Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, I realize this may be a tall order, but I’m looking for any helpful info on fishing (mostly stream) the upper peninsula of Michigan. Will be staying just outside Kenton the first week of September, and I’m thinking my already sub-par knowledge of Arkansas tailwater ff will only carry me so far in this strange new land. Since the UP seems to be teeming with fishable water, I was mostly hoping someone could help me narrow things down a bit. A Google search of the group revealed multiple references to the area, but little in the way of straightforward advice. If it helps, I’ll be limited to wading with a 5wt. outfit, and probably won’t get much further than 1-1.5 hours from Kenton during the trip. I will have access by boat to one particular small lake. Other than that, I’m pretty much at a loss for where to go/what to use. (I don’t even know the name of the lake.) Heaps o’ thanks in advance. As you can probably guess, I’m excited as all get out. JD

Kenton sits right on the east branch of the Ontonagon river.  Lots of good trout water.  Sparrow rapids, about two miles downstream from town is a popular spot to put in and fish.  There’s also a campground there. Get a good map (the DeLorme atlases are about as good as you can get and are available in most sporting goods stores and bookstores) and explore.  The Paint, the Net, Cook’s Run, Trout Creek, the Jumbo, the Sturgeon, and the other branches of the Ontonagon are all within an easy drive, as are many other small streams. Wolfgang

Response:

Justin, I am sure your "sub-par" knowledge of AR tailwaters is considerably more than my "extremely limited" knowledge of that area. I plan to visit the North Fork in a month or so and then again in the fall or winter. Any info you can share would be greatly appreciated. I too am limited to wading and light to medium weight flyfishing equipment. Thanks in advance, guy

already sub-par knowledge of Arkansas tailwater ff will only carry me so

far

Response:

Kenton sits right on the east branch of the Ontonagon river.  Lots of good trout water.  Sparrow rapids, about two miles downstream from town is a popular spot to put in and fish.  There’s also a campground there. Get a good map (the DeLorme atlases are about as good as you can get and are available in most sporting goods stores and bookstores) and explore.  The Paint, the Net, Cook’s Run, Trout Creek, the Jumbo, the Sturgeon, and the other branches of the Ontonagon are all within an easy drive, as are many other small streams. Wolfgang

I fwd’d your reply to my trip buddy this morning and received a 4-word response: "Wolfgang is our friend." Thanks so much for the help. Along with the DeLorme and a copy of Michigan Trout Streams, a printout of your advice should provide ample direction throughout the week. Thanks again… JD officially foaming at the mouth

Response:

Justin, I am sure your "sub-par" knowledge of AR tailwaters is considerably more than my "extremely limited" knowledge of that area. I plan to visit the North Fork in a month or so and then again in the fall or winter. Any info you can share would be greatly appreciated. I too am limited to wading and light to medium weight flyfishing equipment. Thanks in advance, guy

Dang. I knew I shoulda left that part out. Aside from an ample supply of light tippet, woolly buggers and sow bugs, the best piece of equipment you can take is a cell phone with the Bull Shoals/Norfork powerhouse number, 870.431.5311. The North Fork is right under Norfork Dam, so any amount of generation means you’re outta luck. I spent four days there this spring. Reading. If you’re that close, you should consider the short trip (4 miles and onward) to the White as well (under Bull Shoals dam). Much better help than mine, along with decent maps, access points and reports can be found here: http://www.ozarkangler.com/river/ There are numerous other places on the web to find info. Just stay attuned to water levels at all times. When it starts to rise, get out. Immediately. On the upside, North Fork goes down quickly when generation stops, and is a only few miles long, so you can hear the powerhouse siren nearly all the way down to the White. Oh, and the fishing rocks. You can also track generation (it can give you some idea about current schedules, but don’t set your watch by it) here: http://www.swpa.gov/generation.htm Finally, talk to the locals. They’re good people. They’re usually taking up all the really good spots, but they’re good people… JD

Response:

Thanks Justin! Greatly appereciate the information. I will follow up on your sources as well as keep an eye on the generation schedules. I was there this spring and did a fair share of reading myself. I asked one of the locals "how high was the water compared to a regular fishable flow?" He said "The dam would have to break for the water to go any higher". I smiled and kept on reading. guy

My pleasure, man. Best of luck. JD

Response:

…Thanks…

You’re welcome. Wolfgang

Response:

Thanks Justin! Greatly appereciate the information. I will follow up on your sources as well as keep an eye on the generation schedules. I was there this spring and did a fair share of reading myself. I asked one of the locals "how high was the water compared to a regular fishable flow?" He said "The dam would have to break for the water to go any higher". I smiled and kept on reading. guy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Justin, I am sure your "sub-par" knowledge of AR tailwaters is considerably more than my "extremely limited" knowledge of that area. I plan to visit the North Fork in a month or so and then again in the fall or winter. Any info you can share would be greatly appreciated. I too am limited to wading and light to medium weight flyfishing equipment. Thanks in advance, guy Dang. I knew I shoulda left that part out. Aside from an ample supply of light tippet, woolly buggers and sow bugs, the best piece of equipment you can take is a cell phone with the Bull Shoals/Norfork powerhouse number, 870.431.5311. The North Fork is right under Norfork Dam, so any amount of generation means you’re outta luck. I spent four days there this spring. Reading. If you’re that close, you should consider the short trip (4 miles and onward) to the White as well (under Bull Shoals dam). Much better help than mine, along with decent maps, access points and reports can be found here: http://www.ozarkangler.com/river/ There are numerous other places on the web to find info. Just stay attuned to water levels at all times. When it starts to rise, get out. Immediately. On the upside, North Fork goes down quickly when generation stops, and is a only few miles long, so you can hear the powerhouse siren nearly all the way down to the White. Oh, and the fishing rocks. You can also track generation (it can give you some idea about current schedules, but don’t set your watch by it) here: http://www.swpa.gov/generation.htm Finally, talk to the locals. They’re good people. They’re usually taking up all the really good spots, but they’re good people… JD

Response:

Okay, I realize this may be a tall order, but I’m looking for any helpful info on fishing (mostly stream) the upper peninsula of Michigan. Will be staying just outside Kenton the first week of September, and I’m thinking my already sub-par knowledge of Arkansas tailwater ff will only carry me so far in this strange new land. Since the UP seems to be teeming with fishable water, I was mostly hoping someone could help me narrow things down a bit. A Google search of the group revealed multiple references to the area, but little in the way of straightforward advice. If it helps, I’ll be limited to wading with a 5wt. outfit, and probably won’t get much further than 1-1.5 hours from Kenton during the trip. I will have access by boat to one particular small lake. Other than that, I’m pretty much at a loss for where to go/what to use. (I don’t even know the name of the lake.) Heaps o’ thanks in advance. As you can probably guess, I’m excited as all get out. JD

