Question:

We ran along the Deerfield for a good stretch. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much floating plastic, rubber, and styrofoam in one place, ever. /daytripper (water looked low, slow, and warm, too…)

The two raft/kayak/tube outfitters in Zoar pretty much clog the river on weekends.  You have to fish dawn and dusk and pray the water level’s right. A real crap shoot considering the drive time and the lack of alternatives in the area.

Response:

The two raft/kayak/tube outfitters in Zoar pretty much clog the river on weekends.  You have to fish dawn and dusk and pray the water level’s right. A real crap shoot considering the drive time and the lack of alternatives in the area.

Are there trout in the little river that runs up Route 2 as is climbs up through the State Forest to Florida, MA, just past Berkshire East? — Gary M

Response:

The two raft/kayak/tube outfitters in Zoar pretty much clog the river on weekends.  You have to fish dawn and dusk and pray the water level’s right. A real crap shoot considering the drive time and the lack of alternatives in the area. Are there trout in the little river that runs up Route 2 as is climbs up through the State Forest to Florida, MA, just past Berkshire East?

Sounds like the Cold River, which isn’t mentioned in TU’s guide for MA trout waters…

Response:

Sounds like the Cold River, which isn’t mentioned in TU’s guide for MA trout waters…

Yes that sounds correct. I do see the ubquitous Salmon Parr/Trout differentiation signs on the trees up there though? — Gary M

Response:

I grew up in Springfield MA but haven’t fished the Farmington in MA for at least 8 years.  I used to regularly fish the Deerfield, Westfield, Swift, and  the Nissi when I lived in Boston and my brother lived in Southwick.  I live in NJ now and mainly fish the Farmington and Housie in CT if I’m not exploring PA’s streams and trails. Bill Bill, Can you recommend any good spots along the Deerfield?  Drove

along it the other day, water level was very low but looked like the river had promise.  I live in CT but am always in search of good water. Jim

Response:

Bill, Can you recommend any good spots along the Deerfield?  Drove along it the other day, water level was very low but looked like the river had promise.  I live in CT but am always in search of good water. Jim

The best places on the Deerfield are close to the Fife Brook Dam – without the cold water releases from Fife the river would be too hot for trout this year… Here are maps of the two C&R areas on the upper Deerfield: http://www.jacksmola.com/deerfield_upper.html http://www.jacksmola.com/deerfield_lower.html Be aware that the dam releases water for hydro power and the areas near the dam fluctuate between low water and dangerous.  If you want to try the area, be sure to check the release schedule (which is often wrong) at 1-888-356-3663. Press 1 & 6 when prompted. You can get a good idea of the releases by checking the stream flow gauge: http://mass1.er.usgs.gov/rt-cgi/gen_stn_pg?station=01170000 It looks like the releases are way down the past couple of days, so things could be very good indeed… This gauge is way downstream from the Fife Brook dam – near the Connecticut river.  The times of high flow are a couple of hours delayed compared to the main release.  There are also several other dams between Fife and West Deerfield that do secondary releases that slow down the surge. The whole river is accessible by roads and pretty much any place there’s a pullout is worth a look,  Just be aware that the lower you get, the slower and warmer the water will be.  Wherever you fish, make sure you know your exit route if the water starts coming up. –Stan

Response:

I’ve got to agree (and defer) with Stan.  Fife is probably the best place but I haven’t fished the Deerfield in 2 years since I moved to NJ so I don’t know the condition of the river.  Fife was always consistent though.  Most likely I’ll make a trip up this fall. As Stan points out, remember to watch the water.  It comes up fast. —

|

| Bill, Can you recommend any good spots along the Deerfield?  Drove | along it the other day, water level was very low but looked like the | river had promise.  I live in CT but am always in search of good | water. | Jim | | The best places on the Deerfield are close to the Fife Brook Dam – without | the cold water releases from Fife the river would be too hot for trout this | year… | | Here are maps of the two C&R areas on the upper Deerfield: | http://www.jacksmola.com/deerfield_upper.html | http://www.jacksmola.com/deerfield_lower.html | | Be aware that the dam releases water for hydro power and the areas near the | dam fluctuate between low water and dangerous.  If you want to try the area, | be sure to check the release schedule (which is often wrong) at | 1-888-356-3663. Press 1 & 6 when prompted. | | You can get a good idea of the releases by checking the stream flow gauge: | http://mass1.er.usgs.gov/rt-cgi/gen_stn_pg?station=01170000 | | It looks like the releases are way down the past couple of days, so things | could be very good indeed… | | This gauge is way downstream from the Fife Brook dam – near the Connecticut | river.  The times of high flow are a couple of hours delayed compared to the | main release.  There are also several other dams between Fife and West | Deerfield that do secondary releases that slow down the surge. | | The whole river is accessible by roads and pretty much any place there’s a | pullout is worth a look,  Just be aware that the lower you get, the slower | and warmer the water will be.  Wherever you fish, make sure you know your | exit route if the water starts coming up. | | –Stan | |

Response:

http://www.jacksmola.com/deerfield_lower.html

The only time I fished the Deerfield was a little below the Yankee Power Plant. I did not do well, plus, as I thought the plant will still operating I was really uncomfortable standing in the water. Any comment on this stretch? I don’t think these maps are of this stretch are they? — Gary M

Response:

The only time I fished the Deerfield was a little below the Yankee Power Plant. I did not do well, plus, as I thought the plant will still operating I was really uncomfortable standing in the water. Any comment on this stretch? I don’t think these maps are of this stretch are they?

I believe the road to Rowe is just upstream of the Cold River (Rowe Rd.)?  I haven’t fished upstream from the Cold River  in years except just below Fife Brook Dam.  So, yes, I think that map is of the stretch you’re thinking of, and while I don’t have any recent firsthand knowledge about that section, Jack Smola has told me good stories about it.  The section I’m most familiar with is downstream a ways, below Bardwell’s Ferry down to the South River. I spent many days fishing that section and used to really love the riffle just below the South River.  I have stayed away from the Deerfield for several years because of the big daytime releases from Fife (that and the river runners). –Stan

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The only time I fished the Deerfield was a little below the Yankee Power Plant. I did not do well, plus, as I thought the plant will still operating I was really uncomfortable standing in the water. Any comment on this stretch? I don’t think these maps are of this stretch are they? I believe the road to Rowe is just upstream of the Cold River (Rowe Rd.)?  I haven’t fished upstream from the Cold River  in years except just below Fife Brook Dam.  So, yes, I think that map is of the stretch you’re thinking of, and while I don’t have any recent firsthand knowledge about that section, Jack Smola has told me good stories about it.  The section I’m most familiar with is downstream a ways, below Bardwell’s Ferry down to the South River. I spent many days fishing that section and used to really love the riffle just below the South River.  I have stayed away from the Deerfield for several years because of the big daytime releases from Fife (that and the river runners).

Sunday afternoon on the way back from visiting #1 Son at Cornell we avoided a monster jam on the Pike by winding our way northeast on the back roads. Gorgeous day and an engaging drive. We ran along the Deerfield for a good stretch. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much floating plastic, rubber, and styrofoam in one place, ever. /daytripper (water looked low, slow, and warm, too…)

Response:

Mike: http://www.valley.net/~ThomasAmes/insects/mayfly/needhami.htm Sometimes called a blue-wing olive, and a chocolate spinner. –Stan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Howdy Bill      I am a Ct. resident and don’t know what a Needhami is could you enlighten me or anyone else as far as that goes Picture maybe???                    Handyman Mike         Standing in a river waving a stick

Response:

Pretty much.  The one I was using was a dun pattern tied on a 26 hook.  Just a dark brown/black body with a gray CDC post wing and no hackle.  Nice and simple.  My brother was lucky with a size 24 BWO dun.  Different body color but the same wing profile and color.  Leads me to believe they were keying into the wing, not the body. Then again, a few hit a size 14 Tan hair caddis with a lot of grizzly hackle palmered on the body.  Go figure. Bill —

| Mike: | | http://www.valley.net/~ThomasAmes/insects/mayfly/needhami.htm | | Sometimes called a blue-wing olive, and a chocolate spinner. | | –Stan |

| Howdy Bill |      I am a Ct. resident and don’t know what a Needhami is could you | enlighten | me or anyone else as far as that goes Picture maybe??? | | | |                    Handyman Mike |         Standing in a river waving a stick | | |

Response:

Thanks as i am still new to learning what flies are what getting better all the time but alot to learn still.                    Handyman Mike           Standing in a river waving a stick

Response:

| from the Classic and Custom Flyshop website | (http://www.classicandcustomflyshop.com): | | "Here are some tips on how to peg the needhami hatch . The needhami spinners | need an air temp of 80 to fall.  The hatch is pretty consistent about 9-10 | am each day . However the spinners are air temp sensitive, 80 seems to be | what they like and when the air over the water hits 80 they come down IN | MASS no matter what time it is.  Here on the Farmington you have to remember | that the river is a tail water, the water stays cold and  the cold water | effects the air over the water.  The river will chill the air over it by as | much as 6-8 feet, the less the humidity the higher the effect is in the air, | the higher the effect the latter the spinner drop.  Needhami spinners mass | high in the air as much as 30-50 feet above the surface and fall in mass . | They will start down to the rivers surface hang over the river and then | return to the trees if the air temp over the water is to cold. They hit the | cold air and return to the trees, they will do this time and time again | until they feel that the air temp has hit the 80 mark.  On a clear day with | no humidity this may take as long as early afternoon.  On those days when | the humidity is high and the air sultry get to the river by 9 am and the | spinners will be falling.  This happens because the heavy moist air has | pushed the cold air coming off the surface of the water down , and the air | temp over the water reaches 80 fast.  Some times this humid air can have a | dramatic effect on the conditions and will cause a fog to form over the | water. | | If you run into this wait until the fog lifts as needhami will not fall | through the fog.  Needhami can come off from mid morning to midday along | with a spinner drop in early afternoon. | | The spinner of this fly is very important on the river, but falls almost | unseen by many anglers.  When needhami returns to the water in mass it lays | down its wings and dies . The wings are flat on the surface of the water, | and all but disappear.  Anglers are looking down for the fly on the surface | of the water and view needhami against the dark background of the rivers | bottom.  What they see is just the rich brown body about the size of a pin | head.  This is all but impossible for most anglers to pick out . | | However when the spinner is viewed from the bottom as the fish would look at | it they are looking at the fly against a light background [ the sky ] and | the body and wing are very visible to them.  On sunny days the wings of | needhami when viewed as a fish,  appear like plastic wrap with a  light coat | of oil on them.  The spinner of needhami is the one time I prefer using poly | for the wings, and the sparkle spinner for sunny days. | | This hatch can last well over a month , the next time you are in a pool and | the fish are rising all around you and you can not see a thing on the | surface, or that needhami dun that worked all morning and the fish are still | rising and now ignoring the dun, try a needhami spinner or sparkle spinner | on a 9x tippet. | | The duns of needhami are a red/brown  with yellow legs , the spinners are a | very dark brown" | | — | | |

| | Howdy Bill | |      I am a Ct. resident and don’t know what a Needhami is could you | enlighten | | me or anyone else as far as that goes Picture maybe??? | | | | | | | |                    Handyman Mike | |         Standing in a river waving a stick | | | |

Response:

Thank You very useful info. Does that apply to most rivers and streams that have a spinner hatch or just the Farmington.   When i was down in Pa. last month spinners were bobbing up and down as you described and then nothing there was a fog  air temp i am not sure water was warm as i was wet wading.and fish were rising at the Elk/Penns junction pool caught some on a dun but alot of fish wouldn’t even look at the dun.       Again Thanks                    Handyman Mike           Standing in a river waving a stick

Response:

I can’t take credit for writing the info.  I cut and pasted it from the from the Classic and Custom Flyshop website (http://www.classicandcustomflyshop.com).  When spinner decide to come down depends on the fly.  Some like it hot, some like it cold (I’m leaving myself exposed here….).  What the fly does after it hits the water and how it looks when it’s dead also depend on each species.  I’m not a great expert on this behavior.  I’ve only been fly fishing for 10 years so I’m still learning myself. The site I listed above has some examples that relate to the Farmington but should work on most CT streams and rivers. Maybe someone else can pop in with a few examples. —

| Thank You very useful info. Does that apply to most rivers and streams that | have a spinner hatch or just the Farmington. |   When i was down in Pa. last month spinners were bobbing up and down as you | described and then nothing there was a fog  air temp i am not sure water was | warm as i was wet wading.and fish were rising at the Elk/Penns junction pool | caught some on a dun but alot of fish wouldn’t even look at the dun. | |       Again Thanks | | |                    Handyman Mike |         Standing in a river waving a stick |

Response:

Howdy Bill      I am a Ct. resident and don’t know what a Needhami is could you enlighten me or anyone else as far as that goes Picture maybe???                    Handyman Mike           Standing in a river waving a stick

Response:

Bill B writes:

<nice tr snipped Overall it was a slow day but it sure beat hanging out in the AC. —

Sure sounds like it.  Do you know what the water temp was?  Also, have you ever fished the Farmington in Mass? Dave

Response:

My brother. Mike, and I fished the Farmington River Sunday.  We had a great day on the river.  lot of fishing but not a lot of catching.  We arrived at the River around 8:15 after a short stop at Up Country on Rt 44 to pick up some tricos (22s) and Needhami (26s).  I’m glad we stopped since they were just about the only flies the fish would take.  The river is lower and slower than the last time I fished it  about 3 weeks ago.  But there is still quite a bit of water and quite a few trout.  Abet, very finicky trout. [snipped] Overall it was a slow day but it sure beat hanging out in the AC.

Is this the Farmington River in Connecticut? If so, what was the water temperature??

Response:

Is this the Farmington River in Connecticut? If so, what was the water temperature??

Classic & Custom Flyshop says it’s 68 degrees.

Response:

Is this the Farmington River in Connecticut? If so, what was the water temperature?? Classic & Custom Flyshop says it’s 68 degrees.

If true, that’s amazingly low. Everything around here is bath water…

Response:

If true, that’s amazingly low. Everything around here is bath water…

The CT Farmington is a cold water release tailwater. It is currently running quite low. 68 would be about normal at that level this time of year, but given the heat wave, it could exceed 70 at midafternoon in some of the lower TMA areas such as the Boneyard and Ovation. George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

Response:

I didn’t have a thermometer with me but it was warmer than I’ve experienced lately.  As you’d expect, Pipeline was cooler (perceptively cooler) than Ovation.  I didn’t wet wade but I only had a pair of shorts on under the breathables.  Only "natural" insulation (and plenty of it!).  Dave at Classic and Custom had 68 degrees on his board.  Felt about right but maybe a little cooler at Pipeline.  Warm water probably caused inactivity and the lack of fish feeding on the surface (it could never have been the fishermen . FYI – The water wasn’t as low as I’ve seen it.  It’s low but the gravel at Ovation is still covered with just enough water to fool the canoe’rs I grew up in Springfield MA but haven’t fished the Farmington in MA for at least 8 years.  I used to regularly fish the Deerfield, Westfield, Swift, and  the Nissi when I lived in Boston and my brother lived in Southwick.  I live in NJ now and mainly fish the Farmington and Housie in CT if I’m not exploring PA’s streams and trails. Bill —

| Bill B writes:

| | <nice tr snipped | | Overall it was a slow day but it sure beat hanging out in the AC. | — | | Sure sounds like it.  Do you know what the water temp was?  Also, have you ever | fished the Farmington in Mass? | | Dave | | | | | | |

Response:

Ovation was warm and there was very little activity.  I managed to pick up a couple of fish by sheer luck.  I was using dries, the guy upstream from me was nymphing and everyone was having a slow day.  There are fish but they are amazingly picky. Basically a good day for fishing and a lousy day for catching….. Didn’t mind it one bit….. —

| | If true, that’s amazingly low. Everything around here is bath water… | | The CT Farmington is a cold water release tailwater. It is currently running | quite low. 68 would be about normal at that level this time of year, but given | the heat wave, it could exceed 70 at midafternoon in some of the lower TMA | areas such as the Boneyard and Ovation. | | | George Adams | | "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was | worth the comin’ down." | ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

Response:

My brother. Mike, and I fished the Farmington River Sunday.  We had a great day on the river.  lot of fishing but not a lot of catching.  We arrived at the River around 8:15 after a short stop at Up Country on Rt 44 to pick up some tricos (22s) and Needhami (26s).  I’m glad we stopped since they were just about the only flies the fish would take.  The river is lower and slower than the last time I fished it  about 3 weeks ago.  But there is still quite a bit of water and quite a few trout.  Abet, very finicky trout. We started just downstream of Pipeline and fished up to the it.  FYI – The Gas Company is doing construction on the pipeline and have cleared all of the brush from the area around it.  We both picked up several 8 to 12 inch browns on both tricos and needhami.  Small fish but very strong and feisty. Mike lost a large fish that bent his 5# in half before snapping the 8X. Once the sun was high enough to chase away the shadows on the River we moved down stream, skipping the Church Pool and headed to the Boneyard.  We parked at the end of the access road and fished the upstream runs and riffles. Classic water.  Aside from dodging canoes and kayaks I had a good time Fishing.  We stayed until 2.  Picked up 2 browns, 1 on a size 12 isonychia comparadun and another on a size 14 tan caddis with a lot of palmered hackle.  Nice healthy 12 inch fish.  Mike picked up a few as well but he fished the slower flatter water farther upstream.   Decided to move again and went to Ovation.  After lunch we hit the water and for a while had the pool to ourselves.  Very slow going.  I picked up a 9inch brown just past the bridge head.  He was hanging just below the surface along side a large boulder.  I saw him from the shore and watch for a few minute.  My first cast looked like it was on the money until a salmon fry decided to swoop in. A few casts later I had the right float and he took the Needhami.  It was great to watch as he took the fly.  Nice strong fish for a 9"er.  Very fun on the 4#.  We stayed until 6:30 or so but only took a couple more fish apiece.  We moved back up to Pipeline hoping for a hatch or spinner fall that never materialized.  We stayed until I couldn’t see the white wulff I had tied on.  Mike picked up a 13 or 14 inch rainbow but I struck out. Overall it was a slow day but it sure beat hanging out in the AC. —

Response:

Question:

Hi, I have been fishing for about 2 months now.  Can you recommend a good knot for tying two lines together, which are of different thicknesses.  I want to tie a 40lb leader to the mainline.   The knot I’ve tried wasn’t good.  I have lost a lot of good fish because of this, I was using the blood knot.  I found that the weakest point in my tackle is usually the knot that joins the leader to the mainline and is the first thing that gives way most of the time. ——- thanks

Response:

The surgeons knot and the uni knot in all it’s forms are what I use. The surgeons knot is simple and low profile and works well with leader attachment. I use it to tie leader to line of less than 20 lb and no more than 4:1 for the leader. I use a Uni loop to tie on the jig or hook, and for everything with lines over 20 lb. If you test with a gauge you will learn to do 90% strength ties consistently. This is probably more important than the actual knot used. Consistent ties. Where I fish low visibility of the line/leader is more important than anything else. The water is shallow and clear. Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I have been fishing for about 2 months now.  Can you recommend a good knot for tying two lines together, which are of different thicknesses.  I want to tie a 40lb leader to the mainline.   The knot I’ve tried wasn’t good.  I have lost a lot of good fish because of this, I was using the blood knot.  I found that the weakest point in my tackle is usually the knot that joins the leader to the mainline and is the first thing that gives way most of the time. ——- thanks

Response:

The surgeon knot is the one I use.  It is tied by forming two overhand knots. pretty simple but effective.

Response:

Hi, I have been fishing for about 2 months now.  Can you recommend a good knot for tying two lines together, which are of different thicknesses.  I want to tie a 40lb leader to the mainline.   The knot I’ve tried wasn’t

A surgeon’s knot is a good one for this, as is a nail-knot. The surgeon’s knot is easy to tie (just overlap the ends of your lines by about 4-8" and make a double overhand knot) but the nail knot has the benefit that both the tag ends are constricted by the wraps. (Its basically the same as a hook snell, just using another line instead of a hook.) Any decent fishing or knot reference should have instructions for both. Blood knots are fine for light-weight line, but they get much harder to seat correctly as the line weight goes up. — <signature <! impressive references and witty saying goes here </signature Before you buy.

Response:

I use the uni-knot.  You overlap the ends of the lines, tie a uni-knot in one, then the other.  Pull them tight and cut off the tag ends. Very easy, makes a small knot and doesn’t come loose. Tom Kadlec The surgeon knot is the one I use.  It is tied by forming two overhand knots. pretty simple but effective.

Tom Kadlec

Response:

I agree with the uni-knot…i’ve used it forever it seems. Gives 90% line strength and is compatable with different line thickness. Berkly created this knot years ago. It’s very easy to tie. You can learn how to tie it from instructions in every pkg. of line they sell.

Response:

Hi try here there’s various diagrams of knots which make it easier to learn them. http://www.f-deans.freeserve.co.uk/knots/knots.htm — Lawrence Deans           "Fishing On The Fly" http://www.f-deans.freeserve.co.uk http://you.genie.co.uk/dixie http://shop.affinia.com/l_deans/Store1 knocked me off my Lily Pad by writing: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi, I have been fishing for about 2 months now.  Can you recommend a good knot for tying two lines together, which are of different thicknesses.  I want to tie a 40lb leader to the mainline.   The knot I’ve tried wasn’t good.  I have lost a lot of good fish because of this, I was using the blood knot.  I found that the weakest point in my tackle is usually the knot that joins the leader to the mainline and is the first thing that gives way most of the time. ——- thanks

Response:

Question:

Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.  Took SWMBO out for breakfast at Russell Williams restaurant, then we went for a long ride.  Got gas for the truck – prices still too high. First day this year wearing shorts instead of jeans.  Got the house painted yesterday and SWMBO thinks the painters did a shitty job. Somebody feel free to jump in any time. Peter the bored

Response:

I just got in from painting the new garden shed. I’m about to make some lunch and take my son to his baseball game. After that I’m taking my canoe and hitting a local lake with my son to catch the evening midge hatch. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.  Took SWMBO out for breakfast at Russell Williams restaurant, then we went for a long ride.  Got gas for the truck – prices still too high. First day this year wearing shorts instead of jeans.  Got the house painted yesterday and SWMBO thinks the painters did a shitty job. Somebody feel free to jump in any time. Peter the bored

Response:

I just got in from painting the new garden shed. I’m about to make some lunch and take my son to his baseball game. After that I’m taking my canoe and hitting a local lake with my son to catch the evening midge hatch.

We’re in runoff here and my local warm water ponds aren’t warm enough yet, so I’ve been doing lots of Spring repairs, tying and watching hockey. Go Avs! Might try out a local pond tonight. Willi

Response:

Somebody feel free to jump in any time.

Just returned from the annual cleanup (removal of trash dumped over the banking by locals) at our Vermont camp. Fished Friday PM…..nothing. Got on the wrong side of the jet stream yesterday, rain and cold all PM, water high and discolored, didn’t fish. Back home now, ait temps in the mid 80’s. Might try a local stream this evening, but the fishing in this area has been slow. George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

Response:

As opposed to some, I’m finishing up projects the evil professors have given me.  So a 20 minute presentation encompassing all that is involved in Info Security is due tomorrow.  Need an auctioneer to present it.  Mowed the lawn, washed the dog (glad I didn’t mix those two up), watered (used the dog), did dishes (used the dog), took a nap, dreamt about getting hammered on Jim Beam, fly fishing and eating a burro (dog gone).                     Frank Reid

Response:

We’re in runoff here and my local warm water ponds aren’t warm enough yet, so I’ve been doing lots of Spring repairs, tying and watching hockey. Go Avs! Might try out a local pond tonight. Willi

Gorgeous weather out here in Vancouver, WA.  Unfortunately the streams aren’t open yet, and I’m getting stir-crazy.  There are some heavily stocked local 2500ft, is probably too high, cold, and maybe snowed in.  So I performed some minor honey-do’s, watched some NBA (Blazers smoked Utah), tied some zonkers and buggers, and practiced golf.  Beautiful and peaceful on the golf course.  After 6pm I had the course basically to myself. Spring is soon to be in full bloom and flyfishing should just get better.  Hang in there. Pat K

Response:

Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.  Took SWMBO out for breakfast at Russell Williams restaurant, then we went for a long ride.  Got gas for the truck – prices still too high. First day this year wearing shorts instead of jeans.  Got the house painted yesterday and SWMBO thinks the painters did a shitty job. Somebody feel free to jump in any time.

He He.   I just survived the busy weekend from hell.   Sat a.m., three hours in the morning heat for son’s baseball game (first ever base hit, 2 rbi’s.). Full speed transition to inlaws afternoon gathering, then even faster (90 mph) exit to drop off kids at parents, then to the make the evening curtain at the opera (now *that* was a culture shift.).   (First time, La Boheme, loved it BTW.)   Home at midnight. Sun a.m., cook breakfast for sister-in-law’s family, then off to Md. Sheep & Wool Festival.   Home at 6, try to cut grass, mover won’t run.   Aw shit. Start weed whacker; won’t run.   Double shit.   Make pizza, watch "Galaxy Quest" (great "Star Trek" spoof).   Go to sleep. Glad to be back at work so I can relax.   Clavin’ tomorrow. Just in time for my planned "express" drive to the Clave, I hear the state police in MD & VA have started a crackdown on aggressive drivers this week. I might need that bail money before I even get there. Joe F.

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Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.  Took SWMBO out for breakfast at Russell Williams restaurant, then we went for a long ride.  Got gas for the truck – prices still too high. First day this year wearing shorts instead of jeans.  Got the house painted yesterday and SWMBO thinks the painters did a shitty job. Somebody feel free to jump in any time. Peter the bored

Went to my local triple secret, never fail, always hoppin’, mayfly factory section of river. Not a damn thing coming off. Caught a piddling handful of dinks. Got home and saw the grass has shot up 4 inches and the snow blower is still mounted on my lawn machine. Big thunderstorms today so it will get longer and probably clump like hell when I finally do mow it. Week of work looms ahead. Ahh! The only bright spot is we hammered the blue gills on Sat.- limits all around. <G Damn the clave! Jon (whining and not in NC (sniff))

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As opposed to some, I’m finishing up projects the evil professors have given me.  So a 20 minute presentation encompassing all that is involved in Info Security is due tomorrow.  Need an auctioneer to present it.  Mowed the lawn, washed the dog (glad I didn’t mix those two up), watered (used the dog), did dishes (used the dog), took a nap, dreamt about getting hammered on Jim Beam, fly fishing and eating a burro (dog gone).                    Frank Reid

Frank, Ya should’ve been at Chatsworth this past weekend (and Zwolle, in Holland, the weekend before). All the old miscreants and n’er-do-wells …plus a few new ones. Saw some very good fly tying and some awesome casting. Watch out: Vikings and Swampy incoming! The latest things from Scandinavia are fly rods in sky blue and banana yellow, because (the man explained), ‘fly fishing is supposed to be fun’. I’ve spent two weekends in the company of an old friend and a most interesting man. In Japan, they would have had him stuffed and put in a museum as a ‘national treasure’. On Saturday evening I dined with the best blank maker and rod builder in Britain and that was but a fraction of the good fun and interest I’ve been having this past ten days. Dead air? Nix! Suddenly, it’s all become exciting again. Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

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Let’s see, got up feeling cranky ’cause I didn’t get much sleep. Took twice as long to shave since the stubble was two day’s worth.

LOL, got trapped into going to the ‘big’ mall, an hour away. So down we go and the paintings she wanted were gone….oh well what the hell, got a bottle of Birchwood Casey TruOil finish anyway. Tied a bunch of dries, small black stones, some wullfs etc. Was my first experience with my Whiting Gold grizzley saddle, tied 6 #14 Wulffs with one damn feather, good bye Metz necks! Received my ‘new’ South Bend #346 9′ bamboo and case today, some of the varnish is alligatored so I’m putting about trying to figure out where to get a polish to clean that up without having to refinish it. Took it out to the back yard and put my Ocean City Sport King rod with the level D silk line on it and casted for a bit. Rose several cats but failed to get a conclusive hookup, I realize they are not a mainstream prey species, but they are good fighters when you can keep them on the line. Checking ebay for some other bamboo rods, getting quite a jones for these since getting my first H-I just a few weeks ago. Got silk thread inbound so I can re-wrap both my H-I’s. For the first time ever, I really wish I had planned to attend a clave, I guess the fall ball in Maine, so close to me, will become a "must attend" event. Supposed to rain the rest of this week here, sigh, so the rivers go back UP again….sigh….going to have to take the canoe to a pond someplace instead. Flyfish

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Chattsworth!  Excuse me while I curl up in a corner and go catatonic.  Man I miss that.                 Frank Reid

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As opposed to some, I’m finishing up projects the evil professors have given me.  So a 20 minute presentation encompassing all that is involved in Info Security is due tomorrow.  Need an auctioneer to present it.  Mowed the lawn, washed the dog (glad I didn’t mix those two up), watered (used the dog), did dishes (used the dog), took a nap, dreamt about getting hammered on Jim Beam, fly fishing and eating a burro (dog gone).                    Frank Reid Frank, Ya should’ve been at Chatsworth this past weekend (and Zwolle, in Holland, the weekend before). All the old miscreants and n’er-do-wells …plus a few new ones. Saw some very good fly tying and some awesome casting. Watch out: Vikings and Swampy incoming! The latest things from Scandinavia are fly rods in sky blue and banana yellow, because (the man explained), ‘fly fishing is supposed to be fun’. I’ve spent two weekends in the company of an old friend and a most interesting man. In Japan, they would have had him stuffed and put in a museum as a ‘national treasure’. On Saturday evening I dined with the best blank maker and rod builder in Britain and that was but a fraction of the good fun and interest I’ve been having this past ten days. Dead air? Nix! Suddenly, it’s all become exciting again. Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

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Question:

I picked up a habit from other hobby, jogging:  I never go out in the woods without pepper spray.  The stuff sold under the name "Halt" is made for dogs. Any dog that is not on a leash and within range of the spray is fair game.  A

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So people like me who carry a sidearm can have a target if the fishing gets slow (OR THE FISH GET PUT DOWN!) Bob _____ Robert?  I can’t believe you said this or that you really mean it. sigh.

Absolutely tongue-in-cheek, Mr. G.!  I love dogs.  (If prepared properly…) No, really… I love dogs and cats.  My last dog was a constant companion, except for fly fishing trips.  He did get to go to the streams on walks though, and LOVED the water.  My favorite behavior of his was "dipping for smelt."  When the smelt would run up the tributaries of Lake George, NY, I’d take old Elmo to a nearby stream.  He’d wade in, trap one of the thousands of smelt against the bottom with his paw, stick his head under to grab it, then wade out of the stream to eat it.  Then back in, etc. etc.  I could never figure out why he wouldn’t eat it while in the stream…. He was known to jump out of the boat into the water after a jumping smallmouth or landlocked salmon.  He also was caught several times in the process of stealing fish from other ice fishermen in the winter.   His  bear ancestry came out in his appetite for fish.  He’d empty a minnow bucket in no time if you left the lid off.  (Bobbing for snacks). I miss him as much as any person I ever knew. Bob Scott

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I have seen some very well behaved dogs at the waterside but you should only take your dog if you can guarantee it’s behaviour.

I have a 5 month old black labrador(Gwilym)…….I’ll say no more! He’s bloody gorgeous! — Bill

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Bill, Labradors are the most loving and gentle dog I have ever seen.  They are quick learners and I am certain you can train it so it will be no trouble to any one on the stream.  Be careful around West Coast Salmon Rivers when the Salmon are Spawning.  A dog that eats dead salmon will get poisoned and die from it.  The vet has medication for this.  Once he has been Salmoned and recovers it will not bother him again. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have seen some very well behaved dogs at the waterside but you should only take your dog if you can guarantee it’s behaviour. I have a 5 month old black labrador(Gwilym)…….I’ll say no more! He’s bloody gorgeous! — Bill

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Bill I am sure that your pup will be the very model of Welsh decorum — Regards, Peter – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have seen some very well behaved dogs at the waterside but you should only take your dog if you can guarantee it’s behaviour. I have a 5 month old black labrador(Gwilym)…….I’ll say no more! He’s bloody gorgeous! — Bill

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I am sure that your pup will be the very model of Welsh decorum

He’s at the stage when he’s teething and wants to mouth everything. People tell me this will pass, but will my hands and arm last that long? Come to think of it will my kitchen last that long?…:-) But he’s bloody gorgeous! — Bill

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Went to local outdoors show recently and some idiot had a puppy about 6 mos. old on a leash walking around for everybody to trip on.  STUPID and VERY INCONSIDERATE OF OTHERS! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So people like me who carry a sidearm can have a target if the fishing gets slow (OR THE FISH GET PUT DOWN!) Bob

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My friend Karen invited me on her family’s annual steelhead trip to the Klamath. Her dad had gone with his dad too, a fifty year tradition. I had never caught an adult steely on the fly in years of trying, never really knew what I was doing; this was my chance. She brought her Cocker Spaniel, Tio. It managed to keep up with us scrambling over boulders and cliffs with his short little legs, swimming valiantly where we’d wade across. He never barked, and kept us laughing all week after he rolled around in the fireside embers staying warm in the drizzle, singeing his tan coat with spots of brown burn and black charcoal. Karen and I were fishing a nice looking riffle where her dad had caught one the day before when Tio started a long low plaintive howl. By the end of the howl Karen was into a good fish. A few minutes later Tio howled again and I was into my first steelhead. Karen dunked herself landing it. There can never be payback for these kind of gifts, but I made a painting of it for her birthday and inscribed it "Howl me up a Steelhead Tio." Tio is blind now and hasn’t made the trip the last couple of years. We never know anymore when the fish will bite. Mark Vinsel www.vinsel.com

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Piere writes: <sniped nothing was biting until it was black and real late and the damn dog ran out of energy. i hope that others don’t run into this but if you do let me know will start a club to ban animals from the rivers.! Pierre Some of us have the sense to teach our dogs the *down* and *stay*.  My Shepard will lie quietly on the bank until given permission to roam.  That may be a minute or it may be 2 hours, it’s up to me.  A good dog is one of God’s finest gifts. Patrick

  ______ Amen

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Maybe if they do, the Western Ettiquite thing won’t kick in…. I mean, the dogs will chase off anyone within 100 feet (or 200 feet on the water, in the case of Lewellyns) and wiith the exception of George’s dogs..most of em can’t fish, so you’ll have no competition….and from some of the assinine posts here lately (this one included…=8^)) I’d bet the majority of folks here couldn’t get another HUMAN to fish with them!!! HAR HAR HAR…..

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(lots of stuff previously posted deleted here) .  Do you own a dog by the way?

        well, george, now that you ask:  i don’t presently own a dog. i have often heard it said around piedmont n.c. that a man will be lucky with his women or lucky with his dogs, but never lucky with both.  thank god, i number myself among the former.  i have only owned two dogs.  the first, rachel, supposedly a high dollar english setter, ate two bobwhites i killed the first day i hunted her, and began to choke.  she crawled backwards (no lie) all the way back to the house, and damn near died.  i gave her away that weekend.  the next dog was a brittany named "rascal"; again, i was assured of the high quality breeding behind the noble animal.  papers, the whole nine yards, as we say in rowan county.  what i ended up with was a manic/depressive maddog that lived only to attack my two toddlers.  to this day they refuse to watch "lassie come home".  so, i guess i fall on the side of the anti-fishing dog argument.  anyway, thanks for all the good floating you have given my royal wulffs.         a. wayne harrison – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I have five Llewellyn Setters.  You should come fish with us sometime. Keep smiling.

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IF…the dog does not bark at the slightest provocation….does not urinate on the tires of my Jeep….does not continually have to be watched because he’s wandered down to where I’m fishing and in the way of my backcast…then, perhaps, the dog is okay.  But, in fairness, there are some people that should be barred from the rivers along with the untrained dog. Barry P.S.  As an aside….something to be really careful about is allowing your dog to wander freely in a heavily fished area…where he may find the remains of a cleaned fish and eat it.  I’ve been told that such a lunch can poison a dog.  Maybe the biology experts in the Group can verify this one way or the other. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hehehe…my dog loves to fish! and I love having him along…..if someone "downstream" is bothered by this then the "downstream" person is fishing to close to me and should feel lucky to be in our presence.     I am writing this in hopes that the idiot who was fishing down the river from me will read it and remember that dogs and fish do not MIX!! [deleted] Unless’en ya gotchersef a gud fishin’ dog Pierre… …but perhaps you will not understand this… Hmmm…. Go watch the adventures of Yellow Dog.  Not Old Yeller….Yellow Dog, and chime back in afterwards. — TimW – Halfordian Golfer Guilt replaced the creel…

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     I am writing this in hopes that the idiot who was fishing down the river from me will read it and remember that dogs and fish do not MIX!! This person was whistling and calling for his damn mutt every time he disappeared from view ..he was probably afraid that the thing would get killed by another fisherman. Between running and diving into the water nothing was biting until it was black and real late and the damn dog ran out of energy. i hope that others don’t run into this but if you do let me know will start a club to ban animals from the rivers.! Pierre

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    I am writing this in hopes that the idiot who was fishing down the river from me will read it and remember that dogs and fish do not MIX!!

[deleted] Unless’en ya gotchersef a gud fishin’ dog Pierre… …but perhaps you will not understand this… Hmmm…. Go watch the adventures of Yellow Dog.  Not Old Yeller….Yellow Dog, and chime back in afterwards. — TimW – Halfordian Golfer Guilt replaced the creel…

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hehehe…my dog loves to fish! and I love having him along…..if someone "downstream" is bothered by this then the "downstream" person is fishing to close to me and should feel lucky to be in our presence. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     I am writing this in hopes that the idiot who was fishing down the river from me will read it and remember that dogs and fish do not MIX!! [deleted] Unless’en ya gotchersef a gud fishin’ dog Pierre… …but perhaps you will not understand this… Hmmm…. Go watch the adventures of Yellow Dog.  Not Old Yeller….Yellow Dog, and chime back in afterwards. — TimW – Halfordian Golfer Guilt replaced the creel…

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So people like me who carry a sidearm can have a target if the fishing gets slow (OR THE FISH GET PUT DOWN!) Bob

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i hope that others don’t run into this but if you do let me know will start a club to ban animals from the rivers.! Pierre

Pierre,   Don’t judge all dogowners by one bad experience. Generally, I have found a good dog to be a better partner on the stream than most of the humans available…..when we ban animals from our rivers, do we just stick to the banks on back? Also, where are we going to put all the deer and bears and all? You may want to re-think this idea.                                                 Tom Littleton

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i hope that others don’t run into this but if you do let me know will start a club to ban animals from the rivers.! Pierre

Please don’t make sweeping generalizations, a well trained dog can be a wonderful fishing companion.  If anything, at least attack the root of the problem.  Start a club that bans clueless humans (who bring untrained and unleashed dogs fishing) from the rivers. Later,      - Ken — Not speaking for anyone but myself

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Piere writes:

<sniped nothing was biting until it was black and real late and the damn dog ran out of energy. i hope that others don’t run into this but if you do let me know will start a club to ban animals from the rivers.! Pierre

Some of us have the sense to teach our dogs the *down* and *stay*.  My Shepard will lie quietly on the bank until given permission to roam.  That may be a minute or it may be 2 hours, it’s up to me.  A good dog is one of God’s finest gifts. Patrick

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I fished next to someone whose dog was an absolute pain in the ass. It stood on my line when casting, got in the way every time I hooked a fish and the last straw was that it jumped into the water on top of a fish I was about to net, fish and fly departed leaving an empty net, bare leader and livid ptk!! I have seen some very well behaved dogs at the waterside but you should only take your dog if you can guarantee it’s behaviour. — Regards, Peter – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     I am writing this in hopes that the idiot who was fishing down the river from me will read it and remember that dogs and fish do not MIX!! This person was whistling and calling for his damn mutt every time he disappeared from view ..he was probably afraid that the thing would get killed by another fisherman. Between running and diving into the water nothing was biting until it was black and real late and the damn dog ran out of energy. i hope that others don’t run into this but if you do let me know will start a club to ban animals from the rivers.! Pierre

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It’s the same with dogs as it is with people, it only takes a few bad ones to give them all a bad name. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i hope that others don’t run into this but if you do let me know will start a club to ban animals from the rivers.! Pierre Please don’t make sweeping generalizations, a well trained dog can be a wonderful fishing companion.  If anything, at least attack the root of the problem.  Start a club that bans clueless humans (who bring untrained and unleashed dogs fishing) from the rivers. Later,      - Ken — Not speaking for anyone but myself

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okay I understand that I have raised a hornets nest here and my intention was to get things off my chest..I have two golden retrievers and they will come with me when I go fishing but they STAY when I go and move when I move.. All I wanted to make mention of was that a good dog and ao good owner go together .. I am not a dog hater in any way but sheesh think of others.. I was at the river and the hole first!!! If yoiu have a good hole be considerate Pierre

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okay I understand that I have raised a hornets nest here and my intention was to get things off my chest..I have two golden retrievers

[deleted] Golden Retrievers should make EXCELLENT fishing dogs in the sierras. — TimW – Halfordian Golfer Guilt replaced the creel…

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So people like me who carry a sidearm can have a target if the fishing gets slow (OR THE FISH GET PUT DOWN!) Bob

_____ Robert?  I can’t believe you said this or that you really mean it. sigh.

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     I am writing this in hopes that the idiot who was fishing down the river from me will read it and remember that dogs and fish do not MIX!! This person was whistling and calling for his damn mutt every time he disappeared from view ..he was probably afraid that the thing would get killed by another fisherman. Between running and diving into the water nothing was biting until it was black and real late and the damn dog ran out of energy. i hope that others don’t run into this but if you do let me know will start a club to ban animals from the rivers.! Pierre

_____ Well gee, Pierre.  My dogs take me fishing all the time.  One (Bogey) will pick up my fly rod and try and cast it by slowly shaking his head from side to side AFTER he drags it to the river’s edge (believe it or not). Moral?  Don’t set your fly rod down.  It seems you ran into a dog that was having more fun than an otter.   I always move on when I run into a river otter.  They will put fish down every time, the same as this guy  did to me one day on the San Juan, who waded  right through my pool.  I knew I had a problem as soon as I saw he was wearing a base ball hat on backwards!  I do believe he bought a hat that didn’t come with instructions.  Then again, if you had been attacked by a rabid cougar or black bear, you would have had that dog to fake them out while you ran for your bloody life.  Naturally, this is something that triggers predators.  Something that runs.  (Or bitches a lot). Well, it was sad to hear how upset  you were  with this "other fellah’s dog."  Then again, I hate kids that throw rocks in the water, or the shrill sound of a woman screaming at her husband to get out of the river and come on in and EAT!  Or, you could have been distracted by a kayaker, a inner tuber high on grass, or worse yet (and God forbid) a game warden. Yah, life is tough.  City life is tough.  Dogs that don’t get out much is tough on them too.  I’m sure the owner of the dog was distracted by catching so many fish he failed to notice a problem existed.  Do you own a dog by the way? I have five Llewellyn Setters.  You should come fish with us sometime. Keep smiling.

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Question:

I am coming to San Francisco, the Nappa Valley and Yosemite National Park in September for a holiday. I am looking for a venue (preferably in Yosemite), where I can fish for a day and also hire some tackle and maybe a guide? Can anyone help me, I don’t think I can take ten days without a day fishing!! Thanks for the help . . .

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I am coming to San Francisco, the Nappa Valley and Yosemite National Park in September for a holiday. I am looking for a venue (preferably in Yosemite), where I can fish for a day and also hire some tackle and maybe a guide? Can anyone help me, I don’t think I can take ten days without a day fishing!! Thanks for the help . . .

 You can fish the river right in Yosemite Valley for trout.  There are 1 day a licenses available for about $7 as well as a 7 day license, non-residence licenses are expensive (hell, the residense license is expensive – $27.50). There are lakes in the Upper areas of Yosemite also, they fish very well with a wax worm.  The Merced River, in the valley is good with both fly and worms. Don’t know of guides in Yosemite.  Just North of the Napa Valley is Clear Lake, is a great Bass lake, guides are available, Just to the East of the lower end of Napa is Lake Berryessa, trout and bass, guides available.  In San Francisco, you can go out on the party (head) boats for both Salmon and Rockfish, they have rental tackle available ($6) the license is required and the cost of the trip is about $35 for Rockfish (3-20#) fish and $50 for Salmon. See these URL’s for additional info.  http://usafishing.com/fleet.html  http://www.anglernet.com/web/selectlk.htm  http://www.fishsniffer.com/  http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ Regards, Bill — Opinions expressed are mine not necessarily my employers. All other standard disclaimers apply! Remove nospam. To email reply.

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You could fish in a lake that has a world record largemouth in it.  That lake would be Spring Lake in Sonoma County.   Take a Rainbow Trout lure and you may get your picture on the cover of a magazine.  There is for sure at least one 24 pounder in the lake. P.S.  If anyone is thinking of emailing me and telling me that I don’t know what I am talking about, you better get your facts straight first then come off of the porch.  Just a friendly word of warning. BigDaddy

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Boy, Big Daddy…the "friendly word of warning" sounds like an invitation to flaming for some real bummers out there.   Let’s hope not.  But uh, could you share some information?  Has there been a lot of hoopla?  Do you plan to go for it? Injun Jim USN (Ret.) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You could fish in a lake that has a world record largemouth in it.  That lake would be Spring Lake in Sonoma County.   Take a Rainbow Trout lure and you may get your picture on the cover of a magazine.  There is for sure at least one 24 pounder in the lake. P.S.  If anyone is thinking of emailing me and telling me that I don’t know what I am talking about, you better get your facts straight first then come off of the porch.  Just a friendly word of warning. BigDaddy

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Injun, I only say that because the last time I told the story on this group I got email from nuts all over the US telling me that I was crazy and that I had lost my grip on reality.  Even some people threatened me.  You would think that all fishermen would be interested to know about what would be the new world record but I soon found out that was not the case.  I thought that I was doing a service to the people in this group by telling what I was able to find out through about 2 weeks worth of investigation.  Many people did not see my information in the same way. That is why I am reluctant to tell it again, because inevitably I will get the same batch of emails that I did before.  It is the actions of a few idiots that keep people like me who are truly interested in very large Bass from publicly talking about what I have learned. Sorry for the ranting but I felt it necessary to explain.  I am not at all inviting anyone to flame me.  It was just merely a precaution. I will be glad to privately email you what I was able to learn and send a picture also if you are interested let me know. Thanks and Keep your worm wet. BigDaddy

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Big Daddy, I thought that I was doing a service to the people in this group by telling what I was able to find out through about 2 weeks worth of investigation.  Many people did not see my information in the same way.

What ever happened with that record.  Last I knew they were checking the bathroom scales.  It was obvious they weren’t going to let the record stand, but I never heard anything official. Richard

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Question:

Beginning angler, need advice: What would be best live/artificial Baits to catch Catfish & Bass? What should be the best locations in the streams (no current, fast current, ponds, depths, etc…) where Catfish or Bass are concentrated? Thank you very much indeed.

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Brian, I haven’t done alot of catfishing but I ran across a guy the other day and he said he uses a product called junnies (do a search on the web). he said he bought the stuff off the internet and that a catfish guide told him about it he stated that the guide had the maker come fishing with him and they caught 10 to 1 (maker vs. guide). I do alot of creek fishing and catch alot of bass. I use a lure by rebel called a creek hopper. On a good day I catch and relese about 30 (1/2lb to 1 1/2lds) bass and no telling how many sunfish. you can also check: <A HREF="http:www.tn-outdoors.comtn-outdoors.com</A for other fishing and hunting articles. happy fishing Larry

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I have found that a ball of chicken liver on a medium size treble hook works well in most situations. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Beginning angler, need advice: What would be best live/artificial Baits to catch Catfish & Bass? What should be the best locations in the streams (no current, fast current, ponds, depths, etc…) where Catfish or Bass are concentrated? Thank you very much indeed.

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I have a question:  how do you get the chicken livers to stay on the hook.  I got some fresh chicken livers to use for bait and they were the consistancy of mush.  I would have had a better chance of trying to put grape jelly on the hook.  I have heard you can freeze them but this seems like a messy job.   Any suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have found that a ball of chicken liver on a medium size treble hook works well in most situations. Beginning angler, need advice: What would be best live/artificial Baits to catch Catfish & Bass? What should be the best locations in the streams (no current, fast current, ponds, depths, etc…) where Catfish or Bass are concentrated? Thank you very much indeed.

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I have found that a ball of chicken liver on a medium size treble hook works well in most situations.

BBBbbbbbbut chicken liver flies right off the hook when you’re fly fishing.  Fresh pork skin is the best way for the fly fisherman —  * Center for Computational Biology  * Montana State Bozeman  (406) 994-7061  * http://www.nervana.montana.edu/~sandy */

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Hey…. Martha Stuart of Flyfishing <g <g <g Yuk Yuk Yuk !!! Are you still using the Hot Glue gun to tie your flies (I just came across your article from the Disco era) ?. I (obviously) found it amusing as hell….sorry…<g I also saw your foam nymphs in the Umpqua book…congratulations… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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You can use strips cut from pantyhose to wrap the chicken livers in prior to placing them on the hook.  This keeps the bait on the hook but still lets the scent and blood reach the fish. A couple tips: – Cutting the pantyhose into strips prior to going fishing will spare you a significant amount of hastle from your fishing buddies. – Be careful when inserting a hook with a large barb.  It is not easy to stick the hook through the fabric.  Or better yet mash the barb down somewhat. – Let the wrapped liver soak in blood before you hurl it at the catfish. – I’ll leave the acquisition of the aforementioned garments to you.  Your wife may worry if she catches you rifling through her dresser. Good luck – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a question:  how do you get the chicken livers to stay on the hook.  I got some fresh chicken livers to use for bait and they were the consistancy of mush.  I would have had a better chance of trying to put grape jelly on the hook.  I have heard you can freeze them but this seems like a messy job.   Any suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

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FROM, ANDRE !   I OFTEN TRY SEWING THREAD WITH MY CHICKEN LIVER, SIMPLY PUT THE LIVER ON A TRI -HOOK  AND PROCEED TO RAP IT ABOUT 10 TIMES ,  THAT ALWAYS WORKS FOR ME.

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Question:

I am looking for a graden hoe that is shaped like a diamond and the diamond part sits on the ground and you just push and pull it along the ground to get rid of the weeds . I think its called a Japanese weeding hoe.

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I am looking for a graden hoe that is shaped like a diamond and the diamond part sits on the ground and you just push and pull it along the ground to get rid of the weeds . I think its called a Japanese weeding hoe.

  There’s a similar (and I think better) product knows as a swoe whose head looks a bit like a flattened golf club.  It was originally marketed (25 years ago) by Wilkinson Sword in an elegant one piece stainless steel version that I still have, but I havn’t seen that form in over a decade. A few years back I bought a friend a heavier and less elegant version from one of the mail order catalogs.  It’s meant to slide back and forth under the soil like what you describe, but the one sided design is less likely to lop off the wrong plant. — Lloyd Fortney http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney/ has links to my garden, flower, flyfishing, and travel JPEG images as well as teaching, research, and stuff like that

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Question:

: I’ve tried several times to subscribe to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly.tying : through AOL’s expert add – I get a message telling me this group is : "invalid"  Any suggestions would be appreciated. Wait.   the group is not officially formed yet. Check elsewhere in the group for RESULTS: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly.tying vote Jon Porter

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I’ve tried several times to subscribe to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly.tying through AOL’s expert add – I get a message telling me this group is "invalid"  Any suggestions would be appreciated. Bill Battles

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Question:

Does anyone have any tips or experience on fishing the Wissahickon in Philadelphia?

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: Does anyone have any tips or experience on fishing the Wissahickon in : Philadelphia? Get a tetannus shot before you venture in.

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Does anyone have any tips or experience on fishing the Wissahickon in Philadelphia?

What…God doesn’t know?

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I fished the Wissahickon when I was a kid. They would stock it with trout, but if you ate one that was in the water too long it tasted like soap. The stream is muddy and tough to get down to in areas near Bells Mill and Valley Green if you want to wade. I would suggest that you go upstream near Flourtown where there’s a park that has open banks and the stream is a bit shallower and, if memory serves, may be better all around for fly fishing. Good luck

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Question:

Thank you for sharing this info. It would help to know which creek. I fish the Stanislaus often, and when I was there for mem. day I had the same luck as you. it would be great to know a secondary place to go. One question though, are the rainbows native or stocked, if they are stocked it would suggest that the creek is popular, is that so? TimFLYFISH Dream of flyfishing, but also let the fish dream. C & R

This is not rocket science.  You break out the gazetteer, you look for streams that might be large enough to hold trout, you go check them out.  The one I found is right along a road.  In a normal year there probably wouldn’t be enough water, except for a couple of holes that never dry up.  That’s where the trout survive.  The ‘bows were pretty silvery, suggesting plants, but a little small for the standard DF&G planter.  I was clearly not the first person to find this hole. Happy hunting! Sean Brennan (std disclaimers)

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Tried fishing the Stanislaus below Tulloch dam yesterday.  The river is easily 1 ft above normal levels. The visibility was ~2ft.  I tried my standard collection of bead-heads w/o success.  Did not see any rises during the 3 hours I was there.  Spent several hours in the afternoon on a little creek near Sonora (No Tim, I’m not saying which one) which in a normal year would probably be a trickle, but now has a healthy flow.   Pulled 4 rainbows out with a BH prince, all 8-10".  Just at dusk caught another on an Elk-hair Caddis.  A thoroughly enjoyable day.  Thank goodness for the gazetteer! Best wishes, Sean Brennan (std disclaimers)

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Thank you for sharing this info. It would help to know which creek. I fish the Stanislaus often, and when I was there for mem. day I had the same luck as you. it would be great to know a secondary place to go. One question though, are the rainbows native or stocked, if they are stocked it would suggest that the creek is popular, is that so? TimFLYFISH Dream of flyfishing, but also let the fish dream. C & R

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