Question:

 I am fishing in Hawaii for Bluefin trevally(omilu). I have had limited sucess and am fishing from shore.I have found areas that have them via. catches and snorkling. But the fish are particular, most days they chase the fly to the beach,only to stop shot of a complete strike.Other times they are just ON the hook and running. Is there anyone who could shed some lite on my short strikes.. Three days without a hook up,,,,, Jeff Brazda

Response:

Hello Jeff, I have fished for them in Christmas Island south of Hawaii just above the equator where they are probably more plentiful and more aggressive. They like red/yellow streamers there most of the time. They like fly rod salt water poppers too. In a populated area, I would fish for them in the AM, PM and at night. With lower light levels they can be more aggressive. Also try to go places where no one else fishes. A boat would be an advantage to get to places that are not heavily fished. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am fishing in Hawaii for Bluefin trevally(omilu). I have had limited sucess and am fishing from shore.I have found areas that have them via. catches and snorkling. But the fish are particular, most days they chase the fly to the beach,only to stop shot of a complete strike.Other times they are just ON the hook and running. Is there anyone who could shed some lite on my short strikes.. Three days without a hook up,,,,, Jeff Brazda

Response:

I am fishing in Hawaii for Bluefin trevally(omilu). I have had limited sucess and am fishing from shore.I have found areas that have them via. catches and snorkling. But the fish are particular, most days they chase the fly to the beach,only to stop shot of a complete strike.Other times they are just ON the hook and running. Is there anyone who could shed some lite on my short strikes.. Three days without a hook up,,,,, Jeff Brazda

Hello Jeff… I have had the same problem when fishing here in South Africa and Mozambique. The trick it seems is to use a fly (deceiver) with little flash. Just one or two strands of flashabou on the sides are sufficient. Best fly colours are chartreuse, then pink. Poppers are excellent, but if the fish are sitting in deep water, then they will rarely shoot up to the surface to hit the popper. Deceivers and a sinking line work best in this case. Also, the retrieve is as fast as you can. Hope this helps Regards Sudesh Pursad Bamba Flyfishing Adventures www.bamba.co.za Regards Sudesh Pursad Bamba Flyfishing Adventures www.bamba.co.za

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Question:

Warning: another Scoobey Bellows TR, short on fish and long on everything else: Just got back from four days in Yosemite — kicking back next to an alpine lake at 10,000′ on Sat. night, watching the Perseid meteor shower, with the huge streaks punctuated by distant flashes of lightning, was the high point — but the fishing wasn’t too astounding. Departed Tuolumne Meadows, north of the main valley (love the valley, but not the tourists there). Friday, on the hike in, along Rafferty Creek I think it’s called, I saw lots of little, tiny goldens in the creek, acting just like grown-up trout. Could have just stared at them for hours. Camped that night at Booth Lake, close to the 10,000 foot level; that lake has a narrow (5 ft wide?) band of vegetation around the perimeter, and in the late afternoon trout started dimpling the surface right there, close to shore. I couldn’t see what the hatch was — assume callibaetis but could see no duns — but I saw a couple of small white moths flutter by. I have no idea whether there is any such thing as an aquatic moth, but it was the only insect in view. So, I decided to tie on a CDC sulfur emerger: could be a callibaetis, could be a moth caught on the surface, was my thinking. Picked up a nice little (6") trout on the first cast. Really interesting color: green/tan on the sides (golden trout?), but blood-red on top. If you know what that is, please tell me. Released him, sacrificing the deeply-hooked fly; lost another fly for no reason other than mistying the knot in the dark; then a bat started chasing my casts back and forth and, remembering Tom L.’s story about whacking a bat back and forth on the water thinking "damn, this streamer’s really heavy," called it quits. (Camped in the Hennessy Hammock that some of the Penn’s Clave folks saw. Interesting factoid: did you know that the temperature inside a nylon hammock tends to resemble that outside? D’oh! I never realized how much the ground acts as a heat sink when you’re in a regular tent. Temp dropped below 32 degress up on top of that mountain, and I froze my keister. Slept outside on the ground the other nights: much warmer (though definitely still not warm enough). I like that hammock idea, but it’s too cold for anything other than warm-weather. (Their website shows how to bungee a space blanket to the underside for warmth, but it seems too mickeymouse to mess with. Jury’s still out, but I may be trading for an old-fashioned one-man tent. )) Second night camped at a higher, sterile lake. Weird topography: so grassy around the marge it was like a lawn, but with big humps and hummocks serrated by twisting gravel channels that sometimes must carry water but at that time were dry; and beaches on the lake, pure light-colored sand; weird kicking back on the beach with your shirt off in the bright sunshine at 10,000′. That’s where we saw the Perseids. Next day we hiked up to a 10,600′ pass — a nice, neat two-miles-high — scrambled up an even taller granite ridge nearby, goggled at the views. Could see a smalllightning-strike fire burning on a steep slope ahead of us, across the North Fork Tuolumne River in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. I was a little concerned — fires usually burn uphill, but not always, so was planning our routes out if it jumped the river. (Spent two summers in college as an AD firefighter for the Forest Service.) But, no worries; Park Service was just letting it burn under wilderness rules, it kept to its side of the river and it was fun to watch it as we got nearer. Camped the last night along the John Muir Trail, on a stretch of river running through a wide meadow. Reasonably big though slow water, but again, very very small trout. More fun to watch than to fish for. An invisible hatch: nothing bumping the surface of the water, struggling, sending rings outward, and fish rising, and never could see a damn thing; and no midges in the air. Time for Zen fishing: no bug, no fly, no rod. Then a short hike back to the Meadows to close the loop, with a stop on the way to skinny-dip under an underwater stone arch formed at the base of a little waterfall. Cold, cold water, deep pool, hot sunny day: never gets better. So once again, fishing serves as an excuse or just a supplement to the joys of getting out there. Hope everyone else’s summer’s going as well (but hopefully with bigger fish, the icing on the cake). — Scoobey (Scott Bellows) "Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum." -Ambrose Bierce

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Every summer I go on a backpack/kayak/raft/float plane/something like that trip with my two best friends from junior high and high school, even though one now lives in St. Louis and the other in Thousand Oaks, an hour outside LA. (That may not be the belly of the beast, but it’s at least its esophagus. He even called SF "Frisco" twice on our trip. I seriously considered "accidentally" giving him a shove off a lovely lookout.) Mu, I just noticed you’re at U of M. My brother, Nick Bellows, goes there. Go blue!

Actually, I’m in Thousand Oaks!  I’m trying to hold on to this umich account for as long as possible.  Has great anti-spam capabilities and it’s UNIX.  I’m not gonna find those two combinations in any other easily availble net service. Mu

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Just got back from four days in Yosemite — kicking back next to an alpine lake at 10,000′ on Sat. night, watching the Perseid meteor shower, with the huge streaks punctuated by distant flashes of lightning, was the high point

Went to Joshhua Tree NP.  Never got below 80 at night and it was humid. Lightning in the distance was interesting but cloud cover limited my meteor count to 5 Interesting TR.  Have yet to go to Yosemite though it’s only 6 hours away. Don’t you live in Oregon? Mu

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Yep, live near Portland, but am Bay Area born and raised. (A native Oregonian friend put it this way: "If you weren’t born in Oregon, you’ll never be an Oregonian. But if you’re a native Northern Californian, we will grant you sanctuary.") Every summer I go on a backpack/kayak/raft/float plane/something like that trip with my two best friends from junior high and high school, even though one now lives in St. Louis and the other in Thousand Oaks, an hour outside LA. (That may not be the belly of the beast, but it’s at least its esophagus. He even called SF "Frisco" twice on our trip. I seriously considered "accidentally" giving him a shove off a lovely lookout.) Mu, I just noticed you’re at U of M. My brother, Nick Bellows, goes there. Go blue! — Scoobey (Scott Bellows) "Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum." -Ambrose Bierce – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have yet to go to Yosemite though it’s only 6 hours away. Don’t you live in Oregon? Mu

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Thanks guy.  Those high passes are wonderful.  Feels like you can see around the world.      Frank Reid

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Warning: another Scoobey Bellows TR, short on fish and long on everything else:

Sounds like heaven. Thanks for the report. TL MC

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Flypaint writes: I thought near the ends of the canoe were more stable for tying off and hauling up the anchor. -Patrick They probably are ,because your’e pulling your anchor line along a stable central axis point.I personally don’t prefer to do it that way because I don’t like to have to lean back every time I want to raise or lower the anchor.We’re talking about anchoring on slow lazy rivers or lakes,not on raging rapids.Their would have to be one hell of a wind kicking up to put me under just because I tied off on the center support.I also find it gives me better boat positioning.Anyway,my main reason in responding to the post was to share a tip about using the plastic barbell.You can tie your anchor anywhere you want as far as I’m concerned.I don’t recommend tying it to your ankle however. Tight Lines,Shawn

:All the canoes that I have used on rivers have had a pulley mechanism connected to the bow of the canoe with the rope running through a channel in the mechanism with a hammer-like piece coming down to hold it fast while at anchor.  The rope can be reached by any seat in the canoe.   Ken Fortenberry writes about using an onion bag with rocks — excellent idea and one used by Maine Guides.  When hiking into a remote pond, all they have to haul is the onion bag and a piece of rope — the rocks to fill the bag are already there!  Actually, it ain’t an onion bag but a bag designed for scuba divers.  You can find them in most dive shops. Achoring a canoe from the side in any kind of current can be unstable and could cause a turn-over.  But, of course, that’s JMHO. Dave LaCourse: These anchor control pulleys are great, but the single point of control often results in the stern being swung back and forth by the current or the wind.   We use the motor at the square stern of the canoe to act as a rudder.  When we are in rocky rivers (and hence no motor), I just use plastic bar bells and a small piece of chain, like one other poster mentioned, and drop a line off the stern.  The stern anchor doesn’t have to be very heavy, but the line has to be tight to dampen the pendulum effect.  I just tie it off the back; no anchor control necessary. JB

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I thought near the ends of the canoe were more stable for tying off and hauling up the anchor. -Patrick

They probably are ,because your’e pulling your anchor line along a stable central axis point.I personally don’t prefer to do it that way because I don’t like to have to lean back every time I want to raise or lower the anchor.We’re talking about anchoring on slow lazy rivers or lakes,not on raging rapids.Their would have to be one hell of a wind kicking up to put me under just because I tied off on the center support.I also find it gives me better boat positioning.Anyway,my main reason in responding to the post was to share a tip about using the plastic barbell.You can tie your anchor anywhere you want as far as I’m concerned.I don’t recommend tying it to your ankle however. Tight Lines,Shawn

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Flypaint writes: I thought near the ends of the canoe were more stable for tying off and hauling up the anchor. -Patrick They probably are ,because your’e pulling your anchor line along a stable central axis point.I personally don’t prefer to do it that way because I don’t like to have to lean back every time I want to raise or lower the anchor.We’re talking about anchoring on slow lazy rivers or lakes,not on raging rapids.Their would have to be one hell of a wind kicking up to put me under just because I tied off on the center support.I also find it gives me better boat positioning.Anyway,my main reason in responding to the post was to share a tip about using the plastic barbell.You can tie your anchor anywhere you want as far as I’m concerned.I don’t recommend tying it to your ankle however. Tight Lines,Shawn

All the canoes that I have used on rivers have had a pulley mechanism connected to the bow of the canoe with the rope running through a channel in the mechanism with a hammer-like piece coming down to hold it fast while at anchor.  The rope can be reached by any seat in the canoe.   Ken Fortenberry writes about using an onion bag with rocks — excellent idea and one used by Maine Guides.  When hiking into a remote pond, all they have to haul is the onion bag and a piece of rope — the rocks to fill the bag are already there!  Actually, it ain’t an onion bag but a bag designed for scuba divers.  You can find them in most dive shops. Achoring a canoe from the side in any kind of current can be unstable and could cause a turn-over.  But, of course, that’s JMHO. Dave LaCourse

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How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks!

Well…if you’re not portaging …grab a large coffee can..fill it with cement/concrete…stick in a large eye bolt.  The can will pick up far less muck when in a weedy/muddy bottomed pond/bog/lake. $.02, steve d.

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: All the canoes that I have used on rivers have had a pulley mechanism connected : to the bow of the canoe with the rope running through a channel in the : mechanism with a hammer-like piece coming down to hold it fast while at anchor. :  The rope can be reached by any seat in the canoe.   : Ken Fortenberry writes about using an onion bag with rocks — excellent idea : and one used by Maine Guides.  When hiking into a remote pond, all they have to : haul is the onion bag and a piece of rope — the rocks to fill the bag are : already there!  Actually, it ain’t an onion bag but a bag designed for scuba : divers.  You can find them in most dive shops. : Achoring a canoe from the side in any kind of current can be unstable and could : cause a turn-over.  But, of course, that’s JMHO. : Dave LaCourse Hi; As a Illinois EPA volunteer, we go out often. We’ve been out in days when we have waves coming over the sides of our kayak. We use a two seater and one person handles the anchor (which we just drop over the side) and writes the results and the other (me) lowers the secchi disk and leans over the opposite side (from anchor) of the kayak to take measurments. We do end up going back to work sometimes smelling kind bad, but we have yet to tip… — John Nelson                       Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page        http://www.chicagopaddling.org   http://www.chicagofishing.org  (A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell)

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How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks!

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How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks!

I use an onion sack full of rocks. — Ken Fortenberry

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How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks! I use an onion sack full of rocks. — Ken Fortenberry

Scott, he’s also been known to use his fishing partner. Peter (promising never to call it an "aluminum monstrosity" again)

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I tie a 5 pound maul (sledge hammer) off the back.  Easy to lift and adjust. Opie  **Panhandling for a better tomorrow!**

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks! I use an onion sack full of rocks. — Ken Fortenberry

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Ken,    The holes in the onion sack are too big to put corn in. Ernie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks! I use an onion sack full of rocks. — Ken Fortenberry

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How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks!

Scott, FLOAT TUBE ANCHOR SYSTEM: www.woodrivercompany.com/accessor.htm I have one of these for my float tube and I use with the canoe also…I really like it and I don’t have to haul those muddy rocks that dirty and scratch up my precious and prestine Old Town canoe (that looks like it was dropped by UPS…..Cargo Jet, that is). Padishar Creel

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How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks!

I use a 1 gal detergent jug filled with sand. You might want two, for when you want to keep the craft sideways to the wind. Pops **** Armed and Safe(tm) **** "By US Code Title 47, Sec.227(a)(2)(B), a computer/modem/printer meets the definition of a telephone fax machine. By Sec.227(b)(1)(C), it is unlawful to send any unsolicited advertisement to such equipment.   By Sec.227(b)(3)(C), a violation of the aforementioned Section is punishable by action to recover actual monetary loss, or $500, whichever is greater, for each violation."

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: How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps : moving you off your spot? Thanks! I have a <ducking head JetSki anchor that I bought from Overton’s.  It’s small, comes with it’s own storage bag and has a little float on the end just incase you lose the rope.  It also has a clip so I just loop it over a thwart and clip it on. P.S. I do not own a jetski — John Nelson                       Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page        http://www.chicagopaddling.org   http://www.chicagofishing.org  (A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell)

Response:

How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing

Hey Scott, I like to use a plastic barbell weight,about eight pounds.I tie a rope through the center and tie the end to the center support bar in mycanoe.The good thing about the barbell weight is because it.s round it’s not likely to hang up on anything.If your anchor hangs up even the least little bit you will have trouble freeing it without flipping your canoe.When pulling your anchor up you want to pull the rope over the side from the center while seated in a stable position.If you lean over the side to haul the anchor you will soon find yourself and all your equipment in the water. Good Luck,Shawn

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I use an onion sack full of rocks.

Yeah, but what yuppie boy isn’t telling you is that those rocks were individually swallowed and pooped out by a rare strain of African wildebeast. Helps ‘em sink faster apparently. –Steve (don’t worry Ken, I’ll get one with a large fridge)

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Scott,   I also like the rock in an onion sack solution, it doesn’t take up much space when not in use so I usually have it with the canoe.   However, I would not tie it to one of the center thwarts.  If there is a current, or a strong wind, this can tip a canoe over.  Also it it easier to tip a canoe when raising the anchor.  It is better to tie to the end of the canoe, I have a carry handle at the bow and stern of my 18′ Wenonah.  It is inconvenient to raise and lower if I am by myself, but I have had a sudden breeze come up and have been happier. Joe – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks!

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Reminds me of my first scuba diving buddy (a college roommate). He insisted that he always carried a scuba knife and dove with a partner for safety reasons. That way, if he saw a shark, he could stab his buddy and swim for shore.

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 i use old window sash weights.  lead bars about 10 inches long with hole already in the end for your cord.  rig pulley off front and you can hold canoe in place during ‘gentle’ winds. fishworship – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How do you anchor a canoe for flyfishing when there’s a breeze that keeps moving you off your spot? Thanks!

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<snip When pulling your anchor up you want to pull the rope over the side from the center while seated in a stable position. <snip I thought near the ends of the canoe were more stable for tying off and hauling up the anchor. -Patrick

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Question:

Can someone direct me to a good web site for information on fishing the many trout streams in PA and NY states?  Thanks.

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Can someone direct me to a good web site for information on fishing the many trout streams in PA and NY states?  Thanks.

Steve, This site has some good info and up to date stream reports posted by anglers. http://www.paflyfish.easetech.com/ Tim

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Can someone direct me to a good web site for information on fishing the many trout streams in PA and NY states?  Thanks.

Steve My site uner ‘Links’ – ‘Destinations’ has about ten links to PA, ME, and VT flyfishing information sites. Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.cgocable.net/~pcharles/index.html

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Question:

The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John

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John, I have a pair of miniature needle nose pliers which I keep in my fly tying box for this purpose.  I bend the barb down before tying the fly because some times the hook breaks.  When on the stream I use my forceps.  Keep the hook near the hinges so you have enough leverage. Ernie Harrison Like to make fly-fishing stuff?  See: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John

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John- Try going to an electronics shop or a hobby/craft store and buy a pair of smooth jawed needlenose pliers with the spring between the handles to hold the jaws open. Larry #:)#

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: The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for : the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are : being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John : : A medium or small set of hemostats works fine for most sizes of hooks. For some of the Japanese hooks with very small barbs, you can use a hook hone or file.  For big hooks I use a set of miniature channel locks, also sold by Sears as ignition pliers.  They’re especially useful on Bass Bug hooks and the large offset shank hooks used for Texas rigging worms and grubs. And they are much more useful than needle nose pliers for small nuts and bolts or straightening buzzbait and spinnerbait wires, unclamping sinkers, or fixing the motor. BG

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If only the manufacturers were willing to make a far better selection of barbless hooks, then perhaps this wouldn’t even be an issue. I’m often disappointed at the lack of barbless hooks available our local shops. RG : The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for : the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are : being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John

Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Greetings, John : : The old needle nose pliers work fine for #14 and larger hooks … but for : the small stuff … like #20’s … need something else … what tools are : being used for this purpose by the tiers out there …. John

  You might go to your friendly neighborhood jewelry store and ask them to order you a pair of really smooth, well-aligned jewelers needle-nose pliers.  If they do any kind of repair or fabrication at all, they should have a catalog of jewelers tools for you to look at.  These pliers are available in some really small sizes, and will do the job on all your tiny hooks.  This is what I use.  Expect to pay around $17 or $20 bucks for quality pliers, but they will last you forever….   Cheers, and happy tying,   -Mark

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Question:

I recently bought a fly outfit and was wondering if there was a good visual tutorial on the net, or anywhere else. Thx HR

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  I recently bought a fly outfit and was wondering if there was a good   visual tutorial on the net, or anywhere else.   Thx   HR

A visual tutorial for what?  Casting?  Fishing?  Fly tying?   Why didn’t you ask the joker from whom you bought your rod? Go back to the store where you bought the fly outfit and ask them for casting lessons and inquire about fishing classes (if you’ve not fished before).  If they don’t offer these things then return the outfit immediately and go somewhere else that does! I say this in all seriousness.  You are going to want lots more equipment and need lots more advice before long and you’d do well to get acquainted with a nice shop that can provide all these things. Be warned that fly tying is also looming on the horizon for you. cheers,         -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html email: replace the "this_address_is_wrong" with "tgades"

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Question:

I went camping at Lake Granby.  It rained every day I was there.  It did not rain that long but it did rain long enough to make it miserable.  The flyrod was not working real well for me.  I had no strikes on the fly.  I changed to bait casting.  I used a Mepp’s spinner with salmon eggs and caught five fish.  I am looking forward to returning to Lake Granby next year.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I went camping at Lake Granby.  It rained every day I was there.  It did not rain that long but it did rain long enough to make it miserable. The flyrod was not working real well for me.  I had no strikes on the fly.  I changed to bait casting.  I used a Mepp’s spinner with salmon eggs and caught five fish.  I am looking forward to returning to Lake Granby next year.

this area.  Better wishes next time.  Do not move from this site. Mr. G.

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Question:

Any fly as long as it’s big and bright. Don’t tie a complicated fly because pike beat up a fly real quick.  I like to use 10X long streamer flies and cover the tube body or wrapped tinsel body with clear epoxy glue otherwise the pike’s teeth get caught in the body thereby preventing the hook point from penetrating. I like easy economical patterns like Mickey Finns, Red and White, Tri-color. Add flashabou if you want.

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Dave Wilson wrote I’ve been volentered (sp?) to tye a bunch of pike flys for a friend, the only trouble is, What the heck patterns do I tye? If anyone has had experience here please respond.<< Have been doing a fair amount of fly fishing for Northern Pike for about 40 years now. Most important things I’ve learned are that pike will quickly tear up your flies (so doing it cheap is a big consideration) and that large undulating patterns work best. Trying to tie lots of flies cheaply I’ve found that using hooks in the 2/0 to 5/0 sizes with long shanks are the best starting point. I like the Eagle Claw Lazer Shark hooks made for bass fishermen rigging rubber worms the most cost effective. They have a shank as long as very long shank streamer hooks, come out of the package as sharp as you can get a hook and are very cost effective. The sproat is just about perfect. If you go down to your local craft store you’ll find 3" to 4" chicken feathers and marabou feathers sold in bulk for a really low price. I buy them in red and white. I wrap the whole hook shank from the start of the bend back to the hook eye in a single layer of thread wrapped quickly, then I tie in one feather each (approximately the same size) by wrapping over the exposed quill and back 1/2" to 3/4", this double wrap ending just at the hook eye. You can tie in a cone shaped nose if you like, but it’s not needed. Secure with a whip finish and you’ve got a simple, cheap yet highly effective streamer for toothy critters. Fair winds and following seas, Pat in Pawtucket  RI

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I’ve been volentered (sp?) to tye a bunch of pike flys for a friend, the only trouble is, What the heck patterns do I tye? If anyone has had experience here please respond. Thanks in advance Dave Wilson

Big 2/0 red/yellow or white marabou or bunny streamers. Big deer hair or caribou hair mouse patterns with weed guards for top water fishing. I would put 6 to 12 inches of wire leader on them. I am not an expert on the subject but that’s what I have seen. Dan Blanton has a trip to Canada for pike and you might look for his web site for some answers, too. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

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I’ve been volentered (sp?) to tye a bunch of pike flys for a friend, the only trouble is, What the heck patterns do I tye? If anyone has had experience here please respond.  Thanks in advance Dave Wilson

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Question:

You are fishing an area and are hitting it regularly and waiting for the good fishing to start and it’s just a bit early and then the one time you don’t go you hear that everybody slammed them that day.  Tht is what happened to me this past weekend.  Ihave been fishing the Roanoke River constantly for a month or so fo the stripers to get going and getting a few but not really hot and heavy.  This past weekend I decided to stick aROUNd the house with the wife and of course I then heard that the fish were in thick and everybody caught a ton.  Figures. Gordon

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You are fishing an area and are hitting it regularly and waiting for the good fishing to start and it’s just a bit early and then the one time you don’t go you hear that everybody slammed them that day.

Here in California on the coast there is an affliction called "alltimers disease" which plagues surfers.  The morning you don’t come out all your buddies catch it.  The next time you’re told "man (dude may be substituted), they were pumpin’.  All time best!"  Check your source for the following symptons: 1.  You usually outfish them 2.  When they tell a story where you are involved, only a tentative link to the reality of the situation remains. If either of these conditions are met, keep a close eye on them.  If both of these conditions are met, for godness sakes, don’t let them fish alone, they could be a prime candidate for Alltimers! Phil

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You are fishing an area and are hitting it regularly and waiting for the good fishing to start and it’s just a bit early and then the one time you don’t go you hear that everybody slammed them that day.  Tht is what happened to me this past weekend.  Ihave been fishing the Roanoke River constantly for a month or so fo the stripers to get going and getting a few but not really hot and heavy.  This past weekend I decided to stick aROUNd the house with the wife and of course I then heard that the fish were in thick and everybody caught a ton.  Figures. Gordon

Are you fishing the section near Brookneal VA. ?  Yes, it happens to me about every year.  Usually when I go, there has been rain up stream and the river is too muddy to fish.  Let me know if the stripers are

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That is what is great about living next to a river.  You can check it out every day. Jeff

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And, I have also had times where I and perhaps one or two others were the only ones on the river and we/I caught fish on every cast for the entire tide ! If you go often enough it all works out. — "The true Angler is content to fish alone" Brian Di Carlo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You are fishing an area and are hitting it regularly and waiting for the good fishing to start and it’s just a bit early and then the one time you don’t go you hear that everybody slammed them that day.  Tht is what happened to me this past weekend.  Ihave been fishing the Roanoke River constantly for a month or so fo the stripers to get going and getting a few but not really hot and heavy.  This past weekend I decided to stick aROUNd the house with the wife and of course I then heard that the fish were in thick and everybody caught a ton.  Figures. Gordon

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Happens to all of us!  Fortubnatly, there is always tomorrow John W. Kramer Clearwater Outfitters @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@   "See Dick fly-fish.    See Dick kill fish."           DON’T BE A DICK!  PRACTICE AND TEACH CATCH AND RELEASE @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@

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Question:

writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. I am finishing up a Masters degree in Film from American University and have been posed with the challenge of writing a ten-minute script illuminating the joys and tribulations of fly fishing–specifically, fly fishing for trout. Why fly fishing? Any response, e-mail or posted, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Chris Strobel Dear Chris; Because it is the best/only way to catch a trout after the middle of May when the critters start to focus-in on bugs. Thank-you.  That is all. Jason Beary

Chris,  for me its the ability not to have to leave the sport in the off season.  Tying flys, reading, studying the entomology and biology is fascinating, and it fills up snowy evenings – a glass of Merlot, a pattern book and a pile for fur and feathers – that I turn into a "bug" that will fool a fish.  Not such a lofty pursuit, but an absorbing one. jg Huntington NY

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Part of the lure(?? a pun)of flyfishing for me is that you are taking materials such as fur,feathers,yarn etc.which if cast upon the waters by themselves would produce nothing. If you take the same materials ,combine them in such a way,to create a fly,(which hopefully will resemble a natural)and present it to a fish,and the fish takes it..Well thats satisfying. I guess that it is that you are in complete control of part of the game(buying the materials,what you buy,your skill etc.)but once you put it on the water ,its up,to the fish.And the fish taking your fly or not is the measure of success or failure.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. I am finishing up a Masters degree in Film from American University and have been posed with the challenge of writing a ten-minute script illuminating the joys and tribulations of fly fishing–specifically, fly fishing for trout.  Does it have something to do with the peacefulness of the stream, or is there a particular challenge to fly fishing that the rest of us don’t know about and wouldn’t understand?   Having never been much of a fisherman (other than the bluegill from a small lake in my childhood) I don’t have experience with fly fishing and was wondering if anyone would like to tell me why they do what they do… Why fly fishing? Any response, e-mail or posted, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Chris Strobel

Chris, "Penthouse" or "Playboy" would never ask a virgin to write a story about sex. And your question, why fly fishing?, sounds just about as silly as that virgin asking people, "why do you enjoy sex". Ya just gotta try it to underestand it! Do some research on your own, fishing that is. Take a leason or two, go fishing and then write your script. Short of that, you’re just writing an expos