Question:

Phew. All kinds of generalities there, probably none of it of much help. But at least I didn’t skewer you ;^)

Actually, since he didn’t specify the conditions he would be fishing or his casting style, you sort of did by making him read yet another post about preferences<g. — Charlie…

Response:

I just read through this thread hoping to pick up some reasoning for what would be the virtue of a slower action rod and I have to tell you I found almost zero usefull information.  Would you guys consider starting a new group alt.love_lost.2.old.rod?

Uh uh uh. Don’t taunt the bears! Wouldn’t be prudent. Or better yet, tell me why (and where) a slow rod beats a fast rod.

I believe that’s mostly a matter of casting style and/or experience. For many folks, especially less experienced ones, slower rods telegraph their loaded point louder than fast rods do, so a slower rod can be easier to cast – or learn to cast. The faster the rod the less obvious that same loaded-point becomes. One could make a case, I suppose, that a slower rod is easier to use in tight quarters (small streams, etc) regardless of casting style or expertise. I don’t have any wicked-fast small stream rods, they’re all moderate action or even a bit slow. I do have some real telephone poles for stripers and bluefish, however (eg: 9wt IMX, 7wt RPLX) as well as a couple of moderate-action rods (eg: 9wt IM6, 7wt IM6) and for fighting wind over the ocean I like casting the faster rods – which throw a tighter loop (very useful when casting side-arm to get down under the worst of the wind). I still have a couple of glass rods but really hated fishing saltwater with them. Too damned slow, not as much backbone, and casting a wide loop side-arm can be really risky business ;^) Phew. All kinds of generalities there, probably none of it of much help. But at least I didn’t skewer you ;^) /daytripper

Response:

Aw c’mon Ken, the quality of free advice just wasn’t up to his standards.

I just don’t like whiners. I mean, I read his post hoping to find a really good borscht recipe. That damn post mentioned nothing whatsoever about borscht, but you don’t hear me whining about it. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

I feel the LL is one of Sage’s best creation.  It is one of the nicest rods to cast a line with.  I have a 389-3LL and use a Stillwater taper for most of my lake fishing.  I’ve even gone as far as using a type 2 uniform sink from SA.  It actually casted fine.   My buddy has a 489 and uses all different sink rates of lake lines on it.  You will need to make subtle changes to your casting stroke in order to make up for the slower action.  What rod do you have? Thanks, — Forrest http://www.FlyFishingREVIEW.com FlyFishingREVIEW.com win any SAGE rod! Before you buy.

Response:

I’ll register in on the love side.   I’ve always preferred the softer action of the LL series, and the 490 LL is my absolute favorite rod ever. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any fans of the Sage Light Line Series out there?   Or for that matter, anybody hate the series? Personally I love it’s medium action and can’t believe they are discontinuing them (at least that’s what I heard).  Has anyone tried casting this rod with a sink tip or a wet line?  If so I’d particularly like to hear from you. Thinking of getting new lines for this rod but want to hear some comments/suggestions from others that have tried different line combos on this rod before rushing out to waste money.  Reason why I’m hesitating is because its light weight plus medium action might make this rod a nightmare to cast with sink tips or wet lines. Thanks!

Response:

I also fall on the love side of the spectrum.  I think the LL and the RPL were the best rods Sage has made.   I currently own a SP+ which I use on the big open lakes and rivers out here in WA but I just bought a 2 pc. 3wt LL blank off of ebay for fishing the creeks and smaller waters.  I can’t wait to get it built.   Hopefully Sage will relearn the lesson that power isn’t everything and return to making these fine rods. Mike

Response:

I currently own a SP+ which I use on the big open lakes and rivers out here in WA but I just bought a 2 pc. 3wt LL blank off of ebay for fishing the creeks and smaller waters.  I can’t wait to get it built.

I saw that blank and damned near went after it myself to build my wife a rod; but I just have too many rod projects in the works for the present. (Fixing my son’s epoxy & repairing my broken 9 wt.)   I’m glad I didn’t drive the price up for you.  :-) Joe F.

Response:

I own a 9 foot 4 weight LL and love the thing. I am sick of fast action rods that stop a trout in its tracks. I also have an RPL+ 10 foot 7 weight and this is really a salmon rod. I caight a 14lb 2oz rainbow on it the other day and after a couple of minutes, the fish put its fins in the air and came quietly. Shame. I broke my big Sage in May, which is why August saw me fishing the Teifi at night for sea trout with my LL. I hooked, played and netted a fish of 5.5 lb and the fight was tremendous. So glad it wasn’t my RPL+. I have just bought a 3 piece 9 foot 6 weight SP and am dying to get out there with the thing. Softer action too, although not like the LL. The LL range is being continued, I understand, although only in a 3-piece and at a higher price. Bugger (woolly and otherwise)! Caspar – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yep, I own 3 of the LL series…….2/4/6 wts.  Love ‘em.  I would class their action more as slow to medium, than strictly medium.  My casting style (if one could call it a ’style’, more like a grenade toss) is more suited to the slower action.  And no, I don’t use sinking lines on any of them because they are just not suited for throwing weight.  Having said that, I sometimes use a short piece of sinking leader to get the fly down if fishing in current or deeper water, but it is not a comfortable thing for me to do. If I’m tossing weighted buggers or need to use a sink tip, I switch to my St Croix medium action rods.  BTW, as to lines, I use SA Mastery or AirCell Supreme WF stuff.  FWIW- Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED Any fans of the Sage Light Line Series out there?   Or for that matter, anybody hate the series? Personally I love it’s medium action and can’t believe they are discontinuing them (at least that’s what I heard).  Has anyone tried casting this rod with a sink tip or a wet line?  If so I’d particularly like to hear from you. Thinking of getting new lines for this rod but want to hear some comments/suggestions from others that have tried different line combos on this rod before rushing out to waste money.  Reason why I’m hesitating is because its light weight plus medium action might make this rod a nightmare to cast with sink tips or wet lines. Thanks! Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED

Response:

I have cast a LL and am seriously thinking of getting a 489.  How do you think they compare with an SP or SPl?  Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Chris Brown

Response:

Any fans of the Sage Light Line Series out there?  

I have a 490-4 LL that I’m quite fond of. I’ve tried several DT & WF floating lines on it, but no sinking lines. What works best for me is a Wulff TT 3/4. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

I own a 9 foot 4 weight LL and love the thing. I am sick of fast action rods that stop a trout in its tracks. I also have an RPL+ 10 foot 7 weight and this is really a salmon rod. I caight a 14lb 2oz rainbow on it the other day and after a couple of minutes, the fish put its fins in the air and came quietly. Shame.

[snip] Some people would say that was a good thing.

Response:

Chris, I like the SP action and use it for the most part.  I have a couple SP+’s and in the wind and for long casting, prefer them.  I fished a SPL last spring for a week and found it just too much like a noodle.  Too slow for me. Regards, Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have cast a LL and am seriously thinking of getting a 489.  How do you think they compare with an SP or SPl?  Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Chris Brown

Response:

I’ve had three LLs, one SP, one RPL and two RPs.  The LLs were always my favourites and my current 590 LL (an older graphite II model) will cast a type V sinktip with no problem.  Just have to open up the loop a bit, that’s all.  I do a lot of streamer fishing so all of my trout rods have to be able to throw sinktips as well as floating lines. Slow action doesn’t necessarily mean less power. Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

The Sage 389LL was one of the finest small-stream dry fly rods ever created.  It was originally produced in graphite II, and is one of the few blanks that survived a transition to graphite III without problems or substantial reworking.   Interestingly enough, it won a FR&R Kudo as a 2 weight – the slower action allowed it to load effectively with a 2 or a 3.  I fished mine (lost in the fire, alas) with a Triangle Taper 2/3, and it was superb.   I sorely miss it.  Since the fire, I bought one of the new SPL rods to replace it, but it just isn’t quite the same…….                                         Michael – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I currently own a SP+ which I use on the big open lakes and rivers out here in WA but I just bought a 2 pc. 3wt LL blank off of ebay for fishing the creeks and smaller waters.  I can’t wait to get it built. I saw that blank and damned near went after it myself to build my wife a rod; but I just have too many rod projects in the works for the present. (Fixing my son’s epoxy & repairing my broken 9 wt.)   I’m glad I didn’t drive the price up for you.  :-) Joe F.

Response:

I picked up a 490-4 LL blank on ebay recently (a major relief for me – I thought I’d lost that rod forever).  It was being sold by Drake Rod Co. – the lady told me that she had a couple of them in stock, and I believe that she also had a 490-3 LLB as well.  If anyone’s interested in contacting them drop me an email and I’ll see if I can scare up the contact info.                                 Michael Roegner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any fans of the Sage Light Line Series out there?   I have a 490-4 LL that I’m quite fond of. I’ve tried several DT & WF floating lines on it, but no sinking lines. What works best for me is a Wulff TT 3/4.

Response:

I got a 356 LL 2 years ago ( Yep, 5′-6") and absolutely love it for the small creeks I fish. I can cast under the canopy, cart it around in the bushes without getting hung up, and it casts up to 50′ with no problems, though it’s rare I see that much open space where I use it. I understand it was discontinued last year.         Steve

Response:

I have the 490 3LL and I absolutely adore it.  I plan to get some new lines for it soon but wasn’t sure how well it would cast heavier lines like sink tips and wet lines. After hearing from a few people that’s actually tried sink tips and full sinks, I think I will give it a try.   Afterall, I like the rod so much I want to use it for most, if not all, of my outtings, both stream and lake. Thanks for the info. Ken. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I feel the LL is one of Sage’s best creation.  It is one of the nicest rods to cast a line with.  I have a 389-3LL and use a Stillwater taper for most of my lake fishing.  I’ve even gone as far as using a type 2 uniform sink from SA.  It actually casted fine.   My buddy has a 489 and uses all different sink rates of lake lines on it.  You will need to make subtle changes to your casting stroke in order to make up for the slower action.  What rod do you have? Thanks, — Forrest http://www.FlyFishingREVIEW.com FlyFishingREVIEW.com win any SAGE rod! Before you buy.

Response:

(Flyfis4fun) writes: I also fall on the love side of the spectrum.  I think the LL and the RPL were the best rods Sage has made.   Hopefully Sage will relearn the lesson that power isn’t everything and return to making these fine rods. Moral of the story, if you find a rod you love, buy at least three of them cause sooner or later they ain’t gonna make em no more.

Oh Mister Gear Whore, you’re my HERO!

Response:

(Flyfis4fun) writes: I also fall on the love side of the spectrum.  I think the LL and the RPL were the best rods Sage has made.  

{snip} Hopefully Sage will relearn the lesson that power isn’t everything and return to making these fine rods.

Moral of the story, if you find a rod you love, buy at least three of them cause sooner or later they ain’t gonna make em no more. Wayne Knight (remove nospam to respond via mail) Expert in the creation of  wind knots and tailing loops.

Response:

I just read through this thread hoping to pick up some reasoning for what would be the virtue of a slower action rod and I have to tell you I found almost zero usefull information.  Would you guys consider starting a new group alt.love_lost.2.old.rod?  Or better yet, tell me why (and where) a slow rod beats a fast rod. Mike

Response:

I just read through this thread hoping to pick up some reasoning for what would be the virtue of a slower action rod and I have to tell you I found almost zero usefull information.  Would you guys consider starting a new group alt.love_lost.2.old.rod?  Or better yet, tell me why (and where) a slow rod beats a fast rod. Mike

How in the hell can you read a newsgroup with your head stuck up your ass like that ? — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

I just read through this thread hoping to pick up some reasoning for what would be the virtue of a slower action rod and I have to tell you I found almost zero usefull information.  Would you guys consider starting a new group alt.love_lost.2.old.rod?  Or better yet, tell me why (and where) a slow rod beats a fast rod. Mike How in the hell can you read a newsgroup with your head stuck up your ass like that ?

Aw c’mon Ken, the quality of free advice just wasn’t up to his standards. What do you expect him to do, an internet search for articles or something? I mean, after all his vast contributions it seems he deserves better than this<g. — Charlie…

Response:

I just read through this thread hoping to pick up some reasoning for what would be the virtue of a slower action rod and I have to tell you I found almost zero usefull information.  Would you guys consider starting a new group alt.love_lost.2.old.rod?  Or better yet, tell me why (and where) a slow rod beats a fast rod. Mike

Let me take a minute here to wipe the sarcasm off your post, then I’ll try and answer your question.  First off, It isn’t a case of slow vs. fast, rather that each has it’s own characteristics that you can exploit in different situations. The biggest determinant is personal preference; some people love ‘em others don’t.  For the rest of the list of characteristics, these are generalizations and there are plenty of exceptions.  For sake of argument, assume that I’m comparing a slow Orvis Superfine 5 wt, to a fast Sage RPL+ 5 wt. Slow rods (Orvis Superfine) Loads easily with only a little line Short cast, mend and roll cast well Tend to be tolerant of under and over-lining Less fatiguing over a long day of fishing More delicate presentation Fast rods (Sage RPL+) Handles the wind better Stiff butt section gives better lifting power Easier to cast long Tighter loop control Pinpoint accuracy is easier But having said all of that, a good caster can be pinpoint accurate and handle the wind with a Superfine, or lay down a delicate cast with an RPL+ so we end up back with personal preference.   But there’s another determinant that you should keep in mind.  Some rods have a progressive action while others have more radical action. By this I mean that a progressive rod will simply work further down into the butt, the longer you cast and the more power you apply.  The relationship between power and distance on the one hand and how far the rod works into the butt on the other, is more or less linear. Casting a progressive rod doesn’t really take a change of casting stroke to cast long; merely lengthen the stroke a bit and apply a little more power.  Radical actions change between tip and butt so you may have a soft tip married to a stiff butt that requires a change in your casting stroke when casting long.  Radical actions try to combine the merits of slow and fast action rods in one but you have to pay a price by altering your casting stroke to accomondate the transition between slow tip and fast butt as the casting distance lengthens. Here’s a comparison – if you took an old Sage RPL 8 wt. and a Loomis GL3 Megataper 8/9 wt., and deflection tested them with identical weights, you may find that both delfected about the same amount so they would both be considered fast.  But the Sage would be bending well into the butt while the Loomis would accomodate most of the bending in the tip. So when casting, you’d find the Loomis will short cast easier but the Sage would be easier to cast over the full limits of its range.  The Loomis action was intended for flats fishing where you’d pick up a short bit of line with the tip, load quickly then bang out 60′-70′ with the butt, all in one casting motion.  The RPL would probably need one false cast to do the same. Next time don’t be so sarcastic and I won’t make you read as much.  :) Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Yep, I own 3 of the LL series…….2/4/6 wts.  Love ‘em.  I would class their action more as slow to medium, than strictly medium.  My casting style (if one could call it a ’style’, more like a grenade toss) is more suited to the slower action.  And no, I don’t use sinking lines on any of them because they are just not suited for throwing weight.  Having said that, I sometimes use a short piece of sinking leader to get the fly down if fishing in current or deeper water, but it is not a comfortable thing for me to do.  If I’m tossing weighted buggers or need to use a sink tip, I switch to my St Croix medium action rods.  BTW, as to lines, I use SA Mastery or AirCell Supreme WF stuff.  FWIW- Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Any fans of the Sage Light Line Series out there?   Or for that matter, anybody hate the series? Personally I love it’s medium action and can’t believe they are discontinuing them (at least that’s what I heard).  Has anyone tried casting this rod with a sink tip or a wet line?  If so I’d particularly like to hear from you. Thinking of getting new lines for this rod but want to hear some comments/suggestions from others that have tried different line combos on this rod before rushing out to waste money.  Reason why I’m hesitating is because its light weight plus medium action might make this rod a nightmare to cast with sink tips or wet lines. Thanks!

Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED

Response:

Any fans of the Sage Light Line Series out there?   Or for that matter, anybody hate the series? Personally I love it’s medium action and can’t believe they are discontinuing them (at least that’s what I heard).  Has anyone tried casting this rod with a sink tip or a wet line?  If so I’d particularly like to hear from you. Thinking of getting new lines for this rod but want to hear some comments/suggestions from others that have tried different line combos on this rod before rushing out to waste money.  Reason why I’m hesitating is because its light weight plus medium action might make this rod a nightmare to cast with sink tips or wet lines. Thanks!

Response:

Question:

All Rounder with many extras. 10 ft.  1 or 2 people.  600 lb capacity.

Response:

 we can pic up a pail of lard for jeff to cook the eggs in,

actually, after careful study of the fly dressing thread, i’m ordering a barrel of albolene…understand it has a thousand uses… jeff

Response:

a thousand and one…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  we can pic up a pail of lard for jeff to cook the eggs in, actually, after careful study of the fly dressing thread, i’m ordering a barrel of albolene…understand it has a thousand uses… jeff

Response:

Mail by several of the members of that group to request that I ask you guys to stay at home. Their group has many fine ladies and gentlemen involved who like to discuss the finer points of technical points of fishing  , cigar smoking, and didigal camera without the necessity of deleting  a bunch of messages fro  a bunch of drunken rowdies planning another meeting in the woods.  I of course replied -something here inside cannot be denied- when smoke gets in your eyes.             We will have plenty of food for the  spring clave, lots of wild weeds to make Ken"s meetless lasanga,  tomatoes will be in season so Dave an juswt drop whole big ones   in his tacos, I sill have a half gallon of Wall Mart special red,  we can pic up a pail of lard for jeff to cook the eggs in, and I know Walt has a couple of jars of spaghetti sauce. God I’m getting as silly as the rest of you jackasses.  Indian Joe3 ied

Response:

Question:

I should have printed the message, but didn’t.  Someone submitted an exercise where you use the tip of your fly rod and practice casting indoors.  Could that person re-send that message?  I’m new to fly fishing and would like to practice indoors.

This practice method seems to have been proposed first by Lee Wulff about 40 years ago, mainly to teach timing.  Instead of a fly line you use a thickish rope of lightweight wool, such as is used to tie curtains or ornamental parcels, about 10 to 12 feet long.  It works. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

I should have printed the message, but didn’t.  Someone submitted an exercise where you use the tip of your fly rod and practice casting indoors.  Could that person re-send that message?  I’m new to fly fishing and would like to practice indoors. Thanks and Good Fishing Gary

Response:

Gary, what you do is run thick yarn through the guides of the end of your rod as if it was the actual fly line. Its a good way to begin to understand the principles of casting, for example casting a wide loop as opposed to a narrow loop, that sort of thing. Hope this helps. Kevin – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I should have printed the message, but didn’t.  Someone submitted an exercise where you use the tip of your fly rod and practice casting indoors.  Could that person re-send that message?  I’m new to fly fishing and would like to practice indoors. Thanks and Good Fishing Gary

Response:

Question:

: Another nice place is when you go into Idaho from Montana over the Lolo : Pass. Yes, but now everybody goes there.  Sheesh, like 2 or 3 people a week. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

: Well Rick, I can’t find my map just yet but I would have to believe : that the creek is just north of Galena Summit.  At least I think that : is what it is called.  It is the pass between Ketchum and Stanley.   Nice try, I know the area a little, but it is not the spot I was talking about.  Where would the lake be for the town I said reminded me of Tahoe? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

That would be the place where Jacob’s Ladder and the Golf Course are?   X fork of the Y? — /* Sandy Pittendrigh                  –oO0  * http://www.nervana.montana.edu/~sandy  * http://www.avicom.net/sandy  */

Response:

Another nice place is when you go into Idaho from Montana over the Lolo Pass. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail GIVE MY FLY FISHING BOOKS A NEW HOME Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Let us all remember there are still amazing and beautiful places we can discover.  The whole damn point of this goofy post is to motivate you to get out a map and go looking. Stop motivating me, please!  I’ve already got a whole pile of maps and books about Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, BC, Alaska, New Zealand, and Patagonia (along with a collection of books and CDs about self-taught Spanish).  I racked up 1000 miles on my truck last weekend, and 35 miles on my tennis shoes seeking out some of the places on those maps.  The last thing I need is someone motivating me to buy another damned map! Stop it! — -Wayne Trzyna                           Fight spam! Join CAUCE (Coalition Email).  http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~trzyna    See http://www.cauce.org/

Response:

: Well Rick, I can’t find my map just yet but I would have to believe : that the creek is just north of Galena Summit.  At least I think that : is what it is called.  It is the pass between Ketchum and Stanley.   Nice try, I know the area a little, but it is not the spot I was talking about.  Where would the lake be for the town I said reminded me of Tahoe?

I guess the Salmon comment must have had me looking South instead of North.  Perhaps I should have been looking more towards Sandpoint. Gotta go, I am headed up to Red Ives and some (hopefully) hungry cutts. Marty P.E.T.A (People for the Ethical Termination of Antihunters)

Response:

20 miles of *the* place where the 2-5 pounders are found. That spot is below a small damn, and is on a river that to my knowledge, was the last river in the US to be successfully rafted [in] 1975. the section of the river I am talking about with the 2-5 pounders is in a

stretch of the river – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -where a canoe can easily navigate and is above the nasty part. Further, this spot is on one of the two major N-S highways in the state. It is not in the part of Idaho I usually write about. It is near a town where I thought, "wow… this is exactly what Tahoe looked like 20 years ago." It is in a valley with its floor at about 5000 feet. Near the spring creek, I was able to step across one of the (former) greatest salmon spawning rivers in the US. This place where I was able to step across this river is at least 600 miles from the ocean. I then drove to a spot on this same river where I was not able to throw a rock across it (because it is over 100 yards wide.) This river collects a *lot* of very pure water on its trip to the ocean.

Lot’s of rich facts, and I’m sure with a little sluething, the location of this spring creek is quite detectable. Of course, in trying to figure out where this gem of a spring creek is, your eyes would be pouring over the locations of more good fishing water than you could possibly cover. Mitch

Response:

: If your route takes you across the Panhandle of Idaho try the Locsha along US : 12.   OK, fish the Lochsa of you must, but stay away from its sister river, the Selway.  That is one crappy river.  In fact, although few know it, it is probably the crappiest trout stream in the US.  It is a looooooser. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

: I apologize, I left out some important detail.  By W Idaho I ment Boise, : and the fastest route takes me through East Idaho.  That does take me : past the streams that I mentioned.  The Panhandle route to Boise would : be longer, but more scenic.  Thanks for the information. Boise is south Idaho. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

Try the beaverhead in southwest montana just outside of dillon.  Fish near the dam on Clark Canyon resevoir.  Big, Big BIG fish.  Usually crowded but easy access for an afternoon of fishing.  Did I mention big fish? Matthew           Matthew W Kaphan    http://home.sprintmail.com/~mwk            Silverdale, WA

Response:

"THE ROOT!!!" If you are in Helena….. ya better swing down to Hamilton and fish the  "Bitterroot!!" "The most under rated river in Montana" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be making a car trip the week of 7/13 to visit relatives.  We will be driving from Helena MT to W Idaho.  Since I am the only fisherman in my family I won’t have as much time to spend fishing as I would like.  If you had a half a day where would you go?  Henry’s Fork, Gallatin, Beaverhead, Madison, Big Hole?  There are possible routes that take me past all of these.  I will probably avoid YNP (except West Yellowstone), to much out the way.  I would prefer stream fishing to still water and big fish aren’t important, I am an intermediate level FF. Joe Wax If you drive from Helena to Western Idaho you won’t be fishing any of the streams listed above.  I assume you mean eastern Idaha and SW Montana.  If your route takes you across the Panhandle of Idaho try the Locsha along US 12.  If you did mean eastern Idaho go ahead and fish the Madison and the Gallatin.  Both are good this time of year.  The weather has finally warmed up a bit and by the middle of the month it should be perfect.  If you like a challange try the Henry’s Fork.  Any shop in West Yellowstone can give you current conditions. Doug — Doug & Tammy Stephens Bear Lake Valley, Idaho

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Having read many posts from this self-styled non-potato farmer, I read this as high praise for the Selway and I am adding it to my Summer ‘98 itinerary.  Personally, I’ve never done well on the Lochsa. Phil Holt – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : If your route takes you across the Panhandle of Idaho try the Locsha along US : 12. OK, fish the Lochsa of you must, but stay away from its sister river, the Selway.  That is one crappy river.  In fact, although few know it, it is probably the crappiest trout stream in the US.  It is a looooooser. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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: Having read many posts from this self-styled non-potato farmer, I read this as high praise for the : Selway and I am adding it to my Summer ‘98 itinerary.  Personally, I’ve never done well on the Lochsa. I am no farmer.  That dot at the end is a period, so the sentence should read, "I am no farmer period."  Potatoes or anything else. Having straightened that out… See?  I told you the Lochsa was crummy and now I am telling you the Selway is even crummier. But on another note… I found a new stream today.  (Can anyone really believe it?)  It is a spring creek, comes complete with one of those pipes coming out of the side of a hill where people stop and fill up their water jugs.  I saw it from the road, and simply dropped over the side and walked it aways.  Lots of clearly visible trout is "gin clear" water (added to piss Tim off.)  Big fish too.  Not on a major road, but on a paved road.  (Should be easy to find since Idaho only has about 5.)  Absolutely nobody on the 10 miles of water I checked out. Odd… I thought.  On the road, big, easily spotted fish and no fisherfolk.  While I was standing around, looking like a non-potato farmer, three people on horseback rode up.  (Yep, real people, not dude ranchers or anything like that.  Just normal Idaho people, doing what Idaho people often do on a Sunday.  When they are not growing spuds, that is.)  So I asked, and they answered… nobody fishes that creek they said. And then I realized why.  First, publicity is not our strong suit.  (You probably didn’t even know that the odds are 50% that the McD’s french fry you ate last week is really a Idaho fry.  See, we don’t tell.)  Second, and this is  probably the real reason, I saw a group of people in the town closest  to this creek routinely pulling out 2-5 pounders at a location that *is*  right on a major road.  The folks who want to meat fish, must drive by this location to get to the spring creek I’m not telling you about.  And this ain’t no fish story… 2-5 pounders if they want them.  The third reason is that this is not "fly-fishing" territory.  Slimy wriggly things are the bait of choice. OK, pull out those maps.  One hint is that the spring creek is within 20 miles of the place where the 2-5 pounders are found.  That spot is below a small damn, and is on a river that to my knowledge, was the last river in the US to be successfully rafted.  I mean nobody was able to remain in a watercraft over the entire length of the river until 1975. Can you blieve that?  1975.  It is an amazing river.  (OK, perhaps that clue will help only Jon M.)   One other thing, the section of the river I am talking about with the 2-5 pounders is in a stretch of the river where a canoe can easily navigate and is above the nasty part.  Further, this spot is on one of the two major N-S highways in the state.  It is not in the part of Idaho I usually write about.  It is near a town where I thought, "wow… this is exactly what Tahoe looked like 20 years ago."  It is in a valley with its floor at about 5000 feet. OK, one other clue.  Near the spring creek, I was able to step across one of the (former) greatest salmon spawning rivers in the US.  To my knowledge, it is the farthest an ocean dwelling salmon swims (in the US) to spawn.  This place where I was able to step across this river is at least 600 miles from the ocean.  (Wow!  Some fish.)  I then drove to a spot on this same river where I was not able to throw a rock across it (because it is over 100 yards wide.)  This river collects a *lot* of very pure water on its trip to the ocean.   OK, that is Idaho trivia for today.  If you have an idea of the general location, let me know and I will tell you details if you are correct. I was more moved at finding this creek than I care to admit to you.  It is really amazing if you pause to consider it.  Let us all remember there are still amazing and beautiful places we can discover.  The whole damn point of this goofy post is to motivate you to get out a map and go looking. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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Knock it off, Rick.  This is cruel.

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Another reason I made this post was to give a little notice just what a great part of the world Idaho is.  I’ve lived in Colorado, N. California and Washington, all are great places.  But I have not seen the beautiful, rugged, unspoiled and isolated country within the Idaho borders.   Take out a good map and look for yourself.  It is awesome. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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I will be making a car trip the week of 7/13 to visit relatives.  We will be driving from Helena MT to W Idaho.  Since I am the only fisherman in my family I won’t have as much time to spend fishing as I would like.  If you had a half a day where would you go?  Henry’s Fork, Gallatin, Beaverhead, Madison, Big Hole?  There are possible routes that take me past all of these.  I will probably avoid YNP (except West Yellowstone), to much out the way.  I would prefer stream fishing to still water and big fish aren’t important, I am an intermediate level FF. Joe Wax

  Joe Just now got home from the Madison. Last week snowed on my sorry ass , river up and off color. This week, cleared and dropped. Fishing was very good both weeks and the night I was to leave caddis where on the bloom. Firehole fished well  PMD’s. The fork between the falls was Hm  (Rained every day I was there and snowed twice to beat the band. Fish where everywhere …..good trip, wet and cold but good fishing) "You can tell when I’m being facetious because I use subliminal smileys."

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -But on another note… I found a new stream today.  (Can anyone really believe it?)  It is a spring creek, comes complete with one of those pipes coming out of the side of a hill where people stop and fill up their water jugs.  I saw it from the road, and simply dropped over the side and walked it aways.  Lots of clearly visible trout is "gin clear" water (added to piss Tim off.)  Big fish too.  Not on a major road, but on a paved road.  (Should be easy to find since Idaho only has about 5.)  Absolutely nobody on the 10 miles of water I checked out. Odd… I thought.  On the road, big, easily spotted fish and no fisherfolk.  While I was standing around, looking like a non-potato farmer, three people on horseback rode up.  (Yep, real people, not dude ranchers or anything like that.  Just normal Idaho people, doing what Idaho people often do on a Sunday.  When they are not growing spuds, that is.)  So I asked, and they answered… nobody fishes that creek they said. And then I realized why.  First, publicity is not our strong suit.  (You probably didn’t even know that the odds are 50% that the McD’s french fry you ate last week is really a Idaho fry.  See, we don’t tell.)  Second, and this is  probably the real reason, I saw a group of people in the town closest  to this creek routinely pulling out 2-5 pounders at a location that *is*  right on a major road.  The folks who want to meat fish, must drive by this location to get to the spring creek I’m not telling you about.  And this ain’t no fish story… 2-5 pounders if they want them.  The third reason is that this is not "fly-fishing" territory.  Slimy wriggly things are the bait of choice. OK, pull out those maps.  One hint is that the spring creek is within 20 miles of the place where the 2-5 pounders are found.  That spot is below a small damn, and is on a river that to my knowledge, was the last river in the US to be successfully rafted.  I mean nobody was able to remain in a watercraft over the entire length of the river until 1975. Can you blieve that?  1975.  It is an amazing river.  (OK, perhaps that clue will help only Jon M.)   One other thing, the section of the river I am talking about with the 2-5 pounders is in a stretch of the river where a canoe can easily navigate and is above the nasty part.  Further, this spot is on one of the two major N-S highways in the state.  It is not in the part of Idaho I usually write about.  It is near a town where I thought, "wow… this is exactly what Tahoe looked like 20 years ago."  It is in a valley with its floor at about 5000 feet. OK, one other clue.  Near the spring creek, I was able to step across one of the (former) greatest salmon spawning rivers in the US.  To my knowledge, it is the farthest an ocean dwelling salmon swims (in the US) to spawn.  This place where I was able to step across this river is at least 600 miles from the ocean.  (Wow!  Some fish.)  I then drove to a spot on this same river where I was not able to throw a rock across it (because it is over 100 yards wide.)  This river collects a *lot* of very pure water on its trip to the ocean.   OK, that is Idaho trivia for today.  If you have an idea of the general location, let me know and I will tell you details if you are correct. I was more moved at finding this creek than I care to admit to you.  It is really amazing if you pause to consider it.  Let us all remember there are still amazing and beautiful places we can discover.  The whole damn point of this goofy post is to motivate you to get out a map and go looking.

Well Rick, I can’t find my map just yet but I would have to believe that the creek is just north of Galena Summit.  At least I think that is what it is called.  It is the pass between Ketchum and Stanley.  It is also, I believe, the divide between the Big Wood River and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. This is spectacular country.  I honeymooned there with my wife(of course) but sadly, I didn’t take my fly rod.  Maybe next time I’m there I will have it. Marty P.E.T.A (People for the Ethical Termination of Antihunters)

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I will be making a car trip the week of 7/13 to visit relatives.  We will be driving from Helena MT to W Idaho.  Since I am the only fisherman in my family I won’t have as much time to spend fishing as I would like.  If you had a half a day where would you go?  Henry’s Fork, Gallatin, Beaverhead, Madison, Big Hole?  There are possible routes that take me past all of these.  I will probably avoid YNP (except West Yellowstone), to much out the way.  I would prefer stream fishing to still water and big fish aren’t important, I am an intermediate level FF. Joe Wax

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I will be making a car trip the week of 7/13 to visit relatives.  We will be driving from Helena MT to W Idaho.  Since I am the only fisherman in my family I won’t have as much time to spend fishing as I would like.  If you had a half a day where would you go?  Henry’s Fork, Gallatin, Beaverhead, Madison, Big Hole?  There are possible routes that take me past all of these.  I will probably avoid YNP (except West Yellowstone), to much out the way.  I would prefer stream fishing to still water and big fish aren’t important, I am an intermediate level FF. Joe Wax

If you drive from Helena to Western Idaho you won’t be fishing any of the streams listed above.  I assume you mean eastern Idaha and SW Montana.  If your route takes you across the Panhandle of Idaho try the Locsha along US 12.  If you did mean eastern Idaho go ahead and fish the Madison and the Gallatin.  Both are good this time of year.  The weather has finally warmed up a bit and by the middle of the month it should be perfect.  If you like a challange try the Henry’s Fork.  Any shop in West Yellowstone can give you current conditions. Doug — Doug & Tammy Stephens Bear Lake Valley, Idaho

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I’ve fished both SW Montana and Western Idaho.  i really enjoyed the Big Hole River between Wisdom and Wise River.  it’s accessible and wasn’t crowded at all.  you can go west from Wisdom and either head south into idaho or north a ways and then west into idaho over lolo pass.  Good luck.

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I’ve fished both SW Montana and Western Idaho.  i really enjoyed the Big Hole River between Wisdom and Wise River.  it’s accessible and wasn’t crowded at all.  you can go west from Wisdom and either head south into idaho or north a ways and then west into idaho over lolo pass.  Good luck.

No, No, the Wise and the BigHole are both over crowded and have no fish. The campgrounds are terrible and I believe there was a meltdown at a powerplant nearby.  Don’t go there!! Doug — Doug & Tammy Stephens Bear Lake Valley, Idaho

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be making a car trip the week of 7/13 to visit relatives.  We will be driving from Helena MT to W Idaho.  Since I am the only fisherman in my family I won’t have as much time to spend fishing as I would like.  If you had a half a day where would you go?  Henry’s Fork, Gallatin, Beaverhead, Madison, Big Hole?  There are possible routes that take me past all of these.  I will probably avoid YNP (except West Yellowstone), to much out the way.  I would prefer stream fishing to still water and big fish aren’t important, I am an intermediate level FF. Joe Wax If you drive from Helena to Western Idaho you won’t be fishing any of the streams listed above.  I assume you mean eastern Idaha and SW Montana.  If your route takes you across the Panhandle of Idaho try the Locsha along US 12.  If you did mean eastern Idaho go ahead and fish the Madison and the Gallatin.  Both are good this time of year.  The weather has finally warmed up a bit and by the middle of the month it should be perfect.  If you like a challange try the Henry’s Fork.  Any shop in West Yellowstone can give you current conditions. Doug — Doug & Tammy Stephens Bear Lake Valley, Idaho

I apologize, I left out some important detail.  By W Idaho I ment Boise, and the fastest route takes me through East Idaho.  That does take me past the streams that I mentioned.  The Panhandle route to Boise would be longer, but more scenic.  Thanks for the information. Joe Wax

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I will be making a car trip the week of 7/13 to visit relatives.  We will be driving from Helena MT to W Idaho.  Since I am the only fisherman in my family I won’t have as much time to spend fishing as I would like.  If you had a half a day where would you go?  Henry’s Fork, Gallatin, Beaverhead, Madison, Big Hole?  There are possible routes that take me past all of these.  I will probably avoid YNP (except West Yellowstone), to much out the way.  I would prefer stream fishing to still water and big fish aren’t important, I am an intermediate level FF. Joe Wax If you drive from Helena to Western Idaho you won’t be fishing any of the streams listed above.  I assume you mean eastern Idaha and SW Montana.  If your route takes you across the Panhandle of Idaho try the Locsha along US 12.  If you did mean eastern Idaho go ahead and fish the Madison and the Gallatin.  Both are good this time of year.  The weather has finally warmed up a bit and by the middle of the month it should be perfect.  If you like a challange try the Henry’s Fork.  Any shop in West Yellowstone can give you current conditions. Doug — Doug & Tammy Stephens Bear Lake Valley, Idaho I apologize, I left out some important detail.  By W Idaho I ment Boise, and the fastest route takes me through East Idaho.  That does take me past the streams that I mentioned.  The Panhandle route to Boise would be longer, but more scenic.  Thanks for the information. Joe Wax

Got it!  You may even try the Fall River south of Ashton on US 20.   Doug — Doug & Tammy Stephens Bear Lake Valley, Idaho

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Let us all remember there are still amazing and beautiful places we can discover.  The whole damn point of this goofy post is to motivate you to get out a map and go looking.

Stop motivating me, please!  I’ve already got a whole pile of maps and books about Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, BC, Alaska, New Zealand, and Patagonia (along with a collection of books and CDs about self-taught Spanish).  I racked up 1000 miles on my truck last weekend, and 35 miles on my tennis shoes seeking out some of the places on those maps.  The last thing I need is someone motivating me to buy another damned map! Stop it! — -Wayne Trzyna                           Fight spam! Join CAUCE (Coalition  http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~trzyna    See http://www.cauce.org/

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Question:

hello- the deschutes can be tricky. one suggestion is to try to get a elks hair caddis to the fish working in back eddies. unless you are in a boat it can be tough getting a good drift-

snip Fishing from a floating devise is illegal on the lower Deschutes (below Warm Springs which includes Madras). Jim Jones For e-mail reply replace spam with sns

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Elkhairs caddis work most all the time down from Warm Springs thru Maupin. I really love PMDs in the summer.  Sometimes they hatch so thick they cover you with a carpet of wings! Always take a variety of other mayfly. When the water is low I love the stimmulators. Bill

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Two things: 1. It’s illegal to fish from a boat (the regs say "any floating device supporting the angler", or some such, ruling out rafts, pontoons, float tubes, … as well). A boat has the advantage of allowing you to cover more river, and to get to places which are difficult to reach on foot. 2. In general, you’ll have better luck with caddis larvae and pupae than with adults. I like to fish soft hacles or emergent sparkle pupae during a hatch… Stu – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hello- the deschutes can be tricky. one suggestion is to try to get a elks hair caddis to the fish working in back eddies. unless you are in a boat it can be tough getting a good drift- but if you can figure it out you will be rewarded. when nymphing be sure to get a drag free dead drift. i have only used floating lines on the deschutes so i can’t help with sinking line techniques. i’m pretty sure there is a flyshop in madras- you can ask them what nymphs are working best. in the past i have done well with an olive serendipity. be sure and be on the water at dusk- sometimes the fish go after the caddis flies and it can be a blast. greg

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: hello- : the deschutes can be tricky. one suggestion is to try to get a : elks hair caddis to the fish working in back eddies. unless you : are in a boat it can be tough getting a good drift- but if you : can figure it out you will be rewarded. Ummm… perhaps I am mistaken, but I thought it was against the regs to fish from a boat on the Deschutes? — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Associate professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

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How do – Just wondering if anybody has some suggestions for working the Deschutes around Mecca Flats, in Eastern Oregon.  Dry vs Wet?  Floater vs sinker?  I’m relatively new to fly fishing, though no stranger to the NW river systems.  I was down there last weekend, and only brought in one trout.  I’m by no means discouraged, but want to file this away as a learning experience, and was wondering if any kind souls here could give an example of a ‘Deschutes Recipe for success’ for this time of year. I did have a great time, but it’s always better with more fish in the hand! Thanks, Adrian B.

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Question:

Does anybody mark their lines and leaders for identification? What kind of markers do you use and how do you code the marks? Examples: 3. Leaders can be kept in wallets. However, they are left on the line sometimes and I forget what they were when I put them on. What other methods do you folks use to keep your lines/leaders organized in your shop and/or on the waters? B.

Brian,         I tie my own leaders.  When I tie a leader, I wrap a short strip of paper around it with the length, weight, and formula source listed on it.  When I use the leader, the slip of paper goes into my reel pocket on my vest.  That way, when I fish next time, I can see what leader I have on.  This only gets me in trouble when I use more than one spool.  But, the leaders are usually substantially different for different lines, so I can figure it out. — Tight Threads,         Charley Renn         Corvallis, OR

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anybody mark their lines and leaders for identification? What kind of markers do you use and how do you code the marks? Examples: 1. I have heard that it is a good idea to mark your dry line about 30′ from the end. This is typically the ideal amount of line to load a rod. 2. Although a label comes with lines to be placed on the inside of the spool/reel, they do come off. It would be nice to mark the line somehow. 3. Leaders can be kept in wallets. However, they are left on the line sometimes and I forget what they were when I put them on. 4. How old is that line/leader? Date code? What other methods do you folks use to keep your lines/leaders organized in your shop and/or on the waters?

Lefty Kreh recommends using an indelible marker somewhere near the end and uses a code of a long stripe is 5 and a short mark is one. Then he identifies wt. forward by putting the short mark or marks in front (toward the end) of the 5 mark. For example a 7 wt forward line would be _.. (long short short) but a 7 wt. double taper would be .._ I imagine you could use an offset color for numbers less than 5 (ie. the off color short mark would be on one end or the other to show wt. forward or double taper). He never does explain how he would mark a 5 wt. line to show DT or WF. Perhaps 5 short marks to allow an off color mark on one end. I would imagine you could mark the 30 ft. spot the same way with indelible marker. I usually put the sticker on the spool when I attach the line. However, this is only convenient if you intend to leave the line on the spool always. $.02 Jon

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Try Cortland Lazer Lines,they are marked as to size. Also Climax Double Doubles are marked. Climax WF fly lines have a telemark on the line at the optimum pick up point.In lay terms the line changes color at that point. Tight Loops KW —

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anybody mark their lines and leaders for identification? What kind of markers do you use and how do you code the marks? I don’t mark my lines as the way I figure it if I can’t remember what line is on a reel or in a spare spool; I’ve got too many lines. Could have used that money to take the kids to a movie! Marking distance can be good when you’re learning to cast if you need to know how much line you need off the top of the rod to load; (just try to spot that mark as you false cast!) but in practice how much is in the air depends on what you’re doing. I’ve never done it in about 20 years of flyfishing and I never missed it.  It may be usefull if you want to be able to say to yourself " hoo-eee, I just made an 80 foot cast" and tells the boys in the Bar you’re finally an ‘expert’ As if they’d care. 8^) Ralph H replace "spamsucks" with direct for email reply.

I find marking full sinking line in 10ft intervals is helpful in determining how much line is out, especially if you want to repeat a depth after a fish.  I use a sharpie and add one ring for each ten feet of depth. — The views expressed are my own and does not represent those of my employer.

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Does anybody mark their lines and leaders for identification? What kind of markers do you use and how do you code the marks?

I don’t mark my lines as the way I figure it if I can’t remember what line is on a reel or in a spare spool; I’ve got too many lines. Could have used that money to take the kids to a movie! Marking distance can be good when you’re learning to cast if you need to know how much line you need off the top of the rod to load; (just try to spot that mark as you false cast!) but in practice how much is in the air depends on what you’re doing. I’ve never done it in about 20 years of flyfishing and I never missed it.  It may be usefull if you want to be able to say to yourself " hoo-eee, I just made an 80 foot cast" and tells the boys in the Bar you’re finally an ‘expert’ As if they’d care. 8^) Ralph H replace "spamsucks" with direct for email reply.

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I mark all my fly lines in the first foot or two by using a series of magic marker lines. A wide line (approx 1/2") equals five, a thin line (approx 1/8") equals one, if the small marks are closer to the tip subtract from the five marker(s) and if the small marks are towards the belly add to the five marker(s). This system has worked for me for over five years. I use a color coded magic marker system for saltwater leaders as well. I keep a notebook in my tacklebag which contains all my notes as to what color is what weight, etc. HTH. — Tom Dougherty A.K.’s Fly Tying Tools http://www.aks-flytools.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anybody mark their lines and leaders for identification? What kind of markers do you use and how do you code the marks? Examples: 1. I have heard that it is a good idea to mark your dry line about 30′ from the end. This is typically the ideal amount of line to load a rod. 2. Although a label comes with lines to be placed on the inside of the spool/reel, they do come off. It would be nice to mark the line somehow. 3. Leaders can be kept in wallets. However, they are left on the line sometimes and I forget what they were when I put them on. 4. How old is that line/leader? Date code? What other methods do you folks use to keep your lines/leaders organized in your shop and/or on the waters? B.

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Does anybody mark their lines and leaders for identification? What kind of markers do you use and how do you code the marks?

I mark my lines at each end to show the line wt, mainly because I use a loop to loop connection between the line and backing. I use a Banford Sharpie permanent marker and use a wide mark for five and a narrow mark for one. I put the wide marks towards the front of the line. (I read this in a Lefty Kreh book but don’t know who invented the system).  I don’t use distance marks, the casting here in Georgia is usually pretty tight and the times I have fished the salt I just cast as far as I can and hope the fish can swim to my fly<g. FWIW. — Charlie…

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Does anybody mark their lines and leaders for identification? What kind of markers do you use and how do you code the marks? Examples: 1. I have heard that it is a good idea to mark your dry line about 30′ from the end. This is typically the ideal amount of line to load a rod. 2. Although a label comes with lines to be placed on the inside of the spool/reel, they do come off. It would be nice to mark the line somehow. 3. Leaders can be kept in wallets. However, they are left on the line sometimes and I forget what they were when I put them on. 4. How old is that line/leader? Date code? What other methods do you folks use to keep your lines/leaders organized in your shop and/or on the waters? B.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anybody mark their lines and leaders for identification? What kind of markers do you use and how do you code the marks? Examples: 1. I have heard that it is a good idea to mark your dry line about 30′ from the end. This is typically the ideal amount of line to load a rod. 2. Although a label comes with lines to be placed on the inside of the spool/reel, they do come off. It would be nice to mark the line somehow. 3. Leaders can be kept in wallets. However, they are left on the line sometimes and I forget what they were when I put them on. 4. How old is that line/leader? Date code? What other methods do you folks use to keep your lines/leaders organized in your shop and/or on the waters? B.

Hi Brian For years I’ve marked my lines for length just because I’m such a louse judge of distance and for no other reason. I use an indelible felt tip marker — at 30′, one mark, at 40′, two markes, at 50′, three marks and so on out to 80′. From there I know it a short distance to the and and very honestly though I can throw the line when needed I seldom have to use that much line for normal fishing conditions here in Montana. Regarding what line is on what spool I’ve had no problem keeping the little sticker on the inside of the spool if I place a small piece of clear "shipping tape" over the line weight sticker. Take care &… — Tight Lines ….. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Catalog,Tips & Tricks, Fishing Reports, & NeverSink at: http://www.btsflyfishing.com

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1. I have heard that it is a good idea to mark your dry line about 30′ from the end. This is typically the ideal amount of line to load a rod.

I tried this when a beginner.  It soon becomes a waste of time.  The "ideal amount of line" is not something you see with the conscious eye — it is something you feel unconsciously in your hand and arm, while the eye is on the fish and the water. 2. Although a label comes with lines to be placed on the inside of the spool/reel, they do come off. It would be nice to mark the line somehow.

Yes, until you have identified which line types you trust.  Once you prefer particular brands of floaters, tapers, sink tips etc. you can buy (most) in distinctive colours, i.e. use the manufacturers’ color codes to keep track. 3. Leaders can be kept in wallets. However, they are left on the line sometimes and I forget what they were when I put them on. 4. How old is that line/leader? Date code?

These questions do not arise for people who use a permanent leader butt, which lasts as long as the line.  Nylon is cheaper than time; you put on a fresh tippet at the start of each session anyway; and it is easy to replace the intermediate tapered section once a year or more often if you feel the need, e.g. using a trout outfit for salmon. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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Question:

Anyone ever try the Gun Powder River in Maryland ?  Curious to know what it is like and how crowded it gets.  Any info would help. thanks

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Ask Phil Gay from Trout and About he guides it and is a very nice guy that is always happy to help folks out.Good luck.  703/525/7127 Regards, James Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings

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Question:

  I am considering a trip to fly fish in Cuba. If I go I will be near Camaguay and was wondering if anyone has fished near there. Mostly what I need is the names of guides and water to fish.  Thanks    Phil. Political responses unneeded. —

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  I am considering a trip to fly fish in Cuba. If I go I will be near Camaguay and was wondering if anyone has fished near there. Mostly what I need is the names of guides and water to fish.  Thanks    Phil. Political responses unneeded. —

I don’t know about water to fish but water to drink should be rain water ! — "The true Angler is content to fish alone" Brian Di Carlo

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   I am considering a trip to fly fish in Cuba. If I go I will be near Camaguay and was wondering if anyone has fished near there. Mostly what I need is the names of guides and water to fish.  Thanks    Phil. Political responses unneeded. — I don’t know about water to fish but water to drink should be rain water ! — "The true Angler is content to fish alone" Brian Di Carlo

Panangling Travel servise has a Cuban destination for fly fishing for bones, tarpon, permit, snook, etc. They have a web page. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

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Question:

I am new to fly fishing and would like to acquire some good quality equipment.  However, I am unable to mortgage the house for new gear.  I am interested in a 8 1/2′ to 9′ rod, 5-6 wt (Sage, Loomis, ect quality) and a reel (Abel, Ross, ect).  Please let me know of any  used gear that you would like to sell or any advice which you would like to pass along. I guarantee that the gear  will continue to see years of enjoyment!

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I am new to fly fishing and would like to acquire some good quality equipment.  However, I am unable to mortgage the house for new gear.  I am interested in a 8 1/2′ to 9′ rod, 5-6 wt (Sage, Loomis, ect quality) and a reel (Abel, Ross, ect).  Please let me know of any  used gear that you would like to sell or any advice which you would like to pass along.

You could save a small bundle by buying an SA System II or an Orvis Battenkill reel.  They are both very pleasant to use, and blessed with smooth, powerful drags.  You will not wear them out, and they can be purchased new for less than the price of a used Abel.   From what I can gather, there is something of a consensus on the net; given a limited budget you are better off investing the lion’s share of your money in your rod rather than in your reel. — Keep your stick on the ice.

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Question:

| | Has anyone fly-fished for walleyes? If so what kind of flies did you use? Yeah, and how do you get all that color-distance-coded lead core wire line *AND* all the backing into a 3 1/2 oz. English-made palm-drag reel? And when will Orvis finally put their much-rumoured Lake Erie model bamboo rod into production??? Are there any parts of Lake Huron or Saginaw Bay that can be waded safely??? The Ultimate in Fishing Sport – casting to a rising walleye. Of course, a Real FlyFisherperson would be using a DRY FLY……         Michael J. Oatley                       205/730-8738                    

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Has anyone fly-fished for walleyes? If so what kind of flies did you use? -Joon

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Has anyone fly-fished for walleyes? If so what kind of flies did you

use? Not intentionally, but I caught five last year in the space of about ten minutes, at the tail end of a pool where I was fishing for bass (with a fly!!  Gasp!).  Caught all five on a black wooly bugger, just after dark.  All five were in the 2-1/2 to 3 pound range.  Good Time! Tim

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