim for the water"

Response:

Water Who said anything about water damnit!!!!  You guys never sid anything about that.  Does this mean i have to start all over again.  Water!!!!!! That stuff is wet and can be cold!

Response:

Mike, You da man

My pleasure sir, glad you enjoyed it. The single most effective tip I could give anybody that would actually be of any use, is  "Do not break your wrist".  This is probably the single most widespread cause of casting faults generally. However, as you so politely requested, and praise, even when wildly exaggerated, ( you could have left Homer out ! ), inspires me to almost superhuman efforts, here goes: When learning how to cast a fly, you will soon cast with grace and pride, if you keep your wrist stiff, and your elbow tucked tight to your side, the muscles in your shoulder should do all the necessary work, keep your movements smooth and gentle, don’t overpower or jerk. Don’t wave your arm about, just move your forearm normally straight up and down, to start your cast, your line keep tight, and your rod level with the ground your casting hand should never go above your  shoulder height Your back cast should be straight behind, a small loop high and tight. The forward cast is just the same, a smooth and gentle easy throw, and the rod tip should not deviate from its path, and the line not drop below, the arc the tip describes, until at last you flick and  gently follow through practise this quite simple cast at first, until it

Question:

NATO quiet! I`m fishing.

Response:

NATO quiet! I`m fishing.

Go fishing off the Sava bridhe idiot and uyou can learn how to fly!

Response:

NATO quiet! I`m fishing.

Go fishing off the Sava bridge idiot and you can learn how to fly!

Response:

NATO quiet! I`m fishing. ROTFL!  

Response:

NATO quiet! I`m fishing.

Response:

NATO quiet! I`m fishing.

Go fishing off the Sava bridhe idiot and uyou can learn how to fly!

Response:

NATO quiet! I`m fishing.

Go fishing off the Sava bridge idiot and you can learn how to fly!

Response:

NATO quiet! I`m fishing. ROTFL!  

Response:

Question:

Hi folks, I’m new to the group, and would like your thoughts on what is the best kayak for fly fishing coastal bays and flats.  I normally fly fish in Christmas Bay (close to Galveston, TX), and use a Zest Two – Ocean Kayak two seater.  It’s kinda tough to handle in a breeze over, say, 10 kts. I’m in the market for a faster boat that will handle higher wind conditions, and would like some input from those more knowledgable than I. Howard About Christmas Bay – http://www.christmasbay.com

Response:

  Hi, the boat of choice here in San Diego for fishing seems to be the Scupper Pro,and Scupper Classic. I own the classic , it weighs48pds. compared to your68pd. zest. The pros weigh 55pds.      I’m able to troll effectivly even when the wind picks up, if the wind picks up while jig fishing or while i’m after halibut i use my sea anchor to slow my drift     Aqua

Response:

I’m new to the group, and would like your thoughts on what is the best kayak for fly fishing coastal bays and flats.  I normally fly fish in Christmas Bay (close to Galveston, TX), and use a Zest Two – Ocean Kayak two seater.  It’s kinda tough to handle in a breeze over, say, 10 kts. I’m in the market for a faster boat that will handle higher wind conditions, and would like some input from those more knowledgable than I.

I’m also a newbie to this thing, but I’ve got a few opinions anyway…  [had my boat for a couple months so far] I know most folks will suggest an open cockpit boat, but don’t write off an enclosed version.   Also, I know most folks tend to prefer getting out of the boat and wade, but I’m not one of them.  I like to start more or less dry, and end more or less dry. I have very little difficulty casting my 8 weight while seated in my kayak. [Dagger Edisto].   But there is also enough deck rigging to support a decent trolling setup, and there was enough mounting and cargo room for me to add an all-around light to help with safe night fishing and transits to duck hunting spots next season.. If you are annoyed by high winds and waves, get a rudder. The difference is mind bogolling. My modest experiences so far: http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html

Response:

If you are annoyed by high winds and waves, get a rudder. The difference is mind bogolling. My modest experiences so far: http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html

If I get out I may use a fly rod on the flats, but I have had more luck trolling from my kayak.  I dont know if its the speed or that the boat makes the fish notice my fly or lure but the success rate is pretty good for both bass and blues.  I use a kevlar kayak and a rudder to make the experience "less painful".  I also gave up using a rod from my boat.  I made a hand line device that is very easy to use.  To see one visit my site at:  http://www.jlc.net/~hlevin I usually troll rapalas, rubber eels a fly or other artifical baits. —     Hal     Wilton, NH     Power your boat with carbohydrates,     not hydrocarbons.           http://www.jlc.net/~hlevin                 0                  _O                     0