Response:

Question:

: Stephen, : Good story – I’ve not yet trout fished in Victoria, but I was down Victoria : way over the last four or five days working at Warragul (very exciting). I : drove over the Goulburn River and King Parrot Creek between Seymour and Yea. : How far from there do you fish? Geeze I hope you didn’t get fried … King Parrot produced my second trout I used to get there regularly, but the Breakaway is a lot further upstream on the Goulburn, and this is where I spend most of my time up that way now.   By Seymour, the Goulburn becomes a bit too cloudy for fly-fishing but its still good at the King Parrot … and even if not the Parrot is/was a lot of fun. IMO Better fishing is to be had in the Kiewa, King, Ovens Rivers … but its a little far – even for a weekend. BTW: I look forward to seeing more about your Sunday mornings Steve — http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~steve/fush/

Response:

SNIPPED Geeze I hope you didn’t get fried …

I was at a three day outdoor truck show – we got fried (up to 38), frozen (down to 10), wet (pissed down) and wind blown (white caps in farm dams). Damn good fishing weather ! JK

Response:

: I was at a three day outdoor truck show – we got fried (up to 38), frozen : (down to 10), wet (pissed down) and wind blown (white caps in farm dams). : Damn good fishing weather ! *laugh* Pretty standard summer fair steve — http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~steve/fush/

Response:

Damn, it was 3 AM this morning, and there I was wide awake and full of anticipation.

Oh yes!  I know that feeling. I look forward to meeting them all again…’Sfunny how you remember the good, the poignant, the others just fade away in memory.

Having shoveled snow once again this morning, yours was a welcome story. Mu, in the northern hemisphere.

Response:

Stephen, Good story – I’ve not yet trout fished in Victoria, but I was down Victoria way over the last four or five days working at Warragul (very exciting). I drove over the Goulburn River and King Parrot Creek between Seymour and Yea. How far from there do you fish? Cheers JK

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Damn, it was 3 AM this morning, and there I was wide awake and full of anticipation.  Yes, I enjoy my fishing that much, I wake at ungodly hours wondering if its time to get going. Some days 3am would be right but not today, I’m doing an afternoon in the hills and evening rise on the meadows … silly brain.  As much as it can be frustrating I think I actually enjoy the sense of anticipation that is apparently triggered by the pre-trip rituals – cleaning the line, replenishing the boxes, cleaning specs and checking leaders. The time of year brings me to change water – a change due about now – these changes bring on nostalgia attacks replete with memories of past conquests and some characters. Simon and I met at the upper limits of an upstream stroll from the Breakaway Bridge on the Goulburn river.  The usual banter resulted in my showing Simon where I’d had a couple of fish and picking a nymph from his box, showing him where to cast it.  To sit back and watch him catch his first fish from the Goulburn after a "couple of years of tryin’" was by far the best thing about that day … by the grin on his face you’d reckon he had a five pounder … I haven’t seen him to talk to since, though I’ve seen him on the other bank while he watched a mate fish … This time last year I encountered Kurt at the Breakaway a couple of times. Kurt is what you’d describe as a character and, as with most characters, he tends to use or elicit colourful language so you may wish to skip the next paragraph or two. My first whiff of Kurt  was literally that – a waft of roll-your-own tobacco smoke carried on the breeze.   The grass along this section is over head high and my call bought no response … never mind I was still basking in the afterglow of having a good fish inhale my fly. Another whiff, a lot stronger this time, and there he was built like a drover’s dog, salt and pepper beard – moustache stained below the nostrils. Pointing to his fag end – "G’day, I’ve been smellin’ you for 10 minutes." "Yeah, I’m a smelly curt." Well with a comeback like that how could you not get on with the retired coot – a week at home with the missus, a week on the wallaby fishin’ – quite a life I’d say. The thing that was really memorable about Kurt was his language – "Effing curt" this or that … yet he never called me as much as a dopey bugger when I hung up in the greenery … he never cursed fish that got off – "Too effing tight/loose, Kurt", water "When will you learn to Effing read the water Kurt, Effwit!", trees or even other anglers who wandered to close. We shared the same backwaters – usually well away from each other sometimes together – He showed me a few things about those backwaters, how to fish them long where I prefer to fish them short.  He did have a pet hate, never ever under any circumstances should you even think of tying let alone use "one of those pheasant tails with the peacock thorax".  The last phrase dripped with such loathing I didn’t press him … perhaps this year. That was then, today is a different water, one where: I’ve showed a Scot the virtues of a Yellow Humpy, Spotted for John while he cast his lures, got skunked with Louis of Chile … One evening I met a bloke at the access – a bloke with a flyrod and a mobile phone – "Waiting for the surgeon to call …". His pallor should have tipped me that he wasn’t that well, of course it may have been a loved one but I doubt it … an offer to walk with him was rejected. He’d "stay near the car and fish the nearby pools- I just want to fish a bit."  He and the car were gone when I returned- I don’t remember the fishing that night, but I do remember him. I look forward to meeting them all again…’Sfunny how you remember the good, the poignant, the others just fade away in memory. steve — http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~steve/fush/

Response:

Damn, it was 3 AM this morning, and there I was wide awake and full of anticipation.  Yes, I enjoy my fishing that much, I wake at ungodly hours wondering if its time to get going. Some days 3am would be right but not today, I’m doing an afternoon in the hills and evening rise on the meadows … silly brain.  As much as it can be frustrating I think I actually enjoy the sense of anticipation that is apparently triggered by the pre-trip rituals – cleaning the line, replenishing the boxes, cleaning specs and checking leaders.   The time of year brings me to change water – a change due about now – these changes bring on nostalgia attacks replete with memories of past conquests and some characters. Simon and I met at the upper limits of an upstream stroll from the Breakaway Bridge on the Goulburn river.  The usual banter resulted in my showing Simon where I’d had a couple of fish and picking a nymph from his box, showing him where to cast it.  To sit back and watch him catch his first fish from the Goulburn after a "couple of years of tryin’" was by far the best thing about that day … by the grin on his face you’d reckon he had a five pounder … I haven’t seen him to talk to since, though I’ve seen him on the other bank while he watched a mate fish … This time last year I encountered Kurt at the Breakaway a couple of times. Kurt is what you’d describe as a character and, as with most characters, he tends to use or elicit colourful language so you may wish to skip the next paragraph or two. My first whiff of Kurt  was literally that – a waft of roll-your-own tobacco smoke carried on the breeze.   The grass along this section is over head high and my call bought no response … never mind I was still basking in the afterglow of having a good fish inhale my fly. Another whiff, a lot stronger this time, and there he was built like a drover’s dog, salt and pepper beard – moustache stained below the nostrils. Pointing to his fag end – "G’day, I’ve been smellin’ you for 10 minutes." "Yeah, I’m a smelly curt." Well with a comeback like that how could you not get on with the retired coot – a week at home with the missus, a week on the wallaby fishin’ – quite a life I’d say.   The thing that was really memorable about Kurt was his language – "Effing curt" this or that … yet he never called me as much as a dopey bugger when I hung up in the greenery … he never cursed fish that got off – "Too effing tight/loose, Kurt", water "When will you learn to Effing read the water Kurt, Effwit!", trees or even other anglers who wandered to close.   We shared the same backwaters – usually well away from each other sometimes together – He showed me a few things about those backwaters, how to fish them long where I prefer to fish them short.  He did have a pet hate, never ever under any circumstances should you even think of tying let alone use "one of those pheasant tails with the peacock thorax".  The last phrase dripped with such loathing I didn’t press him … perhaps this year. That was then, today is a different water, one where: I’ve showed a Scot the virtues of a Yellow Humpy, Spotted for John while he cast his lures, got skunked with Louis of Chile … One evening I met a bloke at the access – a bloke with a flyrod and a mobile phone – "Waiting for the surgeon to call …". His pallor should have tipped me that he wasn’t that well, of course it may have been a loved one but I doubt it … an offer to walk with him was rejected. He’d "stay near the car and fish the nearby pools- I just want to fish a bit."  He and the car were gone when I returned- I don’t remember the fishing that night, but I do remember him.   I look forward to meeting them all again…’Sfunny how you remember the good, the poignant, the others just fade away in memory. steve — http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~steve/fush/

Response:

Question:

Hello Ken, I kinda expected that I would get some mail from an asshole like you. I appreciate the fact that you stepped forward to accept the blame that was anticipated from your weak end of the gene pool. Too bad you didn’t want to share that with everyone else who might know you. Well, I have taken care of that for you  by posting your email to me. Now that I have expressed my displeasure with an ignorant person like you it should be known that I have had no similar difficulties with fly fishing, for what reason I do not know and that is why I posted here. I have fly fished most of the well kinown places in the state and have never experienced the like of you, Perhaps you are one of the bait casters that inhabit Tippy Dam or some other aluminum hatch place of origin as that. I really thank you for stepping forward to help others stereotype the great sport of fly fishing  that I have enjoyed for many , many years Most fly fishermen have been gracious in sharing their resources once they found that I was sincere. They didn’t do much of this sport in Georgia either but I was exposed to it and spent considerable money and time learning how to master it like a native Michigander. ! I was taught to tie flies by Charlie Fogel, a tier of over fifty years who I chanced to meet. Old Charlie only asked that I do what I asked others in my original post. He said he would teach me to tie if I only promised to share this gift with others. I have done this many times over. This is just the same promise I have made to others in asking to hunt with them. Perhaps you are special in that you grew up here. You seem very proud of yourself but I am not in anyway a loser. Actually you seem like that sort of person to me. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that you have never served your country and that you’d likely shit your pants if you ever met someone like me face to face alone in the woods! Next time be a man and put your liberal democratic words where everyone else can experience them instead of hide them in shame and embaresment. Clay I apologize to each of you offended by my response. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – —–Original Message—– Ken Fortenberry Sent: Saturday, September 25, 1999 1:53 PM The first thing I must say is that I am somewhat sad and a little embarrassed to write something like this. … Well, no shit. You’ve been living in Michigan for 14 years and the people that know you best refuse to share their hunting grounds with you so you post an off-topic whine to a flyfishing newsgroup full of complete strangers. What a lame excuse for a loser. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Hello Ken, I kinda expected that I would get some mail from an asshole like yo

Diatribe snipped OK, let me get this straight…. you post a whiny *off topic*, lengthy, "nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I’m gonna go eat worms" type of post to a group of strangers. A valued regular contributor flames you privately via email. You decide to go public with your reply. #1. If you have lived in Michigan for 14 years and haven’t figured out where to hunt by now, I wouldn’t consider you as a hunting companion. (as apparently your acquaintances in MI also feel) #2. Ken Fotenberry is no one you want to f**k with, as you will likely find out shortly. #3. Please go back to lurking…life was much more pleasant then. George Adams

Response:

Saturday Night Live is holding a 25 year reunion this Sunday at first time you heard, "Jane you ignorant slut?" This is the first time I have laughed that had since, and I know it’s the first good laugh I have had in three years……I just want to thank

Response:

Ken, I have to admire your convictions, but you are one shitty diplomat. Oh, don’t I know it. I blame it on my education. I was taught by the Benedictines and all the good diplomats are Jesuits. — Ken Fortenberry Illini 3 – Tar Heels 1

        forty, the only thing you and the jesuits have in common is a mindset which has its logical conclusion in activities such as the spanish inquisition.         wayno the candid

Response:

        forty, the only thing you and the jesuits have in common is a mindset which has its logical conclusion in activities such as the spanish inquisition.         wayno the candid

NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is suprise… surprise and fear…fear and surprise…. Our two weapons are fear and surprise…and ruthless efficiency…. Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise and ruthless efficiency…and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope…. Our *four*… no… *Amongst* our weapons…. Amongst our weaponry…are such elements as fear, surprise…. I’ll come in again. Anyway, was never much fond of the Jesuits, they’re smart enough but mostly quibblers, dissemblers & nit pickers. They make great lawyers. — Ken Fortenberry Illini 3 – Tar Heels 1

Response:

I should also add that I did anticipate this but not from this group of educated and responsible people.

If you anticipated it, then what’s your bitch? This is a fishing newsgroup, not rec.hunting. And it’s hard to take seriously a man who purports to have lived in one place for over a decade and still can’t get permission to hunt somewhere. "Denver, Colorado, may be the best argument for above- ground nuclear testing that I’ve ever seen" -me.

Response:

My first response from this newsgroup to my heartfelt request to each of you in my outdoors world. I will reply to this individual publicly as soon as I finish climbing down from my great room ceiling. I should also add that I did anticipate this but not from this group of educated and responsible people. Sincerely embarrassed by this person, Ranger Clay The first thing I must say is that I am somewhat sad and a little embarrassed to write something like this. …

Well, no shit. You’ve been living in Michigan for 14 years and the people that know you best refuse to share their hunting grounds with you so you post an off-topic whine to a flyfishing newsgroup full of complete strangers. What a lame excuse for a loser. — Ken Fortenberry —

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – To my fellow sportsmen, The first thing I must say is that I am somewhat sad and a little embarrassed to write something like this. Three years or so ago I considered something like this but did not have the courage to do it then. I don’t know why. Since the time I first considered an approach like this, many things have changed. The person who gave me the greatest gift of my life, the spirit of the hunter, has now passed away and another hunting season is upon me. My father succumbed to cancer last January. He was a man who loved the outdoors and spent every chance he had there. He taught me to hunt and fish and only asked me to pass this heritage on to my children so that it would not be lost. He taught all of his children the skills of survival and how to hunt and fish. He even owned a gun store in Georgia that my brother still manages today. Before I continue, I must tell you something about myself so that perhaps you will know that I am sincere in my request to my fellow outdoorsmen. I am an avid outdoorsman. I grew up in South Georgia during the sixties. My Daddy gave me my first rifle when I was five and my first shotgun when I was eight years old. While this may seem young to some, it was not uncommon during this era. Even before I could read well, I was taught how to handle a weapon safely. That old Browning Automatic Shotgun knocked my glasses and my hat off every time I shot it, my Daddy only gave me one shell at a time, but I didn’t care since I was taught that only one shell was needed, I rarely missed. I loved the outdoors and I would stalk a bird or deer for hours for that one clear, sure shot. He never allowed me to hunt squirrels or rabbits with nothing other than my .22 rifle. While I sometimes disagreed with his methods, this would become very important in my future life as it taught me the skills of an expert marksman. I spent the early years of my life learning about nature and how to hunt and fish. One day I told my Dad that I was ready to be a "man" and what would I have to do to prove this. He said that I had to spend a week in the "Grand Bay Swamp" near where we lived with only a knife and some matches to prove I was ready! Well, I did it at age fourteen. I almost starved (at least in my young mind) but he never said he knew about that! I decided that the out-of-doors was my calling and I made my life’s goal to be a soldier in the Army like my Dad had been.  I enlisted when I was 17, just after high school, and went to many Army schools. I was Infantry, Airborne, a long-range recon scout and I even graduated from the coveted sniper school at Fort Benning. I have never fired less than expert on any military weapon system and I have also competed on military pistol and rifle teams during the seventies and eighties. I learned to hunt man, the greatest game of all and became competent at hitting the silhouettes out to over 1000 yards. I taught marksman ship skills to many young soldiers. During my military days, I usually spent nine months out of the year in th e woods doing my duty to my country. I was very fortunate to have never spent a minute in combat; those who have been there understand my relief at never having to kill another human being. While I eventually became disillusioned with the military due to the liberal democratic politics of the eighties and the fear of death or dismemberment in the Middle East, I loved my skills and I still maintain them today. I married a wonderful woman from Michigan in 1985 and moved there to begin my career as a Controls Engineer. I currently am the Senior Plant Engineer at a General Motors Plant in Flint. I program robots and the automation that manufactures the Chevy and GMC trucks that many of you use to carry you to the great outdoors. When I moved to Michigan, I left my hometown where I had hunting privileges all over the county. As a boy and a young man, I knew many of the farmers and landowners that knew I was a true sportsman and would use their land respectably. They always let me hunt their land and I always shared my bounty with them when they wanted it. When I moved to Michigan, I knew virtually no one and I was forced to spend my fall days hunting on state land that was over hunted and full of novice hunters. For years, I have tolerated this. I knew that the city people were lazy and that when the first gun was fired, all of the game would head to the swamps and hard to access locations. I used my field skills to identify these spots and I would spend hours walking to the remote locations where the smart game would go and hide. While I have been moderately successful over the past years with this plan, I now find my time is short and my son is of the age that it is time he learn how to hunt and safely enjoy the world we have been given without the hassle of long walks into the woods on his young, short legs. I am writing this to those of you who have taken the time to read this monologue up to this point and sympathize with my frustration. I know that accessible hunting land does exist in Michigan. My coworkers successfully hunt these lands and when I have hinted (and even come out and asked) of my desires and abilities, they selfishly guard them like they own them and never ask me to experience them with them. I want to hunt and share this experience with my children. This request is without shame or embarrassment. Do not do this because I mentioned my fathers death, but for my son’s future. I am asking that anyone with a sizable hunting property in the lower at (810) 236-1172 and tell me that you are willing to share our resources with my family and me. I am a responsible sportsman with many years of experience and commitment to our natural resources. I have been a member of the Michigan United Conservation Club since the middle eighties. I am a safe hunter and intend for my family to be as well. I would love to share my skills learned as a young man and as a professional soldier with anyone willing to give me a chance. I can still fire a shotgun or rifle with the accuracy many people dream of. When I go to the skeet range, I still keep the shotgun lowered and I face away from the trap to give the "clays" a sporting chance until I hear the trap release, hunters and shooters of many, many years ask me how I do this and I really don’t know. I can’t even explain this to my wife of fourteen years who loves to hunt as much as I do! I can shoot and I can teach others this skill and I would be willing to trade this service for the privilege of hunting with them. I love hunting small and large game with rifle, shotgun and archery. I am willing to share my bounty with the landowner and all I am respectably asking of you is to give me the opportunity to share this with my family so that it will not be forgotten to the future generations. With sincere thanks, Clay Copeland — —

Response:

To my fellow sportsmen, The first thing I must say is that I am somewhat sad and a little embarrassed to write something like this. Three years or so ago I considered something like this but did not have the courage to do it then. I don’t know why. Since the time I first considered an approach like this, many things have changed. The person who gave me the greatest gift of my life, the spirit of the hunter, has now passed away and another hunting season is upon me. My father succumbed to cancer last January. He was a man who loved the outdoors and spent every chance he had there. He taught me to hunt and fish and only asked me to pass this heritage on to my children so that it would not be lost. He taught all of his children the skills of survival and how to hunt and fish. He even owned a gun store in Georgia that my brother still manages today. Before I continue, I must tell you something about myself so that perhaps you will know that I am sincere in my request to my fellow outdoorsmen. I am an avid outdoorsman. I grew up in South Georgia during the sixties. My Daddy gave me my first rifle when I was five and my first shotgun when I was eight years old. While this may seem young to some, it was not uncommon during this era. Even before I could read well, I was taught how to handle a weapon safely. That old Browning Automatic Shotgun knocked my glasses and my hat off every time I shot it, my Daddy only gave me one shell at a time, but I didn’t care since I was taught that only one shell was needed, I rarely missed. I loved the outdoors and I would stalk a bird or deer for hours for that one clear, sure shot. He never allowed me to hunt squirrels or rabbits with nothing other than my .22 rifle. While I sometimes disagreed with his methods, this would become very important in my future life as it taught me the skills of an expert marksman. I spent the early years of my life learning about nature and how to hunt and fish. One day I told my Dad that I was ready to be a "man" and what would I have to do to prove this. He said that I had to spend a week in the "Grand Bay Swamp" near where we lived with only a knife and some matches to prove I was ready! Well, I did it at age fourteen. I almost starved (at least in my young mind) but he never said he knew about that! I decided that the out-of-doors was my calling and I made my life’s goal to be a soldier in the Army like my Dad had been.  I enlisted when I was 17, just after high school, and went to many Army schools. I was Infantry, Airborne, a long-range recon scout and I even graduated from the coveted sniper school at Fort Benning. I have never fired less than expert on any military weapon system and I have also competed on military pistol and rifle teams during the seventies and eighties. I learned to hunt man, the greatest game of all and became competent at hitting the silhouettes out to over 1000 yards. I taught marksman ship skills to many young soldiers. During my military days, I usually spent nine months out of the year in the woods doing my duty to my country. I was very fortunate to have never spent a minute in combat; those who have been there understand my relief at never having to kill another human being. While I eventually became disillusioned with the military due to the liberal democratic politics of the eighties and the fear of death or dismemberment in the Middle East, I loved my skills and I still maintain them today. I married a wonderful woman from Michigan in 1985 and moved there to begin my career as a Controls Engineer. I currently am the Senior Plant Engineer at a General Motors Plant in Flint. I program robots and the automation that manufactures the Chevy and GMC trucks that many of you use to carry you to the great outdoors. When I moved to Michigan, I left my hometown where I had hunting privileges all over the county. As a boy and a young man, I knew many of the farmers and landowners that knew I was a true sportsman and would use their land respectably. They always let me hunt their land and I always shared my bounty with them when they wanted it. When I moved to Michigan, I knew virtually no one and I was forced to spend my fall days hunting on state land that was over hunted and full of novice hunters. For years, I have tolerated this. I knew that the city people were lazy and that when the first gun was fired, all of the game would head to the swamps and hard to access locations. I used my field skills to identify these spots and I would spend hours walking to the remote locations where the smart game would go and hide. While I have been moderately successful over the past years with this plan, I now find my time is short and my son is of the age that it is time he learn how to hunt and safely enjoy the world we have been given without the hassle of long walks into the woods on his young, short legs. I am writing this to those of you who have taken the time to read this monologue up to this point and sympathize with my frustration. I know that accessible hunting land does exist in Michigan. My coworkers successfully hunt these lands and when I have hinted (and even come out and asked) of my desires and abilities, they selfishly guard them like they own them and never ask me to experience them with them. I want to hunt and share this experience with my children. This request is without shame or embarrassment. Do not do this because I mentioned my fathers death, but for my son’s future. I am asking that anyone with a sizable hunting property in the lower (810) 236-1172 and tell me that you are willing to share our resources with my family and me. I am a responsible sportsman with many years of experience and commitment to our natural resources. I have been a member of the Michigan United Conservation Club since the middle eighties. I am a safe hunter and intend for my family to be as well. I would love to share my skills learned as a young man and as a professional soldier with anyone willing to give me a chance. I can still fire a shotgun or rifle with the accuracy many people dream of. When I go to the skeet range, I still keep the shotgun lowered and I face away from the trap to give the "clays" a sporting chance until I hear the trap release, hunters and shooters of many, many years ask me how I do this and I really don’t know. I can’t even explain this to my wife of fourteen years who loves to hunt as much as I do! I can shoot and I can teach others this skill and I would be willing to trade this service for the privilege of hunting with them. I love hunting small and large game with rifle, shotgun and archery. I am willing to share my bounty with the landowner and all I am respectably asking of you is to give me the opportunity to share this with my family so that it will not be forgotten to the future generations. With sincere thanks, Clay Copeland — —

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Question:

It’s easy, tell your wife that in your OLD AGE you can’t throw the heavier 4, 6 and 8 wts. You need the lighter 3, 5 and 7 wts. You try this first and let me know if it works. Good luck Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m giving a lot away about age here, but my very first fly rod wasn’t rated for line weight. It was rated for diameter. "H" was the small diameter; "A" was as thick as you could get. HCH would be a double taper, with "C" being the middle diameter. Density wasn’t mentioned, nor was weight. So rods might cast an HCH floating line, but an HEH (!) sinker. And you could really only tell by trial and error. As you might guess, the weight system was and is a godsend. When I bought my first weight-rated rod, the generally-recommended line for trout stream fishing was a 6. Naturally, that’s where I started. Over the years I’ve accumulated a "kangaroo quiver" of rods. That is, line weights 2, 4, 6 and 8 (hopping over the odd numbered line weights). Covers most every situation I face. At this point, that collection is pretty complete. I’ve noticed though, that 5-weights, 3-weights, 7-weights, etc. have been getting a lot more mention in postings here, in magazine articles, and so forth. I think someone starting now would probably be in the odd-numbered weights? Is there a reason for this? More importantly, is there any way I can use this as a way to convince my wife that I need 3, 5, 7 and 9-weight rods?

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m giving a lot away about age here, but my very first fly rod wasn’t rated for line weight. It was rated for diameter. "H" was the small diameter; "A" was as thick as you could get. HCH would be a double taper, with "C" being the middle diameter. Density wasn’t mentioned, nor was weight. So rods might cast an HCH floating line, but an HEH (!) sinker. And you could really only tell by trial and error. As you might guess, the weight system was and is a godsend. When I bought my first weight-rated rod, the generally-recommended line for trout stream fishing was a 6. Naturally, that’s where I started. Over the years I’ve accumulated a "kangaroo quiver" of rods. That is, line weights 2, 4, 6 and 8 (hopping over the odd numbered line weights). Covers most every situation I face. At this point, that collection is pretty complete. I’ve noticed though, that 5-weights, 3-weights, 7-weights, etc. have been getting a lot more mention in postings here, in magazine articles, and so forth. I think someone starting now would probably be in the odd-numbered weights? Is there a reason for this? More importantly, is there any way I can use this as a way to convince my wife that I need 3, 5, 7 and 9-weight rods?

Simply put-yes,no. Actually Most people are like you and me, evens. However I do have 3, 5, 7 also. Because most people started out even, there is a large market for odds. Magazines sell adds, adds sell products. Writters are paid by magazines nuff said. In my case I bought a 7.5′ 3wt for bream, the 8wt for bass, 7wt for salt or big trout and 5wt for average to big trout. If you get the cheaper rods and spend the difference on flowers you gat a chance.                                                        John Popp                                                    in Sanford Fl.

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I think someone starting now would probably be in the odd-numbered weights? Is there a reason for this? More importantly, is there any way I can use this as a way to convince my wife that I need 3, 5, 7 and 9-weight rods?

  There is a reason for it:  materials.  WIth today’s carbon-fibre rods, a five weight can carry the workload that a six weight used to, but you benefit from the additional touch of the lighter rod, and also fromthe fact that it’s, well, lighter.  Your arm doesn’t get as tired.   Does that mean you should go load up on odd numbers…man, I’m not gonna be the man to face your wife with that one.

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I’m giving a lot away about age here, but my very first fly rod wasn’t rated for line weight. It was rated for diameter. "H" was the small diameter; "A" was as thick as you could get. HCH would be a double taper, with "C" being the middle diameter. Density wasn’t mentioned, nor was weight. So rods might cast an HCH floating line, but an HEH (!) sinker. And you could really only tell by trial and error. As you might guess, the weight system was and is a godsend. When I bought my first weight-rated rod, the generally-recommended line for trout stream fishing was a 6. Naturally, that’s where I started. Over the years I’ve accumulated a "kangaroo quiver" of rods. That is, line weights 2, 4, 6 and 8 (hopping over the odd numbered line weights). Covers most every situation I face. At this point, that collection is pretty complete. I’ve noticed though, that 5-weights, 3-weights, 7-weights, etc. have been getting a lot more mention in postings here, in magazine articles, and so forth. I think someone starting now would probably be in the odd-numbered weights? Is there a reason for this? More importantly, is there any way I can use this as a way to convince my wife that I need 3, 5, 7 and 9-weight rods?

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Question:

In the Washington DC area: Brookside Gardens (Wheaton MD) is a nice smallish place, great in azalea season and interesting at other times too. Nice Japanese pavilion. And of course there is the National Arboretum in the District…. The bonsai collection is awesome, and the experience of walking under flowering azalea "trees" (mostly the original GlennDales, i believe) is indescribable (but get there EARLY). — NOTE: to reply you must remove the X at the end of the email address given above/below. Sorry about the inconvenience, but i am totally fed up with the tons of junk mail coming over the Net! Judy Karpen                        "The line between scientific genius and Naval Research Lab               line from The Brain that Wouldnt Die Washington DC                         garden: Zone 7 (Maryland) Do not send ANY commercial solicitations to this address!

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David Fairchild Garden in Miami, Florida, while still recovering from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 is special and worth visiting.  The collection of tropical plants is wonderful.  In fact, after the hurricane, Fairchild Garden recieved letters from other botanical gardens all over the world with offers of seeds, plants, advice, and help to rebuild.

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David Fairchild Garden in Miami, Florida, while still recovering from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 is special and worth visiting.  The collection of tropical plants is wonderful.  In fact, after the hurricane, Fairchild Garden recieved letters from other botanical gardens all over the world with offers of seeds, plants, advice, and help to rebuild.

Hi Julia I know it’s one of *my* favorite places as I can see things growing outside that I can find no other place in the Lower 48. Love it!! I haven’t been there since the hurricane. How’s it shaping up? What about the drive down Old Cutler Road? It used to be so pretty. hurricanes {:O( Paul and Roxanne Mitchell       USDA Zone 9b

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|   |   My question is what are the other top gardens in the U.S.? | | Well, I’m going to answer my own question.  I sent an email to | Bellingrath Gardens asking what the top gardens are.  They replied: | |   Bouchard |   Longview |   Callaway |   Biltmore |   Bellingrath I have seen the Biltmore Garden in Asheville, NC and it is very nice. I will also put in a plug for a couple of local (for me, that is) public gardens that I enjoy. Sarah P. Duke Memorial Gardens, Duke University Campus, Durham, NC Features a terrace garden with a huge Wisteria covered pergola and a good size lily pond, an asiatic arboretum, and the Bloomquist garden of native plants, which features showy plants native to the southeastern United States. North Carolina State University Arboretum – Raleigh, NC Features an incredible diversity of woody plants, a 300 foot long perennial border, a white garden, and various demonstration gardens. Jay

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The National Arboretum in Washington, DC (part of the Smithsonian Institutes, if I’m not mistaken)!!!!!!

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Fort Worth has a remarkable botanical garden with a Japanese water garden section.  Wonderful!  Visit if you can!   — Signed,    Kellie My Karma Ran Over My Dogma.  It was a catastrophe! Now my dogma’s dead and my karma’s out of alignment. Get in "Knee Deep"!     The Internet Pond Society      http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/newsletter.html

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The Missouri Botanical Garden is wonderful. More, they do internationally important research on plant species. The Missouri Botanical Garden has helped fund rainforest research, among other things. No, I don’t work there, but have very much enjoyed visiting. Their web site is: http://www.mobot.org/ I was just there last weekend, and it was stunning even in early spring. Don’t even get me started on the gift shop and it’s book selection….. — Robin, Jasper and Dreamer (my opinions are strictly my own!) Doberman page: http://www.hsc.missouri.edu/people/robin/

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I live in Montreal Canada and our Botanical Gardens are  quite impressive.  I have been informed that Montreal’s Botanical Gardens are the second largest in the world.  They include sections for: a) Perennials b) annuals c) Herbs d) Medicinal Plants e) Plants for commercial use (making dyes, rope, etc) f) poisonous plants g) alpine plants h) vegetables i) grains j) Many bushes k) a large arboretum with many types of trees l) a Chinese garden m) a Japanese garden n) an insectarium o) a butterfly pavilion (live butterflies in natural surroundings) p) a large greenhouse with collections of tropical plants, cacti and succulents from around the world) q) a bookstore with many titles in English and French If you are in Montreal a trip to the Botanical Gardens is a wothwhile experience. Bill (zone 4) Montreal

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I just returned from visiting Bellingrath Gardens which is south of Mobile, Alabama.  What a fabulous place and to think I found it almost by accident.  I definitely recommend visiting it!  In its brochure it lists itself as among the top 5 public gardens in the U.S.   My question is what are the other top gardens in the U.S.?  I want to see them all! Cindy in Indy zone 5

My favorite are right near me so I can visit often. It’s a school that lets folks just walk around. It has acres and acres of amazing things. Like . . . a walled garden with pretty flowers that you spot across the lawn. As you walk closer you can see down to another layer of flowers, closer, another. The darn thing is terriced down, and down, each layer beautifuly designed and reviels itself as you walk closer. The bottom is a tiny pond. Way cool, but forget I said this when you go there so you can be surprised! They have a nice web site you can find by the schools’ name. Niagara Parks Botanic School of Horticulture.It’s just north of Niagra Falls Onterio Canada. It also has a huge butterfly conservitory that just opened. Haven’t been there yet. If you travel for the garden, you get to see the falls too! Peggy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA; Missouri Botanical Garden.

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    My question is what are the other top gardens in the U.S.? Well, I’m going to answer my own question.  I sent an email to Bellingrath Gardens asking what the top gardens are.  They replied:   Bouchard   Longview   Callaway   Biltmore   Bellingrath Cindy in Indy zone 5

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  My question is what are the other top gardens in the U.S.? Well, I’m going to answer my own question.  I sent an email to Bellingrath Gardens asking what the top gardens are.  They replied:   Bouchard   Longview   Callaway   Biltmore   Bellingrath

   A lot depends on what one defines as a "garden", or more importantly what type of garden you want to see.  There are gardens that have nice grounds, trees, and shrubbery (sometimes flowering in the spring), there are gardens with thousands of "set out" greenhouse plants, then there are gardens with perennial borders filled with thousands of different varieties selected and planned to grow in place.  I’m strongly biased in favor of the last on this list.   If "Bouchard" is Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island then, because it relies heavily on set out plants, on "my" list it doesn’t even rank at the top of Vancouver gardens.  See http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney/tours/vancouver/vancouver.html for views of several gardens in that area and make your own judgement.  Of course, growing conditions in the NW give them an unfair advantage which they pay for with ten to eleven months of gray skies. — 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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I just returned from visiting Bellingrath Gardens which is south of Mobile, Alabama.  What a fabulous place My question is what are the other top gardens in the U.S.?  I want to see them all!

The Huntington in LA is sure worth a visit.  I especially enjoyed the cactus & succulent section. Scott http://users.uniserve.com/~lparker/    (SF stories & puzzles)

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I don’t know if it’s rated one of the top gardens, but last year I went to the gardens outside of Chicago (the name escapes me right now). They were absolutely beautiful. I’m hoping to go back again this year soon so I can see the bulb garden in bloom! I think this one is a definite must see:) Michelle the earth was not given to us by our parents, it was lent to us by our children.                 -kenyan proverb – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just returned from visiting Bellingrath Gardens which is south of Mobile, Alabama.  What a fabulous place and to think I found it almost by accident.  I definitely recommend visiting it!  In its brochure it lists itself as among the top 5 public gardens in the U.S.   My question is what are the other top gardens in the U.S.?  I want to see them all! Cindy in Indy zone 5

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I just returned from visiting Bellingrath Gardens which is south of Mobile, Alabama.  What a fabulous place and to think I found it almost by accident.  I definitely recommend visiting it!  In its brochure it lists itself as among the top 5 public gardens in the U.S.   My question is what are the other top gardens in the U.S.?  I want to see them all! Cindy in Indy zone 5

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My question is what are the other top gardens in the U.S.?  I want to see them all!

    The Chicago Botanical garden is big, varied, and has lots of perennials.  I certainly havn’t seen them all, and I’m strongly biased toward places with perennial borders, but this is by far the best I’ve run across in the US. — 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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I just returned from visiting Bellingrath Gardens which is south of Mobile, Alabama.  What a fabulous place and to think I found it almost by accident.  I definitely recommend visiting it!  In its brochure it lists itself as among the top 5 public gardens in the U.S.   My question is what are the other top gardens in the U.S.?  I want to see them all! Cindy in Indy zone 5

I suggest Longwood Gardens outside of Philadelphia. Fabulous place!

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Question:

Any places near Stockton, Ca or Sac that anyone has already fished. I’m looking for good places to fly fish for trout. Thanks Bob

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Yes, try the Stanislaus River just East of Oakdale, below Tullock Reservoir.  I was there on Saturday and cought a couple of wild rainbows. All Catch and Release.  The water is high, yet fish are catchable. Doug

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Just returned from the West Branch of the Ausable.  Your best bet is to stop in at Fran Better’s fly shop on Rt. 86 in Wilmington.  Last weekend he recommended a gray haystack dun and emerger as well as a Picket Finn.   Fishing was slow, but I managed to land a brookie and a few browns on those flies, which imitate the Isonychia.  Also saw lots of BWOs and both rusty and sulphur spinners in the evening.  Most of the action took place in the afternoon.

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I am looking for patterns to use on the Au sable river in NY state.   Any ideas, both dry and nymphs.  thanks. Luc Nocente — Luc Nocente

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Just bought a copy of Farrow Allen-Dick Stewart’s  book, Trout flies. It’s far and away obove the ORVIS book I’ve been using! Can’t get better pictures and descriptions…worth all of the 55$ Canadian I paid. Think of it. That’s only about 39.95$ US….. and what the hell has happened to our $. It’s no wonder we’re getting poorer. You USA residents cannot get a better vacation deal than coming to Canada. It’s a bargain when you use  US dollars! Not just the fishing but the meals, hotels etcetera. Hell, I went to Scotland this year and paid the equivalent of 150$US for a bed and breakfast! Nice, mind you but very pricey by comparison. No doubt in my mind, the best deals anywhere in the world are right here in North America and in particular.. Canada!

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Sounds pretty good!  How do I get a copy, I can’t find it in my local fly-fishing shop?

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I plan to be in Puerto Rico in June. Does anyone know of any flyfishing? Are there any areas with bonefish? Is June a reasonable time? Thanks in advance. Herb

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I will be there in October, but have no information. Can you foward anything you find out to me by e-mail? Thanks alot.

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I have three upcoming trips this spring: New Orleans in March, Miami in May, and North Carolina in July. I am looking for suggestions for

I guess it is time for a Keys, Bonefish, and Miami FAQ.. Here are some posts others have found useful. Have fun, and mail me if you have further questions…  Alan Barrow  km4ba         | If a little knowledge….. As if Santa wasn’t good enough to me, I found out that I have business in Ft. Lauderdale in January. It looks like a two hour drive down to the end of the Florida peninsula according to my atlas, and I plan on scamming a couple of extra days to cast for bonefish.

I would allow a little extra time, it can take longer depending on traffic. The only way in or out of the keys is US-1, and it is mostly 2 lane for miles. (You can take card sound road for a nice alternate route coming back. About the same time, and you see a different part of N Key Largo.) I am a steelheader from Seattle who knows NOTHING< about bonefish except that my 8wt rpl will work, and the flies under the heading "bonefish" are small shrimpy weighted flies.

You ought to be ok, use as much of a WF line as you have. Make sure you have as much backing as your reel will hold. Nevertheless, the thought of ‘wading the flats’ wearing shorts in January is too much to resist for someone from latitude 47.

And you can do it, you just have to be a bit trickier during winter time. The bonefish are still there, they just will not come onto the flats until the water warms up. I would plan on fishing mid-day if the night time temp is below 70. The flats will be too cold in the AM, but will warm up. I am groveling for information! (fishing dates: Jan 14th – 16th)

Here are some posts I have made earlier. Not all will be relevant, but most info should be useful. I grew up down there, and spend 2-3 weeks a year flats fishing in the upper Keys. My brother works in Key Largo and Key West about half of the time, and he gets me current fishing reports. Both he and I have flats boats, and are into flyfishing for bonefish and tarpon. Have fun! Call me if you have questions… 404/850-2644  Alan Barrow  km4ba         | If a little knowledge….. Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing Some friends and I, serious fly fisherman all, are thinking about going to the Florida Keys to do some bonefishing (and maybe tarpon, permit, etc.)  this winter.  Never having done this before, I have scads of questions: * Is end of December/beginning of January a good time?

Bones are there year round. They will not come up onto the flats if the water temp is too cold. Also wind is more likely, and impacts the number of "fishable" (sight fishing) days. However, the largest bonefish are usually caught in winter. I have hooked (not landed) very big bonefish during XMAS trips last year. Tarpon migrate, and are not in the Keys in large quantities until May/June. There are year round Tarpon spots in the Keys ( and Miami) but it is usually deep water. (Bridges/channels, etc) I consider June/July the best time all around for fishing in the Keys. I still fish year all seasons, because even "off season" the fishing is better than most places I know. But for fly fisherman, winter may be less desirable. Redfish are available year round, as are sharks and barracudas. Many fly types are sight fishing for big ‘Cudas during winter when it the flats are too cold for bonefish. * Where are the good spots in the keys?  Should we try Grand Bahama or  Belize instead?

My conclusion is that if you want numbers and lot’s of action, hit the bahamas, Christmas Island (near Hawaii), or costa rica. However, If you want big fish on a regular basis, Miami down to Marathon for bonefish is hard to beat. For Tarpon, Boca Grande pass in June is fantastic. Not the same as sight fishing the flats edges for tarpon in the Keys, but killer in a different fashion. Tarpon are all around florida mid year, so there are many good places for them. The keys are ideal due to: Big Bonefish, good tarpon, great Permit, OK redfish, great trout, great dolphin close in (the fish). The water is great for sight fishing in the Keys. Other parts of Fla are less "clear". The Bahamas are tough to beat in water clarity. * Know any good guides/outfitters?

I have not used a guide for 3 years, but recommend using one until you become proficient in finding fish yourself. Even then, guides will put you onto more fish. * Will I need my own equipment or can I rent?

I have not seen much rental equipment. If you have a guide, he will provide top notch equipment. I hope you have a good time! Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing I will be on Islamorada from February 10-17 of this year.  I plan to do some inshore fishing, and am wondering if this is a particularly "hot" time for specific fish. Can anyone give me some help? I’ll be

Entirely dependant on water temperature. (Wind may also be an issue) Some of the largest bonefish are caught in "winter" (dec-feb). You may also go all day without seeing a fish on a flat. A guide is a big win here. They may know when/where fish may make an appearence. We have found that "normal" behavior does not apply. (normal for bonefish is: fish move on flat with low incoming tide.) Problem is that with colder water temp, at may be midday before the water warms up enough. Thus traditional early morning/late evening "best times" may not apply. Barracuda are found (and fished for) on the flats in the winter. Any other time, these guys are almost impossible to catch. (Except when a big bonefish is about to nail your shrimp/lure) Also sharks on the flats can be fun. Tarpon are pretty much somewhere else, except for a few "bridge" types that hang around year round. Redfish and trout in the backcountry (Fla Bay, as opposed to the Atlantic) should also be a good option. (Not as exciting as bonefish, but still pretty good) I believe offshore is pretty good this time of year. (Sailfish, grouper, Kings, snapper, etc) out for a full day, and would like to spend about half the day fishing purely for sport (i.e. tarpon, bonefish, maybe permit) and half the day fishing for something I can cook up afterwards. Is this possible?

Bonefish or permit then hit backcountry for redfish or trout. I have limited out on big trout within 30 min skiff ride from Islamorada. (By the way, you will be "in" Islamorada, the city. You will be "on" upper or lower matacumbe. Just a "nit" :- ) Any suggestions would be appreciated. I’d like to call up and reserve a guide ahead of time.

We had good luck with Jamie Brodie, who booked out of Holiday Isle. I could get other names from Fla Sportsman if needed. Secondly, since I can’t afford a guide every day I’m there, but would like to do some fishing most of the days I’m there, I’m wondering if anyone can give me advice about wading/shore fishing. I’ll cast for

This is how we got started. Harry Harris park up in key largo (20 min N of Islamorada) is a good flat to wade for bonefish. Also flats off the bridges at shell and indian key ( Just S of Islamorada. ) are good. If you see brown bottom that you can get too from your hotel, etc. I would give it a try. Wear tennis shoes, or booties. (I use "aquasox" as well) Be aware of stingrays. (Some say to shuffle. I do if I cannot see the bottom very clearly. I have found if the bottom is hard enough to wade, the stingrays do not bury themselves. They are also very spooky, and will avoid you.) Also bridge fishing all along that area is good. You can also rent a boat. (not cheap, but cheaper than a guide.) Plan on using it mainly to get too flats. Do not try to take it on the flats, as you will get stuck unless it is very high tide. You will not have a pole anyway. Even with our flat’s boats, we wade alot. (during low tide) anything, I just don’t know what’s there to cast to, or what to cast to whatever is there (to state a simple point in a fairly unruly way).

On the flats you will see:         stingrays- do not try to catch them. Look for bonefish/jack         following them. try to cast on the back of any stingray you see.         Many times you will not see the fish following them. Best sign         that bonefish are on the flats. Stingrays are your friend.         Bonefish- swim most in straight lines. best case is to find them         tailing in low water. (why wading is good). You may see one or a         dozen. Very spooky. Cast in front of them, let them swim up on         your lure/bait.         Permit- The most spooky. look for "sickle" fin sticking out of         water.         Baracuda- usually loitering around. Moving very slowly, then         disappears faster than your eye can follow. If you see a fish,         and it does not move 5-10 feet in a few seconds, then it is probably         a barracuda. cast past it 10 feet in front of it. reel as fast         as you can. They strike instinctively.         Jack- Usually you do not see them, but catch them by accident.         can get pretty big, fights almost as good as a bonefish. (Just         missing the 200 yd runs.)         Sharks- 2-5′ nurse, lemon,

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I have three upcoming trips this spring: New Orleans in March, Miami in May, and North Carolina in July. I am looking for suggestions for saltwater flyfishing in these places. If you can recommend guides or

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