Question:

I mean to fish the Delaware, and maybe Esopus and Beaverkill if I can find time and space. There are supposed to be decent fly fishing waters in Dutchess Cty., NY and eastern CT. If so, what type of rod, line wgt, and so forth would be a good starting point. In the early season should I stay with smaller flies or bugs? -Ray

Response:

The West Branch is fairly big water.  To cover your bases here I think a good multi-piece 5 wt. in 9 ft. length would cover you.  For flys, match the size of the bugs on the water.  SIZE MATTERS! — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I mean to fish the Delaware, and maybe Esopus and Beaverkill if I can find time and space. There are supposed to be decent fly fishing waters in Dutchess Cty., NY and eastern CT. If so, what type of rod, line wgt, and so forth would be a good starting point. In the early season should I stay with smaller flies or bugs? -Ray

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Question:

I love how predictably I can stir up this hornet’s nest anytime I please. I simply don’t understand why you don’t ignore my taunts. Try it once, and reclaim your newsgroup. — Citizen Fisherman one can’t be ostracized from a vacuum…

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Dick Head said: << I love how predictably I can stir up this hornet’s nest anytime I please. I That’s pretty obvious. What I don’t understand is why you would want to stir things up. Are you a jerk or what?

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Dick Head said: << I love how predictably I can stir up this hornet’s nest anytime I please. I That’s pretty obvious. What I don’t understand is why you would want to stir things up. Are you a jerk or what?

The former.   What I don’t understand is how consistently achieving the predictable holds much fascination at all, much less being deserving of self-congratulation. Joe F.

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Yup, got the accounts mixed….. john "

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I love how predictably I can stir up this hornet’s nest anytime I please. I simply don’t understand why you don’t ignore my taunts. Try it once, and reclaim your newsgroup.

Yeah man ! Aren’t you a cool guy ! Just got back from a whitefish journey. First thing this morning, though, caught (and released) 2 *gorgeous* browns 16" and 18". The average whitefish has gotten huge [around 3 pounds]. I have the fillets of 8 of them brining. The trout would have been excellent smoked, but I was after whitefish. There was a brutal carnage of these fish. In the morning we saw the ‘first guard’ of several pods of around 20 fish were in the creek. Then the people arrived, a church group and more. Thye just got in the water with them. They threw rocks at them and laughed. This went on all day. When I left I could not find any fish in the creek except a dead one wedged in a rock. It was very sad to me. Three men talked with me while I caught a nice one in the main river. When they saw it one asked if it was a rainbow trout. They went up in the creek and one of them came back with a whitefish he had caught with his hands. He asked me if he could keep it and I told him that, if he had a license, he’d probably be OK. He did not. A little while later I saw him again. He asked where he could catch a salmon. I told him, maybe Reudi. He asked where he could catch a salmon in Denver. I told him I did not know. About an hour later I saw them with some other people and they had filled a kitchen sized trash bag with fish they caught, I think by throwing rocks at them. Wierd carnage. One lady took the roe from all of my fish to feed her bloodhound. I though that was pretty cool. I mean, I do not eat whitefish roe. I saw literally buckets, shop buckets, full of fish hauled out. It did not bother me. At least the guys that obviously had smoke houses ready to accept the fish. It was the people killing them for no reason that really bugged me and the people that obviously would throw them away if they did keep them. These whitefish were very easy to hook but hard to catch. They’d get into the strong current and even with the 6 weight and 4X, you had no choice but to get running downstream. Almost always they’d ball up the tackle. Frieght trains. While you could feel the head shake that made you pretty certain it was a whitefish, you really did not know if it was a large brown or a whitefish until you could see it. This made for some exciting fishing. One guy told me that if I steamed them and removed the meat I could mix it with eggs and cracker crumbs and spices and fry it in a mock crab cake or make tacos with the meat that it was excellent. He said you can also freeze the steamed meat and it would keep. All in all, very good ideas. In the afternoon we moved down and I hooked 6 fish, landed 3 [2 browns and a bow] all were around 16. The bow was very fat in the shoulders and deep bodied, at least 5 inches. An extremely nice fish. None of them faught a fraction as hard as any of the whitefish. I had a fish get off that was the proverbial ‘I thought it was a snag’. I really did think it was a snag, and I pulled *hard* when it just started moving away slowly. The hook straightened, and I lost him. It was a TMC 2457. My minds eye tells me it was a brown. Five pounds. At least. Your pal, — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

Response:

Just got back from a whitefish journey. First thing this morning, though, caught (and released) 2 *gorgeous* browns 16" and 18". The average whitefish has gotten huge [around 3 pounds]. I have the fillets of 8 of them brining. The trout would have been excellent smoked, but I was after whitefish.

Thanks for the report.  That rock throwing etc. on the whitefish was too weird. Where was this? I’ve never come across anything like that. Willi

Response:

There was a brutal carnage of these fish. In the morning we saw the ‘first guard’ of several pods of around 20 fish were in the creek. Then the people arrived, a church group and more. Thye just got in the water with them. They threw rocks at them and laughed. This went on all day.

???? a church group? that is wierd…. too damn weird. –waldo

Response:

Just got back from a whitefish journey. First thing this morning, though, caught (and released) 2 *gorgeous* browns 16" and 18". The average whitefish has gotten huge [around 3 pounds]. I have the fillets of 8 of them brining. The trout would have been excellent smoked, but I was after whitefish.

