Question:

If you bring that I’ll make sure to get a bottle of Zubrowka – Polish vodka flavored with buffalo grass.  The current stuff is actually fake, because the buffalo grass has some kind of blood thinner and the FDA banned it in 1978, but it’s still good.  My uncles used to have bottles of the real stuff and brought it out on holidays.  They’re all over 80 and still healthy as horses, so maybe it’s really good stuff<g.

I brought home a bottle of the real Zubrowka when we returned from a recent trip to Poland.  Should have brought two or three, ’cause the stuff just doesn’t last around my house.  Hands down the finest tasting vodka I’ve had. Bill

Response:

Zubrowka is great stuff. I spent a few months studying in Krakow back before the velvet revolution

        (nifty anecdote snipped)         god, i love the smell of well-written english in the morning…         thanks, sid, from your friend in the old north state wayno

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Screw this wussy stuff and bring on the Slivovitz!!  I’ll try to get some for Penns 2002! Scott If you bring that I’ll make sure to get a bottle of Zubrowka – Polish vodka flavored with buffalo grass.  The current stuff is actually fake, because the buffalo grass has some kind of blood thinner and the FDA banned it in 1978, but it’s still good.  My uncles used to have bottles of the real stuff and brought it out on holidays.  They’re all over 80 and still healthy as horses, so maybe it’s really good stuff<g.

I have a bottle brought to me from Poland by a Polish friend I work with. VERY GOOD STUFF. M. Wm.

Response:

If you bring that I’ll make sure to get a bottle of Zubrowka – Polish vodka flavored with buffalo grass.  

Zubrowka is great stuff. I spent a few months studying in Krakow back before the velvet revolution and can confidently say that one of the few joys of soviet style socialism is plenty of cheap booze. I brought 200 USD to last the entire four months I was there and lived like a king. Well, a king who wipes his ass with newspaper, anyway. TP was tough to come by at the time. And, well, you start to see why it’s a good thing that booze was cheap in soviet socialist economies . My roommate at the time had just arrived from West Berlin where he’d been living in luxury accommodations while studying there. He used to wake up every morning, look out the window and remark with utter defeat, "Well, another shitty day in Poland." The poor guy was so stopped up from the adjustment to Poland’s somewhat challenging diet that after the first five days, he still hadn’t taken a crap. Sympathetic lot that we were, the rest of us in the program started a pool on when he’d eventually find relief, eschewing normal conversation with the poor bastard and instead starting every interaction with completely unveiled references to his predicament. "So, Mike…taken a crap yet?" was a popular starter and the hangdog look that would inevitably accompany the ensuing despondent shake of his head was enough to make you almost feel sorry for the guy. Unless, of course, it was your day in the pool. Poland’s a tough place…especially when there’s money at stake . Anyway, that’s a bit of a digression, but thanks for the memories. Maybe I’ll hit the ole liquor store tomorrow and see if I can’t scare up a bottle of the old Zubrowka. Or just take a crap and think about Mike. Too close to call, really. dziekuje bardzo, – sid

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Screw this wussy stuff and bring on the Slivovitz!!  I’ll try to get some for Penns 2002! Scott If you bring that I’ll make sure to get a bottle of Zubrowka – Polish vodka flavored with buffalo grass.  The current stuff is actually fake, because the buffalo grass has some kind of blood thinner and the FDA banned it in 1978, but it’s still good.  My uncles used to have bottles of the real stuff and brought it out on holidays.  They’re all over 80 and still healthy as horses, so maybe it’s really good stuff<g.

Sounds like a deal.  There’s a Slovenian on my floor–I’ll start working on him for a bottle. This Clave might take on an Eastern European flavor.  Maybe a nice flanken would serve as well. Scott

Response:

Screw this wussy stuff and bring on the Slivovitz!!  I’ll try to get some for Penns 2002! Scott

Plum Vodka from one of the slavic countries Czechoslovakia? Poland? national drink. There is a plum brandy that is good too. — Don Thompson Another Thompson Scion

Response:

Screw this wussy stuff and bring on the Slivovitz!!  I’ll try to get some for Penns 2002! Scott

If you bring that I’ll make sure to get a bottle of Zubrowka – Polish vodka flavored with buffalo grass.  The current stuff is actually fake, because the buffalo grass has some kind of blood thinner and the FDA banned it in 1978, but it’s still good.  My uncles used to have bottles of the real stuff and brought it out on holidays.  They’re all over 80 and still healthy as horses, so maybe it’s really good stuff<g.