Response:

If I get out I may use a fly rod on the flats, but I have had more luck trolling from my kayak.  I dont know if its the speed or that the boat

I do good trolling as well. experience "less painful".  I also gave up using a rod from my boat.  I made a hand line device that is very easy to use.  To see one visit my

Give up my rod and reel?  I have a rod holder angled 45 degrees backward, a bit behind the cockpit.  I can paddle (troll) at any speed without interference.  That reminds me…i was trolling at work yesterday..woops!

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Question:

t… i use a white zonker fished on an intermediate sink tip in the summer for cats on the fox river in wisconsin. i get by on a  8 wt. st. croix, and have a fine time doing so… i think it’s mainly a problem of identifying the forage fish (in my case, a white perch) and getting down to the cats. and when they strike…well, i’ll leave that for your first fish… hex

Response:

http://www.smallstreams.com/Cat.html The above article is one that resides on my little site. adam Small Stream Fly Fishing http://www.smallstreams.com

Response:

This past spring and summer I caught quite a few channel cats on flies. Any kind of streamer seems to work fine. Drifting the fly near blowdowns and into deeper holes and just letting it hang in the current, no retrieve, seemed to work best. Evan

Response:

Any body out there fly fishing for catfish? Duane:  I can tell you that when the whitefly is on the Susquehanna River, I have had a blast taking rising catfish on a dry.  This would be late July-August in most years.  They fight like an old tire – just drag them in.

….don’t know what kind of catfish that would be (fights like an old tire). In Montana, we have channel catfish in the praire rivers, and they fight like buffalo soldiers.     Note that bacon rind will stay on a hook all day. So will fresh pork skin, which, when fished with a shooting head and a pea-sized split shot, works well for channel catfish. —  * Center For Computational Biology            * Montana State University                            */

Response:

I visit a 50 acre lake about two hours north of Houston, TX a couple times each year and usually take a flyrod with me.  When I cannot get the Bass, Bluegill or Crappie to cooperate (rare) I’ll resort to Catfish.  For me, sizable Blues and Channel Cats will readily take a Woolly Bugger #2-4 Black on 0-1X leader about 7 ft or so.  They don’t seem to be leader shy. — KennyM "I fish because I love to…"

t… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Any body out there fly fishing for catfish? With 4-10 pounders farly normal in the rivers (at least around here) I was wondering if anyone had given this a try. I didn’t find out about this aspect of the sport until after the fishing slowed down for the winter.  Haven’t had much luck with the catfish so far, but I also haven’t had much luck in the last 4 weeks catching anything except a cold. I was wondering what gear was preferred by the more experienced folks to take these wee beasties and what patterns folks used other than Hellgramites and Joe’s Hopper.  With luch like this I’ll have plenty of time to tie the patterns before the water starts getting warm.  (Of course, I could always use the time to catch those funny looking rainbow colored fish that are stocked down here in the winter time.) Thanks in advance for any info.

Response:

Any body out there fly fishing for catfish? With 4-10 pounders farly normal in the rivers (at least around here) I was wondering if anyone had given this a try. I didn’t find out about this aspect of the sport until after the fishing slowed down for the winter.  Haven’t had much luck with the catfish so far, but I also haven’t had much luck in the last 4 weeks catching anything except a cold. I was wondering what gear was preferred by the more experienced folks to take these wee beasties and what patterns folks used other than Hellgramites and Joe’s Hopper.  With luch like this I’ll have plenty of time to tie the patterns before the water starts getting warm.  (Of course, I could always use the time to catch those funny looking rainbow colored fish that are stocked down here in the winter time.) Thanks in advance for any info.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any body out there fly fishing for catfish? With 4-10 pounders farly normal in the rivers (at least around here) I was wondering if anyone had given this a try. I didn’t find out about this aspect of the sport until after the fishing slowed down for the winter.  Haven’t had much luck with the catfish so far, but I also haven’t had much luck in the last 4 weeks catching anything except a cold. I was wondering what gear was preferred by the more experienced folks to take these wee beasties and what patterns folks used other than Hellgramites and Joe’s Hopper.  With luch like this I’ll have plenty of time to tie the patterns before the water starts getting warm.  (Of course, I could always use the time to catch those funny looking rainbow colored fish that are stocked down here in the winter time.) Thanks in advance for any info.

