Question:

Sounds terrific but I do have a question. If i can’t see very well anyway do these still need to be tied in the dark. I’ll wait for your answer. Thanks Larry

Absolutely!  That is why the flys appear way out of proportion to a seasoned fly tier.  The wings are too long to aid in locating the hook eye via touch.  The tail is too long to let you know which end has the eye.  The clump of feathers is tied around the hook to allow the fly to float no matter which way it lands on the water.  It often floats side- ways anyway. — Wayne To Fish is Human….To Release Divine!

Response:

Sounds terrific but I do have a question. If i can’t see very well anyway do these still need to be tied in the dark. I’ll wait for your answer. Meanwhile I am working to develop a fly that will penetrate up to 1 inch of ice to make the wait for spring a bit better. I am making progress but tend to snap the top 7 or 8 inches from my rods. Perhaps a smaller rod is the answer, I will keep you posted. Thanks Larry

A fourteen foot beachcaster, using a slightly modified pendulum cast, ( more or less straight up !! ), a  steel crash helmet and heavy kevlar shoulder padding, coupled with titanium reinforced body armour, ( in case "straight up" is taken too literally ),coupled with an eight ounce reversed squid pirk, with the tangs removed. Should do the trick. While practising at the week-end ( only with a six ounce reverse torpedo lead ), a guy from the local club, who reckoned he was a fair caster, asked to try my gear, as he had the pedulum cast which I was demonstrating to a few blokes from the local club, off to a fine art. Always willing to learn, I handed him my gear, warned him that the reel had neither magnetic nor air brakes, and that the bearings were oiled and adjusted for maximum free running, I handed him my gear, and moved to one side. One or two of the spectators, obviously acquainted with the talents of our worthy, made a few comments to the effect of "Give it some welly Dave", "Go on Dave, show him how its done", and similar encouraging remarks. Spurred on by this, and after a few moments of silent concentration, Dave reached out with the rod, rose to his full height, and began to whirl at considerable speed. Pirouetting with the consummate grace of a world class ballet dancer, rising up on his toes, and simultaneously heaving with the sheer brute force of a professional hammer thrower, issuing a long and ululating grunt which would have shamed a raging gorrila into immediate submission,  he blasted off a cast which would surely have been close to a world record, if only it had gone forwards, carrying the line with it.  However, due to a slight miscalculation on his part ( The technical term for this particular miscalculation,  is apparently, "F&%

Question:

I went in midaugust.  Pretty slow.  Lost one fish and two missed strikes in 2.5 days of fishing.  A friend caught 4 fish in 3 days, and a guy who was a bigtime flyfishing bum and former snake river guide had three. check with doaks for latest. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Looking for info on the Atlantic Salmon run on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick this September. How are the fish running ? I was suppose to go this week but a bad back problem prevented me from going. — Regards, Robert E. "Bob" Buckley Norwich Lincoln Mercury

Response:

I fished it once for a week in early October. Caught one small fish. My guide told me that his favorite time was the first two weeks of July. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com   Robert,   Have a look at the angling reports on Doak’s website,   http://www.wwdoak.com/open.htm   A bit of salemanship in some of the wording, but the reports and pictures very probably accurate.   Regards,   Yuji Sakuma     Looking for info on the Atlantic Salmon run on the Miramichi River in New     Brunswick this September. How are the fish running ? I was suppose to go     this week but a bad back problem prevented me from going.     —     Regards,     Robert E. "Bob" Buckley     Norwich Lincoln Mercury

Response:

Looking for info on the Atlantic Salmon run on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick this September. How are the fish running ? I was suppose to go this week but a bad back problem prevented me from going. — Regards, Robert E. "Bob" Buckley Norwich Lincoln Mercury

Friend sof mine are on th eMiramichi this week. You can find up to date information at http://www.salmonanglersonline.com/index.html Enjoy Tom. — Thomas Hackmann "Live simply, so that others may simply live." To reply delete XPLEASENOSPAMX from email address.

