Question:

A large mouth bass is not picky or scared much.  They are very aggressive. The more noise the angrier they get.  If it gets too hot, as it does down South, they will hide in the weeds during the heat of the day.

Actually, I think it is light rather than heat they tend to avoid.  They tend to "hide" in deeper water when not feeding and when it is available.  If all the water is 8-10 feet or less, then weeds and logs it will have to be.  Of course, if you pound the shallow weeds long enough, you’ll eventually catch some stragglers. If nothing is hitting it, you can be sure a bass is sizing it up.  He may not hit it the first time.  Present it to him again.

I wouldn’t be so sure about that.  It’s very easy to fish in the 90% of the water that has no fish.

Response:

A large mouth bass is not picky or scared much.  They are very aggressive. The more noise the angrier they get.  If it gets too hot, as it does down South, they will hide in the weeds during the heat of the day.  The really go for poppers, but I have also found they like slow sinking bugs.  I do not know the proper name for it, but my favorite is  a flat moss green wool bug with long rubber feelers and eyes.

There is a fly that’s similar to your description, that’s tied with something like hula skirts on backwards – called a pig boat. John

Response:

The family vacation this August is taking me to a huge warm lake with no trout for miles.  I have never fished for bass and figure this is a good time to try.  I need help with flies and tactics.  There is supposedly good fishing for smallmouth, largemouth and stripers (not to mention walleyes, crappies, etc.).  Maybe someone can refer me to a website for beginner bass flyfishermen? As always any advice will be much appreciated. tom

Response:

A large mouth bass is not picky or scared much.  They are very aggressive. The more noise the angrier they get.  If it gets too hot, as it does down South, they will hide in the weeds during the heat of the day.  The really go for poppers, but I have also found they like slow sinking bugs.  I do not know the proper name for it, but my favorite is  a flat moss green wool bug with long rubber feelers and eyes. The perch will give your lure a fit within the first 5 to ten second of the lure landing.  If nothing is hitting it, you can be sure a bass is sizing it up.  He may not hit it the first time.  Present it to him again. They strike at any given angle.  I recently caught a 5 pounder that simply slurpped the popper without breaking the water.  The same day a 2 pounder completely cleared the surface of the water and took the fly on the way back down (Shamu style  ). We use barbless on our lake.  But if you are hungry, you best leave your barb intact.  They love to shake ‘em out at the shore line. I have caught them on tiny black flies, as well as large frogs, and mice. Scott

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The family vacation this August is taking me to a huge warm lake with no trout for miles.  I have never fished for bass and figure this is a good time to try.  I need help with flies and tactics.  There is supposedly good fishing for smallmouth, largemouth and stripers (not to mention walleyes, crappies, etc.).  Maybe someone can refer me to a website for beginner bass flyfishermen? As always any advice will be much appreciated. tom

Response:

Question:

No barbecue but we did end up with hamburgers at the beach grill.  I met up with Jon Cook on Monday to fish some of the surf near Los Angeles International Airport.  We jawed about some of our Great Lakes fishing memories and about life in academia.  When we got to the beach we saw a couple of corbina in skinny water.  It was low tide and the water was coming in.  We spotted some nice looking depressions in the sand.  If there were fish in this area they would soon be occupying those holes once the water filled in.  Jon got a look at some corbina and asked about them. I said I’d consider it a lucky day if we hooked into one.  Well, the fish were not there.  As the tide came in the corbina became more scarce.  My friend Jimmy tagged along with us and he did manage to catch a corbina. So maybe it was a lucky day after all.  All of us had a couple of strikes but failed to capitalize on the few opportunities.  Did end up with three perch landed between the three of us though.  The sea is a harsh mistress as they say.  Glad I did meet Jon though.  He says he will definitely go to the, as yet unplanned, next San Juan Clave.  Meet a ROFFian, meet a friend. Mu

Response:

Mu, you may have missed it on ROFF, but we noted your appearance in the SW Flyfishing article.  A very good article, btw. Glad I did meet Jon though.  He says he will definitely go to the, as yet unplanned, next San Juan Clave.  Meet a ROFFian, meet a friend.

Jon’s pretty slick at the San Juan.  We’ll have to do it again and get Jon to pick the days (early 2003 please).  We’ll hope for more willing next year although it’s always fun. bruce h

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Glad I did meet Jon though.  He says he will definitely go to the, as yet unplanned, next San Juan Clave.  Meet a ROFFian, meet a friend.

I missed Jon at the Juan last year. Willi

Response:

Glad I did meet Jon though.  He says he will definitely go to the, as yet unplanned, next San Juan Clave.  Meet a ROFFian, meet a friend. I missed Jon at the Juan last year.

Awww, comon mon! It was a no-John Juan? rivermon

Response:

Awww, comon mon! It was a no-John Juan? rivermon

So… it was a sans Juan? — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

Mu, you may have missed it on ROFF, but we noted your appearance in the SW Flyfishing article.  A very good article, btw.

Just re-read that article.  Bill wrote it about a year ago.  Reminded me of a whole bunch of little tactics that I have forgotten about.  Back when I was catching fewer fish I figured there were just very few fish around and that’s why I wasn’t catching them.  So I spent more time concentrating on casting technique and doing little things to maximize my success rate on the water.  Since then I’ve gotten a little lazy (mentally) and figure if I keep casting and covering lots of territory I will eventually hook up. Mu

Response:

  Since then I’ve gotten a little lazy (mentally) and figure if I keep casting and covering lots of territory I will eventually hook up.

My guess is that you now catch many more fish. That technique works. Willi

Response:

Question:

Pat Gilmore ask: <<Who is in control of this news group? Finecast Murphy

Response:

Who is in control of this news group?

Hm……let’s see now……today is the 3rd, right?  I believe this Mr. Peetah’s week.

Response:

Who is in control of this news group?

No, but they will be on the Simpsons Sunday night. — Charlie…

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Charles Darwin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Who is in control of this news group? Finecast

Response:

Who is in control of this news group? Finecast

Response:

Who is in control of this news group? Finecast

I would imagine that you took a little grief about announcing your pontoon boat sale on this newsgroup and that you’d like to discuss with the "master" why your ISP is giving you a hard time and what you possibly could have done wrong. Fair enough, but there is no "master". We defer to Ernie and Louie, but only because they have the balls to admit they’re actually old farts. The rest of the old farts around here are in denial. FWIW, Pat, I didn’t fire off a complaint to your ISP because that was the first bit of SPAM I’d seen from your direction and you’d explicitly apologized for it in the body of your SPAM. I don’t doubt though, that other members of this forum did not share my opinion, and sent polite complaints to your ISP. Whatever you had planned to say to the "master" you can say here in open forum. Most of us are assholes, few of us even polite, but there you go, it’s Usenet and you’ll just have to take your chances. I personally don’t mind an OCCASIONAL mention of sales and closeouts from regular contributors to this forum, but if you don’t contribute here, your commercials are not likely to be welcome here. That’s just my opinion, of course, and of the 112 regular posters here my opinion is worth somewhat less than 1/112. So, you were saying … — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

That would be Manos. You know, the "hands of fate"? " The master will see you now……" -Muskie

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ROFL.  Good one!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Who is in control of this news group? No, but they will be on the Simpsons Sunday night. — Charlie…

Response:

… We defer to Ernie and Louie, but only because they have the balls to admit they’re actually old farts. The rest of the old farts around here are in denial.

I am SO sorry, how on earth could I have forgotten Frank Church "the masseuse magnet" and John Popp "the one man militia". Please forgive the old fart oversight. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Who is in control of this news group? Hm……let’s see now……today is the 3rd, right?  I believe this Mr. Peetah’s week.

Typical, one of the worst weeks in ROFF history and it’s all my fault. Peter (counting the days to Wolfie’s week)

Response:

Who is in control of this news group? Finecast

You are. — "Our eyes and hands and feet will give us the same assistance in doing mischief as in doing good; but it would not therefore be better for the world, that all mankind were blind and lame. Arms are not to be laid aside by honest men, because carried by assassins and ruffians; they are to be used the rather for this very reason." -George Campbell

Response:

Who is in control of this news group? Finecast

No,no,no, Pat.  What is in control of this news group.  Who’s gone fishing in someone’s pontoon boat. Louie

Response:

Well, and someone doesn’t give it to anyone, ya know. Who knows, but then again, he’s out fishing with someone’s boat. Ask anyone! Noone will tell you what is in control. Herman, someone too. Who is in control of this news group? Finecast No,no,no, Pat.  What is in control of this news group.  Who’s gone fishing in someone’s pontoon boat. Louie

–         Cheers, Herman         Herman Nijland         Daytime webmaster         Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

_______  Did someone call? — George Gehrke http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html   affordable bamboo flyrods & blanks For the Book of Gink: : )  Fly fishing is so much fun its something you should be able to do in bed.

Response:

Who is in control of this news group?

That would be me. What did you want, my son? Put down the chainsaw and listen to me. It’s time for us to join in the fight.

Response:

Lucky for you Ken, or I wuz gonna borrow one of John’s guns…… I do appreciate the remembrance tho, one does not work this hard for 67 yrs to lose ones’ old fart status to a Bud induced brain fart. <g Frank (massuese magnet) Church – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … We defer to Ernie and Louie, but only because they have the balls to admit they’re actually old farts. The rest of the old farts around here are in denial. I am SO sorry, how on earth could I have forgotten Frank Church "the masseuse magnet" and John Popp "the one man militia". Please forgive the old fart oversight. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

ahem, Please cite your reference. And, it’s Chain-sign. The whole song is about stopping what you are doing to start doing it, or doing what they always say not to do – Daring to be stupid as it were. Thanks for reminding me of the song… Much thanks to Al Y. for the amusing albums. T. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Who is in control of this news group? That would be me. What did you want, my son? Put down the chainsaw and listen to me. It’s time for us to join in the fight.

Response:

ahem, Please cite your reference. And, it’s Chain-sign. The whole song is about stopping what you are doing to start doing it, or doing what they always say not to do – Daring to be stupid as it were.

Your wish is my command (it’s "chainsaw", not that I have the CD or anything): Dare To Be Stupid    Put down that chainsaw and listen to me    It’s time for us to join in the fight    It time to let your babies grow up to be cowboys    It time to let the bed bugs bite    You better put all your eggs in one basket    You better count your chickens before they hatch    You better sell some wine before its time    You better find yourself an itch to scratch    You better squeeze all the charmin you can    When Mr. Whipple’s not around    Stick your head in the microwave and get yourself a tan    Talk with your mouth full    Bite the hand that feeds you    Bite off more than you can chew    What can you do?    Dare to be stupid    Take some wooden nickels    Look for Mr. Goodbar    Get your mojo working now    I’ll show you how    You can    Dare to be stupid    You can turn the other cheek    You can just give up the ship    You can eat a bunch of sushi and forget to leave a tip    Dare to be stupid    Come on and dare to be stupid    It’s so easy to do    Dare to be stupid    We’re all waiting for you       Lets go    It’s time to make a mountain out of a molehill    So can I have a volunteer    There’s no more time for crying over spilt milk    Now it’s time for crying in your beer    Settle down raise a family join the PTA    Buy some sensible shoes and a chevrolet    Then party til you’re broke and they drag you away    It’s okay    You can dare to be stupid    It’s like spitting on a fish    It’s like barking up a tree    It’s like they say you gotta buy one if you want    To get one free    Dare to be stupid    Yeah why don’t you dare to be stupid    It’s so easy to do    Dare to be stupid    We’re all waiting for you    Dare to be stupid    Burn your candle at both ends    Look a gift horse in the mouth    Mashed potatoes can be your friends    You can be a coffee achiever    You can sit around the house and Leave It To Beaver    The Future’s up to you    So what you gonna do    Dare to be stupid    Dare to be stupid    What did I say?    Dare to be stupid    Tell me what did I say?    Dare to be stupid    It’s alright    Dare to be stupid    We can be stupid all night    Dare to be stupid    Come on join the crowd    Dare to be stupid    Shout it out loud    Dare to be stupid    I can’t hear you    Dare to be stupid    Okay, I can hear you now    Dare to be stupid    Let’s go    Dare to be stupid    Dare to be stupid    Dare to be stupid    Dare to be stupid    Dare to be stupid    Dare to be stupid    Dare to be stupid    Dare to be stupid Thanks for reminding me of the song…

Yeah, dammit, I’ve had that song stuck in my head ever since Mike put it in his sig. ,      - Ken — "The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness.  You have to catch it yourself."      -Ben Franklin

Response:

Who is in control of this news group? Finecast

Response:

Who is in control of this news group? Finecast

This is gonna be fun!

Response:

Who is in control of this news group? Finecast This is gonna be fun!

Harry Mason www.Troutflies.com

Response:

Question:

Hi,  whats a good fly for stocked rainbow trout in a small lake about 15 feet deep? I’d appreciate any info I can get.  Thanx.

Response:

Where would i find some information on this fly at? do you have a picture of it?  Thanx.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi,  whats a good fly for stocked rainbow trout in a small lake about 15 feet deep? I’d appreciate any info I can get.  Thanx. Niblet Fly ought to do it…

Response:

Hi,  whats a good fly for stocked rainbow trout in a small lake about 15 feet deep? I’d appreciate any info I can get.  Thanx.

Niblet Fly ought to do it…

Response:

are you fishing the surface or subsurface, I like to use floatant on hares ear nymphs and strip it in the surface film  or use beadheads subsurface. Good dry’s are ones that can be skimmed over the surface without sinking or twisting the line, caddis drys are good as are renagades. Bushy wulffs are great for sight and for trout that will pounce on whatever they see. Wolly buggers are a favorite for many, I would use small patterns w/ black being a common color. Many use a bushy dry fly w/ a small nymph dropper usually a midge larva or or smalll beadhead 16-20.  this can be real fun the fish may be attracted by the dry but hit the dropper, just use a foot or two of 5 or 6x tippet and thie it directly to the bend of the bushy dry patterns hook, just make sure you check for breaking stregnth. The dry is a strike indicator for the nymph but this will tell you just how active the fish are toward big drys. If you get no hits on the dry change it if none on the nymph change that it can take out some of the problem solving on what they want because lets face it stockers can be fussy too.  : ]        

Response:

Niblet Fly ought to do it…

ROFLOL! bc.

Response:

aka the Golden Terrestrial. Steve Zimmerman

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi,  whats a good fly for stocked rainbow trout in a small lake about 15 feet deep? I’d appreciate any info I can get.  Thanx. Niblet Fly ought to do it…

Response:

For your question of what type of fly to use ( stocked trout ), I have  had the best luck using a bead head caddis    -**** Posted from RemarQ, http://www.remarq.com/?a ****-  Search and Read Usenet Discussions in your Browser – FREE –

Response:

Question:

We camped right by a water fall. Barb-Animal lover, nature lover, camper, and mom.

Response:

<<I am planning to visit Glacier National Park in September of 2000.  I’d like suggestions on flyfishing and accomodations there.  Thank you. We tent camped/backpacked there about 9 years ago. My gosh we saw so many grizzly bears. I didn’t sleep too good at night. Every noise I heard freaked me out. Barb-Animal lover, nature lover, camper, and mom.

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Accomodations?  Like with room service? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am planning to visit Glacier National Park in September of 2000.  I’d like suggestions on flyfishing and accomodations there.  Thank you.

Response:

I am planning to visit Glacier National Park in September of 2000.  I’d like suggestions on flyfishing and accomodations there.  Thank you.

Response:

Question:

Lefty Kreh’s Video is one of the best So is Tom Whites Available at most fly shops — Free Lake Fly Fishing On-Line Magazine Lake Fly Fishing CD’s, Videos, Books http://www.rural.escape.ca/angling_north/fishing/organz.htm

Response:

JHF Aren’t you lucky that George does not spam this group about videos! This would be the sort of helpful response you would have had on your last question if he had not pushed his floatant (can’t possibly remember it’s name; ))on this NG.   David – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Could someone recommend some good fly fishing videos dealing with lessons in casting? Got my first fly rod and reel this week and want to learn.

Response:

I agree! Excellent and enjoyable. A "best Buy" in my  library of fly fishing "stuff" Regards from Montreal John Brkich

Response:

Oh, by the way, that Video (Volume I) is available at Bob Marriott’s Flyfishing Store at http://www.bobmarriotts.com/. — Will West Lionheart Fishing Safari http://www.lionheartsafari.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Could someone recommend some good fly fishing videos dealing with lessons in casting? Got my first fly rod and reel this week and want to learn.

Response:

My favorite videos are Doug Swishers Casting Tapes.  Also has a few tapes on Strategies for Catching Trout.  His tapes, Gary Borgers Tapes and lots of reading taught me to be the trout maniac that I am today.

Response:

I whole heartedly second Will’s testimonial to Mel Krieger’s casting video. It really shows the dynamics of the fly cast, and how to execute it. Gary Borger has a series of teaching videos out that are also very helpful, especially the one on nymphing. Good luck… Jason Wiles. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The best one we’ve seen is Essence of Fly Casting with Mel krieger.  Really good for the beginner.  One you can watch and then go out and apply. — Will West Lionheart Fishing Safari http://www.lionheartsafari.com Could someone recommend some good fly fishing videos dealing with lessons in casting? Got my first fly rod and reel this week and want to learn.

Response:

Could someone recommend some good fly fishing videos dealing with lessons in casting? Got my first fly rod and reel this week and want to learn.

Response:

The best one we’ve seen is Essence of Fly Casting with Mel krieger.  Really good for the beginner.  One you can watch and then go out and apply. — Will West Lionheart Fishing Safari http://www.lionheartsafari.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Could someone recommend some good fly fishing videos dealing with lessons in casting? Got my first fly rod and reel this week and want to learn.

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Question:

        A friend of mine is looking for feathers/skins for some art she’s doing and I thought that someone on this list might have some that they would be willing to part with…                                 Thanks in advance                                 Kneil Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

Response:

        Your friend should check a good fly fishing store. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at:         http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/

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Question:

    My family are planning to camping in Angle Fire, NM.  I been fly-fishing in Red River but never been in Angle Fire.  Anyone have comments or suggestion. please Email me.  Thanks! Happy fly-fishing! —    _/     _/  _/  _/        _/ _/    AlphaPager (972) 597-0457  _/   _/    _/  _/        _/  _/     TI-MSGID: RKS2 _/     _/  _/    _/_/_/  _/    _/www.geocities.com/Yosemite/9916

Response:

    My family are planning to camping in Angle Fire, NM.  I been fly-fishing in Red River but never been in Angle Fire.  Anyone have comments or suggestion. please Email me.  Thanks!

 Rick When we’re  in angel fire we generally fish the cimmaron, downstream from eagles nest lake (about a 30 minute drive) or coyote creek down the mountain toward Mora (new mexico 3 i think) at the coyote creek state park  (30 minutes or so also).  good luck james mahan Please include J Mahan in subject line of email replies.

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Question:

Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen very often? Eric Johnson

Caught a catfish on a deep diving plug while trolling.

Response:

Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen very often? Eric Johnson Caught a catfish on a deep diving plug while trolling.

 I’ve had a number of customers write me about catching catfish on my M-Baits, seems they aren’t as ‘finicky’ as their feline counterparts!!        **** Mike Muncy’s ****                     "M-Baits" Handcrafted Cedar Crankbaits        http://www.fishingworld.com/M-Baits/    http://www.open.org/gary/fishinhole.htm

Response:

Once anglers understand the concept that catfish are opportunistic predators, they will begin to understand better how to fish for them and the underestimated sport they represent.

Response:

Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen very often? Eric Johnson Caught a catfish on a deep diving plug while trolling.

Eric…         I have caught a catfish on a rubber worm(14-15" in length),  and have seen them caught on a jig and pig (7lb channel cat) and a tail spinner (12-13" in length) — http://www.iquest.net/~kidd "Trust men, and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great."   Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)

Response:

Eric Johnson) writes: This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen very often?

I fish a tailwater on the Ohio River for sauger, smallmouth, etc. using 1/4-1/2 ounce ball head jigs and curly-tail plastic jigs in the 2-3" size. Several times a year I’ll catch catfish on the jigs in this very swift water. The cats are almost always flatheads, which  seem to prefer live bait (or an imitation, like my jigs). I also catch lots of carp, and they are caught in the mouth, not snagged or foul hooked. Years ago, I remember fishing for bluegill with flyrods and poppers when my fishing buddy caught a small channel cat on his popper. Not all that uncommon.

Response:

Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen very often?

Eric, Last year I caught two catfish in the 3 to 4 lb. range on Kastmasters while fishing for bass.  As you said it sure is a suprise, but a pleasant one, because, they were alfully good eating. Sue

Response:

Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen very often?

While trolling sparkletails in the Wolf River at Winneconne we often catch catfish (flatheads) from 5 to 18 lbs.  Occasionally, huge fish broke our lines. We assumed these, too, must be catfish. — Bob Mittelstadt Fox Lake, Wisconsin

Response:

A couple of close friends and myself are planning a trip to the area near (50 miles or so) Lake Temagami this fall for some camping and Walleye/pike fishing. I am interested in any information on camping recommendations and locations in the Temagami area.  We are, as always, rather strapped for cash and looking for some fairly remote place where we can drive to and set up our tent for a week of fishing.  We are quiet, conscientious, and pack out everything we brought in.   I would also be interested in a reasonably priced cabin that would hold up to possibly six fishermen and is close to good fishing… Emile "Give a man a fish, and he’ll feed his family for a day. Teach him to fish, and he’s gone the whole damn weekend!"                                 — My Wife!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -A couple of close friends and myself are planning a trip to the area near (50 miles or so) Lake Temagami this fall for some camping and Walleye/pike fishing. I am interested in any information on camping recommendations and locations in the Temagami area.  We are, as always, rather strapped for cash and looking for some fairly remote place where we can drive to and set up our tent for a week of fishing.  We are quiet, conscientious, and pack out everything we brought in.   I would also be interested in a reasonably priced cabin that would hold up to possibly six fishermen and is close to good fishing… Emile "Give a man a fish, and he’ll feed his family for a day. Teach him to fish, and he’s gone the whole damn weekend!"                                — My Wife!

Try the Montreal River.. anywhere; but why not go a few miles further and fish the Shining Tree Area which is not hit so hard in the summer. Or try Longpoint Lodge on Longoint Lk just outside Elk Lake(reasonable rates and good fishing), Or Bullocks Camp at Gowganda. ( Great Walleye and NP Lk). Any of those is better than anything around Temagami IMHO. Temagami area lakes just get pounded heavier each year.

Response:

 Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was  one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot  long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had  caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on  artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen  very often? If I remember correctly, the Illinois state record channel cat was caught by a bass angler using a plastic worm. I myself have caught a channel cat on a fly rod while using a popper for small bass/bluegill. Jay —      Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that      it is not fish they are after.                                           Henry David Thoreau

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: Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was : one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot : long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had : caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on : artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen : very often? : Eric Johnson A guy I knew once caught a big catfish at night on a Hula Popper.

My boy caught two channel cats from a lake and a flathead from a river using a spinnerbait.  He was fishing for Bass.

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: Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was : one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot : long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had : caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on : artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen : very often? : Eric Johnson

A guy I knew once caught a big catfish at night on a Hula Popper.

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essex.heartland.net writes Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen very often? Eric Johnson

Having fished for MANY years, I thought I has seen everything… Pike on a crappie jig, Musky on a doughball (see the Md. State record!) and a huge channel cat on bass popper. Until the day my brother took me out to his favorite spot on Lake Arthur in Pa.  "The bass are tearing up Jitter-Bugs on the surface in the evening", He promised. He demonstrated by flipping out a huge jointed ‘Bug and promptly hooking a huge fish that took us 20 minutes to get to the boat!  Suspecting one of the huge Tiger Muskies that Arthur is famous for, I grabbed the net and braced myself.  Well, it wasn’t a Bass after all… It was a 31" CARP!!!   Emile Boulanger Hook, Line, & Sinker! inc.

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Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen very often? Eric Johnson

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: Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was : one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot : long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had : caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on : artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen : very often? : Eric Johnson

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Last night I caught a catfish on a plastic crawdad!  It was one of those Berkeley micros and the catfish was about a foot long.  It sure caught me by surprise when I saw what I had caught.  This isn’t the first time I caught a catfish on artificial baits, either.  Has anyone else had this happen very often? Eric Johnson

Eric,         Would you believe, just last weekend I caught a 14# channel cat on a spinner bait while fishing for bass in a small county park here in SW Iowa. You talk abbout a surprise when you set the hook thinking  a 2 or 3 lb. bass and all of a sudden you’re being towed all over the lake for 15 mins.         BTW that was the only fish boated all afternoon.                         GITABIGUN, E. Bruce Hullman IRC: BassBug   "There’s only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys."                         Red Green

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Question:

While looking through some fishing catalogs that have recently made it to my mailbox, a question came to mind… I know that a tapered leader is an option…and so is a knotted taper… my question is, can I use "regular" monofilament for the taper or even the tippet for that matter…I mean, isn’t it all essentially the same stuff? Also, I stumbled across a "Hobbs Creek Combo" in the Bass Pro catalog… it’s a 8-1/2 ft 7 wt w/ a rod bag, wf-7-f line, 100 yd backing and a tapered leader thrown in…all for the unbelievably low price of $94.95…that’s right, only 94.95…so call now…uh, sorry…sales pitc mode…does anyone have any experience with this combo?  or any other combos in this "super-cheapy" range?  There’s also a graphite rod combo for $179.94 that might be a better "investment"…anyhow, if you have the catalog, look on page 50 and 51 and let me know if any of these are worth looking at… Fish on!, JC

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Yes, it’s "all the same stuff".  However, remember that the taper relates to the diameter of the material, not its breaking strength.  And since manufacturers don’t necessarily produce a uniform diameter to strength product, you have to watch it. Four pound test may not be thinner than six pound test from a different manufacturer. Charley

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Yeah it’s all the same stuff. Unless you buy a tapered leader the mono you buy is all level. There are pros & cons to buying as well as tying your own leaders, but as a general rule I would stick to buying tapered. They are certainly more convenient and easier to deal with and I havn’t found a situation where they wouldn’t work. Save yourself the effort of tying, unless you really need a specialized leader (long & fine for drys…etc.).      As per the rod you probably should try to decide how serious you want to be before you buy. Save yourself the money of buying two outfits (a cheap one now & an upgrade later)esp. if you intend to persue the sport for life. I recommend a Sage 590 RPL and a Ross Gunnison reel. This outfit will cover you for 90% of the freshwater fishing you will encounter and will last a lifetime. If you are still concerned about the price check out the Sage Discovery Series (rod, reel, and line) for around $250 the extra investment is definately worth the enjoyment of fishing with better equipment.    TIEFLIE

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