When I lived in Kansas I used to catch a few channel cat on wooly buggers, zonkers and decievers, mostly when I was fishing for white bass or crappie. — Charlie…

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any body out there fly fishing for catfish? With 4-10 pounders farly normal in the rivers (at least around here) I was wondering if anyone had given this a try. I didn’t find out about this aspect of the sport until after the fishing slowed down for the winter.  Haven’t had much luck with the catfish so far, but I also haven’t had much luck in the last 4 weeks catching anything except a cold. I was wondering what gear was preferred by the more experienced folks to take these wee beasties and what patterns folks used other than Hellgramites and Joe’s Hopper.  With luch like this I’ll have plenty of time to tie the patterns before the water starts getting warm.  (Of course, I could always use the time to catch those funny looking rainbow colored fish that are stocked down here in the winter time.) Thanks in advance for any info.

Hi Duaine, I’ve caught a few catfish while "crawling" a woolly bugger through still water. I’ve never been sure if catching them was a mistake or not but they were hooked in the mouth. I’ve never had any real consistant success though. On the other hand I’ve had a lot of fun fly fishing for carp. They tend to hold in slow or non-moving water and take buggers fairly well. Because they are often in shallow water they can be real spooky. Good luck & … — Tight Lines — Al Beatty Whiting Farms (Hoffman Hackle)

Response:

Any body out there fly fishing for catfish? With 4-10 pounders farly normal in the rivers (at least around here) I was wondering if anyone had given this a try.

Duane:  I can tell you that when the whitefly is on the Susquehanna River, I have had a blast taking rising catfish on a dry.  This would be late July-August in most years.  They fight like an old tire – just drag them in. It gets to be an art to distinquish the catfish rises from the smallmouth rises. Mark Faulkner

Response:

Ditto the whitefly post–channel cats belly up to the smorgasbord in late summer on the Potomac, too.  I’ve caught a number of catfish on dark strip-leeches or butch minnows while fishing for smallies.  They will take minnow imitations in our eastern rivers, and quickly too.  An element of luck or accident is involved, though. Dave Motes

Response:

Duane:  I can tell you that when the whitefly is on the Susquehanna River, I have had a blast taking rising catfish on a dry.  This would be late July-August in most years.  They fight like an old tire – just drag them in. It gets to be an art to distinquish the catfish rises from the smallmouth rises. Mark Faulkner

  What kind of catfish were these? I’ve caught a few Channel Cats when fishing for bass & they fought like a freight train. Willi

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Duaine –         There are a couple of small streams and lakes that I know of in Arkansas where the catfish will readily take a fly.  This seems to be somewhat aberrant behavior for a catfish, but in these particular areas they are the primary predator species (for some reason the smallmouth bass haven’t done well there – overfishing?), and they don’t seem to show the normal reluctance that cats show.  The water in these areas is normally gin-clear, and I usually catch channel catfish on flies.  The other species of cats, while present, only occasionally will take a fly.         The cats will only rarely take a dry fly (usually a hopper pattern), but will aggressively charge an olive-green wooly bugger or zonker.  There is a lot of vegetation in these waters, and there is a large number of small (2") fry from bluegill, which the streamers do a pretty good job of imitating.   For some reason, the period during and immediately after a thunderstorm is vastly the most productive.  I’ve taken channel catfish up to 10 lbs. in these waters, sometimes catching 10 or 15 in a single afternoon of fishing.         The largest cat I ever took on a fly was actually on the Potomac river right at the Beltway around Washington D.C.   That particular fish hit a large white streamer I was casting for smallmouth bass, and then proceeded to drag me up and down the river (on foot, no less) for about an hour before I could get close enough to remove the hook.  I didn’t attempt to weigh him, but he was about the length of my leg to the hip (say 36"), and bigger in girth.  My best guesstimate for his weight would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 lbs. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any body out there fly fishing for catfish? With 4-10 pounders farly normal in the rivers (at least around here) I was wondering if anyone had given this a try. I didn’t find out about this aspect of the sport until after the fishing slowed down for the winter.  Haven’t had much luck with the catfish so far, but I also haven’t had much luck in the last 4 weeks catching anything except a cold. I was wondering what gear was preferred by the more experienced folks to take these wee beasties and what patterns folks used other than Hellgramites and Joe’s Hopper.  With luch like this I’ll have plenty of time to tie the patterns before the water starts getting warm.  (Of course, I could always use the time to catch those funny looking rainbow colored fish that are stocked down here in the winter time.) Thanks in advance for any info.

