Question:

        With the 4 wt. line repaired, a new leader tied up, and an assortment of new flies to try, it was back to the pond this afternoon.  Had to leave work early to get some estimates on windshield repair after a gravel truck "rocked" me Monday evening, leaving a couple nasty chips in the windscreen. Bloody hell.  Got that taken care of (at least the estimating and insurance claim part), and had a few hours left to worry the panfish with my latest offerings.         At the tying bench, I rigged up some mosquito larvae, and three each of partridge and red, partridge and orange, and partridge and yellow soft hackles in #12.  It was supposed to be light wind today, and I suppose by ND standards it was (10-15 mph and a bit gusty).  Enough though to make casting the 4 wt. a bit interesting.         Taking a look at the water as I rigged up, I didn’t see any surface action, even in the sheltered areas.  Did note several "stalkers", hanging about a foot below the surface.  They would slowly rise at intervals, gently taking some tiny stuff on its way to the surface.  Hmmm, could be interesting…         Decided that since it’d been rather cool and cloudy for several days past, perhaps a brighter colour would be in order. Split the difference and tied on a partridge and orange.  A couple casts near a stalker had it charge the soft hackle and I brought the first fish to hand.  Promising start.         The fish were holding along a shade line about 25-30 ft. out. Delicate and accurate casting required, lest one put them down. The 4 wt. really shone here, even with having to deal with the wind.  Of course, I *did* manage to put them down on more than one occasion, but left to their own devices for 5 minutes or so, they’d take up station again.         This was quite a fascinating exercise — casting to these stalking fish.  If I dropped the fly within about 3-4" of their nose, they’d usually make a grab for it.  If it was closer than that, it’d spook the fish, and it’d go down.  Much further than 5" from their nose, and they’d be disinclined to chase it, often as not. Dragging the fly through the strike zone would induce some fish to strike and others to follow.  Some would follow for a considerable distance, say 10-15′+ before they either decided it looked good enough to eat (the less frequent case), or that it was something "fishy", and break off persuit.  Never could tell what would happen.         At least one fish came off his stalking station some three feet to whack the P&O with authority.  Others needed several casts more or less in front of their nose before they would either go down or give the fly a taste test.  Very visual fishing, and great fun!         Had one crappie take the P&O as well, and got him in close before he executed an LDR.  I worked the stalkers for quite a while before they finally went down to stay, and I moved to another part of the pond.         Here, I found cruisers working quite close to shore along with the suspending stalkers.  Flipped into a shade edge near where some of the stalkers were working, and got thumped, followed by a more vigorous than usual pull.  Most of the bluegill I’d been getting had been in the 7-8" range, with a few around 9", but this fish pulled like a freight train, relatively speaking.  Fought this fish for a couple minutes before bringing him up.  A real bull bluegill, measuring an honest 11", and biggest I’ve seen out of the pond!  Indeed, one of the larger ones I’ve *ever* taken on *any* tackle, let alone on a fly rod.         That was really neat, but what followed was even better. I noticed a rainbow cruising in the shade near the shoreline, and made a cast to it.  Haven’t had any great luck on the stocked rainbows, but this was about to change…  My cast went a bit beyond him, and off to one side.  Starting a slow retrieve, I could see him change direction and make a bee-line toward the fly. This is usually where they come up on it, and go "pbbbbtttt" at me.  Not this time!  He came right up to the fly, and in a whink the fly was gone.  Set the hook, and had the little beggar on the line!  He put on a good show with two nice jumps before I finally brought him to hand.  The tape said 11 3/4", and I was doing a happy dance for *finally* outwitting one of those finicky rainbows.  Deep intense green over the back, and nice colour on the sides to boot.  Very pretty fish.  On the other hand, it wasn’t exactly what one would call fat.  Looked more like an oversized, colourful smelt, save for the typical salmonid head. Suspect the forage base in the pond, which is near 100% insect life from what I’ve been able to observe, isn’t sufficient to fatten them up.         Had another rainbow follow the P&O and take a nip at it, but didn’t hook him up.  Went back to working bluegill, and wound up with a good number more brought to hand before I finally called it a day.  Quit counting bluegill after 50 fish caught and released, but would guess the total for the three hour session at 65-75 fish.  All on the same P&O soft hackle, which now is pretty well shredded, needless to say.         The trout was a nice bonus, after more than a few frustrating attempts and a couple near misses trying to bring one to hand. Been quite a while since I’ve caught trout while actually fishing for them.  The last  time I did was quite memorable.  One of my younger brothers and a friend of his wanted me to show them how to flyfish.  We went up to a trout lake, launched the boat, and messed around with spoons and such for some of the other species in the lake with no luck.  Brother starts to get on my case about fly fishing.  I rigged up the 7 wt., tied on a bead head GRHE, looked for a likely spot to make a cast, and launched my line.  Strip…  strip… strip.. *wham*, fish on!  After a brief fight, brought a nice, fat 15" rainbow to hand.  Unhooked the fish, put it in the livewell for a well-deserved trout dinner, unstrung and cased my rod, turned to brother and said "that, dear brother, is how you fly fish.".  I *did* work with him and his friend on casting, etc., but they didn’t catch cold, let alone any fish, and he lost interest in flyfishing shortly thereafter.  Indeed, he pretty well lost interest in fishing period, and took up golf instead.  Oh well, I tried! Todd

Response:

assortment of new flies to try, it was back to the pond this afternoon.

Thanks for another great pond trip report. i sure am enjoying your shareing your series of adventures at the pond. Big Dale

Response:

Question:

I woke up this morning and looked out the window to what looked to be a very nice Turkey Day.  There was no wind, partly cloudy skies and it felt somewhat warm out.  I was really looking forward to a nice day on the river and thought I would lounge about the house for an hour or two before heading out.  I have found in the past that fishing early in the morning during this time of year is pretty much a waste.  The water is cold and the fish don’t seem to warm up until around 11 or 12 so I watched a little TV and farted around the house for a bit. Shortly after noon I gathered up my gear and proceeded to head down to the Gallatin.  The weather was very nice and I was already feeling warm in my fleece bibs, union suit, and sweats.  I stopped by the store and grabbed a couple of "Road Masters" (24 oz cans of beer) to stuff in the back of my vest along with a bag of chips and some summer sausage just in case I got the munchies while I was out.  Around 1 PM I arrived at the Gallatin and began to prepare myself for a day of fishing.  There was just a slight breeze and the sun darted in and out behind the clouds that were rolling in.  Off in the distance I could see the mountains and the scattered snow showers that were painting the top of the mountains white through the hazy veils of falling snow.  It is Thanksgiving Day and I was home. At first I was a bit unsure of what to tie on.  It has been awhile since I have had the pleasure to fish due to the commitments of the real world, but I ventured down to the river and started to examine what was going on.  There were a few midges flying around but absolutely no fish rising to them.  I decided on big and deep and strung up my rod and proceeded to make my way to the lifeblood of my soul.  As I stepped into the water and made my way up to my spots, I began to think about how thankful I am. I proceeded to fish and things were indeed slow.  There were absolutely no fish rising and I had not even tempted one fish during my first hour on the water.  I moved up to the next stretch which is another one of my favorite spots and changed flies.  No luck again and so I changed the dropper and missed one fish.  I moved up to the log jam area and ended up losing the dropper in the logs so I moved to the side channel and hit my favorite hole there.  As I sat there tying on new flies, I once again began to think about the things that I am thankful for this year.  As I finished tying on the flies, I pushed these thoughts out of my mind as I cast my flies into the current on the far side of the hole.  This hole is on a bend and is very deep.  There used to be a side channel that came in and made this a fork, but beavers have long since dammed up the channel that dumps in to part of the T which now makes this pool shaped like an upside down L.  I had tied on a black rubber legged stonefly nymph with an orange egg pattern dropper.  I missed one fish and ended up breaking the entire rig off on the remnants of the beaver dam. I sat on the bank and the sun darted behind the clouds and what was a breeze turned into a slight wind which was gaining in strength.  Snow began to fall and the steady hiss of the wind of the wind began to blow through the tall grass.  I kept eying the pool as the wind whispered "thhhhhhhhhherrrrrrre" in my ear.  I knew exactly what I had to do and tied on the new stonefly nymph and egg pattern and cast out into the far seam again.  I could feel the flies ticking the bottom and then there was the thump-thump of a fish taking one of the flies.  I set the hook and felt the solid resistance of a fish. This pool normally holds browns, but I saw the silver flash of a rainbow and played the fish on the latest addition to my fly rod arsenal.  Yes indeed!  The "Montana Trout Bum" came alive and transmitted ever move of the rainbow in a way that is hard to describe.  The rod seemed alive in my hands and transmitted feelings which seem to be lost in graphite rods.  I landed a fat 16" rainbow, bonked it on the head and put it on my stringer.  After thanking the fish, thanking whatever God(s) that may have been involved and just being thankful to be alive I sat on the bank and began to contemplate things.  I was no longer in a rush to fish so I took out one of the "Road Masters" from my vest, dug out the summer sausage and cut off a chunk to snack on. It is hard to put in words, but a relaxing calm came over me as I took stock of the last year.  I settled in for a deep period of introspect and began to list all the things that I am thankful for.  I am thankful to have my family and especially the most precious thing in my life, my daughter.  I am also thankful for the good friends that I have made, even those that can be a pain in the ass to deal with at times,  I am thankful to own a rod that was made by a friend which holds something very special that is hard to explain.  Zimbo mentioned such a feeling and I immediately understood what he was talking about when I read it, but I FELT it as I sat there on the bank.  I am thankful to the men and women in our armed forces, my brothers and sisters in arms, who are overseas defending our country and our way of life.  Most importantly I am thankful just to be alive and able to experience the beauty of the land I live in and a sport which connects me to the beauty every time I go out fishing.  Of all the shitty things that have happened to me this year, I could not remember many of them and the ones I did remember seemed very unimportant and paled in comparison to the all of the good that I often overlook.  I began to get a little cold as the wind started to penetrate the layers of clothing I was wearing and decided to finally get up and move on. I proceeded to fish another big pool with a strong current on the far side and a huge tail-out that forks into two channels.  The sun once again broke through the clouds and cast rays that shone from the heavens as beams of gold.  I quickly ripped out of my camera and snapped a couple of pictures and once again began fishing.  I ended up landing a 17" rainbow and proceeded to bonk that one over the head and cleaning it there too.  I was all set now that I had my Thanksgiving Day dinner.  I once again took up a position on the bank and just took in the scene. The sound of the running water never seems to fail in touching my soul and soothing my psyche.  As the sun began to drop below the horizon, I decided to call it a day after a few more casts and head home. I thought about things on the way home and am very happy with my life. The ups and downs will continue, but fishing has always been a constant in my life and seems to smooth out the rough edges.  I want to thank you all for being part of the fishing experience that helps smooth out those rough edges and hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. — Warren www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt

Response:

I’d been thinking what a nice Thanksgiving I’d had, and then I read your story and it got even better. Many thanks, Chas

…great tr snipped…

Response:

Of all the shitty things that have happened to me this year, I could not remember many of them and the ones I did remember seemed very unimportant and paled in comparison to the all of the good that I often overlook.

Mmm hmm. There seems to be 2 sorts of people – those for whom the bad things ultimately seem less important than the good, and those for whom the opposite is true.  What kind of person you are and how you live has a lot to do with which sort you are….

Response:

I woke up this morning and looked out the window to what looked to be a very nice Turkey Day.  

thanks for the time away…. I had to work Willi

Response:

I thought about things on the way home and am very happy with my life. The ups and downs will continue, but fishing has always been a constant in my life and seems to smooth out the rough edges.  I want to thank you all for being part of the fishing experience that helps smooth out those rough edges and hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Here’s to you and yours, Warren.

Response:

wonderful day and you gave me a chance to share in a bit of it. Many more to come for you, I hope…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I woke up this morning and looked out the window to what looked to be a very nice Turkey Day.  There was no wind, partly cloudy skies and it felt somewhat warm out.  I was really looking forward to a nice day on the river and thought I would lounge about the house for an hour or two before heading out.  I have found in the past that fishing early in the morning during this time of year is pretty much a waste.  The water is cold and the fish don’t seem to warm up until around 11 or 12 so I watched a little TV and farted around the house for a bit. Shortly after noon I gathered up my gear and proceeded to head down to the Gallatin.  The weather was very nice and I was already feeling warm in my fleece bibs, union suit, and sweats.  I stopped by the store and grabbed a couple of "Road Masters" (24 oz cans of beer) to stuff in the back of my vest along with a bag of chips and some summer sausage just in case I got the munchies while I was out.  Around 1 PM I arrived at the Gallatin and began to prepare myself for a day of fishing.  There was just a slight breeze and the sun darted in and out behind the clouds that were rolling in.  Off in the distance I could see the mountains and the scattered snow showers that were painting the top of the mountains white through the hazy veils of falling snow.  It is Thanksgiving Day and I was home. At first I was a bit unsure of what to tie on.  It has been awhile since I have had the pleasure to fish due to the commitments of the real world, but I ventured down to the river and started to examine what was going on.  There were a few midges flying around but absolutely no fish rising to them.  I decided on big and deep and strung up my rod and proceeded to make my way to the lifeblood of my soul.  As I stepped into the water and made my way up to my spots, I began to think about how thankful I am. I proceeded to fish and things were indeed slow.  There were absolutely no fish rising and I had not even tempted one fish during my first hour on the water.  I moved up to the next stretch which is another one of my favorite spots and changed flies.  No luck again and so I changed the dropper and missed one fish.  I moved up to the log jam area and ended up losing the dropper in the logs so I moved to the side channel and hit my favorite hole there.  As I sat there tying on new flies, I once again began to think about the things that I am thankful for this year.  As I finished tying on the flies, I pushed these thoughts out of my mind as I cast my flies into the current on the far side of the hole.  This hole is on a bend and is very deep.  There used to be a side channel that came in and made this a fork, but beavers have long since dammed up the channel that dumps in to part of the T which now makes this pool shaped like an upside down L.  I had tied on a black rubber legged stonefly nymph with an orange egg pattern dropper.  I missed one fish and ended up breaking the entire rig off on the remnants of the beaver dam. I sat on the bank and the sun darted behind the clouds and what was a breeze turned into a slight wind which was gaining in strength.  Snow began to fall and the steady hiss of the wind of the wind began to blow through the tall grass.  I kept eying the pool as the wind whispered "thhhhhhhhhherrrrrrre" in my ear.  I knew exactly what I had to do and tied on the new stonefly nymph and egg pattern and cast out into the far seam again.  I could feel the flies ticking the bottom and then there was the thump-thump of a fish taking one of the flies.  I set the hook and felt the solid resistance of a fish. This pool normally holds browns, but I saw the silver flash of a rainbow and played the fish on the latest addition to my fly rod arsenal.  Yes indeed!  The "Montana Trout Bum" came alive and transmitted ever move of the rainbow in a way that is hard to describe.  The rod seemed alive in my hands and transmitted feelings which seem to be lost in graphite rods.  I landed a fat 16" rainbow, bonked it on the head and put it on my stringer.  After thanking the fish, thanking whatever God(s) that may have been involved and just being thankful to be alive I sat on the bank and began to contemplate things.  I was no longer in a rush to fish so I took out one of the "Road Masters" from my vest, dug out the summer sausage and cut off a chunk to snack on. It is hard to put in words, but a relaxing calm came over me as I took stock of the last year.  I settled in for a deep period of introspect and began to list all the things that I am thankful for.  I am thankful to have my family and especially the most precious thing in my life, my daughter.  I am also thankful for the good friends that I have made, even those that can be a pain in the ass to deal with at times,  I am thankful to own a rod that was made by a friend which holds something very special that is hard to explain.  Zimbo mentioned such a feeling and I immediately understood what he was talking about when I read it, but I FELT it as I sat there on the bank.  I am thankful to the men and women in our armed forces, my brothers and sisters in arms, who are overseas defending our country and our way of life.  Most importantly I am thankful just to be alive and able to experience the beauty of the land I live in and a sport which connects me to the beauty every time I go out fishing.  Of all the shitty things that have happened to me this year, I could not remember many of them and the ones I did remember seemed very unimportant and paled in comparison to the all of the good that I often overlook.  I began to get a little cold as the wind started to penetrate the layers of clothing I was wearing and decided to finally get up and move on. I proceeded to fish another big pool with a strong current on the far side and a huge tail-out that forks into two channels.  The sun once again broke through the clouds and cast rays that shone from the heavens as beams of gold.  I quickly ripped out of my camera and snapped a couple of pictures and once again began fishing.  I ended up landing a 17" rainbow and proceeded to bonk that one over the head and cleaning it there too.  I was all set now that I had my Thanksgiving Day dinner.  I once again took up a position on the bank and just took in the scene. The sound of the running water never seems to fail in touching my soul and soothing my psyche.  As the sun began to drop below the horizon, I decided to call it a day after a few more casts and head home. I thought about things on the way home and am very happy with my life. The ups and downs will continue, but fishing has always been a constant in my life and seems to smooth out the rough edges.  I want to thank you all for being part of the fishing experience that helps smooth out those rough edges and hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. — Warren www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt

Response:

Question:

  You could pose the question at fishnet.com.au in the flyfish chatbd,   perhaps someone there has a little info.   If you have info from the locals such as a beach location just suck it   and see … thats half the fun!!  Grab an 8-10 wt and have at it!   Steve

Response:

Thanks Steve, have posted there. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   You could pose the question at fishnet.com.au in the flyfish chatbd,   perhaps someone there has a little info.   If you have info from the locals such as a beach location just suck it   and see … thats half the fun!!  Grab an 8-10 wt and have at it!   Steve

Response:

Last weeks episode: Fishzilla bites back.

Capital report, chap.  Top descriptions. Mu

Response:

  Sorry Norfolk is way out of my stomping grounds, its closer to you than   me.  There will be fish, beach, rock or estuary is the question. Best   bet would be the locals, I’d start with the people organising the event.     Half your luck on the junket. Steve

Response:

Thanks Steve, have lots of fishing info from the locals but not much on fly opportunity. As I’m relatively a novice in the salt myself I was hoping an Aussie may know. Thanks anyways. Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Sorry Norfolk is way out of my stomping grounds, its closer to you than   me.  There will be fish, beach, rock or estuary is the question. Best   bet would be the locals, I’d start with the people organising the event.   Half your luck on the junket. Steve

Response:

Nice trip report Steve. I have been invited to be a Guest Artist at the Norfolk Island Country musical festival in May 2002 (Yep, I sing a bit as well www.clarkreid.cjb.net) and have six days on the beautiful island and only need perform 2  30 minute sets. This made me wonder what the possible saltwater flyfishing possibilities are there. Do you have any idea? Or could you point me somewhere I might find out? Clark

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On occasion, I just don’t feel like fishing. This is particularly so when it seems I would be better off meeting the next deadline early – then fishing. Bitter experience has shown me the truth of that adage "the amount of work required to complete a task expands to fill the amount of time you have to complete it." I need to constantly remind myself:  Fish now, work later (and better usually).  It didn’t work this week … so I had some time on my hands. Last weeks episode: Fishzilla bites back. "A long time ago in a land far, far away" Westernport bay was formed by islands French and Phillip (sounds like an English comedic pairing ) not fitting into the mainland.  A shallow bay covered in seagrass and reefs where eons of strong tidal currents have cut deep channels through the mud. It opens on to the horrors of Bass strait but mercifully is protected from the worst of the strait’s excesses by Philip Island. (PI is famous for the 500cc motorcycle grand prix, and the ‘Penguin Parade’ – I always thought a parade implied some sort of organisation and consent on the part of the paraders, but I am yet to see the penguins’ views on the subject aired anywhere … ) Phillip Island is is rocky island (volcanic rock mainly from what I can see) with steep cliffs, headlands and the occasional sandy beach, and within a couple of hours drive of Melbourne. The beauty of an island is that there is a lee to be found no matter what the weather direction.  We were going to need this becuase the forecast was basically for foul weather worsening.  The weather rarely keeps us from the salt and we’ve always done pretty well when the weather has been inclement, always catching a few fish for our efforts. We arrived at the end of the road and beginning of the walk to a cloudy day, with a slight ripple and no breeze to speak of, not so foul afterall. Looking around the meniscus of the bay as it curved from right to left, all sorts of interesting looking structure beckoned, neither of us had been here before, new water is often lots of fun. About half way through the walk waders slung around my neck were filling up and billowing with the following _breeze_ – another use for waders, -spinnakers.  Along soft sand, up and over dune slips and head high boulders, finally we rounded the point and found two other fisherman already setup.  A couple of elderly nordic gentleman one of whom we’d met before, were ensconced in a lovely little cove that warrants a look when we pass by next time.  Pleasantries exchanged, we continued on around several more promontories finally coming to the end of the way. Steep cliffs and 100 foot drops got in the way as only they can – very, very immoveably. A feature of headlands and cliffs is their appeal to sea birds , in this case the soft ground above the rocky cliffs and shoreline was riddled with shearwater (muttonbird) nests, interspersed with flowering pigface and other almost flourescent purple blloming plants. (Floracation isn’t my long suite … faunacation however …). Not a bird to be seen apart from the odd carcass – and little evidence of their arrival though some nests had been recently cleared out. There was a smell though, faint but pungent, I suspect it would be a most unpleasant place in the heat of summer with all the birds in residence. Traipsing through the rookery on the plateau would be quite dangerous with the risk of collapsing nests and harming ourselves or the nests’ residents quite high (if they were home). We did scout around a little for any sign of a walking trail back down and one area looked quite promising.  It was a section of flattened vegetation that turned out to be a 8 feet or so wide.  From a distance it looked for all the world like a track, closer inspection however showed it to be just the 60 feet long.  What we were looking at was the shearwaters’ airstrip,  at one end was a 100ft drop into nothing but the updrafts associated with such places, and at the other the rookery. With the rookery immediatelty above and behind our platform, access will be nearly impossible in summer when the rookery is populated – we’ll not be responsible for trampling chicks, collapsing nests etc. not to mention the possibility of attack from the birds protecting their nests or the tiger snakes that go bite in beak with mutton bird rookeries.  I would dearly love to see them using that landing strip though … Fishing? Oh yes there was fishing.  There were fish to.  Initially, the incoming tide produced a salmon or two, and a horde of wrasse from the kelp below our platform.  The little (and not so little) buggers have spikes in their dorsal fin, usually I don’t have a problem but one fish, a sizeable one of the blue lipped variety, punctured me five times. We were perched on boulders above a submerged ledge about 8-10 feet down. The ledge was covered in weed and kelp and had a healthy population of these wrasse and probably other fishes which we didn’t see or catch. The ledge itself fell away into perhaps another 20 feet of water with a sandy bottom, a strip which I suppose was about 60 feet wide and continued on around the promontory to the right and petered at a point on the left. A nice little location for all sorts of fishes. The fish had gone quiet as the tide fell, and with the wind now reaching gale levels from our left (thank goodness) we were having difficulty keeping contact with our flies.  Between the wind and the wash a typical 60 foot cast was looped out to about 90 feet of line. Then it rained. We huddled in the lee of a boulder till the scudding rain passed, and when the sun came out picked up our rods with renewed vigour. A weak sun to be sure but enough to burn the shnozz as I found out later. As well as drying things off we could see into the water better and the additional light seemed to turn the fish on as well. Tim’s first cast saw his wobbler fly  sliced off by a sizeable ‘couta.  The fish arrowed up from the depths to take the fly just over the ledge.  Well hooked, it continued its mad rush to the surface where the razor sharp teeth did a job on the tippett.  In a flash of silver and spray it was gone. Heavy tippet all round, 60lb mono. Through a gap in the ledge we saw dark shapes cruising down below the ledge level and occasionally one above it.  These fish in the upper column were striped though, and not ‘couta, probably fishzilla.  To see one of these things peel away from the shadows, and swim over to ( in no particular rush – the top of the food chain is rarely hurried) and swallow your fly is heart stopping.  Initially the shape just looks like another trick of the light produced by the ripple, then as it puts more distance between itself and the comouflage background, your brain starts to put together the outline. (If you’ve ever seen aerial footage of a shark over a sandy bottom, you’ll be able to get the picture … re-reading this I just had another image spring to mind … When the brain decides that the shape is heading for your fly, is when the adrenalin kicks in.  Then you lift, feel weight and know your luck is in.  It is very dissappointing to have the leader part in such circumstances.  A tad presumptuous on the luck part … that’s two of these fish that have done me, perhaps third time lucky. (mental note: check the WHOLE leader when changing tippett … wrassen frassen fisshen..) We saw several of the ‘couta and fishzilla but didn’t manage to get a hookup till one ‘couta chased Tim’s chartreuse clouser to his feet. Tim thought he ran out of water, I thought it was a rejection of the colour as these fish are fast and could overtake the fastest retrieve of any fisherman if they want to.  A synthetic based natural looking clouser went onto the tippett and resulted in an almost immediate hook-up.  At last! A sizeable ‘couta paraded around the sandy bottom, then tried to snag the line in the kelp … smooth drag, powerful fish, and a reasonable tippet what more can you ask for.  Everything held up and an obliging wave with impeccable timing bought the fish onto a ledge for happy snaps and release. As it turns out, we were lucky to get him up, even though couta aren’t renowned for their stamina, they do have a turn of speed and a fine set of choppers … the tippett, 60lb mono was worn through to about 1/3 its normal diameter in places. Silly grins all round.  Leaving not long after, not unusually, the trek out seemed about half as long as the one in, though yours truely did do a full uphill face plant into the soft turf (and thankfully, not a bird turd). The earth smelt good, the laugh felt good. We discussed the fishzilla problem – we both have copped a fair bit of derision seemingly knowledgeable anglers when we talk about fishzilla (we think its a southern species of barracuda).  These big fish have been written about before as inhabiting southern waters, but either they have passed from memory or have been in decline.  Certainly if you are not rigged for them you will be sliced off, and in the areas the fish frequent, anglers wouldn’t normally be gearing up for them with bite tippets. They

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On occasion, I just don’t feel like fishing. This is particularly so when it seems I would be better off meeting the next deadline early – then fishing. Bitter experience has shown me the truth of that adage "the amount of work required to complete a task expands to fill the amount of time you have to complete it." I need to constantly remind myself:  Fish now, work later (and better usually).  It didn’t work this week … so I had some time on my hands. Last weeks episode: Fishzilla bites back. "A long time ago in a land far, far away" Westernport bay was formed by islands French and Phillip (sounds like an English comedic pairing ) not fitting into the mainland.  A shallow bay covered in seagrass and reefs where eons of strong tidal currents have cut deep channels through the mud. It opens on to the horrors of Bass strait but mercifully is protected from the worst of the strait’s excesses by Philip Island. (PI is famous for the 500cc motorcycle grand prix, and the ‘Penguin Parade’ – I always thought a parade implied some sort of organisation and consent on the part of the paraders, but I am yet to see the penguins’ views on the subject aired anywhere … ) Phillip Island is is rocky island (volcanic rock mainly from what I can see) with steep cliffs, headlands and the occasional sandy beach, and within a couple of hours drive of Melbourne. The beauty of an island is that there is a lee to be found no matter what the weather direction.  We were going to need this becuase the forecast was basically for foul weather worsening.  The weather rarely keeps us from the salt and we’ve always done pretty well when the weather has been inclement, always catching a few fish for our efforts.   We arrived at the end of the road and beginning of the walk to a cloudy day, with a slight ripple and no breeze to speak of, not so foul afterall. Looking around the meniscus of the bay as it curved from right to left, all sorts of interesting looking structure beckoned, neither of us had been here before, new water is often lots of fun. About half way through the walk waders slung around my neck were filling up and billowing with the following _breeze_ – another use for waders, -spinnakers.  Along soft sand, up and over dune slips and head high boulders, finally we rounded the point and found two other fisherman already setup.  A couple of elderly nordic gentleman one of whom we’d met before, were ensconced in a lovely little cove that warrants a look when we pass by next time.  Pleasantries exchanged, we continued on around several more promontories finally coming to the end of the way.   Steep cliffs and 100 foot drops got in the way as only they can – very, very immoveably. A feature of headlands and cliffs is their appeal to sea birds , in this case the soft ground above the rocky cliffs and shoreline was riddled with shearwater (muttonbird) nests, interspersed with flowering pigface and other almost flourescent purple blloming plants. (Floracation isn’t my long suite … faunacation however …).   Not a bird to be seen apart from the odd carcass – and little evidence of their arrival though some nests had been recently cleared out. There was a smell though, faint but pungent, I suspect it would be a most unpleasant place in the heat of summer with all the birds in residence. Traipsing through the rookery on the plateau would be quite dangerous with the risk of collapsing nests and harming ourselves or the nests’ residents quite high (if they were home). We did scout around a little for any sign of a walking trail back down and one area looked quite promising.  It was a section of flattened vegetation that turned out to be a 8 feet or so wide.  From a distance it looked for all the world like a track, closer inspection however showed it to be just the 60 feet long.  What we were looking at was the shearwaters’ airstrip,  at one end was a 100ft drop into nothing but the updrafts associated with such places, and at the other the rookery. With the rookery immediatelty above and behind our platform, access will be nearly impossible in summer when the rookery is populated – we’ll not be responsible for trampling chicks, collapsing nests etc. not to mention the possibility of attack from the birds protecting their nests or the tiger snakes that go bite in beak with mutton bird rookeries.  I would dearly love to see them using that landing strip though … Fishing? Oh yes there was fishing.  There were fish to.  Initially, the incoming tide produced a salmon or two, and a horde of wrasse from the kelp below our platform.  The little (and not so little) buggers have spikes in their dorsal fin, usually I don’t have a problem but one fish, a sizeable one of the blue lipped variety, punctured me five times.   We were perched on boulders above a submerged ledge about 8-10 feet down.   The ledge was covered in weed and kelp and had a healthy population of these wrasse and probably other fishes which we didn’t see or catch. The ledge itself fell away into perhaps another 20 feet of water with a sandy bottom, a strip which I suppose was about 60 feet wide and continued on around the promontory to the right and petered at a point on the left. A nice little location for all sorts of fishes. The fish had gone quiet as the tide fell, and with the wind now reaching gale levels from our left (thank goodness) we were having difficulty keeping contact with our flies.  Between the wind and the wash a typical 60 foot cast was looped out to about 90 feet of line. Then it rained. We huddled in the lee of a boulder till the scudding rain passed, and when the sun came out picked up our rods with renewed vigour. A weak sun to be sure but enough to burn the shnozz as I found out later.   As well as drying things off we could see into the water better and the additional light seemed to turn the fish on as well. Tim’s first cast saw his wobbler fly  sliced off by a sizeable ‘couta.  The fish arrowed up from the depths to take the fly just over the ledge.  Well hooked, it continued its mad rush to the surface where the razor sharp teeth did a job on the tippett.  In a flash of silver and spray it was gone. Heavy tippet all round, 60lb mono. Through a gap in the ledge we saw dark shapes cruising down below the ledge level and occasionally one above it.  These fish in the upper column were striped though, and not ‘couta, probably fishzilla.  To see one of these things peel away from the shadows, and swim over to ( in no particular rush – the top of the food chain is rarely hurried) and swallow your fly is heart stopping.  Initially the shape just looks like another trick of the light produced by the ripple, then as it puts more distance between itself and the comouflage background, your brain starts to put together the outline. (If you’ve ever seen aerial footage of a shark over a sandy bottom, you’ll be able to get the picture … re-reading this I just had another image spring to mind …   When the brain decides that the shape is heading for your fly, is when the adrenalin kicks in.  Then you lift, feel weight and know your luck is in.  It is very dissappointing to have the leader part in such circumstances.  A tad presumptuous on the luck part … that’s two of these fish that have done me, perhaps third time lucky. (mental note: check the WHOLE leader when changing tippett … wrassen frassen fisshen..) We saw several of the ‘couta and fishzilla but didn’t manage to get a hookup till one ‘couta chased Tim’s chartreuse clouser to his feet. Tim thought he ran out of water, I thought it was a rejection of the colour as these fish are fast and could overtake the fastest retrieve of any fisherman if they want to.  A synthetic based natural looking clouser went onto the tippett and resulted in an almost immediate hook-up.  At last! A sizeable ‘couta paraded around the sandy bottom, then tried to snag the line in the kelp … smooth drag, powerful fish, and a reasonable tippet what more can you ask for.  Everything held up and an obliging wave with impeccable timing bought the fish onto a ledge for happy snaps and release. As it turns out, we were lucky to get him up, even though couta aren’t renowned for their stamina, they do have a turn of speed and a fine set of choppers … the tippett, 60lb mono was worn through to about 1/3 its normal diameter in places. Silly grins all round.  Leaving not long after, not unusually, the trek out seemed about half as long as the one in, though yours truely did do a full uphill face plant into the soft turf (and thankfully, not a bird turd). The earth smelt good, the laugh felt good.   We discussed the fishzilla problem – we both have copped a fair bit of derision seemingly knowledgeable anglers when we talk about fishzilla (we think its a southern species of barracuda).  These big fish have been written about before as inhabiting southern waters, but either they have passed from memory or have been in decline.  Certainly if you are not rigged for them you will be sliced off, and in the areas the fish frequent, anglers wouldn’t normally be gearing up for them with bite tippets.   They could be hooking up with them ok, but never get close enough to see them. The quest continues … Steve ‘couta – barracoutta – not to be confused with Barracuda.

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Don’t tell me that all of us haven’t told the occaisional little fib about where the good fishing is from time to time to keep a good spot to ourselves, or at least keep the crowd down a little. Fisherman have had a reputation for being outrageous liars since man started using worms for bait and I know we haven’t come down out of that tree yet. I have told my share in the past and i can pretty much guarantee that I will continue to do so, especially as my favorite spots become more and more crowded. Sure, the mob scene on the tailwaters can be fun, the fish still outnumber the people on most of them, but a guy has to be alone in the mountains every once in a while. John Before you buy.

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Actually although not specific, these are my close in favorites. As for fishermen lying, I’m sorry but I have no reason to lie. I actually fished a lake where the bass averaged over ten pounds(had to spool a zebco 404 with35lb test to hold them out from pilings. One bass I caught out of that lake had to have his tail bent to go in a freezer door after beheading. Unfortunately the state of Florida deemed it a dieing lake and drew it down. I caught Stump knockers out of  it on the fly. I had to use a 5wt. they went 1 to 2 pounds. Right now the speck (crappy) minimum limit is 12" for Lake Monroe. If you choose not to believe it so be it. John Popp in Sanford Fl. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Don’t tell me that all of us haven’t told the occaisional little fib about where the good fishing is from time to time to keep a good spot to ourselves, or at least keep the crowd down a little. Fisherman have had a reputation for being outrageous liars since man started using worms for bait and I know we haven’t come down out of that tree yet. I have told my share in the past and i can pretty much guarantee that I will continue to do so, especially as my favorite spots become more and more crowded. Sure, the mob scene on the tailwaters can be fun, the fish still outnumber the people on most of them, but a guy has to be alone in the mountains every once in a while. John Before you buy.

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Can someone explain what knot or other method works well for joining fly line backing to the floating fly line?  I want to make certain that 8-15 pound Steelhead will not separate them.               Hungry for NEWSGROUPS??? USE feedME.ORG                      Read and Post to 30,000 groups through feedME.ORG              FREE  FREE  FREE  http://www.feedME.ORG  FREE  FREE  FREE    

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Can someone explain what knot or other method works well for joining fly line backing to the floating fly line?  I want to make certain that 8-15 pound Steelhead will not separate them.

The nail knot is commonly used for this junction. I use it on all my lines for all species including steelhead and salmon. No problems…

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Nailknots and needle knots have good records for reliability in this application. A coating of cement to smooth over the coils is an option as well. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Can someone explain what knot or other method works well for joining fly line backing to the floating fly line?  I want to make certain that 8-15 pound Steelhead will not separate them.

I’ve used the nail knot but with 20lb backing I can break this knot with my hands. I prefer using a loop system. I put a large Bimini twist loop in the backing. At the end of the fly line I put a small "braided butt" loop. You could use a Russ Peak or whipped loop as well. Connect the two by putting the the backing loop through the loop on the fly line, then draw the loop over the spool of fly line and draw the backing loop back down by pulling slowly on the backing until the loop snugs into the braided butt loop. I’ve been unable to break one of these. Goes through the rod guides nicely when a big fish runs into the backing. Once you’ve put the loops on you don’t have to worry about doing this part again. The connection is easily undone and re-done. the loops will last the life of the line Ralph H remove "(take_this_out)" for email reply.

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Try using a Bimini twist in the backing and then loop to loop connection to the fly line. Works fine for 150 lb. tarpon etc., plus you have the convince of easily changing fly lines without having to tie knots. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone explain what knot or other method works well for joining fly line backing to the floating fly line?  I want to make certain that 8-15 pound Steelhead will not separate them. The nail knot is commonly used for this junction. I use it on all my lines for all species including steelhead and salmon. No problems…

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I have used two types of connections – loop to loop and Albright knot. For the loop to loop connections I have utilized a whipped loop in the fly line using 3/0 tying thread and a braided loop connector. My current method is the Albright knot which is easy to tie, secure and travels through the guides fairly well. — Steve Vaughn

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(feedme.org/anti-spam.html) writes: Can someone explain what knot or other method works well for joining fly line backing to the floating fly line?  I want to make certain that 8-15 pound Steelhead will not separate them.

Hi Tom, There are a number of different connections you can use to accomplish this.  Most often the nail knot is used. The trick to making a nail knot work correctly is to draw it up bit by bit, not all at once and to use the correct amount of turns.  Fewer than 4 turns will tend to pull the coating off the core of your line and more than 7 is real hard to seat correctly. l usually use 5 to 6 turns and it works well.  when you start to tighten the knot up, pull a little snug on one tag and then the other, then a little harder on the first tag and  just as hard on the other tag.  Repeat this until it is tight (usually 4 to 5 pulls).  Trim off flush.  Extra tag won’t save the knot if you screwed up and it may get stuck in a line guide on the way out.  If you did it right, the knot should be football shaped as opposed to basketball shaped.  Correctly tied you will usually cut your fingers well before you can break the line.  Not quite 100% breaking strength of the line, but darn close. By the way, never test a knot by shocking or jerking on it.  That’s exactly what a fish does to break you off and it permanently elongates and weakens the material.  Even if the knot takes the shock, you just dropped it’s breaking strength significantly.  Pull strong, hard, and smoothly to test your knots. I think the nail knot is the best choice for line weights under 10.  With 10wt. and above many people use an Albright knot.  This is also an excellent knot, but is bulkier than the nail knot and that’s why I don’t use it on lower weight lines.  It is best seated using a pair of pliers to grasp the tag ends.  I do use the Albright knot on the braided monocore lines regardless of line weight because it holds them better than the nail knot does.  The nail knot is a compression knot and the stiffer core of the braided or regular mono-core lines don’t compress as well as the regular lines do so the Albright knot is a better choice there. You can also attach the backing by making a very large perfection loop in the backing or use a bimini twist to make the loop with the greatest breaking strength.  Of course this also means you have to make a loop on or in the running line of your fly line.  If you use a braided loop connector on the back of your line I suggest you anchor it with some 10 to 12 lb. test mono nail knotted around the back end of the braid instead of using the glue-on or heat-shrink anchors that come with them.  The main advantage of loop connections is ease of  changing lines.  IMO not a big advantage with full length fly lines but a good choice for shooting heads. ONE OTHER CAVEAT – Don’t use leaders with a tippet breaking-strength close to the breaking strength of the backing.  I personally don’t use heavier than 12 lb. test tippets with 20 lb. backing.  For heavier tippets I use 30lb. backing.  If the breaking strength of the two are close and your backing gets abraided, you will lose your entire line (including your excellent knots) instead of just your tippet and fly.                                    Hope this helps,                                           Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools

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I’ve had good success with both a wicker creel (with moss or damp grass) and an ‘ArtiCreel’ (soaked canvas bag). The canvas bag is easier to carry around and probably doesn’t look as pretentious as the wicker so it is probably safer to use<g. Charlie…

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I’ve had good success with both a wicker creel (with moss or damp grass) and an ‘ArtiCreel’ (soaked canvas bag). The canvas bag is easier to carry around and probably doesn’t look as pretentious as the wicker so it is probably safer to use<g. Charlie…

It’s really a bummer that the ff industry (ok, Orvis) has made something like a wicker creel pretentious. I always fished with an old wicker creel my grandpa gave me when I was a lad, and would like to use one on any occasional trips I might want to take a couple, but I would feel like a fool carrying one these days. I should be able to say "screw it, I like ‘em, I grew up with ‘em, and I’m using one," but I guess I would hate to give people the wrong idea. Fish on, Allen

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Ralph Heidecke writes: When I kill a fish or two to take home I do the following to keep it fresh: (snip) Share other tips you have please!

To me, a canvas creel is indispensible.  Any fish you decide to eat are kept fresh and cool.  Great beer keeper also, as George mentioned earlier.  When you’re not using it for either, it’s a convenient place to stow litter left by others.   Best of all, the sight of a well-used creel over your shoulder keeps away those pesky Orvis Grand Cherokee types, who refer to all the insects by their Latin names.  ;^) CQ

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I should be able to say "screw it, I like ‘em, I grew up with ‘em, and I’m using one," but I guess I would hate to give people the wrong idea.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I still use mine on occasion, depends where I am fishing and how much I care about people think that day<g. Course I usually carry a cloth diaper to use as a rag (they’re great for cleaning fly lines and cameras, etc) so I suppose some folks may think I’m wierd anyway. Charlie…

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[rip !] I do no use stringers as in my experience trout kokanee etc will die with in a quarter hour or so thus there is little gained from their

Yeah, those kokes are sure prissy fish….pretty damned good smoked though. A metal clasp stringer, I feel, is not all that cruel, the fish seem pretty calm generally and an old brown trout will stay alive and fresh all day, catfish and other sturdy species could be released after all day on a stringer and survive.  Stringers are indeed best suited for lake use.  I have also caught and stringered brookies while backpacking that stay alive a long, long time. Whatcha do, see, is you go down, take one of the stringer, clean it and cut off its head.  Then you can insert a ‘weenie’ stick and roast them with salt and pepper…nothing is better in this world… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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It’s really a bummer that the ff industry (ok, Orvis) has made something like a wicker creel pretentious. I always fished with an old wicker creel my grandpa gave me when I was a lad, and would like to use one on any occasional trips I might want to take a couple, but I would feel like a fool carrying one these days.

Jeez, I sometimes lash a sawed-off, perforated gallon milk jug to my fannypack, and I’ve never felt dumb about it once…er…well, the point is, go ahead and use the things if you like ‘em.  I won’t laugh, and I have to wonder how many people *would* really care.  What if they did, anyway?   Dave DeLacey – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fish on, Allen

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Moe Skeeter writes: A metal clasp stringer, I feel, is not all that cruel, the fish seem pretty calm generally and an old brown trout will stay alive and fresh all day, catfish and other sturdy species could be released after all day on a stringer and survive.  Stringers are indeed best suited for lake use.  I have also caught and stringered brookies while backpacking that stay alive a long, long time.

That’s true, as long as you’re using it right. If you’re using a stringer to keep your catch fresh, forget the common method of stringing ‘em through the gills.  The fish will stay alive a lot longer if you string it through the thin part of the lower jaw (near the center). I don’t use a stringer anymore, but when I did, stringing the fish through the jaw worked much, much better.  A gill-strung trout usually dies so fast that you might as well knock it on the head in the first place.  (catfish, OTOH, are damn near unkillable, strung through the gills or not.) CQ

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s really a bummer that the ff industry (ok, Orvis) has made something like a wicker creel pretentious. I always fished with an old wicker creel my grandpa gave me when I was a lad, and would like to use one on any occasional trips I might want to take a couple, but I would feel like a fool carrying one these days. Jeez, I sometimes lash a sawed-off, perforated gallon milk jug to my fannypack, and I’ve never felt dumb about it once…er…well, the point is, go ahead and use the things if you like ‘em.  I won’t laugh, and I have to wonder how many people *would* really care.  What if they did, anyway? Dave DeLacey

Yeah, like I said in the clipped part of my original post, I know it’s a bit stupid to give much thought to that. I wouldn’t be embarassed to be seen anywhere with the milk jug – at least the people I meet on the stream wouldn’t be trying to sell me mutual funds. I keep hoping that this whole fishing craze will die out by the time I’m an old man and I can strap on my wicker creel and fish alone… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fish on, Allen

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When I kill a fish or two to take home I do the following to keep it fresh: 1) stream fishing; place the fish in a plastic bag and either    cache the fish either in the sand or gravel of the bank or

I store the fish in a wet burlap sack out of the sun and clean ASAP. 2) float tube or boat:

Never kept one from a float tube trip!  See below for boat. I do no use stringers as in my experience trout kokanee etc will die with in a quarter hour or so thus there is little gained from their use: Share other tips you have please!

We used a stringer only once or twice for Kokanee. Very poor!  Instead we opted for a cage with chain attached with a little door.  This tied off to one of the cleats at the rear of the boat and could be lifted out of the water to insert another fish.  A few die, but several survive unless badly injured.  This is the best we could come up with to keep them fresh. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley         2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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When I kill a fish or two to take home I do the following to keep it fresh: 1) stream fishing; place the fish in a plastic bag and either    cache the fish either in the sand or gravel of the bank or    gather some grass etc and place the fish amongst this in my    pack. 2) float tube or boat:    in my tube I put the fish in a side pocket of the tube and keep    the fabric wet; evaporation will keep it cool and fresh    in a boat I do much the same; keep the fish out of the sun and keep     it wet; ie cover with a wet cloth; again evaporation will keep it    very cool I do no use stringers as in my experience trout kokanee etc will die with in a quarter hour or so thus there is little gained from their use: the deterioration of the flesh will actually be quicker even if the air is warmer than the water because the transfer of heat from water to fish is much easier than from water to air. In all cases evaporation uses heat hence keeping a fish out of water but moist to encourage evaporation will help keep the fish cool and  fresh. It is advisable to clean a fish as soon as possible; keep the fish out of direct sun and put the fish on ice or refridgerate as soon as possible. Share other tips you have please! Ralph H  

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Question:

Have seen ad and sent for brochure on Diamondback rods, anyone have any experience with this company? I am interested in buying a blank from them. Would appreciate any life experiences with this company. Thanks, DLowe

They are nice rods.  I have fished them, at the request of my fishing partner who sells them.  They cast very similar to a Scott, have a nice finish, etc.  Life experiences you may not find, as they haven’t been around that long (like maybe 5 or 6 years?) Tight lines, -Burton

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Excellent company run by first class people who build a fine product. You won’t be disappointed in my opinion. Tom Dougherty – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have seen ad and sent for brochure on Diamondback rods, anyone have any experience with this company? A few years ago, I bought a prototype 8 1/2′ 3/4 wgt. (prototype meaning no graphics on the rod and it wasn’t listed in their brochure) that I ran across on sale, and I think it’s wonderful.  It has a slow action, rather like my Winston 3 wgt., but it’s a bit heavier than an all-graphite rod would be (I think it’s one of their ‘lamiglass’ hybrids).  It casts both 3 & 4 wgt. lines equally well; I choose which based on wind conditions and fish spookiness.  HPH

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after reading all reply’s i am happy to know that i am not the only one who has broken there diamondback rods.i have two backwater series rods and both have broken at the ferrule,the last one breaking on the first cast of the first day in the florida keys.great trip!!they did repair them very fast but not even a letter of explanation.i think my next rod is an rplx.                                                           larry morris

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I love fly fishing in general it is so fun!!!! I love you too

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I love fly fishing in general it is so fun!!!! I love you too

that was beautiful man. you still aren’t getting my beer, though… TimW

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I love fly fishing in general it is so fun!!!! I love you tooGeez Jerry –

Isn’t 10:32 in the morning a tad early to be drinking?

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I love fly fishing in general it is so fun!!!! I love you too

..T-Bone..Send the Doc a homebrew!!….;)

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I love fly fishing in general it is so fun!!!! I love you too ..T-Bone..Send the Doc a homebrew!!….;)

Nah, he’d just use it to splash back more prozak. TimW

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I love fly fishing in general it is so fun!!!! I love you too ..T-Bone..Send the Doc a homebrew!!….;)

Actually it sounds like he has had one too many already! -Burton

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6/7 wt, 8-1/2 ft four-piece rods for years.  Very stiff action and will punch a line into the wind like no other rod I’ve ever used. Great for alpine lake fishing, which is why this is my backpacking rod of choice. Also great for going deep in big streams. Forget delicate presentations, however.  I also broke mine, and Diamondback fixed it very nicely. I think Diamondback used to private label a line of rods for L.L.Bean. Good luck!

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Have seen ad and sent for brochure on Diamondback rods, anyone have any experience with this company? I am interested in buying a blank from them. Would appreciate any life experiences with this company. Thanks, DLowe 21757.

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Have seen ad and sent for brochure on Diamondback rods, anyone have any

experience with this company? I am interested in buying a blank from them. Would appreciate any life experiences with this company.<< I like the action of the rods, I have two a 9wt and a 5 wt. The five weight broke at the ferrules while casting the first time out and it took too long (IMO) to get it back but they did fix it. I will not buy another one, that is my experience. Wayne Knight Marietta GA                                              

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Have seen ad and sent for brochure on Diamondback rods, anyone have any experience with this company? I am interested in buying a blank from them. Would appreciate any life experiences with this company. Thanks, DLowe 21757.

      I visited the factory up in Vermont a few years ago, and at the time their set-up looked efficient and clean; they stocked a nice line of rods, blanks and rod-building supplies. I’ve not been there recently.   Louise Scharrenberg

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Have seen ad and sent for brochure on Diamondback rods, anyone have any experience with this company?

A few years ago, I bought a prototype 8 1/2′ 3/4 wgt. (prototype meaning no graphics on the rod and it wasn’t listed in their brochure) that I ran across on sale, and I think it’s wonderful.  It has a slow action, rather like my Winston 3 wgt., but it’s a bit heavier than an all-graphite rod would be (I think it’s one of their ‘lamiglass’ hybrids).  It casts both 3 & 4 wgt. lines equally well; I choose which based on wind conditions and fish spookiness.  HPH

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Have seen ad and sent for brochure on Diamondback rods, anyone have any experience with this company? A few years ago, I bought a prototype 8 1/2′ 3/4 wgt. (prototype meaning no graphics on the rod and it wasn’t listed in their brochure) that I ran across on sale, and I think it’s wonderful.  It has a slow action, rather like my Winston 3 wgt., but it’s a bit heavier than an all-graphite rod would be (I think it’s one of their ‘lamiglass’ hybrids).  It casts both 3 & 4 wgt. lines equally well; I choose which based on wind conditions and fish spookiness.  HPH

I built a rod on a Diamondback 3 pc. Backwater blank last year and have fished it, oh probably 100 times more or less. The first two times out I broke the ferrule between the mid and tip section. Diamondback was real good about replacing it, and the rod designer, George, seemed genuinely interested in what the hell I was doing with their rods to do this :- I was using a 450 head (10 weight blank). The third ferrule was the charm and I’ve since had no problems at all, though I notice they’ve gone to the (IMO) much more reliable tip over butt ferrule in this year’s Saltwater rods (yay!). In terms of performance it casts very well with the rated line (#10) no need to overload it for wind or large flies. It’s less stiff than my Cabelas HML and a little more stiff than my Fisher GT40 if that helps. I can cast it all day without fatigue. Their stock rods seem very well built, I like their clown nose fighting butts, and the saltwater blank is especially nice to look at. I’d get another one, esp. with the new ferrule.                                                                 jc

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I’m planning on going to Reno next week and don’t know a thing about Nevada fishing or regulations. I’m looking for a spot within two hours of Reno that has decent car camping. I like the desert. Any info would be highly appreciated. Thanks and all the Best,

I was in Reno in July and fished the Truckee River just across the California border (about forty minutes from Reno). Caught several nice rainbows and had lots of fun. There’s a shop in Reno called the Reno Angler that should be able to let you know what’s happening and where. They sell both Nevada and California licenses, so you’re looking at one-stop shopping. Spinolio

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I’m planning on going to Reno next week and don’t know a thing about Nevada fishing or regulations. I’m looking for a spot within two hours of Reno that has decent car camping. I like the desert. Any info would be highly appreciated. Thanks and all the Best, Michael Smith

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Welcome to Nevada, A lot of fishing is within two hours of Reno.  Cehck with the Reno Fly Shop (702/ 825-3474), the Gilly (702/ 358-6113) or Mark, Fore & Strike (702/ 322-9559) for the latest.  In the meantime here are a few ideas… Truckee River open year round in Nevada, trophy section form California border down to first freeway bridge. Pyramid Lake just opened.  Weather still pretty warm for shore-wading anglers (algea and salt grass).  Fish are being caught. Walker River – East and West Forks open in Nevada (California closes October 31st) Rip a lip, A Nevada Angler

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I’m planning on going to Reno next week and don’t know a thing about Nevada fishing or regulations. I’m looking for a spot within two hours of Reno that has decent car camping. I like the desert. Any info would be highly appreciated. Thanks and all the Best, Michael Smith

Call the Reno Fly Shop. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

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Question:

Asking the usual question…looking for suggestions for best fly fishing in the general area of Lava Hot Springs in southern Idaho.  Appreciate it.  I might like to leave the family in the pool and seek my own kind of adventure for a day. P. Bowers

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Asking the usual question…looking for suggestions for best fly fishing in the general area of Lava Hot Springs in southern Idaho.  Appreciate it.  I might like to leave the family in the pool and seek my own kind of adventure for a day.

Check out the upper Portneuf River above Lava Hot Springs.  This river used to be pretty darn good, went downhill, and has recently undergone some stream improvement.  Ask for local directions to the old highway (not the one over Fish Creek Summit).  Try the area up around Pebble Creek.   Regards, George O. Jacox Boise, ID City of Trees

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Check out the upper Portneuf River above Lava Hot Springs.  This river used to be pretty darn good, went downhill, and has recently undergone some stream improvement.  Ask for local directions to the old highway (not the one over Fish Creek Summit).  Try the area up around Pebble Creek.  

P.S. Watch out for African lions.  <bg  Unfortunately, it’s too long a story to reproduce here.  Ask one of the locals and you’ll get an earful. Enjoy yourself on the Portneuf.  That’s the river I learned to flyfish on, many moons ago. Regards, George O. Jacox Boise, ID City of Trees

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Asking the usual question…looking for suggestions for best fly fishing in the general area of Lava Hot Springs in southern Idaho.  Appreciate it.  I might like to leave the family in the pool and seek my own kind of adventure for a day. P. Bowers

Upper Portneuf can be good. Kelly-Toponce area is best. Several access points along Rte 30 north of Lava. Downstream toward McCammon where the big bridge crosses the river there is an irrigation diversion, some swampy spots and several channels. Some decent browns there but very difficult to get to. You might also try tubing Chesterfield Reservoir (on upper Portneuf) or 24-Mile Reservoir. Both can be very good. Next few weeks might be tough though. The algae comes up off the bottom in big clumps a couple feet across and inches thick and clog the surface. It’s about that time. Should sink again or break up by mid-Sep. Another place you might consider that’s fairly close is the upper Blackfoot River. See the article in October Western Flyfishing mag. I was there last weekend. Lots of cutts, but mostly small. Still fun though. If you’re in Pocatello, stop at Jimmy’s All Seasons Angler and find out what’s what. There are a bunch of other reservoirs in the area that are pretty good. Luck & Tight Lines! Lance    web stuff at: www.primenet.com/~hankins

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Question:

Could anyone tell me what you think is the least expensive 3 weight rod?  I would also be willing to build it.  I’ve looked at the Sage 386 LL as well as some different G-Loomis rods and come to the conclusion that I don’t want or need a fast high tech rod for my small stream pack trips and would settle for a less expensive one.  

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I strongly recommend that you contact Eric at East Branch Rods. 1-800-337- EROD.  They make a sweet, moderate action rods in wts 1 thru 5.  A finished 8" 3wt 2pc is $235, a kit is $165 and a blank is $80.  Good luck.  (And, no, I’m not affiliated with them in any way.) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Could anyone tell me what you think is the least expensive 3 weight rod? I would also be willing to build it.  I’ve looked at the Sage 386 LL as well as some different G-Loomis rods and come to the conclusion that I don’t want or need a fast high tech rod for my small stream pack trips and would settle for a less expensive one.  

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I have a St. Croix Imperial 7′ 3/4 which cost about $95.  I really like the way it casts, though its cosmetics could be better

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I strongly recommend that you contact Eric at East Branch Rods. 1-800-337- EROD.  They make a sweet, moderate action rods in wts 1 thru 5.  A finished 8" 3wt 2pc is $235, a kit is $165 and a blank is $80.  Good luck. (And, no, I’m not affiliated with them in any way.) Could anyone tell me what you think is the least expensive 3 weight rod? I would also be willing to build it.  I’ve looked at the Sage 386 LL as well as some different G-Loomis rods and come to the conclusion that I don’t want or need a fast high tech rod for my small stream pack trips and would settle for a less expensive one.  

Diawa makes a 3-4 wt. 7′6" 5 pc. pack rod that sells for $200.00 CDN. I don’t know what it would retail for in the U.S. but it is cheap!  I have the 4-5 wt. version of the same rod and it has an excellent dry fly action, very cane like.  Great for short to medium casting distances.  Over the years I’ve owned Sage, Orvis, Thomas & Thomas, and Fisher rods.  The Diawa is no slouch. Peter

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writes: Could anyone tell me what you think is the least expensive 3 weight rod? I would also be willing to build it.  I’ve looked at the Sage 386 LL as well as some different G-Loomis rods and come to the conclusion that I don’t want or need a fast high tech rod for my small stream pack trips and would settle for a less expensive one.

Curtis, You can get the Orvis Rocky Mountain version of their "Tippet" rod (7 1/2′ 3wt.) with the 25 yr. no-fault guarantee for $230.  This is the same blank as the premium version without the fancy cosmetics.  You can buy the blank for $135.  It is a full flex (slow action) rod for delicate presentations and good protection of fine tippets.  If you want a faster rod (medium-fast action) that will cast better in the wind look at the HLS RM "Trico" ($240).  Not quite as easy on the tippets but definitely better in the wind.  Unfortunately, no blank is currently available for the Trico.                                                  Check it out,                                                         Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Schools Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

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I have several 3 weight G. Loomis rods available for sale. Please These are IMX from 8 1/2′ through 9′. Also offering fly casting classes in WA and OR. I am a certified FFF instructor and past Orvis Asst.School Director and have worked with over 5,000 students. Please E. Mail for

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