Response:

<good TR snipped some sort of Scandinavian drink made from potatoes called (it sounded like at least) Aqua Feet

FYI: http://www.britannica.com/seo/a/aquavit/

Response:

  some sort of Scandinavian drink made from potatoes called (it sounded like at least) Aqua Feet FYI: http://www.britannica.com/seo/a/aquavit/

Thanks for the link Stan.  I still think my description and the name of Aquafeet should be used despite what the encyclopedia has to say about it. <g Lou gave some interesting history about this drink.  Apparently crossing the equator makes it taste better so the good stuff is stamped with when and on what boat it crossed the equator.  If nothing else, it made the drink more interesting because it had a history. — Warren Findley Remove (nospamZZ) to respond via email http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt/

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – some sort of Scandinavian drink made from potatoes called (it sounded like at least) Aqua Feet FYI: http://www.britannica.com/seo/a/aquavit/ Thanks for the link Stan.  I still think my description and the name of Aquafeet should be used despite what the encyclopedia has to say about it. <g Lou gave some interesting history about this drink.  Apparently crossing the equator makes it taste better so the good stuff is stamped with when and on what boat it crossed the equator.  If nothing else, it made the drink more interesting because it had a history. — Warren Findley Remove (nospamZZ) to respond via email http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt/

Screw this wussy stuff and bring on the Slivovitz!!  I’ll try to get some for Penns 2002! Scott

Response:

Lou Teletski and his friends (Jim, Tom and Eric) have been out in Yellowstone for a week and are leaving today.  I finally got my life caught back up from the Conclave and was able to swing over there yesterday to fish with Lou and his friends.  We met at his hotel room in Gardiner early yesterday morning and decided to go fish some water in the Park that they have never done well on.  This stretch of river can be difficult to fish for a variety of reasons, especially when the fish are uncooperative.  I wasn’t sure what to expect for today.  Hayden Valley was socked in with smoke from a couple of fires in the area.  Depending on which way the wind blew, the smoke would either come in or blow it out and for most of the day we were fortunate to be without. We arrived on the water a little after 9 and were all on the water around 9:40 or so.  There were some Gray Drake spinners around, but very few fish were rising.  Before getting on the water I had given everybody a short description of what had worked for us during the Clave as well as how the Troutmaster had tackled this stretch of water.  We spread out and began fishing.  I started fishing a large stonefly nymph with a prince dropper and fished the deep slots.  I came into the first fish and radioed the group of what the fish had taken.  I caught another fish shortly thereafter and again radioed the group that the fish had again taken the prince nymph. Eric was next into fish on some sort of peacock bodied fly that closely resembled a prince.  It was nice watching Eric catch fish because he enjoyed each one as if it was his first fish.  A few fish started rising in Troutmaster Willi’s hole and I had Lou come over and fish it with me.  I switched over to an Adams and caught another fish.  Jim and Eric caught a couple of fish upstream of us.  Lou didn’t have much luck in Willi’s hole and I eventually worked my way back up to the vehicle to get a quick snack and left Lou down there to catch some fish. After watching the buffalo walked down the road and feeding some birds, Lou and I went and fished upstream of where we started.  A meadow starts in this section and there is a big cove with slow moving water.  The cove is sort of shallow and has a large flat that runs along a very deep section.  We worked our way upstream fishing this deep section and neither of us had any luck. I walked quite a ways upstream trying to find some better water, but it was all the same for as far as I could see. The water in this area would be very good to fish from a float tube because it is more like fishing a lake although it is against the rules to fish it from a float tube.  There is hardly any current and even the very structure is very lake-like.  I walked back down to Lou and we decided to work our back and fish the area we had fished earlier in the morning.  While we were going fishless, the radio crackled with news that the other three guys were getting into fish downstream. As we walked along the bank, we spotted three fish hanging out in the cove close to the bank.  Lou eventually enticed one to the surface with a Gray Wulff.  The fish had taken up positions and began feeding in an area where the cove ends and the river narrows causing the water to move a little faster.  Lou went over and began fishing while I sat on the bank and watched Lou in action.  He caught another fish in this area and the fish started rising more profusely than before.  I started fishing downstream to the fish that were hanging out on the far side of the current and was unable to get a good drift so I changed sides.  Lou in the meantime is catching fish mind you.  I worked my way downstream to an area that allowed me to cross the river and began to hear thunder in the distance.  The wind was coming in fits and during the calm periods the fish would start rising. After crossing the river I saw a bunch of fish on the flats and started fishing for these.  The fish were not taking dries however and I could see them taking nymphs of some sort.  They just swam a couple feet to either side very nonchalantly and opened their mouths to these drifting morsels of food.  I added a small pheasant tail dropper and started fishing the Adams and the dropper.  I didn’t have much luck with the Adams so switched over to a Gray Wulff with the PT dropper.  The wind just happened to pick up and made casting next to impossible where I was at and the thunder started booming very close to our location.  Jim, Tom and Eric packed up and headed upstream while Lou crossed the river. As Lou and I were discussing leaving, a large cutthroat came up and hammered my Gray Wulff.  The fish dove into a weed bed and I lost the fish.  I put a couple more casts out and had another nice sized fish take the PT dropper. This fish ran for the rocks and I could feel the leader ticking up against the rocks before the tippet finally gave out.  We decided to get off the water because of the weather and headed up to the vehicles.  By the time we had put away our gear, the storm had passed and a large group of Gray Drakes were hovering over the vehicle.  We decided to head back to Gardiner for dinner and call it a day.  They still had some packing to do after all. The results were we caught 17 fish with none under 16" between the five of us.  I don’t think anyone caught any 16" fish either.  Most fish seemed to hover around the 17" to 18" range with a few larger that pushed into the  20+" range.  Unfortunately, Tom never did get a fish.  This river has a way of keeping at least one person in the group very humble and my last trip to this river had left me skunked. After a great meal and good conversation we headed back to their room for some coffee and a special drink that Lou had brought.  I say special not because it was so tasty, but because it was from Sweden I think.  It is supposedly some sort of Scandinavian drink made from potatoes called (it sounded like at least) Aqua Feet and that is how it should be said and written IMO because it tasted like someone had mashed up rotten oranges with dirty feet.  We talked for quite some time before I decided it was getting late and I still had a decent drive ahead of me so I should depart.  I had a wonderful time with these guys and was thankful that I had the opportunity to meet Lou.  Another good example as to the quality of the people you meet by way of ROFF.  I couldn’t have asked for a better day or better company other than getting Tom into some fish. — Warren Findley Remove (nospamZZ) to respond via email http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt/