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Question:

I am looking into buying my first drift boat and am looking for any tips or recomendations that may help me in my quest. Should I buy new or used? Approx. costs for both? Size? Aluminium,fiberglass,or wood? These are a few of the questions I could think of. Durability is my main concern as I will be going down fairly large and rough rivers.That brings me to my last questions where can I go to learn how to use the boat safely and properly? —                  *              Doug Cook                *                  *            Richmond,B.C.              *                  *                Canada                 *

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking into buying my first drift boat and am looking for any tips or recomendations that may help me in my quest. Should I buy new or used? Approx. costs for both? Size? Aluminium,fiberglass,or wood? These are a few of the questions I could think of. Durability is my main concern as I will be going down fairly large and rough rivers.That brings me to my last questions where can I go to learn how to use the boat safely and properly? —                  *              Doug Cook                *                  *            Richmond,B.C.              *                  *                Canada                 *

DOUG BABY!  Definately can help you here.  Look into (one example) a Don Hill Drift Boat and I believe he’s in Springfield/Eugene Oregon. Do not go below 16 feet in length as these will float shallower than 14 footers and you will need the hauling abilities and they are easier to maintain position with the oars. Always buy three oars, not just two.  When not in use, hang them off the floor on a wall dangling down in order to keep them warp-free. Do not buy aluminum drift boats as they are:         1)Cold blooded bastards on the feet.         2)Noisey         3)Grip Rocks and hang up on them unmercifully! Buy a new boat that is Gel Coated on the bottom and which is fiber glassed.  The Don Hill or Coffman (spelling?) are excellent.  Make sure your trailer-bearings are water sealed. Buy any boat you want as long as it’s fiber-glass.  More maintenance free all around and in the long-haul.  They will take a lot of punishment and bring you home alive.  Always carry an extra set of oar locks and make sure you have a good quick anchor system/release. Lastly, realize that Mackenzie Style Drift boat fishing is a two man operation overall.  One person rows and another fishes.  You can go alone but requires a good anchoring system from dragging a chain, to using a 30 pound pyramid hunk of lead, etc. Call Don Hill and tell him I said hello.  I own one of his.  Love it. Use the heck out of it.  Great Steelhead fishing platform and perfect for fly casting or dead-drifting, etc. Sincerely, George Gehrke/Mr. Gink

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I am looking into buying my first drift boat and am looking for any tips or recomendations that may help me in my quest.

I believe Lavro has a guarentee that might interest you. Steve

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Doug, I suggest….just my personal opinion that fiberglass is the most durable.  It can be patched if necessary and is more quiet than aluminum.  I use a Hyde boat and I love it….they are light, rugged, comfortable, look sharp and very responsive.  Give them a call and get a catalog ask for Bruce…tell him you spoke to me. They are a good company. 800 444 4933. Let me know if I can help…I hope I did. Cheers, James Ehlers Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service LIC#2298 Underhill, VT

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Question:

Does anyone have any fly patterns for Pike ? Thanks Rod

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Hi, I use a large wooly bugger 1/0 or 2/0 with an extra long tail.  Also the Double Bunny is great for many species of fish including pike.  The Double Bunny is available from Dan Bailey’s 96 catalog. They are on page number 14 and cost $2.95 each plus S&H. You can get a catalog or order by calling 800-356-4052. Good Tying & Tight Lines Al _______ BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT

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Does anyone have any fly patterns for Pike ? Thanks Rod

I’m just about to try some bass poppers on northern pike in Scotland, so I’ll let you know! Andrew