Response:

Looking for info on the Atlantic Salmon run on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick this September. How are the fish running ? I was suppose to go this week but a bad back problem prevented me from going.: This may be a late reply, but I fish the Little Southwest and Northwest Miramichi rivers every weekend.  They have been OK.  The LSW has generally been better.  The Main Southwest by all accounts is full of fish right now.   The water is low, and with a bit of rain the fishing should be great for the last two weeks. JB

Response:

Looking for info on the Atlantic Salmon run on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick this September. How are the fish running ? I was suppose to go this week but a bad back problem prevented me from going. — Regards, Robert E. "Bob" Buckley Norwich Lincoln Mercury

Response:

Robert, Have a look at the angling reports on Doak’s website, http://www.wwdoak.com/open.htm A bit of salemanship in some of the wording, but the reports and pictures very probably accurate. Regards, Yuji Sakuma – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Looking for info on the Atlantic Salmon run on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick this September. How are the fish running ? I was suppose to go this week but a bad back problem prevented me from going. — Regards, Robert E. "Bob" Buckley Norwich Lincoln Mercury

Response:

Question:

Heading for RMNP area for 1 1/2-2 weeks this summer, probably mid to late July. Will be camping for part of the time maybe in or north of the park and then spending 4 days in Estes Park. Looking for advice on places to fish and places to avoid. Mostly interested in smaller streams or shallow lakes. Will be wading-no float tube-with a 7′9" 3/4 wt. Once the family is safely in the confines of a cabin or lodge I may take a solo overnight hike to a more remote lake/stream. Any advice on places and patterns will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mark

Response:

Fished there last summer around July.  I had a great time on the Thompson and on the headwaters of the Colorado.   Usually we could fish till around 4pm before the thunder and lightning rainstorms drove us for cover.  The further you wandered away from the road, the better the fishing got. Although most fish ran 7-10", there were a few larger and some we saw, but could not get to rise in the gin-clear water, that probably went 21/2 to 3lbs.  A 3/4 short rod is a good choice.  On the west side of the park, the Colorado runs into an area that is filthy with beaver dams.  A stealthy approach to the dams brought non-stop action on brookies and cutthroats. The Estes Park Angler in Estes Park is a good source for fly fishing information.  The fish were not that picky.  However, a lime trude sizes 14-16, worked best.  We also picked up fish on elkhair caddis, yellow humpies, hoppers, and stimulators. Randall S. Davis

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Heading for RMNP area for 1 1/2-2 weeks this summer, probably mid to late July. Will be camping for part of the time maybe in or north of the park and then spending 4 days in Estes Park. Looking for advice on places to fish and places to avoid. Mostly interested in smaller streams or shallow lakes. Will be wading-no float tube-with a 7′9" 3/4 wt. Once the family is safely in the confines of a cabin or lodge I may take a solo overnight hike to a more remote lake/stream. Any advice on places and patterns will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mark

Response:

Question:

 Anxious to try my new Diamondback All American 6.5 ft. 3 wt. rod I brought it into work today.  Fortunately I have a huge lake right out the back door of my office.  I don’t usually fish warm water but this was the first chance I would have to try the rod.  I started with a #16 Bead Head Hare’s Ear nymph.  The rod was a little slower than I remember it but felt great.  Line was a SA Mastery WF3F with about 4 ft. of the forward section removed.  I attached a Cortland loop tip and AirFlo 5 ft. light trout leader.  The tippet was 5X.  I felt the Fly Logic FLP 345 was a little heavy for the rod.  I will probably look for something lighter.  The cork was large for this small rod and filled my hand nicely.  The rod tip is soft enough to flip over just the tippet nicely and the butt has the stifness to pump out a 40 ft. cast effortlessly.  Diamondback uses unsanded blanks and first impression is of a rough finish.  Wrappings are well done in dark green and the rod has a pleasing appearance.  The ferrul lacks witness marks, I’ll remedy this later.  I threw the nymph and a #8 popper with rubber legs and hair tail in yellow (per Big Dale’s recommendation).  The rig let me pinpoint casts along the riprap to individual fish and gave me all the rod I needed for casts reaching beyond 50 feet into the lake. Considering I had my back against a steep bank and had to reach up to give the back cast room, I think this was excellent distance.  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! — Wayne To fish is human….To release Divine! Before you buy.

Response:

….  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing!

A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

 I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion.

I was about to say the same thing, but Ken beat me to it while I was looking up the Maryland state record bluegill.   It was 3 lb. 7 oz., caught in August 98.

Response:

"I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing!" Gee Wayne, sorry you had to be stuck with such teeny,tiny fish to test the new rod.  Mostly it’s been my experience that those little ones just get hooked and give up right away- almost jump up on the bank to throw in the towel against one of those husky 3wt’s. BTW- mind sending along your business address if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I don’t really have to take that trip to the AuSable – I mean it’s not written in stone or anything   Jim McCreary

Response:

I second that emotion, there ain’t nuthin much more fun than hit’n on a bunch of pound and half pumpkin seeds and blue gill on a 3wt. I’ll be doing it again in the morning. I enjoy both but don’t have the opportunity to really fish but maybe twice a year so I must REALLY fish each weekend. All in fun Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion. I was about to say the same thing, but Ken beat me to it while I was looking up the Maryland state record bluegill.   It was 3 lb. 7 oz., caught in August 98.

Response:

1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I second that emotion, there ain’t nuthin much more fun than hit’n on a bunch of pound and half pumpkin seeds and blue gill on a 3wt. I’ll be doing it again in the morning. I enjoy both but don’t have the opportunity to really fish but maybe twice a year so I must REALLY fish each weekend. All in fun Jim  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion. I was about to say the same thing, but Ken beat me to it while I was looking up the Maryland state record bluegill.   It was 3 lb. 7 oz., caught in August 98.

Response:

around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year. Jim

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill I second that emotion, there ain’t nuthin much more fun than hit’n on a bunch of pound and half pumpkin seeds and blue gill on a 3wt. I’ll be doing it again in the morning. I enjoy both but don’t have the opportunity to really fish but maybe twice a year so I must REALLY fish each weekend. All in fun Jim  I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing! A 2 pound bluegill is NOT little and if you think there’s something more REAL than big bluegill on a 3wt, I can only surmise that you’ve suffered some sort of anal cranial inversion. I was about to say the same thing, but Ken beat me to it while I was looking up the Maryland state record bluegill.   It was 3 lb. 7 oz., caught in August 98.

Response:

Bill, Lake Anna near Mineral Virginia.  I work at the nuclear power station on Lake Anna.  Our shoreline has areas of large rip-rap which grows VERY large bluegill and attracts a nice population of 1 to 3 pound bass as well.  I didn’t read the carp on a fly thread but we have 20 to 30 pounders in abundance ( our European members are having woodies by now). Wayne To fish is Human….To Release Divine.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill

Response:

Bluegill is around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year.

Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Big Dale

Response:

Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill?

Because the NAACP has issued a tourism boycott of South Carolina ? Works for me. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Well let’s see, I have Virginia and South Carolina now.  Think I could make a weekend trip from Arizona? Times are getting desperate.  I got stuck in a job doing 65 hours per week and no weekends.  I decided an education was the only way out.  I just finished a BS degree in Information Systems and got certified in VB 6.0. Now if I can just find employment with weekends off I can chase those big Bluegill again.  Haven’t had a chance to breath in the last two years and if I don’t catch a good fish soon I’m going to lose it!  Major withdrawal symptoms taking effect. Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bill, Lake Anna near Mineral Virginia.  I work at the nuclear power station on Lake Anna.  Our shoreline has areas of large rip-rap which grows VERY large bluegill and attracts a nice population of 1 to 3 pound bass as well.  I didn’t read the carp on a fly thread but we have 20 to 30 pounders in abundance ( our European members are having woodies by now). Wayne To fish is Human….To Release Divine. 1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill

Response:

Fish was caught using a fly rod, but he had a spinning reel on it dropping a jig into shore cover in a tailrace canal. It was an ugly damn thing but man was it big…. Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bluegill is around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year. Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Big Dale

Response:

Sheesh Big Dale, I can’t even conjur up an image of a 6# bluegill, it gives me the shakes to imagine that monster on my 3 wt.  Can you say "into the backing"? :-0 Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bluegill is around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year. Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Big Dale

Response:

Bill, it will come with time, I spent 20 yrs in the navy and had no time, I’m now 54 and have averaged 104 days per year on the water for the last four years. I don’t do weekends or windows anymore. Jim

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Well let’s see, I have Virginia and South Carolina now.  Think I could make a weekend trip from Arizona? Times are getting desperate.  I got stuck in a job doing 65 hours per week and no weekends.  I decided an education was the only way out.  I just finished a BS degree in Information Systems and got certified in VB 6.0. Now if I can just find employment with weekends off I can chase those big Bluegill again.  Haven’t had a chance to breath in the last two years and if I don’t catch a good fish soon I’m going to lose it!  Major withdrawal symptoms taking effect. Bill Bill, Lake Anna near Mineral Virginia.  I work at the nuclear power station on Lake Anna.  Our shoreline has areas of large rip-rap which grows VERY large bluegill and attracts a nice population of 1 to 3 pound bass as well.  I didn’t read the carp on a fly thread but we have 20 to 30 pounders in abundance ( our European members are having woodies by now). Wayne To fish is Human….To Release Divine. 1 to 2 pound Bluegill !!!  WHERE ?  I NEED TO KNOW NOW !!! Bill

Response:

i agree i might give up a few days of steelhead fishing for 6 pound bluegills!!! krombear I wonder if fish get thirsty

Response:

OK Guys, Come on down!  Access to this section of Lake Anna shoreline is with Virginia Power employee escort only.  I’ll lead the motorcade down to the parking area and assign beats to the fishermen.  At the recreation facility adjacent to the bluegill fishing we have restrooms, picnic shelters, grills, vollyball courts, and alcohol consumption is allowed.  Preferred beverages are Macallans and The Famous Grouse.  You buy. Wayne To Fish is Human….To Release Divine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "I don’t usually fish for bluegill but the little 1 and 2 pounders were a lot of fun on this rod.  As soon as I can get a weekend free I’m off to the mountain streams for some REAL fishing!" Gee Wayne, sorry you had to be stuck with such teeny,tiny fish to test the new rod.  Mostly it’s been my experience that those little ones just get hooked and give up right away- almost jump up on the bank to throw in the towel against one of those husky 3wt’s. BTW- mind sending along your business address if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I don’t really have to take that trip to the AuSable – I mean it’s not written in stone or anything   Jim McCreary

Response:

OK Guys, Come on down!  Access to this section of Lake Anna shoreline is with Virginia Power employee escort only.  I’ll lead the motorcade down to the parking area and assign beats to the fishermen.  At the recreation facility adjacent to the bluegill fishing we have restrooms, picnic shelters, grills, vollyball courts, and alcohol consumption is allowed.  Preferred beverages are Macallans and The Famous Grouse.  You buy. Wayne To Fish is Human….To Release Divine.

An "ROFF ‘Gill Clave" in the making??  But will there be hats?? Little concerned ’bout those "glow in the dark" nuclear ‘gills though- is that what makes em so plentiful. Jim

Response:

… Little concerned ’bout those "glow in the dark" nuclear ‘gills though- is that what makes em so plentiful.

Don’t know anything about Lake Anna but here in central Illinois there’s a nuke plant on Clinton Lake and the warm water discharge does extend the growing season. Doesn’t make for more fish but bigger fish than you’d expect otherwise. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

You might even get to meet Strom himself, if you’re lucky enough to catch him between naps. jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Because the NAACP has issued a tourism boycott of South Carolina ? Yeah, but you’d get to hang out with people who voted for Strom Thurmond<g. — Charlie…

Response:

does anyone else think there may be a relationship between the "nuclear power plant" and the 3 lb bluegills???  wasn’t that a roger corman movie?? jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sheesh Big Dale, I can’t even conjur up an image of a 6# bluegill, it gives me the shakes to imagine that monster on my 3 wt.  Can you say "into the backing"? :-0 Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED Bluegill is around 6 lbs. as I recall, caught last year. Could someone please tell me why the hell I am going to Ennis next summer for the western clave when I could be going to South Carolina in a search for a six pound bluegill? Big Dale

Response:

Wayne, I’d be interested taking you up on your offer and coming up there, perhaps for a one-day deal sometime this winter. There’s plenty good bluegill fishing within a few blocks of my house, but it would be fun anyway. There are several of us close enough to make it up there and back in a single day–I’ll bet that Tom Brown and my buddy Bill Crone would come along, and perhaps some of the other NC ROFFians. Perhaps one of the days between Christmas and New Years… Is the fishing still decent at that time of year? Steve Zimmerman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK Guys, Come on down!  Access to this section of Lake Anna shoreline is with Virginia Power employee escort only.  I’ll lead the motorcade down to the parking area and assign beats to the fishermen.  At the recreation facility adjacent to the bluegill fishing we have restrooms, picnic shelters, grills, vollyball courts, and alcohol consumption is allowed.  Preferred beverages are Macallans and The Famous Grouse.  You buy.

Response:

Steve, If you want to do this, let me know.  My only hesitation is that this guy is also an engineer and he survived several days fishing with Walt earlier this year and seemingly, escaped unscathed.  I’ve never managed more than one day with Walt, and was scared, even then.  Hell, I think Marie liked him, too.  We gotta be careful, here….. Tom — Tom Brown The Signal Group Wake Forest, NC HEATHEN, n. A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel.                – Ambrose Bierce: The Devil’s Dictionary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wayne, I’d be interested taking you up on your offer and coming up there, perhaps for a one-day deal sometime this winter. There’s plenty good bluegill fishing within a few blocks of my house, but it would be fun anyway. There are several of us close enough to make it up there and back in a single day–I’ll bet that Tom Brown and my buddy Bill Crone would come along, and perhaps some of the other NC ROFFians. Perhaps one of the days between Christmas and New Years… Is the fishing still decent at that time of year? Steve Zimmerman OK Guys, Come on down!  Access to this section of Lake Anna shoreline is with Virginia Power employee escort only.  I’ll lead the motorcade down to the parking area and assign beats to the fishermen.  At the recreation facility adjacent to the bluegill fishing we have restrooms, picnic shelters, grills, vollyball courts, and alcohol consumption is allowed.  Preferred beverages are Macallans and The Famous Grouse.  You buy.

Response:

"nuclear power plant" and the 3 lb bluegills???  wasn’t that a roger corman movie??

Made me think of a Simpson’s show when Bart caught a 3 eyed fish while fishing below the neclear power plant. Do any of those 3lb. fish have three eyes? Big Dale

Response:

"nuclear power plant" and the 3 lb bluegills???  wasn’t that a roger corman movie?? Made me think of a Simpson’s show when Bart caught a 3 eyed fish while fishing below the neclear power plant. Do any of those 3lb. fish have three eyes? Big Dale

Of course not…….but the bigger ones do have two tails. jim

Response:

Question:

Anybody out there know genus-species for the Alder Fly? Email or post is fine Bill S.

Response:

Anybody out there know genus-species for the Alder Fly? Email or post is fine Bill S.

Bill, Family is Sialidae and only the single genus, Sialis, occurs in North America.  Not being an entomologist I could be mistaken but I am fairly certain of my resource.  Hope this helps. James Ehlers Underhill, Vermont Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anybody out there know genus-species for the Alder Fly? Email or post is fine Bill S. Bill, it’s funny you mentioned it, and I have heard it before,and can’t remember, but it then occured to me that my grandfather gave me a book written in the 50’s by the Sportman’s cigarettes company,it’s

Response:

James Ehlers is correct. Alderflies belong to the family Sialidae, and there is a single genus, Sialis. There are about 20 or so species. They are in the order Megaloptera, at least that is where most entomologists place them, although I sometimes see Megaloptera listed as a suborder of Neuroptera. — Tim Lysyk http://www.telusplanet.net/public/cnangler/html

Response:

Question:

I’ve had good success with both a wicker creel (with moss or damp grass) and an ‘ArtiCreel’ (soaked canvas bag). The canvas bag is easier to carry around and probably doesn’t look as pretentious as the wicker so it is probably safer to use<g. Charlie…

Response:

I’ve had good success with both a wicker creel (with moss or damp grass) and an ‘ArtiCreel’ (soaked canvas bag). The canvas bag is easier to carry around and probably doesn’t look as pretentious as the wicker so it is probably safer to use<g. Charlie…

It’s really a bummer that the ff industry (ok, Orvis) has made something like a wicker creel pretentious. I always fished with an old wicker creel my grandpa gave me when I was a lad, and would like to use one on any occasional trips I might want to take a couple, but I would feel like a fool carrying one these days. I should be able to say "screw it, I like ‘em, I grew up with ‘em, and I’m using one," but I guess I would hate to give people the wrong idea. Fish on, Allen

Response:

Ralph Heidecke writes: When I kill a fish or two to take home I do the following to keep it fresh: (snip) Share other tips you have please!

To me, a canvas creel is indispensible.  Any fish you decide to eat are kept fresh and cool.  Great beer keeper also, as George mentioned earlier.  When you’re not using it for either, it’s a convenient place to stow litter left by others.   Best of all, the sight of a well-used creel over your shoulder keeps away those pesky Orvis Grand Cherokee types, who refer to all the insects by their Latin names.  ;^) CQ

Response:

I should be able to say "screw it, I like ‘em, I grew up with ‘em, and I’m using one," but I guess I would hate to give people the wrong idea.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I still use mine on occasion, depends where I am fishing and how much I care about people think that day<g. Course I usually carry a cloth diaper to use as a rag (they’re great for cleaning fly lines and cameras, etc) so I suppose some folks may think I’m wierd anyway. Charlie…

Response:

[rip !] I do no use stringers as in my experience trout kokanee etc will die with in a quarter hour or so thus there is little gained from their

Yeah, those kokes are sure prissy fish….pretty damned good smoked though. A metal clasp stringer, I feel, is not all that cruel, the fish seem pretty calm generally and an old brown trout will stay alive and fresh all day, catfish and other sturdy species could be released after all day on a stringer and survive.  Stringers are indeed best suited for lake use.  I have also caught and stringered brookies while backpacking that stay alive a long, long time. Whatcha do, see, is you go down, take one of the stringer, clean it and cut off its head.  Then you can insert a ‘weenie’ stick and roast them with salt and pepper…nothing is better in this world… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

It’s really a bummer that the ff industry (ok, Orvis) has made something like a wicker creel pretentious. I always fished with an old wicker creel my grandpa gave me when I was a lad, and would like to use one on any occasional trips I might want to take a couple, but I would feel like a fool carrying one these days.

Jeez, I sometimes lash a sawed-off, perforated gallon milk jug to my fannypack, and I’ve never felt dumb about it once…er…well, the point is, go ahead and use the things if you like ‘em.  I won’t laugh, and I have to wonder how many people *would* really care.  What if they did, anyway?   Dave DeLacey – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fish on, Allen

Response:

Moe Skeeter writes: A metal clasp stringer, I feel, is not all that cruel, the fish seem pretty calm generally and an old brown trout will stay alive and fresh all day, catfish and other sturdy species could be released after all day on a stringer and survive.  Stringers are indeed best suited for lake use.  I have also caught and stringered brookies while backpacking that stay alive a long, long time.

That’s true, as long as you’re using it right. If you’re using a stringer to keep your catch fresh, forget the common method of stringing ‘em through the gills.  The fish will stay alive a lot longer if you string it through the thin part of the lower jaw (near the center). I don’t use a stringer anymore, but when I did, stringing the fish through the jaw worked much, much better.  A gill-strung trout usually dies so fast that you might as well knock it on the head in the first place.  (catfish, OTOH, are damn near unkillable, strung through the gills or not.) CQ

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s really a bummer that the ff industry (ok, Orvis) has made something like a wicker creel pretentious. I always fished with an old wicker creel my grandpa gave me when I was a lad, and would like to use one on any occasional trips I might want to take a couple, but I would feel like a fool carrying one these days. Jeez, I sometimes lash a sawed-off, perforated gallon milk jug to my fannypack, and I’ve never felt dumb about it once…er…well, the point is, go ahead and use the things if you like ‘em.  I won’t laugh, and I have to wonder how many people *would* really care.  What if they did, anyway? Dave DeLacey

Yeah, like I said in the clipped part of my original post, I know it’s a bit stupid to give much thought to that. I wouldn’t be embarassed to be seen anywhere with the milk jug – at least the people I meet on the stream wouldn’t be trying to sell me mutual funds. I keep hoping that this whole fishing craze will die out by the time I’m an old man and I can strap on my wicker creel and fish alone… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fish on, Allen

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When I kill a fish or two to take home I do the following to keep it fresh: 1) stream fishing; place the fish in a plastic bag and either    cache the fish either in the sand or gravel of the bank or

I store the fish in a wet burlap sack out of the sun and clean ASAP. 2) float tube or boat:

Never kept one from a float tube trip!  See below for boat. I do no use stringers as in my experience trout kokanee etc will die with in a quarter hour or so thus there is little gained from their use: Share other tips you have please!