Response:

Question:

If you’d be so kind as to indulge me in a little fish story… Last weekend my family and I went camping in Yosemite valley.  I will not get into the planning and strategies necessary to camp with seven-month old twins for four nights but suffice to say that I was, by the grace of my dear wife, able to sneak away for a little fishing here and there. If you’ve never been there, well, it really is as pretty as you’ve heard.  And much to my amazement, there are fish swimming in the Merced river — right by the spots that millions (well, hundreds of thousands, anyway) of tourists traverse each summer.  I have always assumed that any water with that ease of access and that many people around would be fished out.  But this isn’t the case here.  I suppose that (a) the artificial fly regulations limit the casual baitfishing that often accompanies camping and (b) most people are there to see El Capitan, Half Dome, and the waterfalls.  Anyway, as it turns out there were fish swimming in both the Merced and Tenaya Creek.  The following is the story of one of those fish. The river is extremely low this time of year — not surprising — and the fishing was challenging.  It was like fishing on a mirror, the water was so smooth, clear, and slow-moving. On the third morning I walked downstream until I got to a spot where Katy and I had seen fish the day before.  The good news was they were rising.  The bad news was I couldn’t figure out what they were rising to as nothing seemed to be coming off the water.  I suspect they were taking emergers of some type but never really figured it out.  I crawled to the water’s edge and started throwing out the usual suspects — small caddis, morning duns, light cahills, mosquitos, even a royal wulff.  Nothing.  Fish would rise just behind my fly so I hadn’t scared them — they had just taken a long look at my offering and found it wanting.  Ok, that’s not working.  I tried fishing a couple of these wet with the same effect.  Just for kicks I tied on an ant and cast that under a few branches.  Nothing. At this point I was getting a little frustrated — I’d been working this pool for practically two hours, watching fish rise the whole time, and hadn’t been able to elicit so much as a strike.  I suppose I should have been happy that I hadn’t scared them yet either but that seemed an awful small victory at the time.  I also started to feel that perhaps I should have paid a little bit closer attention in biology.  Stupid bugs. I retreated to a rock to sit and think for a minute.  Having thrown every likely dry in my box I decided it was time to (as my brother-in-law would say) turn to the dark side.  I started to tie on a royal coachman for an indicator and a small prince nymph dropper off the back of the hook.  As I was sitting working on my knots I heard a rustling in the brushes across the river.  I turned to see what it was and saw a deer and her fawn emerging on the far bank.  They seemed unfazed by my presence — I’m sure they have seen plenty of people — and proceeded down to the river to drink.  Figuring that they would go elsewhere once they caught a good whiff of me (remember it’s day three folks…), I turned my attention back to the river and cast out the double rig. About halfway through the pool — a drift that seemed like it took five minutes — I heard splashing behind me.  The deer were crossing the current and coming my way.  I stopped watching my fly and watched them walk by, no more than 20 feet away at the tree line.  As an aside, I overheard a lot of people that weekend complaining that the only wildlife they saw were squirrels and scrub jays — they just needed to get out of bed a little early, find a likely spot, and sit quietly for a while.  The park isn’t a zoo, folks.  Anyway. I decided that seeing the deer was a pretty cool thing and that I should be happy about that too.  It was getting late and I needed to be heading back to camp to help out with breakfast.  I rationalized that a couple more casts wouldn’t really make me that late, right?  I could walk a little faster back to camp. I cast out once again, just in front of an overhanging branch.  The coachman slowly drifted under the branch and then, suddenly, gone! Eyes to brain:  MSG URGENT you’ve got a strike…  I set the hook and started working on getting the fish in. A couple splashes and quick runs later I was unhooking a surprised 12" brown trout.  I know that the standard joke is that big fish are big and small fish are "nice" or "pretty" or "jewels" but I never get over the brilliant markings on a brown trout.  So colorful. That pretty much made the morning.  I cut off the flies, put them back in my box, reeled up my line, and humped it back to camp double-time — just in time for a fresh batch of pancakes off the griddle.  My brother-in-law and father-in-law (who had both declined to go with me that morning) did not believe me about my catch, but my wife saw the look in my eye and knew that I had indeed been successful in my hunt. I ended up getting back to this spot later in the afternoon, ready to go at it again, but by then the river was full of kids throwing rocks and splashing around.  The moment to fish that spot had passed — we were leaving the next morning.  I know that a more accomplished angler may have pulled five or six fish out of that pool in the two-plus hours that I worked it, but that one fish was like a reward, payoff for patience and sticking at it. Thanks for reading, BW Brad Williams father of twins — fly fisher — teller of long stories * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Brad, Nice story.. I believe you!  :) Made me want to fish!! -Mark If you’d be so kind as to indulge me in a little fish story…

– Particle Salad/ Noom Room Studio http://home.earthlink.net/~psalad mp3 songs: http://www.mp3.com/particlesalad

Response:

If you’d be so kind as to indulge me in a little fish story…

Nice story, glad you got a fish. TL MC

Response:

Nice story Brad.  The smooth water in the meadows is fun to fish, but the fish are easier to catch if you go upstream to where the white water is. The fish are wild since they quit stocking hatchery trout in the park. Ernie Harrison Have you tried a Blood Knot Machine?  http://home.pacbell.net/ernie2

If you’d be so kind as to indulge me in a little fish story…

<nice story snipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Brad Williams

Response:

Question:

I’m going to be camping and fishing at Lake Almanor this coming weekend (June 13 -14). Is there anyone out there who might be able to pass on some tips? Is it true that mid-June is the time of the Hex hatch there? Is fishing from a tube a must? All tips and hints are sincerely appreciated. Scott

Response:

Scott,     The lake is high and cold.  All the tributaries are pumping in snow melt and the laake is about three feet from being full.  At this point the fishing is slow.  What fish are being taken are full of midges  and a few Hex. nymphs they are grubbing along the bottom.     We normally look toward the 4th of July for our Hex hatch.  This is still a little early and the hatch will be delayed until the water conditions are better.  Try Yellow creek or look for some small streams, of which there are plenty in the area, to get some fishing in. Ralph Wood C & R Guide Service – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m going to be camping and fishing at Lake Almanor this coming weekend (June 13 -14). Is there anyone out there who might be able to pass on some tips? Is it true that mid-June is the time of the Hex hatch there? Is fishing from a tube a must? All tips and hints are sincerely appreciated. Scott

Response:

Question:

Has anyone tried fly fishing for catfish? What type of flys did you use have suggestions.

Response:

Has anyone tried fly fishing for catfish? What type of flys did you use have suggestions. Try hand grenades.  Be sure to use a tapered leader.

Response:

Question:

I am looking for a graden hoe that is shaped like a diamond and the diamond part sits on the ground and you just push and pull it along the ground to get rid of the weeds . I think its called a Japanese weeding hoe.

Response:

I am looking for a graden hoe that is shaped like a diamond and the diamond part sits on the ground and you just push and pull it along the ground to get rid of the weeds . I think its called a Japanese weeding hoe.

  There’s a similar (and I think better) product knows as a swoe whose head looks a bit like a flattened golf club.  It was originally marketed (25 years ago) by Wilkinson Sword in an elegant one piece stainless steel version that I still have, but I havn’t seen that form in over a decade. A few years back I bought a friend a heavier and less elegant version from one of the mail order catalogs.  It’s meant to slide back and forth under the soil like what you describe, but the one sided design is less likely to lop off the wrong plant. — Lloyd Fortney http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney/ has links to my garden, flower, flyfishing, and travel JPEG images as well as teaching, research, and stuff like that

Response:

Question:

Can any one tell me about the Boston Whaler Commercial model Boats. I’m Looking for a boat for flyfishing. Primary use is on the Cheasapeake Bay and Tributaries. Need Opinions on the the Whaler model:"Ultility 17" Seems like a good boat for shallow as well as deeper water. Owners please respond! Thanks Nick DelleDonne "The Evening Rise Fly Angler’s Shop" Intercourse, PA 17534

Response:

Can any one tell me about the Boston Whaler Commercial model Boats. I’m Looking for a boat for flyfishing. Primary use is on the Cheasapeake Bay and Tributaries. Need Opinions on the the Whaler model:"Ultility 17" Seems like a good boat for shallow as well as deeper water. Owners please respond! Thanks Nick DelleDonne "The Evening Rise Fly Angler’s Shop" Intercourse, PA 17534

It’s a nicely made and finished boat. Good for shallow and deep water, but it rides *very* hard. As in, bounce-bounce-bounce. — P.O. Box 7575  Jacksonville, Florida 32238 – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - I am the Shopping Cart that nicks at your paint-job.

Response:

Question:

Over the summer; I found numerous bottles of a floatant, named Gink, along the streams I fish. Do you think people are just losing these, and should purchase those cute little bottle holders… or is this stuff, so bad..people are just throwing it away?  How bad can this stuff be, to cause normal people to turn into common criminals and LITTER!! What if beavers found this stuff and ate it, would it kill them? What if T-Bone found this stuff floating in his Homebrew, would it kill him? How come this stuff is clear? Shouldn’t in come in the Borger Color system colors?  No, that would be 106 bottles..that would be stupid! Any info would be helpful… and No, Rick, I’m not a blonde…..just too much Homemade potato vodka before steelheading….. Hugs & Kisses, …..N….;)

Response:

: I apologize for my ignorance.  What is Albolene? : : Al Beatty mentioned this stuff recently too, including the name : of a drug store cosmetic that he uses for a floatant.   : : Breaker breaker Al, could you give us the name again? : : Thanks…Ross Well if Al doesn’t show up, and I’ll bet he will, I state that he put me on to Albolene (spelling off the jar) several months ago. I went right over to Long’s drugstore and bought some for under $5. It really works! Keep em dry, Bob — lukn4fish Bob Madden San Jose, Ca

Response:

: An odorless, sort-of waxy, facial cream used to float flies. Probably : gonna be tough to find now that the Gink boycott is on. In response to the international Gink boycott and in part because I’ve learned about Albolene, I am now presenting to roff subscribers (for a limited time only) a new product I call Fink-roff.  It does a great job floating flies (or so I’ve been told) and can double as a hand cleanser in a pinch. Please excuse this commercial post, while I sit back and let those profits roll in! — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

I apologize for my ignorance.  What is Albolene?

Al Beatty mentioned this stuff recently too, including the name of a drug store cosmetic that he uses for a floatant.   Breaker breaker Al, could you give us the name again? Thanks…Ross

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : An odorless, sort-of waxy, facial cream used to float flies. Probably : gonna be tough to find now that the Gink boycott is on. In response to the international Gink boycott and in part because I’ve learned about Albolene, I am now presenting to roff subscribers (for a limited time only) a new product I call Fink-roff.  It does a great job floating flies (or so I’ve been told) and can double as a hand cleanser in a pinch. Please excuse this commercial post, while I sit back and let those profits roll in! — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

So, Rick.  When the profits start piling up, do you suppose you’ll be able to float me a loan? John

Response:

In response to the international Gink boycott….

Gink boycott?????

Response:

In response to the international Gink boycott…. Gink boycott?????

The Gink Boycott will NEVER float ! TimW

Response:

. . .Isn’t Gink just Albolene put into tiny jars with the decimal point on the price tag moved one notch to the right?    I guess this would be like telling the Africans that the Coke bottle that fell out of the sky was simply a device built to hold a soda.    Sorry Nancy, T-Bone and George – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Over the summer; I found numerous bottles of a floatant, named Gink, along the streams I fish. Do you think people are just losing these, and should purchase those cute little bottle holders… or is this stuff, so bad..people are just throwing it away? I’m responsible for a whole bunch of these.  I hate to wear a life jacket.  Rather, I just rub Gink all over me before I go fishing.  It works swell and when you fall in, you float like a cork.  Saves me from carrying a rain jacket, too. Isn’t this the same stuff that all those English Channel swimmers used to grease up with?   How about a trip out to Montauk, Tim?  You gink up and we’ll do a little trollin’, eh chiefy? I always seem to lose the cap off the gink jar when it’s about half full and I can’t squeeze any more out and have to resort to scooping it out with a pine needle.   Ross

– Ralph & Lisa Cutter, California School of Flyfishing. http://www.flyline.com

Response:

: . . .Isn’t Gink just Albolene put into tiny jars with the decimal point on : the price tag moved one notch to the right? I apologize for my ignorance.  What is Albolene? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

: . . .Isn’t Gink just Albolene put into tiny jars with the decimal point on : the price tag moved one notch to the right? I apologize for my ignorance.  What is Albolene? — Rick

Rick, Albolene (sp?) cream is nothing more than a waterless hand cleaner that you can pick up at most drug stores!  The reason many people use it is because it is chusk full of silicone.  It does have a tendency; however, to produce that nasty little "oil ring" on the water for the first few casts.  And because it comes in a jar, you have to put it in something to carry in your vest.  Most people I knew use a film canister.  This is fine, until this product heats up, builds pressure in the canister, and pops the top off!  Everyone I know that uses this stuff (me included) has a nice big stain on their vest (T-Bone would be proud!) from this stuff melting out!  It is very inexpensive, and one jar could last you a lifetime. -Mike

Response:

What is Albolene?

About $10 a jar for 5 lifetime supplies. Want some? An odorless, sort-of waxy, facial cream used to float flies. Probably gonna be tough to find now that the Gink boycott is on. John Nesselrode Shawnee, KS

Response:

I’ve found that a well tied dry fly will float after making two or three false casts, so in most cases we can forget the floatant. Who needs that silicone mess and exploding Gink bottles?

Response:

: I always seem to lose the cap off the gink jar when it’s about half full : and I can’t squeeze any more out and have to resort to scooping it out : with a pine needle.   That is because the stuff is cold. It flows freely in warm weather. I just put it in a pocket where it can be warmed by body heat. Jon Porter

That’s for sure. I was out on the last weekend for trout here (boo-hoo) and it was sorta cold. I couldn’t get the Gink to flow so I unscrewed the top and tried to get the mass to come up to the mouth of the bottle to dab off a little with my finger. Well, it wouldn’t move so I squeezed harder. When it moved the entire remaining half bottle fired off (nearly took off my head). There was an eerie stillness, as if the very wind had stopped, as the Gink slug described a perfect parabolic arc against the autumn sky and shimmering aspen leaf background. Landed about 20 feet away. Fortunately I was in a float tube and made the retrieve. Gink shot, corner pocket. Jon

Response:

: I always seem to lose the cap off the gink jar when it’s about half full : and I can’t squeeze any more out and have to resort to scooping it out : with a pine needle.   That is because the stuff is cold. It flows freely in warm weather. I just put it in a pocket where it can be warmed by body heat. Jon Porter

Response:

: Isn’t this the same stuff that all those English Channel swimmers used : to grease up with?   How about a trip out to Montauk, Tim?  You gink : up and we’ll do a little trollin’, eh chiefy? Speaking of which: Did anyone else notice Richard Dreyfus smearing that little boat they were on with a slimy, colorless liquid?  He alone used over three thousand bottles… And Nancy, I’m hoping you are a redhead.  Or bald. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

Over the summer; I found numerous bottles of a floatant, named Gink, along the streams I fish. Do you think people are just losing these, and should purchase those cute little bottle holders… or is this stuff, so bad..people are just throwing it away?

Nancy, I share your concerns. I’m responsible for a whole bunch of these.  I hate to wear a life jacket.  Rather, I just rub Gink all over me before I go fishing.  It works swell and when you fall in, you float like a cork.  Saves me from carrying a rain jacket, too. You should know also, that guides all over have recognized the deodorant qualities of George’s fine product and use it before going to dinner after an all day July float.  The buzz phrase around here is: "Use Gink, Don’t Stink" . I’ve even used the stuff as a marital lubricant. It enhances the experience (and can actually save your life) when used in conjunction with a leaky waterbed. Keep your tips up, TimW How bad can this stuff be, to cause normal people to turn into common criminals and LITTER!!

The problem is you *can’t* throw the stuff away properly, it keeps floating to the top of the trash can and falls out.  This has prompted Senate Bill #2469 – Gink Disposal Budget for the Next Millenium What if the beavers found this stuff and ate it, would it kill them?

No, but Wally would use it as palm oil. What if T-Bone found this stuff floating in his Homebrew, would it kill him?

I have actually brewed a delightful "Marzen Ginken Weisen" adding it to the mash just before sparging. I have not tried smoking it. How come this stuff is clear? Shouldn’t in come in the Borger Color system colors?  No, that would be 106 bottles..that would be stupid!

Not really, Gary is now marketing a series of Gink Color Dyes, the "GCD-BCS". Any info would be helpful…

Any info ? helpful ? in this newsgroup ? C’mon ! and No, Rick, I’m not a blonde…..

You COULD be a blonde Nancy, just apply gink three times a day… just too much Homemade potato vodka

Impossible.   You’re still posting aren’t you ? 8*) before steelheading…..

How many of those ErieHeads did you land anyway ? TimW

Response:

Over the summer; I found numerous bottles of a floatant, named Gink, along the streams I fish. Do you think people are just losing these, and should purchase those cute little bottle holders… or is this stuff, so bad..people are just throwing it away? I’m responsible for a whole bunch of these.  I hate to wear a life jacket.  Rather, I just rub Gink all over me before I go fishing.  It works swell and when you fall in, you float like a cork.  Saves me from carrying a rain jacket, too.

Isn’t this the same stuff that all those English Channel swimmers used to grease up with?   How about a trip out to Montauk, Tim?  You gink up and we’ll do a little trollin’, eh chiefy? I always seem to lose the cap off the gink jar when it’s about half full and I can’t squeeze any more out and have to resort to scooping it out with a pine needle.   Ross

Response:

Question:

Any one know where I can find Flyfishing poetry?  Or more short stories like one posted: Testament of a Fisherman?  This for a speech class.  I love this sport and wish to convey this others.

There’s some in Izaak Walton’s book, now what’s it called… Andrew

Response:

Of course, your public library will be cheaper, but probably won’t be open because people aren’t willing to spend the money on literacy.  (Oops, off topic.)

Sounds like a dedicated and somewhat frustrated teacher’s comment to me ;^                       Go Bruce!                              Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

Response:

John, Your best bet for depth and variety is a fly shop, or catalog.  Of course, your public library will be cheaper, but probably won’t be open because people aren’t willing to spend the money on literacy.  (Oops, off topic.) I’ve heard it said, and probably said it myself once or twice, that angling has the most extensive, oldest, most thoughtful literature of any blood sport.  I reckon it’s because there’s so much time for contemplation between fish.  Even within this newsgroup you’ll hear folks wax poetic.   Good luck in your search, Bruce

Response:

Any one know where I can find Flyfishing poetry?  Or more short stories like one posted: Testament of a Fisherman?  This for a speech class.  I love this

Best anthology yet is The Magic Wheel, ed. David Profumo and Graham Swift (British paperback, 1985). — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

Fishing Where the line sinks into the sky, Old men sit, waiting paul

Response:

Any one know where I can find Flyfishing poetry?  Or more short stories like one posted: Testament of a Fisherman?  This for a speech class.  I love this sport and wish to convey this others. Thanx John

Nothing professional but here is a little day dream I had this morning in anticipation of my first Steelhead trip this weekend. My reel was screaming as the fiesty beast made another run downstream. My rod held firm as I turned the fish upstream. Slowly the mighty fish was coerced nearer to shore as fatigue set in. My arms ached in pain but I held firm. Suddenly, with a thunderous splash, the fish tried to escape again. Leaping in to the air it lashed about and threw its head sideways trying to dislodge the fly that had fooled it earlier. "Pull up, don’t give it any slack!" my companion advised. My 12 Lb. tippet stretched under the strain but it did not snap. Once again the Steelhead was running. The fly line burned my fingers as I tried to slow him. I managed to turn up my drag just enough to slow him once more. The screaming reel silenced as the fish came to rest 100 yards down stream. We both held still as one another tried to anticipate the opponents next move. Twenty minutes have past since I felt the first gentle tug on my line. Twenty minutes of thrill and anticipation. Just how big is this fish on my line? He’s lived in the open ocean for three years. Then an urge unknown to man posessed this fish to swim east. A mysterious instict that has guided this species for millions of years tells the fish to find his birth place. Thousands of miles and thousands of rivers but this fish seeked the waters that he was born in. His journey almost complete he now finds himself in an unfamiliar situation. A tug on his jaw forces him slightly upstream. This is a force that is much different than the force guiding him to the spawning grounds. This fish, who understands the true meaning of survival, pumps his gills faster. The miracles of nature energizes the fish as he fights the force that is opposing his quest. With a tremendous effort he hurdles his body out of the water and twists with all his might. Back into the river his mighty tail powers his body as he slices through the water. "He’s running again. Hold tight!" my friend yells. I helplessly watched as the backing on my reel quickly dwindled. I dare not touch the line as it is pulled from my reel at a speed of 25 miles per hour. In a last ditch effort to turn the fish I lay back on the rod with all my weight. Would this work or have I met my match? The line slows as the fish circles. 200 yards now seperate us. The fish rests again. I check my line to see that ony 2 yards remain on the spool. "Move down stream. Try to get closer or we’ll lose him!" my friend of fifteen years frantically yells. I start reel as I slowly make my way to the bank. "Keep the pressure on him!" I fumble to the shoreline and manage to close the gap between us. The Steely sits quietly in the flowing water as I gather my line one turn at a time. The floodwaters of last week have littered the shore as I work my way closer. Back into the water I go, carefully stepping and feeling my way through the river bed. A few more turns and my yellow flyline once again makes contact with my rod. For the last ten minutes it was the nylon mesh backing line that kept me connected to the opponent. A few more turns and the familiar looking flyline is started on the reel. Relief eases my heart ever so slightly and a little confidence returns. "At least if he breaks off now I wont lose my line." I proclaim. Forty yards to go and I keep the pressure on. A deep pocket of water lies ahead of me. "This is as close as I can get. Grab the net and I’ll try to ease him in!" are the orders I direct to my friend.  He’s lived in Seattle for 6 years and fishes at least twice a month. He understands the adventures of Steelhead and Salmon. He fished diligently for 2 summers before landing his first. An excellent day in this sport is several hookups and a single fish to the bank. Now I understand why. Thirty minutes have passed and forty yards remain. My forearms begin to cramp as I apply more pressure to the graphite rod. "Pump and reel, see if he moves!" my coach advises. The resting fish gives way as I pull him closer. Forty yards become thirty. Thirty becomes twenty, and twenty becomes ten. For the first time since the fight began I can see the fish through the clear running water. A beautiful silver body with colorful sides. Nearly three feet long and a tail larger than a plate. I can see into his eyes, and he into mine. His mouth is slightly open as he rythmically passes the water over his gills. I can see my fly in the corner of his mouth. A simple wirehook and some feathers. Not much more than that is what tricked this fish earlier this morning. For nearly a minute we stare at each other. Motionless, both of us rest. My arms are numb and my wrist are throbbing. "Towards the net! Pull him towards the net!" I head him towards shore and the fish focuses on my companion. He sees the net and wiggles his head. With a violent splash he turns his body around and powers his tail again. with a spray of water he leaps into the air twisting and turning. "SNAP!" then silence. The resistance is gone. My rod holds straight and my line lies limp as the steely slowly swims away. "Damn! He took my fly. Let’s take a break and tie some more of those up." I concede. "Too bad you didn’t land that one. He was almost as big as the last one you caught!" my friend consoles. "Oh’ well, chalk it up as a humane release. I just wanted my fly back first." — Fran Current

Response:

Any one know where I can find Flyfishing poetry?  Or more short stories like one posted: Testament of a Fisherman?  This for a speech class.  I love this sport and wish to convey this others. Thanx John

Response:

Question:

Hi Everyone: Has anyone seen or heard from Dennis Bitton of the Flyfishers News.  He had started a club called "Short Fat Flyfishers Club" awhile back and then poof, no newspaper and no Dennis. I would love to resurect the "SFFC" again and all its great attributes. If anyone knows Dennis Bitton or knows his whereabouts please have him get ahold of me here on the net. I have all the news articles he wrote on this subject if anyone would want to read them. The club had some simple rules. Waist- Minimum- 38"  Inseam- Maximum 30". There were special points given for baldness, 27" arm length, false teeth and so forth. There was a $5.00 member fee that went to Dennis’s lunches..:) The main point of the club was to put pressure on the wader and outdoor clothes mfg’s to create extended sized products (XXXL-XXXXXL). I don’t know about you, but I hate to buy waders with a 36" inseam just to get my girth pattern. As I remember there were about 260 members and we did succeed at one point in getting custom waders at a human cost, heck we even had L.L. Bean carry 50W 30IS Classic jeans for awhile.   If anyone is interested in either recreating this club or another one like it let me know. I will try my best to get ahold of Dennis at his last known address. Catch you all Later Keep a Mended Line Mike & Marie

Response:

The SFFC is in the process of being revitalized.  Contact: L. C. ‘Bob’ Burnham 10522 Hartford Ave. Orofino, ID 83544 Dennis Bitton will remain as Grand Dictator. Even more promising:  They are discussing the resurrection of the newspaper-like ‘FLY FISHING NEWS VIEWS AND REVIEWS’.  Hope it happens! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone: Has anyone seen or heard from Dennis Bitton of the Flyfishers News.  He had started a club called "Short Fat Flyfishers Club" awhile back and then poof, no newspaper and no Dennis. I would love to resurect the "SFFC" again and all its great attributes. If anyone knows Dennis Bitton or knows his whereabouts please have him get ahold of me here on the net. I have all the news articles he wrote on this subject if anyone would want to read them. The club had some simple rules. Waist- Minimum- 38"  Inseam- Maximum 30". There were special points given for baldness, 27" arm length, false teeth and so forth. There was a $5.00 member fee that went to Dennis’s lunches..:) The main point of the club was to put pressure on the wader and outdoor clothes mfg’s to create extended sized products (XXXL-XXXXXL). I don’t know about you, but I hate to buy waders with a 36" inseam just to get my girth pattern. As I remember there were about 260 members and we did succeed at one point in getting custom waders at a human cost, heck we even had L.L. Bean carry 50W 30IS Classic jeans for awhile.   If anyone is interested in either recreating this club or another one like it let me know. I will try my best to get ahold of Dennis at his last known address. Catch you all Later Keep a Mended Line Mike & Marie

Response:

The SFFC is in the process of being revitalized.  Contact: L. C. ‘Bob’ Burnham 10522 Hartford Ave. Orofino, ID 83544

Hey, that fits me perfectly! <G  Orofino?  Hmm…that make me miss Kelly Creek.  It has been a couple years since I have been there.

Response:

im a sfff. talk to me.

Response:

Question:

Will be in Portland, OR in May for approximately one week business trip.  Looking to get early start on flyfishing plans while in area. Anyone care to give a brief rundown on the type(s) of flyfishing opportunities for trout/salmon/steelhead I might expect in May? Thanks in advance. JGG

Response:

Will be in Portland, OR in May for approximately

A good time for trout, nnot so hot for steelhead Anyone care to give a brief rundown on the type(s) of flyfishing opportunities for trout/salmon/steelhead I might expect in May?

Depending on when in May, the Deschutes could be good for trout, in general, too early for much in the way of steelhead.                 Mike in PDX         "If the trout are lost, smash the state."                                 Tom McGuane

Response: