Question:

Original plan:  Up around 8 am, in the truck by 10, on the S Fk of the Shenandoah by noon.  Shuttle by Downriver Canoe Company. How it turned out:  Previous night, decided to walk down to Old Town Alexandria with my brother, who is staying with me for three weeks until his new job starts in Atlanta.  Met a friend at a pub.  Mini-pub crawl.  Home at 2.  Up at 10.  On the water at 4.  Too late to shuttle, so we put in at the new state park on 340. Low water.  First stop was where I had lost a couple of good smallmouth last year, at the first bend below the boat ramp.  Rigged my brother, who hasn’t touched a fly rod in 20 years, with my 6 wt.  Carolina blue popper.  Gave him some short instruction and set him free. Took a break from rigging up my 8 wt to provide further instruction,("Hey! Don’t hit me in the head with that damned thing!  Look behind you!)  tied on a white popper and commenced fishing.  Missed a bunch in a short amount of time.  Pointed David to a spot of flat water between two seams of current. He wasn’t hitting it, so I started throwing my popper there.  Had a bunch of fish tail-slap the fly.  Finally figured out the bream were spawning. Caught a few pumpkinseeds before floating down to the next bend. Pointed David to some grass beds, which turned out to be fishless due to the low water.  Found a good hole next to an island and started pulling out some good-sized pumpkinseeds.  Called David over and put him in my spot. Now, David doesn’t get out due to the wife and kids, and he sure as hell doesn’t cast well.  He was flailing the water into a froth in front and behind him.  He’d whack the popper down in front of him,  then immediately pick up, whack the popper on the water behind him on his backcast, then make a forward cast that got about six inches farther than his previous one. Three or four iterations of this and he’d finally let it sit, maybe thirty feet from where he was standing.  I figured he’s chased off every fish in the area, but he’d catch another pumpkinseed, and they kept getting bigger and bigger.  He also caught a fair-sized smallmouth.  And, the sorry bastard, after I gave him the bream hole, started keeping count! By then it was starting to get dark, so we paddled/pushed the canoe back upstream, with me walking through some really promising deep holes, to the park.  Loaded the canoe and the rest of our stuff and home by 11. I’ll pay him back by taking his ass to the Hootch and freezing his ass off this summer… John

Response:

Thanks, John… As I sit here in my home office, the temperature reaching about 90, I think back to much time on the Shenandoah…  sure beats waiting for the A/C guy. I was supposed to be on my beautiful Shenandoah by 6 this morning, but a raging sweat woke me about 2.  Once this damn A/C is fixed… PoPnBuG… aka Michael

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Original plan:  Up around 8 am, in the truck by 10, on the S Fk of the Shenandoah by noon.  Shuttle by Downriver Canoe Company. How it turned out:  Previous night, decided to walk down to Old Town Alexandria with my brother, who is staying with me for three weeks until his new job starts in Atlanta.  Met a friend at a pub.  Mini-pub crawl.  Home at 2.  Up at 10.  On the water at 4.  Too late to shuttle, so we put in at the new state park on 340. Low water.  First stop was where I had lost a couple of good smallmouth last year, at the first bend below the boat ramp.  Rigged my brother, who hasn’t touched a fly rod in 20 years, with my 6 wt.  Carolina blue popper.  Gave him some short instruction and set him free. Took a break from rigging up my 8 wt to provide further instruction,("Hey! Don’t hit me in the head with that damned thing!  Look behind you!)  tied on a white popper and commenced fishing.  Missed a bunch in a short amount of time.  Pointed David to a spot of flat water between two seams of current. He wasn’t hitting it, so I started throwing my popper there.  Had a bunch of fish tail-slap the fly.  Finally figured out the bream were spawning. Caught a few pumpkinseeds before floating down to the next bend. Pointed David to some grass beds, which turned out to be fishless due to the low water.  Found a good hole next to an island and started pulling out some good-sized pumpkinseeds.  Called David over and put him in my spot. Now, David doesn’t get out due to the wife and kids, and he sure as hell doesn’t cast well.  He was flailing the water into a froth in front and behind him.  He’d whack the popper down in front of him,  then immediately pick up, whack the popper on the water behind him on his backcast, then make a forward cast that got about six inches farther than his previous one. Three or four iterations of this and he’d finally let it sit, maybe thirty feet from where he was standing.  I figured he’s chased off every fish in the area, but he’d catch another pumpkinseed, and they kept getting bigger and bigger.  He also caught a fair-sized smallmouth.  And, the sorry bastard, after I gave him the bream hole, started keeping count! By then it was starting to get dark, so we paddled/pushed the canoe back upstream, with me walking through some really promising deep holes, to the park.  Loaded the canoe and the rest of our stuff and home by 11. I’ll pay him back by taking his ass to the Hootch and freezing his ass off this summer… John

Response:

Question:

Today I took the day off work and decided to head out to Loch Lomond in Santa Cruz California to get in some flyfishing. Loch Lomond is a beautiful lake for being so close to an urban center. It’s a reservoir in a mountain valley… and if you squint just a little and ignore all of the picnic tables and hiking paths, you would swear you’re at a lake in the high sierra. It has resident populations of bass, catfish, panfish, and is planted in the spring with rainbows.  Of course, the trout is my fish of choice. Since the lake doesn’t allow wading or float tubes, your only choice is to bring or rent a boat if you want to flyfish… renting is cheap, and they rent only rowboats, so I get a free workout thrown in. I didn’t get on the lake until 11am (had to drop my daughter off at school, etc), so I did get a late start.  Thanks to the fog, though, conditions were cool and the fish were still near the surface.  One after one, I try all the dries in my flybox.. but they’re not hitting. Strange, because they are ocassionally rising (though not very often)… to what?  That’s the big question, and one I still don’t know the answer to.  Maybe there are emergers, but I can’t see any. I also try nymphing a little bit… but no luck there either. Of course, I notice the trollers and the bait dunkers at the shore aren’t having any better luck.  A couple people had good luck earlier, before I arrived, but nobody is catching. Anyway, it was a GREAT day, even if I didn’t catch a damn thing.  I was off the water by 2pm, just when the fog burned off and the air started to heat up a little.  I WILL go back soon, it was great! Now, here’s the request for knowledge section of this post: HOW does one fish nymphs in a lake?  I’ve fished dries in high sierra lakes, and dries and nymphs in rivers, but never nymphs in lakes.  Do they need movement?  The current is moving a little in the lake.  Any advise you can give me? Also, what do you think they were rising for?  Yea, I know you weren’t there, but if you had to guess…. Thanks for the help…

Response:

HOW does one fish nymphs in a lake?  

Buy and read Gary LaFontaine’s Fishing the High Mountain Lakes. You might try dangling a small brassie (chironomid imitation) below an indicator, especially if there’s a little ripple on the surface. Works for me. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

<SNIP Also, what do you think they were rising for?  Yea, I know you weren’t there, but if you had to guess….

Chironomids. ( Midge pupa). Have a look here; http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/angling/protalk/chan/confession…. The rest of the site is worth a good look as well. TL MC

Response:

Try this one as well; http://www.fishbc.com/adventure/angling/flies/chironomid/pupa.phtml TL MC

Response:

Thanks! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HOW does one fish nymphs in a lake? Buy and read Gary LaFontaine’s Fishing the High Mountain Lakes. You might try dangling a small brassie (chironomid imitation) below an indicator, especially if there’s a little ripple on the surface. Works for me. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Thanks and thanks! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have a look here; http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/angling/protalk/chan/confession…. The rest of the site is worth a good look as well. TL MC

Response:

 Chironomids, all various colors coming off lakes or any other hatch you can identify are difficult to fish on lakes.  The trout are many times large and they are cruisers.  The difficulty in fishing for cruising trout feeding on emerging Chironomids is timing.  Timing is everything. Pick a fish out that you see break the surface one, two, cast, three!  The fish are taking Chironomids just under the surface, not on top of it.  They cruise about a foot or two under looking up.  They come up and take the food in an arch, their backs breaking the water.  This means you may have to try dangling about six to eight inches of tippet "under the water" and float the rest of the tippet and leader on top.  Lead the fish, and then twitch about an inch or two.  Dress the first few inches of leader with Xink and that includes the nymph or Chironomid pattern of your choice.  Float the rest of your leader and fly line. "The Take," is one of perpetual motion and a cruiser will hook themselves for obvious reasons.  The initial response is one of surprise.  Make sure you lower your rod tip level and sideways to the first run because it will be a duzzie! Hope this helps.  You WILL catch fish. George Gehrke "Chironomids are Cillers"

Response:

Question:

Never hear anything about flyfishing in Glacier.  Anyone have any first hand knowledge?

Response:

Never hear anything about flyfishing in Glacier.  Anyone have any first hand knowledge?

Jeff? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Never hear anything about flyfishing in Glacier.  Anyone have any first hand knowledge? Jeff?

ROFLMAO !!! — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Never hear anything about flyfishing in Glacier.  Anyone have any first hand knowledge?

I have never even bothered to research it because the fishing outside the gate is extraordinary.  You can’t get into the park from the east without driving through the Blackfeet reservation, upon which is some of the very best fishing in the lower 48.  There are so many high quality lakes and streams on the reservation that it would take years to explore them all. John.

Response:

Question:

Jungle Cock fethers , Where to buy them?? S.R.L.

Go to Chinatown in San Francisco.  You can get anything there. Tiger bones, bear gall bladders, wolf snouts, gorilla hands, jungle cock feathers — you name it, they’ll get it, if you have the do-re-mi. Just try not to look like a Fish and Game dude.         Steve Barnard

Response:

Jungle Cock fethers , Where to buy them?? S.R.L.

Response:

You should be able to find artificial jungle cock from some of the mail order houses. Jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jungle Cock fethers , Where to buy them?? S.R.L. Go to Chinatown in San Francisco.  You can get anything there. Tiger bones, bear gall bladders, wolf snouts, gorilla hands, jungle cock feathers — you name it, they’ll get it, if you have the do-re-mi. Just try not to look like a Fish and Game dude.    Steve Barnard

Response:

Jungle Cock fethers , Where to buy them?? S.R.L.

Hi S.R.L. We carry them in small packages in sizes and in whole necks from time to time. The necks are from domestically raised birds. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

Response:

Two words – ill  legal. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jungle Cock fethers , Where to buy them?? S.R.L.

Response:

Two words ill eagle – sick bird. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail GO TO http://users.ccnet.com/~emh FOR TRAVEL TIE BOX PLANS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Two words – ill  legal. Jungle Cock fethers , Where to buy them?? S.R.L.

Response:

Two words – ill  legal.

I don’t believe that’s true anymore, as they are being raised domestically, as Bill Kiene pointed out.  Fly Fishing Only in Fairfield, Maine carries them.

Response:

Hardly.  Domestically raised Jungle Cock is available from a variety of sources. Two words – ill  legal. Jungle Cock fethers , Where to buy them?? S.R.L.

– Mike in PDX "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                          Tom McGuane

Response:

Hi there,is it true in some states in USA jungle cock is ill legal?Here in ICELAND jungle cock it

Question:

I am looking for the page that has the audio fishing reel alarm clock. It starts off with a few clicks on the reel and continues until the reel really screams and the associated  voice yells "fish on !! fish on !!" Thanks for any help I may receive Mike

Response:

   Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly    I am looking for the page that has the audio fishing reel alarm clock.    It starts off with a few clicks on the reel and continues until the reel    really screams and the associated  voice yells "fish on !! fish on !!"    Thanks for any help I may receive    Mike Sorry about the last one, you will find this one more useful: The Screamin’ Reel Alarm Clock         http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/los_gatos/businesses/upstream/clock.html -tgades — Tony Gades. Seattle, WA.  USA http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html email: replace the "this_address_is_wrong" with "tgades"

Response:

I am looking for the page that has the audio fishing reel alarm clock. It starts off with a few clicks on the reel and continues until the reel really screams and the associated  voice yells "fish on !! fish on !!" Thanks for any help I may receive Mike

Hi Mike, There is a brass lamp with a fly reel on it. You turn the handle and it tightens a chain and turns on the lamp. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

Response:

Question:

Hi all: I am a newbee flyfisherperson and I want to go fishing.  I just don’t know a good spot to go this weekend.  I would like to get some input  on some decent fishing spots for a beginner to go to in the Vancouver area.  I only have waders, so I guess that stream fishing is what I am limited to for the time being. Thanks in advance Jon

Response:

I Salmon runs have been hammered all along the Coast, but I’m sure there is still some action out there.

this is a big exaggeration! Coho fishing on the west coast of Vancouver ISle was great this year. Chinook fishing in many areas including the Charlottes and the Strait of Georgia (between Mainland and Van Isle) was also the best in years! Fear was that Fraser Sockeye were in trouble; they were not. Also closures on chinook were inplace to protect some stocks that have been mammered by the Alaskan commercial fishery but overall salmon runs were good and 97 is expected to be better!

Response:

If fishing is your primary interest, you’ll want to be there in fall and early winter when salmon/steelhead/searun cutthroat are running. Things can be good up along the Sunshine coast and even at mouth and up Fraser River in August and September. It’s been about 9 years since I’ve worked this area but I hear there is still good bottomfishing, searun cutthroat fishing, and steelhead fishing. Salmon runs have been hammered all along the Coast, but I’m sure there is still some action out there.