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I’ve only fished for Pike once, in my early fly fishing/tying days.  I was sent to Cold Lake, Alberta to do some work at the Air Force base.  It was mid summer and I was going to be there for about two weeks.  I’d heard the Pike were big and mean in that lake.  (And they were, I saw some gawd awful big ones laying on the bottom of the lake while I was canoeing!) I asked for pattern recommendations from one of the local fly shop owners.  He said ty something big and "boppy" out of deer hair.  Cast it out on the water, slam it down, no grace, no glory and then strip it back, across the water in short burst. I tied up some deer hair "balls", for lack of a better description, with a couple of black hackle tips for legs/tails (sizes 2 to 2/0). I did exactly as he suggested, slapped ‘em down on the water and stipped them in.   What blast!  I’ve never had so much fun fishing on the surface!  I had one pike take three consecutive hair-raising slashes at my fly.  After each slash, I struck so hard that the line went back over my head.  I just pull it forward, and put it right back down where he had hit.  The third time, he got it! Since then, I’ve become a little more refined in my tying and fishing techniques.  But I haven’t had the chance to fish for pike again. If you want to fish the surface, bass bugs would probably work well, although you might choose a color pattern that is more like something they would see in the local area.  I dont know if some of the bright colors will work, I have no experience with these. Pike will eat almost anything that moves and they can get their mouth around: frogs, snakes, ducklings, you name it.  I tried to make as much commotion on the water as I could. It seemed to work. Good luck, Dave.

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I have never tried to catch pike on the fly BUT on one lake in Lincolnshire I lost a number of lures to pike before I realised the problem. They were basic white marabou with fluorescent green tails and/or overwings and some were leaded at the head.

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I’ve fished quite a lot for pike with flies, and 90% of the time, I use a Bunny Bug, tied on a 3/0 hook with a tail of rabbit strip and a few strands of krystal flash, a body of palmered rabbit strip (fuzzies out,) and a head of either bead-chain eyes or lacquered with a painted-on eye.  Black and white are the best, and I sometimes mix them together for a good searching pattern.   If you want to add a little, tie in some marabou right behind the head to give it an attractor.  Other flies to use are Decievers, any tarpon fly, dahlberg divers, and poppers.  Keep in mind, that some of these are destroyed by just one fish.

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Question:

thanks for your leader info. Thanks for your information. I worked this out a little better since i last posted. I have a 12 wght also, and a beefy battenkill reel that has yet to sing. I took the mono off the front of the s-head, and left a foot long butt of mono on it with a perfection loop. I practiced delivering 3/0 deceivers on a commercial Scientific A’s tapered leader. A 9′ 12 lb test worked great. Now I think I am going to take the mono off the back of the 30 s-head and go with some floating or intermediate line that won’t tangle in my dish bucket If the dish bucket hoses again with real line……I will glue in "finger"s in the bottom of the bucket. I live in northern california, but am headed back to mom’s in south jersey in 2 weeks, a 52 lber was caught in Holgate last week in the surf. What kind of strip and retrieve are you doing? Have you seen the Jeff Mancini video? Are you making your own epoxy poppers?? Steve in Santa Cruz

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writes: I live in northern california, but am headed back to mom’s in south jersey in 2 weeks, a 52 lber was caught in Holgate last week in the surf.

we’ll make arrangments to meet on the surf. That 52 lber sure got my attention quick. What kind of strip and retrieve are you doing?

I had been doing a one handed strip all the time until I got a tip from Darren Lew (see earlier post on stripping). Today I alternated with a two handed strip and found the hook setting to be much more reliable (and firm). Darren had some interesting points on the additional fly speed and retrieve control of the two handed strip. I still find, however, that a one handed strip provides unmatched jigging action on flies with lots of material to flail in the water (Tabory Snake flies, big Deceivers, rabbit hide strips, etc.). I just got some Martha’s Vinyard Squid Flies from Orvis in the mail today and can’t wait to get ‘em wet in the surf! Have you seen the Jeff Mancini video?

Yup. A buddy brought it over while we were still in the dead of winter here in NY and I’ve been hooked since ;^) I also met the guy during an outdoorsman show in Rockland county back in February. Seems nice, but we didn’t get too much time to talk (he was swarmed by too many glassy eyed folks overcome with excitement in the presence of such an international celebrity 8^). There is a post in this group with his home phone number…. Are you making your own epoxy poppers??

Since I just got started with fly fishing this year, I haven’t accumulated all the toys yet. I figured I’d get some pre-tied first so I couldn’t blame my unsuccessfull outings on bad fly tying. Now that a buddy has shown me how simple some of the saltwater flys are to tie, I’ll be picking up a vice any day now… Look forward to hearing from you! HH&TL,     Jose

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