Yeah, that’s what I tell the guys too, heh heh. While you could feel the head shake that made you pretty certain it was a whitefish, you really did not know if it was a large brown or a whitefish until you could see it. This made for some exciting fishing.

I wish I could get over that bummer when I find out it’s *not* a large brown

Response:

Then the people arrived, a church group and more. Thye just got in the water with them. They threw rocks at them and laughed. This went on all day.

Throwing rocks at a baptism seems like an unconventional way to welcome a new convert. To each his own, I guess. –Steve

Response:

There was a brutal carnage of these fish. In the morning we saw the ‘first guard’ of several pods of around 20 fish were in the creek. Then the people arrived, a church group and more. Thye just got in the water with them. They threw rocks at them and laughed. This went on all day. ???? a church group? that is wierd…. too damn weird.

They probably caught two, tried to feed multitudes, and, failing that, decided to stone the rest. JR

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…..I wish I could get over that bummer when I find out it’s *not* a large brown

You should.  You would be doing yourself a favor.  I caught as many whitefish as trout on a trip to southwest Montana some years ago and enjoyed them every bit as much.  Whitefish are eager to take a fly, put up as good a fight as trout, are attractive in their own right, and are quite tasty.  While I understand the appeal of targeting a particular species on a given outing, I am never bothered by the serendipitous catch of another, and particularly so when it introduces me to a species with a lot of good characteristics (from an angler’s point of view) and to which I had never given any consideration.  Hell, I’d go back just to stupid old trout.      :( Wolfgang chubs now……damn, what i wouldn’t give to tie into a mess of nice four inch chubs!

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Throwing rocks at a baptism seems like an unconventional way to welcome a new convert. To each his own, I guess.

Sounds to me like there’s a distressing shortage of sinners in that crowd. Wolfgang don’t s’pose i’d fit in real good.      :(

Response:

Just got back from a whitefish journey. First thing this morning, though, caught (and released) 2 *gorgeous* browns 16" and 18". The average whitefish has gotten huge [around 3 pounds]. I have the fillets of 8 of them brining. The trout would have been excellent smoked, but I was after whitefish. Thanks for the report.  That rock throwing etc. on the whitefish was too weird. Where was this? I’ve never come across anything like that.

Let’s just say it was at an interstate rest area. I’ll tell you exactly where in email or when I see you. You’ve probably already figured it out from the clues. There was a pedestrian bridge over the creek and a colorful sign depicting the life cycle of the Whitefish. I think it was titled "A Colorado Native". In the morning a delightful couple excitedly pointed out the fish to us. It’s too bad that travelers after about 2 in the afternoon would have seen no fish, or just the few dead ones. I don’t think the church group was all that bad. It was just teenage girls and boys with their shoes off…for the hour or so break from the bus journey they were on. The guys were chasing and teasing the girls with the whitefish, just like you and I would have done. That kind of thing. Fairly harmless. I think that as a reasonable ‘pattern of positive behavior’ there’s an ethical compromise. Once fish make the spawning tributary they should be proected. It takes a fair amount of skill to catch them in the main river. That would enforce some degree of ‘fair chase’ to the equation. You’d have to at least care enough about what you’re doing to pick up a license and a rod and reel and to fish for them. Not just a big rock. I was thinking….I bet the people that left with a trash bag full probably thought we were wasting our time, fishing for them with nymphs, I mean…it took a while to get just a few with the fly rod…they got 50 in 10 minutes by throwing them up on the rocks with their hands. I feel fairly strongly that the fish in the creek should be enjoyed by the people stopping in at the rest area. It’s a marvel of nature and very impressive. Just the education that the Rainbow trout is not native to Colorado but the Whitefish are, would probably be interesting to thinking people that would probably otherwise never know. I’m formatting the words to the letter to the CDOW and local papers in my head as we speak. I’m thinking more on these human/wildlife ‘patterns’ as regarding reccomendations and paradigms. Your pal, — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

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"TBone" .    That would enforce some degree of ‘fair chase’ to the equation. You’d have to at least care enough about what you’re doing to pick up a license and a rod and reel and to fish for them.

I hate to say it……but even a few minor – ENFORCED – regulations have an enormous result in the amount of streamside litter, diminished negative behavior and overall improvement that it is time to consider such things for all streams. You eliminate a whole class of people. john

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..and you get my first <SPLORK john

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???? a church group? that is wierd…. too damn weird. –waldo

It would seem like it until you’ve had some experience with church groups and the outdoors.  They should restrict themselves to city parks and playgrounds, where they know what’s happening.  On what used to be my favorite part of my favorite river, they’ve proven themselves to be almost as obnoxious as the beer for breakfast bunch and rather more dangerous.  Mostly, thank (heaven?) to themselves, but it’s painful to watch and to try to give them a clue when they get really odd and the kids are likely to be dumped, drown, get hypothermia or any combination of the former.  While some of them don’t believe Darwin was correct, they sometimes seem intent on proving his theories. — rbc:  vixen    Fairly harmless remove invalid or hit reply to email. Though I’m very slow to respond. http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

They probably caught two, tried to feed multitudes, and, failing that, decided to stone the rest. JR

…god, now that’s funny!!! jeff (brimstone, anyone?)

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They probably caught two, tried to feed multitudes, and, failing that, decided to stone the rest. JR …god, now that’s funny!!! jeff (brimstone, anyone?)

Agreed. ROFLOL. — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

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Question:

 The Department eventually adopted 33 of these "suggestions" …..

To clarify – the ODFW angling regulation task force, upon which the Oregon Council FFF has a seat, reviewed 900+ proposals and ultimately forwarded 33 (?) for further consideration by the ODFW and the Fish and Wildlife Commission (the final decision rests with the Commission). AS OF NOW, the Department is recommending *against* catch and release for Davis Lake, and their last minute reasons have come as a complete surprise to the Oregon Council FFF and other clubs.  The Commission will decide the fate of Davis during their September 22 hearing. I’m trying to get my comments in, and need to get my butt in gear and share them with all of you so you can make comments. For those that do not know, this is the first time a task force of angling and other representatives has been put together to pre-filter what has historically been a mass of regulation change proposals (some individuals would submit dozens of changes without demonstrating any broad support).  An early point of contention on the new process is whether the proposals being forwarded by the task force to the commission were being recommended for approval by the commission, or whether the tasks forces only job was to look for proposals that had broad support of any kind, or some reason to be debated further in front of the commission. Evidently some of the angling representatives on the task force felt the former (forwarding meant recommending for approval), and felt caught off guard when the ODFW made contrary recommendations *after* all the public meetings and after the task force had concluded its business. Thomas Gilg

Response:

This will be a news item that would interest those who fish in Oregon (and those of you who visit).  The Federation of Fly Fishers, Oregon Council was able to present 160 rule changes to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.  The Department eventually adopted 33 of these "suggestions" and the principle gain for the fly fishing community was the removal of the harvest on Davis Lake (catch and release only).  In addition to this major proposal, the Department agreed to close the Odell Creek channel form the buoy upstream to the Forest Service road between the east and west campgrounds to protect spawning beds. My thanks to the volunteers at our local chapter, who worked so hard, so we all could benefit from their splendid efforts. Padishar Creel "What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult to each other."  – George Eliot

Response:

 The Department eventually adopted 33 of these "suggestions" ….. To clarify – the ODFW angling regulation task force, upon which the Oregon Council FFF has a seat, reviewed 900+ proposals and ultimately forwarded 33 (?) for further consideration by the ODFW and the Fish and Wildlife Commission (the final decision rests with the Commission). AS OF NOW, the Department is recommending *against* catch and release for Davis Lake, and their last minute reasons have come as a complete surprise to the Oregon Council FFF and other clubs <snipped

Thomas, thanks for bringing this news up-to-date and correcting the lastest statements from FFF. (I was quoting the __Oregon Fly Fisher Newsletter I rec’d in the mail today).  I am sorry to hear about their recommendation against the Davis Lake proposal, in fact I am stunned.  I am in SW Washington and I would be happy to show up at any meetings you think would assist in getting the Oregon Council proposals adopted.  I purchase an out-of-state fishing license every year, so I believe I have a say here even though I am not a resident of the great State of Oregon. — Padishar Creel "What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult to each other."  – George Eliot

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Question:

I’m going to be in Oregon in mid-August and would like to get in a day or two of fishing.  Does anyone have a suggestion for guides and locations?   I would love to try summer steelhead and trout if possible. Thanks, Steve

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I’m going to be in Oregon in mid-August and would like to get in a day or two of fishing.  Does anyone have a suggestion for guides and locations? I would love to try summer steelhead and trout if possible.

Any of the lakes around Mt. Bachelor such as Hosmer Lake, Elk Lake, Todd Lake and many others should be good for trout.  Great float tubing.  You also have the opportunity to fish the Deschutes River, a great spot, especially with a guide if you’re a first timer there..  For more info you might try Sunriver Fly Shop (541)593-8814 or Sunriver Guides and Outfitters (541)593-8247 both located in Sunriver, Oregon. Greg

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I’m going to be in Oregon in mid-August and would like to get in a day or two of fishing.  Does anyone have a suggestion for guides and locations?   I would love to try summer steelhead and trout if possible. Thanks, Steve

I stayed at Crystalwood Lodge in the Klamath basin about 4 years ago and had a great time.Their guides usually take you to the local rivers such as the Williamson or the Wood. I had a good success and I’m nowhere near an expert, but it is not a budget trip:). If "Marlin" is still guideing try to get him, Lloyd Heilbrunn

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Steve — If you want to fish for steelhead on the Deschutes in mid-August you will have be in north-central Oregon, about 90 miles from Bend and about 250 miles from Klamath Falls.  You will probably need a guide who fishes the mouth of the Descutes, although some fish will probably be as far south as Maupin by mid-August. Rob

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m going to be in Oregon in mid-August and would like to get in a day or two of fishing.  Does anyone have a suggestion for guides and locations? I would love to try summer steelhead and trout if possible. Thanks, Steve

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Question:

Great site OLE! Forrest http://www.FlyFishingREVIEW.com FlyFishingREVIEW.com I have updated my flyfishing site at: http://nff.sit.no/ New and updated version of the "burning caddis" description. Try it! Ole Anders Andreassen

Before you buy.

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Nice site, great pics. This is a really good job, thanks for the link. Trey Monroe – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have updated my flyfishing site at: http://nff.sit.no/ New and updated version of the "burning caddis" description. Try it! Ole Anders Andreassen

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I have updated my flyfishing site at: http://nff.sit.no/ New and updated version of the "burning caddis" description. Try it! Ole Anders Andreassen

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Question:

On July 6 a float tuber on Henry’s Lake drowned.  He flipped his tube and was able to get his head above water.  The article said he flipped it while trying to exit near shore.  I think it would pay to keep a knife readily accessible so one could pop the tube if necessary.  Any thoughts?

Response:

On July 6 a float tuber on Henry’s Lake drowned.  He flipped his tube and was able to get his head above water.  The article said he flipped it while trying to exit near shore.  I think it would pay to keep a knife readily accessible so one could pop the tube if necessary.  Any thoughts?

Hi Richard Several years ago I had a similar thing happen to me and would have drowned had a friend not been there to help. I’m not sure if a knife would have helped because I was in a bit of a panic while it was happening and I’m not sure if I would have been cleared headed enough to use it. Anyway shortly after that incident I purchased a pontoon kick/row boat and don’t have to face the problem every float tuber faces — that’s getting in and out of the water with a tube. The actual time in the tube is fairly safe but if you are going to make a mistake it will be when getting in or out of the tube. At least that’s what happened to me. Now you avid tubers don’t get excited, I switched to a pontoon boat for a different reason that you may suspect. As a man who’s getting older getting my crotch in the cold water resulted in a quick trip back to the bank to get rid of water. This doesn’t happen with a pontoon boat because only the bottom part of my leg is in the water. Take care & … — Tight Lines ….. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Catalog,Tips & Tricks, Fishing Reports, & NeverSink at: http://www.btsflyfishing.com

Response:

On July 6 a float tuber on Henry’s Lake drowned.  He flipped his tube and was able to get his head above water.  The article said he flipped it while trying to exit near shore.  I think it would pay to keep a knife readily accessible so one could pop the tube if necessary.  Any thoughts?

Yes. This was discussed last year too. There was also some discussion of tube failure. See following: Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly Organization: All USENET — www.net-link.com As a follow-up to a rather long and lively discussion of float tube safety here a few weeks ago I’d like to report on a near fatal incident I witnessed recently:   I was fishing Chopaka Lake, located in the N.E. portion of Washington state, near Okanagon at about 10:00 AM last Friday, June 7 when a float tube about 200 yards away suddenly ruptured with a loud boom (it sounded very much like a cherry bomb firecracker exploding on the surface of the water), followed immediately by the sound of frantic thrashing in the water.  I quickly pivoted my pontoon/kick boat to see a man about 100 yards away entangled in his float tube remains frantically attempting to swim to the shore – about 100 feet away. The secondary seat-back/safety tube was inflated and more or less being dragged along with the tube carcass somewhat behind and to the side of the victim. I managed to intercept him just as he was able to regain his footing, about 10 feet from shore in about 3 feet of water. He appeared to be exhausted and was extremely shaken by the incident. I spoke to him briefly after he had made it to shore and recovered somewhat.  He indicated that the float tube, including the inner tube, was about 10 years old (and it appeared to be quite weathered) and had developed a leak just the day before, which he had repaired with what looked like a standard, adhesive based, patch.  When he unzipped the tube we discovered a longitudinal rip, about 1-1/2 feet long, an inch or so below the inner-tube ’seam’ line.  About this time another angler in a row boat arrived to give the fellow a ride back to the campground on the other side of the lake so I was unable to examine the tube or get any further information.   I found this incident EXTREMELY disturbing, not only due to the near fatality of it (I doubt he could have made it another 100 feet) but also due to the sudden, catastrophic, nature of the float tube failure.  I mean this thing just suddenly, and without any real forewarning, EXPLODED and essentially sank on the spot.  I had previously assumed that the failure mode on these things would most likely be a fairly slow, though perhaps accelerating leak, that would give the occupant enough time to plan a strategy and respond accordingly.   I really regret that I did not have a chance to interview the victim or examine the tube further.  If anyone has additional information on this, or similar incidents, I would love to hear from them.  In lieu of that I have a few additional observations that might be of interest:    1)  The tube was a standard Caddis brand float tube (not a U-tube) and, as previously mentioned, about 10 years old.  It appeared to be quite weathered and faded but without any obvious patches, tears or other sign of abuse or problems.   2)  The inner tube had been deflated and re-installed just the day before.  This may suggest that perhaps the inner tube had not been placed or inflated properly, causing it to bind and stress the failed section.   3)  All the float tube seams and fabric appeared to be intact, with only the inner tube ruptured.  This really surprised me.  I had previously assumed that the inner tube could not rupture unless the encasing nylon structure had failed.  I may have overlooked something since I had very little time to examine the tube, but I can’t believe I could have overlooked a 1 1/2 foot tear!   4)  The tube ruptured with a very loud boom, suggesting excessive pressure may have been a factor.  I expect that at a typical rated float tube inflation pressure of 1-3 PSI such a rupture would make more of a ‘whoosh’ instead of the explosive noise we witnessed.  Don’t know for sure though.  Anyone out there willing to do the experiment <g?  Temperatures were pretty mild (probably about 70F at the time) but altitude (about 3000 feet) may have been a factor.  I know that both my pontoon boat and my wife’s float tube had to be deflated somewhat to accommodate the change in conditions (sea-level to 3000′). One other general observation that may bear on this:  About 2 years ago I had to replace a float tube inner tube that had deflated itself over the winter.  When I pulled the inner tube I discovered it had developed a series of closely spaced holes, along the circumference of the tube, in line with the float tube seam stitching.  It appeared that the seam stitching had stressed the rubber material (I had left the tube inflated year-around) causing it to fail.  The net effect was almost like a "tear on the line" perforation on a magazine pull-out. Mine did not tear or rupture, but the hole pattern could have conceivably led to that, particularly if the tube had been over-inflated or improperly re-installed.   I offer this report and these observations with the hope it will stimulate further discussion about the potential hazards of these marvelously useful devices.  Anyone with additional information or suggestions should feel free to email me or post follow-ups to this message.  I would also encourage any of you authors out there (or would be authors) to consider addressing this as a service to your fellow angler.  There are a lot of float tubes out there – and a lot of OLD float tubes for that matter – and I suspect we’ll be hearing more and more about this in the future.  My fervent hope is that we can avoid losing some of our angling brethren in the process.   -Wes Wes Neuenschwander Seattle, WA Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly Organization: Kado’s Sand & Gravel I experienced a float tube failure last year.  My 11 year old tube was going strong, but one afternoon I noticed it had gone a bit soft.  Assuming the kids were letting the air out, I stopped at the gas station on the way to the pond.   Thoughout the evening I had headphones on, listening to the Broncos get rather thoroughly trounced by the Raiders.  About the end of the game, I noticed my elbows were getting wet.  Upon removing the headphones, I could hear the leak bubbling under water.  I paddled over to the shore, and got out.  No panic, no catastrophic failure.  I am clueless as to how a float tube, with no more than about 3lbs of air pressure, could fail with a catastrophic bang.  No offense to the originator of this thread, but I would have to hear it to believe it. The truck tire inner tube I use in my Buck’s Bag Float tube was over 10 years old.  Whan I stretched it out, obvious cracking in the rubber suggested a complete replacement was in order, rather than a patch.  Had I patched and continued to use this old tube, it will have failed again soon.  I would not want to have a rapid air loss, that would be no fun! So, in the future I will remember to replace my inner tube every 5 years.   That should be about a 50% overkill, since my first one lasted more than 10 years.  That will be in the year 2000, easy to remember. The previous thread about someone drowning in a float tube accident has sure led me to be more careful when getting in and out of the water.  That is the only time I ever feel vulnerable to getting up side down.  I have also replaced the inner tube "second chamber" with a couple of life preservers.  This is safer than a inner tube and satisfies the requirement in most states that you much have on board any water craft a life preserver for each occupant. — Hewlett Packard, ESL R&D, MS55 Ft. Collins, CO  80525

Response:

Regarding float tube safety, we have a standard practice of getting into fins, and tube on shore, then walking backwards into the water.  I agree, a knife would be hard to use in a panic, I think I would go for the release down between my legs and try and slide out…. On a side note, I did have a friend who passed out in a float tube last year, leaned forward and ended up drowning…..no one could get to her quick enough. We still thought something else went wrong, flipping a tube by simply leaning forward should be impossible, its not, we did some experiments and found that you can "flip" a tube if you lean forward for a you can help each other if needed, besides, the conversation, pictures and landing that "big one" or the 4 inch brookie is much more fun with someone to share it with!

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I think a two inch diameter tube would be nice to breath through while your cutting up the tube or trying to flip back. I used to own a Browning tube and I would probably drown before I was able to cut my way out of the tube. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On July 6 a float tuber on Henry’s Lake drowned.  He flipped his tube and was able to get his head above water.  The article said he flipped it while trying to exit near shore.  I think it would pay to keep a knife readily accessible so one could pop the tube if necessary.  Any thoughts?

Response:

Question:

Can anyone give me some information or hints about fishing for N. Pike in Sweden ? I’ve heard about pike fishing in the Baltic sea, but can’t find any information about it… Gertjan Gertjan Doedens The Netherlands

Response:

Can anyone give me some information or hints about fishing for N. Pike in Sweden ? I’ve heard about pike fishing in the Baltic sea, but can’t find any information about it… Gertjan

Try some of these sites for more info, but I know most of the pike fishing in the Baltic is lure fishing from boats with very little bait fishing.  If you need anymore help, e mail me direct as I have a few articles in mags here that cover the pike fishing in the Baltic. <UL <LI<A HREF="http://www.algonet.se/~henrik_b/"Baltic Sea Sportfishing</A <LI <A HREF="http://www.pi.se/magnus.ugander/fb_home.html"Specimen Group – Fina Biten Homepage</A <LI <A HREF="http://www.bahnhof.se/~jrpstrom/index.html"The Specimen Group – Team Cisco</A <LI <A HREF="http://hem1.passagen.se/birger1/index.html"Sportfiskeguiden</A <A HREF="http://www.capricorn.se/" Capricorn Fly-Fishing. </A <LI <A HREF="http://www.pi.se/magnus.ugander/carphome.html" Carp Invaders Homepage. </A <LI <A HREF="http://www.algonet.se/~fishhole/fishhole.htm" The Fishing Hole. </A <LI <A HREF="http://www.ts.umu.se/~widmark/lwfishxl.html" LW’s Fishing Site. </A <LI <A HREF="http://www.pi.se/magnus.ugander/mu_home.htm" Magnus Ugander Specimen Fishing Page. </A <LI <A HREF="http://pew.psy.gu.se/~psymarer/salmon.html?" Martin G. Erikson’s Homepage. </A </UL <P — Davy Holt Surfing from Clydebank,        *"O Sir, doubht not that angling is Scotland.                      * an art… The question is rather The Scottish Angling Homepage  * whether you are capable of http://www.dholt.demon.co.uk/  * learning  it?"     Izaack Walton  

Response:

Question:

What to charge for private tying lessons? I have two questions for any fly tying instructors who care to reply. I have been teaching fly tying at a local shop for the past 3 years and I recently was asked to do some private one-on-one lessons. question #1: My friends tell me I do not charge enough for my instruction. What do you charge a beginner for 1.5 hours of instruction. question #2: what would you charge if your student was selling flies to a mail-order company. If you prefer not to reply to the newsgroup, thanks todd seigfried

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What to charge for private tying lessons?

[snip] If you prefer not to reply to the newsgroup,

I would appreciate it if any responders would post the answer here!   Would like to know the answer also.

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question #1: My friends tell me I do not charge enough for my instruction. What do you charge a beginner for 1.5 hours of instruction.

I’m an instructor here in the Chicago area, and the students pay 75.00 for a two-day (total of six hours) seminar.  That’s 12.50 per hour (payed to the fly-shop) but it’s in groups of from four to seven people.  For private lessons I would charge 25.00 per hour. Jack

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Hi Todd, My wife and I make our living as commercial fly tiers in the winter and guides in the summer.  Our price for teaching fly tying PERIOD… is $25.00 per hour, no matter the size of the class or the number of students.  It could be one person or twelve (our maximum). If I had a student who was selling flies to some one else, you ask, "What would I do?" I would try to hire him! Take care!  Good Tying & Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT I have two questions for any fly tying instructors who care to reply. I have been teaching fly tying at a local shop for the past 3 years and I recently was asked to do some private one-on-one lessons.

Please check the message above!  Take Care! Al Beatty

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I think that if you were on a limited budget, like you were in graduate school, you could have everyone chip in a dime per fly to cover the cost of the materials.          Jeff Schaeffer

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Question:

Like everyone else, I’ve used plenty of variations for the tried and true GRHE.  These days I use ginger hen hackle for tails.  Deer hair can be a bad bet, mainly because it’s so brittle.  Like Gary Borger says, "Get the color right if you can, but just make sure it’s the right bulk and length."  Or at least I think he says that.

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Fereira) writes: I was talking to someone a week or so ago and picked up some #24 trico emergers tied with the fur from snow-shoe rabbits.  He claimed that the oils in the fur on their feet made them naturally water resistant.  Has anyone seen fur from one of these creatures?

Yes, was a big thing a couple of years ago.  Stuff floats forever.  The most famous fly to use it is called "The Usual". You can get snowshoe rabbit from Orvis stores or through their fly tying catalog.  Price is around $5.

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I’ve been sitting at the vice for the last few days re-stocking. I was working in some hairs ears and just was not satisfied with the way the tails look. Does anyone have a varaition on the stnd. tail? I have been useing deer hair and find that it either ends up to thin or flairs out to much.   What material do you like to use?   Thanks in advance. You are talking about a hare’s ear *nymph*, no? I usually use pheasant tail fibers. You can also try a few barbs of mottled hen. The "standard" tie calls for hare’s mask guard hairs, doesn’t it?

That’s they way I learned how to tie one.  When I first started tying I found that with a turkey feather, some gold tinsel, and a hares ear mask I could tie all the GRHE’s I wanted and since I knew that was probably one of the best nymph patterns going those were the first materials I ever bought.   I was talking to someone a week or so ago and picked up some #24 trico emergers tied with the fur from snow-shoe rabbits.  He claimed that the oils in the fur on their feet made them naturally water resistant.  Has anyone seen fur from one of these creatures? One final thing.  There are a few flyfishers that I’ve corresponded with from the central NY area and I’ve started to put your names in a file for a local mailing list.  If there is anyone else, or you’re not sure if you might not be on my list send me some email.   John — John Fereira Isis Distributed Systems  Ithaca, NY

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I’ve been sitting at the vice for the last few days re-stocking. I was working in some hairs ears and just was not satisfied with the way the tails look. Does anyone have a varaition on the stnd. tail? I have been useing deer hair and find that it either ends up to thin or flairs out to much.   What material do you like to use?   Thanks in advance.

Ummm… It _is_ called a "Hare’s Ear"… Have you tried a bunch of Hare Hair <<grin off of the mask? That’s the dressing _I’M_ familiar with! … And it doesn’t flare! — Joe Ellis         o/~ The Synthetic Filker o/~ |    TesserAct Studios

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I’ve been sitting at the vice for the last few days re-stocking. I was working in some hairs ears and just was not satisfied with the way the tails look. Does anyone have a varaition on the stnd. tail? I have been useing deer hair and find that it either ends up to thin or flairs out to much.   What material do you like to use?   Thanks in advance.

I am wondering a little bit about your efforts. Do you really mean the hears ear? This pattern calls for a tail made from the guard = hairs (longer and stronger hairs with light coloured tips) from the center of the hairs mask. The center hairs should be cut very ti= ghtly to the skin and then you can put out all the underfur. This can sometimes be a pain, depending on the mask you got. On the one=  I have the center guard hairs are strongly curled, so that I wasn’t very satisfied with my hares ear’s neither. I used woodcuck ins= tead, worked well for me and makes nearly the same clour. You shouldn’t use deer hair. The stuff you usually get is winter deer hair=  which is hollow. Because it spreads so well poeple use it for caddis and comparaduns. Elk hair doesn’t spread so easily so it seems=  much better for this purpose. Some dry fly pattern call for moose mane, which is very good for tails because it doesn’t spread at a= ll. The disadvantage is that it doesn’t match the colour requirements for the hairs ears. If you still want to use deer hair this li= ttle trick might help. Tie in the deer hair  1 or 2 mm closer to the ear than it is required with 2 or 3 tight wraps. The hair will = spread. Now you catch the spread hairs with some loose wraps exactly at the original tie in position (at the end of the shank, behin= d -that means towards the shank- the tight wraps you made). Then dub the body (Maybe you should try coastal deer hair, it doesn’t sp= read so good. You should also compare differend deer hairs, you can find nearly every colour and quality you can imagine. If you don= ‘t have a good source, call Kaufmann streamborne, they have an excellent selection.). That technique also works for bucktail streamers, if the wing spreads to much. I hope that helps.      Good luck                    Thomas

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I’ve been sitting at the vice for the last few days re-stocking. I was working in some hairs ears and just was not satisfied with the way the tails look. Does anyone have a varaition on the stnd. tail? I have been useing deer hair and find that it either ends up to thin or flairs out to much.   What material do you like to use?   Thanks in advance.

Any short quill will work.  I like to use red or brown on my #20 Hare’s ears.

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I’ve been sitting at the vice for the last few days re-stocking. I was working in some hairs ears and just was not satisfied with the way the tails look. Does anyone have a varaition on the stnd. tail? I have been useing deer hair and find that it either ends up to thin or flairs out to much.    What material do you like to use?   Thanks in advance.

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I’ve been sitting at the vice for the last few days re-stocking. I was working in some hairs ears and just was not satisfied with the way the tails look. Does anyone have a varaition on the stnd. tail? I have been useing deer hair and find that it either ends up to thin or flairs out to much.   What material do you like to use?   Thanks in advance.

You are talking about a hare’s ear *nymph*, no? I usually use pheasant tail fibers. You can also try a few barbs of mottled hen. The "standard" tie calls for hare’s mask guard hairs, doesn’t it? Bob Petti Endwell, NY

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I’ve been sitting at the vice for the last few days re-stocking. I was working in some hairs ears and just was not satisfied with the way the tails look. Does anyone have a varaition on the stnd. tail? I have been useing deer hair and find that it either ends up to thin or flairs out to much.   What material do you like to use?   Thanks in advance.

Use the mask!! Look at a point between the eys and work you way toward the ears. Pull some fur (with the guard hairs intact) away from the hide at a 90 degree angle from the hide and snip real close to the hide with your scissors. Keep the clump intact and tie in (tips to the rear) as a tail. Further: Most folks IMHO make the tails on GRHE *too* long!! Try making them about 1/2 shank length. The type of mayfly that the GRHE is simulating (typically) has tails about this long. When you make your dry fly imitations, the rule is 1x shank length. This method of tailing is also great for legs on scuds and sowbugs. A killer scud pattern (mating gammaris imitation) is made using an orange dyed hare’s mask to simulate the mating colors of a common scud. Hook: Tiemco 2457 or equiv in both #14 and #18 Thread: Uni-thread 8/0 orange or red Weight: "Not-Lead" wire in middle of shank only (optional) Tail: From orange dyed hairs mask Rib: 4x mono, 5 evenly spaced turns Shellback: Borden’s "Scud Back" or poly bag 1/8" wide Body: Blended fur from between the eyes of the hare’s mask Even if you never heard of a scud, this is a great pattern. I use it as a searching pattern if nothing is hatching on top. If you have trouble finding Scud Back (great stuff BTW), give the guys at Fly & Field a call at 800-328-9753. They also sell a very cool tool for gathering and blending the hare’s mask, called a Ceramic Dubbing Scraper. It’s in their catalog. Todd L. McCagg – Mfr Rep of Musical Esoteria Modulus-Spector-SWR-Hughes & Kettner-Premier Fernandes-EMG-CB Labs Pocket Rock-It (husband-father-bassist-flyfisher-flytyer-homebrewer)

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The longer hairs to the side of the mask are longer, like guard hairs but softer.  I like using these because I think it gives better action.  Most of the hare’s ears I use are #10’s for steelhead fishing on the Pere Marquette in Michigan.  Great fly!!!! Donald Albrecht A bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work!  <  <

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Question:

I like to use spoons for Northern fishing, I have good luck with little Cleo spoons ( silver ). Johnson weedless spoons are nice for getting into the weeds. Another choice are the rattling raps. Do not fish for the Walleyes my self ( I am a transplant ). Good luck

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| I have just accepted an invitation to go to Western Ontario in July to fish | for Walleye and Northern Pike in a fly in lake close to Armstrong, Ontario. | I have never fished for those fish and would like some first hand advice on | the lures that are most productive for these fish. I have several catalogs | that have lures for these fish, but I have no idea what colors to use or | anything else. Could some of you people in MN or WI give me some advice on | what I should bring with me. One other question, I have seen several | crankbaits in those books that are advertised for Walleye. Would medium to | deep running cranks I use for bass work?   | | Ray D. Johnson – Texas Eastman Co. B1, Box 7444, Longview TX 75607 | UUCP: …{allegra,rutgers}!rochester!kodak!ektools!txtc01!s884896 | X.400 ADDRESS:    C=US A=MCI P=KODAK DDA=ID=ECDVM1.L836644   Rapalas (floating, count-down, shad-raps) in silver/black and gold/black.  A few daredevles in red/w and 5 of diamonds.  Some jigs and rigs for use with live bait like minnows and leeches.  A few plastic mr twisters or fuzzie grubs to go on the jigs.  If there are smallmouth, throw in a couple of tiny torpedos. — Del Cecchi  

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ines: 17 {

{14 pound wallie on my wall caught with a little minnow on a hook. { {Stephen In our state using live minnow is illegal. What is the best bait for wallies other than a live minnow?

Nothing beats a leech. — G.

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I have found the best bait for wallies is a hook and a live minnow.  The minnow must be alive, if it’s dead so is your fishing.  Take a minnow net with you and in the early morning drag it through a weed bed and you should get plenty of minnows for the day.  I know this sounds like a pain and if you don’t do it I don’t blame you.  But take one just in case the artificials don’t do the trick and your skunked after four days.  I have a 14 pound wallie on my wall caught with a little minnow on a hook. Stephen

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{ { {I have found the best bait for wallies is a hook and a live minnow.  The {minnow must be alive, if it’s dead so is your fishing.  Take a minnow net {with you and in the early morning drag it through a weed bed and you {should get plenty of minnows for the day.  I know this sounds like a pain {and if you don’t do it I don’t blame you.  But take one just in case the {artificials don’t do the trick and your skunked after four days.  I have a {14 pound wallie on my wall caught with a little minnow on a hook. { {Stephen In our state using live minnow is illegal. What is the best bait for wallies other than a live minnow? -GF-

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| { | { | {I have found the best bait for wallies is a hook and a live minnow.  The | {minnow must be alive, if it’s dead so is your fishing.  Take a minnow net | {with you and in the early morning drag it through a weed bed and you | {should get plenty of minnows for the day.  I know this sounds like a pain | {and if you don’t do it I don’t blame you.  But take one just in case the | {artificials don’t do the trick and your skunked after four days.  I have a | {14 pound wallie on my wall caught with a little minnow on a hook. | { | {Stephen | | In our state using live minnow is illegal. What is the best bait for wallies | other than a live minnow? | | -GF- In the summer, leeches are better than minnows and they don’t die as fast.  They can even be mail ordered I think.  They also work great for smallmouth bass. — Del Cecchi  

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – { { {I have found the best bait for wallies is a hook and a live minnow.  The {minnow must be alive, if it’s dead so is your fishing.  Take a minnow net {with you and in the early morning drag it through a weed bed and you {should get plenty of minnows for the day.  I know this sounds like a pain {and if you don’t do it I don’t blame you.  But take one just in case the {artificials don’t do the trick and your skunked after four days.  I have a {14 pound wallie on my wall caught with a little minnow on a hook. { {Stephen In our state using live minnow is illegal. What is the best bait for wallies other than a live minnow? -GF-

but is plastic, some with flavor enhancements…not sure on the flavor though…….Also, smaller plastic worms like super-do’s….get the pearl color or silver/black……caught a 5 lb walleye on the silver/black one. Good luck… — Digiboard 6400 Flying Cloud Drive Eden Prairie, MN  55344        

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have just accepted an invitation to go to Western Ontario in July to fish for Walleye and Northern Pike in a fly in lake close to Armstrong, Ontario. I have never fished for those fish and would like some first hand advice on the lures that are most productive for these fish. I have several catalogs that have lures for these fish, but I have no idea what colors to use or anything else. Could some of you people in MN or WI give me some advice on what I should bring with me. One other question, I have seen several crankbaits in those books that are advertised for Walleye. Would medium to deep running cranks I use for bass work?  

I recently went on a trip similar to the one you are planning.  My father, brother and I spent Memorial Day weekend on Lake Esnagi, Ontario.  This is a large lake north of Wawa, Ontario and is accessable only by plane.  I had never been walleye/northern pike fishing in Canada so I bought crankbaits, daredevils, steel leaders; the works.  It was a waste of $40.   The only thing you will need to catch walleye, or at least the only thing anyone at our lodge used, is 1/4 ounce jigs with a Mister Twister body and a live minnow hooked through the lips.  We caught over 100 walleye on this rig (all released).  Our guide landed an 8.5 lb. walleye on 4 lb. test line with this combo the week before we arrived.  You just work the jig along the rocks until you feel a slight tug, wait a few seconds for the fish to take the contraption into its mouth and set the hook.  Most of the fish we caught schooled up during the afternoon and started feeding around 5:00 pm.  They were all off of rocky points and in 20-40 ft. of water. As for the pike, we caught a few of them mixed in with the walleye.  The guys at the lodge claim that the smaller pike (24 – 30 in.) travel and feed with the schools of walleye.  The best way to go after the larger fish was to work shallower coves that had plenty of cover (large rocks, fallen timber) with large daredevils in red & white or five of diamonds (yellow with five red diamonds).  The weedbeds hadn’t come in when we were there, but working these areas would be productive also, according to our guide.  The other method people used to catch larger pike was to bait a large hook with smelt or perch (frozen) and use about 6 ft. of line under a bobber.  They would drift past points and in the coves with this rig and wait for the bobber to slowly move under water.  I was told that larger fish "cruise" the coves and points for baitfish and will only take bait.  This paid off for a couple guys, one of them caught a 12 pounder!  I never tried it. Enjoy your trip and good luck.

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I have just accepted an invitation to go to Western Ontario in July to fish for Walleye and Northern Pike in a fly in lake close to Armstrong, Ontario. I have never fished for those fish and would like some first hand advice on the lures that are most productive for these fish. I have several catalogs that have lures for these fish, but I have no idea what colors to use or anything else. Could some of you people in MN or WI give me some advice on what I should bring with me. One other question, I have seen several crankbaits in those books that are advertised for Walleye. Would medium to deep running cranks I use for bass work?   Ray D. Johnson – Texas Eastman Co. B1, Box 7444, Longview TX 75607 UUCP: …{allegra,rutgers}!rochester!kodak!ektools!txtc01!s884896 X.400 ADDRESS:    C=US A=MCI P=KODAK DDA=ID=ECDVM1.L836644

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