Response:

I am planning a trip to Vancouver and am curious if anyone knows the best time of yesr to go? JT

Response:

I am planning a trip to Vancouver and am curious if anyone knows the best time of yesr to go? JT

Vancouver isn’t a high quality destination for flyfishing. However there is some sort of fishing available year round. Some possibilities; Aug-Sept Fraser river will have lots of Pinks and Sockeye available (we’re talking millions of fish)  as 97 is expected to be a high cycle year.. The river is likely to be muddy at this time and is very large; I recommend a guide. Mid Oct for coho on the Chilliwack, Chehalis and Harrison River; plan to fish weekends to avoid crowds. Use Vancouver as a jump off point to the interior of BC or Vancoucer Island; some oufits do helicopter trips to Alpine Lakes. Email me for more info Ralph H

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Lord, suffer me to catch a fish so big that even I, in the telling of it, will not be able to lie. …but give me the strength to lie anyway. TimW Yeah, ’cause if you don’t someone else will do it for you.  A few year back I landed a beautiful "27 inch" rainbow.  I felt like it was 25 in. but my fishing partner was convinced it was 27.  So everone in town heard about my "27 in." fish.  There’s even a plack on the wall of the Sisters Fly Shop with my name and the data on the fish.  Arrgh!  Oh well….

Burton, go ahead and lie man.  You’re an angler.  If you told me the fish was 27, I’d (being an angler) adjust it down anyway, I’d probably assume that by "27 inch rainbow" you really mean "12 inch whitefish", anyway.   TimW

Response:

Burton, go ahead and lie man.  You’re an angler.  If you told me the fish was 27, I’d (being an angler) adjust it down anyway, I’d probably assume that by "27 inch rainbow" you really mean "12 inch whitefish", anyway.

Reminds me of one: "Fishing is a delusion completely surrounded by liars in old clothes"–Don Marquis

Response:

Burton, go ahead and lie man.  You’re an angler.  If you told me the fish was 27, I’d (being an angler) adjust it down anyway, I’d probably assume that by "27 inch rainbow" you really mean "12 inch whitefish", anyway. Reminds me of one: "Fishing is a delusion completely surrounded by liars in old clothes"–Don Marquis

Howabout, "All fishermen are liars, except you and me….. And, I’m not too sure about you." Charley

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Lord, suffer me to catch a fish so big that even I, in the telling of it, will not be able to lie. …but give me the strength to lie anyway. TimW Yeah, ’cause if you don’t someone else will do it for you.  A few year back I landed a beautiful "27 inch" rainbow.  I felt like it was 25 in. but my fishing partner was convinced it was 27.  So everone in town heard Burton, go ahead and lie man.  You’re an angler.  If you told me the fish was 27, I’d (being an angler) adjust it down anyway, I’d probably assume that by "27 inch rainbow" you really mean "12 inch whitefish", anyway.   TimW

Fortunately I have a couple of nice photos of the two of us. Burton

Response:

Burton, go ahead and lie man.  You’re an angler.  If you told me the fish was 27, I’d (being an angler) adjust it down anyway, I’d probably assume that by "27 inch rainbow" you really mean "12 inch whitefish", anyway. Reminds me of one: "Fishing is a delusion completely surrounded by liars in old clothes"–Don Marquis

That’s pretty good!  I like my "state of delusion"! -Burton

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Lord, suffer me to catch a fish so big that even I, in the telling of it, will not be able to lie. …but give me the strength to lie anyway. TimW Yeah, ’cause if you don’t someone else will do it for you.  A few year back I landed a beautiful "27 inch" rainbow.  I felt like it was 25 in. but my fishing partner was convinced it was 27.  So everone in town heard Burton, go ahead and lie man.  You’re an angler.  If you told me the fish was 27, I’d (being an angler) adjust it down anyway, I’d probably assume that by "27 inch rainbow" you really mean "12 inch whitefish", anyway. TimW Fortunately I have a couple of nice photos of the two of us.

Well then post ‘em in alt.binaries.pictures.fishin !!!!! Course, you coulda used that ’stretch’ tool in PhotoShop !!! Hell, I have a picture of a fur-bearing trout on the wall.   Therefore they must exist, right… TimW

Response:

  Burton, go ahead and lie man.  You’re an angler.  If you told me the fish was 27, I’d (being an angler) adjust it down anyway, I’d probably assume that by "27 inch rainbow" you really mean "12 inch whitefish", anyway.   TimW Fortunately I have a couple of nice photos of the two of us. Burton

The voyuer in me wants to see it on alt.binaries.pictures.fishning but my ISP is slow on the switch so I’ll have to use my imagination! Mike

Response:

Fortunately I have a couple of nice photos of the two of us. Well then post ‘em in alt.binaries.pictures.fishin !!!!! Course, you coulda used that ’stretch’ tool in PhotoShop !!! Hell, I have a picture of a fur-bearing trout on the wall.   Therefore they must exist, right… TimW

Sure, sure!  Sort of like a jackalope, huh! Burton

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Burton, go ahead and lie man.  You’re an angler.  If you told me the 27, I’d (being an angler) adjust it down anyway, I’d probably assume that by "27 inch rainbow" you really mean "12 inch whitefish", anyway.   TimW Fortunately I have a couple of nice photos of the two of us. Burton The voyuer in me wants to see it on alt.binaries.pictures.fishning but my ISP is slow on the switch so I’ll have to use my imagination! Mike

Hi Mike, Just to help your imagination, she had more dark spots on her olive back than I have ever seen on a fish before.  And the bright band of scarlet running down her side must have been an inch and half wide.  Her gill plates bright scarlet all over and even the pectoral and anal fins were red.  A great example of spawning colors.  The fish took a #14 tan-olive scud.  When I saw that yaw as she took the fly, I thought I was going to faint. -Burton

Response:

You know, the apron-ruler on my JW tube begins with a ‘1′ on the very first mark.  I don’t even need to lie, usually. Dave

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The voyuer in me wants to see it on alt.binaries.pictures.fishning but my ISP is slow on the switch so I’ll have to use my imagination! Mike Hi Mike, Just to help your imagination, she had more dark spots on her olive back than I have ever seen on a fish before.  And the bright band of scarlet running down her side must have been an inch and half wide.  Her gill plates bright scarlet all over and even the pectoral and anal fins were red.  A great example of spawning colors.  The fish took a #14 tan-olive scud.  When I saw that yaw as she took the fly, I thought I was going to faint. -Burton

Hell, I almost fainted when you got to the pectoral and anal fins.  WHEW, gotta get out more.   Thanks for the cheap thrill!  : Mike

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fortunately I have a couple of nice photos of the two of us. Well then post ‘em in alt.binaries.pictures.fishin !!!!! Course, you coulda used that ’stretch’ tool in PhotoShop !!! Hell, I have a picture of a fur-bearing trout on the wall. Therefore they must exist, right… TimW Sure, sure!  Sort of like a jackalope, huh!

I’ve got one of those on the wall too.   Nice 6 point buck. TimW

Response:

You know, the apron-ruler on my JW tube begins with a ‘1′ on the very first mark.  I don’t even need to lie, usually.

Oh…, that’s really good!  An automatic liar built in.  I had better go check my Buck’s Bag.  ;-) -Burton

Response:

====== Sure, sure!  Sort of like a jackalope, huh! I’ve got one of those on the wall too.   TimW

Whoa, you are too cool dude!! -Burton

Response:

Howabout, "All fishermen are liars, except you and me….. And, I’m not too sure about you."

Or one of my recent favorites (paraphrasing at this point), "The only doubt cast upon the miracles of Jesus is that they were all witnessed by fishermen." I don’t know why, but that really cracks me up… "I swear to you, it was wine, man. I was there!!!" Ross Wilson (no email at the moment)

Response:

Lord, suffer me to catch a fish so big that even I, in the telling of it, will not be able to lie.

Response:

Lord, suffer me to catch a fish so big that even I, in the telling of it, will not be able to lie.

Hi Great though! — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 catalog) http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

Response:

Lord, suffer me to catch a fish so big that even I, in the telling of it, will not be able to lie.

I’ve long supported catch & release management of our fisheries. Most of the fish I catch are simply too heavy to carry anyway.                                                        __ john quill taylor                                     / / writer at large                                      / /   Hewlett-Packard, Storage Systems Division    __     /_/ / Boise, Idaho U.S.A.                         /_/  __ _ Telephone: (208) 396-2328 (MST = GMT – 7)     /  \  / Snail Mail: Hewlett-Packard                    / \             11413 Chinden Blvd                 \             Boise, Idaho 83714                   _/             Mailstop 852                            _/                                                   _/       "When in doubt, do as doubters do." – jqt –                   china, haiti, rwanda, cuba, bosnia, … we have a list,              where is our schindler?

Response:

Lord, suffer me to catch a fish so big that even I, in the telling of it, will not be able to lie.

…but give me the strength to lie anyway. TimW

Response:

God, don’t let me fuck up. (yours truly, when playing a 20" brown in the Firehole last July.) -AR

Response:

Lord, suffer me to catch a fish so big that even I, in the telling of it, will not be able to lie. …but give me the strength to lie anyway. TimW

Yeah, ’cause if you don’t someone else will do it for you.  A few year back I landed a beautiful "27 inch" rainbow.  I felt like it was 25 in. but my fishing partner was convinced it was 27.  So everone in town heard about my "27 in." fish.  There’s even a plack on the wall of the Sisters Fly Shop with my name and the data on the fish.  Arrgh!  Oh well…. -Burton

Response:

Question:

Any input?  I’m looking to make a decision between a Redington 9′ 8/9wt. and a St. Croix of the same build.  So far Redington is in the lead because of the Unconditional Lifetime Warranty.

The st. Croix Legend is a great deal. BTW it also has a lifetime unconditional warrenty.

Response:

Any input?  I’m looking to make a decision between a Redington 9′ 8/9wt. and a St. Croix of the same build.  So far Redington is in the lead because of the Unconditional Lifetime Warranty. —       _                 Dan Siderius                    |   / _` / _` | “ |      Check out My Homepage at:       |   __,___,_|_,,_|      http://wybbs.wynalda.com/~dans        |

Response:

8/9wt. and a St. Croix of the same build.

Dear Dan; The St. Croix may be a slightly faster action rod.  My experience ends with the 6/7 wts., but the principle may carry over to the higher weights.  They are both the same modulous graphite, but the cost of the St. Croix includes a pretty decent rod tube.  Flip a coin.  Better yet, cast ‘em both.  Even better yet, buy a Versitex! Sincerely; Jason Beary

Response:

I’ve got a St Croix Legend (5wt, 9ft) All I can say is that it gets the job done. It’s fine, I works, I’ve got no complaints, but I know, in my heart of hearts, that I ain’t driving a Caddy. True, the warrenty is good and the fly tube is great and gbest of all, the price is excellent. I will be upgrading tho, when my big ship comes in Damn, faint praise! S. "The World is full of shipping clerks who read the Harvard Classics." –Bukowski, American writer, poet S. Duda Seattle, WA

Response:

Dan, I used to fish with a St. Croix and now I fish with a Redington.  I own a Redington 9 ft., 5wt.  My St. Croix is a 8.5 ft., 5/6 wt.  I like my Redington a lot better.  It is a little faster, and the Unconditional Lifetime Warranty has come in handy.  I work at Jacklin’s Fly Shop in West Yellowstone and My Redington worked fine out there last summer.                               Jamie. Any input?  I’m looking to make a decision between a Redington 9′ 8/9wt. and a St. Croix of the same build.  So far Redington is in the lead because of the Unconditional Lifetime Warranty. —       _                 Dan Siderius                    |   / _` / _` | “ |      Check out My Homepage at:       |   __,___,_|_,,_|      http://wybbs.wynalda.com/~dans  |

– Jamie Farrell Interests:   -fly fishing   -fly tying   -camping   -hiking

Response:

Question:

TESTAMENT OF A "YUFFIE" I fish because I love to shop in Orvis shops. Because I love to flash my Gold Visa card, which makes me invaribly important and visually impressive on C&R waters; and makes me hate the open waters,where C&K people are found,because they invaribly do not spend as much money, to be as "SPECIAL" as me.

Most of the C&R enthusiasts in my area are blue-collar tradesmen: carpenters, plumbers, guys who work for the phone company or the electrical company.  They are the strongest supporters of C&R waters near their homes, because they can’t afford rich peoples’ trips to exotic locations.  They know that if there is to be quality fishing for themselves and their children, it’s got to be available close to home. Because of all the television commercials, flyfishing chat at cocktail parties, and social acceptibility of C&R in assorted social posturings. I’m socially and politically correct.

Well, now that it’s so unfashionable to insult blacks or women, I guess you’re free to make fun of C&R fishermen.  Go ahead with your own posturings; our shoulders are broad.  Have a good time.  Why let the facts interfere with your fun? Woods Hole, MA   USA

Response:

Did you check your sense of humor at the door this morning Bob?  I think Nancy is simply issuing a humorous barb to TBone (formally Tim I assume) Walker and not universally condeming C&R parctices. Andy

You might be right, Andy.  Still, I like to laugh with people, not at them. Woods Hole, MA   USA

Response:

Well, now that it’s so unfashionable to insult blacks or women, I guess you’re free to make fun of C&R fishermen.  Go ahead with your own posturings; our shoulders are broad.  Have a good time.  Why let the facts interfere with your fun? Woods Hole, MA   USA

Did you check your sense of humor at the door this morning Bob?  I think Nancy is simply issuing a humorous barb to TBone (formally Tim I assume) Walker and not universally condeming C&R parctices. Andy

Response:

Question:

Apparently they do not plan to sell the blanks….. SAGE isn’t selling their newer IV blanks either I wonder if the no-blanks-available strategy will work for the manufactures? Completed SAGE IV rods are running $500.00+   My response: the SAGE III blanks are good enough.

Right, why can’t the fly rod manufacturers see that they will price themselves out of existance.  When a new generation of PC’s reach the market (i.e. 486), the previous generation is reduced in price.  But when a new generation of graphite comes out, the older type graphites do not seem to have much of a price reduction. The manufacturers feel that a whole new higher price level is justified by the new generation material.  Only fiberglass seems to have comw down in price. Mark Miller – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Thomas Gilg

Response:

Right, why can’t the fly rod manufacturers see that they will price themselves out of existance.  When a new generation of PC’s reach the market (i.e. 486), the previous generation is reduced in price.  But when a new generation of graphite comes out, the older type graphites do not seem to have much of a price reduction.

That is because a large portion of the price of a computer is engineering costs.  These costs can be amortized over the number of machines sold. After enough machines have been sold to cover the costs of engineering, the price can be reduced. Much of the cost of a flyrod is in manufacturing costs which are fixed per unit regardless of how many rods are built.  Building a good graphite rod is labor intensive. — -Wayne Trzyna

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Right, why can’t the fly rod manufacturers see that they will price themselves out of existance.  When a new generation of PC’s reach the market (i.e. 486), the previous generation is reduced in price.  But when a new generation of graphite comes out, the older type graphites do not seem to have much of a price reduction. That is because a large portion of the price of a computer is engineering costs.  These costs can be amortized over the number of machines sold. After enough machines have been sold to cover the costs of engineering, the price can be reduced. Much of the cost of a flyrod is in manufacturing costs which are fixed per unit regardless of how many rods are built.  Building a good graphite rod is labor intensive. — -Wayne Trzyna

True, but I don’t think that building a rod using a different version of graphite would be any more labor intensive. Mark Miller

Response:

Right, why can’t the fly rod manufacturers see that they will price themselves out of existance.  When a new generation of PC’s reach the market (i.e. 486), the previous generation is reduced in price.  But when a new generation of graphite comes out, the older type graphites do not seem to have much of a price reduction.

Did you ever visit California? This is the state where when new car’s price sky-rocketing, the cost for used cars follow up too. Eric.

Response:

Thomas Gilg writes: I wonder if the no-blanks-available strategy will work for the manufactures? Completed SAGE IV rods are running $500.00+   My response: the SAGE III blanks are good enough.

That’s going to be my response too !   BTW its official now the new generation  Loomis rods will not be sold a blanks.  They’re beautiful rods, light and shoot line like cannons.

Response:

Members of my local flyfishing club have had extensive problems with IMX rods breaking when dealing with Tarpon.

I don’t trust IMX or the regular Sage III  for rods above 9wt.  My ten and twelve weight rods are both the Sage three piece special designed rods for salt water a lot heaver in the butt.   Regarding rod failures, a guide I know on the Green says the outfitter he works for gets free sage & loomis rods and that they’ve had tremendous breakage.  Very thin cross sections and lots of hard use banging around in drift boats.  When the surface coating of a graphite rod gets dinged, a stress concentration forms at the already damaged point.  I’ve had good luck putting a little resin on the ding to fill the scratch.  The only rod I’ve broken to date is my favorite 5 wt Winston that I tried to use as a wading staff.  Winston shipped me a replacement but section blank and it’s still my favorite rod.

Response:

Mark Miller writes: Right, why can’t the fly rod manufacturers see that they will price themselves out of existance.  When a new generation of PC’s reach the market (i.e. 486), the previous generation is reduced in price.  

As much as I’d like to agree with you, I can’t.  Neither Sage and Loomis can keep up with the demand.  The message from the market place is that there are plenty of people ready to pay, so I can’t blame them for using the blanks available for finished rods with a much higher margin.

Response:

Mark Miller writes: True, but I don’t think that building a rod using a different version of graphite would be any more labor intensive.

A lot of engineering when into the latest generation of Loomis rods.

Response:

Members of my local flyfishing club have had extensive problems with IMX rods breaking when dealing with Tarpon.

        This problem is almost always the fault of the angler and not the rod.  When you have a Tarpon close to the boat and you’re really pulling on him, people tend to pull too far back on the rod.  The angle of the rod (angle between butt and tip — 180 degrees at rest) should not be less than 90 degrees.  If you pull back farther than that you’re no longer fighting the fish you’re fighting the rod.  This puts an awful strain on the rod (and the angler).  With the rod doubled over, if the fish should make any quick movements, which tarpon definitely can do, goodbye rod.  You get the most power out of your rod at an angle of about 90 degrees — you’ll land fish quicker (no hour long boatside battles) and your rod will last a lot longer. I don’t trust IMX or the regular Sage III  for rods above 9wt.  My ten and twelve weight rods are both the Sage three piece special designed rods for salt water a lot heaver in the butt.  

        I’ve seen a 150# tarpon caught on 11wt. Sage II.  I myself caught a 100# tarpon on a 10wt Sage III. Regarding rod failures, a guide I know on the Green says the outfitter he works for gets free sage & loomis rods and that they’ve had tremendous breakage.  Very thin cross sections and lots of hard use banging around in drift boats.  When the surface coating of a graphite rod gets dinged, a stress concentration forms at the already damaged point.  I’ve had good luck putting a little resin on the ding to fill the scratch.  The only rod I’ve broken to date is my favorite 5 wt Winston that I tried to use as a wading staff.  Winston shipped me a replacement but section blank and it’s still my favorite rod.

        The surface coating of a rod is purely for casmetic reasons. I don’t think it adds much strength too the rod.  On the other hand if you scratch the graphite underneath then I would worry. — |          307 SW 16th Ave #349 G-ville, Fl 32601             | |                Voice: (904)377-3807                         | |                  Fax: (904)375-0357                         |

Response:

Just saw the latest in Loomis rods.  A friend of built a prototype 8 wt from their new next generation graphite. I’m building an 8 wt IMX and the difference was remarkable the next generation graphite was about the same size and weight as my Winston 5 wt.  Apparently they do not plan to sell the blanks, so I probable won’t be buying one in the near future.   The wall thickness is so thin I’d be worried about the design for anything above 8 wt.  I already switch to Sage’s special design for heaver salt water rods (10 & 12 wt.’s).  I use IMX for 6 and 8 wt rods.  I love to cast the IMX 6 wt but seldom fish it, for trout I like my 3, 5 & 7 wt. Winston’s.   The seven is a dream for bass bugs.

Response:

Apparently they do not plan to sell the blanks…..

SAGE isn’t selling their newer IV blanks either I wonder if the no-blanks-available strategy will work for the manufactures? Completed SAGE IV rods are running $500.00+   My response: the SAGE III blanks are good enough. Thomas Gilg

Response:

The wall thickness is so thin I’d be worried about the design for anything above 8 wt.  I already switch to Sage’s special design for heaver salt water rods (10 & 12 wt.’s).  I use IMX for 6 and 8 wt rods.  I love to cast the IMX 6 wt but seldom fish it, for trout I like my 3, 5 & 7 wt. Winston’s.   The seven is a dream for bass bugs.

Members of my local flyfishing club have had extensive problems with IMX rods breaking when dealing with Tarpon. So much so that the consensus is to fish IM6 rods in this situation. I have not heard of any problems with Sage rods. An interesting side point is that a member broke a rod (Lamiglass IM700) when the clouser minnow he was casting collided with the rod. Lucky thing, these rods have replacement guarantees or there would be a ton of crying. I have broken several graphite rods for no apparent reason while casting or fishing. It appears to be caused by graphite flaws and the brittleness of the material.

Response:

| SAGE isn’t selling their newer IV blanks either | | I wonder if the no-blanks-available strategy will work for the manufactures? | Completed SAGE IV rods are running $500.00+   My response: the SAGE III blanks | are good enough. | | Thomas Gilg | Well they probably are.  But that’s the funny thing about flyfishing equipment.  My $50.00 Cortland rods are "good enough." As far as the strategy goes I can tell you that few shops have any selection of Sage IV ’s at all.  The three or four Sage dealers I’ve talked to here in the east and a few in out west say they can’t get ‘em from Sage and when they do get a few they sell right out.   I believe it.  I know I’m crazy but I bought one anyway about a month ago — I bought the three piece 590 travel rod.   I fished it for a week on the Snake in Jackson Hole and on the Henry’s Fork.  Now I’m not a great caster (I can’t throw a whole line) but I have to say this rod is incredible.  The best I can do is to say it feels like its alive.  A very distinctive feel and I’m getting ten extra feet or more out of it.  Other rods I own include a Winston a Sage III and two Cortland’s.  If it was only distance I was after I might have been better off investing in a casting clinic but I really like the rod. Jim Caldwell Norfolk, VA

Response:

SAGE isn’t selling their newer IV blanks either

I am told by the Sage representative in Norway that there will be available blanks of RPL IV next year. By the way, the company has not produced enough IV rods this year to cover the demand. –Terje Tveras, Univ. of Bergen, Norway

Response: