Question:

I’m probably breaking some copywright law, but from the Lewiston ID Tribune but.. George Eugene (Billis) Gehrke, an avid fly fisherman, inventor and writer, passed away Sunday Dec. 8, 2002, at his Asotin home. He was 68. He was born July 28, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio. Graduating from Anthony Wayne High School in 1954, he was the first in his class to go directly into the Air Force Cadet Program. After his tour with the Air Force, he married the love of his life, Gladys Gray, Sept. 6, 1958, in Toledo. He often told others how lucky he was to have her in his life and how much he loved her. George owned a fly fishing company and manufactured its products since 1973. He is survived by his wife, Gladys, at the Asotin home; three sons, Robert of Panama City, Fla., Stuart of Trout Creek, Colo., and Gregory of Asotin; three daughters, Rosemary Tafoya of Asotin, Tracy Castaneda of Houston and Georgia Gehrke of Kapaa, Hawaii. He is also survived by a sister, Karol Ann of Archie, Mo.; brothers, Ernest Gehrke and John Billis of Ohio; uncle C.M. Kurczak of Baton Rouge, La.; several nieces and nephews; 11 grandchildren; and many, many friends. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at the family home at Asotin. Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home of Lewiston is in charge of arrangements.

Response:

Thanks Wayne, for passing that along. Rest in Peace, George. bruce h

Response:

Question:

Monday we finally got enough of a break in the wind to allow us to get way out in the sound.  Found some pretty white sand shorelines and poled along them.  Lo and behold there were nice sized schools of redfish cruising along in 8 inches of crystal clear water with a light colored bottom.  Perfect.  We threw tan/white clousers and merkins at them (size 2).  Caught them up to 26 inches.  Each strike a picture perfect sight fishing shot.  Just like bonefishing in the Bahamas.  Here are links to a couple pictures: http://www.mindspring.com/~taftsville/redwade.jpg http://www.mindspring.com/~taftsville/redwade2.jpg

Response:

gordon – the area looks familiar <g… i was doing the same thing in the pamlico over on the swan quarter/englehard side on sunday…except i was using a light spinning rod. at this very moment i’m cooking a 23 incher i brought home – yum.  lost several bigguns, and caught 5 smaller ones.  puppy drum are becoming one of my favorite fish! fun to catch…delicious to eat. have you tried a crab pattern for them yet? jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Monday we finally got enough of a break in the wind to allow us to get way out in the sound.  Found some pretty white sand shorelines and poled along them.  Lo and behold there were nice sized schools of redfish cruising along in 8 inches of crystal clear water with a light colored bottom.  Perfect.  We threw tan/white clousers and merkins at them (size 2).  Caught them up to 26 inches.  Each strike a picture perfect sight fishing shot.  Just like bonefishing in the Bahamas.  Here are links to a couple pictures: http://www.mindspring.com/~taftsville/redwade.jpg http://www.mindspring.com/~taftsville/redwade2.jpg

Response:

We’re thinking of a trip in the next 2 or 3 weeks.  Much going on down there?  We would like to fish the Sound for whatever is hitting a fly. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Monday we finally got enough of a break in the wind to allow us to get way out in the sound.  Found some pretty white sand shorelines and poled along them.  Lo and behold there were nice sized schools of redfish cruising along in 8 inches of crystal clear water with a light colored bottom.  Perfect.  We threw tan/white clousers and merkins at them (size 2).  Caught them up to 26 inches.  Each strike a picture perfect sight fishing shot.  Just like bonefishing in the Bahamas.  Here are links to a couple pictures: http://www.mindspring.com/~taftsville/redwade.jpg http://www.mindspring.com/~taftsville/redwade2.jpg

Response:

Question:

New flyline review:  the 555 5 weight double taper

I thought you were a Dorber man. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

You have to make sure you seal that fly line before you use it.  The core can take on water and sink the line like that if you are not careful.  I had the same problem and just hung the line out to dry for a few days and then sealed the end with some Aquaseal.

Hmmm, good "tip"  (get it?)  I’m surprised they don’t seal it off at the factory!

Response:

Hmmm, good "tip"  (get it?)  I’m surprised they don’t seal it off at the factory!

You must be much better at tying knots than I am.  I mean if you can tie a nail knot or any other knot used for connecting a leader to a fly line and not have any tag left over to trim……  ;-) — Warren change addy to yahoo for email Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt3/HFclave.html

Response:

New flyline review:  the 555 5 weight double taper seemed to cast and shoot great.  Roll casting is a breeze, even for a goofball caster like me. But the tip sinks like any other line, in fact probably worse. You have to make sure you seal that fly line before you use it.  The core can take on water and sink the line like that if you are not careful.  I had the same problem and just hung the line out to dry for a few days and then sealed the end with some Aquaseal.  

BTW, Don’t use the 555 line in cold weather or on a cold water tailwater.  The line holds memory like no other.  I’ve owned a number of other lines including my favorites, RIO, and have never had the problems with a line like my new 555.  From the sinking tip to the fly line memory, to the horrible customer support from Cortland.  No more cortland lines for this guy. — I fly fish so therefore I am.

Response:

BTW, Don’t use the 555 line in cold weather or on a cold water tailwater.  The line holds memory like no other

I didn’t notice any memory problems at all.  The line was fine except for the sinking tip.  And the San Juan is about 44 degrees. Cortland told me to send it back and they’d replace it immediately. I’m also surprised that Cortland doesn’t recommend sealing the end of the line. bruce h

Response:

BTW, Don’t use the 555 line in cold weather or on a cold water tailwater.  The line holds memory like no other I didn’t notice any memory problems at all.  The line was fine except for the sinking tip.  And the San Juan is about 44 degrees. Cortland told me to send it back and they’d replace it immediately.

Interesting.  The email told me to continually stretch it out every day before use and even during the day if necessary!  It was a free fly line so I didn’t really press the issue.  Based upon all my problems with the line and I have read others report similar problems on other fly fishing boards, I think they have some problems with the line or at least with the production.  Even the shop who provided the free lines for a fly swap, believes that something is wrong with the lines! I’m also surprised that Cortland doesn’t recommend sealing the end of the line.

This is such BS.  Why in the heck do you buy a new fly line when you need to prep the thing with Zap a Gap or similar?  Arghhhhh…. — I fly fish so therefore I am.

Response:

My appointment at 8 am in Santa Fe went quickly and since a flyshop was nearby and it was still early I drove by.  They were open.  That flyshop is excellent.  It’s one of those shops where all the employees and the owners fish a lot and want you to have success.  They’re also real experts on the Rio Grande, which I haven’t fished often.  http://www.highdesertangler.com The smoke from two fires in the Pecos got my attention on the drive from Santa Fe to Taos, where I had another appointment at 11:30.  The Pecos is on the east side of the highway and eventually the road rejoins the Rio Grande, which is on the west side of the highway.  In Espanola a very well equipped lowrider made a fast left at an intersection in front of me.  With his hydraulics he lifted just the inside front wheel up off the road.  If you can imagine the effect – it looked like the Monte Carlo was going to roll, but alas, they just drove away laughing.  Don’t let anyone kid you, and with all due respect to SoCal, but Espanola NM is the birthplace and home of the world’s best lowriders. Since I had two and a half hours to make a one hour drive and the Orilla Verde State Park appeared on my left, of course I had to get out and fish on my way to Taos. New flyline review:  the 555 5 weight double taper seemed to cast and shoot great.  Roll casting is a breeze, even for a goofball caster like me. But the tip sinks like any other line, in fact probably worse. It was early, the only bugs around were tiny midges, and the river is as low as ever in any season.  The huge caddis hatch had apparently come and gone, but armed with the advice from High Desert, my plan was to fish little hairwing peacock caddis and parachute adams and see how that went.  After a little prospecting and no success, including adding a dropper, I switched to two nymphs, a small pt and a sparkle pupa (good advice from the flyshop) and I caught three large chubs, two small trout and a large sucker that was pretty cool.  After my appointment the hiking and scenery were great, but the wind howled and it never got cool enough to get the fish going, although I got a nice brown in really fast water with a stimulator.  Fished until dark and bushwhacked back to my truck.  Got home about midnight. The San Juan was real fun.  My friend was home from Maine and hadn’t fished there in a long time.  Hot sunny, not too crowded.  We fished Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday.  This fish is not great but there aren’t that many browns way upstream in the San Juan: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/web/BruceBrown2.jpg And here’s a way to take a picture of a nice double when there’s only two of you:  http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/web/TwoFishNets.jpg Got home around 1 AM. Thanks to RW for letting me mooch his webspace. bruce h

Response:

<snipped New flyline review:  the 555 5 weight double taper seemed to cast and shoot great.  Roll casting is a breeze, even for a goofball caster like me. But the tip sinks like any other line, in fact probably worse.

You have to make sure you seal that fly line before you use it.  The core can take on water and sink the line like that if you are not careful.  I had the same problem and just hung the line out to dry for a few days and then sealed the end with some Aquaseal.   http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/web/BruceBrown2.jpg And here’s a way to take a picture of a nice double when there’s only two of you:  http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/web/TwoFishNets.jpg

Nice pics Bruiser! — Warren change addy to yahoo for email Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt3/HFclave.html

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are some excellent suggestions here-thanks everyone. I was looking at the hodgeman nylon waders this weekend, might go with those in conjunction with my teva-type sandals, which are usually my camp shoe also. My main priority is to learn to fly cast by the time spring comes. sometimes i do backpack to flyfish.. hodgeman supplex waders orvis "pack and travel" boots they are both lightweight and pack small however i pack neither if i go very far..

 If you use sandals for a wading shoe make sure that you wear a pair of socks (neoprenes work well) over your wader’s feet. Otherwise sand and grit will get caught between your sandal and your foot and wear out your waders fast. Been there, done that. G.Cleveland

Response:

sometimes i do backpack to flyfish.. hodgeman supplex waders orvis "pack and travel" boots they are both lightweight and pack small however i pack neither if i go very far..

Response:

There are some excellent suggestions here-thanks everyone. I was looking at the hodgeman nylon waders this weekend, might go with those in conjunction with my teva-type sandals, which are usually my camp shoe also. My main priority is to learn to fly cast by the time spring comes.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – sometimes i do backpack to flyfish.. hodgeman supplex waders orvis "pack and travel" boots they are both lightweight and pack small however i pack neither if i go very far..

Response:

This question is for the anglers in this group. What waders and/or wading shoes do you take  backpacking?

I mostly fly fish streams in the Sierra. For this I take stocking foot hippers. Over these, I wear a pair of thin neoprene socks I got from Cabelas. I have reinforced the toes of the socks with Aqua Seal. For shoes with this combination, I wear a pair of Tevas, the kind that have Fastex buckle rather than Velcro fasteners, because the Velcro doesn’t hold reliably when it’s wet.  The Tevas dry quickly and are usable as a camp shoe. For the inevitable repairs, their is a product from Loon called Sun Patch. It’s like Aqua Seal except that it cures in seconds in strong sunlight rather than overnight. Mike — Michael McGuire                     Hewlett Packard Laboratories Phone: (650)-857-5491               Palo Alto, CA 94303-0971          

Response:

This question is for the anglers in this group. What waders and/or wading shoes do you take  backpacking?

Response:

When backpacking, the only waders I take are my bare legs with an old pair of Converse Chuck Taylor’s on my feet.  If I had to take waders, I’d bring the LL Bean Fly Weight waders. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This question is for the anglers in this group. What waders and/or wading shoes do you take  backpacking?

Response:

You can carry whatever you want and have the strength to do so. Many fishermen do limited packing in the Eastern sierras. There are nice lakes a few miles off the nearest road and the only way to get there is to walk.  Its not like you have to walk a marathon. Just get away from the cars a few days.

Response:

I too have struggled for a good answer to your question. I have decided that taking hip waders backpacking is more weight and bulk than I can stand.  I’m a backpacker that fishes occasionally rather than primarily a fisherman that backpacks mainly to get good fishing water. At one point, I simply used lightweight water shoes and braved the cold.  I often ended up walking on top of the rocks in the streams to keep from having cold numb feet.  This approach resulted in a slip and fall and a dislocated finger three days from the trailhead. Currently I use neoprene wet wading socks such as those that can be viewed at this link:  http://www.3riversresort.com/product.cfm?productID=187 paired with Merrell Shoreline Stretch Shoes which can be viewed at this link: http://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/12506/11.  These shoes are stretchy enough and adjustable enough that they can be worn without socks or with thick neoprene wading socks.  They work well as wading shoes.  They slip on and off quickly and work well for crossing water.  I use them for in-camp shoes and occasionally for short hikes (e.g. from camp to the fishing spot).  For me, they are the solution to question of what other shoe to bring backpacking other than my hiking boots. Bob Taylor

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This question is for the anglers in this group. What waders and/or wading shoes do you take  backpacking?

Response:

Question:

Anyone have any suggestions about cleaning floating lines???  Seems I came across a bottle of Fenwick line cleaner in my odds and ends box a few months ago and struck upon the bright idea of cleaning up my fly lines.  Well I cleaned a 2 year old Sage quiet taper 2wt and an Orvis 6wt DT with about 5 years on it and discovered after fishing with them over the last few month that they both started showing extreme wear.  Both now have concentric cracks ringing the lines where there were none before… lots of them…. or at least none were noticeable before.  Both of these lines look ruined. Any thoughts??

Response:

Anyone have any suggestions about cleaning floating lines???  Seems I came across a bottle of Fenwick line cleaner in my odds and ends box a few months ago and struck upon the bright idea of cleaning up my fly lines.  Well I cleaned a 2 year old Sage quiet taper 2wt and an Orvis 6wt DT with about 5 years on it and discovered after fishing with them over the last few month that they both started showing extreme wear.  Both now have concentric cracks ringing the lines where there were none before… lots of them…. or at least none were noticeable before.  Both of these lines look ruined. Any thoughts??

______  The fly lines were dried out Ed.  When you casted them, they couldn’t stretch.  The coating cracked, especially where the fly line (about thirty feet back) pivots on the tip top of your fly rod.  There is only one fly line cleaner in the world that will restore the Plasticizers into fly lines.  I’d suggest you check out my web site for that answer.  Two fly lines is a lot of money.  Sorry you lost them Ed. Just throw them away now.  They’re shot.  Or just go to the blue thingie below. Hope this helps answer your question. — Sincerely, George G. http://www.gink.com/products/gg_pz.html

Response:

Why don’t you just turn the double taper around?  If it’s a two year old line, unless you fish it every day it should still be plenty good… if the coating is ruined on a line that "new" the manufacturer should be willin to replace it.  Typically, a FFer uses the first 30-40 feet of a DT line more than anything else, so if you turn it around, you’ll be at a diifferent "wear spot" than before =) A good habit to get into, especially if you fish infrequentyly is removing line from reels… the tight coils aren’t a real good way to store the line, and when you fish with it, the water on the outer coils seeps down onto the inner coils, leaaving moisture on the line, allowing it to collect dust and dirt. Strip the line off the reel into a bucket of warm water, then draw it through a damp cotton cloth with a SMALL amount of a MILD detergent (like Ivory soap) on it into another bucket of cool water.  Draw the line back through a dry cotton cloth into loose coils onto a clean surface.  Coil the line loosely and hang it on a hanger that has a t-shirt over the wire, then place another tshirt over it and hang it in a cool, dark place until you’re going to use it again. I do this at the end of every season and have had some Cortland and Mastery lines last 5 years with no real signs of damage… I have some Scientific Anglers seldom used lines, like quick sinking and sink-tips that are 15 years old and aren’t cracked. If you use a line in water with a lot of moss in it or salt, then you will need to wash and treat the line with a dressing on a more frequent basis, but be careful what you use… some products have lanolin in them, which will get rancid others are petrochemical based, which will eat into the coating of the lines.  Try and contact the line manufacturer if you’re unsure what may react with the coatings to be sure what you use won’t void your warranty. Larry

Response:

Question:

I’m totally new to fly fishing and have a few Q’s about casting…After my backstroke how far should my wrist go forward (10 o’clock?, or what?)? and how long so I let the line drop before I use backstroke again? I think the best way to learn is to watch somebody, but if you can please help. And when fishing for salmon in rivers, do you use weights? Thanks for any help, Chad

Response:

Hi Chad, The question regarding casting is a highly debated topic to which many a method, rhyme and reason exists.  In essence when false casting (the line is literally in constant motion) the hand/wrist/arm position-motion closely resembles that of a pianists metronome.  A balance of speed and motion on either side of vertical (12 o’clock position).  So the classic 10 to 2 method really sets up a nice Horizontal cast, where the flyline appears to be in a purely horizontal plane. If you were to change that relationship (10 o’clock is the backcast and 2 o’clock the forward cast for example) then a casting stroke of 9 to 1 would yield a high forward cast which would inevitably ‘fall short’ of the target (puddle cast) and a 11 to 3 would produce a cast which would drive into the water with quite a splash. But, the classic 10 to 2 is not what you would always use when your out fishing so it is very important that you experiment with varying degrees of the ‘clock’.  There will be times when you would want to cast a ’soft’ presentation so maybe a 9 to 1 would do fine… No matter what happens, give yourself a steady casting tempo, don’t rush a casting direction because you fear the line will hit the water mid cast. Watching someone cast is alright but it is the ‘feel’ of a cast that is most difficult to put into words.  Have someone take you in-hand to let you know what a cast feels like and not just what it looks like! As for salmon fishing, I use sinktip and full sink lines as well as floaters when fishing.  Occasionally I add some split shot but most of my fly’s have weights in them when necessary. Good luck and have fun up there! Roger M. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m totally new to fly fishing and have a few Q’s about casting…After my backstroke how far should my wrist go forward (10 o’clock?, or what?)? and how long so I let the line drop before I use backstroke again? I think the best way to learn is to watch somebody, but if you can please help. And when fishing for salmon in rivers, do you use weights? Thanks for any help, Chad

Response:

Is there any reason why that unfurling loop couldn’t have lift?

Maybe this will help: http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/lift1.html — Charlie…

Response:

I could be wrong technically.  What I meant to point out was that a fly line unfurling with a tight loop looks like an airfoil in crossection. But with a solid airfoil, a low pressure zone on the top makes the whole thing lift by virtue of the fact that the bottom is solidly connected to the top.  The top can’t lift the bottom unless the two are connected in some stable way.  At least I can’t imagine how it could. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not so sure. Clearly a moving fly line is affected in some way by the air around it; otherwise we’d all use soft rods on windy days. The question is what kind of aerodynamics are involved. I think fluid dynamics would apply. In water, similar wave structures can be created either with the water moving and the wave staying still (rivers)(analogize the "flexible" water with the "flexible" line?) or with the water staying basically motionless but the wave moving (oceans). A flycast (as it unrolls-not necessarily on the backcast) is sort of like an ocean wave; the bottom of the loop consists of line that’s no longer moving but the loop still moves forward, unfurling. Is there any reason why that unfurling loop couldn’t have lift? Any aero engineers out there? What you want is a reasonably small loop that actually looks like the leading edge of an airplane wing (I heard tell the line actually "flies" that way). That would be impossible since the line is flexible.

– Regards, Jeff Before you buy.

Response:

Good point. What I’m thinking is that the top is exerting some upward pressure on the bottom — ie, if you get the top hung up in a branch, the bottom won’t fall to the water. On a much lower scale, maybe any lift created by the top exerts some slight force on the bottom as well, delaying the descent until the whole line’s out straight. Or maybe not. This is a passing reference I saw in a video. Really: anyone versed in airfoil fluid mechanics out there?

Response:

I could be wrong technically.  

        the effort that statement must have required is simply awe inspiring. wayno

Response:

Or maybe not. This is a passing reference I saw in a video. Really: anyone versed in airfoil fluid mechanics out there?

Again, you could look at the reference I posted earlier and learn enough to see that fly lines don’t ‘fly’. — Charlie…

Response:

Please repost that url; my box wouldn’t go there last time (and I subsequently deleted messages). I’ll look at it carefully.

Response:

Please repost that url; my box wouldn’t go there last time (and I subsequently deleted messages). I’ll look at it carefully.

http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/lift1.html — Charlie…

Response:

I’m convincing myself. Maybe I’ll forward this string to a prof somewhere for analysis…

Oh well… — Charlie…

Response:

Here you go, boys. Just plug in the boundary conditions and solve these equations. Unfortunately, you’ll need a supercomputer. Maybe you can get a grant. When I worked at the NASA Ames Research Center (Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation) they gave a grant to somebody to study the aerodynamics of tennis balls. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam) [ equations.html 1K ]

Response:

OK, thanks for the reference. Good page! However, it tends to confirm my theory. Here are three relevant excerpts from NASA’s explanation of lift: 1.  "For a body immersed in a moving fluid, the fluid will remain in contact with the surface of the body. If the body is shaped, moved, or inclined in such a way as to produce a net deflection, or turning, of the flow, the local velocity is changed in magnitude, direction or both. Changing the velocity creates a net force on the body." 2.   "Viscosity: As an object moves through the air, the viscosity (stickiness) of the air becomes very important. Air molecules stick to any surface, creating a layer of air near the surface (called a boundary layer) that, in effect, changes the shape of the object. To make things more confusing, the boundary layer may lift off or "separate" from the body and create an effective shape much different from the physical shape of an object. And to make it even more confusing, the flow conditions in and near the boundary layer are often unsteady (changing in time). The boundary layer is very important in determining both the drag and lift of an object.  3.  "Newton[s] position that lift is the reaction force on a body caused by  deflecting a flow of gas." Here’s how I integrate that: per quote 1 above, a body does not need to move to generate lift. It only must be "moved, shaped, or inclined." I think that the unfurling of a fly line creates the shape required to create lift. Quote 1 also confirms that lift is a function of fluid mechanics, which supports my idea that, just as waves can be standing or moving, so could an airfoil. Finally, an accelerating fly line has just the sort of velocity change needed to create lift (there’s an extensive discussion of the role of acceleration on the NASA site). A stiffer action rod creates greater line speed; and it casts the line farther. That may be a factor of acceleration/lift, as well as simple Newton gravity/trajectory math. What’s puzzled me is how a round fly line could act as an airfoil in its interaction with individual molecules. Sure, the shape is an airfoil, but I couldn’t see how the specific line-to-molecule interaction could act like a plane (in both the popular and Euclidian senses!). Quote 2 might explain: if the line moving through the air creates a boundary layer, that layer could function more as an airfoil than the line itself does. Finally, can’t ignore the simple component that the wing’s angle of attack gives. Bernoulli’s principle (yeah, I knew what it was called before!) explains most lift, but some comes from the simple fact of air hitting the bottom of the wing (if the wing’s inclined slightly upward). That’s why attack angle is a fact in flying characteristics. So, where do we usually stop our forward cast? 10:00; exactly the same slight upward angle you’d use if you were trying to coax a little more lift out of an airfoil. Finally, there’s the simple Bernoullian theory itself: air on bottom of wing doesn’t have to move much, air on top does, ergo lift. With a fly line, it’s: bottom of loop doesn’t really move (the first ten feet from your rod tip go forward and just hang there while the rest of the line unfurls); the top of your loop — the part that’s accelerating forward the fastest — moves maybe a hundred feet or more, displacing air while it does so. Why wouldn’t there be lift? I’m convincing myself. Maybe I’ll forward this string to a prof somewhere for analysis…

Response:

Well, that was a lot of interesting stuff, but for me the problem is that a fly line moving through the air probably does not fit the definition of a solid object.  If it’s in a straight line with force being applied in direct opposition at each end, maybe.  When it’s furled and forces are acting at different angles, I don’t think so. OK, thanks for the reference. Good page! However, it tends to confirm my theory. Here are three relevant excerpts from NASA’s explanation of lift:

Regards, Jeff

Response:

No matter what happens, give yourself a steady casting tempo, don’t rush a casting direction because you fear the line will hit the water mid cast. Watching someone cast is alright but it is the ‘feel’ of a cast that is most difficult to put into words.  Have someone take you in-hand to let you know what a cast feels like and not just what it looks like!

Possibly the most sensible thing that has been written about casting a fly! The *FEEL* of what is happening to the line is vital. — Bill http://www.graigroad.demon.co.uk

Response:

Also learn to look at the loops created when you cast, especially the one behind you. I was given some pictures of myself fishing a couple years ago when I was starting, and the loops were great big open things, which couldn’t transmit any power or forward momentum to the line. What you want is a reasonably small loop that actually looks like the leading edge of an airplane wing (I heard tell the line actually "flies" that way). Too big, no power and no distance. Too small (too quick a tempo), and you may pop a fly off and/or cut the tip of your rod off if a heavy setup hits it. Look at some pics of casters in brochures and books and you’ll see the golden mean!

Response:

What you want is a reasonably small loop that actually looks like the leading edge of an airplane wing (I heard tell the line actually "flies" that way).

That would be impossible since the line is flexible. Regards, Jeff

Response:

I’m not so sure. Clearly a moving fly line is affected in some way by the air around it; otherwise we’d all use soft rods on windy days. The question is what kind of aerodynamics are involved. I think fluid dynamics would apply. In water, similar wave structures can be created either with the water moving and the wave staying still (rivers)(analogize the "flexible" water with the "flexible" line?) or with the water staying basically motionless but the wave moving (oceans). A flycast (as it unrolls-not necessarily on the backcast) is sort of like an ocean wave; the bottom of the loop consists of line that’s no longer moving but the loop still moves forward, unfurling. Is there any reason why that unfurling loop couldn’t have lift? Any aero engineers out there? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What you want is a reasonably small loop that actually looks like the leading edge of an airplane wing (I heard tell the line actually "flies" that way). That would be impossible since the line is flexible.

Response:

Question:

Hi all, I’m new to flyfishing and trying to learn as much as possible. This newsgroup is a great source…thanks to all who contribute. I was hoping that some of the group experts could take a look at a web page that I’ve set up with about 9 pictures of what I’m sure are very common dry flies (one nymph is included). A flyfishing guide purchased them for me some time back and now I’m interested in knowing more about them.  Also, if anyone knows of any color reference books or web pages that I can use to identify flies (many books are B&W <sigh…it would be most appreciated…thanks in advance everyone! The web address is http://members.aol.com/kraftshoot/flys.jpg

Response:

Hi all, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m new to flyfishing and trying to learn as much as possible. This newsgroup is a great source…thanks to all who contribute. I was hoping that some of the group experts could take a look at a web page that I’ve set up with about 9 pictures of what I’m sure are very common dry flies (one nymph is included). A flyfishing guide purchased them for me some time back and now I’m interested in knowing more about them.  Also, if anyone knows of any color reference books or web pages that I can use to identify flies (many books are B&W <sigh…it would be most appreciated…thanks in advance everyone! The web address is http://members.aol.com/kraftshoot/flys.jpg

The photos are a bit dark, and it is extremely difficult to analyse fly patterns just from photos anyway, but here goes. Flies one and two are "Compara duns" these are flies with split tails, a dubbed body, no hackle as such, and elk or deer hair "wings" tied in a specific fashion. Namely spread in a half circle over the upper part of the hook and tilted slightly forward.These are remarkably successful flies, and the tying materials and style are more important as recognition points than any specific patterns or colours. The flies shown are imitations of olives. Fly three is a spinner imitation with what looks like antron wings. Again an olive. I would prefer smoke blue antron as wings on such a fly, but the "transparent" antron works as well. Flies four and five are parachute style dry-flies, with what looks like calf tail post wings, standard cock hackle wound horizontally around the post, and again seem to be olives. Fly six is a more or less standard hackled dry fly with a relatively short hackle, and this is tied over about a third of the body, probably designed for rough water fishing. Once again an olive. Flies seven and eight  are once again Compara duns, and again olives. Fly nine is an emerger pattern, tied with a trailing shuck of hackle fibre The  bead head nymph, which could be used to imitate almost anything, but this again looks like it was tied to represent an olive nymph. Trying to learn the names of all these flies is a waste of time. As long as you know what you use it for, that is really all that matters. Whether it has a name, or is just a reasonable imitation is quite immaterial.  All of the flies shown look like good fish catchers, and could in fact be used in various sizes to imitate a whole host of naturals. But the range shown here are practically all olive imitations. For lists of various patterns etc try : http://www.virtualflyshop.com/ for info on Olives etc try : http://www.fishing-in-wales.co.uk/wildlife/insects/upwing/bwolive.htm You might also like to look at : http://www.virtualflybox.com/ http://freespace.virgin.net/fly.fishing/index.htm   for colour photos of many flies http://www.sea-ex.com/recreational1/fly1.htm In the meantime there are thousands of sites on the web with info on patterns and tying and fly-fishing generally. The best thing to do is use a good search engine, such as http://www.google.com   and start searching for some of them. You will soon find plenty which you can use. The sites above also have links to many others, which you can try. TL MC — "In order to know what is possible one must constantly attempt the impossible" http://www.mikeconnor.de

Response:

You were asking for someone to identify the flies – I don’t know if you were asking for specific names or not.  Mike gave you the *styles*, which I think is a good idea.  I saw a book recently that looks really good – it helps sort out these kinds of flies by style, and helps you organize them in your head.  There are color pictures of all, and it’s not real long or expensive (under $20 US). "Essential Trout Flies" by Dave Hughes.  He identifies the major styles (Comparadun, parachute, traditional Catskill, spent spinner, thorax, etc.) and tells under which conditions each would be best, and how to fish them, and how to tie them.  Check it out http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0811727483/qid=963285608/sr=1-… -4362007-9744861 Good luck Regards, Jeff

Response:

Question:

Does anyone out there know anything about small trout lakes or spring-ponds in the Black Hills? I have heard rumors of good fishing there and would also like to see that part of the country. Thanks Forrest. flyfishing,packer football sports ingeneral

Response:

A long, long time ago I caught numerous small brookies on a beaver pond in Litch (?) Creek in the Black hills. I think it was in about 1981. The Black Hills are worth the trip, even if you’re not fishing. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone out there know anything about small trout lakes or spring-ponds in the Black Hills? I have heard rumors of good fishing there and would also like to see that part of the country. Thanks Forrest. flyfishing,packer football sports ingeneral

Response:

Litch (?) Creek in the Black hills. I think it was in about 1981. The Black Hills are worth the trip, even if you’re not fishing.

Excuse my ignorance, but, what state are we talking about? South Dakota? John Nesselrode Shawnee, KS

Response:

Question:

I’m Interested in buying a boat for shallow water fishing in Bays and Rivers (Chesapeake Bay) Can anyone give me thier opinion on the Carolina Skiffs. I’ll be flyfishing from this boat. Preferably would like to hear from skiff owners or dealers. Thanks Nick DelleDonne "The Evening Rise Fly Angler’s Shop"

Response:

I’m Interested in buying a boat for shallow water fishing in Bays and Rivers (Chesapeake Bay) Can anyone give me thier opinion on the Carolina Skiffs. I’ll be flyfishing from this boat. Preferably would like to hear from skiff owners or dealers. Thanks Nick DelleDonne "The Evening Rise Fly Angler’s Shop"

Hi Nick: I own a Southern Skimmer,(pretty much the same boat) I love it, you don’t need much water to run in or that much power to push it. I use mine on the great south bay on long island(NY) and it gets a little bouncy when its rough but on a river or lake where it’s a little calmer it should be great. J Branca

Response:

Question:

Don’t listen to what other people say , get new line if it is knicked.If you can find these colors they work good. 1.Trout-green;blue 2.Salmon-orange;yellow 3.Pike-gray;brown 4.Bass-dark green;mud                                                     Fellow Fisherman,                                                        Mr.Oralando

Response:

Don’t listen to what other people say , get new line if it is knicked.If you can find these colors they work good. 1.Trout-green;blue 2.Salmon-orange;yellow 3.Pike-gray;brown 4.Bass-dark green;mud                        Fellow Fisherman,                            Mr.Oralando

Um…Er…Uh…Aw, never mind….(sigh) /dave (To KF or Not To KF: That is the Question ;^) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < Digital Equipment Corp.    Alpha Server Engineering  < <         "Read this and nobody gets hurt ;^)"         < <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Response:

Don’t listen to what other people say , get new line if it is knicked.If you can find these colors they work good. 1.Trout-green;blue 2.Salmon-orange;yellow 3.Pike-gray;brown 4.Bass-dark green;mud

I started to respond to this,  but got so confused by the above message I forgot what I was going to say. Ernie Harrison

Response:

: 1.Trout-green;blue : 2.Salmon-orange;yellow : 3.Pike-gray;brown : 4.Bass-dark green;mud :                        Fellow Fisherman, :                            Mr.Oralando : /dave (To KF or Not To KF: That is the Question ;^) Now, now.  Be nice. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Assistant professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    |  These University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    |  opinions Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. |  are mine.

Response:

Would appreciate info on flyfishing opportunities in Nevada and Southwestern Utah.  Best times, fly types, locations, etc. Thanks to all.

Response:

Would appreciate info on flyfishing opportunities in Nevada and Southwestern Utah.  Best times, fly types, locations, etc. Thanks to all.

William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

Response:

Hi,    There is some excellent fishing up in the northeastern part of Nevada. While most of the flyfishing is floattube reservoir oriented, there are some stream fisheries.   The season is year around, techniques and locations change with the seasons. Winter means ice on most of the stillwaters, and that severely limits flyfishing. The tailwater fisheries below Wildhorse Reservoir and South Fork Reservoir stay open water in all but the coldest temperatures. The Collection Ditch at the Ruby Marshes also stays open and provides some good winter nymphing.   Early spring is the best fishing, and it is winding down at this time. Big rainbows head up the South Fork of the Humboldt above the reservoir starting at ice off and they can be caught on nymphs or midges. Near the inlets on all the reservoirs will show some fish on these techniques. The Collection Ditch at the Marshes and some of the Marsh areas produce big trout at this time (the Ditch collects the springs and routes the water to the various units–it is really a big spring creek)  Big runnoff time, which we are into now, generally means muddy water and the small waters and the Marsh are the best as they don’t get as muddy.  Post runoff finds the streams dropping and you can get into some of the areas like the Bruneau and Jarbidge river systems and these have good dry fly fishing for trout. The bass action starts to improve and three pound smallmouths on a flyrod will almost make you forget about trout.   Summer and warming water shifts the good fishing to the early mornings or after sunset–you can fish this area on almost all waters as long as the casinos stay open…   Fall fishing is excellent. The browns start spawning about the time the first frosts cut the bug populations. Most of the anglers have given up for the season, but the fishing is great.   That’s the year in a nutshell. There’s 1100 miles of streams and about 50 lake and reservoirs in the county, so it would take a book for specifics. Tight Lines, Jim, Nevada Jim’s Outdoor Sports, Elko, NV

Response: