Question:

I went to the library a couple of hours ago and checked out a book about the sense of smell, simply because it caught my eye.  While reading it at dinner a while ago I was reminded of the second thing I noticed on arriving at Jay’s cabin in the UP; the delicious and unique aroma of the north woods.  Every place has its own smell (libraries are another favorite, or rather, class of favorites…they’re all different) and this one, in the spring, combines rich undertones of damp earth, crisp aromatic conifers dominated by balsam fir, pungent aspens, and a host of lesser elements.  Every time it hits me I am immediately transported back to innumerable other visits for fishing, hunting, wood cutting, and sitting on the porch, which brings me to the first thing I noticed and which cut short my reverie, for there on the porch was the supine form of one medium sized Asadi.  It was either dead or asleep.  A few light kicks at the chair confirmed that it was the latter. After a few moments of hale fellow well mets I bundled the poor boy, much bedraggled from a long journey a hot sauna and wrasslin with some barley pop, off to see Agate Falls.  Agate is one of the more spectacular falls in the UP, which is littered with the things, and would later prove to be the last place we fished on this trip. When we got back to the neighborhood of the shack we stopped to visit Jay’s brother Bret, who lives in a trailer just a couple hundred yards down the road.  Bret is a journeyman electrician, which would allow him to live virtually anywhere he pleases.  He is also a VERY avid hunter and fisher.  That he chooses to live in such a place is indicative of what it has to offer to the outdoor enthusiast.  As we chatted (Asadi tried to buy Bret’s hat from his five year old daughter but she was too cagey for him), Jay drove up.  A few minutes later we all arrived at the shack to find Mr. Petah Charles there.  The evening was devoted to making plans for departure the next morning, sorting through gear, eating, and pouring offerings to the fish gods and the great god Ethanol.  Asadi, having gotten a considerable head start on the rest of us, easily won the evenings round of libations.  We were all pleased to discover that Peter speaks pretty good English for a ferriner.   We arose tolerably early the next morning and after a few brief stops for breakfast, extra packing food, conferences, mapping, waterfall viewing, fly shop hunting (without noticeable success, I might add), and other piddling chores, we managed to hit the trail precisely at the crack of noon….or thereabouts.  Jay decided to take a rather more challenging route than the rest of us so it was up to me to deliver the requisite lecture to the newbies…….stop whenever you feel a need, drink plenty of water, ANY discomfort on feet is to be taken very seriously and attended to immediately, yada, yada, yada.  I set a moderate pace for the first half mile so as not to tax the rookies. After a ten minute break during which Peter never bothered to remove his pack, I let him take the lead, and I spent the next hour and a half sprinting to keep him in sight while John, carrying some very heavy and very non traditional backpacking food and a head that looked suspiciously larger than it used to, was left to bring up the rear.  We arrived at the mouth of the Big Carp, after a trip of 4 1/4 miles, an hour and fifty minutes after hitting the trail, and this with a couple of rest stops totaling about fifteen minutes.  Goddamn Cannuck voyageurs!   More later……gotta rest. Wolfgang

Response:

[ominous preclavian rumblings noted and snipped] More later……gotta rest. Wolfgang

John, Peter, and Wolfgang "alone together" in the woodz? Whoa… /daytripper (Jealous – or grateful? Tough call…

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For the rest of us, our heaven resides a little higher. Milwaukee ? — Ken Fortenberry OK, way f*****g higher!  I *was* trying to be nice.  If you like it, you ain’t there. Peter

OOPS, left off the smiley face. just kidding. Peter

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And those discriminating beer drinkers were using it to wash down their SPAM sandwiches no doubt.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anybody notice the little slice of heaven inserted into the Vikings/Rams game ? There they were, at THE source, row after row of Budweiser longnecks making their way toward the homes of discriminating beer drinkers the world over. Be still my beating heart. — Ken Fortenberry

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OK, way f*****g higher!  I *was* trying to be nice.  If you like it, you ain’t there. Ah you must of been thinking about Coors Light then

No, no no no no! The Sweet Green Death from Golden is NOT heavenly! It’d better not be! If Coors is divine, then I’m becoming a satanist! Opt out == cop-out. What’s so hard to understand?

Response:

No, no no no no! The Sweet Green Death from Golden is NOT heavenly! It’d better not be! If Coors is divine, then I’m becoming a satanist!

But mixed with a little V8 juice, they make great red beers and that is about all it is good for. bc. — ROFF is like a herd of performing elephants with diarrhea — massive, difficult to redirect, awe-inspiring, entertaining, and a source of mind-boggling amounts of excrement when you least expect it."

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But mixed with a little V8 juice, they make great red beers and that is about all it is good for.

When red beer sounds appealing in the am it generally means you went over the limit the previous night, and you’d better check your shorts for spots too<g. — Charlie…

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says… <Snipped Here’s where I get lost. Unfortunately I have yet to develop the proper appreciation for beer. I’ve been gamely tasting when offered and I have done this from many parts of the world. I have tasted stuff that folks claim is "WONDERFUL" and others that people have claimed "Tastes like Horse Piss" (Although the mind boggles at how they can make that comparison…). I don’t get it. I mean, I like to think I do have taste buds. A nice juicy medium rare Ruth Chris Sirloin with Crispy Onions sets the saliva a flowin and anticipation running. Or, how about a nice tall cool glass of lemonade on a hot day? I can’t understand the flavor or beer…. I’ve drunk all manner of concoction and I can say that some I like and some I hate, but beer? They all taste roughly the same… (With the exception of Bitters and Guiness {More a chowder than a beer}) What am I missing? I read all about posts of guys who’ll come back from a long hot trip out on the waters and then heartily slake their thirst on their favorite brews. Me? I’d be quite happy with a Coke or a Sprite… Heck I’d take water over beer. Aside from the temperature of the beer the flavors are… Well lets just say all I taste is the high level of Carbonation and I do sense the alchohol. I do have a VERY sensitive taste for alchohol. I can taste it in baking and cooking. Specially stuff with wine as a base. In some cases I can get a buzz eating that stuff. It may be something specific to my physiology but I never could enjoy the drinking as much as others. Highballs and cocktails I can taste due to the other flavors involved. Wines are the same way. Hard Liquor? More the quality of the beverage. A scotch seems to turn to smoke that just flows smoothly down leaving a burning trail and a sudden onslaught of dizziness. A whisky has a "smoky" flavor and some oak barrel stuff definitely has a flavor all it’s own (along with the deluge of alchohol!) So what should I bee looking for in beer other than the burp chaser? — Michael Era

Question:

I’ll be in Cork, Ireland the week of May 10th and am trying to decide whether or not to stay a few extra days for some flyfishing for native browns. I ran the standard searches thru dejanews and hotbot and found some interesting March salmon info but not much for May browns. I called the Cork fisheries guy for some info but any suggestions for books or web sites or guides or lodges? Thanks, Doug

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Get hold of PeterO’Reilly’s books on the Rivers; Loughs and Flies of Ireland (all published by Merlin Unwin books). The Suir, in Co. Waterford (east of Co. Cork) is -in many opinions- one of the best wild brown trout rivers in Europe. Try Andrew Ryan at www.flyfishingireland.com Tight lines Tony D – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ll be in Cork, Ireland the week of May 10th …. etc. (snipped)

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Question:

A friend has a decent two piece bamboo rod but the ferrules are damaged and he wants to replace the ferrules.  Any one have a suggestion on where these can be found?

Hi Steve, I think that Cortland bought out Rodon, rod building components, a while back and I think I got some good nickel silver ferrules from them for about $35 a set. Call me at 800/4000FLY and I’ll check in the catologs for you. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

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A friend has a decent two piece bamboo rod but the ferrules are damaged and he wants to replace the ferrules.  Any one have a suggestion on where these can be found?

Collected a couple of years ago…. 1.  in Toronto, famous rod builder Ted Knott 2.  Bruce Conner (Cane Rod FAQ) rx. Bailey Woods- Classic Sporting Enterprises, Box 1909, Fitch Hill Rd., Hyde Park, VT  05655    (802) 888-7859. I have found two sources for ferrules for cane [ bamboo] fods. On is from the Powell Rod company in Chico, Ca. You may reach them at 1-800- 782-7600 inside Ca. Outside Ca. call 1-800-228-0615. They can supply both Hard Chrome ferrules as well as the more expensive nickel silver ferrules. If you are looking to more closely restore the rod to original condition you might try Classic Sporting Enterprises Inc. Roaring Brook Rd. RD#3 Box 3 Barton, Vermont 05822. Their phone # is (802) 525 3623. 4.  I eventually bought odd ferrules directly from Orvis (Peter Brown, fishing manager) — 802 362-3750 or fax 802 362-3525 Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly If you’re looking for chrome-plated brass try Netcraft – (419) 472-8058 – FAX  -9826 They have 10/11 (64’s) pair on up to 24/25 (64’s). If you want nickel-silver ferules, try Dale Clemens – (610) 395-5119 – FAX 398-2580 or  Angler’s Workshop – (360) 225-9445  - FAX 225-8641. Also, take out a second on the house ($30-40 US). You also might try surfing over to URL — http://www.gorp.com/bamboo.htm  and ask for their latest "The Classic Chronicle" newsletter. They have new and used ferrules listed. Pick-up a couple of cane rods while you’re there. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

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A friend has a decent two piece bamboo rod but the ferrules are damaged and he wants to replace the ferrules.  Any one have a suggestion on where these can be found? Steve           __                /          Steven Patterson, Ph.D.         / ..|       Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry        (_  |_)      University of Notre Dame       /            _   /  `   |        \/    | _        A Protestant dawg at a Catholic University     /_ || \_        ____)|_) _)  

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Question:

I spent the weekend fishing in sub-freezing conditions and spent a considerable amount of time clearing ice out of the guides. That’s pretty much how it’s going to be until April, so I’m looking for a few pointers.   Yesterday, a buddy and I spent most of the day fishing close together; when the guides iced up, you simply pointed your rod tip at your partner and let him break the ice out of the ones you couldn’t reach. That would be ideal if one always fished with a friend, but I fish alone 3/4 of the time.   I’m giving serious thought to building up a 7 1/2 ft 5wt; I’d be able to reach out and break the ice out without the risk of snapping off a tip. Does anybody have ideas, experience, or preferences regarding short 4wt or 5wt rods?   How about solutions applied to the guides and tiptop? Does anything really work?   (Oh yeah, don’t believe everything you read about the relationship between fish activity and water temperature. The water was in the thirties and the fish were feeding actively.)                                                TIA, Charlie

Response:

Oddly enough, if you dip the rod tip back into the water, the ice will generally disappear.  I’ve found that by doing so, and fishing a short line, i.e. leaving the fishing length always outside the tip top, sort of nymphing style, I get along fairly well. jg

Response:

I just carefully dip my rod into the river every so often.  The ice doesn’t seem to affect it much until they get super clogged.  Doesn’t seem to scare the fish, I did OK at the Thompson last weekend. Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I spent the weekend fishing in sub-freezing conditions and spent a considerable amount of time clearing ice out of the guides. That’s pretty much how it’s going to be until April, so I’m looking for a few pointers.   Yesterday, a buddy and I spent most of the day fishing close together; when the guides iced up, you simply pointed your rod tip at your partner and let him break the ice out of the ones you couldn’t reach. That would be ideal if one always fished with a friend, but I fish alone 3/4 of the time.   I’m giving serious thought to building up a 7 1/2 ft 5wt; I’d be able to reach out and break the ice out without the risk of snapping off a tip. Does anybody have ideas, experience, or preferences regarding short 4wt or 5wt rods?   How about solutions applied to the guides and tiptop? Does anything really work?   (Oh yeah, don’t believe everything you read about the relationship between fish activity and water temperature. The water was in the thirties and the fish were feeding actively.)                                                TIA, Charlie

Response:

Spraying the rod guides (not the river guides) with a little pam seems to help to keep ice from clinging.   By the way, what socks to you wear for that kind of weather? I’ve got a pair of Orvis wool and thermex blend socks, but my feet still get cold. g – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just carefully dip my rod into the river every so often.  The ice doesn’t seem to affect it much until they get super clogged.  Doesn’t seem to scare the fish, I did OK at the Thompson last weekend. Chris I spent the weekend fishing in sub-freezing conditions and spent a considerable amount of time clearing ice out of the guides. That’s pretty much how it’s going to be until April, so I’m looking for a few pointers.   Yesterday, a buddy and I spent most of the day fishing close together; when the guides iced up, you simply pointed your rod tip at your partner and let him break the ice out of the ones you couldn’t reach. That would be ideal if one always fished with a friend, but I fish alone 3/4 of the time.   I’m giving serious thought to building up a 7 1/2 ft 5wt; I’d be able to reach out and break the ice out without the risk of snapping off a tip. Does anybody have ideas, experience, or preferences regarding short 4wt or 5wt rods?   How about solutions applied to the guides and tiptop? Does anything really work?   (Oh yeah, don’t believe everything you read about the relationship between fish activity and water temperature. The water was in the thirties and the fish were feeding actively.)                                                TIA, Charlie

Response:

well sometimes the neoprene slows down circulation around your foot.. but why dont you try some capilene sock liners… those help wick moisture away from your feet…. (wet feet dont help keep you warm) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Spraying the rod guides (not the river guides) with a little pam seems to help to keep ice from clinging.   By the way, what socks to you wear for that kind of weather? I’ve got a pair of Orvis wool and thermex blend socks, but my feet still get cold. g

Response:

Where I fish the water is really cold for 3-4 months a year… For real cold conditions, I use 5 mm boot waders, 3 sizes larger than needed, which leaves plenty of space for thermal socks (2 if needed) without compressing the feet. That’s the trick. My feet never get cold even if the water is close to freezing point. – Tord Sweden – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – well sometimes the neoprene slows down circulation around your foot.. but why dont you try some capilene sock liners… those help wick moisture away from your feet…. (wet feet dont help keep you warm) Spraying the rod guides (not the river guides) with a little pam seems to help to keep ice from clinging. By the way, what socks to you wear for that kind of weather? I’ve got a pair of Orvis wool and thermex blend socks, but my feet still get cold. g

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I spent the weekend fishing in sub-freezing conditions and spent a considerable amount of time clearing ice out of the guides. That’s pretty much how it’s going to be until April, so I’m looking for a few pointers.   Yesterday, a buddy and I spent most of the day fishing close together; when the guides iced up, you simply pointed your rod tip at your partner and let him break the ice out of the ones you couldn’t reach. That would be ideal if one always fished with a friend, but I fish alone 3/4 of the time.   I’m giving serious thought to building up a 7 1/2 ft 5wt; I’d be able to reach out and break the ice out without the risk of snapping off a tip. Does anybody have ideas, experience, or preferences regarding short 4wt or 5wt rods?   How about solutions applied to the guides and tiptop? Does anything really work?   (Oh yeah, don’t believe everything you read about the relationship between fish activity and water temperature. The water was in the thirties and the fish were feeding actively.)                                                TIA, Charlie

Charlie, I don’t know what type of fishing you are doing but here on the Great Lakes a technique used by winter steelhead fisherman for bottom bouncing egg flies and nymphs is to load their 6 – 8 wt rods with 1 or 2 wt fly line. Since this fishing usually involves lobbing split shot more than casting, a balanced outfit isn’t required. Among other things this outfit is supposed to help in minimizing the icing problems by virtue of the significant difference between the line size and the guide size(s). Along this line of thinking if you are going to go to the trouble of building a special rod for winter fishing you might want to try using oversized guides. — Steve Vaughn

Response:

I just dip my tip into the water and shake the water off.  Works well enough, buty then I do not fish when it gets to 20 deg F.

Response:

[snip]  I’m giving serious thought to building up a 7 1/2 ft 5wt; I’d be able to reach out and break the ice out without the risk of snapping off a tip. Does anybody have ideas, experience, or preferences regarding short 4wt or 5wt rods?

I use two rods that might help.  I have a Winston 7 1/2 ft. 5 weight which is fast by Winston standards and can punch out line quite a distance yet make very delicate close in casts.  I do my winter fishing with a nine foot Loomis GL3 Megataper 8-9 weight.  It’s a saltwater rod with very large guides and tiptop, yet it has a typical GL3 delicate tip.  It isn’t a broomstick like most saltwater types. It also has a stiff butt section which allows me to grasp the rod midway and reach over to clear the tiptop.  I’m only 5′7" yet I have no problem reaching the tip.  I was fishing with it Saturday in a light snow for about three hours and I only had to clear the guides twice when they became completely blocked. Peter

Response:

I just dip my tip into the water and shake the water off.  Works well enough, buty then I do not fish when it gets to 20 deg F.

A common trick among conventional fishers is to spray their rod guides with a Silicon spray lubricant before fishing with the occassional spray every once in a while during the day.  It’s pretty easy to give them a quick blast from the spray can now and then (no need to overdo it!)   I know there is a Silicon lubricant marketed specfically for use with monofilament line, but I’m afraid I don’t know how it might affect a fly line. Good luck, Tom Chandler

Response:

:   How about solutions applied to the guides and tiptop? Does anything : really work? :                                                TIA, Charlie I’ve used a Dow industrial silicone lubricant in the past that seems to work well. A very little amount rubbed on the guides, especially the tip allows the water to run or drip off before freezing. Naturally ice can still build up and the colder it is, the faster the buildup but in sane temperatures, -5 C little wind and a bit of sun, it does the job. I’v had this tube for years and don’t have any idea where you could source some now. FWIW  – Garry N. Boychuk, P.Eng. mechanical engineer, flyfisher, Zone 6b gardener

Response:

Definitely build your custom rod with oversized guides and tip top. Additionally, you’ll have less icing if you keep your false casts to a minimum. Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I spent the weekend fishing in sub-freezing conditions and spent a considerable amount of time clearing ice out of the guides. That’s pretty much how it’s going to be until April, so I’m looking for a few pointers.   Yesterday, a buddy and I spent most of the day fishing close together; when the guides iced up, you simply pointed your rod tip at your partner and let him break the ice out of the ones you couldn’t reach. That would be ideal if one always fished with a friend, but I fish alone 3/4 of the time.   I’m giving serious thought to building up a 7 1/2 ft 5wt; I’d be able to reach out and break the ice out without the risk of snapping off a tip. Does anybody have ideas, experience, or preferences regarding short 4wt or 5wt rods?   How about solutions applied to the guides and tiptop? Does anything really work?   (Oh yeah, don’t believe everything you read about the relationship between fish activity and water temperature. The water was in the thirties and the fish were feeding actively.)                                                TIA, Charlie

Response:

Sounds like a new opportunity for the rod marketeers…Joint development project between Orvis and Prestone!  To tell ya the truth it wouldn’t surprise me a bit… — KennyM "I fish because I love to…" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Definitely build your custom rod with oversized guides and tip top. Additionally, you’ll have less icing if you keep your false casts to a minimum. Paul I spent the weekend fishing in sub-freezing conditions and spent a considerable amount of time clearing ice out of the guides. That’s pretty much how it’s going to be until April, so I’m looking for a few pointers.   Yesterday, a buddy and I spent most of the day fishing close together; when the guides iced up, you simply pointed your rod tip at your partner and let him break the ice out of the ones you couldn’t reach. That would be ideal if one always fished with a friend, but I fish alone 3/4 of the time.   I’m giving serious thought to building up a 7 1/2 ft 5wt; I’d be able to reach out and break the ice out without the risk of snapping off a tip. Does anybody have ideas, experience, or preferences regarding short 4wt or 5wt rods?   How about solutions applied to the guides and tiptop? Does anything really work?   (Oh yeah, don’t believe everything you read about the relationship between fish activity and water temperature. The water was in the thirties and the fish were feeding actively.)                                                TIA, Charlie

Response:

By the way, what socks to you wear for that kind of weather? I’ve got a pair of Orvis wool and thermex blend socks, but my feet still get cold.

The key to keeping your feet warm is to wear boot foot waders instead of stocking foot waders. The bootfoot waders allow air to circulate from your legs down to your feet which keeps you warm. Stocking foot waders with boots on top do not allow for this circulation of air. My first time salmon fishing here in Michigan I wore my stockingfoot neoprenes and froze my feet off. A guide suggested using bootfoot waders and the next time I was warm and toasty.

Response:

Hi, I saw your post concerning fishing in the cold.  For the tip top problem, being a backpacker comes in handy. I usually have a 4oz spray can of PAM non-stick spray, which I use if I’m frying up trout which I do from time to time Usually to save weight I just gut the trout and cook the trout directly on the coals and turn often for about 6-8 minutes. OPPPS….about the PAM spray the stuff on your guides it works as a great anti-freeze.  the guides will still freeze up a bit but not as often you can cast for 4 or 5 times better than with nothing on the guides.  For my hands What I use is a pair of Playtex rubber dish washing gloves.  The gloves protect my hands from the wet spray of the water rolling down the fly line.  I also add a thin polyproplene liner inside the rubber gloves if its real real cold outside.  Hope these ideas helps.  Tight Lines   Hugo ("Fish Head")

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A lot of sporting goods shops in Michigan sell toe warmers, which are little semi-circle shaped packs with adhesive on one side to stick to the bottom of your socks.  The first time I used them, I didn’t really feel any heat, so I thought they weren’t doing much, but when I went without them the next day my feet were numb within 20 minutes.  Now I don’t go near water between October and April without them.  They sell for about 99 cents a pair. -Jon Kruse National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory Michigan State University – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Where I fish the water is really cold for 3-4 months a year… For real cold conditions, I use 5 mm boot waders, 3 sizes larger than needed, which leaves plenty of space for thermal socks (2 if needed) without compressing the feet. That’s the trick. My feet never get cold even if the water is close to freezing point. – Tord Sweden well sometimes the neoprene slows down circulation around your foot.. but why dont you try some capilene sock liners… those help wick moisture away from your feet…. (wet feet dont help keep you warm) Spraying the rod guides (not the river guides) with a little pam seems to help to keep ice from clinging. By the way, what socks to you wear for that kind of weather? I’ve got a pair of Orvis wool and thermex blend socks, but my feet still get cold. g

Response:

they really make your waders stink though — — TimW Halfordian Golfer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A lot of sporting goods shops in Michigan sell toe warmers, which are little semi-circle shaped packs with adhesive on one side to stick to the bottom of your socks.

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Question:

I don’t want to spend $3.50 and up for Clousers (via Orvis or my local shop) and while LL Bean’s got em for $2.25 or so (much more in line), they don’t sell them in 1/0, which is pretty much the size I want.  So, does anyone know a good mailorder source for Clousers at a reasonable price? Thanks!

My friend Jim Dionne at Dirigo Flies says he can help you out, and hit your price range Give him a call at (800) 893-2815 tell him you’re the guy from the internet I told him about.                                         jc

Response:

while LL Bean’s got em for $2.25 or so (much more in line), they don’t sell them in 1/0, which is pretty much the size I want.  So, does anyone know a good mailorder source for Clousers at a reasonable price? Thanks!

Yes I do!  But they only have 2/0, 2, and 6 ($2.25), and the 2/0 only in chartreuse and white (which by the way is my favorite saltwater color!). They are the Fly Fishing Shop in Welches Oregon.  They have a wonderful web site at www.teleport.com/~flyfish  Their number is 503-622-4607. They are pleasure to deal with long distance, and I’m willing to bet they can get you what you want in any color with a little advance notice.  Good luck! Phil

Response:

while LL Bean’s got em for $2.25 or so (much more in line), they don’t sell them in 1/0, which is pretty much the size I want.  So, does anyone know a good mailorder source for Clousers at a reasonable price? Thanks! Yes I do!  But they only have 2/0, 2, and 6 ($2.25), and the 2/0 only in chartreuse and white (which by the way is my favorite saltwater color!). They are the Fly Fishing Shop in Welches Oregon.  They have a wonderful web site at www.teleport.com/~flyfish  Their number is 503-622-4607. They are pleasure to deal with long distance, and I’m willing to bet they can get you what you want in any color with a little advance notice.  Good luck! Phil

I have an on line catalog and have the Clousers in any size and color that you want. You can see my catalog at http://www.surfsouth.com/~jbranham/retailcatalog.html

Response:

I don’t want to spend $3.50 and up for Clousers (via Orvis or my local shop) and while LL Bean’s got em for $2.25 or so (much more in line), they don’t sell them in 1/0, which is pretty much the size I want.  So, does anyone know a good mailorder source for Clousers at a reasonable price? Thanks!

Hello- This is probably not what you want to here, but… I would suggest learning to tie them yourself. Clousers are extremely easy to tie and the materials are cheap. I am not a very fast tyer, and I just turned out 10 in the last hour. I tied them on 3/0 for salt water use (Mustad 3407 hooks at about $7/100). That way you can tie them in any size or color combo you want. Even if you don’t tie now with just a few very basic lessons you can tie clousers. Good Luck! Steve Rosenblum

Response:

I don’t want to spend $3.50 and up for Clousers (via Orvis or my local shop) and while LL Bean’s got em for $2.25 or so (much more in line), they don’t sell them in 1/0, which is pretty much the size I want.  So, does anyone know a good mailorder source for Clousers at a reasonable price? Thanks!

Response:

I don’t want to spend $3.50 and up for Clousers (via Orvis or my local shop) and while LL Bean’s got em for $2.25 or so (much more in line), they don’t sell them in 1/0, which is pretty much the size I want.  So, does anyone know a good mailorder source for Clousers at a reasonable price? Thanks!

Try to get a second hand vice and tie your own. They are the most simple saltwater fly to tie and you can make a hundred for what it costs to buy ten at Orvis prices. Get the cheapest vice you can find at first and THEN decide if you want to keep tying. If so, consider the best vice you can afford and prepare yourself for the plethora of tying materials you will want to buy along with the books, videos and CD-ROMs you will get to learn how to tie. Good Luck,         jmc

Response:

Question:

Lots of FF magazines out there now. Which one (1) do you like best/rely upon for info and entertainment? Just curious. — Gary Soucie, / Fax 1-301-322-4329 / Tel 1-301-322-8373

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I just spent an evening comparing Fly Fisherman, Fly Fishing Quarterly, American Angler, and Fly Fishing and Tying.  For my money, the best is Fly Fisherman.  I like the mix of articles and I was particularly impressed with their ability to see both sides of complex conservation issues.  This month’s edition has a great article about Pennsylvania’s Falling Spring Creek – the photography is just beautiful! Dave Anderson Columbia, Maryland

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I just spent an evening comparing Fly Fisherman, Fly Fishing Quarterly, American Angler, and Fly Fishing and Tying.  For my money, the best is Fly Fisherman.  I like the mix of articles and I was particularly impressed with their ability to see both sides of complex conservation issues.  This month’s edition has a great article about Pennsylvania’s Falling Spring Creek – the photography is just beautiful! Dave Anderson Columbia, Maryland

want to see the best, check out California Flyfisher, the only magazine I read from cover to cover.         Mike

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right here. TimW

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Lots of FF magazines out there now. Which one (1) do you like best/rely upon for info and entertainment? Just curious. — Gary Soucie, / Fax 1-301-322-4329 / Tel 1-301-322-8373

IMHO, the answer to this question may vary depending on which coast you live and/or fish on.   Tight text, Charley

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Hi Mike,              Try Rick or Wally at On The Fly in Monkton/Hereford.  They can steer  you in the right direction on both salt and freshwater fly fishing. JV

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Capt Brady Bounds 1-800-400-3790 gave an excellent presentation at a recent fly fishing show and is very knowledgable.

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Every lake and water system down there has fish in it.  It dont take a genius to catch them.  Catch a grasshopper in the grass and throw it out into the water and watch the fish take it under.  If nothing hits it, move on.

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I am going to be in Lafayette, LA  april 13-16 and would like to try flyfishing for bluegil (brim).  I am a rank amateur. Anybody have any suggestions on where I should try? thanks Mike in MI

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Since I’ve moved to northern Ohio, I’ve witnessed an annual visitation of insects. These little guys are about half and inch long and have barred abdomens. They are often taken for mosquitos, but look more like mayflies (but not a lot like them, either.) They are here now and there is always a big debate about their name. Some call them midges. Some call them buffleheads. Most people call them Canadian soldiers, which angers Canadians for some reason. They don’t seem to be particularly acquatic; you find them on the front porch more often than not. My question is: Has anyone heard of any sustained feeding of gamefish on these bugs? I mean I’ve never read about Lee Wulff fishing the big Canadian soldier hatch on the Cuyahoga River, but that may be the fault of the river, not the insect. How about it? Anyone fish a hatch that resembles this? Maybe I can start a trend of dry fly fishing for sheepshead on Lake Erie. . —

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Clain) says: Since I’ve moved to northern Ohio, I’ve witnessed an annual visitation of insects. These little guys are about half and inch long and have barred abdomens. They are often taken for mosquitos, but look more like mayflies (but not a lot like them, either.) They are here now and there is always a big debate about their name. Some call them midges. Some call them buffleheads. Most people call them Canadian soldiers, which angers Canadians for some reason. They don’t seem to be particularly acquatic; you find them on the front porch more often than not.

They sound more like Uncle Fred so treat them that way.  Next time a bunch hang  out on the porch….give em a beer and see what happens : How about it? Anyone fish a hatch that resembles this? Maybe I can start a trend of dry fly fishing for sheepshead on Lake Erie. .

Never seen the Canadian soldiers in PA…as for a sheepshead hatch…what the h eck….I actually caught them on June-Bugs on a plain hook when I was a kid. Trouble was you couldn’t get them to quit flying toward the light when you trie d to cast!! :  Hope you find out what they are.  The PSU entomological museum will identify critters that are mailed to them.     Scott Maitland

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Since I’ve moved to northern Ohio, I’ve witnessed an annual visitation of insects. These little guys are about half and inch

I always thought they were a strain of mayflies, too; but I was wrong once before in my life, so … My question is: Has anyone heard of any sustained feeding of gamefish on these bugs? I mean I’ve never read about Lee Wulff fishing the big Canadian soldier hatch on the Cuyahoga River,

Well… they actually hatch out in the lake, not in the rivers, so you wouldn’t be fishing a river hatch. If you are out on the lake (erie, for anyone not up on their geography) during this time of year, it can get *real* annoying — there are literally kabillions of these guys all over the lake. It seems like a blanket hatch to me, and I doubt if any fish other than baitfish feed heavily on the insects (that’s why they’re called baitfish, right?) Well, maybe the overgrown gizzard shad that are too big to be eaten anymore. How about it? Anyone fish a hatch that resembles this? Maybe I can start a trend of dry fly fishing for sheepshead on Lake Erie. . —

hmm, a sheepshead taking a dry fly — the telltale indication of a pending strike is seeing the fish turn upside down to get its mouth on top, then there’s the suck, and whoosh, your fly is taken. Then you hang on as the fish dives for the bottom! Who knows, maybe you can be the local host for an episode of "Flyfishing the World". Jon. (A CWRU Alumn)

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