We used a stringer only once or twice for Kokanee. Very poor!  Instead we opted for a cage with chain attached with a little door.  This tied off to one of the cleats at the rear of the boat and could be lifted out of the water to insert another fish.  A few die, but several survive unless badly injured.  This is the best we could come up with to keep them fresh. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley         2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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When I kill a fish or two to take home I do the following to keep it fresh: 1) stream fishing; place the fish in a plastic bag and either    cache the fish either in the sand or gravel of the bank or    gather some grass etc and place the fish amongst this in my    pack. 2) float tube or boat:    in my tube I put the fish in a side pocket of the tube and keep    the fabric wet; evaporation will keep it cool and fresh    in a boat I do much the same; keep the fish out of the sun and keep     it wet; ie cover with a wet cloth; again evaporation will keep it    very cool I do no use stringers as in my experience trout kokanee etc will die with in a quarter hour or so thus there is little gained from their use: the deterioration of the flesh will actually be quicker even if the air is warmer than the water because the transfer of heat from water to fish is much easier than from water to air. In all cases evaporation uses heat hence keeping a fish out of water but moist to encourage evaporation will help keep the fish cool and  fresh. It is advisable to clean a fish as soon as possible; keep the fish out of direct sun and put the fish on ice or refridgerate as soon as possible. Share other tips you have please! Ralph H  

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Question:

  Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers?   unless the river is really large, you don’t need a sinking at all…   TimW

Do you change for a sinking leader or will the nymph drag the leader down with it quickly enough? Peter. —  Peter Sollander, CERN ST/MC/TCR  Tel: (+41) 22.767.8081          Fax: (+41) 22.767.8910        

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  Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers?   unless the river is really large, you don’t need a sinking at all…   TimW Do you change for a sinking leader or will the nymph drag the leader down with it quickly enough?

I use a long leader and split shot and fish effectively in 6+ feet of water.  One spot in particular that comes to mind.  The majority of the Roaring Fork flows between these two big rocks right in the main channel causing impressive rapids.  I would routinely wade deep right to the edge of this and nail nice ‘bows one nymphs fished deep with 5 or more BB’s right in this fast water.   My problem with sinking lines, leaders etc. is that the fly will float up from the bottom too far, unless the weight is RIGHT THERE within 6 inches or so of the bug.  A fly one or two feet off the bottom in this fast water will not catch fish. TimW For larger rivers, and some streamer applications, a Hi-speed, Hi-D Sinking tip line is WAY cool.  Dragging a big wooley behind a driftboat with a sink tip can be deadly. TimW

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: If the river is unusually fast or deep, you might want to use a sink : tip, the weight of the line depends on what your rod is rated for. The : idea is to get the nymph to bounce on the bottom once in a while. A : small split shot or some "Shape-A-Weight" on the leader can do the same : thing. True. A great time and money saver. : As far as being a beginning caster, I would get the Weight Forward (WF) : line as it is easier to put the fly where you want it. I’ve been told this often, but my experience has been that they’re really not that much easier to cast than a DT line, and DT lines turn over a mite easier. PLus, you can turn ‘em around when then get worn! –mike

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Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers? DT, WF?  sinking tip? #1-#4? and what about leaders?  Sinking? Fast Sinking, Extra Fast Sinking?

If you are fishing "small rivers" I wouldn’t bother with a sinking line. You can get a fly down to the fish even with a floating line. A long leader with a small split shot or bead head  will do in most situations. I’ve been tying beads into the body of many nymphs instead of lead and find they work great. You can also add a sink tip to your line, sized to the situation. I always carry a few in different sizes just in case. If you are planning to fish a lake, or a fast, deep river then a sinking line would be handy. I carry a med. sink for lakes and time the decent. For Steehead in rivers I pack a floating, 10 ft. sink tip, and a 24 ft 325 gn. sink tip. The last line works great for strippers….but casting is kind of chuck and duck….

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For nymph fishing small rivers and creeks a floating line is generally all that is required.  For especially deep hole a weight forward would be a good choice, but in  most instances a floating line with a leader set for the depth of water, and a strike indicator, is my general set-up of choice. Clint

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writes: Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers? DT, WF?  sinking tip? #1-#4? and what about leaders?  Sinking? Fast Sinking, Extra Fast Sinking? What’s a beginner’s choice Any ideas?

Hi Pete, I would not choose a sinking line for nymph fishing in most situations. The object of most nymph fishing is to get the fly to *dead drift* in the bottom 6" or so of water.  It’s very tough to dead drift a nymph on a sinking line as you have no control over the sinking line once it sinks. You are at the mercy of the currents because you can’t mend the line.  It is much more effective to fish nymphs on a floating line with a long leader because you can mend it and control the drift; and it’s especially effective to use a strike indicator to suspend the nymph exactly where you want in the water column and drift it down the current lane you choose. If you want particulars on this, drop me some e-mail & I’ll let you know how to set such a system up, along with casts to help you fish it. The place I use a full sinking line is in a lake as it allows you to swim your fly right over the top of weedbeds and structure which is very difficult to do with a floating line and a long leader.  Works well because there is no current in the lake to push your line around.  You could also use a sink tip for this though It tends to rise up a bit as you retrieve it.   A sink tip is a good choice in rivers because you can mend the belly section (the floating part) to control the sinking part.  Unfortunately it’s not real good for "dead drifts" as you need to have some tension on the line to detect the strike and if you have tension on the line you’re not getting a dead drift.  I will use a sink tip for swimming streamers across the current and also for swinging nymphs through the current to imitate a big swimming nymph (like an isonychia) or perhaps a caddis pupa (rarely but once in a while). Don’t feel you need to go out and buy all the different types of lines – floating, sinking (in 6 different densities), and sink tips (in all the different densities and about 10 or 12 different lengths).  Get a floating line and learn how to use it.  Then if you are going to fish specific conditions – such as on a lake at a depth of 10 feet deep – get the appropriate line for those conditions.  Otherwise you can go out and buy 6 different lines or more and still not have the one you need when you need it.                                          Hope this helps,                                                   Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

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Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers? DT, WF?  sinking tip? #1-#4? and what about leaders?  Sinking? Fast Sinking, Extra Fast Sinking? What’s a beginner’s choice Any ideas? Cheers,        Pete. —  Peter Sollander, CERN ST/MC/TCR  Tel: (+41) 22.767.8081          Fax: (+41) 22.767.8910        

Response:

Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers?

unless the river is really large, you don’t need a sinking at all… TimW

Response:

Which sinking line should I choose for nymph fishing in small rivers?

If the river is unusually fast or deep, you might want to use a sink tip, the weight of the line depends on what your rod is rated for. The idea is to get the nymph to bounce on the bottom once in a while. A small split shot or some "Shape-A-Weight" on the leader can do the same thing. As far as being a beginning caster, I would get the Weight Forward (WF) line as it is easier to put the fly where you want it.

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Question:

-run-off on upper Bow usually in mid June to early July at latest – lower Bow and Crow would be 2-3 weeks earlier – this year will be heavy as mountain snow-pack is 150% – early May should be okay barring anything unusual                              Dan Bell, Upper Bow Fly Fishing Co. Banff

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: -run-off on upper Bow usually in mid June to early July at latest : – lower Bow and Crow would be 2-3 weeks earlier : – this year will be heavy as mountain snow-pack is 150% : – early May should be okay barring anything unusual :                              Dan Bell, Upper Bow Fly Fishing Co. Banff How would you stagger your fishing trips so as to avoid run-off in SW Alberta?  For example, could I fish the lower Bow in May, switch to the upper Crow in late May/early July, etc? Pete

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Question:

Is it me, or is the FlyFishing Database and FAQ home page totally broken.  Everytime I follow a link it gives me a page with a return link and no content. The location I’m accessing is: http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~jsuchosk/fish/ff-faq/masterIndex.html kat.

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Is it me, or is the FlyFishing Database and FAQ home page totally broken.  Everytime I follow a link it gives me a page with a return link and no content. The location I’m accessing is: http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~jsuchosk/fish/ff-faq/masterIndex.html kat.

It’s not you.  Either it’s broken, or it’s us.  I got the same response you did. Jim Browder Kalispell, MT

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Question:

Could any one help locate the name of the river in MD that was on TV channel ESPN called Flyfishing America April 1, 1995. I hope to be out that way soon. Thanks

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Could any one help locate the name of the river in MD that was on TV channel ESPN called Flyfishing America April 1, 1995. I hope to be out that way soon. Thanks

Didn’t see the show, but if it was Maryland, it probably was the Gunpowder. Paul DiConza NY Capital District Angler

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I believe the show was filmed on the North Branch of the Potomac below the Randolph Jennings Dam.  The general public cannot fish where the filming took place !!!!  I have fished in that river this spring and caught a few, biggest about 13".  There are large fish in there but they are fish that have been released from hatchery operation  by dam.  1 mile below dam is closed to public.  Gunpowder river north of Baltimore is probably better ‘bet but very busy on weekends and during good hatches.                                                    regards leo

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